Issuu

Mercer Island High School 9100 SE 42nd St. Mercer Island, WA 98040

Non-Profit Org. US Postage PAID Permit #19 Mercer Island, WA MERCER IS SCHOOL DIST 400

IN THIS ISSUE 3

Erica Hill Returns to MIHS as Associate Principal

Advice for Freshmen

Flag Dudes’ Gear & Bringing Spirit Back

September 10, 2021

Graphics by Lena Hardisty

Letter from the ASB President

2 Inside ABOUT The MIHS Islander 9100 SE 42nd St. Mercer Island, WA 98040 mihsislander@gmail.com www.mihsislander.org

THE MIHS ISLANDER SEPT. 2021 The MIHS Islander acknowledges that MIHS is on the traditional land of the first people of Seattle, the Duwamish People past and present and honor with gratitude the land itself and the Duwamish Tribe.

@themihsislander

Hey Islanders!

Letter from the Editors

After a sluggish year and a half of Zoom meetings and socially-distanced events, we are finally, FINALLY, back in the building at full capacity. Gone are the capacity-constrained football games, the hybrid block-class discussions, the awkward rows of chairs in the commons and the nearly empty hallways; — traditional MIHS spirit, culture and ambience have all returned, and we’re pretty excited about that. Throughout this Back-to-School Issue, we have not only recapped some of the highlights from the summer (see pages six and seven), but we have also written about a few components of MIHS that we are most excited for this school year. For instance, on page five, we feature our football team! Last school year just wasn’t the same without full-attendance Friday night games. Check out the home game schedule, as well as interviews from Eli Fahey and Ed Slezinger. Our A&E (Arts and Entertainment if you reject abbreviation) section focuses on Mercer Island pride through clothing. A&E editor Max Hense and Infographics Lead Sandra Pedersen take a look at the spirit wear of this year’s Flag Dudes. When we’re talking about bringing spirit back, there’s nothing more fashionable than some good ol’ maroon and white. Also, for those who have never experienced a full in-person year at MIHS, look no further than page eight, where our Director of Content Morgan Dawson details a few tips for incoming freshmen and new students on how to fully embrace your Mercer Island High School experience. Finally, you can’t miss a new section this year, Columns and Cartoons! If you’re interested in recurring free form articles and political cartoons, that's the place to be. From fine art analysis to sports overviews, this section has it all. It’s a comeback year unlike any other, so get hyped for what it has to offer! We’ll be reporting on it every step of the way.

Lena Hardisty and Alex Levin

PUBLICATION NOTICES Purpose: To provide news to the Mercer Island High School student body and members of the surrounding community in a manner that accurately reflects readers’ interests. The MIHS Islander is an open student forum, and the opinions expressed within do not represent those of the high school or district administration.

Corrections: We pride ourselves on accurate, fact-based journalism. If you believe The MIHS Islander has gotten a fact or quote wrong, please contact us and we’ll print a correction in the next issue. Ads: To print an ad in a future issue of The MIHS Islander, contact Business Manager Liv Talerman at islandermanaging@gmail.com for rates and information. Privacy: All electronic mail messages in connection with Mercer Island School District business which are sent or received by this account are subject to the Washington State Public Records Act and may be disclosed to third parties.

Nondiscrimination Notification: The Mercer Island School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status,

sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, marital status, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The Mercer Island School District offers classes in many College and Career Readiness Programs, admission to which is non-discriminatory. Lack of English-language proficiency will not be a barrier to admission and participation in these programs.

