Meridian High School

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

1. Principal's Message
2. Bell Schedule
   
3. Open House
4. Fall Conferences
5. Counselor Information
   
6. Free and Reduced Lunch Applications
7. Connect ED Program
8. Trojan Learning Center
9. Purchasing a Yearbook
10. Students Driving To School
11. Hot Lunch Menu for Next Week
12. New Staff
13. Picture Retake Day
14. National Holiday
    
15. MHS Points of Contact

It is so great to have students back at school. Their voices fill the halls and our classrooms each day. Next week we hope to see you on campus as we have our Open House planned on Wednesday afternoon. More information about Open House can be found later in the newsletter.

Along with Open House, we will also be hosting conferences on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. More information about the format for conferences can also be found later in the newsletter.

Things will settle down after this week and our the schedule will better follow our typical bell schedule, which includes students going to T3. (9th grade households and new students will learn more about T3 at conferences).

Looking forward to seeing you this week at Open House.

Go Trojans!

- Derek

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

We will have an Open House this Wednesday evening from 6:30 to 8:00. Following their student's schedule, families will be able to meet each of their student's teachers and learn about the class. Sessions will last ten minutes and there will be a five-minute passing time to go to the next class. Counselors will also be available in the office.

Open House Bell Schedule

1st - 6:35 to 6:45
2nd - 6:50 to 7:00
3rd - 7:05 to 7:15
4th - 7:20 to 7:30
5th - 7:35 to 7:45
6th - 7:50 to 8:00

We look forward to seeing you this Wednesday.

Meridian High School will be on an early release schedule this week on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday for fall conferences.

If you have a freshman, a new student, or a student who is behind on credits you need to schedule a conference for this week.

All 10th, 11th, and 12th grades who are on track to graduate and not new to Meridian need to do their conference at home.

Information about how to schedule conferences was presented in an earlier Parent Square post and are also on our website

We are accepting free and reduced meals applications for the school year. Applying for free or reduced meals is not only important for providing meals for your children but it also helps support district funding. Families only need to fill out one application for all children in a household.

Applications are available in your school office or online:

• 2022-23 Letter To Households

• 2022-23 Free & Reduced Application

• 2022-23 Carta a los Grupos Familiares

• 2022-23 Solicitud de Group Familiar Para Recibir Comidas Gratuitas Y De Precio Reducido

If you have already submitted an application for free or reduced meals for the 2022-23 school year, you do not need to reapply unless your income status has changed.

If you have questions about the free and reduced meals application contact Rob Dunn, Director of Food Services, at rdunn@meridian.wednet.edu or call (360) 318-2267.

The Meridian School District partners with the Whatcom County Library System to bring public library access to every student. The program, called ConnectEd, allows students to obtain a library account automatically. Students will be able to check out physical books, eBooks, and audio books with no overdue fines! WCLS also offers online learning tools, virtual book clubs and so much more! Please go to the link above/below to read more about the program, see what information MSD shares with WCLS, and to opt-out if desired. If you have any questions, please call or email your school librarian. For MHS, that is Shannon Waterman (swaterman@meridian.wednet.edu or 360-318-2279).

The Trojan Learning Center (TLC) will open on Monday, September 19.

Trojan Learning Center

Location: MHS library

Days: Monday through Thursday

Time: After school, 2:45 pm - 4:45 pm

Come directly after school or bring a note from your supervising staff member.

Get a ride home or stay until the end and take the activity bus home.

If you are struggling or just need time to work, if you are catching up or staying caught up, if you are looking to improve your grade or keep it up, TLC offers:

homework help, quiet work time and resources you may need.

TLC is here for you, Meridian!

This is the last week to purchase a yearbook during the first purchase window of the year! The cost is $70.00. There will be other times to purchase a yearbook during the school year, but get yours early, so you will be guaranteed to receive a yearbook at the end of the school year. Yearbooks can be purchased in the high school office or online using the online payment portal on the high school website.

Students that plan to drive to school need to register their car with the office. Every student that drives to school need to complete a new registration form at the beginning of each school year. Having cars registered helps 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.

Monday - Chicken Nuggets, Mashed Potatoes and Gravy

Tuesday - Cheese Burger w/ Fries

Wednesday - Bean and Cheese Burrito

Thursday - Rice Bowl

Friday - Nachos

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

Ashton Anderson - ELA Teacher

Billy Balas - Special Education Teacher

Lori Blankenship - Registrar

Collin Magnusson - Math Teacher

Larisa Shuvalova - EL Coordinator/Teacher

Picture Retake Day will be October 10th, 2022. More information will be available as the day gets closer.

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

Derek Forbes, Principal: dforbes@meridian.wednet.edu

Shaun Doffing, Assistant Principal: sdoffing@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

Lori Blankenship, Registration: lblankenship@meridian.wednet.edu

Kelly Gookstetter, Head Secretary: kgookstetter@meridian.wednet.edu

Bella Foos, Athletic Secretary: ifoos@meridian.wednet.edu

Chromebook Tech Support: techsupport@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