Para la traducción, presione el ícono de persona / accesibilidad a la derecha, luego seleccione "Translate Newsletter", y elija 'Spanish' u otro idioma en el que desee leer el boletín virtual. / እባክዎ በቀኝ በኩል ያለውን ሰው የተደራሽነት አዶን ይጫኑ ፣ ከዚያ ‹ Translate Newsletter › ን ይምረጡ ፣ ከዚያ ‹ጽሁፉን/መጽሔት› ን ለማንበብ የሚፈልጉትን ‹Amharic' › ወይም ሌላ ቋንቋ ይምረጡ ፡፡ / Please press the person/accessibility icon on the right, then select "Translate Newsletter", then choose your preferred language.

We hope you are enjoying your summer break. Thank you for your participation and support during the 2020-21 school year, and welcome to our new families! After a difficult year, we are so happy to see kids being kids: enjoying days spent at the pool, playing at the park, attending summer camps, and more. Although there is still much work to be done, this summer has been an important step in bringing things back to normal.

We are hard at work at Meridian and very excited preparing for the new, school year with ALL students learning in-person (except those with approved medical exemptions) 5 days a week! There are many efforts underway to maximize student growth, individual academic recovery and success, enhanced social-emotional development after spending more than a year away from traditional school, and family engagement.

We continue to strive to provide you with timely information consistently throughout the school year. To that end, below are welcome letters from both Meridian Principals, information on each campus' general daily schedule and the family calendar which gives an overview of important dates in the school year, before and after care program applications, our uniform policy, our cell phone/device policy, an update on COVID testing during the school year, a reminder on how you can apply for medical exemption in-person learning for the first term of SY21-22, and other important information.

We look forward to seeing no more than 2 parent/guardian(s) per household at Family Orientation on the dates below. Each household must send at least one representative to at least one Family Orientation session on either campus. For everyone's health and safety, in order to observe capacity limits and keep crowding to a minimum, we invite families to sign up for the REQUIRED health/safety sessions to be held indoors using the links below. Once the health/safety session is complete, new families and returning families who want a refresher will be able to attend the Schoology hands-on demo, also indoors. ALL OTHER STATIONS (school culture, academics, arrival/dismissal, attendance, clubs/sports, aftercare providers, etc) will be outdoor booths.

• Pre-K to 2nd Grade - Tuesday, August 24, 4:30 - 7:00 PM, Elementary Campus - sign up for the REQUIRED indoor health/safety session here.
• 3rd Grade to 5th Grade - Wednesday, August 25, 4:30 - 7:00 PM, Elementary Campus - sign up for the REQUIRED indoor health/safety session here.
• 6th and 8th Grade - Thursday, August 26, 4:30 - 7:00 PM, Middle School Campus - sign up for the REQUIRED indoor health/safety here.

During Family Orientation, you will receive information on your child's homeroom teacher and/or schedule for the first term, important details about attendance and updated arrival and dismissal procedures, information about health/safety precautions, student and parent log in information for Schoology, PowerSchool Parent Portal and Remind, updated information and consent forms for HIGHLY RECOMMENDED COVID testing programs, have the opportunity to meet providers and sign up for before and after care programs, as well as preview/sign up for this year's clubs/sports and enrichment programs that will begin in October 2021.

The first day of school for Kindergarten - 8th grade is MONDAY, AUGUST 30, 2021. Scroll down for more details on the general school day schedule for both campuses.

Pre-K3 and Pre-K4 students have a different schedule the first week of school so they can gradually adjust to their new environment and routines:

• Monday, August 30, 2021: PK students will only have an "open house", an opportunity to meet their teacher and visit their classroom with a family member.
• Tuesday, August 31, 2021: PK students will be dismissed at 12 noon
• Wednesday, September 1, 2021: PK students will be dismissed at 1 PM (early dismissal for ALL students),
• Thursday, September 2: PK students' first full day of school (dismiss at 3:30 PM). This is the first day Pre-K students are eligible to stay for onsite aftercare.
• Friday, September 3, 2021: PK students will dismiss at 3:30 PM.

