Mercer Bulletin: Quarter 4

Students are empowered to contribute and confidently engage with their diverse communities.

Hello Mercer Families,

As we step into the final quarter of the school year, we are officially on the last leg of this run. This is the stretch where our collective focus, collaboration, and belief in our impact matter most. Thank you for the care and persistence you dedicate to your family and to our community.

This moment calls us to pause, reflect, and recommit.

Why This Final Quarter Matters

Research shows that students grow best when the adults around them believe in their ability to succeed and work together in support of that growth. At Mercer, our teachers collaborate closely to reflect on what is working, adjust instruction, and ensure every student is moving forward academically and socially.

• As we head into the final quarter, our focus is on:

  • Strengthening core academic skills
  • Supporting students in taking greater ownership of their learning
  • Helping students build independence, resilience, and confidence

This is not the time to coast; it is the time to be intentional, aligned, and bold in how we use our remaining weeks.

Staying Connected with You All

Strong communication between school and home is especially important at this time of year. You may hear directly from teachers as they share:

• Your child’s strengths and progress
• Areas where continued growth is needed
• Clear, actionable steps for how you can support learning at home

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to teachers or counselors if you have questions or would like additional guidance.

Growing Learners Who Own Their Learning

Middle school is a critical time for students to learn how to manage their learning more independently. In this final quarter, teachers will continue encouraging students to:

• Engage in productive struggle rather than giving up or avoiding challenges
• Reflect on their learning and set goals
• Take responsibility for assignments, organization, and effort

These skills are essential—not just for next year, but for long-term success. Your encouragement at home to problem-solve, persevere, and reflect makes a powerful difference.

Looking Ahead

Before we sprint to the finish line, I hope each of you took Spring Break to rest, reconnect, and recharge. The work ahead requires clarity, energy, and heart—and you deserve time to connect with your family.

Thank you for your commitment to our students, to one another, and to the powerful work of raising children. Let’s finish strong—together.

With gratitude,

Sherrie Encarnacion, Principal

Go Mustangs!

Yearbooks will be $25 and can be purchased through SchoolPay. No cash payments accepted. Purchased yearbooks will be distributed the last week of school. Limited number available. Get yours early to make sure you secure one for your student

In a couple of weeks, Mercer students will take the Smarter Balanced or the Washington Access to Instruction and Measurement (WA-AIM) tests in math and English language arts. Students in grades 5, 8, and 11 will also take the Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS) or the WA-AIM science assessment.

The results from these tests will give a more accurate picture of whether students are on track to be ready for college or career. For students in grade 10, the Smarter Balanced or WA-AIM tests can also be used as a graduation pathway.

Thank you for continuing to work with us to make sure your student is successful. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to better support your student. We want your student to leave us with a solid foundation of skills and a future full of opportunities.

Standardized testing is both an incredibly important and incredibly stressful time for our students. Here is how you can help!

• Have a Positive Night Time Routine: Set a bedtime to get into a routine of going to sleep early. Keep devices put away at a specific time to encourage healthy sleep. These tests take lots of brain power, so resting and re-charging is really important!
• Start the Day with Health in Mind: Eat a healthy breakfast in the morning and encourage students to be at school on time. Stay away from the high sugar breakfasts for sustained focused.
• Provide Emotional Support: Be there to listen to your child's concerns and offer encouragement and reassurance. Validate their feelings of anxiety or stress while also providing perspective and support.
• Celebrate Effort and Progress: Let them know that they are prepared and have worked hard all year long. Tell them to do their best and take their time and that this is just one piece of information that tells us about their progress this year.

What students should bring to school:

• A refillable water bottle
• Healthy snacks

Students will have a snack and bathroom breaks during testing

What students should not bring to school:

• Additional electronic devices - students will not have access to their devices during testing time (8:55 a.m.-12:30 p.m.)

Student phones will be turned off and in their backpacks during the duration of all testing periods. Even if your student is done early, the state mandates that no electronic devices may be used in a testing environment. This includes: laptops, phones, ear buds, phone watches. If you need to contact your student, please contact the main office. Phones should continue to be away for the day. Partnering around our expectations around phone usage at school is so important to a positive relationship with you and your student. Thank you for understanding our norms for a safe and focused learning environment at a large comprehensive school.

