Principal's Message
Dear West Mercer Families,
I hope your Memorial Day weekend is off to a great start. I apologize for the delay in my May Family Newsletter. It has been an extremely busy month as we have begun to wrap up the current school year and prepare for the 2023-2024 year. There are many overdue thanks, celebrations, and event updates! Before getting to those, I do want to acknowledge that this weekend may be a long holiday, but it is also one in which we remember and honor the service members who have sacrificed their lives on behalf of this country. West Mercer honors those service members from within our own school community, Mercer Island community, and beyond.
Thank You’s
There have been so many wonderful events this past month that would not have been possible without the tremendous support of our families and PTA. Thank you for the incredible outpouring of support to our West Mercer educators during the “Teacher Appreciation Week.” Thank you to the PTA for putting together a fun “Bike/Walk/Roll-to-School” event and “Courtyard Clean-Up” opportunity this month. Thank you also to the PTA Diversity Equity & Inclusion (DEI) representative, Soyun Chow, for her help in organizing a fabulous AANHPI assembly this past week. Celebrations and events like these help to build and strengthen our collective school community. Thank you families and PTA for your support! We see you!
Recognition Months
May has also been a focused recognition month in honor of Jewish American heritage and Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander (AANHPI) heritage. We have acknowledged, celebrated, and elevated these communities in our classroom projects, read-alouds, and a recent MIHS student-led AANHPI assembly. As I often mention, while this month offers a special opportunity to recognize these communities, we also ensure the representation and recognition of these identities are present in our teaching and learning throughout the year - not just in May.
Office Updates
You may have noticed an update to our office vestibule and entrance protocols recently. We have shifted a few things on behalf of supporting a student need and ensuring our building is safe for all students, staff, and visitors. If you are visiting or volunteering, please still check-in with our office secretary, Kerrie McCartney, at the main office. We are using a manual system in lieu of the computer badge check-in system for the remainder of this school year.
Another announcement from the office…. Lost and found items! We have moved our lost and found cart near the end of the K-2nd hallway in an effort to encourage students to claim items when they are in transition to and from recess. That being said, our lost and found clothing rack is nearly at capacity. If your child has lost clothing items from this year, please encourage them to stop by the lost and found rack at recess (next to the ball cart) or visit the school to peruse the rack yourself. We will donate all unclaimed lost items to a local charity following the end of the school year.
Important Upcoming Dates
May 29th - No School - Labor Day
May 31st-June 2nd - Book Fair in the library
June 2nd - Gun Violence Awareness Day*
*MISD staff and students are encouraged to wear orange in a show of support for this day.
June 5th - “Know Before You Grow” virtual workshop for 5th grade families (Zoom link sent in recent, separate email.)
June 7th - 5th Grade Orchestra Concert @ IMS 5:30-7:00
June 7th - Spring Fling from 5:30-8:00 June 8th - Choir Concert 6:00pm
June 9th - All-Island Track Meet
June 10th - SSALD Playdate from 2:00-4:00pm at the Lakeridge playfield
Other Community Opportunities
Innovation Learning Summer Program at Northwood Elementary School - More information can be found on the Innovation Learning website: https://
Seavuria STEM Science Camp - Please see the attached community flyer. Any questions can be directed to seavuria@gmail.com.
I look forward to (hopefully) seeing you all at the many events ahead as we close out the 2022-2023 school year. As always, my door and email inbox are always open. Please don't hesitate to reach out and connect.
Respectfully,
Megan Isakson
West Mercer Principal
Previous principal news letters for the 2022-2023 school year