This past week was Global Connections Recognition Week! Global Connections is one of the largest clubs Meridian has to offer with around 20 members! The club is made up of 3 main organizations: the Sikh Student Federation, Hispanic United, Slavic United, and many smaller groups. Each organization has been able to achieve many projects to support and spread awareness of their respective community. Some of the projects that Hispanic United has done are reading books in Spanish during the Give Before You Get at IRE and doing a musical performance. The Sikh Student Federation has been able to achieve many projects as well. Some projects the federation has done are provide books in Punjabi to the Meridian library, organize a meeting with the world affair council located in Seattle, discuss the Sikh holiday of Char Sahibzada at the elementary school, and plan a performance of gatka during the culture fair.

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!

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.

By 2028, Irene Reither Elementary (IRE) is projected to have over 1,000 students, exceeding its capacity of 726. The Facilities Task Force, recognizing the need for a new Meridian Middle School due to its condition and future overcrowding, recommended rebuilding it as a 5-8 school. This will alleviate overcrowding at IRE by moving about 160 students to a new middle school, which will be designed with input from parents, staff, students, and the community.

Adding capacity at Meridian Middle School is more cost-effective than building a new elementary school, which would cost about $50 million. The task force’s recommendation addresses both the need for a new middle school and the overcrowding at IRE. These videos provide more details on these topics.

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!

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.

Spring state assessments for students will begin soon. These assessments help us measure student progress.

The results from these assessments will provide valuable information for both the school and families. They help us improve instructional practices, gauge student progress and identify areas where additional support may be needed. For grade 10 students, the Smarter Balanced assessments can also serve as a graduation pathway. Results are typically available in Skyward by September each year.

For additional information about state testing:

If you have any questions about the state assessments, please contact your school.

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.

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!

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.

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.