Lakeridge Science Fair

May 2 | 4:30pm check in; 5-7pm | IMS Commons

Register today for the Lakeridge Science Fair! The Science Fair is a fun, non-competitive event where all types of projects from ALL grades are encouraged. Each participating student will have the opportunity to present their experiment to a judge and will receive a Science Fair medal. 

Everything you need to know can be found on the Lakeridge PTA Science Fair site, but here are a few things to get you started:

• Registration: ONLINE ONLY | Monday, March 18 – Friday, March 29 | Click here to register.
• Students can work independently or with a partner (max 2 students per project). If partnering, please only have one parent register both students to avoid duplicate entries.
• There is no cost to participate.
• The Science Fair is funded by the Lakeridge PTA and through the sale of optional t-shirts and project boards. 
• This year’s T-shirt logo was designed by a Lakeridge parent and is available in both youth and adult sizes (ordering information available in the online registration form).
• The event is intended to get kids interested in science. Have fun! 
• This is a volunteer-run event. At least one adult per student must volunteer the day of the event. Click here to volunteer.
• Don't forget to check-out when completing the registration form, even if you are not purchasing items. This step completes the registration process. 

We look forward to receiving your entries and learning about the excellent scientific work done by the Lakeridge Student Body!

Please email the Science Fair committee at sciencefair@lakeridgepta.org with any questions.

Spring Enrichment programs are updated and ready for enrollment!  Please visit the Lakeridge PTA website for more information and to sign up.

What if we all understood each other's differences? The IDEA project is a one-week program custom-tailored for elementary students that offers an opportunity to build understanding and empathy through experience and education. Learn more about The IDEA Project here.

The IDEA Project takes place at Lakeridge on March 25 - 27. We’ll kickoff the week with two age-appropriate assemblies (K-2 and 3-5) and then each class will rotate through four activity stations that simulate the experience of learning with different abilities. This is an incredible program and we are very excited to have The Idea Project back for a second year!

We need YOUR HELP! Volunteers are essential to making this a successful experience for our students. Please consider volunteering via this link. Please contact your child’s classroom teacher to find out when they are scheduled to go through the stations.

The IDEA Project team will give you all the training you need to run the stations. Running stations is super easy and fun! If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact Allison Bureau at info@theideaproject.org.

YEARBOOK PICTURES NEEDED

Attention!  We need your pictures for the 2023/2024 Lakeridge yearbook!  We need classroom candids from class parties, field trips and other special events, as well as photos of your students participating in lunchtime or after school enrichment activities.  

Please forward photos to yearbooklakeridge@gmail.com. Please include the teacher’s name as well as the event/activity name in the subject line of the email and ensure photos sent via email are not compressed beyond medium/large.

We are especially looking for photos of the following Lakeridge events/clubs:  Toymaker Visits, Field Trips, After School Enrichment Activities (i.e Green Team, Chess Club, Curiosity Club, Origami Club, etc.)

PURCHASE STUDENT YEARBOOK

Do you still need to purchase a yearbook for your student? There was an option to order in the fall Parent Pack, but if you still need to order a yearbook, please click here. The deadline to order is April 19!  Can't remember if you already ordered one? Click here to review previous orders.

The Lakeridge Garden is open to ALL students who want to be gardeners during lunch recesses on Thursdays from March 14 through June 6.  Student gardeners will be planting seeds, bulbs, vegetables, trees, flowers, and other plants.  They'll be learning about native plants, Washington State crops, and plants that butterflies and other pollinators enjoy. Later, they'll be harvesting.

Parent volunteers are needed on Thursdays from 12:15 - 1:30. No gardening experience is required. You're guaranteed to see the student gardeners smiling!  Please sign up here.

Stop by and see the garden with your student!  You'll find daffodils, native snowberries, garlic starting to grow, and fruit tree leaves almost ready to burst open.  Each of the 19 raised beds is labelled, so you can see what's coming as well.

Please find Superintendent Rundle's March message on Enrollment, Dates of Significance, Student & Staff Accomplishments, and Architectural Planning here. 

Introducing Parenting Mercer Island - a comprehensive tool to address everyday parenting challenges.