Greetings Meridian Families and Community Partners,

It is with great excitement that I write this letter to you as the new Elementary School Principal of Meridian Public Charter School for the 2021-2022 school year and beyond. It is an honor to lead a school with so much pride, legacy, and history in servicing students in our nation’s capital since 1999. As we return to in-person learning, I am dedicated to reestablishing strong and genuine relationships with all stakeholders to support the growth and achievement of our students. It is my charge to ensure that all students and staff are safe, cared for, and engaged while in our building.

The emotional well-being of our students is paramount. As a school community, we will focus on social-emotional learning and intervention to increase student achievement. With my team of dedicated leaders and teachers, we are ready to compose targeted learning plans for all students.

Once graduating from Prince George’s County Public Schools, I continued my education at Grambling State University in Grambling, Louisiana. I returned home to complete my graduate studies at American University where I earned a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction. I gained acceptance in New Leaders where I successfully completed both Emerging Leaders and Aspiring Principals programs. I have 9 years of teaching and leadership experience in Washington, DC and San Jose, California.

Under my leadership, it is my goal to strengthen and elevate relationships with all stakeholders and to attest that every student is cared for and safe while learning every day. I will use data to inform my instructional leadership decisions to make learning transferable and systematic for all students.

I invite you to contact me at dstevens@meridian-dc.org to set up a time to learn more about myself and my goals for our school.

Yours in Service,

DuRay Stevens, Elementary School Principal

dstevens@meridian-dc.org

Dear 6th, 7th, and 8th Grade Parents and Guardians:

I am very excited to begin my fourth year as the Meridian PCS Middle School Principal of such a loving community of parents, staff, and students. Despite the unprecedented challenges of the past year, we remained focused and steadfast in our mission of educating our students. Now that we are set for in-person learning, I am even more confident that each student will continue to develop academically, socially and emotionally. It is Meridian’s desire that the education students receive here transcends beyond basic facts and instead challenges and inspires them to become leaders of their community and a global society. Our academic program is designed to provide students with opportunities to master grade level skills, while enhancing their ability to think critically and independently. We continually seek innovative approaches to ensure engaging instruction that allows all students to thrive.

I have spent the past fifteen years fighting to ensure that all students have equitable access to a rigorous and engaging curriculum. Before relocating from Dallas, Texas to Virginia for my husband’s job, I was an Assistant Principal at Molina High School in inner-city Dallas. During my time at Molina we earned 7 out of 7 distinctions from the state of Texas for outstanding academic achievements, an honor that very few majority-minority campuses such as ours have been able to achieve. I have also served as an Academic Facilitator, working with multiple K-12 campuses to support leadership teams with improving academic outcomes, and a campus instructional coach whose primary role was improving student literacy at a middle school campus. Finally, I have extensive teacher experience as an AVID Teacher and Coordinator, Middle School Science Teacher and Department Chair, and High School reading teacher. In an effort to improve my professional practice, and learn even more about K-12 Education, I have joined a doctoral program at Howard University that is focused on improving outcomes for school leaders who serve in urban settings.

This year we are fortunate to be joined by Melissa Russell, who will serve as the Meridian PCS Middle School Assistant Principal for the 21/22 school year (pictured on the left above). Melissa has been in education for the past 15 year. She started her career as a Middle School Math teacher in Southern Illinois. During this time, she was a teacher-leader and led the school’s student council and beta club. After five years of serving in Southern Illinois, Ms. Russell moved to Chicago and taught in a turnaround school on the west side of the city. Ms. Russell’s passion for student achievement led her to student academic success and recognition for consistent student growth. Although Ms. Russell was making strides in Chicago, her fiance was stationed in California for recruiting duty. During her seven years in California, she served as a teacher, Curriculum Specialist, and Assistant Principal. Ms. Russell has always had a desire to attend Howard University. During the pandemic, Ms. Russell moved from coast to coast to attend Howard University’s doctoral program, Education Leadership and Policy Studies. She joined the Meridian team as an Instructional Coach during the school year 20/21.

