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** Calendar information current as of 6/19/16. Always check the District calendar for updates.
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Have a Question about Student Life at MIHS? Maybe the Answer is in the MIHS Student Handbook:
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MIHS Student Handbook
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PTSA 2015-2016 Executive Committee
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Parent Advisory Committee
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Freshman Class of 2019
Sophomore Class of 2018
Junior Class of 2017
Senior Class of 2016
MISD Advisory Council Rep
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MISD Board of Directors
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Click name to link to email
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Submit an Article
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To submit an article for review for our next issue:
mihsnewsletter@hotmail.com
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| From Our PTSA President | |
Islander families,
The class schedule for finals week is modified. Please confirm your student's schedule here.
We elected the PTSA Executive Officers last week. Congratulations to:
President: Jackie Brown
President Elect: Ivy Suzuki-Jaecks
Co-Treasurers: Kristen Glant and Karla Olson
Secretary: Anita McSwiney
Co-VPs, Operations: Lori Coe Steager and Gillian Peckham
Co-VPs, Communications: Dana Pruchno and Connie Shepherd
VP, Legislation and Advocacy: Christina Hendelman
The nominating committee will reconvene to search for a VP of Outreach. If you are interested in learning more about the position, please contact president@mihsptsa.org.
I would also like to say a HUGE Thank You to those that served on the Executive Committee for 2015-16. We were a terrific team and were successful in "getting things done" for MIHS. Thanks to:
Jackie Brown, Amy Melick, Lesley Kalman, Kristen Glant, Betsy O'Connell, Monica Moline, Suzanne Riley, Hilary Benson, Lori Coe, Wendy Weiker, Debbie Hanson, Kathy Bauman. I am indebted to you for all you do for our school and students.
It has been a privilege to serve as your PTSA President this year. With a graduating Senior, I have loved volunteering and meeting so many amazing parents and advocates over the last 13 years. Thank you for your amazing feedback, input, comments, and volunteerism.
Go Islanders!
Witman OUT........
Jayme Witman PTSA President 2015/16
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From Our Principal
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Hello Parents:
We are on the home stretch. Hard to believe not many days left until summer break.
MIHS Summer School Program 2016: Summer school will run from June 28 to August 4. Classes offered on contract are Health, PE, WA State History, Moral Choices (Philosophy), various other Social Studies, English and Math classes, plus some "on-line" classes. Students taking English, Algebra and Geometry as focus or credit retrieval will have class daily i.e. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, & Thursdays. Tuition is $300. Students must attend class/appointments. The catalog and registration materials will be on the website very soon. Questions should be sent to the Director, Vicki White Miltun, here.
Finals Week Schedule: June 20- 24th: Please continue to read our website for schedule changes through the end of the year with Finals this week.
Monday, June 20th - Finals for periods 1, 5, 7 (special schedule).
Tuesday, June 21st - Finals for Periods 2 & 4. Early Dismissal at 12:15 PM
Wednesday, June 22nd - Finals for Periods 3 & 6. Early Dismissal at 12:15 PM
Thursday, June 23rd - No Classes - Finals Make Up. Students must make special arrangements with their individual teachers if the need arises.
Friday, June 24th - No school. This is a scheduled Weather Make Up day. (Crossing my fingers - no bad weather this week.)
Finals for Seniors: The individual teacher arranges these finals examinations in the individual classes your senior student has.
Summer Hours: Our school offices are closed during the month of July. If you need an official transcript for your student it would be a good idea to do this before July. In August we open on August 8th.
In closing for the summer, thank you parents for the many hours of volunteering at MIHS. Your pride and loyalty to MIHS and the students and staff is greatly appreciated and needed. I hope your summer is fun with family activities. For our parents who have a graduating senior, I wish you the very best and thank you for all of your 4 years of support.
Vicki Puckett
Principal
To see previous letters from Principal Vicki Puckett, click here
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| From Our Superintendent | |  Click here to see Superintendent Gary Plano's monthly message.
Visit the District Facebook page here.
Twitter: @mercerislandsd
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Parent Volunteers Needed!
Last week of school and August Fees & Photos. | |
Textbook Check-in Volunteers:
Shifts are still available in the library. Click here for a Sign-up Genius link.
Fees & Photos August 23 & 24 - Get your volunteer spot now before they all disappear!
Islander parents, as we look forward to the end of the school year and some well deserved time to relax and recharge, don't forget that the 2016 MIHS Fee & Photo Days are scheduled for Tuesday, August 23, and Wednesday, August 24. Each class has been assigned a specific time:
Seniors - 8/23, 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Juniors - 8/23, 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m . Freshmen - 8/24, 8:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m . Sophomores - 8/24, 1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Volunteers Needed. Fee & Photo Day requires a significant number of volunteers. Please help! You can sign up here for specific time slots. We have divided each session in half for those with limited time, but if all possible, please sign up for the full session.