Mercer Island Youth and Family Services and the MI Healthy Youth Initiative are excited to share Parenting Mercer Island with MI parents and caregivers. The ParentingMercerIsland.orgtool is intentional in promoting the healthy mental, emotional, and behavioral development of Mercer Island’s children and youth by actively growing their social and emotional skills.

The resource provides tools and information for parents and those in a parenting role to bolster their parenting skills in growing the social and emotional skills of children. The tools are appropriate for birth through the teen years. Users can access tools to address everyday parenting challenges by age and issue. 

Tools are based on an easy-to-use 5-step process including actions to take and the words to say to engage children. Topics include: Bullying, Confidence, Conflict, Child Trauma, Discipline, Empathy, Establishing Rules About Alcohol, Establishing Rules About Cannabis, Friends, Mixed Messages About Alcohol, Mixed Messages About Cannabis, Peer Pressure, Responsibility, Routines, Stress and Anxiety, and Talking About Differences 

The online resource also includes in-depth information on various topics in the “I Want to Know More” resources. Topics include: Communication, Development, Discipline, Parenting Process, Relationships, and Risky Behavior

Please visit ParentingMercerIsland.org for more information.

Each year, the Mercer Island School District asks families to participate in their Educational Effectiveness Survey (EES) to help determine areas of strength and opportunities for improvement. School and district administrators truly value this data, as they use it with teachers to plan for the improvement of their system. 

This year, we ask that you take the time to complete the survey: 

Educational Effectiveness Survey

Please complete the EES by March 31, 2024

Thank you for your participation and we appreciate your support making as we continually look at how we can improve MISD.

We encourage families to enroll as soon as possible. This helps forecast class sizes and staffing needs for the coming school year.

Children must be 5 years old by August 31, 2024, to register for kindergarten for the 2024-2025 school year. 

For more information on kindergarten enrollment visit the Kindergarten Registration page. 

2 Nights of Arts Events

2024 Theme: An Evening on Red Carpet

Doors Open at 5:30PM each night

MISD students enter free

Performances and scenes by MISD bands, choirs, orchestras, and drama students.  Visual artworks on display.

Tuesday April 2nd: Visual Arts Night

Community Lego activity, scavenger hunt, glow in the dark room

Wednesday April 3rd: Performing Arts Night

Two shows: 6:30pm and 7:45pm

Food Truck both nights

Purchase tickets here

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting prayer, reflection, and community. Ramadan is considered one of the holiest months of the year for Muslims. 

In Ramadan, Muslims commemorate the revelation of the Qur’an, and fast from food and drink during the sunlit hours as a means of drawing closer to God and cultivating self-control, gratitude, and compassion for those less fortunate. Ramadan is a month of intense spiritual rejuvenation with a heightened focus on devotion, during which Muslims spend extra time reading the Qur’an and performing special prayers. 

At the end of Ramadan, Muslims celebrate one of their major holidays called Eid ul-Fitr or the “Festival of the Breaking of the Fast.” Children traditionally receive new clothes, money, or gifts from parents, relatives, and friends. A special prayer and sermon are held on the morning of Eid day, followed by a community celebration usually in a park or large hall. Food, games, and presents for children are important parts of the festivities, as friends and family spend the day socializing, eating, and reuniting with old acquaintances. The greeting Eid Mubarak means “blessed holiday!”

Books:

• The Gift of Ramadan by Rabiah York Lumbard 
• Little Leena Learns About Ramadan by Zainab Fadlallah
• Ramadan (Celebrate the World) by Hannah Eliot
• Tell me more about Ramadan: (Islamic books for kids) by Bachar Karroum

Nowruz is the Iranian or Persian New Year celebrated by various ethnic groups worldwide that started as a Zorastrian celebration. Nowruz, or "new day" in Persian, is an ancient festival that marks the beginning of spring and celebrates the rebirth of nature. And naturally, it has a lot to do with fresh, green foods just beginning to poke out of the ground that remind us winter is not, in fact, eternal. 

