Meridian Newsletter

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Dear Meridian Public Charter School Community,

As we gear up for the beginning of the 2023-2024 academic year, I want to extend a warm welcome to all our returning families and those joining us for the first time. Over the summer, our dedicated staff has been diligently preparing for the upcoming school year, ensuring that our facilities are ready to foster the growth and development of our students from prekindergarten through 8th grade.

The first day of school will be on August 28, 2023, for students in K-8, and our first day for our PreK students will be August 29, 2023. Parents, please ensure that your child is well-rested, nourished, and ready for an exciting day of learning. We are thrilled to see our students fill the halls with joy, curiosity, and excitement again. Please be on the lookout for our Welcome Packet that will be released next week!

As we look forward to the 2023-2024 school year, we are committed to providing a safe, enriching, and inclusive learning environment for all students. Thank you for choosing Meridian Public Charter School. Together, we will make this school year memorable.

Regards,

Matt McCrea

A reminder that you can be a part of expanding our Meridian community! Current Meridian families will be able to receive a free Meridian tote and $65 in gift cards by referring a friend who enrolls a child at Meridian Public Charter School.

To receive this incentive, the referred family will be required to complete the following:

1. Complete the lottery application by visiting myschooldc.org/

2. Complete online registration by visiting bit.ly/mpcsreg2324 and entering their unique snapcode (included in the emailed Match Letter from Meridian). Reward: Referring Families (current families) will receive a $15 gift card.

3. Complete the following steps: (1) Gather Enrollment documents (View list HERE) and (2) Submit Residency verification (View list HERE). New families MUST remain enrolled through October 6th. Reward: Referring Families (Current families) will receive a $50 gift card.

For questions about the re-enrollment incentive, contact Asia Gore at agore@meridian-dc.org. For questions about the referral incentive, contact Hilda Marquez at hmarquez@meridian-dc.org.

The District of Columbia provides free Pre-Kindergarten (PreK) education services in its public and public charter schools for residents who meet the PreK age cut-offs.

To be eligible for any school year:

• Students must be 3 by September 30 to apply to PreK3
• Students must be 4 by September 30 to apply to PreK4

If you know of any families with students that will be 3 or 4 years old by September 30th, please encourage them to apply for Meridian PCS at myschooldc.org.

The Family Engagement team had a wonderful time connecting with the families who joined us for our first Movie Night Meet-Up! Not only did we get to watch the classic film, Shrek, but we got to see (and participate in) a wonderful performance by Nen Daiko, a Japanese taiko ensemble.

What is Taiko? Taiko is an enormous Japanese drum with a sound that seems to come from the depths of the earth itself. Taiko simply means “drum” but the ensemble style of playing, also known as the Kumi-daiko style, was invented in the 1950s.

We also welcomed families over to the Middle School for an Ice Cream extravaganza in honor of National Ice Cream Day! New and current families joined the Family Engagement team for a fun night of games, and ice cream making. That's right! We made our OWN ice cream, and you can as well with the recipe below.

We've had an incredible four weeks at Meridian's Summer Discovery Camp! Our students have been engaged in learning, fun, and making new friends. From science experiments to art projects, sports activities, and exploration - they've fully embraced the summer spirit! Check out the photos below to see some of the fantastic moments we've captured. We're so proud of our campers for their enthusiasm and curiosity.

To see more photos from Summer Discovery Camp, make sure to visit us on Instagram at @mpcs_dc and Facebook at @mpcsdcOWLS.

We have also been hosting Summer Sports Clinics for K-8th grade students! There have been some epic matches so far and there is more to come with K-5 Soccer taking place this week with Coaches Wojcik and Kolb and our conditioning clinic led by Coach Jackson, starting on Monday, August 21st!

Don't miss the opportunity to use the attached printout created just for you as a tool to reminisce about your summer activities and experiences. It's a great way to reflect on your growth, achievements, and the fun you've had, capturing the essence of your summer memories.

We hope you've had an incredible summer filled with unforgettable moments and experiences. We would love to hear about your fantastic summer adventures! Whether you took a road trip to a new destination, found a hidden gem in your backyard, or even enjoyed a staycation filled with fun activities, we want to hear all about it.