Features 3

THE MIHS ISLANDER SEPT. 2021

Longtime Teacher and Coach Erica Hill Returns to MIHS in Administrative Role “I think that [MIHS] is a very unique place think about how I can help students work Alex Levin Editor in Chief

in the sense pressure on themselves,” Hill said. “My hope is to really take m y

that students put a lot of

After spending four years at Inglemoor High School, longtime English teacher and cross country coach Erica Hill has returned to Mercer Island High School as an associate principal. Hill began her tenure at Mercer Island as an assistant cross country coach in 1996. She then taught as a parapro, a student teacher, and an English teacher after getting her master’s degree in teaching. While at MIHS, Hill proceeded to receive a certificate in administration, and interned under former principal Vicky Puckett before taking an administrative job at Inglemoor in 2017. “I really feel like Mercer Island is where my educational roots were planted as a teacher and a coach,” Hill said. “With all of the connections and relationships [I’ve] built with staff, students and family over the years, I know what a special place Mercer Island is.” Hill did not initially plan on leaving MIHS, but a lack of vacant Hardisty by Lena s ic h p ra G administrative positions prompted her to take a position at Inglemoor School District. However, her four-year hiatus from Mercer Island has put her in an excellent position to succeed as a principal. “In hindsight, I think it was really good that I had the opportunity to go to a different district and… have four years of experience as an administrator before coming back to [MIHS],” Hill said. In her new role as an associate principal, Hill plans to put an emphasis on making sure every student has an equitable high school experience. u n d e r s t a n d i n g , To do so, Hill will rely on her previous teaching having worked in the school and the district for so many years, and experiences on Mercer Island.

through some of these challenges.” Along with Hill’s rich understanding Photo by Alex Levin of MIHS students over the years, her outgoing personality is sure to help her along the way. “[Hill is] one of my favorite people in the world,” history teacher Dino Annest said. “She’s not just the happiest, but she spreads happiness, and you can’t help but smile when she comes into the room.” While Hill will not resume coaching cross country, she guarantees to remain a strong supporter of the team. “Running has always been a huge part of me and will continue to be, and I feel so lucky that I have had the opportunity to coach,” Hill said. “I know that the team has been under great leadership and I’ll always be a huge fan of everything MIXC.” Even though her role at the school has changed, Hill will continue to build relationships with students and spread her positivity throughout the MIHS community.

4 FEATURES

THE MIHS ISLANDER SEPT. 2021

MIHS Teachers on the Return to In-Person Learning Sandra Pedersen

Infographics Lead

“It sounds silly in some ways, but hammering in skills like note-taking, written argument, analyzing documents and taking tests after such a modified classroom experience is a priority.” Puchalla said. Despite the more sequential nature of stem classes, the conclusion is all the same; “Last year really made teachers assess what was important for students to learn and most of them concluded that beyond a couple of big concepts, it’s not the content that is essential, but actually those process skills that are significant,” science teacher Larry Bencivengo said.

As MIHS enters fully in-person learning over a year after the pandemic upended every aspect of school life, many students fear that potential gaps in their learning from online and hybrid schooling will negatively affect their performance this year. In effect, a priority for MIHS teachers is taking the impact of last year’s modified curriculum into mind. “The first step is to acknowledge that we haven’t been in full, in-person school in a long time,” history teacher Ed Puchalla said. “It’s going to take some care to make sure the climate students are in is one that encourages students to take risks and feel comfortable with where they are academically.” Students —especially underclassmen— have little to no experience in a real, high school setting. Which for many, is a substantial adjustment from the social setting of online class. Teachers are aware that students are readjusting both a new social climate in addition to heavier workloads, and it is something many will be taking into account going into the year. “I want to give my students The lettering on the sign outside of MIHS ushers in a new school year. grace and create a space where students can go at their Depending on the class, teachers plan to emphasize own academic pace,” Anders said. “In mixed classes, fundamental skills like sentence structure, grammar, there are sophomores who haven’t been in high school writing on demand, lab skills and note taking, rather and freshmen who didn’t have a complete middle school than changing the actual content being taught. experience. Many people are at different levels and we Though for a handful of teachers, their approach to need to honor that before diving into academics.” teaching has been changed by the circumstances of the MIHS educators share a belief that successfully previous year. moving through the year will require recovering from. “The most noticeable change for this year is my “I really want to get to know my students— especially philosophy of teaching,” Anders said. “I want to allow since it helps students feel like they can be more candid for more experimentation, collaboration, and creative about their aphrensions going into the year.” math problem solving as opposed to more linear lessons. It’s teacher Connor Coombs said. more of a mindset that’s influencing my classroom this In an academic sense —across departments— many year than any setbacks from last year. teachers believe that students will most likely need to When it comes to handling any content setbacks or revise academic behaviors and habits that might’ve anxieties, the common approach is going to be by being been forgotten during remote learning. flexible and creating a strong line of communication

