Asa Mercer International Middle School

Asa Mercer
International Middle School
Ribbon-Cutting Celebration
August 28, 1 p.m.
PROGRAM
Welcome
Christopher Carter, Principal
Remarks
U.S. Congressman Adam Smith, 9th Congressional District
State Senator Bob Hasegawa, 11th Legislative District
State Representative Zack Hudgins, 11th Legislative District
Betty Patu, Vice-president, Seattle School Board
Dr. Larry Nyland, Superintendent, Seattle Public Schools
Call to the Ribbon
ASB Student Council Representatives
Thank you and announcements
RIBBON CUTTERS
SEAT TLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
SEAT TLE SCHOOL BOARD
Dr. Larry Nyland, Superintendent
Sharon Peaslee, President
Charles Wright, Deputy Superintendent
Betty Patu, Vice President
Michael Tolley, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning
Marty McLaren Member-at-large
Dr. Flip Herndon, Assistant Superintendent for Capital,
Facilities and Enrollment
Sherry Carr
Pegi McEvoy, Assistant Superintendent for Operations
Karen Kodama, International Education Administrator
Kelly Aramaki, Executive Director of Schools
COMMUNITY
U.S. Congressman Adam Smith
State Senator Bob Hasegawa
State Representative Rep. Zack Hudgins
Cynthia Trueblood, Vice-President, Mercer PTSA
Stephan Blanford
Harium Martin-Morris
Sue Peters
ASA MERCER INTERNATIONAL MIDDLE SCHOOL
Christopher Carter, Principal
Sherry Encarnacion, Assistant Principal
Bridgid Addanki, Assistant Principal
Gina Gerlitz, House Administrator
Christy Bowman-White, Administrative Intern
Gretchen Coe, Teacher Leader
Asa Mercer
International Middle School
ABOUT OUR SCHOOL
Asa Mercer International Middle School is located in the diverse Beacon Hill community. Our
school is home to families from all over the world.
• School of Distinction (top 5% in state for improvement in scores): 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013
• Washington State Achievement Award winner: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013
• Seattle Public Schools Level 5 (top level) school: 2011, 2012 and 2013
MISSION
HISTORY
We are an international community of learners: opening a door to the world. At Mercer every student is a
reader, writer, mathematician, scientist and thinker.
Our mission is to create and sustain the first highperforming, high poverty middle school in the state
of Washington. We believe that all of our students,
78% of whom live in poverty, can excel.
Located in the Jefferson Park area of Beacon Hill,
Asa Mercer Junior High School, now Asa Mercer
Middle School, was named for Asa Shinn Mercer.
In 1861, he aided development of the young city of
Seattle when he convinced 11 young women to come
west as prospective brides. In 1863, he was the
president and an instructor of the newly founded
Territorial University, the University of Washington.
In 1865 he again went east and convinced nearly 100
more young women to come to Seattle. Asa Mercer
left Washington Territory in 1867 and lived in
Oregon, Texas and Wyoming where he died in 1917.
INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION
As an International School, Mercer provides students
with linguistic skills, higher-order thinking skills, and
a global perspective that will help them contribute to
and succeed in a 21st century world. Students engage
in intellectually rigorous schoolwork, which helps
prepare them for college, career and life. International
Schools help close both the academic achievement
gap as well as the “global achievement gap.”
The focus languages are Mandarin and Spanish. Students in this program should leave Mercer speaking
and using the targeted language in advanced levels.
In terms of high school credit, most will have satisfied
high school requirements and possible college entrance requirements before leaving middle school.
The land for the new junior high was the property
of the city until 1949 when it was deeded to the
Veterans Administration for a hospital. In 1954, a
portion of the tract that was deeded to the Veterans
Administration was returned to the city for the
construction of the school. The school opened in
1957 with 1,093 students. To meet the needs of its
students, a number of programs have been pioneered
there. They range from a successful computerassisted learning program, offering Asian language
classes, a career planning course, and a volunteer
work program with the Veterans Administration.
1600 S Columbian Way Seattle, WA 98108 | (206) 252-8000
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