Weekly Update – October 4 – Meridian High School

Trojan family,

It’s Homecoming week! We are so excited for this annual celebration of our students and our community, culminating in next Friday’s football game and a dance on Saturday night here at MHS. Along the way our Leadership students have planned dress up days for all to participate in. This is a time to appreciate all that is wonderful about being a Meridian Trojan and hope that this week is a good one for everyone.

Now that we’ve moved on to October, our counseling team is working hard to support students whose grades may not be where we want them. Students may be asked to come meet with their counselor and parents may receive communication about the steps we put in place to support students. Our end goal is all students being on track to graduate, and we work toward that in many ways. If ever you’re concerned about your student’s progress – please don’t hesitate to reach out to teachers, counselors, or administrators.

As always, let us know if you have any questions or concerns.

Go Trojans!

Mr. Doffing, Principal

Mr. Kratzig, Assistant Principal

Upcoming Events

Monday, October 7

Normal Monday Bell Schedule (Periods 1, 2, HR, 3, 4, 5, 6)
Spirit Week – ‘Merica Day (Dress in Red, White, and Blue)
Boys Tennis vs. Bellingham HS, 4:00pm at Lynden MS
JV Football vs. Nooksack Valley HS, 6:00pm at MHS

Tuesday, October 8

Normal Tuesday Bell Schedule (Periods 1, 2, T3, 4, 5)
Spirit Week – Adam Sandler Day (Dress in Baggy Clothing)
Culinary Club, 2:45-4:45 in Room 402
Girls Swim and Dive vs. Sehome HS, 3:30pm at Arne Hanna Aquatic Center
Boys Tennis vs. Sedro-Woolley HS, 4:00pm at Lynden MS
JV Volleyball vs. Nooksack Valley HS, 4:00pm at MHS
Diane Axelson Court Ribbon Cutting, 6:00pm in North Gym
C-Team Volleyball vs. Nooksack Valley HS, 5:40pm at MHS
Varsity Girls Soccer vs. Nooksack Valley HS, 7:00pm at MHS
Varsity Volleyball vs. Nooksack Valley HS, 7:00pm at MHS

Wednesday, October 9

Normal Wednesday Bell Schedule (Periods 1, 3, T3, 4, 6)
Spirit Week – On Wednesdays We Wear Pink (Dress in Pink)
League of Women Voters at Lunch for Student Voter Registration
D&D Club, 2:35pm in Room 108
Boys Tennis vs. Oak Harbor HS, 4:00pm at OHHS
C-Team Football vs. Mt. Baker HS, 6:00pm at MHS
School Board Meeting, 6:00pm in MMS Library

Thursday, October 10

Normal Thursday Bell Schedule (Periods 2, 3, T3, 5, 6)
Spirit Week – Country vs. Country Club (Dress in country western gear or for a day on the golf course)
Global Connections Club, 2:45-4:45 in Room 304
JV & C-Team Volleyball vs. Sedro-Woolley HS, 5:40pm at SWHS
Varsity Volleyball vs. Sedro-Woolley HS, 7:00pm at SWHS
Varsity Girls Soccer vs. Sedro-Woolley HS, 7:00pm at SWHS

Friday, October 11

Late Start, School Begins at 8:55am
Friday Late Start Schedule (Periods 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
Spirit Week – Comfy Day (Dress in Comfy Clothes or Pajamas)
Boys Tennis vs. Ferndale HS, 4:00pm at FHS
Varsity Football vs. Mt. Baker HS, 7:00pm at MHS – Homecoming Special Event

Saturday, October 12

Varsity Girls Soccer vs. Bellingham HS, 10:00am at MHS
Homecoming Dance, 8:00pm-11:00pm at MHS *Tickets required

Open T3 Sessions for Next Week

General MHS Information

Multilingual Family Night, Oct. 15

Families and students in our multilingual program are invited to join us from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, October 15 at Irene Reither Elementary School.

The multilingual teachers from our schools will share some important information with you including:

What we are doing to support your child in school.
Ways to communicate with your child’s school or teacher.
How to encourage good study habits at home.

You will also have an opportunity to share with us ways we can better support you and your child at school. We will have Spanish, Russian and Punjabi interpreters at the event. Dinner and childcare will be provided.

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!

Bond Priorities: Safety and Accessibility

On November 5, our community will vote on a facilities bond that includes much-needed facilities projects related to safety and accessibility.

This short video featuring Meridian Middle School Principal Todd Torgeson, explains in greater detail the bond projects.

The bond includes constructing a new Meridian Middle School to address rising maintenance costs, safety concerns and lack of accessibility of the current school, originally built in 1938. Meridian Middle School has non-reinforced concrete walls that don’t meet seismic codes, unconnected buildings with outdoor entries making security difficult. The school also lacks accessible restrooms and entries.

For Meridian High School, relocating the music room to the old cafeteria will improve student safety. Auditorium repairs, including a new roof, will prevent leaks and maintain it as a community resource. A new generator will ensure emergency power and heat during outages. Replacing lighting and repairing the stadium will enhance the safety and usability of athletic facilities.

Watch Video Now

Yearbook Senior Grad Ads

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!

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.

Student Parking Passes

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.

Counseling Corner – Careers, Scholarships, Registration, & More

Lynden HS College and Career Fair

Don’t miss the chance to explore your future opportunities! Lynden High School is hosting a Career and College Fair on October 10, 2024, from 8:45 AM to 10:45 AM in the Lynden High School gym. Representatives from various career fields, trade schools, technical colleges, 2- and 4-year universities, apprenticeship programs, and branches of the military will be available to provide information and answer your questions. Take advantage of this opportunity to plan your next steps! Sign up to attend in the library or via this form.

Squalicum HS Career Fair

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!

Join the Learning with Leaders Event at Skagit Valley College

We are thrilled to invite you to our first Learning with Leaders event of the year, happening on Wednesday, November 13th, 2024, at Skagit Valley College! This event is packed with exciting workshops and learning experiences just for students.

Priority registration opens on October 16th for students who qualify for the College Bound Scholarship, are in DVR classes, are Tribal students, or have an IEP or 504 plan. General registration for all students begins on October 23rd and closes on November 6th. Since space is limited, the earlier you register, the better your chances of getting into the workshops you want! Click HERE to sign up to be contacted by school staff when registration opens.

To learn more about what to expect, check out our promotional video!

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.

College in the High School Program

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:

Apply to EvCC by December 16, 2024
Register for your EvCC courses by January 17, 2025

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!

Class of 2025 – High School & 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!

Washington Guaranteed Admission Program (WAGAP)

The Washington Guaranteed Admission Program (WAGAP) makes it easier for students to get into college. It guarantees admission to six Washington state universities: Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University, Evergreen State College, University of Washington Tacoma, Washington State University, and Western Washington University.

WAGAP is available to 11th and 12th-grade students who meet certain requirements:

A minimum 3.0 GPA
Completion (or on track to complete by fall 2024) of the College Academic Distribution Requirements (CADRs)
Enrollment in a school district that partners with WAGAP

If your student qualifies, they will receive a letter confirming their eligibility for guaranteed admission to all six participating universities. For more information, check out the WAGAP FAQ document.

This program is a great way to help Washington students reach their college and career goals!

Weekly Update – October 4

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