with students to understand where they stand with the material. “I make sure to meet my students where they’re at rather than where I’d hope or expect them to be,” English and psychology teacher Jeff Randolph said. While teachers are expecting to be accommodating, the consensus is that the best remedy for student learning gaps will come from just being in class. “I don’t want to assume anything so we just need to work with them to see where we need to go slower and what we need to backfill,” Coombs said. However, beyond academics, finally returning to the routine of a normal school Photo by Honor Warburg setting will provide the best source of support for both students and teachers. “My bet is that most students will have forgotten how anxious they were about being behind or having missed out, people just need a moment to reacquaint themselves with the skills we need to do schoolwork,” Puchalla said. For most teachers, the primary way students can prepare for the school year is to have an open mind and remind ourselves that this is something we’ve done before and can do again. “If we allow ourselves to ruminate on the stress of this upcoming year then we will attribute those typical struggles to a perceived uptick in workload when really expectations will be similar to how they were before Covid,” Randolph said. It is apparent that this year will require a collective understanding that these circumstances are unprecedented, but the learning process of this year will be new for both teachers and students, and there is some comfort in this uncertain experience being a collective one. “The one unifying thing about last year is that it has been a universal one— so I think it’s important to ask what we have learned about ourselves or the world, and how we can take that learning forward as students, staff, and as a community in general,” Anders said.

Sports 5

THE MIHS ISLANDER SEPT. 2021 After an abbreviated, five-week season last year, the MIHS football team is ready to be back on the field and foster energy and school spirit. The Islanders only won two of their four games

summer months we actually competed a little, so we were able to see kinda how we compared to other schools, and surprisingly, we actually performed better than I expected on both sides of the ball.” Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has taken its toll on some of the

MiHS F ootba ll is B ack: last season, but this year’s team has had more time

ey Eli Fah

younger players’ attitudes, since many of their first experiences of MIHS football came through a computer screen. “Zoom definitely affected the young guys,” quarterback Eli Fahey said. “They didn’t get to experience what [a season] is actually like; all they know is Zoom, so I think that has definitely contributed a lot to how they see the season this year.” Although a

t e sy our to C Pho

to practice and work together in person, which should help players succeed during competitions. “I think we are going to do pretty well,” head coach Ed Slezinger said. “We’ve got a good group of kids at the varsity level and at the JV level, so I feel like we are gonna be in really good shape.” While the Islanders’ offense struggled at times, the MIHS defense held opponents to fewer than 21 points, not including Bellevue’s 48-point outlier performance. However, the team has worked to improve both their offense and their defense, which may lead to a better, more balanced game plan. “I think we are gonna be pretty balanced,” Slezinger said. “In the

handful of players may not approach this season with enthusiasm, students a n d fans should bring the fervor and intensity that last season lacked. “I expect it to be pretty electric,” Slezinger said. “I

A seas on Pr eview — Alex Levin an MIHS 2021 d Asha W oerner HOme Game Schedule:

Friday, Sept. 3 vs Auburn Riveside High School Friday, Sept. 17 vs Hazen High School Friday, Oct. 15 vs Juanita High School Friday, Oct. 29 vs Newport High School

have a feeling the first time that these guys [will] hear a stand full of fans and kind of feed off that energy.” The Islanders first home game was Friday, Sept. 3 against Auburn Riverside High School.

★

Data Courtesy Spotify

7 8

Kiss Me More (feat. SZA)

Doja Cat

Stay (with Justin Bieber)

The Kid Laroi

Deja Vu Traitor

Olivia Rodrigo

Album Spotlight

Olivia Rodrigo

Rapstar

Polo G

Levitating (feat. Dababy)

Heat Waves

★★

Dua Lipa

Montero (Call Me By Your Name)

Olivia Rodrigo has undeniably exploded in popularity this summer, with hits from her album “Sour” topping the charts.

