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School briefs
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Lakeridge team is Global Reading Challenge winner On February 26th, fourth-grade teams from West Mercer Elementary, Lakeridge Elementary and St. Monica’s competed in the district finals of the Global Reading Challenge held at the Mercer Island Library. Each team read the same books, and were asked about specific details of each book. There were three rounds of questions, with 8-10 questions each round. For every question, the teams would submit their answer in writing. After the three rounds, Lakeridge was crowned as the champion of the District by a slim margin. The Lakeridge team will go on to compete in the regional finals against the champions of Bellevue and Issaquah on Mar. 12.
Contributed photo
Students from Mrs. Pepple’s fourth-grade class at Lakeridge Elementary School are the Island’s Global Reading Challenge winners. They are, Natalie Dumler, Vaiva Raisys, Sam Lamperti, Max Taylor, Morgan Dawson, Carolina Keith and Everett Weeks. In back is Mrs. Pepple.
Boys team wins Academic title The Mercer Island boys basketball team was once again crowned WIAA 3A state academic champions. The Islander boys were recognized at halftime of the 3A boys basketball state championship game between Rainier Beach and Eastside Catholic Saturday, March 8 at the Tacoma Dome. Mercer Island finished its season with an overall record of 18-8.
Rotary announces Students of the Month for March The Rotary Club announced Mercer Island High School seniors Mary Wingerson and Ethan Rouillard as its students of the month for March. The daughter of Barbara Dane Wingerson, Mary is in the MIHS Band and is a drum major. She has participated in cross-country and also helped organize the food drive put on by the
Wednesday, March 12, 2014 | Page 19
Joseph Livarchik/Staff Photo
Islander boys basketball, the state academic champs, Saturday at the Tacoma Dome. band which collected 7 tons of food last year. Outside of school, Mary is a Seattle Music Partner, which provides free mu s i c lessons to Seattle elementary age students. She is also a confirMary mation Wingerson leader at Mercer Island Presbyterian Church, and enjoys running, read-
ing and playing with her Labradoodle, Bella. Mary will be attending Yale next year. Ethan is the son of Vicki Rouillard and participated in gymnastics, track and field, the school newspaper, senior service club, was a JV and varsity cheerleading captain, a BRIDGES leader, a Kids Corps tutor and a member of the National Honor Society. When not at school, he is a Relay for Life
team captain and committee member, and enjoys reading and going for runs. Ethan A f t e r Rouillard h i g h school, Ethan hopes to attend college at one of the University of California’s southern campuses.
Question: What can demographics of the I do to maximize my school to see if your stuchances for college accep- dent’s gender or ethnicity tance? might be advantageous Answer: This is an to that school. Currently excellent question because there are many liberal it is one that all famiarts schools where girls lies need to be thinking significantly outnumber about as they approach males, making it easier for college planning. While boys to be accepted and some colleges have wooed with money. actually had a drop in As one might expect, applicants this past year, colleges do place congenerally the landscape siderable emphasis on remains very competitive grades. While they do especially for the more want to see a strong GPA, selective schools. This colleges are looking at the trend continues because rigor of those courses first students are and foremost applying to above anything On College more colleges, else on the tranand schools script. For this themselves reason, I do not are more advise students aggressively to stay away targeting from advanced low-income classes simply students who to protect their Joan Franklin previously grade point. might not Finally, colhave considleges want ered this option. students to show demI think the biggest misonstrated interest in take I see in my practice attending their college. If is my students’ desire to a student has not made only consider schools on any effort to learn about either coast. I am always the school or to visit, they amused to learn that stuassume that the student dents simply like the con- will not attend. Colleges cept of being near water, have to carefully weigh even though most of them admission decisions based acknowledge that they on yield, as this impacts will probably rarely access not only ratings, but also the beach while at college. their ability to fill a class There are some wonderful and remain solvent. schools in the middle of the country that are eager Joan Franklin is the to accept our students, owner of MI College often with generous merit Support, an indepenmoney because they add dent college counseling geographic diversity. In a practice. For more, go to www.micollegesupport.org similar light, it behooves families to look at the
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