As you likely know, Monday is a federal holiday and a no school day in honor and remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This remarkable civil rights icon’s tireless efforts and unwavering commitment to justice and equality have left an indelible mark on our nation’s history. This week students participating in a keynote address from the Association of Washington Student Leaders on Dr. King’s work and legacy, and reflected with their classmates about how to apply the principles of that work to creating an even more positive school environment at Meridian. Simultaneously, we also commemorate the state-required observance of Temperance and Good Citizenship Day in Washington State, highlighting the importance of responsible and considerate behavior within our community.
Additionally next week marks our second i-Ready assessment of the school year. This will give us additional data on student progress that we will look forward to sharing with you at our upcoming conferences. Look for information on scheduling your conference very soon! Our i-Ready testing is a great opportunity to encourage your student to do their best and to showcase their learning and growth so far this school year. Also, we’d appreciate your assistance in making sure your student comes to school with a fully charged Chromebook and their school-provided headphones each day next week.
One final reminder that first semester is ending soon – in just eight more school days! If you haven’t yet, it’s a good time to review your child’s elective classes for second semester and to request any necessary changes by submitting our schedule change form. We will be turning the form off next Friday, so get any possible changes submitted before then. Keep in mind that completing the form does not guarantee a change can 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 15
No School – Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Tuesday, January 16
Gold Day
Winter i-Ready Testing
Thriving Futures with Dr. Everett, 5:00pm in MMS Library
Wednesday, January 17
Black Day
Winter i-Ready Testing
Video Game Club, 2:45pm in Room 12
Boys Basketball vs Lynden Christian MS & Assumption Catholic School, 4:00pm at MMS
Thursday, January 18
Gold Day
Winter i-Ready Testing
Fellowship of Christian Athletes, 7:30-7:45 in Small Gym
Social Justice League Club, 2:45pm in Room 2
Boys Basketball at Vista Middle School, 4:00pm
Friday, January 19
Black Day
Late Arrival – Doors Open at 8:55am, School Begins at 9:05am
COUNSELING CORNER
Hello Meridian Families,
Brr! It sure has been cold these last few days. As the temperatures drop, it’s essential to ensure students are staying warm and comfortable during the winter months. We want to remind you that our Meridian Family Support Center is here to provide additional clothing resources for your children. If your child is in need of warm clothes to brave the cold temperatures, please feel free to reach out to the Meridian Family Support Center. We have a variety of items available to help keep your kids cozy and ready for the winter weather. Your child’s well-being is our priority, and we appreciate your partnership in creating a warm and supportive learning environment. If you have any questions or require assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact us or the Support Center.
Stay warm and safe!
MMS Counselors
GENERAL MMS INFORMATION
6th Grade Outdoor Education Candy Bar Sales
Meridian Outdoor Education camp is coming up this spring for all 6th graders. This has been an exciting and valuable part of the middle school curriculum for many years. We will be going to Camp Orkila on Orcas Island Monday May 13th – Wednesday May 15th. The fee for each student to attend camp is $100. This fee will cover their camp tee shirt, use of facilities, transportation, workshops, meals, and lodging. We are pleased the district is committed to this program and committed to keeping costs down for each family by covering the rest of what this trip costs which is a lot more than $100 per student. We will be providing a fundraiser for families that wish to participate to help cover the cost for their child. Please read this letter to learn more about the fundraiser opportunity.
Attendance Tips
Attendance isn’t just about being at school, it’s also about being on time! Did you know that being 5 minutes late each day can add up to 3 full days of school lost each year? Getting to class on time ensures that you will get the most of your learning time.
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.
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!
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.
Weekly Cordata Food Pantry
There is a weekly food pantry for students and families who live in the Cordata area from 2:30-4pm every Friday at Cordata Presbyterian Church (400 Meadowbrook Ct). Just stop by if your family is in need!
Our Dyslexic Children Documentary Screening
Does your child seem to be struggling with learning how to read or spell? Does your child tend to complain about or try to avoid reading and writing? Do they have a hard time identifying some speech sounds or remembering dates, telephone numbers or their address? Curious about Dyslexia? Learn what Dylexia is and is not, along with how to support your child in growing their reading, writing, and spelling skills.
The Arc of Whatcom County will be showing the 43-minute documentary “Our Dyslexic Children” and then have a panel discussion with several community experts in the area. Join them Tuesday, January 16 at 7pm. To register visit this link.
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.
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! You can read about past scholarship winners here!