Lil Nas X

Glass Animals

Favorite Crime

Olivia Rodrigo

★★

YES

U.S. Olypmic Medal Count Long awaited and postponed, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics were an extremely influential part of the summer. Gold

Lorde’s third studio album, titled “Solar Power,” was released on August 20, 2021. The album was written by Lorde and produced by Lorde along with Jack Antonoff. When the title track was first released, the sunny and breezy tone shocked fans. Her past albums had much darker, more melancholy themes than this latest endeavour. It recieved mixed reception on it’s release, explored below by Max Hense (Yes) and Lena Hardisty (No).

After a four year hiatus, Lorde’s new sound was a surprise to more than a few of her fans, but not necessarily an unwelcome one. Though her newest album is definitely a departure from the cool toned, ‘sad party girl’ anthems of her past, Solar Power’s high rising chords and bright eyed lyrics make it a summer album to remember. Artists are people, just like us, and they go through as many phases and shifts in style as anyone else. Her lyrics hit just as hard, and this new style seems to lets her explore a side of herself we haven’t seen before.

Data Courtesy The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic Games

Silver

onze Br

Solar Power

Olivia Rodrigo

Photo Courtesy Esquir e

1 2 3 4 5

Good 4 U

Highligh Photo Courtesy Spotify

Spotify’s Top U.S. Songs of Summer

113

★

Lorde’s album was both a and a disappointment. It as out of touch, pretenti the very thing she claime criticizing (consumerist s culture). The sound of th was mellow, but without un between tracks. Many fan this album by claimin “hate Lorde’s happiness”, defense shouldn’t be need album spoke for itself. Fran forgettable and shallow ex as a whole.

Local Spotligh

At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, 19-year-old Harrison made history as the first US woma She grew up in Seattle and trained with the Harrison was the only American to medal a canoe/kayak.

hts of the Summer Editor in Chief

Black Widow

Social Media Team

Nia DaCosta’s “Candyman” smashed the box office with an astonishing 22 million dollar opening weekend. A retelling of the classic 1992 horror film of the same name, “Candyman” delves into themes of racial trauma, gentrification, and the meaning of boogeymen. Accompanied by thrilling sound design and masterful cinematography, it’s no surprise to see the film’s trajectory towards the top. Just don’t say his name five times.

d Roosevelt High School graduate Nevin an to win an Olympic canoe or kayak title. Gig Harbor Canoe and Kayak Racing Team. at the last world championships in 2019 for

Photo Courtesy Universal Pictures

a surprise came off ious, and ed to be spirituality he album niqueness ns defend ng critics but that ded if the nkly, it’s a xperience

one last look at summer. With it coming to a close, it’s Social Media Team the perfect time to reflect on popular culture in the past three months. Kat Marsh

Sam Pelter

The long awaited Marvel film “Black Widow” was released on July 9th after being postponed twice previously. The film is an origin story of Avenger Natasha Romanoff. The viewer learns about her life story leading up to “Avengers: Endgame” which had the highest box office gross of 2019. The story of Romanoff reuniting with her family contradicts her “loner” personality that was protrayed in the first three phases of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Photo Courtesy Marvel Studios

★

Lena Hardisty The Islander ushers in the new school season by taking

Summer★ Releases The MIHS Islander’s featured and recommended movies from this summer.

June 18 July 2

Candyman

Luca The Summer of Soul

July The Green Knight 30 July Cusp 30 Aug The Suicide Squad ust6 Aug ust13 CODA Aug Respect ust 13 Sep Shang-Chi and the Legend of tem3 the Ten Rings ber

8 Opinions

THE MIHS ISLANDER SEPT. 2021

#3: Do not be afraid to ask an upperclassman. I promise we are not as scary as we

Advice

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seem and almost any of us would be happy to help you find a class or give advice on which courses to take. We have been there and done that with pretty much everything at MIHS.

