Meridian High School

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

1. Principal's Message
2. Early Release
3. Scheduling a Conference
4. What Does A School Counselor Do?
5. Financial Aid Information for Seniors
6. Financial Aid Event Information
7. HSBP Due Date for Seniors
8. Drug/Alcohol Specialist
9. Family Service Coordinator
10. Cultural Liaison
11. Academic Support
12. Hot Lunches for Next Week
13. WTA Youth Ride Free Program
14. Students Driving to School
15. Attendance Information
16. Picking Up Your Student Early From School
17. Arriving Late to School
18. Class of 2022 Parents and Students
19. Picture Retakes
20. Community Resource Numbers
21. National Holiday
    
22. Bell Schedule
23. MHS Building Entrance
24. Meridian Class Booster Club Information
25. MHS Points of Contact

Our first full week of students allowed for our freshmen and sophomores to experience their first four-period days. On those days we also spent time in T3 getting ready for conferences that start on Tuesday afternoon.

All Homeroom teachers have time slots for conferences on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons, as well as Tuesday evening. If you haven't signed up yet, please continue on in the newsletter to see how to sign up. If you log in to Skyward and don't see a conferences tab it means you are using the student access and need to log out and login again as the parent/guardian.

We are excited to have families on campus and to share with you what we are doing to support your student, to learn from you how we can better come alongside your student, and hear your student's goals for this semester.

We hope the conference format is useful to you and that you walk away with information that will help you feel better connected to the school and to the work taking place by our amazing students and staff.

Stay safe. Stay healthy. Go Trojans!

Derek O. Forbes

Next week is conference week. We will have Early Release day on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The Early Release Schedule is located below.

Meridian High School will be on an early release schedule so fall conferences can take place on September 14th, 15th, and 16th. Student-led conferences will primarily focus on your student sharing about themselves (strengths, areas of focus, goals for the semester). There will also be an opportunity for the school to share some information on ways we are supporting students in the classroom and also learn from you on ways to help your student at school.

Parent/Guardians can go into their Skyward account to schedule a conference with their student's Homeroom teacher on the either one of those afternoons or the evening of the 14th.

Below are three different ways to review instructions for setting up your conference. There is a video, a tip sheet, and an instruction packet for you to use. Please sign up for a conference this evening. The earlier you schedule your conference the more times available to pick from in the Scheduler.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fs2WKxHtAfc&authuser=0

On many occasions over the years I have been asked “What does a School Counselor do?” When I think about it, I realize I did not meet with my school counselor when I was in high school and this may be the same for many others who are now parents of a high school student. Since we are starting a new school year I thought this would be a good time to introduce our role if you are unclear as to what a school counselor does. I would also like to take this time to explain how our role is different then a mental health counselor.

First, in order to be a school counselor, the individual must hold a master’s degree in school counseling, and meet the state certification standards. These standards include fulfilling ongoing education requirements and following the ASCA (American School Counselor Association) ethical and professional standards.

The role of the school counselor is to deliver broad services to all students to improve academic achievement, plan for postsecondary options, and help students manage emotions and apply interpersonal skills. As a counselor first and educator second, they support a student’s mental health to improve student achievement. The services provided may be direct (individual, group or classroom instruction), and/or indirect (assessment, consultation, collaboration or referrals). School Counselors also serve as a leader to promote equity and access for all students and enhance the awareness of mental health in their schools, aiming to remove shame and stigma.

There are a number of differences between a mental health counselor and a school counselor. A school counselor does not diagnose a mental health condition. A school counselor provides short-term counseling and crisis intervention to improve a student mental health but does not provide long term care. A school counselor’s job and responsibility is to notify a student’s parents when the situation warrants further help beyond the scope of the school counselors role and refers a student to a mental health professional for comprehensive mental health care. School counselors are educators trained in child and adolescent development, learning strategies, self-management, and social skills.

I hope this article has helped to clarify the school counselor role. Please feel free to contact your student’s school counselor, Cheryl McBride A-J, or Don McMains K-Z so we can better support and advocate for your child while they attend Meridian High School.

Seniors-On your Mark. Get Set. Go! Your senior year is here and before you know it you will be walking across the stage and headed out into the world to pursue the goals you have set for yourself. For many of you the journey will start with Community College or University and that is why we would like to take this opportunity to provide you with some resources and information regarding financial aid.

