Playdate for SSALD Students

3/22/2023 11:43 am

Playdate for SSALD (Special Services & Learning Differences) Students

New Date - Saturday, March 25, 2pm-4pm, West Mercer Elementary School

Please re-mark your calendars for the first districtwide SSALD (Special Services and Learning Differences) playdate for elementary school children with  Special Services and learning differences, including IEPs and 504s, now on Saturday, March 25, from 2pm-4 pm, at the West Mercer Elementary School playground. 

March is Women's History Month

3/8/2023 1:28 pm

Celebrating Women’s History Month

March is Women’s History month. This month, our schools and classrooms will honor the contributions women have made to the development and accomplishments of our country, including these set of resources developed by 3^rd grade West Mercer teacher, Ms. Scheurich.  Read more Superintendent Fred Rundle’s March message here about Women’s History Month, Ramadan, and more. 

Book Club March 15

3/8/2023 1:16 pm

Join us for our Next Book Club Session on March 15

West Mercer parents and caregivers are welcome to join Northwood PTA’s next book club session on Wednesday, March 15, at 7pm.  The book club will discuss content from chapters 8-10 (focusing on elementary and middle school years) of Ibram X. Kendi’s book, How to Raise an Antiracist.

Please RSVP HERE to join any of the remaining book club sessions.

BSU Presentation about Black History

2/17/2023 4:53 pm

Black Student Union Presentation about Black History

March 1, West Mercer Multipurpose Room, 3:15pm

Pictured is MIHS senior Jamison Drayton, BSU Mentorship Program Lead.

Please join us on Wednesday, March 1, 3:15pm-4:15pm at the West Mercer Multipurpose Room, when Black Student Union (BSU) Mentorship Program Lead Jamison Drayton gives a presentation about Black History, including an overview of the great events that happened at the high school in February.

This meeting of BSU mentors and mentees will be open to all families so that everyone has the opportunity to learn more about Black History.

Please RSVP here if you can make it.

Central District Passport Tour

2/17/2023 4:48 pm

Central District Passport Group Tour

March 11, 1pm-3pm

Please click here if you would like to join a group Central District Passport Group Tour (led by Northwood PTA) for Northwood, West Mercer, Island Park, Lakeridge, IMS, and MIHS families.

We will visit important Black history areas in the Seattle area here.  

Necklace Sale Supports BSU

2/17/2023 1:55 pm

Necklace Sale to Support Black Student Union

All profits support BSU until March 6

Pictured is "The Old English” necklace, one of the gold dipped necklaces available for purchase to support BSU.

In recognition of Black History Month and beyond, here are Black owned businesses that you can support.  Ten Wilde, a Black owned jewelry business, has three beautiful necklaces available for purchase here.  The Old English” necklace pictured above can be customized with your birth date or any other significant date. 

All profits from these necklaces (available until March 6) will support Mercer Island High School’s Black Student Union.

BSU Dinner Feb. 9

2/13/2023 1:09 pm

BSU Dinner Connects Black Families on Mercer Island

Students’ Speeches Provide Insight on BSU Connections and Experiences as a Black Student on MI

Photo courtesy of Beniam Yetbarek.

Black Student Union (BSU) students pictured with BSU advisors Kelly John-Lewis and Valerie Perine at the BSU dinner.  

On February 9, over 100 Black and African American parents and students from the Mercer Island School District gathered for the first annual Black Student Union Dinner (BSU) at Mercer Island High School.  Elementary, middle, and high school students and parents came together to promote community, inclusion, and unity.

BSU Dinner Speech - Brooks Kahsai

2/13/2023 12:05 pm

Brooks Kahsai Speech, BSU Dinner, February 9, 2023

Photo courtesy of Beniam Yetbarek

Hi, everyone. It’s really great to see all of you here tonight. My name is Brooks Kahsai, and I’m a councilman for the BSU at Mercer Island High School. I first want to let you know that this week is a huge week for the Black Student Union and our campaigns for Black History Month. This year, the BSU began organizing all of these incredible projects for the school, and the Mercer Island community, to help enrich the education and communication of ourselves and our peers about Black History.

Hi, everyone. It’s really great to see all of you here tonight. My name is Brooks Kahsai, and I’m a councilman for the BSU at Mercer Island High School. I first want to let you know that this week is a huge week for the Black Student Union and our campaigns for Black History Month. This year, the BSU began organizing all of these incredible projects for the school, and the Mercer Island community, to help enrich the education and communication of ourselves and our peers about Black History.

BSU Dinner Speech - Joy Pearl

2/13/2023 12:01 pm

Joy Pearl Speech, BSU Dinner, February 9, 2023

 Photo courtesy of Beniam Yetbarek

Good evening everyone, my name is Joy Pearl and I am honored to be speaking with all of you today at this first annual Black Student Union event.  I came to the United States just a few years ago, and it has been a journey for me to adjust to a new country, a new culture, and a new environment. But one of the things that has made the transition much easier for me is being a part of the BSU community.

BSU Dinner Speech - Tewodros Sanchez-Alemu

2/13/2023 11:46 am

Tewodros Sanchez-Alemu Speech, BSU Dinner, February 9, 2023

 Photo courtesy of Beniam Yetbarek

I am Tewodros Sanchez-Alemu and I am a junior at Mercer Island high school. I am the son of two immigrants, one from Ethiopia and one from Puerto Rico. Like many parents they made the decision to move to Mercer Island sacrificing finance, identity and community because of the high quality of education. While the Island holds onto a vibrant community with a great school system which I am grateful to be a part of, it lacks one main thing. Diversity.