From the Principals
Trojan family,
It was a pleasure to get to interact with and meet so many families this week during our conferences. Thank you to those of you who attended. To those who didn’t – please know that we always stand ready to help support if any concerns arise, and that we will continue to reach out to communicate with you as the year progresses.
Tonight is our first home football game of the season and as such, features our community tailgating event. We’ll see you there!
Go Trojans!
Mr. Doffing, Principal
Mr. Kratzig, Assistant Principal
Upcoming Events
Monday, September 16
- Normal Monday Bell Schedule (Periods 1, 2, HR, 3, 4, 5, 6)
- Boys Tennis, 4:00pm at Lakewood HS
- JV Football, 6:00pm vs. Marysville Pilchuck HS at MHS
Tuesday, September 17
- Normal Tuesday Bell Schedule (Periods 1, 2, T3, 4, 5)
- National IT Professionals Day
- i-Ready Screening for 9th Graders
- JV & C-Team Volleyball, 5:40pm vs. Lynden HS at MHS
- Varsity Soccer, 7:00pm vs. Lynden HS at MHS
- Varsity Volleyball, 7:00pm vs. Lynden HS at MHS
Wednesday, September 18
- Normal Wednesday Bell Schedule (Periods 1, 3, T3, 4, 6)
- i-Ready Screening for 9th Graders
- D&D Club, 2:35pm in Room 108
- Cross Country, 4:00pm at Lynden HS
- C-Team Football, 4:00pm vs. Burlington-Edison HS at BEHS
- Boys Tennis, 4:00pm vs. Burlington-Edison at Lynden MS
Thursday, September 19
- Normal Thursday Bell Schedule (Periods 2, 3, T3, 5, 6)
- i-Ready Screening for 9th Graders
- JV & C-Team Volleyball, 5:40pm vs. Mt. Baker HS at MHS
- Varsity Soccer, 7:00pm vs. Mt. Baker HS at MHS
- Varsity Volleyball, 7:00pm vs. Mt. Baker HS at MHS
Friday, September 20
- Late Arrival, School Begins at 8:55am
- Normal Friday Bell Schedule (Periods 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
- i-Ready Make Up Testing for 9th Graders & Select Screening for 10th Graders
- Varsity Football, 7:00pm vs. Kamiak HS at Goddard Stadium – Everett
General MHS Information
Football Tailgate Event
Before our first home varsity football game tonight we’ll be hosting a Community Tailgating Event in the MHS Courtyard, starting at 4:45. Join us for fun, games, treats, and community spirit before the football home opener!
PSAT Sign Ups
Sign up now to take the PSAT! The PSAT is a standardized test that helps you prepare for the SAT, measure your academic skills, and can qualify you for scholarships like the National Merit Scholarship. It’s free for Juniors and only $30 for Sophomores. Sophomores who pay this year can take it again for free next year to get a second opportunity.
To sign up, please fill out the Google Form by Friday, September 13. If you have any questions, see Mr. Kratzig or Mr. McMains. Don’t miss out on this valuable opportunity to get ahead in your college prep!
T3 Returns
Next week will feature the return of T3 to our schedule!
Stay tuned for a lesson in Homeroom about some new updates as we work to make our T3 process more solid. Be ready – there are changes ahead!
Class of 2025 Booster Fundraiser – Blankets
The Class of 2025 Boosters is selling Meridian blankets as part of our fundraiser! They are expected to arrive between 9/15 and 9/30, and the pre-sale price is $65. You can pay via Venmo (please include your name and “blanket” in the memo) or by cash/check at most home games this fall. Quantities are limited, so don’t miss out! Thank you for your support!
Teen Heart Screen
Even teens who seem perfectly healthy may have hidden heart problems. Although the percentage is small, kids with undetected heart defects are at risk of sudden cardiac acrrest which can happen without warning and can result in death.
To participate in a free screening, a parent or legal guardian must complete and sign the Heart Health Survey on behalf of their teen or youth (under age 18). Completed surveys must be received by October 22. Appointments will then be scheduled for students on Tuesday, October 29 during or after the school day.
Click here to register your student!
