News

44th Annual Telly Award Winners

Mercer Island High School’s Media Technology, Filmmaking, and Storytelling Class announced today that two student works have been named Best Student Works in the record breaking 44th Annual Telly Awards. The Telly Awards honors excellence in video and television across all screens and is judged by leaders from video platforms, television, streaming networks, production companies and including Adobe, BBC World Service, Netflix, Dow Jones, Complex Networks, Jennifer Garner, A&E Networks, Hearst Media, Nickelodeon, National Geographic Society, ESPN Films, RYOT, Partizan and Vimeo.

Jonathan Aggar received a Silver Award for his work titled, "Climate Changed" which captures a bleak but not impossible future impacted by the affects of climate change. Sophia Chew received a Bronze Award for her work titled, "Literally Opposites" capturing a unique perspective of two students, so similar yet...opposite.

"The caliber of the work this season coming from creators such as Jonathan and Sophia truly has reflected the theme of breaking out and standing out," said Tellys Executive Director Sabrina Dridje. "Our industry is experimenting with new technologies like never before, crafting truly compelling stories to draw attention to some of the world's most pressing issues, and companies big and small are turning to more sustainable practices to break the cycle of past production processes."

"Today's winners' announcement caps a re-introduction of media technology and filmmaking at Mercer Island High School and celebrates creators and talent who truly stand out during a time when the ubiquity of screens brings more clutter than quality into our lives,” said their teacher, Michael Ketchum. "Jonathan and Sophia, as well as the rest of the class, are the creators and innovators who spotlight diverse voices, who are building a more sustainable industry, and who break through the static with their creativity. I couldn’t be prouder of these two, and the future is bright for them and filmmaking at MIHS!"

This was a record-breaking year with nearly 13,000 entries from across the globe and top video and television content producers such as Airbnb, Audible, BET Networks/BET Digital, BritBox, Disney, FEMA, Gaumont, Golden State Warriors, MediaMonks, NASA, National Geographic Society, Netflix, Paramount, PBS Digital Studios and more.

Summer Kickoff!

Summer Kickoff is here! Wednesday after Islander Hour, join us for a slew of activities, great food, and a lot of fun!

Literacy on Mercer Island

In the 2022-2023 school year, Mercer Island School District rolled out the first of two phases of the new literacy program. This program, Benchmark Advance, is a full literacy program that includes foundational skills, spelling, vocabulary, and comprehension instruction that is aligned with the Science of Reading (SoR).

Dodgeball Tournament

Are you ready for Dodgeball?! Join the June 7 tournament now using the QR codes located around the school and bring your game!

2023/24 ASB Leadership Candidates

Candidates for 2023/24 ASB leadership positions go on the record as to why they should get your vote to represent the student body next year!

South Mercer Playfields Ribbon Cutting and Softball Jamboree

The Mercer Island School District and the City of Mercer Island celebrate a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the newly updated South Mercer Playfields (SMP) on Saturday, March 11, at noon.

Ninety-Second Film Festival Winners Announced!

The First Annual MIHS Ninety-Second Film Festival has finished its voting and revealed this year's award winners in film and technical categories. Follow the navigation up above to view the winning entries! Enjoy!

88.9 The Bridge Wins Big at Annual IBS Conference!

While MIHS.tv didn't take home any awards this year after just two months of operation, HUGE kudos to our partners and classmates over on KMIH 88.9 the Bridge, for their outstanding performance in the annual Intercollegiate Broadcasters System Awards. Fourteen MIHS students were in the top performers in high school broadcast radio and a big shout out to News Director Miles Avilez for winning FOUR awards! Well done!

Ijeoma Oluo Speaks to MIHS.

On Friday, 10 February 2023, best-selling author of "So You Want to Talk About Race", Ijeoma Oluo, spoke to the MIHS student body and staff in a Black Student Union (BSU) and PTSA-organized morning assembly. Her moving speech was followed with a question and answer session with the author herself.

Ijeoma Oluo gave a personal speech about growing up as a person of color, her experiences as an African American adult, why she writes, and much more.

The speech was preceded by a performance of from the MIHS Chamber A Orchestra performed the second movement from William Grant Still's Symphony No. 2. William Grant Still is known as "The Dean of African American composers" and was the first African American individual to conduct a major symphony orchestra in the United States. This particular song is known as the "Song of a New Race" as it tells the stories of African American people in modern times and how different races are integrated into American society by infusing elements of blues and jazz into classical music.

Fentanyl & Opioid Crisis / Resources & Conversations

The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and local partners continue to warn about the various forms of fentanyl. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. Just two milligrams of fentanyl, which is equal to 10-15 grains of table salt, is considered a lethal dose. Because there is no way to know how much fentanyl is concentrated in a pill or powder without laboratory testing, the drug is extremely dangerous and frequently overdosed.

Island parents and community members are encouraged to have frank conversations with the youth in their lives about the dangers of fentanyl. Resources are available on the City's Healthy Youth Initiative website to help facilitate these conversations. Drug overdoses continue to climb across the nation, with fentanyl deaths leading the charts. Taking steps to inform children and young adults about what these drugs are, what they look like, and their extreme danger has a critical impact in preventing overdoses and tragedies.

MIHS.tv nominated for 4 prestigious IBS awards in first 2 months of operation!

MIHS.tv is proud to announce that the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System has recognized our students with four IBS Media Award nominations, including best comedy, best sports cast, best news cast, and best website! The IBS Media Awards will take place Saturday, February 25 during the 2023 Intercollegiate Broadcasting Conference at the Sheraton Times Square in New York City.