Wednesdays, March 16 - April 6 | 10:05 am (K-2), 10:25 am (3-5) | Covered area of playground | $1.25 without marshmallows, $1.50 with marshmallows

Warm up during morning recess by buying a cup of hot chocolate and support the 5th Grade Hot Chocolate Fundraiser!  5th graders will donate to support children affected by the war in Ukraine. (Donations will go to the UN Refugee Agency.)

Note: Hot chocolate is for students only.  Please send your student(s) with cash/change the morning of the event date(s). 

Milk allergies: We will use Swiss Milk Hot Chocolate (contains milk). Hot cider will be available as an alternative.

Parent volunteers needed!  Please sign up at the link below.

Click here for more information.  For any questions, please contact Anne Reece.

Deadline: Thursday, March 17

Current Island Park Principal David Hoffman is retiring at the end of the 2021-2022 school year.

MISD has begun the process of finding the next principal for Island Park. As part of the search process, MISD is using ThoughtExchange at the link below as a means of seeking input from Island Park families regarding what type of individual should be hired as the school’s next principal.

You will be asked to share your thoughts with MISD about what characteristics, skills, and leadership qualities you would like to see in the next Principal at Island Park.

You will be able to rate the thoughts shared by other families, and we will learn what is most important to Island Park families. You can rate as many thoughts as you’d like (20-30 is recommended), and you will be able to see all the thoughts sorted by the average star rating.

Your thoughts and stars are confidential. You can come back as often as you'd like to participate and, in fact, we ask that you do come back to star some of the new ideas shared since you first participated.

If you need technical help, please call ThoughtExchange at (800) 361-9027, ext. 4 or e-mail help@thoughtexchange.com.

Tuesday & Wednesday, March 22 & 23 | MIHS

The district-wide Fine Arts Showcase is a not-to-be-missed two-day extravaganza! All elementary students have an art piece on display at the Showcase, and our 3rd grade students perform in a special choral and dance program.  There will also be performances and scenes by bands, choirs, orchestras, and drama from IMS and MIHS.

Click on the link below for more information and to purchase tickets. Tickets for each show are limited due to Covid restrictions.  No cash payments at the door on the day of event.

Wednesday, March 23

Join us in showing our appreciation for our faculty and staff! With the help of our families, we’d like to treat our Island Park teachers and support staff with a token of our appreciation in the form of a Yogurt and Granola Bar to start off their morning. Please check out the sign-up at the link below for donation items and instructions. Thank you Island Park Community for coming together to treat our faculty and staff!

Wednesday, March 30 | 5-6:30 pm | Islander M.S.
For incoming 6th graders and their parents

The purpose of this night is to give families an opportunity to become familiar with the layout of Islander Middle School. This informal drop-in event will give you and your child a chance to participate in a scavenger hunt as you tour the school and experience fun opportunities that IMS has to offer. Counselors will be available to answer questions about the registration process.  We anticipate the experience to last about 40 minutes. There will be no formal presentation on this night. 

More information coming soon!

Wednesday, April 20 | 6-8 pm | IP Breezeway | $5
Registration deadline: Friday, April 8

Join us for a night of science fun! Students will be grouped by grade level (K/1, 2/3, 4/5) and accompanied by small group chaperones (parent volunteers) as they participate in three 30-minute sessions of hands-on science experiments and activities. (4th and 5th graders will rotate through two 45-minute sessions.). Click on the link below to register. There will be NO walk-in registrations.

Questions? Please contact Michelle Wilburor Kirsten Duell.

Please register any new students for the 2022-2023 school year as soon as possible using the link below.  Enrolling new students now will help us plan for classrooms and staff before the summer break.

Wednesday, March 16 | 6 pm | Zoom

The MIPTA Council's Committee for Special Services Abilities and Learning Differences (SSALD) is made up of parents of children in the district with an IEP or 504 or those just beginning the journey towards an IEP or 504. 

