Middle School Mane January 5, 2022

Middle School Campus News

8th Grade Counselor Update

With a sad heart, I share that Ms. Docherty will not be joining us for the second semester. She is taking time to focus on her health. Ms. Zook will be working with the 8th grade class for the remainder of the year. Students will get more time to meet Ms. Zook as we move into scheduling for their upcoming freshman year.

Drop off Reminder

Please do not drop off your middle school students in the student parking lot. We ask that you drive through the carline and drop off your students in the designated drop off locations. Please be courteous of our staff and student drivers.

Alumni Recognition Day: Now held via Zoom

Friday, January 7, 2022

Every year, Meridian hosts an Alumni Day where our alumni return to campus for visits to the high school classrooms, focus groups with current Meridian parents, and lunch with their former teachers. It is always one of our favorite events of the year … but due to COVID, events will now conducted virtually via Zoom.

The purpose of these meetings is to provide a space for our alumni – and their parents/guardians – to share about how the alumni have benefitted from the quality IB education they received at Meridian. All of this is coordinated by Mrs. Holcombe, and we find that these interactions between our current students/parents and our alumni/parents of alumni are always extremely beneficial and enjoyed by all.

Action Requested of Parents/Guardians: Secondary parents/guardians (grades 6-12) who would like to Zoom with the Alumni and/or the Parents of Alumni should fill out THIS RSVP FORM by January 6. Mrs. Holcombe will email you the Zoom meeting links the day before the event, so please type your email address carefully into the form.

Here is the schedule for the day with parent/guardian events bolded:

11-11:30 am: Alumni from 2016-2021 Zoom with Holcombe. Say hello, share personal updates, and review the schedule for the day.
12-12:40 pm: Parents of Alumni Zoom with Current Meridian Secondary Parents
12:45-1:30 pm: Alumni Zoom with Current Meridian Secondary Parents
1:40-2:25 pm: Alumni Zoom with Current High School Students via Zoom (during advisory)
3-3:30 pm: Alumni Recognition Zoom with the Class of 2021 (for Class of 2021 alumni only)

Questions? Please email Stela Holcombe at s.holcombe@mwschool.org.

Athletics and Extracurricular News

Academic Eligibility Reminder: Students, check your grades in Ascender on Wed., Jan. 5. The 5-day waiting period begins now! Your academic eligibility status becomes official at 4:05 pm on Tues., Jan. 11!
Basketball: Due to COVID-19,
Spectators at HOME games are extremely restricted. This includes Homecoming games and Senior Night. See the updated Spectator Restrictions for Basketball.
Several games are getting canceled and AWAY campuses are restricting or not allowing spectators. Please watch the Basketball Game Schedule for frequent updates. Please scroll all the way across for notes about spectators.
Swimming: Georgetown Winter Invite, Saturday, Jan. 8! Watch for details on the Athletics Calendar.
Winter Tennis: Varsity match next Wed. 1/12 at 4 pm at Bastrop HS. See details on the Athletics Calenda r.
Winter Sports Photos: For Basketball, Soccer, and Winter Tennis teams on Fri., Jan. 21. See the schedule.
Coaching Opportunities: Soccer Coaches and Baseball Coaches needed! Learn more.

District News

Welcoming our new Coordinator of Student Culture Initiatives

Meridian School welcomes Terri Johnson, our Coordinator of Student Culture Initiatives. The new position assists in creating a welcoming and positive school culture, cultivates community liaisons and partnerships, creates safe spaces to have open dialogues, builds trust within school communities, reviews policies and procedures for equitable practices, and provides training/opportunities for building a culture of community, justice, care and belonging. Read on for Terri's bio.

COVID-19 Health and Safety

An email went out to families regarding COVID-19 safety protocols as we head into the new semester. If you missed it, or if you need to reference the steps to take if quarantining or isolating, you can find it in the news section of the website.

Note: there will be no change to quarantine and isolation protocols for students at this time.

2020-2021 Federal Report Card Issued

The Texas Education Agency recently released the 2020-2021 Federal Report Card for districts across the state. Families may read more, including links to Meridian's report, here.

Spirit Wear Opportunity: Celebrating Black Culture

Celebrate Black Culture all year with this new spirit wear t-shirt approved for students and staff to wear at school on Fridays.

Purchase youth and adult sizes through the MySchoolBucks store January 6-20, 2022.

Siblings new to Meridian next year: Applications for lottery open Jan. 1 – Feb. 28

Applications are being accepted for prospective students for the 2022-2023 school year. Currently enrolled students do NOT need to complete an application, but they will need to complete returning registration in the spring.

However, if a currently enrolled student's sibling will be new to Meridian in the 2022-2023 school year (in Kindergarten or any grade), please turn in an application for the sibling between Jan. 1 and Feb. 28. Siblings receive priority in the lottery.

Choir Opportunity

Songs: "Lift Every Voice and Sing" and "It's Time"

For the second year in a row, Meridian students (grades 1-12), staff, and alumni have the opportunity to join a choir in celebration of Black History Month.

This year, the choir will perform two songs live in late February. "Lift Every Voice and Sing" was written by James Weldon Johnson in 1900 and composed by his brother, J. Rosamond Johnson, in 1905. "It's Time" was released in 1990 by The Winans, an American gospel quartet from Detroit, Michigan.

All Meridian students in grades 1-12, staff, and alumni are invited to participate. Submit one interest form per person. The choir is led by Sal Stow and Monique Swain. Sign up by Jan. 10.

Parent Book Club with Counselor Nancy Spence

January 25, noon – 1 pm

The Parent Book Club returns in January! The book is "Hunt, Gather, Parent," by Michaeleen Doucleff, Ph.D. Readers can compare/contrast parenting cultural practices and delve into what they find interesting in the book and the author's perspectives on parenting. Questions? Email n.spence@mwschool.org. Please RSVP here so that we can gauge number of participants.