Meridian High School

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

1. Principal's Message
2. First Day of School
3. Freshman Orientation
4. School Pictures
5. MHS Office
6. School Bus Routes
7. School Supplies
8. Class Schedules
9. Counselor Information
10. Sports Information
11. Goal Setting Conferences
    
12. Students Driving to School
13. New Staff
14. National Holiday
15. MHS Points of Contact

As we head into the second half of August I hope you all are enjoying the last days of summer before school begins on September 2nd. The MHS office is open, fall sports are beginning, and staff are returning back to the building in preparation for a great 2021-2022 school year. This newsletter is the first one of this year and provides some details as you get ready for school. Our next newsletter will be sent out each Sunday night beginning with the first week of school and will include further details around things like the start of school, our bell schedule, and goal setting conferences that all families/students will participate in this September.

If you have further questions please call the office at 360-398-8111 or email me at dforbes@meridian.wednet.edu

Stay healthy. Stay safe. Go Trojans!

Derek O. Forbes

The first day of school is Thursday, September 2nd. School starts at 7:55 am and ends at 2:35 pm. We will have three lunches this year and a bell schedule with that information will come out later this month.

Students will need to bring a pen and pencil, a binder, some paper, and a backpack. Once classes begin, teachers will share any additional supply requests. Students will also be expected to wear a mask at school per state guidelines.

Please join us for our very important Freshman Orientation on Wednesday, August 25th from 9:30am–12:30pm. We begin the morning in the MHS gymnasium with a welcome assembly. Leadership students will guide you on campus tours. You will be able to purchase yearbooks, and have your school picture taken. This is a student only event. Mark your calendars and feel free to call the MHS office @ 398-8111 if you have any questions.

What should I bring to Orientation?

Check for a yearbook for $70 (purchasing a yearbook is optional). Please make checks out the MHS.

Picture day will take place a week before school starts, on August 25th. This will be the picture used for the yearbook, your ASB/identification card and any pictures your family chooses to purchase. O'Connor Photography Studios will be emailing families information about ordering pictures. Pictures will only be available for purchase online. No orders will be accepted in person. To get ordering information go to www.oconnorphotographystudio.com

All students will be photographed regardless of whether you are purchasing a packet or not. Seniors need their picture taken for ASB/identification cards. Please note that hats, bandanas, and sunglasses are not allowed in school photos.

· Freshman pictures will be taken at the end of freshman orientation from 11:30-12:30

· Sophomore pictures will be from 12:30-1:15

· Junior pictures will be from 1:15-2:00

· Senior pictures will be from 2:00-2:45

The MHS office is open. Current office hours are 8:00am - 3:00pm. The hours will change on August 30th 7:30am - 3:30pm. To enter the office you will need to go to the door by the auditorium. The door will be locked, so you will need to call (360)398-8111 and we will come to the door to assist you.

Did you know that school bus route information and times are located on Skyward? School bus route information for the 2021-2022 school year will be available on Skyward beginning August 23rd, 2021. The information is located under the Busing tab. Under this tab you will find your student's route number and the time of their pick up and drop off. If you notice that your student's stop is incorrect or if your student doesn't need bus transportation to and from school, please contact the Transportation Department at 360-318-2172 with the changes that need to be made.

Be prepared with pen & pencil, binder, paper and backpack. Once classes begin, your teachers may have additional supply requests.

Freshmen will receive their class schedules at Freshman Orientation. Class schedules will be available for 10th - 12th grade students via Skyward on Wednesday, August 25th, no earlier than 1:00pm. If you are unsure of you of your Skyward login, please contact the high school office. No changes will be made to student’s schedules before the first day of school. If changes are necessary, students will be notified on the proper procedures to follow and given forms to complete on the first day of school.

Fall Sports begin in August on the following dates:

August 18th - Football and Cheer at 5:00pm

August 23rd - Cross Country at 9:30am, Volleyball at 10:00am and again at 3:00pm, and Girl's Soccer at 8:00am.

All paperwork must be submitted through Skyward in order to participate. Up to date sports physicals should be brought to the MSD athletics office (located at MHS). More information about MHS athletics on the athletic department social media or at www.meridiantrojans.com. If you have any questions please feel free to email Bryant Michaelson the MSD Athletic Director at bmichaelson@meridian.wednet.edu or call (360)318-2260.

This year every student/family will participate in a goal setting conference to start the year. Conferences will take place on September 14th, 15th and 16th. Parent/guardians will sign up for a conference in Skyward. Office staff will also be available to help if needed. Information, including times of conferences and instructions for how to sign up, will come out later this month.

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.)

We are very excited to welcome these new staff members. We will learn more about these staff members in future newsletters.

Elliott Brubaker - PE/Health Teacher

Isabella Foos - Athletic Secretary

Ryan Killian - Social Studies Teacher

Stacy King - School Nurse

Angelo Mirante - ELA

Jennifer Robins - Special Education Teacher

Go bananas, because on August 25th, it’s National Banana Split Day! Give your taste buds the thrill of delicious ice cream and luscious chocolate covering a fresh banana topped off with nuts, a cherry and whipped cream.

Surprisingly, the original banana split wasn’t created in an ice cream parlor but in a pharmacy in 1904. Banana splits were the brainchild of David Evans Strickler, a pharmacist’s apprentice who enjoyed experimenting with new soda fountain sundaes in his free time. They were so popular with the college crowd that students willingly paid 10 cents, double the price of a normal sundae. Try a banana split today and you’ll understand why this amazing dessert is a classic!

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