Fre

#4: Memorize the hallways.

Mor gan

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Conte awson nt

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Learning your way around the school can take some time, especially considering that all the halls look exactly the same. Though it may seem like an endless labyrinth at first, believe it or not, there is actually an order to it all. Check online for a map of the school, and consider setting your lock screen to a screenshot of your classes for the first couple of weeks. It takes time, but you will get the hang of it.

#5: Pasta Mondays. If you have not yet heard,

every Monday at school is “Pasta Monday,” a joyous day on which the lunch ladies serve us with warm, steamy pasta and an assortment of sauces (plus breadsticks!!) I would definitely recommend getting in line early because it will be LONG.

#6: Download Facebook.

Welcome freshmen, and congratulations on *finally* setting foot in the revered halls of Mercer Island High School. Now, with months of online middle school, combined with the inherent uncertainty of being a freshman, I’m sure you are probably pretty confused on how to be a high schooler. As someone who has made it to their senior year, I am here to offer you some of my seasoned wisdom and advice:

You probably thought you would never need to use Facebook because it is widely considered a “mom app”, but as you will find in high school, it is required for a surprising amount of things. Most clubs will have a Facebook group to provide updates about meetings, or your class leadership will use it to post about upcoming spirit events. If you want to make sure you are in the loop, you may want to set up a profile.

Be open-minded. Freshman year is supposed #1: Get yourself some spirit wear!! #7: to be a fun adjustment period, so focus on getting into the groove of Every Friday is a maroon and white spirit day– and yes, people actually dress up. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to obtain Islander spirit, including buying gear at the MIHS student store, stealing older siblings’ hand-me-downs, and the tried-and-true practice of DIY-ing. If you are looking for some spirit inspo, go checkout page 12. I promise you, spirit is cool.

#2: Try to get involved in the school community! There are over fifty clubs at the high school, not

to mention countless sports teams and electives. Try out a recreational sport (badminton is a fun choice), or join a club like cooking club or journalism club (shameless plug)! If you love art, try ceramics; or if you love the art of talking, join our school’s award winning radio station. Yes, MIHS definitely seems huge at first, but there are so many ways to find your people and feel a part of the school.

things. Try out different classes and you will quickly discover the things that interest you– and also the things that don’t!

#8: Go to everything!!

Whether it’s football games, the school play, or even homecoming, you will almost never regret partaking in school events. These are all what make up your high school experience, and it’s up to you how much you want to take advantage of. Go support your peers at their sports meet/game/show and decide which traditions you want to make your own. Take this advice with a grain of salt, because everyone’s high school experience is different. Yes, high school is a lot more work, but it comes with a lot more freedom– and freedom to try new things. Best of luck to all you new Islanders, it will certainly be a memorable four years and I encourage you all to start thinking about what legacy you want to create for the Class of 2025.

a&E 9

THE MIHS ISLANDER SEPT. 2021

The Legacy of Flag Dude Fashion Max Hense and Sandra Pedersen

A&E Editor and Graphic Lead

Spirit wear is a time-honored tradition at MIHS. It’s easily customizable, accessible to almost every student, and every piece is unique - if not in design then in personal history. Mercer Island spirit wear allows students to take the front seat in representing their school spirit, and the possibilities to show pride for attending MIHS are endless. Some students add personal touches to provided school swag, including their names, special catchphrases, and designs. Others take it in an entirely different direction. Flag Dudes serve as the first taste of spirit for many incoming freshmen and new students during back-to-school season. They set the bar high for

Photos by Sandra Pedersen and Kenny Mark

school pride and provide an easily spotted role model for underclassmen. Featuring pieces from as far back as the ‘60s, all the way up to 2021, the Flag Dudes’ collection is nearly unbeatable. “A lot of this stuff has been passed down for like 30 years,” Flag Dude Kenny Mark said. “The oldest piece of gear we have is from the ‘60s, most of the older stuff is from the ‘70s and ‘80s though, and you can tell because they’re all beat up and in style for those times.” Within their collection, the Flag Dudes have pieces they can’t put down.

