Weekly Update – January 24 – Meridian High School

Trojan family,

Today marks the official end of the first semester and the halfway point of the school year! It’s hard to believe we’re already heading into the second half. We hope the first semester wrapped up smoothly and positively for everyone.

A reminder that Monday is a no-school day for students, as it’s a teacher workday.

If you’re considering a class change for the second semester, please see the information below for details.

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

Schedule Change Forms
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

Unity Care Mobile Dentistry
Winter Gear Available
Family Resource Center

Upcoming Events

Monday, January 27

No School – Teacher Work Day

Tuesday, January 28

Normal Tuesday Bell Schedule (Periods 1, 2, Homeroom, 4, 5)
Lunch – Mandarin Chicken Rice Bowl
T3 Time will be Homeroom
Girls Bowling Districts, 12:15pm at Riverside Lanes – Mt. Vernon
Boys JV & C-Team Basketball vs. Ferndale HS, 5:40pm at FHS
Girls JV Basketball vs. Ferndale HS, 5:40pm at MHS
Girls Varsity Basketball vs. Ferndale HS, 7:15pm at MHS – MYS Night
Boys Varsity Basketball vs. Ferndale HS, 7:15pm at FHS

Wednesday, January 29

Normal Wednesday Bell Schedule (Periods 1, 3, T3, 4, 6)
Lunch – Rib-B-Q
Video Club, 2:35pm in Mr. McGrew’s Room
D&D Club, 2:35pm in Mr. Armerding’s Room
Boys C-Team Basketball vs. Kings HS, 5:40pm at MHS
Boys Varsity Wrestling, 6:00pm at Lakewood HS
Girls Varsity Wrestling, 6:00pm at MHS
Unified Basketball vs. Sehome HS, 7:00pm at Nooksack Valley HS
Girls JV Basketball vs. Squalicum HS, 7:15pm at MHS

Thursday, January 30

Normal Thursday Bell Schedule (Periods 2, 3, T3, 5, 6)
Lunch – Sausage, Egg, and Cheese Muffin
Global Connections Club, 2:45pm in Mrs. Shuvalova’s Room

Friday, January 31

Late Start – School Begins at 8:55am
Normal Friday Bell Schedule (Periods 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
Last Day of 1st Semester
Lunch – Burger Bar and Fries
Boys JV & C-Team Basketball vs. Mt. Vernon HS, 5:40pm at MVHS
Girls JV Basketball vs. Mt. Vernon HS, 5:40pm at MHS
Boys Varsity Basketball vs. Mt. Vernon HS, 7:15pm at MVHS
Girls Varsity Basketball vs. Mt. Vernon HS, 7:15pm at MHS – Coaches vs. Cancer Celebration

General MHS Information

Open T3 Sessions for Next Week

Senior Nights Coming Up!

Mark your calendars for these upcoming Senior Nights:

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!

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

Schedule Change Requests

Please note that class availability is very limited. While we’ll do our best to accommodate requests, changes may not always be possible.

Acceptable Reasons for Class Changes:

Elective-for-elective change within the same period.
Placement in the incorrect course level.
Completion of the class previously.
Missing a course on your schedule (blank period).

All schedule change requests must be submitted by January 31, 2025. Forms are available in the main office. To know if a schedule change is approved or declined, you’ll need to return to the office to look for your form or check Skyward.

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.

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!

Unity Care Mobile Dentistry

Unity Care’s Mobile Dentist will be at the Meridian Family Support Center on Thursday, February 13th, to provide free dental exams for middle and high school students who haven’t had an exam in the last year. To sign up, complete the attached registration form or call the office to request one: Middle School (360-398-2291) or High School (360-398-8111). Students will be transported from their school to the Family Support Center at IRE in a district vehicle driven by Family Center staff. Forms are due by February 6th and can be returned to school or sent via text/email to 360-988-1949 or aroberts@meridian.wednet.edu.

English Registration Form

Spanish Registration Form

Weekly Update – January 24

Staff Quick Links