Both Ms. Russell and I are also excited about promoting a positive culture based on respect--for students, teachers and the value of education. Our backgrounds have led us to work diligently to create and reinforce rules and procedures that allow students to be in a learning environment that promotes community and eliminates distractions.

Please know that we value our families' commitment to Meridian. As leaders, we are committed to diligently foster strong, working relationships with teachers, parents, students, and the local community. These strong relationships are the needed base to facilitate integration of key initiatives designed to enhance the school environment and best serve students. Your active participation and support are essential to building a school community that allows our students to achieve their highest academic and social potential. We regularly extend invitations for parents/guardians to join us at various school events throughout the school year to support students and to give you an opportunity to have a voice in shaping our school community. With your assistance, Meridian is not only a place where all staff members are committed to helping children succeed, but also where strong connections are made between home and school every day! We look forward to working together with you to make our middle school an outstanding place of achievement.

Sincerely,

Shelley Anderson, Middle School Principal

sanderson@meridian-dc.org

Melissa Russell, Middle School Assistant Principal

mrussell1@meridian-dc.org

• SY2021-22 Family Calendar in English - bit.ly/MPCS2122cal
• SY2021-22 Family Calendar in Spanish / Calendario Escolar Familiar - Ciclo Escolar 2021-22 - bit.ly/MPCS2122calesp
• SY2021-22 Family Calendar in Amharic / የ 2021-22 የቤተሰብ ትምህርት ቤት የቀን መቁጠሪያ - bit.ly/MPCS2122calamh

Please plan any long domestic or international trips, vacations, and other extended absences to take place during school breaks (winter break in December, mid-winter break in February, spring break in April, summer break beginning in June). This year, more than any other, we need families to reduce time away from school as much as possible!

You can also stay up-to-date with all school events by joining our public google calendar by clicking the "+Google Calendar" button at the bottom of the calendar on our website or by clicking one of the links below:

• Link for google calendar
• Link for iCal version

The daily schedule for each campus is below. Please note, this year our Early Release day will be on WEDNESDAYS--ALL STUDENTS WILL BE DISMISSED AT 1:00 PM. Aftercare will be available for Wednesday afternoons (see Beforecare and Aftercare information below).

Meridian, like many other public schools in DC, has transitioned to OSSE's COVID testing vendor, Shield T3, that has performed very well in other schools around the city. Some of the many benefits of this new vendor are getting results faster, and a less invasive that is easy for even the youngest students (students spit into a tube) to complete. We STRONGLY ENCOURAGE all families to consent to their students participating in asymptomatic testing program (10-20% of randomly selected students with parental consent will be tested each week) and symptomatic testing program (test administered only if students develop symptoms during the school day).

This change in provider means that the consent forms you may have completed during online registration are no longer valid.

All families should sign the NEW consent form at the links below in English, Spanish and Amharic. If you need the new form in French, Vietnamese, Chinese or Korean, please contact enrollment@meridian-dc.org. We will also provide more information to families about the new testing protocols during Family Orientation.

• School-Based COVID-19 Testing Consent Form - bit.ly/MPCScovidtest
  
• Formulario de consentimiento para las pruebas de detección de COVID-19 en las escuelas - bit.ly/MPCScovidprueba
• ትምህርት ቤት-መሰረት ያደረገ የ COVID-19/ኮሮናቫይረስ ምርመራ ስምምነት ቅጽ - bit.ly/MPCScovidtestAmh
  

This year, Meridian Public Charter School will provide EACH student with all the traditional supplies (pens, pencils, notebooks, flash drives, etc) needed for the SY2021-22 school year, so there are no school supply lists this year! Families are welcome to purchase any school supplies they would like to have for their students at home, should learning from home be necessary due to a prolonged physical absence from school for any reason. Devices for learning at home (tablets, Chromebooks) will be distributed in September; more details will be provided as soon as they become available.

