Weekly Update – November 8

This week, we’re celebrating our girl’s soccer team! They wrapped up their season at the District tournament this past weekend, ending the year with 4 wins and countless memorable moments. The 20-member squad, including seniors Katie Nolton, Sofia Brooks, Kennedy Farrar, Jovi Jensen, and Brooklyn Fuller, showed incredible dedication and teamwork throughout the season. Congratulations on a fantastic season, Trojans—your hard work has made us proud!

The World Language Proficiency Exam assesses reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills, offering students the opportunity to earn up to 4 high school credits. The STAMP test covers languages like Spanish, Russian, Arabic, Hindi, Chinese, and more (includes all four skills), while the STAMP WS test is available for languages like Vietnamese, Tagalog, and Punjabi (focuses on writing and speaking). Both exams are computer-based and take 1–4 hours.

Steps to Register (by 3:00 pm on Friday, November 15):

Don’t miss this great chance to showcase your language skills!

We’re excited to celebrate all the amazing staff at Meridian School District! Join us in expressing our gratitude for everything they do. Submit as many thank you notes as you’d like—these will be delivered via email during American Education Week, Nov. 18-22. Let’s make this a memorable week of appreciation!

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!

As the seasons change and the weather turns colder, it is a good time to take a moment to review our winter weather procedures. Depending on conditions (which could include snow, flooding, power outages, etc.), the school day could be impacted. Meridian School District uses a variety of ways to communicate about school closures or delays:

Visit our Weather Notifications webpage for more information about inclement weather and delays.

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!

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!

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.

Looking for support with holiday meals this season? The Whatcom Asset Building Coalition offers a helpful Holiday Food & Meal Guide with resources for families in Whatcom County. This guide lists locations, dates, and times for community holiday meals, food banks offering special holiday items, and tips for accessing additional support. Meal events are available throughout November and December across the county, including Bellingham, Ferndale, Lynden, and other areas. You can view and download the guide here to make your holiday planning a little easier.

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.