Financial Aid Update for Seniors
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.
Facilities Bond Vote – Nov. 5
Our community will vote on a facilities bondthat includes several safety-related projects at our schools. This bond proposal follows an extensive study and survey of district needs, with recommendations from a task force of parents, staff and community members.
Projects include:
- Building a new Meridian Middle School for grades 5-8 to alleviate overcrowding at Irene Reither Elementary. Originally constructed in 1938, MMS faces significant safety and accessibility challenges, and high earthquake risk due to non-reinforced concrete walls.
- Safety improvements and repairs at Meridian High School, including a new music room in the old cafeteria to create a closed campus, roof and masonry repairs for the auditorium, stadium beam and roof repairs, new stadium lighting and an emergency power generator.
Join us for a community presentation at Meridian Middle School on Tuesday, Sept. 24 at 6 p.m. to learn more about the bond projects and their financial impact. The event will include a Q&A session and a school tour led by students. If you can’t attend, the presentation will be available on YouTube.
Class of 2025 – High School and Beyond Plan
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!
Class of 2025 Email
If you are a senior or have a senior, please check your inbox for an important email from Shannon Waterman, our MHS Librarian and College & Career Specialist.
If you or someone in your household did not receive the email, please reach out to Shannon at swaterman@meridian.wednet.edu, and be sure to include your name and your senior’s name.
SAT and ACT Information
Students interested in taking the SAT or ACT should begin reviewing the registration process for these assessments. Testing is available at various locations and times, so be sure to plan ahead. Additionally, we encourage you to check the admissions requirements of colleges you’re considering, as some may require SAT or ACT scores for acceptance.
It’s also important to note that some scholarships require a score from one of these tests, so consider this when making your decision about whether to take the exam.
For more information, visit the following links:
If you have any further questions, please reach out to your counselor!
Student Pick-up and Drop-off
Please remember to pick up and drop off your students on the west side of campus, in front of the main office. It’s important to keep the east side of campus clear, as this is where our buses need to drop off students. Your cooperation helps ensure a safe and smooth process for everyone. Thank you for your attention to this!
Using PE/Sports Lockers
We encourage all students who are storing items in the locker room to get and use a locker to keep your belongings secure. With hundreds of students in and out of that space daily, a locker is the best chance to ensure that items go undisturbed.
Please talk to your PE teacher or coach to help get set up if you don’t already have one.
Chromebook Chargers
The library and office do not have chargers available for students to use to charge their devices. If a student needs a device, but their device is not charged, they will need to check out a loaner device for the day. If a you do not have a charger, please email techhelp@meridian.
MHS Phone Policy
This year, Meridian High School worked alongside Meridian Middle School to create a unified approach to handling student cell phones in the classroom.
Here are the main details:
- Classrooms are always phone-free, even when it’s not class time
- Students should plan to put cell phones in backpacks when they enter a classroom (not in pockets)
- A student who has their phone out will have the phone held by the teacher for the remainder of the class period
- Students who have their phone out a second time that week in a class will have their phone held by the office for the remainder of the day and parents will be contacted
You can read the full policy by clicking here.
Running Start- Changing Plans
If there are any changes to the number of classes you are taking at either the high school or college, you will need to fill out a new Enrollment Verification Form. This form needs to be signed by your counselor at Meridian High School (MHS). FTE, which stands for Full-Time Equivalent, refers to the amount of time you spend at each school. For example, one class at the high school counts as 0.18 FTE. You can find more details about this in your Running Start agreement with the high school.
Remember, the RSEVF (Running Start Enrollment Verification Form) is important for funding purposes, so it’s necessary to have a revised form submitted to both the high school and the college if anything changes.
Operation School Bell
The Family Support Center has a limited number of Operation School Bell gift cards available for students in grades TK-12. Operation School Bell provides new school clothes to students who qualify for free meals at school.
Priority will be given to students who did not receive a gift card last year.
If you’re interested in signing your student up for this program, please call or text:
- Alicia at 360-988-1949
- Elvira (for Spanish) at 360-306-2886
To learn more about Operation School Bell, visit: Operation School Bell.