“My favorites are the skirts and gymnast leotards cause they’re hilarious,” Flag Dude Luke Harp said. “I think it’s cool how flag dudes just get to express themselves however [they] want. There’s no gender norms or specifics, you really just wear what you want.” “I’d say some special mentions are the singlet, maroon

velvet dress, cheer uniform, paddle flag accessory, the flag dude jacket, and definitely my maroon fanny pack,” Mark continued. Mark and Harp want Islanders to be comfortable expressing their spirit in whichever way they want to. “It doesn’t matter what colors you wear,” Harp said. “I mean a bit of maroon and white wouldn’t hurt, but as long as it’s not navy and yellow.” Over the past year, especially with students rarely in person, spirit has undeniably been at a low. However, the Flag Dudes this year hope to revive it in a way the school hasn’t seen since the pandemic began. “Spirit for a Flag Dude requires carrying the spirit,

[since] you have to give the spirit life and give fellow spirit members CPR when they’re down,” Mark said. “We have to revive it every year, and in the past two years it’s really died down.” The Dudes want to inspire spirit beyond maroon and white Fridays. This includes spirit drives, assemblies,

and sports games, with a focus on students who have never experienced Mercer Island school spirit before. “A major part of reviving spirit is gonna be getting the freshmen and sophomores interested, since they’ve never really experienced the scope of MIHS spirit,” Harp said. But the Dudes are confident it’s something that students can do together, because for many MIHS students, spirit goes beyond just gear. “Each Dude’s musk, blood, sweat, tears and B.O. is in some of these pieces, and we wear that with pride,” Harp said. “Some of this stuff has never been washed, but I think it just adds to the tradition, loyalty and hype.” From the spirit store to spirit drives, MI students are showing up to keep spirit alive this year, in any way they can. With the support of the Dudes, this upcoming year is seeming to be a very spirited one.

10 Columns & cartoons

Sam on the

STYLE with M&M

Sam Pelter Social Media Team

Monet at Étretat This July the Seattle Art Museum (SAM) opened a new Monet exhibition, Monet at Étretat, that will be open through October 17th.

Photos by Sam Pelter

Étretat, 1891

The exhibit showcases ten works by Claude Monet and twelve paintings by other artists of his era. It is based around Monet’s permanent work at the SAM, Fishing Boats at Étretat. The collection is meant to show a bigger picture of Monet and his peers’ work during his artistic career. Falaises A Étretat, 1885 The town of Étretat is a small seaside village outside of Normandy, it is known for its breathtaking chalk cliffs. Monet would visit the town alone and paint. There are upwards of 80 of his works that were created in Étretat, the majority of which are of the arches and cliffs surrounding the town.

THE MIHS ISLANDER SEPT. 2021

Manne-Porte, 1885

Max Hense A&E Editor

Item: Sundress

Hi Islanders! With summer coming to a quick close, I’m trying to get all the use I can out of my lighter clothing pieces before fall’s back again - and my all time favorite of Summer 2021 is this sundress (pictured above). Dresses easily top the charts in terms of ‘most worn’ for me, and this one is definitely no exception. It’s one of the most versatile pieces I own, but not in the way you’re probably thinking. I’ve stuck pretty close to wearing it as designed just a dress, with a couple basic pieces of jewelry that I make sure don’t pull away from the pattern or length (personally, I think you can’t beat small hoops and a chain). But the best part about this dress is that it works for everything. I’ve worn this dress to pretty much every occasion I can think of, and it’s worked for all of them, seamlessly. A cover up at the beach, dinner at the hotel restaurant, a day trip to Pike Place - it never looks too casual or too dressy. I know it can seem like this piece is ultra specific, but in my opinion, I think any long sundress with a looser silhouette Graphic by Lena Hardisty and Sandra Pedersen can serve the same purpose, and there’s lots of room to customize (my favorite way has been two safety pins down the back for a tighter fit). I prefer fun prints and a slit, but it’s just as easy to find something more neutral, at whatever length you desire. Lastly, keep an open mind with your style. The great thing about items of clothing like this is that almost anyone, with any aesthetic, can find a way to make it work for them. Have fun, and trust your fashion sense.