Pre-K3 and Pre-K4 students should come to school each day with 2 full changes of clothes (including underwear and socks; changes of clothes do NOT need to be uniform compliant) and a blanket for naps each day.

Meridian Public Charter School’s uniform policy is designed to give students a sense of professionalism and community, and therefore is strictly enforced throughout the school year, including half days and birthdays. We feel that this simple show of unity eliminates the distractions that can come with students trying to keep up with the latest fashion trends. It is our hope that when students put on their uniform in the morning, they take on a professional mindset in their approach to education. By abiding by our uniform policy, students show a willingness to be a part of our school community and accept the responsibility of taking ownership of their education, actively promoting a school culture of pride, unity, discipline, and safety. Uniforms also create security through identification, enabling school officials to recognize intruders. Students out of compliance with the uniform policy will be subject to disciplinary consequences as per the Student Handbook.

Dress Code Requirements

All students must wear:

• Solid navy blue, light blue, or white collared shirt

• Solid navy blue pants or shorts no shorter than the student’s longest finger when standing upright and hands down at their side

• Closed-toed shoes

Students may elect to wear:

• Navy blue or light blue skirt or polo-style dress, no shorter than the student’s longest finger when standing upright and hands down at their side

• Meridian spiritwear t-shirts (purchased from or given by the school)

Additionally, students may choose to wear the following items during cold weather:

• Meridian sweatshirts (purchased/ordered through Meridian Family Orientation and/or Back to School Night)

• Solid navy blue, black, grey or white sweater

If electing to wear a fleece or sweater, students must wear a uniform collared shirt (solid navy blue, solid light blue, solid gray, or solid white).

Students are not permitted to wear the following items:

• Coats, jackets, and hooded sweatshirts (hoodies) are all considered outerwear and cannot be worn in class or around the building

• Open-toed shoes and sandals are prohibited; they are not safe and may cause injury to the student.

• Hats are prohibited. However, Meridian respects and protects students’ religious, ethnic and cultural expression. Students may wear any religiously, ethnically, or culturally specific head coverings or hairstyles, including but not limited to hijabs, yarmulkes, head/hair wraps, braids, dreadlocks, and cornrows.

• Leggings (any skin-tight or form-fitting garment that covers the legs and sometimes waist) may only be worn underneath skirts/shorts of the appropriate length. Leggings CANNOT be worn in the place of pants.

• Any article of clothing, accessory, or markings on clothes or skin that

• exhibits curse words or slurs,

• exhibits graphic or violent images, or

• displays emblems, symbols, signs, or other things which are clear evidence of affiliation with illegal drugs, alcohol, violence, or criminally motivated organizations.

Dress Down Days

Dress Down Days may be granted for campus-wide special events (e.g. spirit or theme weeks) or earned by individual students to celebrate their success. For all Dress Down Days, the following guidelines must be followed:

• No backs or midriffs may be exposed

• No tank tops

• Shorts and skirts must reach the student’s longest finger when standing upright and hands down at their side

• No holes, rips or tears on tops or bottoms

Students not in uniform, school apparel or suitable Dress Down Day attire will receive negative points on Dean’s List. Parent/guardian(s) will be notified, and the student will be provided with appropriate apparel, consistent with the school's dress code, if available. After three incidents of failing to comply with the Uniform Policy and Dress Code, the student will not be permitted to attend class until he/she is appropriately dressed. The student’s parent/guardian will be notified and asked to immediately provide appropriate clothing as well as schedule a meeting with the student’s Dean or designee.

Mask Policy

For the duration of the COVID pandemic and in accordance with CDC and DC Health guidance, all students, staff, and visitors at Meridian are expected to wear masks correctly (creating a seal around and covering both the nose and mouth) at all times while at Meridian except when eating or when outdoors. Neck gaiters and masks with ventilation valves are not allowed.

