Weekly Update – September 20

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 Monday, September 23. 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!

Please join us at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 24 for a presentation about the bond projects on the Nov. 5 ballot. The presentation will explain the timeline and process, why recommended projects were selected and what the estimated costs are.  This will be hosted in the MMS Old Gym.

We invite you to attend the presentation in-person, or watch live on YouTube. Following the presentation will be an opportunity for questions and a tour of the school.

We are a group of students at MHS who want to celebrate the many cultures in our school. We believe every student’s culture and identity are important and should be valued.

First meeting: Thursday, September 26, during T3 in Ms. Turner’s room 101. Snacks provided! Choose ANY of the following ways to sign up:

If you are interested in volunteering your time or financial support to MHS Multicultural Club, please email the advisor, Kayla Turner, at kbernsen@meridian.wednet.edu

Picture retakes this year will be on Monday, September 30. The only way to get your picture retaken is to register using this form. On the 30th, we will send you a note when it’s your time to get your picture taken, after which you will return directly to class.

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 arrest 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!

On Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, from 6 to 8 p.m., Squalicum High School (3773 E. McLeod Road) will host a College Fair open to all juniors and seniors in Whatcom County. You’ll have the opportunity to meet representatives from public and private colleges and universities in Washington State and beyond.

Scholarship and financial aid sessions will be offered at 6:15 and 7:15 p.m. For more information, contact your school’s career center.

Be sure to register ahead for updates at  www.strivefair.com!

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.

Our community will vote on a facilities bond that 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:

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!

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!

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!

Looking to brighten your day with some beautiful flowers while supporting a great cause? The MHS Class of 2025 Boosters are hosting a Dahlia Bouquet Pop-Up Shop! For just $20 per bouquet, you can pick up a gorgeous arrangement of dahlias (about 12-15 blooms) from Kamille’s Flowers Farm on Kelly Road.

Quantities are limited, so be sure to place your order early at www.kamillesflowers.com. The exact farm address will be provided upon online checkout.

All proceeds go towards supporting the MHS Class of 2025!

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.

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!

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!

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.

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.wednet.edu for assistance and a replacement charger.

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:

You can read the full policy by clicking here.

For this school year, all students who drive to school will be required to have a window hanger parking pass as well as register their vehicle. The first step in the process is to complete this Google Form and then Mrs. Gookstetter will provide you the appropriate pass. If you have time before school starts, you can swing in and pick up your pass. Passes will be required starting September 9.

One more note – students who attend Meridian High School (for any portion of their day) will only be allowed to park in the west lot in front of the academic building – not the lot by the gyms.