THE MIHS ISLANDER SEPT. 2021

Columns & Cartoons 11

Lev on Eleven: Three Fall Sports You Can’t Miss This Season Alex Levin

Editor in Chief

As a former sports editor, I have attended my fair share of MIHS Football and Girls Soccer games in the fall. However, while both of these teams are always exciting to watch, there are a variety of other fall sports that are just as entertaining, but typically garner fewer spectators. Here are a few fall sports that I think deserve some attention this season:

1. Boys Water Polo Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Boys Water Polo was the only fall sport unable to practice or compete during last year’s “fall” season in early March. The team ultimately shared a season with the Girls team in June, but players were unable to enjoy their usual team traditions, such as their annual swim across Lake Washington or their highlyanticipated “Storm the Pool” senior night event. Go support this team and show your MIHS pride at a water polo game this season. First home game: Sept. 9 @ Mercer Island Country Club

2. Boys Golf The 2021 season will be senior Ethan Evans’ final season at MIHS, and it will surely be a season to watch. Evans, who will continue to play golf at Duke University next year, has led the Islanders to KingCo, District and State championships since his freshman year, and will aim to do so again this season. Also, when’s the last time you watched a high school golf tournament? Yeah, I didn’t think so. First home match: Sept. 8 @ Snoqualmie

Falls Golf Course

3. Cross Country Okay fine, call me biased, but the 2021 MIXC team is faster and deeper than in recent years. With a strong upperclassmen core, the boys team has the potential to make a deep postseason run, while the girls team, led by sophomore standout Sophia Fan, should also put on a very strong showing. Both teams will also look to defeat Interlake, their rival, for the second consecutive season. Cross country is perfect for those who don’t like or understand sports, as the sport is easy to follow: it’s a race, and the first person across the finish line wins. First home meet: Sept. 29 @ Luther Burbank Park In all seriousness, having spectators at events can mean a lot to teams, especially ones who usually have lower fan attendance. So I encourage you to put down your math homework, call up your friends and go cheer on your classmates at a few games this fall.

Cartoon by Lena Hardisty

12 back

THE MIHS ISLANDER SEPT. 2021

A Message from Your New ASB President:

Hey Islanders! For those who I have not had the pleasure of meeting, my name is Conor Mulligan and I will be your ASB president throughout the 2021-2022 school year. On most days when I find myself with free time, I will be enjoying activities with friends and family in the outdoors. I love hiking, backpacking, camping, fishing, and mountaineering, and enjoy any opportunity to see the beauty of the American wilderness, especially our national parks. To date I’ve visited over ten national parks, including the likes of Denali in Alaska, Zion in Utah, and Mt. Rainer here in Washington. If you have any recommendations for any local hikes or outdoor activities, make sure to let me know! Many students heading into the 2021-2022 school year have yet to spend a complete school year in the halls of Mercer Island High School. It is unfortunate that we will most likely not be able to enjoy this year under normal circumstances, but the MIHS leadership class will do all they can to support you and your education as we return to

Sincerely,

in-person learning. For the better part of the last two years, students have found it challenging to communicate with teachers and receive the support of their fellow students. As your ASB president I will prioritize communication as the foundation of my platform, ensuring that we address the issues facing MIHS students in an efficient and timely manner. During the 2021-2022 school year, I have a number of goals that we will pursue on our mission to improve communication between the administration, leadership class, and student body. One of those is to attend as many club and student representation group meetings as possible. I want to bring issues facing different students across the school to the administration and leadership class. In doing so, I hope to support our student body while getting to know some of the diverse groups across the school. As your ASB president I will do everything I can to ease our transition back to an in-person, and eventually post COVID-19, environment. I look forward to getting to meet you all over the coming year!