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topPTSA#2.9.50                                                                     May 26, 2015

Parents of Seniors

Critical information for upcoming senior class activities and graduation

 

SBAC Testing Schedule this week and next

Volunteer Help Needed

Help the Library Staff with Text Book Check-in; Volunteer for PTSA Activities Next Year; Work at Senior Party

 

Counseling News, May testing...

President's Letter

End of school year activities; MIHS Bridge Street Stroll to support Mercer Island Schools Foundation; PTSA Awards nominations due

Question of the Week 

What are grad grams?

Mercer Island Parent Edge

 

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CalendarEvents:*
May
 
May 26 - SBAC Testing, 11th Grade, ELA Testing 10th Grade, 8:00 - 10:15am, 1st period for everyone starts at 10:30am

May 26 - MI PTA Council - Senior Awards night, Library, 6:30-8:30pm
 
May 29 - MIHS Staff Assembly, Main Gym, 1:50-2:55pm

May 31 - MIHS Bridge Street Stroll to Support Mercer Island Schools Foundation, 4:00-7:00pm
 
June
 
June 5,8,9 - Senior finals

June 10 - Senior Assembly, 12:30-2:00pm, Main Gym
 
June 11 - Senior Breakfast, 7:00-9:00am, Main Gym
 
June 11 - MIHS Graduation, Key Arena, 7:00-10:00pm
 
June 15-17 - Final exams
 
June 18 - Last day of school
 
June 19 - School's Out for Summer
 
** - Calendar information current as of 5/25/15.  Always check District calendar for updates.

 

Have a Question about Student Life at MIHS? Maybe the Answer is in the MIHS Student Handbook:

Sports Calendar

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Join the PTSA!
Care to Volunteer?

PTSA 2013-2014 Executive Committee


President  Debbie Hanson
VP/Elect  Jayme Witman
Secretary  Amy Melick
Co-Treasurer  Lesley Kalmin
Co-VP Com. Monica Moline
Co-VP Com. Erin Underwood
VP Outreach Betsy O'Connell
Co-VP Ops.  Kathy Bauman
Co-VP Ops.  Claudia Allard
  
Parent Advisory Committee

MISD Board of Directors

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 From Our PTSA President President
Debbie Hanson

Dear MIHS Families -

 

I hope that you all enjoyed a wonderful long, holiday weekend and are buckling in for the final push of the school year!  As always there's lots going on at MIHS, even with the end of the year in sight.  

Please check the MIHS homepage, calendar and daily bulletin regularly for schedule listings, news and updates:  

As a reminder, the annual Bridge campaign is still in full swing and this year, MIHS PTSA is partnering with the MI Schools Foundation to hold a new event, Bridge 2015 Street Stroll.  This Adults Only event will be held on Sunday, May 31st from 4-7pm.  Guests are invited to stroll between three lovely MI homes within easy walking distance of one another to sample fabulous food and beverage pairings, including dinner.  Tickets are $50 per person and all proceeds will benefit MIHS.  Please read below in the newsletter for more information! Tickets are limited, so please buy soon if you hope to attend.

 

Our MI Schools thrive in response to your continuous generosity, whether it's time, talent or dollars.  

In closing, here's a quick question: Do you know an outstanding MIHS volunteer, educator, staff member or an entire committee who deserves to be recognized? Please visit our MIHS PTSA website to nominate those at the top of your list who go above and beyond with their dedication to student learning and enrichment.

 

Nominations are easy using the online form and are due by May 29th - http://mihsptsa.org/resources/mihs-awards/ 

 

Thanks for all you do to support MIHS and best wishes for a smooth finale to the school year!

 

Debbie Hanson

MIHS PTSA President

 

To see Debbie's past President's letters, click here.

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 From Our Superintendent
Gary Plano
Email Dr. Gary Plano

 


 

 

To see previous letters from Superintendent Gary Plano, click here

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From Our Principal

Vicki Puckett
Email Vicki Puckett

Dear Mercer Island families,

 

We are in the last quarter of the school year - time is flying by! We have about 4 weeks to go before the seniors are off to new adventures and the sophomores, juniors and freshman are off to summer activities.


 
School Schedule May 26-29

Click here for a link to the school website

 

Counseling News

Master Schedule for 2015-2016

Class offerings for 2015-2016 are being developed based on student requests entered in March of this year. Students should expect to be held to their course requests that were made in March. Tentative class schedules may be available in June, but are subject to change over the summer.

 

Summer School

Information for the Mercer Island School District Summer Session will be available on the school website in early May. Students should talk with their counselors if they plan to take summer courses.  