Tuesday May 5 – ELA CAT (Periods 1-4)

Thursday May 7 – ELA PT (Periods 1-5)

Tuesday May 12 – Math CAT (Periods 1-4)

Thursday/Friday May 14, 15 – Math PT (give in math classes)

Thursday May 21 – 8th grade Science WCAS

For more information about the Smarter Balanced and WCAS tests

To try out an online Smarter Balanced practice test or WCAS training test.

The WA-AIM is an alternate assessment based on alternate achievement standards aligned to the Washington State K–12 Learning Standards for students with significant cognitive challenges. For more information about the WA-AIM tests and to take a look at example questions.

Please call or email grade level counselors if you have questions about state testing.

• 6th: Virginia Andrews- vaandrews@seattleschools.org
• 7th: Claire Bernhard- cgbernhard@seattleschools.org
• 8th: Angela Austin-Chappelle- ajaustinchap@seattleschools.org

Overview

Students are saying that most of their alcohol use is occurring with parent permission or with adult supervision, in the form of small sips at parties, holidays, or religious activities. (Note: Research on harms of underage drinking does not discriminate between types of sips)

Facts

Giving sips of alcohol might seem harmless, but a growing body of research indicates that it can increase chances of future dependency and excess drinking.* No amount of alcohol is safe for teens. In fact, delaying drinking until 21 years old can improve health outcomes.**

Question

"What about Europe?" There's a common misperception that the earlier drinking age in Europe helps teens learn to drink in moderation, but data shows that European teens are more likely to binge drink and suffer long-term health problems.***

Call to Action
You can prevent underage drinking by talking with your child about alcohol. Reinforcing the legal drinking age of 21, setting family expectations around alcohol, and modeling a healthy approach to drinking are proven ways to keep your child safe and healthy.****

Mercer families! Please join us to learn about the overview of ADHD, the impact of ADHD on functioning at home and school, as well as tips or trips on how to support your child.

This event will be located in the Family Room (101). Light refreshments provided and language support is available (Chinese, Spanish, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Somali).

Register for Overview of ADHD information meeting

We hope to see you there!

Come browse a number of programs and camps that our community parteners are offering this summer.

Get support in enrolling in Mercer CLC's Parks Academy of learning.

This event will be in the Family Room (101)

Light refreshments provided

Language support available (Chinese, Spanish, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Somali)

Register for Summer Program Fair Communi-Tea

As we approach the end of the school year, we’d love for you to join us for our final community gathering of the season! This is a special opportunity to hear directly from our school principal, who will be sharing important year-end updates and a look at what’s in store for next year.

If you haven’t had a chance to attend yet, this is the perfect opportunity to plug in before summer break. We’ve designed this meeting to be a warm, low-pressure space to celebrate our progress and look ahead together—and to make the evening even better, food and drinks will be available for everyone to enjoy.

Whether you’re curious about next year’s plans or just want to connect with other families one last time before June, come as you are!

It’s time to take the Mercer spirit to the ballpark! We are thrilled to announce Mustang Night at the Mariners on Saturday, May 16 at 4:15 p.m.

We’ll be watching the Mariners take on the San Diego Padres from the 300 level, and we want you there with us.

Why Join Us?

• Affordable Fun: Tickets are only $15.
• Support Mercer: A portion of each ticket sale supports the Mercer PTSA and our school programs.
• Community: Sit with other Mustang families and enjoy a great Saturday at T-Mobile Park.

Important Dates:

• Deadline to Buy: Get your tickets by April 27.
• Ticket Delivery: Keep an eye on your inbox! Tickets will be emailed out after May 1.

The Catch: We only have 100 tickets available in our reserved section. If you would like to sit with another family, please place one order for the entire group. Don’t miss out on this fan-favorite fundraiser!

Purchase Mariner's tickets!

Go Mariners, and Go Mustangs!

Please join the Mercer Symphony in the commons from 7 p.m.-9 p.m. Come and celebrate all the hard work they have done this school year.

We will host an event in the evening for families to celebrate the last year of middle school. Please join us in the Mercer Commons for a short presentation, music, and light refreshments. This is an opportunity for students and families to connect before transitioning to high school.

We will begin collecting funds for our annual end-of-year field trip. This year's cost is $50 with scholarships available for families in need.

With rising costs and limited school budget, this is an expensive trip, so it is not a requirement for students to attend. Each grade-level will have a separate free-of-charge field trip.