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- MIHS News & Announcements
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iPad Return It's time to get your iPad ready to turn-in for the Summer!
(Please pass these instructions on to your student.)
- Juniors, Sophomores and Freshman: iPads, chargers and cables will be collected in the hallway outside the commons this week. To avoid long lines, return your device before the last day.
- Sophomores: You will receive a new iPad next year, so make sure you back-up your data before returning your current iPad. Instructions can be found at mercerislandschools.org/ipad.
- All Students: You can help speed up the return process by handing your ASB card to the staff member checking in your device. In addition, please make sure you fully charge your iPad the night before returning it.
2016-17 Draft Schedules
DRAFT 2016-17 schedules will be available for viewing-only in Family Access from Monday, June 20th through Thursday, June 23rd. Please note that all schedules are subject to change during the summer. Final schedules will be posted in Family Access at 8:00am on Monday, August 22nd.
Due to possible Master Schedule changes over the summer, there will be no adjustments made to individual schedules until the fall. Please check the final student schedule before making any inquiries. Add-Drop forms will be available in the Counseling Center after August 22nd. Forms will be accepted during Fees and Photos Days, August 23rd and 24th.
Thank you! The Counseling Department
2016-17 School Year Fee, Photo & Textbook Days Set!
Mark your calendars for next fall's Fee & Photo Days for MIHS.
Tuesday, August 23: Seniors 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Juniors 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 24: Freshman 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Sophomores 1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Note: ALL Offices CLOSE FROM 12:00 p.m. TO 1:00 p.m. for a lunch break and paperwork processing. The doors will be locked and no ASB payments, photos, or other Fees & Photos actives will take place. If you arrive at 11:55 p.m. you will not be able to start the process. Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before the end of a shift or be prepared to wait until 1:00 p.m. to start the process.
More information will be sent over the summer. These dates are set, but timing is subject to change so remember to check your Newsletter emails in August for updates.
Student Parking for Fall
First semester parking for Seniors will go on sale on 8/15 and 8/16. This is done all online. If there are any parking spots left, underclassmen will be able purchase spots beginning 8/17.
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PTSA News and Announcements | |
More Database Updates performed last week. Welcome Class of 2020 Parents!
Some of you may be reading the newsletter for the first time in a while. That is because we did a data scrub to clean out many old "bouncing" emails, and we were able to update many of our contacts. We hope you are happy to be back! If you have questions, feel free to contact us at mihsnewsletter@hotmail.com. If you would like to add additional emails to the distribution list, please click here.
Thank you!
Margo Mansfield & Mary Kay Woolston
Newsletter Editors/Constant Contact managers
The 40th Annual Mercer Island PTA Council Scholarship Award Night was held on Wednesday, June 1st. Congratulations to the following Senior Award recipients:
Braman Family Writing Award - Amanda Wall
Crest - Alexandra Munroe
CTE/CCR - Evan Ashley
Drama - Hannah Conradt
English - Caroline Boissoneault, Benjamin Chase, Jonathan Perr and Richard Chess (Journalism)
Health - Nicole Kemp
Math - Jacqueline Gallup, Helena Shield, James Shin
Music - Jenny Chen, Riley Fang, Esther Kerns
PE - Fletcher Asmus
Principal's Award - Nicholas Miller
Science - Jenna Permut, Tomasz Prussak, Aidan Wang
Social Studies - Darina Bukovskaya, Brian Oppeheim, Isaac Kipust
Visual Arts - Jack Rasmussen
World Language - Ryan Wong (Chinese), Emma Van Orden (French), Eugenie Morton (Spanish)
Yearbook - Dana He
What Is Your Story?
The theme for the 2016 -2017 PTA Reflections contest is "What Is Your Story".
No experience is required to participate in Reflections.
Choose the arts category you're interested in, create an original piece of artwork based on the theme "What Is Your Story" and be recognized as an artist in your community.
Categories are: Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Musical Composition, Photography and Visual Arts.
The rules are downloadable files on the Washington State PTA website and are located 1/2 down the page under Rules.
Questions contact: reflectionsmercerisland@gmail.com
A Spring Tradition on MI: Graduate Grams
Every spring, the Mercer Island PTA Council produces and mails thousands of Graduate Gram greetings to the homes of Mercer Island students. Whether graduating from Preschool, Kindergarten, 5th grade, 8th grade, High School or College, all students love receiving these personalized certificates in the mail. Each hand prepared "Grad Gram" congratulates the recipient and acknowledges the sender.