Meridian staff will work with students in a developmentally-appropriate way to teach proper mask wearing protocol and will make accommodations for students when necessary. Students with IEPs are eligible for further accommodations to mask wearing when deemed necessary by the IEP team. However, students that refuse to wear a mask are subject to disciplinary action in accordance with our student code of conduct.

Meridian Public Charter School offers before and after care programs to keep children engaged and safe outside of normal school hours. Assistance is available at the Elementary School Family Center and Middle School Front Desk to complete online or paper applications below.

As in the past, Meridian will offer two different on-site after care programs, implemented by the YMCA Anthony Bowen and by Mentors of Minorities in Education (M.O.M.I.E’s TLC). Families are free to choose to enroll in either program.

Meridian will help subsidize the monthly cost for qualified families with demonstrated financial need in either program, giving priority to families with students in grades PK-5, on a first come, first serve basis. Both organizations have begun the process to accept vouchers (OSSE subsidy) for their programs and are awaiting OSSE to communicate when they can begin submitting voucher applications from families.

If you have any questions about the below, please contact Mr. Jonathan Tucker, our After school Programs Manager, at jtucker1@meridian-dc.org, or 202-468-4104.

• Meridian will offer Beforecare at the Elementary School from 7:00 AM - 8:00 AM, at NO COST to families. Only students who are registered for Beforecare will be allowed to enter the Elementary School building before 8:00 AM.
• Program begins on your child’s SECOND day of school. Students MAY NOT attend before care on their first day of school.
  
• To register for Beforecare at the Elementary School, please complete this digital form bit.ly/MPCSbeforecare2122. There is no paper application.

Open to PK3 - 5th grade students. Full Time (5 days/wk - dismissal until 6 PM), Part Time (3 days/wk - dismissal until 6 PM), and Early Release only (Thurs, 1-3:30p AND 1-6:00p), and drop-in options available. Both Part Time (if scheduled for Wednesday) and Full Time programs include care from 1- 3:30p on Wednesday.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS - 4 Cornerstones of Genius:

1. Academic Achievement (tutoring and homework assistance);
2. Cultural Empowerment (teaching about minority luminaries across the world to encourage cultural pride, confidence, self-worth, and character boosting);
3. Family Strengthening (families are brought in to build skills and bonding);
4. Life Academy (learning entry level skills in various fields such as dance, photography, arts & crafts, gymnastics, etc.)

COST: Annual, one-time $50 registration fee per child (sibling discounts available) +

• Full Time (M-F) $350/month OR $180 if paid bi-weekly, $90 if paid weekly, $30 for drop in
• Part Time (3 days/wk) $255/month OR $130 if paid bi-weekly, $70 if paid weekly
• Early Release Wed (1-3:30p) ONLY - $75/month
• Early Release Wed (1-6p) ONLY $150/month
• Will accept payments by CashApp, PayPal and Check.

Mentors of Minorities in Education’s Total Learning Cis-tem (M.O.M.I.E’s TLC) and Meridian will provide financial assistance on a sliding scale for qualified families in need. The financial assistance application form is available here in English and aquí en español.

REGISTRATION FORM: Digital registration form available here

• Registrations received by August 20, 2021 and all registration + first installment paid will be guaranteed a seat during the first week of school.
  
• To complete the registration form, visit www.momiestlc.org, or visit the ES Family Center for assistance with completing the form in hard copy . For further assistance please reach out to Clifton King, Jr. (240) 350-6397, clifton.momiestlc@gmail.com - or - Adrina Burney, adrina.momiestlc@gmail.com
• You can download/print the 2021-22 MOMIES registration form in English
• You can download/print the 2021-22 MOMIES registration form in Spanish

Open to PK3 – 8th grade students, with Part Time (Monday/Wednesday/Friday - dismissal until 6 PM), Part Time (Tuesday/Thursday - dismissal until 6 PM), and Early Release Wednesday only (Wednesday - 1 PM until 6 PM) options. Both Part Time (if Monday/Wednesday/Friday) and and Full Time programs include care from 1-3:30p on Wednesdays.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS: Wellness initiatives, tutoring assistance, and support in an environment that promotes learning and academic excellence. After snack, homework help, and character development activities, YMCA after care students will rotate through various activities like STEM club, Chess Club, Green Thumb (gardening), Savor the Flavor (cooking), and Get Fit. (At this time, due to COVID-19 safety precautions, aftercare students will NOT be able to visit the Anthony Bowen branch for recreational swimming, cooking studio classes, and rock climbing).

