Principal’s Message

IRE Families,

With the delightful weather ahead (especially after this rainy weekend), we are looking forward to spending more time outside. Hydration is crucial, especially as we embrace outdoor play during recess and PE. Please remind your students to bring their water bottles to school daily (or find old ones in the lost and found).

Additionally, a friendly reminder about this Friday, May 10th. This day is a staff workday, meaning no classes for students. These days are important days to collaborate to enhance our teaching practices and implement, reflect on and improve upon new curricula to ensure that every child at IRE receives the best education possible.

Lastly, this week is Teacher Appreciation Week. Thank you to the PTA who has generously organized many different ways to show gratitude to our hard-working staff. They dedicate so much time to the students and families in our community. Thank you to everyone sending notes of gratitude or appreciation to the staff members at IRE.

Wishing you all a fantastic week ahead!

Best,
Tyler Dockins, Principal
IRE Drills

In April, we conducted 2 make-up drills, SECURE and SHELTER.  The following are examples of how we explained both:

A SECURE will be called if there is something scary or dangerous happening outside our building. Sometimes we might SECURE if there is someone nearby who’s not allowed to be at our school.  Sometimes law enforcement, like the police or fire department, might call and ask us to SECURE if they know something unsafe is going on outside. 

A SHELTER will be called if there is an extreme weather event or a hazardous chemical exposure. An announcement will signal the need to start the SHELTER, and another announcement will signal the end of the SHELTER.

This month IRE students and staff will be practicing a LOCKDOWN Drill.  The following is an example of how we explain a LOCKDOWN Drill to our IRE students:
A LOCKDOWN will be called if there is something dangerous happening inside our building. We might LOCKDOWN if there is a dangerous animal inside our school.  We might LOCKDOWN if there is a dangerous person inside our school.  Sometimes we might LOCKDOWN if there is a report of a dangerous weapon inside our school.
Schools in our county use the Standard Response Protocol from iloveyguys.org. You can learn more about the protocol here.
SBA Testing
Grades 3-5 will be taking the Smarter Balanced Assessment May 14 – 25. Assessment is an important part of our overall learning at IRE. Our goal is for testing to be an authentic part of the learning process and accurate reflection of how students are performing. Home partnership plays a vital role.
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  • Please ensure that your child’s device is fully functional, charged, and arrives at school each day.
  • Good sleep and breakfasts are always important!
  • Questions? Reach out to Nate Beede nbeede@meridian.wednet.edu
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Student Pick-Up Reminder

Please arrive between 3:25-3:40pm for student pick-up. If arriving before 3:25, proceed to the gravel lot. This will allow the end of the day traffic to flow smoothly and prevent backups.
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2024-2025 Kindergarten Registration is open

Know a child turning 5 by Sept. 1?
Register for kindergarten in Meridian School District! Kindergarten registration for the 2024-25 school year begins Tuesday, Feb. 20. Children must be 5-years-old by Sept. 1, 2024 to be eligible.
Children learn through play and engaging hands-on experiences. In kindergarten, children will learn how to make friends, share, and grow in many ways. They will learn to read, write and develop math skills.
Families can register their child online beginning Feb. 20 at www.meridian.wednet.edu/registration. Learn more about our early childhood education programs www.meridian.wednet.edu/ire/early-childhood.
Know a child turning 4 by Sept. 1?
Apply for our Transitional Kindergarten (TK) program! TK is a free, full-day early entrance kindergarten experience for children who are scheduled to enter kindergarten the following year.
To be eligible, children must turn 4 by Sept. 1, 2024 and demonstrate academic, language or social need and cannot be currently enrolled in another early learning program. Apply by registering your child online at
www.meridian.wednet.edu/ire/early-childhood.

Student Art Show at Meridian High School at 6 p.m. on May 6The district student art show will be from 6-8 p.m. on Monday, May 6 at Meridian High School. Student art from every school will be on display in the commons. There will also be performances by our school choirs and bands, including IRE’s Marimba, Choir and Children’s Choir Clubs, and color guard. The event is free and open to all ages. We hope to see you there!