It was great to see so many of you on campus this week as we conducted our Fall Family Conferences. The information we gather from a student’s family helps us work with students and build strong relationships that serve our students’ learning goals.
For those of you with 8th graders, please check out the below information on the Washington D.C. trip. Though this is a tuition-driven, optional trip, we’d love to take as many students as possible. If finances may be an issue, still plan to attend the meeting as there will be fundraising opportunities through the Booster Club that can help support the cost of attendance. Coming to the meeting is not a commitment to send your student, just a chance to hear more!
As always, let us know if you have any questions or concerns!
GO TROJANS!
-Todd Torgeson, Principal
-Robert Kratzig, Assistant Principal
UPCOMING EVENTS
Monday, September 18
Black Day
7th & 8th Grade Softball vs. LC, 4:00pm at MMS
Tuesday, September 19
Gold Day
Fall i-Ready Testing (students should plan to bring headphones or earbuds)
Picture Day (see below)
Boys Soccer at MB, 4:00pm at Mitchell Road Fields (next to MBJH)
Wednesday, September 20
Black Day
Fall i-Ready Testing (students should plan to bring headphones or earbuds)
8th Grade Softball at Blaine, 4:00pm at Pipeline Fields
Thursday, September 21
Gold Day
Fall i-Ready Testing (students should plan to bring headphones or earbuds)
Boys Soccer vs. LC, 4:00pm at MMS
Cross Country Meet, 4:15pm at Cornwall Park
DC Trip Interest Meeting, 6:30pm at MMS Library (8th grade families only)
Friday, September 22
Black Day
Late Start – School begins at 9:05am, doors open at 8:55am
COUNSELING CORNER
Dear families/guardians,
We were so excited to see so many of your faces at conferences this week. It was a fantastic opportunity for parents, students, and teachers to come together and discuss progress, set goals, and strengthen our partnership in nurturing each student’s academic journey.
Our lines of communication are always open, and you can schedule meetings with teachers and counselors throughout the year as needed.
Thank you for your ongoing support, and let’s continue to work together to make this school year a remarkable one for every student!
MMS Counselors
GENERAL MMS INFORMATION
MMS Picture Day
Tuesday, September 19 is our MMS picture day! All students will have their picture taken for ID cards and school records. Parents may purchase a picture package from our photographer. Check out options online as to what packages are available. Photo packages can also be ordered via phone at 1-800-993-4929.
MSD & WCLS Partnership
Meridian School District and Whatcom County Library System have a partnership called ConnectED which gives K – 12 students access to the best educational resources and learning materials in our libraries and on the Internet.
If you would like your child to access public library resources using his/her school ID, you do not need to do anything. Your child will automatically be enrolled. For additional information and to opt your student out of public library access using his or her school ID, please complete this formand turn it in to the MMS office by September 22.
Drop-Off & Pick-Up Fine Tuning
Thank you everyone for continuing to follow our drop-off and pick-up procedures. We appreciate your patience as new routines are formed!
Please ensure you are not dropping off students along the roadside in the mornings. We ask all cars to use the drop off lanes in the parking lot.
Washington D.C. Trip for 8th Graders
We are excited to provide the opportunity for our 8th grade students to join their US History teacher Ms. Garlatz on an optional but amazing trip to Washington DC during the week of March 16 through March 21, 2024.
There will be lots of learning and fun as we sightsee our way through our nation’s capital including visits to the National Mall, our nation’s most important government buildings and Mt. Vernon. We’ll also have a chance to go to Philadelphia to check out Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were written.
Cost for the trip will be $2,208 and will include airfare, hotel, food, as well as a whole program including local guides, If this trip would be a financial stretch, please still plan to attend the meeting and then email Mrs. Garlatz and we will do what we can to provide fundraising opportunities and possibly scholarships.
A second parent information night will be held on this Thursday, September 21 at 6:30pm in the MMS Library. If you came to the first meeting, you don’t need to attend the second – but if you couldn’t make the first one, this one’s for you!
In late October our nursing staff will be 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!
Student Bus Monitors
If you have an 8th grade student who is a great leader and loves working with kids, we have an awesome opportunity for them!
In collaboration with IRE and the MSD Transportation Department, we are creating a Student Bus Monitor program, where MMS 8th graders will have scheduled shifts to ride elementary bus routes to assist in supporting safe behaviors on the bus. This should be a fun opportunity for our 8th graders to build leadership capacity while also filling a need for our youngest learners. Interested students would serve 2 or 4 afternoons each week, and would be provided transportation home afterward. An application is required, and then an interview following that before notification of acceptance. Applications are due by Monday, September 18. Have your student complete it today!
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.
Housing Choice Voucher
Section 8 wait list opening for applications The wait list will open to accept applications on September 18th at 10AM and stay open until September 22nd at 10 AM. 400 households will be randomly selected by lottery for placement onto the HCV waiting list. Pre-applications must be submitted online athttps://bellinghamhousing.org/. In-person application assistance is available upon request, please call 360-676-6887 ext:2
