Meridian High School

“To inspire and challenge active learners to positively impact a changing world.”

1. Principal's Message
2. Special Schedule
3. T-3 This Week
4. Winter Wish Spirit Days
5. Senior Information
   
6. Counselor Information
   
7. Highly Capable Program
8. Winter Wishes
9. Purchasing a Yearbook
10. Senior Grad Ads
11. Senior Pictures for Yearbook
12. Holiday Meals 2021
    
13. Teacher Feature
14. Hot Lunches for Next Week
15. National Holiday
    
16. Attendance Information
    
17. Bell Schedule
18. MHS Building Entrance
19. Meridian Class Booster Club Information
20. MHS Points of Contact

One of the things that makes Meridian a special place is its Winter Wishes celebration. The wishes made in November and spirit days throughout December lead us to two special events to end our month and year.

Give Before You Get takes place this Thursday. Students and staff will participate in one of 20 activities that serve our school, district, and the greater community. Projects include delivering or putting together care packages and supplies to various organizations, creating artwork for first responders, and writing cards for children in the hospital. I am appreciative of all of the time and effort from staff and students to both prepare for and participate in this event. It is only the second time we have done it and I am so glad to see it continue with our return to campus this year.

Our second event has gone on for several years including a modified version last year. Winter Wishes provides an opportunity for students to wish for gifts for other students. Donations are collected from individuals and local businesses. Currently, our generous community has contributed over $10,000 in cash and other donations to see those wishes come true. This week our leadership class will take care of shopping and wrapping gifts. They don't know who the gifts go to and are more than happy to put everything together for Friday. On Friday we will have a virtual assembly in Homeroom before lunch. During lunch, students will know whether or not they have a gift and can pick it up in the office.

Whether watching students serving others or watching them celebrate that someone else was thinking of them, these two events and all of the activities leading up to it highlight the awesome students and staff that walk these halls and the amazing community that supports them. I hope you finish 2021 on a positive note and we are looking forward to seeing everyone in 2022 as we begin a new calendar year with school resuming on January 3rd.

Stay safe. Stay healthy. Go Trojans.

- Derek Forbes

Your High School and Beyond Plan (HSBP) is due by 3:00 pm on December 15th. You need to turn in a copy of your completed High School and Beyond Plan with your resume attached to the office. If you have any questions or would like your counselor to take a look before the deadline please make an appointment soon.

Please see Mrs. Gookstetter, in the office, to check that your name is written correctly. Thank you.

Winter Wishes gives everyone who is a part of the Meridian High School family a chance to make a wish for someone else. Every year for the last 10 years, the leadership class has raised money to grant the wishes that students and staff make for other students in our school. It is a unique and special opportunity for all of us to think of others when we wish. Because of the thoughtful wishing of students in our school combined with the efforts of our leadership students, Winter Wishes has provided gifts for hundreds of our students every year.

To make a donation click the link below.

https://wa-meridian-lite.intouchreceipting.com/MeridianHighSchoolWinterWishes

The Meridian School District referral window for highly capable program evaluation has opened. Students may be referred for evaluation by teachers or other staff, parents, community members or may refer themselves.

The state defines highly capable students as:

Those who perform or show potential for performing at significantly advanced academic levels when compared with others of their age, experiences, or environments. Outstanding abilities are seen within students’ general intellectual aptitudes, specific academic abilities, and/or creative productivities within a specific domain. These students are present not only in the general populace, but are present within all protected classes. ( WAC 392.170.080).

Referral forms are due by December 15th, 2021. The referral form can be found at the following links:

English: https://forms.gle/aAeME9f26DmdhP2y8

Spanish: https://forms.gle/iY2z68sjCfaq2D3c7

Please contact Rosalind Schumann, Highly Capable Program Coordinator, if you have any questions. rschumann@meridian.wednet.edu

Yearbooks will be on sale December 6th - December 18th, 2020. The cost is $70.00. Yearbooks can be purchased in the high school office or online using the online payment portal on the high school website.