 

Thank you all for your wonderful support.

 

Vicki Puckett

MIHS Principal

 

To see previous letters from Principal Vicki Puckett, click here 

Nominations                                                                                                  Back to Top

Seeking nominations for MIHS PTSA Awards, MI PTA Council Awards  and Nancy Schaps Memorial Grants
Attention MIHS PTSA Members - It is Awards Time:

We are looking to reward outstanding volunteers, educators, or committees for his/her/their creativity, innovation, dedication and amazing work for Mercer Island High School. Let's show our volunteers and educators how much we appreciate them.

Nomination Deadline is Friday, May 29, 2015

Click here for a link to MIHS PTSA Nominations

 

Click here for a link to Mercer Island PTA Council Nominations

 

Nancy Schaps Memorial Grant

 

In the spring of 1996, the Schaps family established a grant in memory of Nancy Schaps. Nancy was an active supporter, both through her PTA and volunteer service, of Mercer Island's children and schools. Nancy's concern was for the children in our school district who were facing the terminal illness or death of a parent.

 

Nancy's parents and husband have amended this grant to include children who have a parent on active military duty. At Nancy's request, and through the remembrances of her family and the community, a fund was established to provide grants to such children for experiences that might aid in this life adjustment.

 

If you know of a student who has lost a parent, has a parent who is dealing with a terminal illness, or has a parent on active military duty, please consider nominating them for this grant. Grant recipients may use the award for a wide range of activities that may help them in dealing with their difficult times. 

 

Click here for a link to the grant application

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PTSA News and Announcements

SAVE THE DATE - May 31, 2015!


 


 

StreetStroll 

MIHS 
BRIDGE 2015 Street Stroll

 

Stroll between three MIHS homes and enjoy a fabulous assortment do appetizers, chili, desserts and beverage pairings. 


This event is for adults only and supports the 2015 Mercer Island Schools Foundation Bridge Campaign. All proceeds will benefit Mercer Island High School.

 

Click here to purchase tickets

 

Click here to watch Mercer Island Schools Foundation Breakfast of Champions Video 

Gifts 

GRADUATION GIFT IDEAS!!!  

 

Purchase a Lei for the graduation ceremony

There are two ways to order and pay:  

 

Click here for online payment

Click here for a pdf order form you can mail or drop off at the ASB Office

 

Graduate Grams

It's that time of year again to honor the graduates in your life with the Mercer Island PTA Council Grad Gram campaign! Have a personalized "Graduate Gram" mailed to the home of your favorite graduate. Click here to download the Graduate Gram order form.

 

From Preschool to High School, everyone loves to be honored during this special time in their life. All proceeds from the sale of the Grad Grams provide scholarships to deserving Mercer Island High School graduates. Thank you for your support!

 

Buy a personalized BRICK that will become a permanent part of MIHS 

The cost is $40 per Brick. Bricks are located just outside the commons in the mosh pit (amphitheater).  The bricks will be engraved in early August 2015.

 

Click here access the brick order form on the PTSA website. Now it's even easier - you can do it all on-line. (If you'd prefer to pay by check, make checks payable to MIHS PTSA and drop-off form/check at the high school PTSA mailbox.)

 

For more info contact Maria Sims (206) 232-4770 or mariasims@comcast.net

 

DEADLINE for placing Brick orders is June 15, 2015.

 

Celebrate Your Mercer Island Graduate in Style!

 

Show your graduate and neighbors how proud you are of them by ordering Senior Graduation Yard Signs from the MIHS Cheer squad.

 

Make your graduate's day special with a unique MIHS Graduate Yard Sign placed in your yard sometime after Memorial Day. Cost is only $30 per sign. Click here for the Graduation Yard Sign Order form 

 

Help MIHS Cheer make their goal. All funds raised will benefit all squads for bus transportation to attend games, new mats, signs, banners, megaphones and more!

 

Deadline is May 26, 2015. Contact Pam Diamond with questions - 206-230-8946  

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Mercer Island Parent Edge

Thank You from MI Parent Edge and Volunteer Opportunities!

 

We've navigated our kids' anxieties with Chris McCurry; we've considered the social and emotional well-being of boys in the film "The Mask You Live In;" we've learned the difference between "app-dependent" and "app-enabled" with Katie Davis; and we discovered what's really going on between adolescent boys and girls with Rosalind Wiseman.

 

Parent Edge thanks you for supporting these events through the year and we look forward to bringing more thought-provoking speakers and topics in 2015-2016.

