Dear MMS Families,

This coming week is the official wrap-up of our first sports season – football, boys soccer, cross country, and softball – and the beginning of our second season – basketball!  We are so proud of the efforts and teamwork demonstrated by our student athletes.  Many students find their connection to school through academics and learning, while others are motivated to perform academically in order to be able to participate on our sports teams.  If your student is interested in signing up for a second season sport, it’s not too late!  Our girls basketball team’s first day of practice is this coming Monday, and boys basketball will begin in a few weeks.  Talk to your student to see if they might want to come try out for one of these teams!

As was mentioned by the counselors a few weeks back, we also have an array of clubs designed to complement student interests.  Though the initial sign-up deadline has passed, we’d be happy to have your student join any club that still has space available.  Permission forms can be picked up and turned in to the main office for clubs.

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 23

  • Black Day
  • 7th Grade Trip to the Pickford
  • First Day of Girls Basketball Practice

Tuesday, October 24

  • Gold Day
  • Fellowship of Christian Athletes, 7:30-7:45 in Small Gym
  • Art Club, 2:45-4:30 in Room 51
  • 8th Grade Football vs. Horizon/Vista, 4:00pm at MMS

Wednesday, October 25

  • Black Day
  • Video Game Club, 2:45-4:30 in Room 12

Thursday, October 26

  • Gold Day
  • Healthy Youth Survey administered in Science Classes
  • Social Justice League, 2:45-4:30 in Room 2
  • 7th Grade Football vs. Horizon/Vista, 3:30pm at Horizon Middle School
  • NAMI: Ending the Silence, 6:00pm at MMS

Friday, October 27

  • Black Day
  • Late Start Friday, Doors Open at 8:55am and School Begins at 9:05am
COUNSELING CORNER
Hello MMS Families,

As the Israel and Palestine conflict continues to make headlines and impact global conversations, your students may experience some anxiousness over this conflict. We want to assure you that our school community is committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for all students, and we are here to help them navigate any concerns around this complex issue.

Warmly,

MMS Counselors

 

GENERAL MMS INFORMATION
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Girls Basketball Practice Begins

Girls basketball practice begins on Monday after school and it’s not too late to have your student come out for practice!  Ensure they are signed up on Final Forms and have their sports physical on file.

Questions?  Contact Athletic Director Bryant Michaelson
NAMI – Ending the Silence Presentation

On Oct. 26 at 6:00pm at MMS, NAMI of Whatcom County will be presenting “Ending the Silence.”

This engaging presentation helps audience members learn about the warning signs of mental health conditions and what steps to take if you or a loved one are showing symptoms of a mental health condition.  This presentation is for adults with middle or high school aged youth that includes warning signs, facts and statistics, how to talk with your child and how to work with school staff.
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Online Safety Presentation by Homeland Security

We invite you to join us on Thursday, November 2 and 6:30pm at Meridian Middle School for an online safety presentation presented by the United States Department of Homeland Security and the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office.

The presentation provides parents, teens, and staff information on potential dangers for children in online environments and how to keep them safe.  Teens 13+ are welcome to attend with their families.  The presentation is not intended for children under 13, but will provide families with tools for talking to all children about online safety.  We look forward to seeing you there!
Fall Dance – November 3

Our first fall dance is right around the corner! MMS will be hosting a 50’s themed dance on November 3rd from 6-8pm. Tickets will be available to pre purchase the week of the dance for $3 otherwise admission is $5 at the door. We look forward to seeing MMS students there!  (50’s attire is optional)

If you are interested in chaperoning, please email Mrs. Yeager and make sure you fill out the WATCH background check form ASAP.
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Comprehensive Sexual Health Education Lessons

Students in seventh grade will be taking part in comprehensive sexual health lessons beginning Nov. 15 in health class.

Parents and guardians may review the Positive Prevention Plus curriculum and may remove their children from these lessons with a written request. (RCW 28A.300.475).  Families who wish to opt their children out of these lessons must turn in an opt-out form to the school office before the first day of lessons. Opt-out forms will be available from the health classroom.  Students who opt-out of the lessons will complete an alternate activity on body systems.
Yearbook Photos Needed!

Does your student participate in sports or other activities here at MMS? Our Yearbook team wants your help! We are once again using the app YearbookSnap to collect pictures from students and parents for the yearbook. Types of pictures we are looking for are sports, clubs, and spirit dress up days.

You can access the app by downloading YearbookSnap to your phone or through  yearbookforever.com using a web browser. You will want to find our school (Meridian Middle School, Lynden WA) and use the code “mms” to upload pictures. Pictures will be reviewed by our yearbook advisor and selected for the yearbook. Please make sure photos only feature students who attend MMS and do not showcase hand gestures.

Email our yearbook advisor Mrs. Yeager for any questions.
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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.

 

Veterans Day Celebration

Meridian Middle School will celebrate Veterans Day on Tuesday, November 7 with an assembly.  If your family member has any relatives who have served in our Armed Forces, we’d love to collect a picture of them, along with their branch and dates of service so we can feature it during our assembly.  Please email the pictures to Mrs. Yeager!
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Clothing Needed

Have your children outgrown their clothes?  Are you looking for a place to help?  Our nurses are collecting gently used leggings, shirts and sweatshirts.  We need all sizes!  Questions?  Email our Health Services Assistant, Mrs. Aamot.

 

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.
Introducing PSE’s Bill Discount Program

Income-eligible customers can now reduce their PSE energy bills by up to 45% a month through the Bill Discount program. It only takes a few minutes to fill out the online application, and no income documentation or social security number is required to apply.

Program participants will get an automatic discount on their energy bills every month in addition to any other assistance they may be receiving. If a household has received energy assistance in the past, it is likely that they qualify for the Bill Discount program.
To determine eligibility before applying, go to pse.com/discount and provide household size, county of residency, and household income. If eligible, the page will direct users to complete a brief application.
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Holiday Help Needed?

If you need help with gifts for your kids this holiday season, the Salvation Army is taking applications now through October 31st. Don’t wait. Spots will fill up fast.

Click here to view the flyer in English.

Click here to view the flyer in Spanish.
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