IMS PTSA NewsletterTop
Bi-Monthly Updates for IMS PTSA Families
www.imsptsa.orgMid-Jan. 2016
school_supplies_2.jpg
In This Issue
Vote Yes! Twice for Capital Projects & Technology, Transportation Levy Renewals
Mercer Island Drill Team Dance/Drill Clinic 2016
Reflections Award Event - Feb. 10
Mercer Island Girls Lacrosse Grades 1-8
IMS Spelling Bee!
Giving from the Heart Breakfast!
Seussical Jr. the Musical
Stroum Jewish Community Center Summer Camps
St. Thomas School Summer Camp Open House
MI Parent's Edge Presents...
National League of Young Men (NLYM) Applications Due Mid-Feb for interested 8th graders
Certified Super Babysitter classes, Ballet and More @ Mercer Island Parks and Recreation
Cheerleading Classes
TechSmart Kids: After School Coding Classes
Girls & Boys Volleyballogy and Boys Volleyball
Upcoming Events
January 27: 
IMS Art Portfolio Night - 5:30pm -7:30pm
February 3: IMS Eastshore Jazz Festival
February 10:
Spelling Bee, 1:20pm - 4pm
February 15-19: 
Mid-Winter Break - NO SCHOOL

Quick Links


 
 MISD



Community    Websites




 
 

MI Fine Arts Advisory Council

MI Communities That Care
Submit an Article

Archives

Join Our Mailing List  
Vote Yes!
Twice for Capital Projects & Technology, Transportation Levy Renewals

Two levy renewals are being proposed in February 2016 that provide funding for critical capital improvements to protect our community's investments in our schools, new technology and transportation for students. These are renewals of current levies - there is no change to the current levy assessment rate. The last levy renewals were overwhelming approved by Mercer Island voters.  For more information, go to YesMIschools.org.

Back to Top
Mercer Island Drill Team Dance/Drill Clinic 2016
For 6th, 7th & 8th Grade Students - Feb. 23, 24 & 25

Do you like to dance? Are you considering trying out for Drill Team in high school? Or do you just want to brush up on some of your moves with friends?

To read more about this 3-day clinic, click here.

To register, please contact Jennifer Mattox at jennifer_mattox@comcast.net
 
Registrations materials will also be available at IMS in the next few weeks.

Back to Top
Celebrate IMS Artistic Talent!
Reflections Award Event, February 10th, MIHS

Come celebrate IMS artist talent as the 2016 Reflection winners in Film, Literature, Music Composition, Photography and Visual Arts are recognized.  Everyone is invited to attend this Reflections Award Event on February 10, from 6:30 to 7:30 pm at the High School, by the Performing Arts Center.  Parents, Grandparents, Nannies, Staff, Teachers etc., can come anytime during this hour to view all the amazing Mercer Island art submitted with this year's theme, "Let Your Imagination Fly." Refreshments will be served.  

Please contact: Colleen Petersen at eatwise@att.net with questions. 

Back to Top
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.comGrades 1-4 contact elementary coordinators at migirlslaxes@gmail.com.
 
Back to Top
IMS Spelling Bee!
Wednesday, February 10th
honeybee.jpg
No, not that kind of bee!  Buzz on over to the Islander Middle School old library on Wednesday, February 10th. The Spelling Bee starts at 1:20PM and will end at 4PM.  

If you want to volunteer to help at the event or provide snacks, contact Sarah Vaux at sjvaux@comcast.net or at 206-850-5105
 
 
Back to Top

Mercer Island Community Events!  
Giving from the Heart Breakfast!
Wed., Feb. 10th 7:30-8:30AM, MICEC

A benefit for MI Youth & Family Services 
 Wed, February 10th
7:30 - 8:30 AM
MI Community & Event Center

I hope you will join us at our IMS table ~ Charlene Steinhauer

Together our IMS Community can make a difference in keeping Mercer Island strong by providing hope and empowering lives.  The Breakfast supports a great, local cause, and we know you will find it inspirational, informative and engaging!

No fee to attend. There will be a $250 suggested donation to MIYFS.
Register at www.miyfs.org
Contact Sari Weiss or (206) 275-7756.
 
Back to Top
Youth Northwest Theatre (YNT) Presents Seussical Jr. the Musical 
Jan. 22- Feb. 7, 2016, Stroum Jewish Community Center Auditorium

Horton the Elephant, the Cat in the Hat, and all of your favorite Dr. Seuss characters spring to life in this fantastic musical extravaganza! Transporting audiences from the Jungle of Nool to the Circus McGurkus, our feline narrator (in a very large hat) tells the story of Horton, an elephant who discovers a speck of dust containing tiny people called the Whos. The story takes off and away when Horton is also called upon to guard an abandoned egg that's been left in his care. 

Click here for information on performance schedule, ticket prices and the complete YNT press release.
 
