School briefs | Talk for 8th-grade parents on high school is April 8
Published 10:46 am Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Talk for 8th-grade parents on high school is April 8
A presentation specifically for parents of current 8th graders who are enrolling or considering enrolling at MIHS for the fall, is set for 7 p.m. April 8 at MIHS. Principal John Harrison will talk on raising and teaching healthy teens. Following the presentation, there will be a panel discussion where parents can ask current high school students questions. For more information, go to http://www.misd.k12.wa.us.
MISD summer school registration
Registration for summer school in the Mercer Island School District begins next week.
The summer program, with classes located at Mercer Island High School, is funded entirely by tuition; therefore, enrollment will determine which courses run and in what time slot.
Tuition is $300 for all courses and due with the student’s application. There may be a small lab or supplies fee in those courses where there are additional costs. Partial scholarships will be available for students on free and reduced lunch.
Dates to remember:
• April 12: Registration opens (applications can be found on the Web site: http://www.misd.k12.wa.us.
• May 7: Summer school registration closes.
• May 21: Class schedule confirmations mailed.
• June 22 to July 29: Summer school in session.
For more information on the MISD summer school program, visit http://www.misd.k12.wa.us/schools/hs.
Kindergarten placement notification delayed
The elementary school principals for Lakeridge, West Mercer and Island Park have notified parents that the kindergarten assignments have been delayed because of the district’s budget challenges.
According to a press release from the principals, the schools have not been able to finalize the classes while waiting for the final budget information.
West Mercer Elementary Principal Rich Mellish said the delay was caused while the district waits to see what the state’s final budget is, to know how much money the schools will have for classrooms and teachers. Without knowing the number of teachers and what space the district has money for, the schools can’t decide on how many students and where they will go within the district.
“It’s a big question of how many kids are at each school, and it’s hard to make a concrete decision until we know,” said Mellish.
The schools will make final decisions by the end of April, or sooner, and will then notify parents.
Put MIHS band members to work
Wade through your garage. Traipse through your garden. See a mess? Hear a symphony.
Mercer Island High School Band students are looking for work — everything from mulching flowerbeds, to organizing clutter, to serenading dinner parties or teaching a few music lessons.
Band students are eagerly looking for odd jobs to help pay for their upcoming trip to London to play in the city’s 2011 New Year’s Day parade. The students’ hours are flexible, and their work ethic is extraordinary.
To connect with band students, contact the Mercer Island Youth and Family Services jobline at 275-7764. When describing your job, be sure to mention that the job is appropriate for Mercer Island Band students.
Science Friday at Lakeridge is recess alternative
The Science Enrichment Program at Lakeridge Elementary School includes Science Friday, which has developed into a popular resource for students during recess period.
A variety of science-related activities and experiments are set up each Friday on the playground or in the library.
Attendance is voluntary, but the children have responded with great interest and come back each week excited to explore new ideas and concepts or revisit favorite topics with a new twist. Topics have included: chemistry solid, liquids and gases; science tricks for the Thanksgiving table; optics; simple machines; and the five senses.
In June, the Woodland Park Zoo will bring its reptiles to the playground. The students have extracted DNA from strawberries, and are encouraged to grow their scientific curiosities in a hands-on atmosphere while having fun at the same time.
Science specialist Claudia Allard said, “The enthusiasm and excitement the students have to learn about science is wonderful to watch. Their fearless approach is refreshing.”
The program invites experts in the community to support the science specialist either by lending their expertise or by volunteering at a Science Friday.
For more information, contact Lakeridge PTA enrichment vice president Sherrie Parry at sparry4@msn.com.
Schools Foundation’s ‘Breakfast of Champions’ is April 27
The Mercer Island Schools Foundation Annual Community and Business Leaders fundraising “Breakfast of Champions” is set for 7 a.m. on Tuesday, April 27, at Mercer Island High School.
The keynote speaker is Islander Dr. Fred Mednick, founder of Teachers Without Borders.
To learn more and make a reservation, call the Mercer Island Schools Foundation office at (206) 275-2550 or learn more at http://www.mercerislandschoolsfoundation.com.
Parent education talk on exercise and the brain
Physician and author John Ratey will speak at 7 p.m., April 19, at Mercer Island High School.
His newest book, “Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain,” is a ground-breaking exploration of the connection between exercise and brain performance. Even moderate exercise can super-charge mental circuits to beat stress, sharpen thinking, amplify memory and enhance all aspects of learning and mood.
Ratey is a clinical psychiatrist and an associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. He has published 60 peer-reviewed articles on various issues in neuropsychiatry and is an internationally-acclaimed bestselling author and speaker.
In addition to “Spark,” published in 2008, Ratey’s works include “A User’s Guide to the Brain” (2000) and “Shadow Syndromes,” written with Catherine Johnson, Ph.D. (1997), as well as three books co-authored with Edward Hallowell, M.D.
Tickets are available at Island Books for $10 until April 19 or $25 at the door. For additional information, contact judych@msn.com or go to http://www.JohnRatey.com.
