Dear MMS Families,

Every year the Meridian School District seeks nominations for its annual staff awards – this year, rebranded as the “Thrive Awards.”  In your experience this year with Meridian Middle School, we ask you to think about staff who have gone above and beyond in one of the following areas, and to take a few moments to submit a nomination.

Communication Excellence Award (Communication) – The Communication Excellence Award recognizes employees who excel at communicating proactively, consistently and clearly with all stakeholders. These employees promote open communication and collaboration among staff, students and the community. They ensure everyone is informed and engaged. They support student learning through effective communication practices. Any individual employee or team in Meridian School District is eligible.
Community Builder Award (Belonging) – The Community Builder Award recognizes employees who foster a culture of belonging in Meridian. These employees demonstrate understanding and respect for everyone, honor and value diverse perspectives and empower all voices to be heard. They create a welcoming and inclusive environment where learners can thrive and grow. Any individual employee or team in Meridian School District is eligible.
Inspiring Educator Award (Learning) – This educator prepares learners to have the tools they need to be ready for their career and life goals. This educator commits to an equitable education that develops academic and personal skills. This educator provides students with access to rigorous grade-level instruction designed to meet the unique needs of students. Any certificated employee in Meridian School District is eligible. The recipient of this award will be nominated for the state OSPI Teacher of the Year Award in 2025.
Partnership Award (Support) – The Partnership Award recognizes an employee who works in partnership with families, students and the community to nurture success in each and every student. This employee ensures that students have access to support systems to meet their needs. They encourage students to engage in their own progress using self-assessment and goal setting. Any individual employee or team in Meridian School District is eligible. A community partner or volunteer is also eligible for this award.
Wellness Champion Award (Wellness) – The Wellness Champion Award recognizes employees who create an environment that supports staff, students, physical, social and emotional well-being. These employees help members of the learning community feel physically, emotionally and academically safe at school. They also support learners in developing their overall health and wellness, and may teach them strategies for emotional regulation and problem-solving. Any individual employee or team in Meridian School District is eligible.

As always, let us know if you have any questions or concerns!

GO TROJANS!

-Todd Torgeson, Principal
–Robert Kratzig, Assistant Principal
UPCOMING EVENTS

 

Monday, March 4

  • Black Day
  • Boys Wrestling Meet, 4pm at MHS
  • 7th Grade C Team Volleyball, 4pm at Lummi Nation School
  • A Team and 8th C Team Volleyball, 4pm at Franklin Academy

Tuesday, March 5

  • Gold Day

Wednesday, March 6

  • Black Day
  • Board Game Club, 2:45pm in Room 12
  • School Board Meeting Science Department Presentations, 6:00pm in MSD Board Room

Thursday, March 7

  • Gold Day
  • Acceptance Club, 4:00pm in Room 32

Friday, March 8

  • No School – Professional Learning Day
COUNSELING CORNER
Dear MMS Families,

We hope this message finds you well. During our recent staff meeting, we came together to brainstorm creative ways to foster greater connections among our students within the school.

We understand the importance of creating a supportive and inclusive environment where every student feels valued and connected. By collaborating as a team, we explored various strategies to enhance student engagement and build stronger relationships throughout our school community.

As we continue to develop these ideas, we look forward to implementing new initiatives that will promote a sense of belonging and connection for all students. Your support and involvement are invaluable as we work together to create a positive and nurturing environment for our students.

Thank you for being an essential part of our school community.

Warm regards,

MMS Counseling Team

 

GENERAL MMS INFORMATION
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Meridian Annual Awards

Each year Meridian School District provides the opportunity for parents, staff, students, and community members to nominate a Meridian staff member for recognition for outstanding service.  This year, these awards have been rebranded as the “Thrive Awards” and align with our new strategic plan and our five commitments – Belonging, Communication, Support, Wellness, and Learning.

If you know a Meridian staff member who has exceeded your expectations in those areas – please take a moment to submit a nomination.  For more information on the awards, please visit our website.
We Want to Hear from You!

For us to continue to improve as a school district and as a school, it is important for us to understand how we are doing in providing a quality education for all students.

Please take a moment to complete this annual survey which helps us better understand areas we need to focus on in order to provide the best quality education for our students. This survey will also serve as data for us as we continue to work toward meeting our goals outlined in Our Commitments, our strategic plan. The survey asks how you feel about several topics including school communication, expectations for learning and engaging with teachers and administrators.

Please complete this survey by March 8.
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Students Departure Reminders

A few friendly reminders from the MMS office staff:

  • If kids are going to a friend’s houses after school they should bring a note from the parent to the office.  We will write a bus pass for them to get off at that stop.
  • If you’re going to be changing how your student leaves school, please contact us by 2:00pm.  Changes received after that time are more likely to get missed in the hustle of the end of the day.
  • If you are picking up your student during the day, please come in and check them out in the offic
Attendance Tips 
As we head into spring, take a moment to think about your goals for the future. How can school attendance help you get there? Are there changes you can make to your current routine to help you reach your goals?
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Yearbook Photos and 8th Grade Baby Pictures

Families and Students, if you have pictures from sporting events or other school related activities that you would like considered for the yearbook, please follow the instructions below to be considered for the yearbook. Make sure pictures consist of ONLY MMS students (no siblings, family members, or students from other schools).

Calling all 8th graders! Keeping up with tradition, we need baby pictures of 8th graders for the yearbook. Please submit them digitally through yearbookforever.com or bring a physical copy with your students name on the back to the office.

To submit digitally, go to yearbookforever.com and enter Meridian Middle School, Lynden WA (make sure you select the correct one, not Idaho). Select Yearbook Snap and enter the code mms to upload your students baby picture!

All pictures are due no later than March 29th
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
Unity Care’s Mobile Dentist is coming to the Meridian Family Support Center on Thursday, March 14th. If your child has not seen a dentist in the past 6 months please consider signing them up for this FREE event.

Transportation to the Family Center for Middle and High School students will be provided by the Family Services Coordinator in a district vehicle.

Students who sign up will receive a visual screening by the dentist, a fluoride application, goody bag, and a referral for a follow-up visit if there are any concerns.

Registration forms are available in the school office or can be downloaded, filled out, and emailed back to Alicia Roberts.  Please return completed forms to school by March 7th.  See below.