Back to Top
All Roads Lead to Summer Camp!
Stroum Jewish Community Center

It's never too early to start thinking about Summer Camp.  The Stroum Jewish Community Center offers an assortment of various camps for your child.  Pick one week and three week camps.  Click here to learn more about their 2016 Summer Camp program.

Follow SJCC Summer Camp on Facebook Like us on Facebook
 
or twitter   Follow us on Twitter  

Back to Top
Thinking About Summer Camps?
St. Thomas School Summer Camp Fair, Sat., Feb. 6th, 10am - 2pm

St. Thomas School is offering a Summer Camp Fair to registered parents on Saturday, February 6th from 10AM - 2PM.  With camps for tots to teens, St. Thomas School is located at 8300 NE 12th Street in Medina. Interested parents can register for this free event at parentmap.com/campfair.

Click here for the St. Thomas School Summer Camp Fair Flyer!
 
Back to Top
MI Parent's Edge Presents
Ron Lieber, "The Opposite of Spoiled - Raising Kids Who are Grounded, Generous and Smart About Money", Tuesday, March 15th, 7PM, MIHS PAC

Ron Lieber, the "Your Money" columnist for the New York Times, will share practical advice for parents for having conversations about money that imprint good values, with a proper dose of perspective and gratitude. Learn how to foster an honest dialogue with our children on a typically difficult subject, turning such conversations into lessons about living. Book signing to follow the talk. Island Books will sell books in store and at the event; the paperback is due out on February 23. Go to www.ronlieber.com for more information. 

Free for Mercer Island PTA Members
$10 at the door for non-MI PTA Members - Bring a friend!
         
For parents of kids of all ages

For more information about Mercer Island Parent's Edge and upcoming events, click here.
 
Back to Top
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.

Back to Top
Certified Super Babysitter, Ballerina and More!
Imaginative Classes for Your Student @ MICEC in 2016

Sing with Our Kids Babysitting Class with Nancy Stewart
Saturday, February 27, 10am-11:30am
FREE! Learn how to engage babies and young children with simple singing activities, and how these benefit their development. You'll build a kit of activities and resources to keep kids happy, busy and growing under your care. Certificate of completion included.
Free Registration required, #16223, 206-275-7609.
 
Super Sitters Babysitting Training
This program is designed to train young people in basic babysitting and home-alone skills.  Students completing this course will be better prepared to provide a safer and more positive infant/child care experience.   Taught by a hospital-qualified instructor, this class includes parent expectations, basic first aid, home and fire safety, Heimlich maneuver, telephone tips, toys and activities and infant care.  Participants receive a Babysitting 101 handbook and a certification card upon completion of the class.  Bring a morning snack, sack lunch, and a drink.
Course: 15789 : Date: February 13, 9am-2pm : Day: Sat : Fee: $49 : Age: 11-15
 
Mother Goose Guitar with Nancy Stewart
Thursday, March 3-247-8pm
FREE! Mother Goose Guitar Class for adults who want to play simple songs with young children (parents, grandparents, teachers, etc). Taught by Nancy Stewart in partnership with Sing With Our Kids Early Learning Project. All materials provided, and loaner guitars are available, no prior experience necessary.  Free Registration required, #16222, 206-275-7609.  Located at MICEC.
 
Ballet Classes with Emerald Ballet Theatre
New this winter!  We are pleased to announce partnerhsip with the Emerald Ballet Theatre.  Come meet Ms. Emily our newest instructor.   
Tuesday, #15822, 1/26-3/29, ages 3-4, 3:10-4pm, #15822, ages 5-8, 4-5pm
$104 register at www.myparksandrecreation.com or call the MICEC 275-7609.


Back to Top
Cheerleading Classes
Mercer Island Community & Event Center, Next Session Starts Feb. 23rd

Come join us for cheerleading class at the Mercer Island Community and Event Center!  This beginning-to-intermediate level class is held on Tuesday evenings from 5:30-7pm.  It is offered through the Mercer Island Parks Department in conjunction with Eastside Dream Elite cheerleading.  Participants will learn basic cheer skills, motions, jumps, dance, and some basic tumbling as well.  No experience necessary!  Next session begins Tuesday, February 23rd.  Get more information and registration links at www.EastsideDreamElite.com or register directly at www.MyParksAndRecreation.com.


Back to Top
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.  
        
TechSmart Kids classes are not sponsored or endorsed by the IMS PTSA.
  
Back to Top
Girls & Boys Volleyballogy and Boys Volleyball
Mercer Island Community and Event Center

A.  Beginners volleyball clinics (ages 8-12, both boys and girls)
*Training focused on beginner fundamentals and mechanics.
Location: Mercer Island Community & Event Center
Time: 4:30-6:00
Dates: Wednesdays starting on 4.6 until 4.25
Cost: $280

B.  Absolute Zero Boys Volleyball
*We are currently running a boys volleyball training program that includes tournaments. Practices are at the Mercer Island Community Center. If you're interested, please email Billie for additional information.

Back to Top
 

Islander Middle School | 8225 SE 72nd St. | Mercer Island | WA | 98040