 

Seeking Parent Edge Committee Members:  If you have enjoyed attending Parent Edge events and would like to work with a dynamic team in the rewarding work of planning and implementing these events, then Parent Edge wants to talk to you! We are currently looking for new members to join our committee. Responsibilities include:  attending monthly committee meetings, representing your school, promoting events at your school and in the community, researching and recommending topics and speakers, and assisting at events. We would love for you to join us! Please contact Suzanne McIntosh at suzannemcint@gmail.com or Kathy Middleton at sunnyinseattle@comcast.net to volunteer or to ask any questions. 

 

Visit www.miparentedge.org for more information about previous speakers and events, or to leave suggestions for future speakers or topics.
 

MI Parent Edge is jointly sponsored by the PTA's of Lakeridge, Island Park, West Mercer, Islander Middle, MIHS and St. Monica schools. 

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MIHS News & Announcements

Check the MIHS website for the latest announcements, calendar information, and links to activities.

 

 

Community Service Awards

 

All students who turned in community service forms should have been notified about the award they will receive.  If your student was not notified, please have them contact Susan Costa at costa124@msn.com.

 

 

Crest Plant Sale 

 

Support your School. Support your garden! Come one, come all to the last 2015 Spring Sale Saturday, May 30th 9 AM - 3 PM.

 

Located at the Crest Greenhouses and Nursery MIHS Urban Horticulture 4150 86th AVE SE Mercer Island, WA 98040

 

For more information please call 206-236-3390.  

SeniorActivitiesBack to Top
News for MIHS Seniors and their Families

Class of 2015 - SENIOR News - 

 


Senior Parents - what to expect these last 2 months!

 

Fines and Fees:   All SENIORS must pay off any remaining fines and fees before they can purchase PROM tickets, pick up their YEARBOOK, receive GRADUATION TICKETS or pick up FINAL TRANSCRIPTS.  Fines and fees can be paid online or in the ASB office.

 

As we wind down our time at MIHS, these last several weeks are fast and furious (and a bit confusing). We thought a quick synopsis of what-to-expect would be helpful.

 

Tuesday, May 26th MI PTA Council Senior Awards Night, MIHS Library, 6:30 p.m.

These awards, selected by each department at MIHS, are given to the student that that department feels best represents the vision/goals/ideals of that field. Sometimes the student selection is our superstars, sometimes it is our students who show the most improvement over their 4 years at MIHS, sometimes it is the student that demonstrates the most passion for the department subject. This event is always meaningful. There is a scholarship attached to each award. The scholarships are funded by our Mercer Island PTA Council.

 

Wednesday, June 10th Baccalaureate, Herzl Ner Tamid, 7:00 p.m.

Join us as we celebrate our seniors in our annual interfaith service. This year's theme is 'Living our Faith Together'. This service is a lovely tradition gifted to our seniors from our Mercer Island faith community.

 

Thursday, June 11th Graduation Day

Senior Breakfast, MIHS Gym, 7:00 a.m.

This is the chance for our staff to enjoy a meal with our seniors and celebrate some additional award-winners. This is a lovely way to start a celebratory day.

 

Senior Graduation rehearsal, Key Arena, 9:00 - approx. 11:00 a.m.

Straight from the breakfast, our seniors will board the buses to head to Key Arena where we will practice the processional and the timing for the evening events. They will be returned to MIHS at the conclusion of this rehearsal. 

 

Graduation Ceremony, Key Arena, 7:00-9:00pm

Seniors will be picked up at MIHS by school buses for transportation to Key Arena.  Pick up time will most probably be 5:00 p.m. (to be confirmed).  The Graduation ceremony is scheduled for 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. with doors to Key Arena opening at 6:30 p.m.  The first 4 tickets to Graduation are free to each family (once fines and textbooks are cleared).  Seniors may purchase additional tickets in the Commons during lunch between May 27th and June 10th. Tickets will not be sold at the door.  Seating is first come, first serve but Key Arena is an terrific venue as most every seat lends itself to excellent viewing.

 

Senior Party, (Venue is a secret), 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m. Friday

This annual event starts directly after Graduation (after the hugs and photos with all the families) from Key Arena.  We spend the night together celebrating the Graduation of our beloved seniors.  This event is facilitated by our MIHS PTSA and includes two venues and lots and lots of activities/entertainment/food/games/etc.  It is a great way for our kids to spend one last night altogether in a safe, fun environment.

 

We hope this helps with planning for this spring.  Definitely let us know if you have any questions.