The goals of this committee are to:

• Advocate for the advancement of the academic and social-emotional education of students with learning differences and abilities, ensuring every student is able to reach their full potential.
• Connect parents, educators, and administrators to build bridges and increase understanding and awareness of issues for students with learning differences and abilities.
• Educate parents and others in the community so that they have the support and resources they need to advocate for students with learning differences and abilities.
• Educate peers and teachers with regard to disabilities to create an environment of acceptance and inclusion.
• Help parents connect with other parents who are in similar situations or who have had similar experiences. 

SSALD is co-chaired by Jennifer Crespi and Jessi Biagi. Representatives from each school will report back any suggestions or issues they see at their respective schools to cover during meetings.  The representatives for Island Park are Destiny Bachman and Alexis MacLean.

Please e-mail Jennifer and Jessi at ssald@miptacouncil.org if you would like to be added to the SSALD contact list and receive the Zoom link for meetings.

Thursday, March 17 | 10:35-11:25 am (grades K-2), 12:55-1:55 pm (grades 3-5)

Visiting author, Grace Lin, will Zoom with students and talk with them about the process of making a picture book or writing a chapter book. If you have a child home for quarantine, e-mail Librarian Barb Middleton for the Zoom link. For more information on the two programs and Grace Lin's books, click the link below.

Friday, March 25

If you are interested in volunteering, please choose your desired slot(s) in the morning and/or afternoon at the link below.  If you have not completed the Volunteer training and forms, please do so within a few days prior to the screening date so that the paperwork can be processed in time.  If you already processed your paperwork, you are already set for the remaining school year.  For all volunteers, please remember to bring your driver's license to check in at the front desk on the day of the screening.

If you have any questions, please contact Ellen Marks by e-mail or at (206) 236-3411. 

Thank you for volunteering!

Wednesday, April 20 | 6-8 pm | IP Breezeway

We have more than 50 positions available for volunteering!

Science Fun Night can't happen without you!  Whether you choose to be a chaperone or an experiment leader, no science or teaching experience is necessary to be a terrific Science Fun Night Volunteer. Click on the link below to sign up to volunteer.

Questions? Please contact Michelle Wilburor Kirsten Duell.

Our PTA Nominating Committee announces the following open Parent Board and Chair positions for the 2022-2023 school year. Come join the team!

• President
• Vice President
• Secretary
• Treasurer
• Fundraising
• Enrichment
• Communications
• Community Building
• Volunteer & Staff Services
• Advocacy
• Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
• Reflections Art Chair
• 5th Grade Support Chair

Please contact Carol Kuo or Julian Bradley for interest or questions at president@islandparkpta.org.

Interested in getting involved in your child(ren)'s reading? The library relies on an amazing pool of library volunteers to help out in the library all year long. Many enjoy interacting with their child(ren)'s class as they come to the library to check out books; others volunteer for special projects or the book fairs. Come enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and help promote reading. No experience necessary. Currently, the district COVID restrictions allow for only one volunteer per class.  Sign up at the link below.

Deadline: Wednesday, April 6

Is your student headed to Islander M.S. in the fall? If yes, a great way to learn all about the school is to join the PTSA Board! All IMS parents-to-be are invited to consider the various leadership opportunities available within the IMS PTSA. The Nominating Committee is now taking nominations for the 2022-2023 Board Executive Committee positions, which include:

• President
• Vice President/President Elect
• Secretary
• Treasurer

We are also looking for nominations for the following appointed Vice President positions, all of which can be shared as co-VP positions:

• Advocacy
• Communications
• Community Building & Events
• Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
• Enrichment
• Fundraising
• Operations
• Staff Appreciation

PTSA membership is a requirement for all of these leadership positions. If you or someone you know is interested in serving in one of the above positions,  please e-mail one of the Nominating Committee members below. You may also submit a nomination form at the link below.