Order Graduate Grams for your graduating seniors, neighbors, babysitters, children and their friends! All funds raised through the purchase of Graduate Grams go directly into the MI PTA Council Community Scholarship Fund which honors graduating seniors for their achievement, hard work, and attitude.
Please click here to order. Thank you for supporting this wonderful MI tradition!
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Writing For College Workshop
Curtis Johnston and David Willecke are offering the 7th annual Writing for College workshop at Mercer Island High School, beginning June 27th! 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. For more information, including how to register, click here.
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| Class of 2016 Alumni Announcements! | |
Diplomas for the Class of 2016 will be mailed before the end of June. Please make sure the Counseling Center has a current address for your student.
The Front Offices and Counseling Center will be closed for the month of July. If you need a Transcript during the month of July, you will need to contact Vanessa Adams (206) 236-3330 at the Administration Building. Transcripts require 5 days processing time, so plan accordingly.
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| Parent Edge | |
As this school year winds down, Parent Edge would like to thank everyone who has attended and supported our events. Parent Edge is collaborating with lots of local groups to bring you information about other important community events and, on occasion, make discounted tickets available to MIPTA members. Go to the "In The Community" section of this newsletter for information about such events. Also check "Local Events and Lectures" on http://www.miparentedge.org and like our Facebook page, Mercer Island Parent Education, for lots more information on events happening in our area. We hope to see you at some of these other outstanding events and look forward to seeing you all back for another inspiring series of speakers on Mercer Island next year.
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Legislation and Advocacy
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Thank you to everyone who emailed City Council in support of the improvements to the intersection at Northwood Elementary (http://www.miptacouncil.org/advocacy/tip-letter/). Every email was important and City Council clearly heard our parent body's view on this issue. Public comment regarding this project is invited at the June 6 City Council meeting. Please contact the MI PTA Advocacy Team (advocacy@miptacouncil.org) if you would like to be part of the final push to get this project moving.
The MI PTA Council Advocacy Website (http://www.miptacouncil.org/advocacy/) has the latest information on our efforts to advocate for the well-being and education of all children. If you are interested in joining the MI PTA Advocacy Team please email us at (advocacy@miptacouncil.org).
To become even more informed, see our webpage link above.
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MIHS Counselors Are In Touch! | |
Our MIHS Academic Counselors will be providing parents with a monthly Counseling Center Update Letter. It will be posted on the Counseling Center webpage, and we will link to the letter in our weekly newsletter. See below for this month's information.
UPDATED MAY/JUNE LETTER: End of a fabulous year! Looking forward to another.
More information from the Counseling Center can be found here.
Questions can be directed to MJ Hillstrom, College Counselor
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In the Community
Mercer Island High School PTSA (MIHS PTSA) and the Mercer Island School District have neither reviewed nor approved the programs, personnel, activities or organizations announced in these flyers or websites. The participants agree to protect, indemnify, and hold harmless the district and MIHS PTSA, including elected and appointed officials, employees, agents, staff and volunteers, from any and all claims, liabilities, damages, expenses, or rights of action, directly or indirectly attributed to the activities. Permission to distribute this information and or flyers should not be considered a recommendation of the programs by the school district or by the MIHS PTSA. These are neither school district nor MIHS PTSA sponsored activities.
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Get Updated On What's Going On Around Mercer Island
Want to know more about City of Mercer Island events, hot topics and seasonal programming? Curious about Parks and Recreation 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
Programs in our Community -
The MIHS PTSA has not reviewed or endorsed these programs. See above.
Coaching: Camps are run by Liz Shields, MIHS Varsity Girls Coach. Involved in the Mercer Island's program since 2009, and the MIHS Varsity Coach since 2011, Liz has played, coached and umpired for more than 25 years, both in her native Australia and in the U.S. She represented Western Australia in the national championships as a player, and umpired the 2007 U19 World Championships in Canada and the 2009 Women's World Cup in Prague.
OneWorld Now! still has spots open in its fun, intensive and free Chinese and Arabic Language Summer Camps for high school students, including incoming freshmen. Please note that it is for beginning language learners only.
Dates: July 11 through July 29, 2016 (weekdays only)
Times: 9 am to 3 pm (includes 4 hours of language classes plus afternoon culture and leadership lessons)
Cost: FREE
Location: Impact HUB Seattle (near Pioneer Square)
Meals: Hot lunch and snacks provided
Deadline to apply: May 31, 2016
Call for Artists!!! Open to ALL, K to 12th Grades
Mercer Island Visual Arts League (MIVAL), together with Wells Fargo Bank, is sponsoring the 42nd annual Junior Art Show during the Mercer Island Summer Celebration event July 9th and 10th. Awards and cash prizes will be presented to winning young artists.
