March 3rd, 2024 Newsletter

Hello everyone,

As we enter into March, I wanted to remind everyone that March is Women’s History Month.  It is a great time to recognize and celebrate the achievements of women, both past and present.

Women’s History Month serves as a strong reminder of the struggles and triumphs of women who have blazed trails in various fields, from science and literature to politics and the arts. Their resilience, courage, and determination have not only shaped our past but continue to inspire us to strive for progress and equality in all aspects of society.

As we commemorate Women’s History Month, let’s take the time to reflect on the extraordinary women in our own community – the dedicated educators and students who embody the spirit of perseverance and excellence!

Thank you for joining us in celebrating Women’s History Month at Meridian High School.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at 360.398.8111. If you need translation support, please contact our cultural liaison, Elvira Trautman at 360.306.2886.

Sincerely,

MHS Office Team

No School, Friday March 8

Dual Credit Meeting Attention sophomore and junior parents/guardians: There will be a meeting on this Tuesday, March 5th for students and their parents/guardians who would like to learn more about different ways students can earn college credit while still in high school. The counselors and admin team will talk about each of the ways students can earn college credit, which includes running start, college in the high school, CTE dual credit, and taking classes at the Northwest Career and Technical Academy (NCTA). Guests from Whatcom Community College, Bellingham Technical College, and the NCTA are also scheduled to present. This meeting is a requirement for participation in these programs. You do not need to attend if you attended last year. It starts at 6:30 pm and will take place in the auditorium. If you have any questions, please email me at dforbes@meridian.wednet.edu or call at 360-398-8111.

Student Registration for 2024-2025 Classes Students will register for next year’s classes in March.  The first week students will get the information they need to make their course requests.  The following week, students will be making their course requests.  Before making their requests, students will be asked to talk about the courses they are considering taking with their parent(s) / guardian (s).  Each student will also need to have a signature from a parent/guardian on their registration request form. Current freshmen will get course and registration information during the week of March 4th and register for classes in a world history class during the week of March 11th. Current sophomores will get course and registration information during the week of March 11th and register for classes in their English class during the week of March 18th. Current juniors will get course and registration information during the week of March 18th and register for classes in their US History class during the week of March 25th Running Start, NCTA, and part-time students will also get the course and registration information during the week of March 18th and register for classes during  the week of March 25th. Information related to registration can be found at https://www.meridian.wednet.edu/mhs/counseling/course-registration/ If you have further questions about the registration process, please contact your student’s counselor.

Northwest Career & Technical Academy The Northwest Career & Technical Academy (NCTA) is an extension of MHS and provides innovative educational opportunities and training necessary to juniors and seniors. Best of all, NCTA is tuition-free for high school students! NCTA’s motto is, “Learn, Do, Lead.” They believe learning by doing is the best way to forge tomorrow’s leaders. NCTA courses are designed to empower students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed after high school. To learn more about the courses offered go to  https://www.nwtech.k12.wa.us/courses/ While at NCTA, you’ll experience hands-on learning opportunities that will keep you engaged all year long! If you would like to see what happens on campus, NCTA is offering a tour of the programs offered on its Mt. Vernon campus on March 27th. Information will be available in the main office soon for how to sign up to visit. Juniors and Seniors: Come to the WWU College Planning Day Tuesday, March 26th. Discover over 20 other colleges in info sessions and get a feel for a college campus.  Trade schools, community colleges and universities will be represented. Sign ups and permission forms are in the library and due no later than March 20th. Unity Care Mobile Dentist Coming on March 14th Unity Care’s Mobile Dentist is coming to the Meridian Family Support Center on Thursday, March 14th. If your child has not seen a dentist in the past 6 months please consider signing them up for this FREE event. Transportation to the Family Center for Middle and High School students will be provided by the Family Services Coordinator in a district vehicle. Students who sign up will receive a visual screening by the dentist, a fluoride application, goody bag, and a referral for a follow-up visit if there are any concerns. Registration forms are available in the school office or can be downloaded, filled out, and emailed back to Alicia Roberts aroberts@meridian.wednet.edu Please return completed forms to school by February 7th Meridian High School Drama Last week was Drama Recognition Week. Our amazing drama club put on a spectacular production of Disney’s “High School Musical”, drawing large crowds all 4 days. Starring junior Ben Duersch and senior Fran Manookin as Troy Bolton and Gabriella Montez, the musical was a hit and displayed the hard work and creativity of our talented drama club. The crowd was especially blown away by the cast’s amazing vocal performances and the fun and energetic ensemble numbers. A huge thanks to the club’s advisor, Ashton Thomas, and the dedicated students that make this club one of a kind! (submitted by the MHS Leadership Class- Drama Recognition Cohort) Family CEE Survey We want to hear from you! For us to continue to improve as a school district and as a school, it is important for us to understand how we are doing in providing a quality education for all students. Please take a moment to complete this annual survey which helps us better understand areas we need to focus on in order to provide the best quality education for our students. This survey will also serve as data for us as we continue to work toward meeting our goals outlined in Our Commitments, our strategic plan. The survey asks how you feel about several topics including school communication, expectations for learning, and engaging with teachers and administrators. Please complete this survey by March 8. Starry Night – Student Dance, March 9 from 8 to 11 p.m. MHS Commons TOLO Tickets will be sold during both lunches this week.  The cost is $10.00 per person.  Tickets will not be sold at the door. School Hot Lunches This Week Monday – Teriyaki Bowl Tuesday – Pulled Pork Hoagie Wednesday – Homemade Chicken Fajitas Thursday – Chicken Burger on WG Bun Friday – No School Other Daily Offerings May Include: Pizza Variety of Fresh Made Salads Variety of Fresh Made Wraps Deli Sandwiches Yogurt Parfait MHS History Moment – A Look Back Through the Years  Athletics Through the Years According to the 1928 yearbook, “The Eclipse,” the only sport offered at Meridian High School in 1928 was boys basketball. The team played teams from Sumas, Harmony, Nooksack, Maple Falls and Custer. The basketball team ended the season with a 5-5 record. Some of the games played were very low scoring. One game, Meridian lost 14 to 10. Another game was won by Meridian with the score being 14-11. The games our boys play now, are much higher scoring and wouldn’t end in that low of a score. National Meatball Day There are early recipes for meatballs found in ancient Chinese, Arabic and Roman texts—and every culture seems to have their own version! Beef, pork, and veal are most popular, but they can be made with chicken, fish or even vegan. Let’s all eat some yummy meatballs on March 9 in honor of National Meatball Day.