Pam Hinnen
Lily Huang
Amanda Stoffer

Through Thursday, March 17

A mischievous leprechaun has left hidden shamrocks throughout the Mercer Island Business District! Community members are invited to follow the Leprechaun Treasure Trail to find the shamrocks for a chance to win a pot of gold containing prizes from all participating businesses. 

Trail maps are available at Island Treats and Island Books. Follow the trail left by the little jokester around the MI Business District, then turn in your completed map to Island Treats or Island Books for a chance to win the pot of gold. No purchase necessary to participate! Happy hunting!

Tuesday, March 22 | 2 pm | Zoom

Are you desperately seeking that magical aha! epiphany that will help you transform your child’s specifically problematic behavior (or maybe your own)? We’ve got your back! Join ParentMap Live for an essential ParentEd Talk with child development expert and author Dr. Laura Markham.

In this lively Q+A, Dr. Markham will share her reassuring and empowering wisdom for handling the trickiest behavioral challenges — all in order to cultivate a more peaceful home and to raise happy, responsible, and considerate kids.  Click the link below for more information and to purchase tickets.

Thursday, March 24 - Sunday, April 10

Presenting 18 film programs from 9 countries over 2 weeks. Nine will screen in person and feature special events, guests, and food experiences, and almost all 18 will screen virtually for the full 2 weeks. Featuring boundary breakers, comedy capers, TV series to binge on, burgeoning love, famous faces, award nominees, silent film and explorations of cinema classics, and so much more. Attend in-person at theaters around Seattle or watch from the comfort of your home. Take a look at the films for this year’s 2022 Seattle Jewish Film Festival and join us.  Click on the link below for more information and to purchase tickets.

Through Friday, April 22

Join the Stroum Jewish Community Center’s Mitzvah Corps for a new year of making a difference with our Volunteer Challenge. Through April, we’ll offer a variety of in-person and at-home volunteer opportunities for the whole family across the Puget Sound! Each time you volunteer through Mitzvah Corps, submit a photo of your family in action. We’ll track participation, and the family with the most volunteer activities will be our honored guests at the Community Seder on Friday, April 22. 

How to Participate:

• Register your family/team here.
• Choose your in-person or at-home volunteer opportunities.
• Take a photo of your family at each volunteer activity.
• E-mail your photos to us at community@sjcc.org.

To register for any in-person activity, sign up here.

For at-home activities and more info on the Volunteer Challenge, click here.

Questions? E-mail community@sjcc.org.

Fridays through April 29 | 4-5:30 pm | Zoom

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For Mercer Island Mandarin-speaking parents and caregivers of children aged 2-6. The Incredible Years is an evidence-based curriculum from the University of Washington that offers new skills to promote children’s reading and school readiness, problem solving, social competence, and emotional self-regulation.  Led by local psychologist Dr. Chang Liu, who has extensive training in behavior management training interventions, with Daisy Ma, 5th year Psychology Doctoral candidate at the University of Washington, serving as co-facilitator.

This program requires active participation in the Zoom sessions. Participants are expected to participate in all sessions, in-class discussion, and at-home practice.  Click the link below for more information and to register.

Located near the South End QFC, the MIFit dojo has new offerings for everyone in the family! In addition to the popular HIIT, Kickboxing, and Teen Fit classes,  NEW Youth Jiu Jitsu, Yoga, and Zumba are available. Drop-ins welcome and first class is FREE! More information on classes and classes can be found here.

Did you know? Every time you shop at Amazon, you can also donate to Island Park PTA at the same time at no extra cost to you! Simply select "Island Park PTA" as your charity every time you shop at smile.amazon.com or follow the instructions below to activate AmazonSmile in the app, and a percentage of your eligible purchases comes back to the Island Park PTA!

How it works:

1. Open the Amazon app on your phone.
2. Select the main menu (=) and tap on "AmazonSmile" within Programs & Features.
3. Select "Island Park PTA" as your charity.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to activate AmazonSmile in the mobile app.