Lions Share Sept 23, 2021

FROM THE

PRINCIPAL

Yesterday was the Autumnal Equinox, and a cold front arrived right on schedule, bringing rain and welcome cooler temperatures. The weather is beautiful – Fall is my favorite Texas season after Spring. I hope we are all able to get out and enjoy the weather this weekend!

As summer ends, we are nearing the end of the First Quarter grading period as well. Students want to be preparing for any summative assessments that are due soon.

We also urge them to work on improving their skills and knowledge – all summative assessments are eligible for retest or revision, as long as these are completed within two weeks of when the marked assessment is handed back to class. Please ask your students if they are taking advantage of these opportunities!

But while we are Reflecting on refining our academic Knowledge and Thinking skills, we should never forget to stay Balanced. Enjoy the Fall weather!

Charles Ryder,

High School Principal

Parent/Guardian Meeting Tonight!

Join us tonight at 6 pm for our fall Parent/Guardian Meeting. Hear from school leadership about what's happening around campus this semester.

Find the link on the event page. A recording will be posted at this same link on Friday.

Testing for 9th Grade students who did not take Science & Social Studies STAAR in 8th Grade

Earlier this year, we tested students who did not take STAAR last year to see if they required additional instruction this year. We tested all subjects except 5th grade Science and 8th grade Science and Social Studies (US History). Next week, we will test any 9th grade students who did not take 8th grade Science or Social Studies (US History) STAAR tests last year, in order to determine if they need additional support this year.

9th graders needing to make up the 8th grade Science and Social Studies (US History) STAAR tests will be tested next Thursday.

Secondary Principals’ Coffees Dividing into Separate Middle and High School

To give more focused attention to Middle and High School issues, in the future, we will have separate Principal’s Coffees for Middle and High School. This begins with the next High School Principal’s Coffee, which will be November 1, and the Middle School Principal’s Coffee, which will be November 3. For the dates of other Middle School Principal’s Coffees, please consult the Middle School newsletter, the Mane.

Parent/Guardian Reps needed for Grade Levels 6-12!

Parents/Guardians, would you like to help make fun things happen for our secondary students? We are looking for LEAD reps for each grade level 6-12. Read more and sign up here.

Mental Health Webinar for Parents/Guardians Sept. 29

Let's Talk

More than 40% of teens are not receiving the care and treatment they need–often because they are too embarrassed to talk about mental health or don’t know how to ask for help. This one-hour presentation empowers parents to talk to their teens about mental health by dispelling mental health myths and providing useful resources and healthy language to use. Find the link on the event page.

What parents will learn:

How to talk to your teen about mental health
The difference between bad behavior and symptoms of mental illness
Early warning signs of a teen in crisis

Lockdown Drill This Week

The School continues drills with a LOCKDOWN drill today. In a lockdown, it's "Locks, Lights, Out of Sight." Teachers bring in students from the hallways, close/lock doors, cover windows, maintain silence, and turn off lights.

We've got spirit ... Just Not Spirit Wear

Unfortunately, due to supply chain issues, our Fall Spirit Wear order has been delayed until mid- to late October. We're actively working on a few ways to get some sort of spirit wear available earlier for new students and students who have outgrown their spirit wear. Stay tuned.

HB 15 Overview

As you may have heard, the State Legislature passed and the Governor recently signed Senate Bill 15, offering very limited distance learning opportunities within school districts. Due to several constraints within the bill itself, as well as limiting factors for small campuses like ours, Meridian will continue to offer only on campus learning options. Read on for a more in-depth overview of why.

Advisory Council Meets Sept. 27

You're invited to join us for the first Advisory Council general meeting of the year on September 27 at 9 am. It will be recorded and shared on this same link.

The Meridian Advisory Council is a collection of parents, teachers, and staff who work on revising and creating new policies for our administration to review. The Advisory Council provides an opportunity for volunteers to engage more deeply at Meridian utilizing their expertise and knowledge for more effective action.

If you are interested in becoming a council member, please fill out this form.

Athletics and Extracurriculars

Please open Athletics and Extracurricular Activities for Secondary Students for more information on:

Sports Photos on Tuesday, October 19!
Home Volleyball Games!
Monday, September 27
Meridian Girls Volleyball Mini Tournament Saturday, October 2!
Lettering Requirements for 2021-2022 now available.

Upcoming Events and Contact Information

Upcoming Events

Saturday Opportunity School meets Saturdays from 9 am to noon
Lockdown Drill this week
Parent/Guardian Meeting Sept. 23
NAMI "Let's Talk" Mental Health Webinar Sept. 29
Fall Break Oct. 11-15
Principals' Coffee Nov. 1

Holidays and Holy Days

Wednesday, September 22 was the Autumnal Equinox, the mid-point between the Summer Solstice (the longest day of the year) and the Winter Solstice (the shortest day of the year).

As such, it is one of two days in the year when the length of day and night are roughly equal, the other day being Vernal (Spring) Equinox. Autumn Equinox is also considered to be the first day of Fall. So it’s finally Fall, y’all!