Dear MMS Families,

This coming week will kick off our annual ASB fundraiser at MMS, where students have the chance to earn prizes for their successful completion of various milestones of sales.  We also have an amazing schoolwide goal that we hope to achieve.  Stay tuned for more information coming home about that on Tuesday.

This coming week also will mark our first “WIN” experience of the school year.  “WIN” stands for “What I Need” as is designed as a time when students are shuffled into various groups to receive reteaching of our essential standards that have been covered in classes, skill building for students who may be missing some essential standards from previous years, homework support, or extension activities designed to support their learning progress.  We look forward to beginning this additional dimension of learning here at MMS for this year!

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

GO TROJANS!

-Todd Torgeson, Principal
-Robert Kratzig, Assistant Principal

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

 

Monday, October 2

  • Black Day
  • “Stuff the Bus” Food Drive
  • 7th & 8th Grade Softball vs. Nooksack MS, 4:00pm at MMS

Tuesday, October 3

  • Gold Day
  • MMS Fall Fundraiser Kicks Off
  • Boys Soccer vs. Vista MS, 4:00pm at MHS

Wednesday, October 4

  • Black Day
  • 8th Grade Softball vs. Nooksack MS, 4:00pm at MMS

Thursday, October 5

  • Gold Day
  • Boys Soccer vs. Lynden MS, 4:00pm at MHS
  • Cross Country Meet, 4:15pm at Peace Arch State Park

Friday, October 6

  • Black Day
  • Late Start – School begins at 9:05am, doors open at 8:55am

COUNSELING CORNER
Dear families/guardians,

As students are learning about digital citizenship in their homerooms and how to safely and effectively navigate the digital world, we wanted to take this opportunity to discuss tips and guidelines for screen time. It is important for students to have clear guidance over their phone/screen usage to ensure they are having a healthy balance between screen time and sleep.

Here are some valuable tips on setting guidelines for screen time.

  • Set Clear Limits: Start by deciding how much time your child can spend on screens each day and week. Stick to these limits as much as possible.
  • Family Media Plan: Create a plan together as a family. Decide when and where screens are okay to use and make sure there’s time for non-screen activities and family bonding.
  • Be a Role Model: Show your child that you also value time away from screens. Spend quality time together without devices.
  • Homework Time: Make sure your child has a quiet, organized place to do homework without the distractions of screens.

We are happy to work with you and your child to support their wellbeing and help them maintain healthy screen time use!

Sincerely,

MMS Counselors

 

GENERAL MMS INFORMATION
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2023 Healthy Youth Survey

Our school is participating in the Washington State Healthy Youth Survey during fall 2023. the survey will be given to students in grades 6, 8, 10 and 12 in large districts and students in grades 6 through 12 in small schools districts.  For the purposes of this survey, Meridian is considered a “small school” – so our 6th, 7th, and 8th graders will all participate.

The Healthy Youth Survey includes questions related to physical activity and diet, unintentional and intentional injury, substance use, sexual behaviors, abuse, risk and protective factors, and access to school-based services. Survey results are used by schools, communities, and state agencies to plan programs to support our youth and reduce their risks.

Participation in the survey is voluntary and the students’ answers are anonymous. There are no codes or information used to match a survey to a student.

Please review this parent letter for more information.  To opt your student out of the survey, please contact our MMS office at 360-398-2291.  You can also stop by in person to view the questions ahead of the survey.  Our students will be participating on Thursday, October 26.
Stuff the Bus Food Drive

Meridian School District is hosting a districtwide food drive from Monday, Oct. 2 through Friday, Oct. 13 to support families in our community. Donation boxes will be available on all school buses, in school offices and at the District Office. Food will be donated to the Meridian Family Support Center, Ferndale Food Bank and Project Hope in Lynden.

We are collecting nonperishable and unexpired foods such as canned soup, canned vegetables or fruit, pastas, canned beans, cereals, rice, flour, cooking oils, peanut butter, canned chicken and tuna.

At MMS, we’ll be running this as a class competition for Homeroom classes to see which class at each grade level can bring in the highest number of items per student.  Thank you for helping to support families in our community!
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Volunteers Needed!

We are still in need of another volunteer to assist our nursing staff in conducting vision and hearing screening for all 7th grade students.  In order to make this work, they will need a few volunteers.  If you’re interested, please reach out to Stacy King, district nurse.  You’ll need to have your WATCH form on file with the district, which you can pick up and submit in our main office.

 

Trojan Spirit Fridays

This year we’re encouraging all students and staff to consider every Friday a “Trojan Spirit Friday” – where everyone wears MMS gear, Trojan gear, or Trojan colors.  As the year goes on there may be prizes, but for now we want people to share in the pride we feel for the amazing community we have here at MMS!  Go Trojans!
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GoGuardian Parent App

Meridian School District uses a tool called GoGuardian to keep students safe when they use their district-provided Chromebooks. To help families keep an eye on what their child does online, we offer a free GoGuardian Parent app. This app lets you control what websites your child can visit on their school Chromebook at home. You can decide which websites are allowed or not allowed. You can even pause the internet during out-of-school hours.

Click HERE for more information on how to sign up!

 

MMS Booster Club Update

Want to volunteer with the boosters club? Volunteer opportunities range from helping with projects for the school, staff and students to running concessions during dances and athletic games. You can find out more about the middle school boosters by following our Facebook page and/or emailing us at meridianmiddlebooster@gmail.com.
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COMMUNITY RESOURCES
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Family Services 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.

Students who can’t make it in to the family center to get school supplies can pop into the middle school office to get the supplies they need.

Questions?  Contact Alicia Roberts (English) at 360-988-1949 or Elvira Trautman (Spanish) at 360-306-2886.
Social Media Safety

According to Healthy Youth Survey (HYS) results from 2021, 42% of Washington’s students report having three or more hours of screen time per day.   To assist families in keep kinds safe while online, OSPI has created this Social Media Safety Fact Sheet.  Check it out for some useful tips!
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