Weekly Update – October 25

Get ready for a spine-chilling adventure! The Meridian FFA Booster Club presents the Scream Fair: Phobia Farm at the Lynden Fairgrounds Swine Barn. Join us for a fright-filled night on October 25 or 26 from 7:00 to 10:00 PM. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for kids, with sales ending at 9:00 PM if wait times exceed two hours. Don’t miss this thrilling event—dare to be scared!

MHS music students are selling beautiful poinsettias to support our program this holiday season! You can choose from white, pink, or red in 4″ and 6″ sizes, with red also available in 10″, and a special glitter option in 6″. Prices range from $12 to $50, and we’re also offering a Christmas Tin Centerpiece for $35 and Noble Fir wreaths—16″ undecorated for $40 and 24″ decorated for $65. If you’re interested and haven’t heard from a student, feel free to reach out to music director Quin Wilder before the order deadline on Monday, October 28th. Plus, don’t miss our craft fair on November 2nd in the south gym—a great chance to shop for local artisan gifts and holiday decorations!

From Nov. 4-8, Meridian School District is hosting a food drive to support families in our community. Donations will go to the Meridian Family Support Center and Ferndale Food Bank. We’re collecting nonperishable and unexpired items like canned soup, vegetables, fruit, pastas, beans, cereals, rice, flour, cooking oils, peanut butter, and canned chicken and tuna. You can bring donations on the bus or drop them off at the school office. Let’s come together to help our community!

Attention Senior Parents! Join us on Monday, November 4th, at 6:30 PM in the MHS Library for a Class of 2025 Booster Club meeting. We’ll be discussing plans for Grad Night, the Senior Trip, and Baccalaureate decor, as well as any other ideas you might have. We’ll also review our fundraising efforts and accomplishments so far. Your support makes a difference, and we appreciate our amazing parent community. Let’s make this a memorable year for our seniors!

Eighth graders Jaydelyn, Cruz and Tucker recently starred in a video tour of Meridian Middle School, highlighting its current condition. Rebuilding Meridian Middle School will be on the Nov. 5 ballot for voters in Meridian School District to consider. Despite being well-maintained, the school was originally constructed in 1938 and is showing its age, with growing upkeep costs.

Key concerns include non-reinforced concrete walls that don’t meet current seismic codes, unconnected buildings with outdoor entries and walkways posing security challenges, lack of accessible entries and restrooms, and an inadequate layout with specialists working in converted spaces.

Thank you for taking a few minutes to watch the video and remember to vote on Nov. 5.

Grad ads are due on December 16, 2024 (the same deadline as senior photos). A half-page ad costs $110 and can include up to 7 photos, while a quarter-page ad costs $60 with a maximum of 5 photos.

To submit, please send your receipt, photos, and dedication wording to Mr. McGrew by the deadline. If you’re submitting hard copies of photos, we will scan them and return them by the end of the school year.

Remember, the more content in the dedication, the smaller the font will be, so keep it simple for easier reading!

If you’ve failed a course and are no longer on track to graduate, now is the time to sign up for credit retrieval. Sessions will be held on Monday/Wednesday and Tuesday/Thursday from 2:45 to 4:45 p.m. in Room 209. Attendance is required, and students can catch the activity bus home afterward. Once the course is completed, the credit will be added to your transcript.

Contact your school counselor to sign up!

The FAFSA/WASFA application for financial aid has been delayed. It was hoped that the application would be available in October as it was before the new application. The release has been delayed until December 1, 2024. MHS will offer three support sessions for seniors. A lesson will be taught in Homeroom explaining types of financial aid and what documents are needed to develop a FSA ID.

 An assembly will be held for seniors on November 4th during Homeroom with our partner Futures NW to help students make their FSA ID. January 14th we will hold our annual Financial Aid Night. We will have professionals here to help with any questions you or your parents may have on completing the applications. Dinner will be provided and time to complete the applications. Finally, February 27th during both lunches Futures NW will join us to check the application status and help with any error messages.

Last year this was a new offering and was found very beneficial as they found errors that were associated with the new application and were able to report their findings so the errors could be corrected in the application itself. Pizza will be provided. This is just a quick application check so that any financial aid you may be receiving will not be delayed. Mark your calendars. We look forward to working with you.

Meridian High School students can earn free college credit through Everett Community College (EvCC) by taking select courses like Honors Chemistry, AP Biology, Pre-Calculus, AP Statistics, and AP Calculus. The process is simple: apply to become an EvCC student and register for courses—all while completing your coursework at MHS!

Key Deadlines:

MHS is offering application support during T3 on November 21, and registration support on December 12. Make sure to take advantage of this great opportunity to earn college credits at no cost!

For more details, check out the EvCC CHS Application and Registration Page. For additional help, visit the EvCC CHS Support Page or email collegeinhs@everettcc.edu.

Pro Tip: These are real college courses, and grades will affect your academic record, so stay on top of your work!

The High School and Beyond Plan (HSBP) is a required component for graduation. All students must complete their HSBP by December 16, 2024 to meet this important graduation requirement.

To help you understand what is necessary to satisfy this requirement, we have provided a detailed document outlining all the components of the HSBP. You can access it here: HSBP Requirements.

If your student needs assistance or has any questions about completing their HSBP, please don’t hesitate to reach out to their school counselor. Our counselors are here to guide students through the process and provide any support needed.

Don’t wait until the deadline – start early to ensure your student is on track for graduation!

OtterBot is a free text messaging service from WSAC (Washington Student Achievement Council) that helps Washington State students and parents navigate the college search, admissions process, and financial aid options. This year, OtterBot has expanded to support all 9th–12th grade College Bound students and their parents/guardians! Whether you’re just beginning your college journey or finalizing financial aid, OtterBot is here to assist. Students can text “Hi OtterBot” to 360-928-7281, and parents/guardians can text “Hi OtterBot” to 360-634-0354 for real-time help with college and financial aid information.

Bring the whole family to have fun on Saturday, October 26 from 1pm to 6pm at Meridian Middle School for a Harvest Festival, hosted by the Meridian Middle School Boosters. The event will feature a haunted maze, ring toss, face painting, and many more fun adventures. Cost for families is $20, individuals $5, and children 5 and under free.

The Meridian School District Family Resource Center will reopen on August 19. The center is open daily from 8:30 to 3:30 in portable 400A on the Irene Reither campus.

Students who qualify for free or reduced meals can stop by to get school supplies or sign up for Operation School Bell which provides new school clothes for students enrolled in Meridian School District. We also have the clothing closet available for any Meridian family looking for gently used adult and kid clothing.

Questions? Contact Alicia Roberts (English) at 360-988-1949 or Elvira Trautman (Spanish) at 360-306-2886.