Weekly Update – January 17 – Meridian High School

Trojan family,

Thank you to everyone who participated in the MLK assembly and took time to reflect on Dr. King’s legacy. Your presence and attention help keep his dream alive in our community. A special thank you to the Multicultural Club for their hard work in planning and delivering such a meaningful event. As Dr. King reminded us, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?'” Let’s continue to build an inclusive, supportive community together by taking action:

Register to Vote

Are you a U.S. citizen, a WA resident, and 16–18 years old? You can register to vote or sign up as a Future Voter.

Volunteer at the MLK Service Day

When: Tomorrow, 10 AM–2 PM
Where: Bellingham High School
Join us for meaningful service projects at noon—either at BHS or Squalicum Creek Park (registration required).

Let’s honor Dr. King’s legacy by giving back and making a difference. Together, we can create a community that reflects his vision of service and love.

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

Go Trojans!

Mr. Doffing, Principal

Mr. Kratzig, Assistant Principal

What’s In This Edition?

Upcoming Events
Bell Schedule

General MHS Information

Senior Nights Coming Up
Reminder for Sick Days
Wrestling Recognition
Free Math Tutoring Resources
Be Prepared: Weather Notifications

Counseling Corner

Seniors: Important Financial Aid Information
SeaMar Scholarship Now Open
2025-2026 FAFSA is Open
Mixed-Status Families Applying for Financial Aid
Credit Retrieval

Community Resources & Events

Winter Gear Available
Family Resource Center

Upcoming Events

Monday, January 20

No School – Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Tuesday, January 21

Normal Tuesday Bell Schedule (Periods 1, 2, Homeroom, 4, 5)
Lunch – Green Chili Enchiladas
T3 Time will be Homeroom
Girls Varsity Bowling vs. Jackson High School, 2:45pm at Bowlero
Girls JV Basketball vs. Lynden HS, 5:40pm at LHS
Boys C-Team Basketball vs. Lynden HS, 5:40pm at MHS
Boys JV Basketball vs. Lynden HS, 5:40pm at MHS
Boys Varsity Basketball vs. Lynden HS, 7:15pm at MHS
Girls Varsity Basketball vs. Lynden HS, 7:15pm at LHS

Wednesday, January 22

Normal Wednesday Bell Schedule (Periods 1, 3, T3, 4, 6)
Lunch – Spicy Chicken Burger
Video Club, 2:35pm in Mr. McGrew’s Room
D&D Club, 2:35pm in Mr. Armerding’s Room
School Board Meeting, 6::00pm in MMS Library
Boys Varsity Wrestling vs. Nooksack Valley HS, 6:00pm at MHS
Girls Varsity Wrestling vs. Lynden HS, 7:00pm at LHS

Thursday, January 23

Normal Thursday Bell Schedule (Periods 2, 3, T3, 5, 6)
Lunch – Beef & Cheese Nachos
Global Connections Club, 2:45pm in Mrs. Shuvalova’s Room
Laurel Valley Unified Basketball vs. Ferndale HS, 5:00pm at FHS

Friday, January 24

Late Start – School Begins at 8:55am
Normal Friday Bell Schedule (Periods 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
Last Day of 1st Semester
Lunch – French Toast with Sausage
Girls Varsity Bowling vs. Cascade HS, 3:15pm at Mt. Baker Lanes – Ferndale
Boys C-Team Basketball vs. Sedro-Woolley HS, 5:40pm at MHS
Boys JV Basketball vs. Sedro-Woolley HS, 7:15pm at MHS

Saturday, January 25

Boys JV Basketball vs. Lakewood HS, 5:40pm at MHS
Boys C-Team Basketball vs. Lakewood HS, 5:40pm at MHS
Girls JV Basketball vs. Lakewood HS, 5:40pm at LHS
Girls Varsity Basketball vs. Lakewood HS, 7:15pm at LHS
Boys Varsity Basketball vs. Lakewood HS, 7:15pm at LHS
Girls Wrestling at Kamiak HS, 8:00am
MHS Cheer Competition at Cheer State, TBD

General MHS Information

Open T3 Sessions for Next Week

Senior Nights Coming Up!

Mark your calendars for these upcoming Senior Nights:

Boys Wrestling: 1/22
Girls Wrestling: 1/29
Boys & Girls Basketball: 2/7
Cheer: 2/7

Come out and celebrate our senior athletes!

