Your January Checklist

The month of January gets unfairly characterized as dull. Cold, dark, and with nothing going on. Haha! The Lakeridge PTA begs to differ. Get your 2026 calendars ready:

☐ Lakeridge Culture Night (Thu, Jan. 22)

☐ SSALD:Monthly Coffee (Fri, Jan. 23)

☐ Belonging & Voice Community: Family Survey + Community Coffee (Fri, Feb. 6)

☐ Advocacy: Advocacy Week: Jan. 26–30

☐ Educational Programs & Operations Levy: Ballots due Feb. 10

☐ Community events: MISF Silent Disco (Feb. 6) + MIYFS Breakfast (Feb. 11)

☐ Break camps/classes: Petals Art Club + YTN + Creation Dance

LAKERIDGE NEWS

It's Time for Culture Night!

Thursday, January 22 | 5–7:30 pm
Lakeridge Gym

RSVP and SIGN UP

Culture Night is all about exploring who we are, how we live, and what we value—and everyone is welcome to come enjoy and encouraged to participate.

What to expect:

Performances by students and families: Share a song, dance, short story, poem, joke, skit, or show-and-tell featuring something meaningful from a culture you love
Foods from around the world to taste and enjoy
Gallery walk featuring art, artifacts, or photos families can bring or share
Interactive “around the world” displays for kids and adults, as well as some specific activities

Action Requested:

RSVP and let us know you're coming! Responses help us with our planning.
SIGN UP to bring a food or item, host a craft, or perform

What do we mean by "culture?"

Culture Night is not limited to nationality or ethnicity. Culture can include family traditions, languages, neighborhoods, music, hobbies, values, community life, or interests. It can be any culture you identify with or simply enjoy learning about.

This inclusive approach helps kids see that culture is about who we are and how we connect—not just where our families come from.

Come celebrate, explore, and connect with our school community—whether you’d like to participate or just come enjoy the evening.

Last Call for Winter Enrichment

Winter enrichment programs are underway! There's still availability in Spanish and Comic Book Class.

Sign up via the registration links posted on the Enrichment page.

Lakeridge PTA Calendar

Monday, January 19

No School: Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Thursday, January 22

5:30p Lakeridge Culture Night

Monday, January 26

No School: Teacher Professional Development Day

Tuesday, January 27

5:30p Kindergarten Info Night

Thursday, February 5

5th Grade Operetta Rehearsals & Performances

PTA NEWS

Special Services & Learning Differences Coffee

Friday, January 23 | 10:30 am
South End Starbucks

Join us for a parent conversation about district communications and family interactions—what’s working, what’s challenging, and what would help.

Together, we’ll create an anonymous SSALD wish list to share with the district, advocating for clearer information, more collaborative meetings, and a process that feels transparent and respectful for all families. We hope to see you there!

Belonging & Voice Community News

B&V Community Coffee
Friday, February 6 | 10:30 am
KCLS Mercer Island Library

The purpose of this community is to expand belonging and elevate voices of underrepresented groups in our school communities. Join us every other month to share your experience and insights, find connections, and make new friends.

Visit Belonging & Voice or email Belonging & Voice Co-Directors Cathy Chen and Melissa Hill to learn more

Belonging & Voice Family Survey

Share your thoughts! The Belonging & Voice Committee would like to learn what matters to you and understand both the successes and challenges of how our school communities support all students and families. Your responses will shape our work to expand Belonging & Voice for all in the MI school community.

Please complete this short survey

Vote: EP&O Replacement Levy

Ballots due Tuesday, February 10

Every four years, Mercer Island voters vote to replace MISD's Educational Programming and Operations (EP&O) Levy. The levy is collected through local property taxes and all funds raised on Mercer Island stay on Mercer Island. The current EP&O levy will expire in 2026.

Look for your ballot in the mail this week

Learn more about the levy

ADVOCACY REPORT

2026 WA State Legislative Session

Care about public education in Washington and the MI school district? There’s an easy way to make your voice heard this legislative session.

Sign up for alerts from Washington State PTA and receive updates on education-related bills with clear recommendations on how to support them.

WSPTA does the homework for you by highlighting the bills that matter and showing quick ways to take action, such as signing in pro or con, leaving a comment, or submitting written or spoken testimony.

Legislators really do pay attention.

It’s an easy, meaningful way to support public education and make a positive impact—no experience required!

WSPTA Focus on Advocacy Week

From January 26-30, you can participate in daily calls to action to help advocate for ample funding of public education as mandated in our Constitution. Action alerts are quick, easy ways to communicate with our legislators on topics they are actively working on. Click here to get involved and make a difference for public education in our state.

MISD Student Safety and Well-Being

If you are curious about the district’s response to both confirmed and alleged sexual abuse at MIHS, the Student Safety & Well-Being website outlines the steps being taken. These include forming a committee of internal and external stakeholders, conducting an independent investigation into the district, and addressing ongoing community questions.

COMMUNITY

Mercer Island Silent Disco: Groove for Good

February 6 | 7–10:30 pm

Come out to a 70’s-inspired Silent Disco for everyone! Bring your spouse, your neighbors, your girlfriends, your guy friends… basically, if you like music and dancing you belong here.

Want to go full disco with sequins and sparkle? Amazing. Want to come as-is? Also perfect.

However you come there will be drinks + snacks, and we’ll provide the headphones + music. It's all to benefit the Mercer Island Schools Foundation.

Get your tickets

Wednesday, February 11 | 7:30 am
MI Community & Events Center

Join the MI community for the “Giving From the Heart” Annual Breakfast, supporting Mercer Island Youth and Family Services. This free-to-attend event is MIYFS’s largest fundraiser of the year, helping ensure vital support for Mercer Islanders.

Register here

PARENT LABS Are Back for 2026

Next up for K-5: Supporting a Neurodiverse Child
Tuesday, March 17 | Lakeridge Library

PARENT LABS are in-person interactive workshops for Mercer Island parents/caregivers of elementary, middle and high school students.

Register here

Discussions are facilitated by MI Youth and Family Services counselors and staff.

Petals Art Club School Day Off Camp

January 19 | January 26
February 14 | February 16–18
MI Community & Events Center

Creative, hands-on arts and crafts experiences for K–5th graders. Offering school day off camps and more.

Learn more and register

Youth Theater Northwest: Winter & Spring Classes

January–June 2026

Youth Theatre Northwest is offering Winter and Spring 2026 classes and camps for grades K–8, including a mid-winter break camp and spring break camp.

Learn more and register

Creation Dance Mid-Winter Break Camps

February 16-19

Keep kids active over mid-winter break with dance-based camps and creative activities at Creation Dance Studio.

Learn more and register

Kids Corps Tutoring Club

Free weekly tutoring from MIHS students

Kids Corps pairs Mercer Island High School students with elementary schoolers for once-a-week tutoring in reading, writing, math, science, and more. Sign-ups for 2025–2026 are open now, and matches are made throughout the year.

Sign up here

Lakeridge Elementary PTA

Questions? Please contact communicationslakeridge@gmail.com

Lakeridge Elementary School PTA is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
Tax ID: #91-1144811

lakeridgepta.org

Lakeridge Elementary School

8215 SE 78th Street, Mercer Island, WA 98040

SUBJECT: The ROAR | January 19, 2026