COST: Annual, one-time $50 registration fee + community program membership fee $65 (if not already a full privilege member of the YMCA) +

• PK3-5th grade students at the ES - $359/month for Full Time; $247/month for Part Time - Monday/Wednesday/Friday; $191/month for Part Time - Tuesday/Thursday; $60 for Early Release - Wednesday only.
• 6th-8th grade students at the MS - $265/month for Full Time; $191/month for Part Time - Monday/Wednesday/Friday; $191/month for Part Time - Tuesday/Thursday $60 for Early Release - Wednesday only.
• The YMCA and Meridian will provide financial assistance for a limited number of qualified families in need. Please complete the YMCA financial assistance form here and submit it with all requested supporting documentation to the ES Family Center, MS Front Desk, or the YMCA Anthony Bowen, or by email to cherice.smith@ymcadc.org

REGISTRATION FORM: Please download/print the registration forms below or pick up a hard copy from the Elementary School Family Center or the Middle School Front Desk. There is no digital registration form at this time.

• You can download/print the 2021-22 YMCA registration form here.
• Please submit the completed registration form to the ES Family Center, MS Front Desk, or the YMCA Anthony Bowen, or by email to cherice.smith@ymcadc.org

Kingsman Boys and Girls Club - 1529 Kingman Place NW (near Logan Circle between P & Q St and 13th and 14th Streets NW)

• Will pick up students ages 5 and up from the Elementary School daily.
• Programming is from 3 PM - 6:00 PM, including early release Wednesdays. On Mondays and Wednesdays, programming continues until 7:30 PM with supper and individual tutoring.
• PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS: A year round program that provides educational, cultural, athletic, recreational, and employment opportunities to young people to ensure they are successful and socially responsible adults. Provides transportation from school to center and center to home, depending on location.
• COST: Fees are on a sliding scale, also accepts DC Child Care Voucher (subsidy).
• For more information contact Ms. Bibbs (Intake) at 202-483-1210

Rita Bright #10/LAYC: Will no longer allow students to "drop-in", due to capacity limits/safety precautions, only students enrolled in one of their programs (homework help, tutoring/mentoring, etc) will be allowed to enter the Center. We will update this digital welcome packet with more information on programs with seats available and how to apply as soon as we receive it from Latin American Youth Center (LAYC).

George Ferris Chapter 6 Boys and Girls Club - 801 Shepherd Street NW, (202) 576-7285

We will update this digital welcome packet with more information on how to apply for their programs as soon as we receive it.

BETA Martial Arts Academy - 1353 Florida Ave NW, (202) 538-0422. 3:30 - 6:25 PM. Will have a "modified" after school program this year and will not be picking up students from Meridian (depending on demand and staff availability, Meridian may provide for an escort).

• Foundations - 2 days/week with free uniform and snack = $175/month ($21.88 per day)
• Masters - 3 days/week with free uniform/snack, testing fees waived, and 20% off gear = $235/month ($19.59 per day)
• Champions - 6 days/week with free uniform/snack, testing fees waived, 20% off gear, and 4:30 - 5:30 PM parent access to fitness room = $285/month ($11.89 per day)

Kids Ride Free 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.

School Year 2020-2021 Kids Ride Free SmarTrip cards will remain valid until September 30, 2021. If your child still has their 2020-2021 card, they can use it for the first month of school.

Limited numbers of 2021-2022 Kids Ride Free Cards are now available at each campus. Please complete the online request form at bit.ly/MPCSKRF2122 .

