Dear MMS Families,
Welcome to 2024! We hope everyone had a restful and relaxing Winter Break with family and friends. Our students came back in to school with a great attitude and got right to work. We also had the chance to celebrate our students’ excellent achievement in behavior for December. Our 7th and 8th graders had a perfect month earning them a staff vs. student game to end the week. It was so much fun to watch (and participate in) and was a great contributor to our school culture and spirit. (See pictures below!)
As you’re reading this there are only 13 more school days left in the first semester. The end of the first semester also marks the halfway point of the school year; it’s hard to believe we’re typing those words already! If you haven’t checked recently, now is the time to take a look at Skyward to view your student’s current grades and progress in their classes. Our teachers would be happy to talk with you as well – so don’t hesitate to reach out. While we do have conferences upcoming in February, those will occur after grades are already finalized for first semester, so the time is now to get on top of any last-minute work that needs to be completed prior to semester’s end.
Also – with the semester fast coming to a close, it is also a good time to take one more peek at your student’s elective classes for Semester 2 on Skyward. If they’d like to make a change to their elective classes, please submit this form by Friday, January 19. After that time we will not be making changes. Keep in mind that completing the form does not guarantee a change will be made.
As always, let us know if you have any questions or concerns!
GO TROJANS!
-Todd Torgeson, Principal
-Robert Kratzig, Assistant Principal
Upcoming Events
Monday, January 8
- Black Day
- MLK Jr. & Temperance and Good Citizenship Day Observance in Homeroom
- Boys Basketball at NVMS, 4:00pm
Tuesday, January 9
- Gold Day
- Art Club, 2:45pm in Room 51
Wednesday, January 10
- Black Day
- Board Game Club, 2:45pm in Room 12
- Boys Basketball vs Horizon & Lummi, 4:00pm at MMS
- MMS Staff Recognition & Social Studies Presentation at School Board, 6:00pm at District Board Room
Thursday, January 11
- Gold Day
- Fellowship of Christian Athletes, 7:30-7:45 in Small Gym
- Acceptance Club, 2:45pm in Room 2
Friday, January 12
- Gold Day
- Late Arrival – Doors Open at 8:55am, School Begins at 9:05am
Counseling Corner
Hello MMS Families,
Happy New Year! We hope your winter break was fantastic. As we close out the first week back, let’s chat about the approaching end of the first semester.
Your support means a lot in your child’s journey. Take a moment to talk about their achievements and challenges from the first half of the school year. Encourage them to set achievable goals for the weeks ahead, promoting a sense of responsibility and accomplishment.
If your child needs academic help or goal-setting advice, connect with their teachers or our counseling team. We’re here to team up with you to ensure your child’s success.
As the semester continues, staying organized and managing time well becomes crucial. Encourage your child to keep a balanced routine that includes both school and personal activities.
Thanks for being active partners in your child’s education. Your continued support is valued, and we look forward to a successful end to the first semester. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to get in touch.
Wishing you and your family a fantastic start to the new year!
Best regards,
MMS Counselors
MSD Winter Ride Program
The Meridian School District Winter Ride (or Ski Bus) program is starting up for another year. Please join the Winter Ride team on Wednesday, January 10 at 6:00pm in the MHS Commons for an informational meeting. Attendance is mandatory at the meeting in order to sign up. If a family cannot attend, please have them email mhs_winterride@meridian.
Registration will begin after the meeting, and completed forms can be returned to the MMS office along with the $130 transportation payment.
Attendance Tips
Welcome back! We are so glad we’re back to school, and are excited to get back to the routine. While you’ve been away from school, has your routine changed, making it more difficult to wake up in the morning? Try setting a bedtime alarm to remind yourself to start winding down. You’ve got this!
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.
Whatcom County Health Department Pediatric Resource
Do you need some assistances deciding if your child is well enough to come to school? With this time of year comes frequent illness for many students and families. The Whatcom County Health Department put together this resource to help families better make decisions about their student’s health and ability to attend school. Check it out!
If you ever have any questions about your student’s health, feel free to reach out to our school nurses Stacy King.
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.
Strengthening Families Classes
Strengthening Families is a program that teaches parents and youth how to talk to each other, how to handle conflict, how to deal with peer pressure, and how to build better relationships with each other. This program is for families with children ages 10-14.
Meridian School District families have been invited to register for this 7-week parenting course at a location convenient for them. Classes will be offered in Spanish and English in Ferndale, Bellingham, Nooksack, Mt Baker and Blaine.
For more information and to register go to https://extension.wsu.edu/whatcom/fch/sfp/ For questions please contact Victoria Mayers, Strengthening Families Program Coordinator.
Summer Enrichment Scholarships
The Assistance League of Bellingham (ALB) is thrilled to announce the Enrichment Scholarship Program (ESP) for the 2023-2024 school year. From December 1, 2023, to February 16, 2024, your child can download scholarship application packets from the ALB website. Ensure the letter of recommendation form is submitted with the application. Each student is eligible for one scholarship, even if the full amount isn’t utilized. While the summer program choice isn’t required at the application stage, it should be finalized by March 29, 2024. ALB provides a helpful sample scoring rubric and a checklist to guide students. This year, there’s an impressive $55,000 available for scholarships. Encourage your child to seize this opportunity to broaden their horizons. Visit the ALB website for more details. Don’t let your child miss out on this chance to shine!