 

Katty Clark (kattyclark@msn.com)

Jen McLellan (mclellanmj@aol.com)

MIHS PTSA Senior Activities co-Chairs

 

Please see all the latest details here: PTSA Seniors Information page 

IntheCommunity

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In the Community

Get updated on what's going on around Mercer Island                                     

cityevent

 
Want to know more about City of Mercer Island events, hot topics and seasonal programming? Curious about Parks and Recreation Summer activities or Youth & Family Services volunteer opportunities?  Click here for the City's website and explore the various tabs to learn the most up-to-date information about these topics and more: http://www.mercergov.org/Index.asp

 


 
Parent, Coach & Athlete Injury Prevention Education Seminars
 

The AST Institute (Advanced Sports Training Institute or ASTI), a Washington state Non-profit, in partnership with IAPM, a Washington state 501c3, is providing 
FREE athletic injury prevention and performance maximization seminars for parents, coaches, and athletes. Seminars are open to the public but seats are limited.  See
www.astinstitute.org for more information.

 

Topics are:

  • Overview of the current athletic injury rate increase reported by the sports medical community.
  • Injuries attributed to overuse and acute trauma, and how to prevent them.(DR. Andrews recommends parents DEMAND that their coaches have ACL injury prevention training. Introduction to ACL injury prevention training (KIPP).
  • Concussion prevention for all athletes and children.
  • Most common causes of ACL/meniscus injuries.
  • Understanding Kinetic Energy and how it impacts the most common causes of ACL/meniscus injuries.
  • Movement technique mistakes that athletes make that inhibit performance and increase the stress the lower body experiences when performing them. Technique modifications that maximize movement performance and minimize lower body stress, and the risk of injury from both overuse and acute trauma.
  • How to maximize cardiovascular training and minimize the risk of overuse injuries.

COST:  FREE*     

*$10.00 tax deductible donations are appreciated.

The remaining seminars will be presented at the following locations:

 

Thursday, May 28th - 6:30pm-7:30pm

King County Snoqualmie Library

7824 Center Boulevard SE

Snoqualmie, WA 98065   (425) 888-1223

 

Saturday, May 30th - 3:30pm-4:30pm

King County Renton Highlands Library

2902 NE 12th Street

Renton Highlands, WA 98056   (425) 277-1831  

  WritingforCollege 

"Writing for College" Summer Workshop

 

Curtis Johnston and David Willecke are offering the 6th annual "Writing for College" workshop at Mercer Island High School, beginning June 23rd! Lower your stress and get a jump start on senior year college admissions insanity. Craft your admissions essay in a relaxed workshop atmosphere with on demand one-on-one guidance from people who have spent years mastering the personal essay.

 

We will help you write to your audience, maintain authentic voice, avoid the many common pitfalls that can lead to automatic denial, and more.

 

Go to https://sites.google.com/site/misummerwriters/ for more information, including how to register.

Digivations 

Summer Opportunity - Counselors in Training at Summer Camp

 

DIGIVATIONS is a STEM+ARTS+MOVEMENT creative technology learning lab that offers multidisciplinary programs ranging from novice to advanced education in the fields of science, technology, engineering, math (STEM), the creative arts and humanities.   Over the past 5 years, more than 4,000 students and 800 educators in the greater Point Roberts, WA/Vancouver, BC region have experienced our educational programs.

Summer Opportunity:  We are seeking ambitious high school students who love working with children ages 9-15 to be counselors-in-training at our Overnight DIGIVATIONS CAMP DEMIGOD INSTITUTE in Point Roberts, WA (2.5 hours north of MI).  It is a fully immersive international summer innovation and literary overnight camp based on the Institute's unique STEM+ARTS+MOVEMENT curriculum.   It is a blend of world building through innovation, role playing, and speculative fiction. The Overnight Camp's location and environment brings Percy Jackson and the Olympian Series as well as Fandoms to life (featuring a Mash-Up of Percy Jackson, Dr. Who, Steampunk, Harry Potter, Avatar: The Last Airbender, The Hobbit, The Hunger Games, Divergent, and more)  through quests in rustic demigod cabins, traversing through the beaches, trails, and clay cliffs. 

All Counselors in Training (ages 16-17) and Counselors (ages 18+) receive mentorship from our senior internationally known faculty, attend all classes, and are part of an outstanding college-age counselor team who come from throughout North America.  Almost all staff receives positive references for academic or career applications. There are tremendous opportunities to create or add to a portfolio of new works/inventions for college and graduate school applications (engineering, design, innovation, medicine, theatre, fine arts, film, music, etc.). Students can commit to one or both sessions June 25-July 12 and/or August 1-23.