Two-dimensional wall art: Painting; Drawing; Photography; Digital art; Collage and
Three-dimensional art: Crafts; Jewelry; Sculpture.
Register Today Online here and print out an entry form.
2016 SUMMER PROGRAM: BIOINFORMATICS-CODING FOR MEDICINE
ORGANIZED with the Washington Student Science Association (WSSA)
SESSION CHOICE: July 5-18 OR July 20- Aug 2 (10 working days)
10am-2pm
Bellevue College location
Course Fee $750 (10% discount with a friend)
BIOINFORMATICS is the hottest emerging area of STEM with all major universities and colleges including Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Berkeley, U Washington and others developing cutting-edge programs. This is a major focus of investment for technology companies such as GOOGLE etc and many job opportunities are being created in this field. Skills are much in demand in this high STEM job growth area. Our STEM summer program 2016 will open the doors of this exciting field to students thinking of future careers in biology, computer science and medicine. The course is led by Dr M Samanta who has extensive experience in BIOINFORMATICS and is an International Maths Olympian and ex-NASA scientist.
Get a Jump Start on Summer! Grab your friends, lace up your shoes and come run or walk the YoungLife 5K at Luther Burbank. It's one of the only events around where the finish line is in Lake Washington! All finishers earn a MI Young Life beach towel. Prizes for best team costumes, fastest 5K for >15 years and fastest <14 years. June 11 at 9:30AM. For more information and to register visit: mercerisland.younglife.org.
Digivations Camp Demigod Institute
NASA award winning summer innovation and literary overnight camp in Leavenworth, WA.
Stem+Arts+Movement and Design Thinking. Inspiring the next generation of innovators. For more information about Camp Half Blood, Camp Fandom and Demigod Lodge click here.
Be a Part of Island History!
In less than five months, the beautiful Northwood Elementary will open its doors to a parliament of owls. A new school hasn't opened on Mercer Island since 1963, when JFK was President, Martin Luther King had a dream, and Beatlemania began!
To commemorate this milestone moment, the Northwood PTA is offering all families, friends, staff, and supporters of Northwood Elementary the opportunity to leave a permanent, personalized mark on a brick in Northwood's unique outdoor play area. For further information and to view all the possible options, please check our website at here. This opportunity will only be open until June 30, 2016. If you have any questions, please contact jsytman@mac.com.
Music Works Northwest Summer Camps
Private lessons June 21-August 28 plus music therapy, group lessons and more. To register visit registration@musicworksnw.org or call 425-644-0988.
Camp Biomed Presented by the Northwest Association of Biomedical Research
Our goal is to inspire students entering grades 9-12 to consider a career in biomedicine, biotechnology or bioengineering through immersion in the biomedical research community. Camp subjects include Cancer Laboratory and Do-It-Yourself Biology, Next Gen Science-Origami of Life with Bioinformatics, and Crime Scene Investigation (CSI)-Solving a Murder Mystery. For more information click here.
2016 International Summer Spanish Programs & Youth Sport Camps
with Homestay in Barcelona, Spain
SpainBcn- Summer Camps are designed for boys and girls, junior and teens, who want to practice their favorite sport and/or improve their Spanish, enjoy a complete cultural program in a fun, safe and nurturing environment with youth participants from all over the world.
To learn more about SpainBcn-Summer Camps please visit:
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Question of the Week
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Q: What happens at the end of the year? My kid still has lunch money in their ASB card, how does he return his school books, how do we get our yearbook? How do I know if my student owes any fines?
A: Great questions! Class's text books and library books should be returned AFTER your student completed their final exam in each class. Any outstanding monies on their lunch account will be carried over to next year. Yearbooks have been distributed and those left are with the Yearbook class. Your student should listen to the daily bulletin to learn about pick up opportunities. Fines owed are listed on your students SKYWARD account. These fines must be paid before the end of the year in order to check out text books next fall OR reserve a student parking spot.
Calendar information for future reference:
This event calendar is different than the student calendar which is bargained in advance with school start and end dates, vacations and service days. Those calendars have been set for 16-17, 17-18, and 18-19 and are located on the District Website under News and Events on the Student Calendar page.
P.S.
We are leaving the schedule links here in the event you have not bookmarked them:
and the
If you bookmark this page you will be able to check schedules on your computer or smartphone. Seven period weeks take place during "short weeks", testing weeks, and Showcase weeks. Schedules are also adjusted during finals.
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