February PTSA Newsletter - Monthly Update

Nine, 10 minute speaker presentations
Lots of entertainment breaks including a 20 min intermission
Involvement from 12 local girl organizations who will talk onstage and have information about joining
Food available all day
Hosted at the beautiful Benaroya Hall in downtown Seattle.

Bring a girl, change a life...

Check out our website by clicking here.

MISD Legislative Information Night
Legislation Impact to MI Schools

Date: Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Time: 6:30 pm
Location: Islander Middle School Library
Host: Islander Middle School PTSA

The Mercer Island School District will be impacted by recent legislative changes including the McCleary Ruling, Initiative 1351 and the expiration of the 4% increase to the local school funding levy. Come join the PTA Legislative Committee for a presentation by Dean Mack, Mercer Island City CFO, on the impact of these upcoming fiscal changes to our school funding and learn how we as a community can advocate for our school district.

For a summary of these issues, please see Islander Middle School's Advocacy page http/imsptsa.org/get-connected/legislative/

GIVING FROM THE HEART BENEFIT BREAKFAST

Wednesday, February 11

Join Us at Giving from the Heart Breakfast!

A benefit for MI Youth & Family Services

Wednesday, February 11

7:30 - 8:30 AM

At MI Community & Event Center

I hope you will join us at our Islander Middle School table ~ Greta Stednick

Together we Gators can make a difference in the lives of our Mercer Island community.

The Breakfast supports a great, local cause and know you will find it inspirational, informative and engaging!

No fee to attend. There will be a $250 suggested donation to MIYFS.

Questions? Contact Sari Weiss via email or at (206) 275-7756.

Annual IMS Spelling Bee
Wednesday 25, 2015

Parents, you are invited to attend the Annual IMS Spelling Bee to be held on Wednesday, February 25, 2015 in the IMS Library. Students will pre-qualify to participate through their LASS class or the school librarian. Student check in on the day of the event begins at 1:20pm. The Spelling Bee begins at 1:45 pm and lasts until a winner is selected. The IMS spelling champion will advance to the Regional Spelling Bee in March. Volunteers are needed for set up and to provide refreshments. For more information or to volunteer, please contact Carolyn Pirak, at cpirak@yahoo.com.

Get Involved!
Message from PTSA President, Greta Stednick

Please mark your calendars to attend the IMS PTSA General Membership Meeting on February 26th at 1:20 in the IMS Library. Agenda items will include:

Elect Nominating Committee for 2015/16 PTSA Board
Learn about renovations to the Mercer Island Branch of the KCLS Library

Hope to see you there.

The next PAC Meeting is February 9th at 3:15, and the topic will be Facilities.

If you have any questions, please contact me at president@imsptsa.org.

Greta Stednick, IMS PTSA President

Mercer Island Chapter of the National League of Young Men
(NLYM)

We are excited to introduce the Mercer Island Chapter of the National League of Young Men (NLYM). The NLYM is an organization for mothers and their sons (grades 9th - 12th) whose mission is to promote the development of young men into community leaders through leadership involvement; charitable and community service; cultural experiences and protocol education. Examples of upcoming community events include food packing at Northwest Harvest, feeeding the homeless at a local shelter and helping at the Seattle Humane Society.

The class of 2019 ((8th grade students) is starting up and accepting applications from interested young men and their mothers. If you are a current 8th grade student looking for an opportunity to serve your community while gaining valuable leadership skills, along with protocol knowledge and cultural experiences, please contact Donna Platou (platou1@comcast.net) for NLYM membership information as soon as possible. You can visit our website at www.nlymmercerisland.org. The deadline to have your application in is mid-February.

Questions? Please contact Kathy Gersch at 425-269-9089

Mercer Island Community Events!

"Finding the Possible in Impossible"
Monday, February 9th, 7:00-8:30PM, MI Library

Local Author Lori A. May

"The Write Crowd: Literary Citizenship & The Writing Life"

Two TED talks:

"My Father, Locked in his Body but Soaring Free"

"How Painting can Transform Communities"

Monday, February 9th from 7-8:30 PM at the Mercer Island Library

Listen, discuss, snack!

RSVP to Ben Elliott at

https://www.facebook.com/TEDxMercerIslandLibrary

benjaminelliott@comcast.net

Mercer Island Boys and Girls Club Winter Schedule!

Be GREAT! The Mercer Island Boys and Girls Club Athletics Winter Schedule and Registration is available! From Basketball leagues to Parkour, from Yoga to Winter Fustal - there is a sport for you during the Winter Season. FIND YOURS!

Check out the entire winter schedule and click here!

Mercer Island FC & CTR Coaching - Mid-Winter Break Camp
9:30AM-12:30PM, February 16-20th, IMS turf field

The Mercer Island FC and CTR Coaching are partnering to bring a mid-winter break camp to the island for boys and girls from Kindergarten to 8th grade. The camp will run from 9:30am-12:30pm, February 16th-20 at Islander Middle School turf field

Players will be grouped by age and skill levels to maximize skill development and fun. Activities will include work on passing, receiving, dribbling, shooting, turning away from pressure, 1v1 games and fun camp games. Players should bring shin guards, soccer shoes and water and dress for the weather.

CTR Coaching is headed up by Mercer Island High School Boys' Head Coach Colin Rigby. His staff includes professional coaches with experience playing at the collegiate and professional level. They provide a fun, entertaining coaching experience while helping players develop their soccer skills.

Camp cost is $135 for the week.

Mercer Island Parks & Recreation Summer Day Camps
Registration begins February 7, 2015

Registration for Mercer Island Parks & Recreation Summer Day Camps begins on February 7, 2015!

We offer a wide variety of summer camps, including art, cooking, Legos, kayaking, music, sailing, sports, & day camps for ages 3 & up. Register for Mini Mercer, Mercer Day Camp or Mini Mercer Sports between Feb. 7-20 and receive $20 off your first camp, and entry into a drawing to get 1/2 off your second camp. Register for these promotion camps by calling 206-275-7609. Other camp registrations can be done at www.myparksandrecreation.com View the camp brochure online at www.playonmercer.com