First, I hope you have all seen the notification that our Financial Aid Event will be held on October 20th 5:30-7:30 pm. This event will be a virtual event and you must Register in Advance to receive a link to attend. During this event we will have financial experts available to help families complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA). The WASFA application is available for those families that do not qualify for federal financial aid based on immigration status.

The FAFSA/WASFA applications are available starting on October 1st. It is important for you to be aware that colleges have deadlines for the FAFSA/WASFA submission and these deadlines can be found on the college websites. Even if you don’t think you will qualify for federal financial aid please take the time to complete the application. If you apply for other scholarships down the road you may be asked the details from your FAFSA application. If you are a College Bound Scholar, it is required that you complete the FAFSA to receive funding. Your application also gives you the opportunity to express an interest in Work Study Programs and Loans. There are many opportunities available to apply for scholarships so start with that as your priority before considering a loan. Federal aid is limited and it is important that you apply early.

The Washington College Grant, formerly known as the State Need Grant has been expanded to reach more families starting 2020-2021. Now partial grants are available for families making up to the state’s median family income of $97,000 per year. Colleges will use your FAFSA/WASFA application results to determine eligibility and make awards and this is another good reason to complete the application.

There is a lot of information for you to know about financial aid. Each week we will provide you with further information and resources. Please be aware Financial Planning information has also been added to your HSBP for your reading as well.

This week please take the time to view these videos we have provided.

What is financial aid? https://youtu.be/KGpJ5ZNHSSo

Where does financial aid come from? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYr5gqd27Fc&feature=youtu.be

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.

Katie Miller is our Drug/Alcohol Intervention Specialist. She can be reached by email at kmiller@meridian.wednet.edu

Alicia Roberts is the district Family Service Coordinator. She can be reached at (360) 988-1949 or by email at aroberts@meridian.wednet.edu

Elvira Rozen is the Cultural Liaison for the Meridian School District. She can be reached at (360)306-2886 or by email at erozen@meridian.wednet.edu

There are several options available to you

• You can contact your teacher directly via phone or email.

• You can find this information on your Google Classroom page.

• You can also find this info on our website at https://www.meridian.wednet.edu/mhs/staff-contact/

• You can talk to them during class.

• You can visit their T3

• Teachers are available during T3, often to answer questions for a specific class. Be sure to review the T3 Week at a Glance document found on the MHS website https://www.meridian.wednet.edu/mhs/

Monday - Spicy Chicken Burger

Tuesday - Rice Bowl

Wednesday - Chicken Nuggets, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy

Thursday - Beef or Chicken Burger on WG Bun

Friday - Dutch Waffle with Cheesy Omelet

This year we are asking students that plan on driving to school to register their cars. This will help us when a situation arises and we need a car moved, if lights are left on in a car, etc. Students can pick up a registration form in the office. The student will need the following information to complete the registration form - Name, License Number, Make/Model of Vehicle, Vehicle Color and Vehicle License Number. (This information will need to be provided for every vehicle that the student plans on driving.)

Vehicle Registration forms can be picked up and returned to Mrs. Gookstetter in the office.

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.

If you need to pick up your student early from school, please contact the office at 360-398-8111. We would be happy to get your student for you. If possible, please try to call at least 30 minutes in advance. We understand that emergencies happen and a last minute pick up may be needed, but it is great to have the extra time to make sure your student is ready when you arrive.

Please remember to sign in when you arrive at school. Make sure to write your first and last name on the sign in sheet. Remember we need to be able to read your writing.

If you are a senior or the parent/guardian of a senior, and you haven't already done so, please send Mrs. Waterman your name, email and a phone number. Her email is swaterman@meridian.wednet.edu. There are many details and deadlines during senior year and we want to keep you in the loop

Picture Retake Day will be October 8th, 2021. More information will be available as the day gets closer.

Catholic Community Services (360) 676-2164

SeaMar(360) 671-3225

National Suicide Prevention Hotline 1 800 273-8255

Crisis Text Line text 74174

GLBT Youth Talkline 1-800-246-PRIDE (7743)

Compass Crisis Prevention and Intervention (360)752-4545

Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services (360) 671-5714

Celebrated on , Constitution Day, also known as Constitution and Citizenship Day, honors the document that guarantees Americans their essential rights. Since its ratification in 1787, the Constitution of the United States has served as the basis for all U.S. laws.

To prevent the abuses of power they felt subjected to under the British monarchy, the Founding Fathers framed the Constitution carefully, distributing power between three branches of government. The Constitution outlines the government’s powers, the limitations on those powers, and the rights of citizens. It also outlines an amendment process for making changes in the future

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 $65 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