A biweekly publication of the Northwood Elementary PTA   
Art Showcase winner! 

Congratulations to Grant Lee, a student in Mrs. Dye's 3rd grade class for winning the art poster contest for the Fine Arts Showcase.

The selection was a hard choice as there were so many fabulous entries. Grant's art truly represented the seasons and it had sharp colors with great energy that will translate into a great poster.  
 
Thank you to everyone who participated!   Each participant will receive a ribbon along and their artwork will be returned.  Grant will also receive a gift card for Island Books. Well done!
Principal's Coffee

Friday, March 31st at 9:30am
NW Commons

Please join us for a special presentation by Julie Hovind & Kara Millsap, MISD Technology Integration Specialists.   Mrs. Hovind & Mrs. Millsap will share about current tech-rich projects going on around the district in grades K-5, describe tech tools that are being used by students at school, and provide information about subscription tools that are available to support your student's learning at home.  

Please submit questions for the Principal's Coffee in advance via email to  principalscoffee@northwoodowlspta.org by March 27th


Congratulations  to the Destination Imagination Participants!

Students from all of the Mercer Island schools have been busy since October brainstorming, creating, tinkering and problem solving to prepare for the Destination Imagination (DI) Regional Tournament that was held last month in Auburn, WA.

A number of Northwood students were on DI teams and some of the students will be advancing with their teams to the Destination Imagination State Tournament in Wenatchee on April 1st.

Congratulations to the following Northwood students for all of their hard work on their DI teams!
  • Jacqueline Brown
  • Cody Fosseen
  • Angela Lee
  • Madison Liu - team has advanced to State Competition
  • Daniel Marcus - team has advanced to State Competition
  • Lara Onnen
  • Samantha Pelter - team has advanced to State Competition
  • Arthur Proctor
  • Alden Ritter - team has advanced to State Competition

Teams that are awarded first place at the State Tournament will advance to the DI Global Competition in Knoxville, TN!

Don't forget - Give back while shopping!

An easy way to support Northwood Elementary PTA is by shopping using this special  Amazon link designated for Northwood PTA. 

Bookmark and use this link for shopping year round at Amazon.com!  Amazon gives back a portion of the sales to Northwood PTA when you use our link.  How much easier could it get to support your school?

Fine Arts Showcase 2017 - Call for Volunteers!!

The district-wide Fine Arts Showcase will take place this year on  April 4th and 5th, and is a wonderful annual fundraiser and event celebrating our children's involvement with art, music, theater and drama.

Our elementary Art Teachers, Tracy Richardson and Kelly Tran, will rely on parent volunteers to help with mounting our kids' art onto butcher paper from  March 27th-30th, and to help hang these collections at the high school on  March 31st and help to take it down  April 21st.  Mark your calendars and if you can, please sign up  here to help!

Information about pre-purchasing your tickets for the Fine Arts Showcase is coming soon! All proceeds benefit the MISD Fine Arts programs.

MIYFS Event Invitation

A Conversation about Successful Parenting in a High Pressure Culture
  • March 15th, 7:00-8:30 pm, 
    Mercer Island Community and Events Center
Please join Mercer Island Youth and Family Services for a community conversation on how to be a successful parent on Mercer Island. Hear from Island youth and parenting professionals about the issues facing Island youth and how to address them. A particular focus on how to be an effective role model will expand to include tips from teens (and local professionals) to parents on what it takes to be a successful parent in the high-pressure culture on Mercer Island.

Parents and Teens Welcome.  Light refreshments provided.  No RSVP required

For more information contact Derek Franklin, YFS Programs Manager
PTA Learning Series Lunch 

Meet Julie Underwood,
Mercer Island’s New City Manager  

March 31st, 12:00pm,
City Hall

City Manager, Julie Underwood will give an update on the I-90 light rail litigation and will discuss the $2 million Island Crest Park Renovation project that includes turfing and lighting of the south portion of the play fields.  There will also be a Q&A session where participants can ask Julie about other city related items.

Parent Edge Speaker

Parent Edge and the MI Forefront Team present:

March 29th, 7:00pm 
Mercer Island High School PAC

Come and listen to Dr. Laura Kastner discuss the evidence based prevention strategies that you can use to help a youth in crisis stay safe and get support.  Just like first aid and CPR, this is valuable knowledge for everyone to have in their toolkit to support a healthy family and community.

Mercer Island School District News

Mercer Island High broadcasters receive national awards

March 8, 2017 - KMIH 889 The Bridge, the Mercer Island High School student radio station, received eight Golden Microphone awards at the 77th Annual Intercollegiate Broadcasting System Conference and Awards in New York City. >> Read More

Kindergarten registration now open for the 2017-18 school year

March 6, 2017 - Mercer Island School District is now accepting kindergarten registrations for the 2017-18 school year. >> Read More







Green Schools Program Series

Did you know that 25 percent of edible food and drinks in the United States end up in a garbage can? The average American throws away over a half-pound of food per day, contributing to the 160 billion pounds of edible food thrown away every year in this country.

In the past 40 years food waste has increased by 50 percent. That food waste results in about $1,600 lost per family each year. If we look at the data worldwide, that number skyrockets to $750 billion in food waste.  When we waste food, we also waste the water and energy used to grow, prepare, and transport that food. 

Some schools have conducted lunchroom waste studies through the King County Green Schools Program. Food waste comprises an estimated 30 – 50 percent of total garbage volume in school cafeterias. As students see the waste generated in their cafeterias, they are amazed at how much uneaten, edible food and drinks are being thrown away!

The good news is that your family can take small actions that have a big impact.
  1. Learn how to pack a waste free lunch by visiting http://www.wastefreelunches.org/parents.html.  In short, replace disposable baggies with reusable/refillable containers, paper napkins with cloth napkins, and plastic bottles or cans with reusable drink containers. Ask your child to bring home uneaten items to be eaten later.  Talk with your child about healthy eating with less waste.

  2. Get your child involved in packing his/her own lunches. When kids plan and prepare their own lunches, they are more likely to eat the meal.

Brought to you by the King County Green Schools Program 

Community Events & Programs*

Sports Programs

Art Programs

  • Smart with Art - Imagine with Fashion, Fridays 4/7 - 6/2; 3:45 - 5pm (033117)

Spring & Summer Camps

Speakers & Workshops

  • Parent Edge Speaker - Mar. 20th - Dr. Laura Kastner, Toxic Stress and the Pressure to Succeed  - 7:00pm, MIHS Performing Arts Center (032017)

Community Programs/Events

More information about Mercer Island programs, activities and resources is available in the "Your Mercer Island Community" guide.

*Mercer Island School District and Northwood PTA have neither reviewed nor approved the program, personnel, activities or organizations announced above. The participants agree to protect, indemnify, and hold harmless the district and PTA, including elected and appointed officials, employees, agents, staff and volunteers, from any and all claims, liabilities, damages, expenses, or rights of action, directly or indirectly attributed to the activities. Inclusion in this newsletter should not be considered a recommendation of the program by the school district or by the PTA. These are neither school district nor PTA sponsored activities.