Make sure you visit us on Instagram at @mpcs_dc and Facebook at @mpcsdcOWLS. Tag us in your photos and use the hashtag #Meridiansummerfun. We are excited to see your adventurous summer stories!

Want to get a head start on marking your calendars for the entire school year? Here is our official SY 23-24 calendar.

We want to remind all parents and guardians about the importance of up-to-date immunizations for their children. DC Health recommends that families schedule visits before the first day of school to allow time for any necessary follow-up appointments or vaccinations. These vaccines not only protect your child, but they also help keep our schools and communities safe. Please check the graphic below for grade-specific vaccine requirements.

To support you in ensuring your child is up to date with their immunizations, we will be hosting a mobile unit vaccination event on Oct 3rd in partnership with Children’s National at our Elementary School campus. Stay tuned for more information!

The Kids Ride Free (KRF) program allows students between ages 5 - 21 to ride for free on Metrobus, DC Circulator, and Metrorail within the District of Columbia to get to school and school-related activities. KRF cards from the school year 2022-2023 will remain valid until September 30, 2023.

More information will be provided during Back-To-School night and the form to request a 2023-2024 KRF SmarTrip card will be available soon.

Meridian Public Charter School is excited for another year of wonderful Out of School Time (OST) programming and extracurricular activities! Registration is now open for our before and after-school programs for the 2023-2024 school year.

Click the button below to learn more about our OST programs and to register your child! If you have any questions, please email ostteam@meridian-dc.org.

YMCA Anthony Bowen's Before & After School Programs are also now open for this school year and vouchers are being accepted! Offering a variety of activities for new and promoting healthy habits, these programs support learning through active play and character development. Visit www.ymcadc.org to discover more about these enriching programs open to all Meridian students.

• Kids Health Article: This article has concrete advice to support families with the back-to-school transition, plus a very helpful checklist for parents and guardians.

• Let's Get Ready for School: Brilliant resource including 10 top-notch tips and tricks for tackling back-to-school jitters.

• Back to School Tips: This article provides valuable back-to-school tips and strategies to help you set your child up for a successful school year, with examples tailored for both elementary and middle school students.

• Public Safety Back to School Event: Thursday, August 17, 2-7 pm. The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice is hosting a back-to-school event featuring a book bag, school supplies giveaway, food, games, and more. The event will be held at the Columbia Heights Educational Campus (3101 16th St NW).

• Back to School Event: Thursday, August 24, 12-4 pm. Department of Parks & Recreation is hosting an event featuring special giveaways of school supplies, amusements, refreshments, music, and more. The event will be held at Ridge Road Community Center (830 Ridge Rd SE).

• Community Day Health & Wellness Fair: Saturday, August 26, 2-6 pm. The DC Health Places of Worship Advisory Board is excited to present its 7th Annual Community Day Health & Wellness Fair. This Fair will provide community members with free opportunities for food, friends, and fun, as well as free school supplies, vaccinations, and dental exams for children. The event will be held at Oxon Run Park (1200 Mississippi Avenue SE). Register here.

• Enjoy the last few weeks of summer by visiting DPR's Spray Parks! They have standard operating hours of 10:00 am - 8:00 pm, Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Find the spray park closest to you at dpr.dc.gov/sprayparks.

• Check out the Maryland State Fair! The Maryland Fair (8/24-8/27, 8/31-9/1, 9/7-9/10) is known for delicious food, tons of free entertainment, amazing concerts, and animals galore.

• Enjoy a morning of fun kid-friendly activities every Tuesday at National Harbor. Enjoy a rotation of family-friendly activities including crafts, music and dance, and many more surprises. Learn more at Kids Day on the Plaza | National Harbor Events

Email: information@meridian-dc.org
Website: www.meridian-dc.org
Location: 2120 13th Street Northwest, Washington, DC, USA
Phone: 202-387-9830

Email: information@meridian-dc.org
Website: www.meridian-dc.org
Location: 770 Kenyon Street Northwest, Washington, DC, USA
Phone: 202-793-2667