December PTSA Newsletter - Bi-Monthly Update

The Little Dribblers program run by the MI Boys Basketball Booster Club is the most successful and fun youth basketball program on Mercer Island, with a rich 40+ year history of creating passionate ballers. Get your boys on the court each Saturday learning from the Island's best coaches and players.

To read more about dates, fees and registration, click here.

If you have any questions, contact youthcoordinator@mibasketball.org.

THE YOUTH BASKETBALL TRADITION!

Mercer Island Girls Lacrosse Grades 1-8
Register Now for the 2015 Spring Season

Registration opens on 12/1 for the 2016 Spring Season at www.MIGirlsLacrosse.com. Register before January 15, 2016 to get a $25 discounted registration! We have to set teams and register with WA state girls lacrosse on the 1/15 and cannot add additional teams after this date. Registering on time helps us determine the optimal number of teams for playing time.

1st - 4th grades register for "Elementary Program"

5th (yes, 5th) - 8th grades register for the "Middle School Program"

Questions? Grades 5-8 contact middle school coordinators at migirlslaxms@gmail.com. Grades 1-4 contact elementary coordinators at migirlslaxes@gmail.com.

2016 Boys Spring Lacrosse Registration
NOW OPEN

3rd-8th Graders are required to have a US Lacrosse membership number, renew or join at www.uslacrosse.org before registering through the club.

To read an overview of the group, get more information or questions, click here.

A Holiday Note
From IMS PTSA President, Charlene Steinhauer

Dear Islander Middle School Parents,

Hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and are enjoying a fun and festive start to the holiday season. This time of year is very busy and sometimes feels like a race. Hopefully all of you will be able to pause and enjoy all of your friends and family gatherings.

It is hard to believe that we have already completed our first trimester! The PTSA Executive committee has been very busy fulfilling their duties and more.

I would like to personally thank three people for their tireless efforts on your behalf. Kim Comstock, President Elect, stepped into my role for a few weeks and did an outstanding job in every way, Cristi Duea, VP Fundraising, has been been applying her creativity and energy to all of our fundraising efforts, and Dana Pruchno, VP Communications, made sure all of you who have joined the PTA received your new 2015-2016 directories. You are all amazing women and your dedication to our children, teachers, and staff is a shining example for all of us to follow.

Our goal every year is for 100% participation in the PTSA. We have listened to you and tried to make joining and giving as easy as possible. There are online and paper options. With one trimester down, we are still not there. Our fundraising goals have not been met and we are at risk of having to cut back programs that we support and enrichment grants that benefit every one of our kids. If you have already given...thank you, thank you, thank you! If you have not, PLEASE GIVE NOW. Please do not forget to fill out company matching forms that will double your donation.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me at President@IMSPTSA.org.

Wishing all of you a happy, healthy, and peaceful holiday season.

All the Best,

Charlene Steinhauer

IMS PTSA President

Mercer Island Community Events!

National Charity League Info Night
January 5th, 7pm, Mercer Island Community Center

National Charity League is a mother/daughter organization focused on leadership, cultural opportunities and philanthropic work. The Membership Drive begins in January and is focused on filling our incoming 7th grade class. The Lake Washington chapter has openings in the current 7th and 8th classes as well. If you are interested in learning more about this program, please join us at our information night on Tuesday, January 7th (mothers only). For questions, please contact Susan Empy at susanempey@yahoo.com or Jill Burr at jburr33@hotmail.com

Do You Know a Middle School or High School Student that Likes to Mountain Bike?

Do you know a middle school or high school student that likes to mountain bike? Check this out! Mercer Island Mountain Bike is co-ed, anyone can join, beginner to advanced riders and is open to both on and off island teens. Season runs January to May and includes two weekly practices and four optional races. Riders select one weekday practic either Wednesday at 3:00pm or Friday at 3:45pm and all team members attend the Sunday off island rides at 9:45am. Cost of registration is $195 plus a $100 supplemental team fee. Registration is open now at https://washingtonleague.com use code Sp2016yyk at registration prompt.

Questions? Please email mercerisland@washingtonleague.org.

Check us out Facebook page at Mercer Island Mountain Bike or by clicking on the FB logo above or check out the Washington Student League at http://washingtonleague.org/.

Attention Techies! New!
Digivations Programs - December 2015 @ MICEC

The Digivations NASA award winning program's focus consists of Minecraft, rocketry, robots, computer programs and more! Brought to you by Drs. Steven & Anne Deane Berman

www.digivations.com

Innovation & Theatre Academy: Ages 9-14, Sat. Dec. 12&19, 11:30am-2:30pm, #15927, $204

Robotics Theatre & Creative Programming: Ages 9-14, Sat. Dec. 12&19, 11:30am-3pm, #15928, $299.

Located at the MICEC.

TechSmart Kids
After School Coding Classes - Starting January 11, 2016

TechSmartKids, a leading provider of computer science education for K-12 is offering afterschool computer coding classes at Islander Middle School this winter. Classes begin Monday, January 11th and meet once a week for 1.5 hours.

Click here to see Winter schedule classes or call (425) 786-7824.

National League of Young Men (NLYM)
Mercer Island Chapter - Applications Due Mid-Feb

We are excited to continue to grow 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 planting trees, food packing at Northwest Harvest, feeding the homeless at a local shelter and helping at the Seattle Humane Society. Interested 8th graders and their parents, click here for more for application information.

For more information about NLYM, click here. Interested families looking for an opportunity for their student to serve their community while gaining valuable leadership skills, along with protocol knowledge and cultural experiences, please email Donna Platou for NLYM membership information. Applications deadline is mid-February.

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