Reminder for Sick Days

If you call your student out sick, please keep them home for the remainder of the day. We’ve noticed an increase in students being called out and then appearing at school later, which can cause confusion with attendance. Let’s work together to keep everyone healthy and our records accurate—thank you for your cooperation!

Wrestling Recognition

This past week was Wrestling Recognition Week!

Meridian’s Girls and Boys wrestlers have been working hard individually and as a team to stay successful during meets! Even early on in the season, the teams have seen improvement among all athletes. This week, the girls and boys both fight on Wednesday, boys at home for their Senior Night. Come show Trojan spirit and support our wrestlers! We wish both teams the best of luck as they continue to compete throughout the rest of their season. Go Trojans!

Information provided by the wrestling recognition cohort in the MHS Leadership class.

Free Math Tutoring Resources

We are excited to share a great opportunity for our students. The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) is offering free tutoring resources through Math Nation Washington for grades 6-12. These resources are available in multiple languages, available 24/7 and includes virtual tutoring and personalized instruction. This program provides valuable support to help our students excel in math. This free tool is a great way to support your child with math at home.

To access Math Nation, have your child sign on with their district Chromebook:

Click on the Google waffle menu
Scroll down to StemScope
This will automatically direct to Math Nation

Getting Started:

If you have additional questions about Math Nation please contact your teacher or Instructional Coach Cynthia Richardson, crichardson@meridian.wednet.edu.

Be Prepared: Weather Notifications

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:

An email, text, app notification and/or phone call will automatically be sent to you via ParentSquare.
Tune to local media: 790 AM, 96.5 FM, 104.1 FM or Seattle media.
Check www.meridian.wednet.edu
Check @meridianschooldistrict505 on Facebook or Instagram
Sign up for notifications through FlashAlert

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

Counseling Corner – Careers, Scholarships, Registration, & More

Class of 2025 Graduation Hub

Dual Credit Night – Tuesday February 4

Are you starting to plan for next year and interested in dual credit opportunities? Join us on February 4 at 6:00 PM for Dual Credit Night!

This informative event will feature:

Overview of dual credit including benefits and things to consider
Presentations from Whatcom Community College and Bellingham Technical College about Running Start opportunities.
Insights from the Northwest Career and Technical Academy about their programs.
Details on College in the High School offerings.

If you have questions, connect with your counselor for more information. We look forward to seeing you there!

Seniors: Important Financial Aid Information

If you missed Financial Aid Night and have not yet turned in your Opt-Out form, please submit it to your school counselor as soon as possible—we need this on file.

Futures NW will return during a lunch period to review your FAFSA/WASFA applications, ensuring they are processed correctly without errors. If you haven’t completed your FAFSA/WASFA yet, you can book an appointment for support with a Futures NW representative at https://www.futuresnw.org/book-a-meeting.

Sea Mar Scholarships Now Open

Sea Mar Community Health Centers is excited to announce that applications for the 2025–2026 Sea Mar Scholarships are now open! These scholarships provide financial support to students pursuing a college degree.

Sea Mar Farmworker Scholarships: $1,000 scholarships for students from migrant or seasonal farmworker backgrounds.
Latino/a Educational Achievement Project Scholarships: $2,500 scholarships for students with a history of advocacy, responsibility, and perseverance, or a strong potential to contribute to their community.

The deadline to apply is April 15, 2025. Visit www.seamar.org/scholarships for details and to apply. Flyers with QR codes linking to the scholarship website are also available in both English and Spanish.

For questions, contact Kenia Diaz at scholarship@seamarchc.org or call (206) 763-5277. Don’t miss this opportunity to support your future!

2025-26 FAFSA is Open

The 2025-26 FAFSA form is now available as of Monday, November 18th, almost two weeks earlier than originally anticipated. Students and families are encouraged to complete the FAFSA as soon as possible to access important financial aid opportunities. Don’t miss this chance to plan for the future—spread the word!

Mixed-Status Families Applying for Financial Aid

The National College Attainment Network (NCAN) released a statement on Thursday, November 21, regarding mixed-status families filling out the FAFSA. NCAN encourages families to gather as much information as possible before deciding whether to submit the form, as the risks may outweigh the benefits for some.

For students in Washington, options include:

Submitting the WASFA (the Washington Student Achievement Council is committed to student privacy).
Submitting the FAFSA.
Waiting to submit either form until more information is available.

We will continue to provide updates as new information emerges.

Weekly Update – January 17

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