This is an opportunity to give your senior student a shout out! One they will remember for years to come. Hurry these pages go fast and they are available on a first-come first-serve basis. You can pay Mrs. Gookstetter in the office now to reserve your space. Then turn in the pictures and text your would like to include by January 5, 2021. The Senior Ad form, with your pictures and text need to be turned in no later than January 4, 2022 to Mrs. Gookstetter. If you have any questions, please email Mr. McGrew at jmcgrew@meridian.wednet.edu

Mrs. Ames teaches Chemistry and Biology here at MHS. She has been working at Meridian for 12 years. Her favorite thing about teaching at Meridian is the strong sense of community. Mrs. Ames didn’t think she would be a teacher, both her parents were teachers and she didn’t think she would follow that same path. But then she had a teacher in science that made her fall in love with science, and now here she is, teaching science. Her favorite thing about teaching are the relationships she makes, getting to know everyone. But most importantly being a supportive and positive person in someone else's life. Mrs. Ames loves sports, baking, and reading. She specifically loves soccer and basketball and loves baking birthday cakes. Speaking of sports, Mrs. Ames coaches her daughter’s soccer team. She also used to play in a Women’s Soccer League. One of the highlights from her teaching career here at Meridian High School would be the one and only Winter Wishes. She loves the joy and the sense of belonging people feel around Winter Wishes.

Students say that Mrs. Ames, “puts 100% of her time into making it so we have enough time for getting everything done, ''is really good at communicating with her students,” and is “really good at uniquely encouraging her students to do their best.” (She also has great stickers)

Teacher Feature is provided by Bhavnoor Dhatt. Bhavnoor is a leadership student that will be providing the Teacher Feature as part of her personal project for Leadership class.

Monday - Pasta and Garlic Toast

Tuesday - Mariner Hot Dog and Fries

Wednesday - Enchiladas

Thursday - Beef or Chicken Burger on WG Bun

Friday - Cook's Choice

National Cocoa Day is celebrated on December 13 every year. Hot cocoa is typically made with cocoa powder, heated milk or water, and sugar. However, some also call it hot chocolate, which causes a bit of confusion. Hot chocolate is made by using ground chocolate containing cocoa butter. It is a relatively healthy drink with very little fat and calories, depending on what you add to it.

Being present in class is vital to be successful in school. We want to encourage all of our students to be at school every day! If you are missing school, you are missing out on learning!

If your kids miss a day or even part of a day of school for whatever reason, please contact our attendance secretary, Mrs. McMains by either phone (360-318-2260) or email (tgmcmains@meridian.wednet.edu)with the reason for the absence. If they are going to miss because of an illness, please call or email in the morning and let us know! If there is a planned absence, please contact her and she will take care of notifying teachers. If she is unable to answer the phone right at that moment, please feel free to leave the information on her voicemail.

The MHS office is open 7:30am - 3:30pm, Monday through Friday. To enter the building, you will need to go to the door by the auditorium. The doors to the main building will be open form 7:30am-8:00am every morning. The doors will be locked at 8:00am and unlocked again at 2:30pm. There will be someone stationed at the door to help students and families upon their arrival at school during school hours.

Hey senior parents, get connected to other parents in this grade by joining the Facebook Group "Meridian High School Class of 2022." Also, for upcoming announcements pertaining to the class of 2022, please email meridianhs2022@gmail.com and include the following information:

Your Name:

Seniors Name:

Email:

Phone Number

Please help support this year’s graduating class fundraise for graduation & a senior trip. They are selling amazing NubaySoft D-Luxe blankets. Use your Meridian Blanket at home, at the park or at the game and show your great Meridian spirit. They are $75 and you can reserve yours here: https://sites.google.com/spectatorblankets.com/meridiantrojans/home

Derek Forbes, Principal: dforbes@meridian.wednet.edu

Andy Donahue, Assistant Principal: adonahue@meridian.wednet.edu

Cheryl McBride, Counselor A-J: cmcbride@meridian.wednet.edu

Don McMains, Counselor K-Z: dmcmains@meridian.wednet.edu

Tami McMains, Attendance: tgmcmains@meridian.wednet.edu

Robin Brinkman, Registration: rbrinkman@meridian.wednet.edu

Chromebook Tech Support: chromebook@meridian.wednet.edu

Website-www.meridian.wednet.edu/mhs

The homepage has access to recent news.

Meridian School District on Social Media

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/meridianschooldistrict505/

Instagram: @meridianschooldistrict505

Twitter: @meridian505

The Meridian School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employee has been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Title IX, ADA, and Compliance Coordinator (RCW 28A.640/28A.642) Kurt Harvill, Director of Personnel, 214 W. Laurel Rd., Bellingham WA 98226. 360-398-7111. Section 504 questions