Middle School Mane July 28, 2021

FROM THE

PRINCIPAL

Welcome to the first issue of this year's Middle School Mane!

This is a weekly newsletter for families to keep you informed about what is happening in middle school.

We are so excited to welcome all of our students back into the building this school year. We have spent the last few weeks ensuring that everything is ready.

We will have several events to help our students become familiar with our buildings and staff. Please read on for details.

We look forward to the first day of school on August 10!

Crystal Lane,

Interim Middle School Principal

6th Grade Parent/Guardian Orientation Tonight, Lions Camp Thursday

We welcome 6th graders to Meridian Middle School on Thursday, July 29 for our fifth annual 6th Grade Lions Camp! Lions Camp is from 8:30 am to 12:15 pm, and the purpose of this half day event is to welcome all 6th graders to their new campus, meet their teachers, make new friends, learn classroom locations, reinforce the IB profiles, and begin to feel more at ease on their new campus. Lions Camp is for currently enrolled students.

Parents and guardians of 6th Graders: don't forget to join us for the parent orientation via Zoom webinar tonight at 5:30 pm!

Meet the Teacher and Schedule Pick Up

Meet the Teacher and schedule pick up will be held Friday, August 6 from 4 pm to 6 pm. To help reduce crowds, we ask that you RSVP and refrain from bringing additional guests to this event. Masks are strongly encouraged. An additional email will go out with information regarding sign up details for 30 min slots. Please use this time to pick up schedules, walk through the building, and meet teachers.

7th and 8th grade tours

Would your student like the opportunity to see the campus before the first day of school? They can join us for student campus tours on Thursday, July 29 from 1 pm to 2:30 pm for campus tours.

Installing PikMyKid for Carline

Meridian School uses PikMyKid, a smartphone app that allows parents and guardians to announce their arrival for pick up as well as designate other drivers to pick up their child. Meridian School also sends emergency/weather notifications and traffic news via in-app notifications.

Learn more about the app and download it through your app store.

School Uniform Update

Students are approved to wear jeans Monday through Friday this school year. Please remember that jeans need to be blue or black. The jeans also need to be free of tears, rips, holes, and bleach stains.

In middle school, we require students to wear a red polo with the Meridian logo on Mondays. Rocksports is a local shop that can embroider shirts that you purchase from them or bring to them.

Again this year, we will not require PE uniforms. Students will remain in their school uniform during PE class.

Find the updated uniform guides on our website.

Our parent volunteer group (ViP) will host a uniform exchange this Saturday, July 31, from 10 am to noon, at the Primary campus. This is a great opportunity to purchase gently used uniforms at just $2 per piece.

COVID-19 Health and Safety Protocols: Meeting Aug. 2

As our staff works to get the campus ready for return to all in-person instruction August 10, we are finalizing our health and safety protocols.

We will release our COVID-19 health and safety protocols for the 2021-2022 school year Friday, July 30, on our website. We will host a parent/guardian Zoom webinar Monday, August 2, in the evening, to discuss safety protocols and answer general questions.

It is a community effort. Please help us by getting vaccinated if you can, and by continuing to wear masks indoors on campus. Find out where to get a vaccine.

Learning Will Take Place on Campus Fall 2021

Parents, please understand that Meridian will not be able to provide distance learning this year for students in general. We do not have the personnel or the means to hire additional teachers to provide remote instruction.

Should distance learning be the best thing for your family at this time, we invite you to consider your traditional home district as Leander, Round Rock, and Austin will all offer some form of distance learning. You will need to withdraw from Meridian and enroll in your district to access this. The school is unable to hold spots open; families wishing to return would re-enter the lottery for future admission.

Re-opening questions will be answered at the Parent/Guardian meeting Aug. 2.

School Supplies

Checkout student supply lists below.

6th Grade School Supply List

7th Grade School Supply List

8th Grade School Supply List

After School opportunities

Waiters Registration is open

Waiters is designed for families with at least one student in primary (K-5th) and at least one student in secondary (6th-12th). Meridian staff provide a place for primary students to wait after school until their secondary siblings are released from school at 4:05/1:30 pm. This allows K-12th siblings to be picked up together in the same car line. Register here.

After School 6-12 Registration is open

After School 6-12 provides a safe place for middle school and high school students to hang out and socialize from dismissal until 5:45 pm. It is for students who cannot be picked up at dismissal or who need a place to be before or after their extracurricular activity. Register here.

Triple A is hiring

The Triple A - After School Program is searching for dedicated and passionate individuals to fill several part-time after school positions. Learn more and apply.