Mercer Island High School is collecting input from students, staff, alumni and the Mercer Island community with the goal of unveiling a school motto by the end of the school year. For the next month, alumni, PTSA members and the community at large are asked to submit words they feel embody what it is to be an Islander through an online form.

“By collaboratively creating a motto for Mercer Island High School, we can create connection and accountability,” said junior Jack Larkin. Senior Alex Seidel added, “It’s nice to have something to unite us that we can live by as a whole community. We have such a spirited, outgoing, positive school and community. We want to capture and define that.”

The team of students, staff and alumni are taking the time to collect feedback from each part of the Islander community. Students will collect words from the community through Friday, April 18. The team already collected input from the student body through the BRIDGES program and after they have received input from the community they will collect ideas from the staff at the end of April. Examples from the student input include passion, innovation and spirit.

“These powerful words will become the action of our daily lives as part of this educational community,” said MIHS Principal Vicki Puckett. “We want to build a school motto to live by.”