Once requested, KRF cards will be available for pick up from the Elementary School Family Center, and Middle School Front Office, some will be available for pick up during Family Orientation, or given to students during the first weeks of school. The cards will be active from the moment they are issued. For more information, please review the Kids Ride Free Frequently Asked Questions.

We are excited to have all our students and families back for the start of a strong school year, but we need your help to make it happen. Students and families are always encouraged to secure appointments now with their primary care physician, who will know their health history best and can support them with a full well-child visit. However, if your student does not have up to date childhood immunizations, they may not be allowed to attend school. You can access the Universal Health Certificate (exam date not older than 1 year ago) to be completed by your child's medical provider here, and submit the completed form to enrollment@meridian-dc.org, or your family's enrollment team member by email or text; or drop it off in person AS SOON AS POSSIBLE (before August 15, 2021 where possible).

Beginning in August, families with students age 3 and older are now able to schedule routine childhood immunization appointments through vaccinate.dc.gov or the Vaccination Call Center at 1-855-363-0333. Families are asked to make an appointment for required immunizations in advance so providers will have time to access a student’s immunization history.

One of the most important things you can do to ensure a healthy and safe return to school is to consider getting yourself and your student vaccinated. The vaccines are highly effective at preventing severe, life-threatening illness from a COVID-19 infection, and can protect your child against the more contagious variants. The coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine is HIGHLY ENCOURAGED for everyone 12 years old and older, but it is not required for school at this time. Many of the pediatric immunization sites will also offer walk-up coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination opportunities for those age 12 and older. Please go to vaccinate.dc.gov to sign up to receive updates about immunization appointments. Please refer to Mayor Bowser’s press release for more information and check out the graphic below to see where students 12 and up can be entered into a drawing for $25,000 scholarship and parents can receive a $51 gift card for getting the COVID vaccine!

Meridian has a strict policy, which prohibits student use of cell phones and other electronic devices (radios, iPods and MP3 players, CD players, video game players, cell phones, iPads, tablets, e-readers, smart watches, and similar devices) during school hours. Cell phones in classrooms have a negative impact on academic performance because they distract students from being fully engaged participants in the learning process. Cell phone use during school hours can also increase instances of cyber bullying and inappropriate posts to social media web sites. Student cell phones and other electronic devices should be turned off prior to entering the school building and placed inside their locker or turned in at Reception. Visible cell phones and other electronic devices will be confiscated and only returned to a parent or guardian. Repeated violations will result in additional consequences. In case of emergency, parent/guardian(s) are asked to contact the Elementary School at 202- 387- 9830 or the Middle School at 202-796-2667.

In order to attend school virtually this coming school year, you must submit a medical certification for each student. At Meridian and ALL public schools in DC, “distance learning in the 2021-22 school year will ONLY be available to students with a documented physical or mental health condition that requires distance learning due to COVID-19.”

• Parent/Guardian should submit Meridian’s "Intent to Submit Medical Consent & Certification" Google form AS SOON AS POSSIBLE - bit.ly/MPCSmedexempt
• STUDENT’S LICENSED DOCTOR/NURSE PRACTITIONER completes Medical Consent & Certification form; parent/guardian had to return the COMPLETED form to Meridian by July 15 in order to ensure availability of virtual instruction on the first day of school (August 30, 2021). Any exemption forms received after July 15th will be reviewed/approved on a rolling basis.

  • ENGLISH - bit.ly/COVIDCon2122

  • SPANISH - bit.ly/COVIDES2122

  • AMHARIC - bit.ly/COVIDAM2122

  • CHINESE - bit.ly/COVIDCH2122

  • FRENCH - bit.ly/COVIDFR2122

  • KOREAN - bit.ly/COVIDKO2122

  • VIETNAMESE - bit.ly/COVIDVI2122

Read an abridged version of our Continuous Education Plan as of August 13, 2021:

• SY2021-22 Continuous Education Plan
• Plan de Educación Continua para el Año Escolar 2021-22

The most important sections will be discussed during the REQUIRED health/safety briefing during Family Orientation.