Nowruz begins at the stroke of the vernal equinox, when the sun crosses the equator. When the equinox comes, millions of families of Iranian descent gather around a ceremonial table known as the haftseen. Young and old hold hands and count down to the New Year together and cheer Eide Shoma Mobarak, or Happy New Year!

Books:

Soraya's Nowruz Dance by Anahita Tamaddon 

The Meaning of Nowruz by Anahita Tamaddon

Seven Special Somethings: A Nowruz Story by Adib Khorram

Norooz A Celebration of Spring! The Persian New Year by Gail Hejazi

During the month of March, we proudly celebrate Women's History Month, a time dedicated to recognizing and honoring the remarkable contributions of women throughout history. This month serves as a tribute to the countless trailblazers whose achievements have shaped and enriched our world. From scientists and artists to activists and leaders, women have played pivotal roles in every facet of human progress. Regardless of their notoriety, as we reflect on their accomplishments, may we be inspired to foster an environment that empowers every student, regardless of gender, to pursue their dreams and make their mark on the world. Our school will use opportunities this month to celebrate women’s history month.  

Save-the-Date! 
Safely dispose of the old equipment, hardware, appliances, and other household items that are cluttering your basement or garage at the annual Mercer Island Spring Recycling Event.

When: March 30, 9:00am to 3:00pm

Where: Islander Middle School Parking Lot - 7447 84th Ave SE

More info here.

Neurodiversity Speaker Series

This series features a lineup of renowned experts, including educators, mental health professionals, and advocates specializing in neurodiversity.  It provides families with valuable insights and tools to better support and connect with neurodivergent learners, including those with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, and more.  

Changing Perspectives: Understanding Inclusion, Ableism, and Neurodiversity by Sam Drazin, Founder and Executive Director, Changing Perspectives

When: Tuesday, March 26 at 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Where: Zoom

Please RSVP here for event details and Zoom links

Parenting SOS: Expert Answers to Your Burning Questions

Our kids are constantly changing. Advice for parents is, too. So, we’re phoning friends and calling in an expert. Join ParentMap for an intimate hour of conversation with Dr. Laura Kastner, an internationally recognized clinical psychologist, author, researcher and veteran parent. We’ve selected a diverse group of parents to ask some of our most burning parenting questions and then we'll open up Q&A to our live audience.

Ask us anything. No, really. From bullying, conflict with peers and/or classmates, temperament, behavioral problems, neurodiversity, LGBTQIA issues, racism, religious bias, political partisanship, school policies, homework, social exclusion and cell phone/media usage.

When: Wednesday, March 27 at 1 p.m.

Where: Online

Please RSVP here.

Mercer Island Lacrosse is a boys youth lacrosse program for Mercer Island boys in Kindergarten through 8th grade. 

Register for the 2024 MILC Youth Spring Season here.

For more information, visit www.mercerislandlacrosse.com, or email info@mercerislandlacrosse.com

Entry-level programs for boys ages 6-8 who enjoy music! No experience required.

For more information, visit nwboychoir.org

Dive into a summer of FUN with Boys & Girls Club! Make friends, explore Mercer Island parks, local events, hit the beach, and embark on epic field trips to the zoo, ballpark, aquarium, and so much more!

Grouped by grade: K/1st, 2nd/3rd, 4th/5th

Each week is a new adventure!

Preview of available camps:

• Lego Building
• Bakeshop
• Athletic Camps (Basketball, cheer, volleyball, etc.)
• Wild About Animals
• Local Explorers
• Carnival Extravaganza
• ..and many more!

Go to http://www.positiveplace.org for more details.

Our camps and events are fun AND academic. Your campers will be reading, writing, and doing math every day of camp! We make learning fun! 

Camps: 

Week 1: July 15-19

Week 2: July 22-26

Special Events:

March 27: March Madness with Wise

May 1: Star Wars-Themed STEM Night

June 15: Pokemon-Themed STEM Night

Ages 4 years old through 8th grade.

Go to wisecamps.com for more details. 

Pairing elementary students and high schoolers in a mentorship program! Free tutoring in any subject for elementary students and volunteer hours for high schoolers. 

Fun and flexible meetings! Tutees can work with their paired tutors to schedule meetings based on availability and work on any subject you wish!

Sign up here.