• We will not be able to offer refunds this year for students/families that change their mind. Please start talking to your child about if they want to attend the Wild Waves Field Trip.
• Refunds will only be provided for students who have the privilege taken away by an administrator.

This is the last Wild Waves season as the park will be closing after this summer.

Important Links:

• Pay for the 2026 Wild Waves trip: Because this is a Wild Waves Field Trip Day, season passes will not be accepted, all students must have a pass purchased with a school.

• Apply for a Scholarship? Scholarship notifications will be sent on Friday, May 1. Remaining payment will be due by Tuesday, May 5.

• Want to donate to the Scholarship fund

This is an invitation for Current 6th and 7th graders

• Priority will be given based on greatest academic need.

Register for Mercer Summer School

June 29-July 24: Monday - Fridays from 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

No camp on July 3

Activities are presented by the Mercer Middle School Community Learning Center:

• Math & English Language Arts
• Recreations
• Enrichment
• Weekly Field Trips

Daily breakfast, lunch, and snack provided. Bus is available on case-by-case basis.

Questions?

Contact CLC Director, Cameron Roth

• caroth@seattleschools.org
• cameron.roth@seattle.gov
• Call or Text: 206-423-2070

Summer Skills Center classes are introductory versions of what we typically offer during the school year. Transportation is not provided. Snacks and snack breaks are provided, but not lunch (with the exception of the maritime class aboard the Adventuress).

Most Summer Skills Center classes will run from Tuesday, July 7 to Thursday, July 30 and our standard class schedule will be 10:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, fully in person. Students have the opportunity to earn 0.5 Career and Technical Education (CTE) credits.

More information about Skills Center Summer Program

AileyCamp is a Free summer day camp where middle school aged youth (ages 11-14) learn about dance and important life skills, develop self-confidence, self-awareness, and creative expression – all in an atmosphere of empowerment, respect, and trust.

STG AileyCamp 2026 will take place June 22–July 31, 2026.

Find more information about AileyCamp

About the camp: Project Pipeline mission is to empower young people to effect change in their community through design. Using the city as the classroom and connecting young people to real-world architects and planners, we foster the next generation of design professionals, civic leaders, and changemakers. We advocate for increased inclusiveness, diversity, fellowship, equity, and excellence in design.

NOMA’s local summer camps provide 6th-9th-grade students of color with the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of architecture and design. Students who participate in the camps work closely with architects and designers to create designs they would like to see in their communities. Not only do students create designs, but they are also connected with NOMA | NW mentors in the architecture and design fields to help guide their interests.

2026 Project Pipeline Summer Camp is happening on July 21-25, the Othello-UW Commons, 4200 S Othello St, Seattle, WA 98118. Registration is $20, and early registration is $15.

Find more information about Project Pipeline

Please email assistant principal, Sarah Bond, for additional summer programs at sjbond@seattleschools.org

Families are always seeking additional resources. Thank you!

We need many chaperones for our grade-level field trips this year!

• Chaperones are not needed for our annual end-of-year celebration unless a safety plan is required.

If you want to chaperone field trips, you must be cleared as a Mercer Middle School Volunteer. See instructions at the bottom of this newsletter.

7th Grade Field Trip

• Friday, May 1 to University of Washington

8th Grade Field Trips

• Friday, May 1 to University of Washington

In order to chaperone or volunteer for Seattle Public Schools, families must complete the volunteer process and application:

• Volunteer Application Process
• After the volunteer process and application are approved, you can volunteer for any and all school events this year
• For more details, please see SPS Volunteer Chaperone Guidelines

Check your SPS Volunteer status

After you login, you can check your volunteer status.

Please make sure that you are registered as a school volunteer and assigned to Mercer Middle School.

Example of login:

If you have any questions, please reach out to your child's grade-level administrator and grade-level teacher lead:

• 6th grade:
• Sarah Bond sjbond@seattleschools.org &
• Jenny Mears jnmears@seattleschools.org &
• Jason Plourde japlourde@seattleschools.org

• 7th grade:
• Bernadette Dickson badickson@seattleschools.org &
• Janet Bautista jpbautista@seattleschools.org
• Madison Alberts mralberts@seattleschools.org

• 8th grade:
• Cliff Brown cbrown@seattleschools.org,
• Emily Elasky eaelasky@seattleschools.org, &