 

For more information, check us out at www.digivations.com

YMCA

 

Check out the YWCA and YMCA summer offerings
Various outdoor activities, Leadership Camps and Diversity in the Outdoors Scholarships
 
There are too many offerings to list here, but go to the YMCA Leadership page and check out all they have to offer for high school aged boys and girls this summer at http://ymcaleadership.com/
ItalianStudent

Host an Italian student and your child will be invited to Italy!

 

Our students' school year at Mercer Island HS has been

amazing! They will soon be back in Italy with wonderful memories of their school mates, teachers, and especially their host families. This summer, their host siblings will be invited to Italy, where their direct experience with Italian culture will begin!

 

The same opportunity for a true cross-cultural exchange is available to your family through the Ergon program! We are looking for families to host a 16-17 year-old Italian student for a semester or school year. The Ergon Student Exchange program provides a transformative experience for both the host family and the student. The Italian families offer to your son or daughter an all-expenses paid summer vacation in Italy - and Ergon sponsors the flight!

 

Ergon specializes in a rigorous selection process ensuring that students are academically strong, responsible, and proficient in English; we devote great care to matching students with host families. Students are fully insured and arrive with pocket money for all expenses, including recreational activities and vacations.

 

The Mercer Island families that hosted Stefano, Tommaso and Riccardo are happy to share their experience with you. To learn more, please email our Mercer Island coordinator Jane Gallup at jragallup@comcast.net and visit our website at www.ergon-se.org 

FarmersMarket 

Mercer Island Farmers Market - Volunteer Help Needed

 

In search of volunteers to help out on Sundays

MIFM has 2 hours volunteer jobs to fit your needs. Early morning set up, late afternoon tear down, special events help during mid-morning. Please visit the website for more information http://mifarmersmarket.org/support-your-market/volunteer/

 

Mercer Island Farmers Market Marketing Interns

If you are interested in learning more about market research, community engagement, or love event planning and implementation (1st annual Berry Pie Bake Contest), MIFM offers interesting and challenging projects. You will work with MIFM board members in developing the projects to meet your interests, develop and research, and have the ability to implement at the market. You will see your energy and ideas at work for our community.   Please contact: nannettebas@gmail.com

 

June 7, 2015 MIFM Opening Day

We will be opening with 45+ local WA farmers and vendors.   MIFM is a produce only market. Our goal is to support and retain WA agricultural industry. Our process vendors (jams, pickles, sauces) use local WA farm products. Our food truck vendors (BUNs, Veraci Pizza, Got Soup, Street Sweet, and more) use local WA farm and WA produced products. Your money is invested into your community. Check out our website at www.mifarmersmarket.org 

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Legislation and Advocacy

  

To read about WSPTA priorities for the 2014-2015 school year and to get the latest MIHS Legislation & Advocacy news, click here 

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Volunteers Needed!

Library Help:  End of Year Text Book Check-in

 

Each spring, the MIHS library relies on the volunteer power of parents who help with Textbook Check In. During the final couple weeks of school, parents help us collect, sort, and store returning textbooks. Please look at the Sign Up Genius link to see if you are available to give any time to the library in June. The library staff are so grateful for your support.

Click here for a link to sign up for a shift or two!

 

MIHS needs PTSA Volunteers!


Looking ahead!  Our PTSA Board is beginning to fill outgoing chair positions for next year. Click here to indicate your interests; from Staff Appreciation to Islander Days - we need your help!  Please consider how you can volunteer during the 2015-2016 school year and complete the online form at MIHS PTSA website or Click here to fill out your 2015-2016 Volunteer Interest Form.  

 

Questions? Contact Laurie Raisys at volunteer@mihsptsa.org

 

 

Want to Chaperone the End of Year Senior Party?

 

Senior Party takes place directly after the graduation ceremony, June 11, 2015  until 6am on June 12th.  Buses leave Key Arena and return to MIHS the following morning. Contact Amy Melick.  We would love your help. 

Questionofweek

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Question of the Week

Q:  What are "Grad Grams" and where can I find more information about senior graduation?

 

A:  Graduate Grams are handsome, hand-prepared, personalized certificates which can be purchased and mailed to the home of your favorite graduates! A wonderful Mercer Island tradition, all grads love to receive these maroon-on-parchment greetings. All proceeds provide scholarships to deserving Mercer Island High School graduates. 

 
 
You can find information about Senior graduation, coming up on Thursday, June 11th here: https://mihsptsa.org/info-by-class/seniors/

 

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