Back to School Family Bulletin
Mercer International Middle School 2022-2023
Contact Us
Attendance: mercerms.attendance@seattleschools.org (206)-252-8004
Website: https://mercerms.seattleschools.org/
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UPCOMING DATES
September 7 First Day of School NO EARLY RELEASE. Early release will occur every Wednesday except for the first week of school
September 9 All school evacuation drill
Week of September 19 Locker distribution for 6th and 7th graders
September 29 6-7:30PM Open House at Mercer
October 14 State in-service day (No school)
October 24 and 25 Picture day- details to come
November 11 Veteran's Day (no school)
November 29 Picture Re-take day
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Warm Welcome from Principal, Sherrie Encarnacion
Dear Mercer Families,
Welcome to the 2022-2023 school year! I hope that you are continuing to enjoy this gorgeous Seattle summer and finding fun ways to stay cool.
We look forward to welcoming our Mercer Mustangs back to school and cannot wait to hear how you spent the last few months. I want to extend a special greeting to our new families and share how excited we are to meet you. There is a lot of information in this bulletin, so please take your time and read this together with your Mercer Mustang. Thank you!
At the end of last year, a diverse group of staff crafted our new Mercer Vision: Empowering students so that they can contribute and confidently engage with their communities. Inherent in our belief is that every student brings with them academic and social brilliance nurtured and developed by their families and their experiences. We hope to collectively create the conditions that allow your student’s gifts to shine so that they can confidently impact, contribute, and engage in their communities now and in their future. We are thankful for many strong family connections and we will work to continue to foster and grow our partnership.
I will send family bulletins through a texting app called Talking Points and email them through School Messenger. The bulletins will be made using a communication platform called SMORE which allows you to adjust the font size and read them in a language that works best for you. I recommend reading these bulletins with your student so that they can be informed too. Report cards will be mailed home. Emergencies and urgent messages will be sent by robocall on School Messenger. Please share this with other Mercer families so we can be sure that everyone is receiving our information. Parent/guardian contact information like mobile number, email, and name and address must be updated in order to receive school communication. Contact our Registrar if you need to update any information: ekwhite@seattleschools.org
I am proud to lead our Mercer community and want to thank you for working together as we support the growth and excellence of each student, family, and staff. What we do together matters!
In partnership,
Sherrie Encarnacion, Principal
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Who Can Help? Grade Level Administrators and Counselors
6th Grade Administrator
6th Grade Counselor
7th Grade Administrator
7th Grade Counselor
8th Grade Administrator
8th Grade Counselor
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Mercer's Bell Schedule
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Arrival and Dismissal Procedures
- No parking in the Mercer parking lot from the hours of 8:30AM-9AM and 3:15PM-4:00PM. Please be patient and work together. If you want to park after school, please see the map and walk to school to pick up your student. Thank you!
- Arrival: In the morning, supervision and breakfast starts at 8:30AM. Students will hangout outside until the first bell at 8:45AM when they are allowed to go to their lockers. Lockers will be distributed the week of Sept. 19. Students should bring a jacket on chilly and rainy days. First period starts at 8:55AM.
- Dismissal: Families can wait outside on the blacktop or benches to wait for their student until students are dismissed.
- All visitors inside of the building need to check into the main office to sign in and wear a visitor's badge.
Safety To and From School: Parking off campus
- Our parking lot is used for teachers and staff parking. We are expecting approximately 900 students and our parking lot is dangerous and not supportive of parking during the busiest times, so we are asking you to use the parking lot for drop off and pick up only, no parking from the hours of 8:30AM-9AM and 3:15PM-4:00PM.
- If your child is walking to and from school, please practice walking the route with your student before the first day of school. This will allow families to know your student's route and help identify safety precautions and crosswalks. Always have your student walk with a group or at least a buddy.
- If you are driving your student, here are alternate locations to drop off your child to avoid the parking lot. (see map above)
- If your child is using public transportation be sure to practice riding the bus with them before the first day.
- If your child is using a school bus, show them their pick up and drop off zones before school begins.
Parents/guardians: Please share your safety expectations with your student before school begins!
· Create a plan with your child in case of an emergency.
· Be aware of your surroundings. Be alert and don't let your phone be a distraction.
· Walk with others
· Use crosswalks and look both ways when crossing a street
· Obey all traffic signals.
· Walk on sidewalks.
· If you encounter something unsafe on your way to school, tell a Mercer staff member in the office.
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Student Schedules
Where do students pick up their schedule on September 7? There will be signs with directions. Staff will be passing out schedules by last name. 6th: 6th grade hall, 7th: 7th grade hall, 8th: Gym
What if my student wants to change a class? Counselors will make announcements the first week back to school with directions. Elective changes are available as class capacity is available. Changes are not made for core classes.
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School Supplies
Supply List for Mercer International Middle School Students
2022-2023 School Year
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During the first week of school all students only need to bring the following supplies to school:
- Backpack
- Pencil Pouch with sharpened pencils or mechanical pencils, erasers, and pens
Starting the second week of school:
All Grades-
- Binder: See table below
- 2 Black and white composition books, wide rule for math classes
- 2 Kleenex/tissue boxes given to reading and writing teacher.
