Trojan family,
Next week marks the final stretch before Spring Break—a perfect opportunity to pause, reflect, and recharge before we head into the last eight weeks of the school year.
If you haven’t checked Skyward recently, now is a great time to review your progress in classes and take note of any missing assignments that could be completed. While we encourage students to use the break to rest and recharge, it can also be a valuable time to catch up on work without the daily addition of new assignments.
As we wrap up the week, take a moment to connect with your teachers, make a plan, and set yourself up for success in the final months of the school year!
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
  • World Language Proficiency Exam
  • Seeking Senior Presentation Panelists
  • Join Unified Soccer
  • Where to find bond information?
  • Attention Senior Parents
  • Smarter Balanced (SBA) Retake Option
  • Upcoming Schedule Adjustments
  • Meridian Culture Fair
Special Feature
  • Strengthening Social Health and Building Connections
Counseling Corner
  • Sign Up for Credit Retrieval
Community Resources & Events
  • Whatcom Tax Filing Resource Guide
  • Family Resource Center

Upcoming Events
Monday, March 31
  • Normal Monday Bell Schedule (Periods 1, 2, HR, 3, 4, 5, 6)
  • Lunch – Chili & Garlic Toast
  • Girls JV Golf, 4:00pm at Lake Padden Golf Course
  • Varsity Softball vs. Ferndale HS, 4:00pm at MHS
  • JV Softball vs. Ferndale HS, 5:30pm at MHS
  • C-Team Boys Soccer vs. Mt. Vernon, 6:00pm at MVHS
Tuesday, April 1
  • Normal Tuesday Bell Schedule (Periods 1, 2, T3, 4, 5)
  • Lunch – Corn Dog with Fries
  • Varsity Girls Golf, 3:00pm at Swinomish Golf Links
  • Varsity Baseball vs. Sehome HS, 4:00pm at MHS
  • JV Boys Soccer vs. Mt. Vernon HS, 5:00pm at MVHS
  • Varsity Boys Soccer vs. Mt. Vernon HS, 7:00pm at MVHS
Wednesday, April 2
  • Normal Wednesday Bell Schedule (Periods 1, 3, T3, 4, 6)
  • Lunch – Chicken Burger
  • Varsity Boys Golf, 2:00pm at Swinomish Golf Links
  • D&D Club, 2:35pm in Mr. Armerding’s Room
  • Video Club, 2:35pm in Mr. McGrew’s Room
  • JV Girls Golf, 3:00pm at Raspberry Ridge
  • Varsity Track, 3:30pm at Civic Field
  • JV Boys Golf, 3:30pm at Birch Bay Village
  • JV Baseball vs. Mt. Baker HS, 4:00pm at MHS
  • C-Team Boys Soccer vs. Sedro-Woolley HS, 5:30pm at SWHS
Thursday, April 3
  • Normal Thursday Bell Schedule (Periods 2, 3, T3, 5, 6)
  • Lunch – Max Cheese Sticks
  • Varsity Boys Golf, 12:00pm at Legion Memorial Golf Course
  • Global Connections Club, 2:45pm in Mrs. Shuvalova’s Room
  • Varsity Girls Golf, 3:00pm at Sudden Valley Golf Course
  • Varsity Baseball vs. Ferndale HS, 4:00pm at FHS
  • Varsity Fastpitch vs. Lynden HS, 4:00pm at LHS
  • JV Boys Soccer vs. Blaine HS, 4:30pm at MHS
  • JV Fastpitch vs. Lynden HS, 5:30pm at LHS
  • Varsity Boys Soccer vs. Blaine HS, 7:00pm at MHS
Friday, April 4
  • Normal Friday Bell Schedule (Periods 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
  • Lunch – Teriyaki Dippers
  • Varsity Girls Golf, 3:00pm at Sudden Valley Golf and Country Club
  • JV Baseball vs. Lynden Christian HS, 4:00pm at MHS
  • Varsity Track, 4:00pm at MHS
schedule

General MHS Information
Open T3 Sessions for Next Week
STAMP

World Language Proficiency Exam
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.
Contact Mrs. Shuvalova to register and for more details. Don’t miss this great chance to showcase your language skills!
volunteers

Seeking Senior Presentation Panelists!
Support our seniors by serving as a panelist for their senior presentations on Thursday, April 24, from noon to approximately 2:30 p.m. Lunch is provided! Please note that parents of seniors are not eligible to participate. For more information, contact Shannon Waterman at swaterman@meridian.wednet.edu.
unified

