Family Newsletter 11/8/2024

From the Principals

Earlier this week, we sent instructions via ParentSquare on how to access Quarter 1 Progress Reports. We encourage you to take a moment to review your student’s progress so far. To better understand the grades and learning goals, please refer to the Family Guides to the Progress Report, which are linked in this newsletter.

If you experience any issues accessing your student’s grades, please don’t hesitate to call our front office—we’re here to help!

We’re excited to kick off Quarter 2 and continue building on the strong foundation established in the first quarter. Let’s make it a great semester!

-Todd Torgeson, Principal

-Jill Hammack, Assistant Principal

Upcoming…

Student Weekly Planners

You will notice a yellow folder with a weekly planner in your student’s backpack. Starting next week, students will use these planners to record their work from each class. Students will then use the checkbox to “check off” the work if it’s been completed in class or leave it unchecked if it needs to be completed at home.

Although the main goal of this tool is to help students develop critical executive functioning skills around planning and prioritization, these planners can also act as a communication tool for families to have a greater awareness of what is happening at school.

Click here to watch a video of Mr. Muskavage talking about how students will use their weekly planners.

School Dance

We are having our first dance of the year on Friday November 22nd from 6-8 pm. The theme is Country vs. Country Club, so come dressed up in your best country or golfing attire! Tickets will be $3 for presale in the office starting November 18th, the price increases to $5 at the door so don’t wait to get your tickets!

Submit a Thank You Note for American Education Week!

We’re excited to celebrate all the amazing staff at Meridian School District! Join us in expressing our gratitude for everything they do. Submit as many thank you notes as you’d like—these will be delivered via email during American Education Week, Nov. 18-22. Let’s make this a memorable week of appreciation!

Submit Thank You Note Here

A Peek Into the Classroom

Social Studies with Mrs. Garlatz

During a recent lesson in Kristin Garlatz’s 8th grade Social Studies class, student engaged in a image analysis of the well-known painting titled “American Progress.” Mrs. Garlatz used an engagement protocol to ensure all students had the opportunity to participate in the discussion on the artwork and its symbolism. To begin, she asked each student to look at the image and notice facts, or objective noticing, about it. She then used popsicle sticks with student names on them to call on each student in the classroom. Every student was able to engage in this activity, naming various noticing in the painting – from noticing the difference in light between the left and right side to noticing there was a deer in the image. Every student had access to this prompt. For the second round of analysis, students were asked to draw a conclusion about what something in the image means or represents. The rigor of this conversation and the connections students made was a please to listen in on!

Thanks for finding ways to make sure all students have an entry point to the lesson, Mrs. Garlatz!

Info & Reminders

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.