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Health Updates: Nurse Jill Eckerdt
- 7th and 8th Graders TdaP Vaccine- Please check that you have your TdaP vaccine (prevents tetanus and whooping cough). To prevent the spread of communicable diseases like pertussis (whooping cough) we need to have updated records for all of these students.
SPS is teaming up with Seattle Children’s Hospital to offer childhood vaccines.
Location - John Stanford Center for Educational Excellence (2445 3rd Ave S, Seattle, WA 98134)
Date - Saturday, August 27 from 10:00am-2:00pm for any child ages 0-18 years.
All vaccines including Tdap, Td, DtaP, MMR, Varicella, MMR, Hep B, Hib, MCC, PCV, IPV, HPV, Hep A, Men B, and COVID-19 will be available.
Insurance is accepted, but not required to receive free vaccines. No child will be turned away.
Legal parent/guardian must be present. Other free vaccination events Other free vaccine events
Seattle Public Schools students may also access vaccines through our 29 School-Based Health Centers . https://kingcountyschoolhealth.com/about/#findSBHC
For more information: Samara Hoag Manager Health Services 206-252-0752.
Covid Health Guidelines: Currently, the guidelines have not changed since last spring. Masks are optional for students and staff. If students have Covid symptoms, they will go to the health room and will need to be picked up. We will still have the ability to do rapid tests and PCRs at the school. When individuals are positive for Covid, there is still an isolation period of 5 days.
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Update: School Breakfast and Lunch- Free for Mercer students!
Seattle Public Schools has several schools that will offer free meals (breakfast and lunch) for all students and Mercer is one of the schools on this list! https://www.seattleschools.org/news/school-lunch-and-breakfast/
- We are a CLOSED CAMPUS which means that students should not leave campus at anytime.
- Parents/guardians are welcome to drop off lunch for students ; however, for safety reasons, we do not allow delivery services like Doordash, uber, etc. to deliver food.
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ORCA Card Changes
- Students who were issued Orca cards for the 21-22 school year are being asked to hold onto their current ORCA cards and ignore the expiration date on the back of 8/31/2022. These cards will be their free YOUTH pass on 9/1.
- New cards will not be issued to students who already have cards from the 21-22 school year. The only students who will be receiving Orca cards will be students who did not pick a card last school year (21-22) and who are over 13 years old. Cards for these students will be prepared starting 8/22 when metro delivers the new batch of cards to the district.
- EFFECTIVE 9/1/22 STUDENTS WHO ARE YOUNGER THAN 13 WILL NOT NEED AN ORCA CARD TO RIDE METRO FOR FREE. Upon turning 14 students will need to request a card from http://www.myORCA.com
- Students who were issued a card last school year who have misplaced their card will be directed to request a replacement from http://www.myORCA.com
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A Message from Athletics Coordinator, Ms. Bautista
Contact information: jpbautista@seattleschools.org
SPORTS UPDATE:
Sports Registration is OPEN
FALL SPORTS – Starting Sept. 20th
Sept. 2022 – Nov. 2022
· Girls Soccer
· Co-Ed Ultimate Frisbee
Winter Sports – Starting Dec. 5th
Dec. 2022 – March 2023
· Boys Basketball
· Girls Basketball
Spring Sports – Starting March 13th
March 2023 – June 2023
· Girls Volleyball
· Boys Soccer
· Co-Ed Track
**Exact start dates will be announced as the seasons get closer**
There are 2 steps when registering for sprots.
1) Complete your forms at: https://seattleschools-wa.finalforms.com/
· Follow the prompts to create your account, create your students and sign your forms.
2) Turn in a Physical Examination and Clearance Form
· Must be signed and dated by the Doctor on the Seattle Public Schools Form
· Physical Forms are good for two years
Thank you for your assistance in streamlining our paperwork processes at Mercer International Middle School.
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Electronics and technology Expectations: Turned off and not visible
To support the safety of our students and preserve our sacred learning spaces, students may only use their electronics before and after school and during their lunch time. We will reach out to parents/guardians for support if their student cannot manage their devices appropriately. Please share this expectation with your student; our partnership is paramount! If you need to contact your student, they will be able to check texts at the appropriate times and you can always call the office to get a message to them: 206-252-8000. Please contact your student's counselor if you need an exception for us to consider. Thank you for working together!
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First Day of School Procedures: September 7
- Students should bring their first day supplies and a water bottle.
- Follow to and from school directions above.
- Campus and schedule pick up opens at 8:30AM. Parents/guardians may walk with their student.
- Where do students pick up their class schedule? There will be signs and adults with directions. Staff will be passing out schedules and maps by last name. 6th: 6th grade hall, 7th: 7th grade hall, 8th: Gym. If you do not have a schedule, please go to the cafeteria at 8:55AM and have a seat.
- Once students have their schedule, they can take their map and look for their classes until the bell rings or just report to period 1.
- 8:50AM All students report to their first period. Staff support this process. We will take it from here!
- Parents/guardians can drop by the auditorium for an informal greeting from the PTSA or leave for the day.