Join Unified Soccer – Laurel Valley Harbor!
Unified Sports brings athletes with and without disabilities together on the same team, making practices more fun and games more exciting for everyone! Meridian High School partners with Nooksack Valley and Blaine to form Laurel Valley Harbor, and we’d love for you to join us. No experience needed—just a willingness to play and be part of the team!
Our first practice will be after spring break, so stay tuned for more details. Sign up now on Final Forms at meridian-wa.finalforms.com, or reach out to Ms. Meadows or the Athletic Office for more information.
Go Laurel Valley Harbor!
MMS Hallway

Where to find bond information?
We want to ensure you have all the information needed to make an informed decision about the upcoming special election on April 22, which focuses solely on funding the construction of a new Meridian Middle School.
Helpful links:
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask us. You can leave a comment on this post or reach out to any of these individuals: 
  • Robert Kratzig, Assistant Principal, 360-318-2281
  • Lisa Gilchrist, Director of Public Relations, 360-318-2159
  • Jay Yeager, Director of Maintenance and Project Mgmt., 360-318-2156
  • Dr. James Everett, Superintendent, 360-318-2166
senior parents

Attention Senior Parents!
Stay informed about booster-sponsored senior events by joining our mailing list at MeridianGrads2025@gmail.com and following the “Meridian Class of 2025” Facebook page.
Have questions? Contact your Booster Co-Reps, Sadie and Karla. We’re excited to celebrate this special year with you!
SBA

Smarter Balanced (SBA) Retake Option
Students in 11th or 12th grades who did not pass the English or Math Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA) in 10th grade have the option to retake it in 11th or 12th grade. While retaking the SBA is not required, it can be retaken by those who wish to use it as a graduation pathway who have not yet passed.
If your student would like to retake the SBA this year, please complete this form. Questions? Contact your student’s counselor.
schedule change

Upcoming Schedule Adjustments
As we head toward the end of the school year, there are several days where Meridian High School will be on a modified schedule, and not all students will need to attend. Please see below for dates and details. If you have questions, please let us know.
Thursday, April 24
  • Early Dismissal for 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students at 12:10pm
  • 12th grade students will stay to participate in Senior Presentations
Tuesday, April 29
  • Late Arrival for 11th and 12th grade students, with classes beginning at 9:55am
  • 9th and 10th grade students arrive on-time for SBA testing
Wednesday, April 30
  • Late Arrival for 11th and 12th grade students, with classes beginning at 9:55am
  • 9th and 10th grade students arrive on-time for SBA testing
Thursday, May 1
  • Late Arrival for 11th and 12th grade students, with classes beginning at 9:55am
  • 9th and 10th grade students arrive on-time for SBA testing
Tuesday, May 6
  • Late Arrival for 11th and 12th grade students, with classes beginning at 9:55am
  • 9th and 10th grade students arrive on-time for SBA testing
Wednesday, May 7
  • Late Arrival for 11th and 12th grade students, with classes beginning at 9:55am
  • 9th and 10th grade students arrive on-time for SBA testing
Thursday, May 8
  • Late Arrival for 12th grade students, with classes beginning at 9:55am
  • 9th and 10th grade students arrive on-time for SBA testing
  • 11th grade students arrive on-time for WCAS testing
culture fair

From our Mental Health Coordinator

Strengthening Social Health and Building Connections
From Laura Lupo, Mental Health Coordinator
Social health is about relationships and the well-being that comes from connection with family, friends, co-workers and community. The focus on social health has increased in recent years to the point that the US Surgeon General has raised loneliness as a public health priority, and the World Health Organization has established a global commission focused on human connection. Social health is linked to a 50% boost in longevity, making it as important to our lifespan as avoiding smoking, tackling obesity and regular exercise. How do you strengthen your social health?
Here are some ideas:
  • Start small: Call a friend to chat instead of messaging them. Short phone calls can decrease feelings of loneliness. If you’re more shy or introverted, stretch your social muscles by attending low-key social events or hobby based groups, start with texting and build up to face-to-face. Shyness isn’t a flaw – you don’t have to be loud…just connected!
  • More face-to-face interactions: Friendships grow from regular contact and shared experiences. Friendships tend to fizzle out unless you have regular communication and do activities together. Focus on quality relationships, not quantity.
  • 5-3-1: Try to interact with 5 different people, maintain 3 close relationships, and spend 1 hour a day connecting face-to-face.

Counseling Corner – Careers, Scholarships, Registration, & More
Class of 2025 Graduation Hub
books

Sign Up for Credit Retrieval
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!

Community Resources
taxes

Whatcom Tax Filing Resource Guide
The Whatcom Asset Building Coalition’s 2025 Tax Filing Season Resource Guide is now available! This guide provides information on local free tax prep sites, online free filing options, key tax credits, and helpful tips. It’s available for download in English, Spanish, Russian, Ukrainian, and Punjabi from the resource library.
For additional tax filing resources, visit our website, which is updated regularly throughout the filing season.
Shopping Cart

Family Resource Center
The Meridian School District Family Resource 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.