Our Continuous Education Plan for SY21-22 outlines a number of steps that Meridian will take during SY21-22 to ensure that all members of the Meridian community are safe and healthy, have access to socioemotional supports to process the ongoing trauma of the COVID pandemic, and experience learning activities that will accelerate their learning to close gaps that may have grown during the SY20-21 school year while also building on the resiliency and strength that our students demonstrated during our distance learning program last year.

Comments or questions on this plan? Contact information@meridian-dc.org .

Many families and students may be both excited and a little nervous about returning to in-person learning this school year. Afterall, a return to past routines won’t be simple! It is important to take the necessary precautions to keep you and your family safe as you return from your summer activities and prepare to go back to school. Below are a few recent resources that provide facts and helpful suggestions for families to help everyone with the transitions:

• Children’s National Hospital has provided a blog post on their website which features tips from pediatricians for parents and caregivers to keep in mind as the district reopens. Read up on topics like how to encourage mental and physical health or anticipate difficulties with the transition back to past routines.
• This New York Times article addresses fears and concerns with answers to questions such as: How can it be safe for children to go back to classrooms during a pandemic? What are the risks of Covid-19 and the Delta variant to children? And what precautions can we take at home to lower a child’s risk?

Although not directly related to in-person learning, Pre-K families may find these two links from PBS kids about establishing routines helpful (both include videos):

• Setting a routine for success at school
  
• How to get preschoolers into a routine after school

On every 3rd Thursday, Walker Memorial Baptist Church (2020 13th Street NW) is partnering with Capital Area Food Bank to help families in our community in need. They ask that you register yourself and your family to receive groceries OR if you desire to volunteer your time, please register for the time slots available.

To register or volunteer for the Thursday, August 19, 2021 Grocery Giveaway, please visit their website at https://wmbcdc.org/event/2659825-2021-08-19-capital-area-food-bank-2021/

New Bethel Baptist Church and the Anthony Bowen Branch YMCA are partnering to provide free Back-to-School Haircuts and Hairstyles for Kids in grades K-12th, in the Shaw Community. Saturday, August 21, 2021 11am-4pm 1325 W Street, NW Washington, DC Register by August 18, 2021 at https://www.newbetheldc.org/events/cuts-for-kids

For more information email: volunteer@newbetheldc.org.

Is your 6th-8th grader interested in potentially playing on or more of Meridian's competitive athletics teams (soccer, flag football, cross-country track, basketball, chess)? Would they like to get a jump start on getting in shape for the coming season?

Any student who wants to know more about playing sports at the Middle School should complete the athletics interest form at https://forms.gle/zTEyjJp4NP6caX7d9 . This does not formally commit a student to playing but will make sure that the Athletic Director and Coaches are in contact with you.

Any student who is interested in playing sports at the Middle School is invited to attend the Bigger, Faster, Stronger Athletic Conditioning clinics the weeks of August 16th and August 23rd. Read the practice plan here. Sign up here: bit.ly/MSathleticond

Meridian Public Charter School does not exclude children based on toilet learning ability. Teachers should be sensitive to parent concerns and offer open communication with parents concerning Toilet Learning, as it is developmentally appropriate for 3 year olds to be engaged in toilet learning activities.

In order to support children, families, and teachers with toilet learning, Meridian implements procedures to support all parties and help children achieve age and developmentally appropriate self-help skills. In order to achieve success in this process, it is crucial that all parties maintain open, honest, and supportive communication so that children feel comfortable and can be successful. Please remember that toilet learning has to be reinforced at home as well as at school. No child will be forced to sit on the toilet.

To read our Toileting Policy in full, please click this link. We ask ALL Pre-K3 AND Pre-K4 families to complete this Toileting Questionnaire to get a current snapshot of our youngest student's toileting abilities. This information will be shared with your student's homeroom Lead Teacher and Apprentice Teacher.

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