Meridian High School

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

1. Principal's Message
2. Thanksgiving Week Bell Schedule
3. T-3 This Week
4. Tech Survey
5. Food Drive
6. Holiday Meal Information
7. HSBP Deadline - Seniors
8. Counselor Information
9. Highly Capable Program
10. Winter Wishes
11. Senior Grad Ads
12. Senior Pictures for Yearbook
13. Hot Lunches for Next Week
14. National Holiday
    
15. Attendance Information
    
16. Bell Schedule
17. MHS Building Entrance
18. Meridian Class Booster Club Information
19. MHS Points of Contact

The impact of the flooding in Whatcom County last week will be felt for some time. The images and stories of the devastation and power of the water have filled our social media and news outlets. From those images, we have seen the individual and collective efforts of this community coming together to support and help one another.

Each winter our school's leadership class puts on Winter Wishes to support students here at MHS. Winter Wishes allows staff and students to wish for gifts for MHS students. The wishes include practical things like a new winter coat to something fun like a gift card to Starbucks. Over the years our community has been so generous to support this project allowing to make many of the wishes come true.

Last week, students were able to make wishes after watching a brief video. Wishes can still be made. Students were provided a link in their Homeroom's google classroom they can still access so if you know of a student in need (whether or not as a result of the flood), or a student who you would like to appreciate please encourage your student to fill out the form for that person.

Our ASB has already begun going out to local businesses to collect donations for this project. We also have a link where individuals can donate as well. If you like you can access that link and support this project. https://wa-meridian-lite.intouchreceipting.com/meridianhighschoolwinterwishes

I feel very fortunate to be part of this community, both here at school and in the county.

Stay safe. Stay healthy. Go Trojans!

Derek O. Forbes

Our Tech department is asking for families to fill out a survey and hasn't received many results so they will be handing out a paper survey to all students on Monday. Please ask your student for the paper copy to fill out, sign and have them return. It should only take a few minutes. Thank you.

A HUGE thankyou to every single student, staff member, and families who contributed toward this year’s Trojan Cafe sponsored FOOD DRIVE!! As a school, we collected 639 POUNDS of food!!!! Some of this will go directly to our own Meridian families – especially any who have been impacted by flooding and may be in immediate need. Most of it will go to the Bellingham Food Bank. Congratulations to Mr Mirante's 2nd period class who collected the most -- nearly 150 lbs which is about 8 lbs per person from that class! Thanks again to EVERYONE who contributed!!! Meridian is an awesome community to be a part of!

The due date for your High School and Beyond Plan has been set for December 15. This is a graduation requirement for the state of Washington. Seniors are continuing in the existing plan that they have been working on during their time in high school. Your complete plan must have a resume’ uploaded. There is no specific resume’ template that you must follow, but it must include a minimum of one reference.

If you have questions regarding the plan, please make an appointment with your counselor.

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/T4ogMtX53Xp1zPEG6

Spanish: https://forms.gle/iY2z68sjCfaq2D3c7

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

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.

Here is the link if you would like to make a donation to Winter Wishes:

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

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

Monday - Beef or Chicken Burger on WG Bun

Tuesday - Max Cheese Sticks

Wednesday - Mariner Hot Dog and Fries

Thursday - No School

Friday - No School

America’s Thanksgiving holiday, born in the 1500s, mythologized in 1621, and observed even during the bleakest hours of the Civil War, now stands as one of the nation’s most anticipated and beloved days — celebrated each year on the fourth Thursday in November (November 25, 2021). Perhaps no other nonsectarian holiday has more tradition. Family, friends, food, and football have come to symbolize Thanksgiving — a rare celebratory holiday without an established gift-giving component. Instead, the day urges all of us to be grateful for things we do have.

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