Meridian High School
February 7th - 13th, 2021
Our Mission:
Table of Contents
- Principal's Message
- Inclement Weather Information
- No School - February 12th and February 15th
- Hybrid Learning Schedule
- Updated Meal Distribution Schedule
- RALF
- Google Guardian
- Trojan Wellness and Resources
- Counselor Information
- Finding Hope Event
- Student Late Arrival and Early Pick Up
- Sports Practice Time Update
- Pandemic-EBT Benefit
- National Holiday
- MHS History Moment
- Weight Room
- Attendance
- Class of 2021
- Class of 2024
- Transcripts
- MHS Points of Contact
- MHS Daily Schedule
Principal's Message
As you read this letter, we finished our first full week in our hybrid schedule. It was so exciting to have students back on campus and in classes. Staff commented how impressed they were with how our students responded to the changes upon return. We are going to have a great time this semester.
As we progress through the semester, we will continue to make improvements to provide a better experience for students whether they are learning at home or learning on campus. Our staff collaborates throughout the week, sharing ideas and strategies to be used in the classroom. We spend time together on Fridays, both as an entire staff and in departments, to learn from our experiences and feedback and make adjustments. It is important to read this newsletter each week and sign up for Google Guardian for daily or weekly information from your student's teachers. I will also send out a robocall that will be followed by an email to the email address of the primary guardian listed in Skyward to inform you of any time-sensitive information.
If you have questions about what is taking place on campus or any other concerns, please reach out to me by phone or email.
Stay safe. Stay healthy. Go Trojans.
Derek O. Forbes
Inclement Weather Plans
If we have a "snow day" students will still be attending school. Instead of coming to campus, they will attend virtually.
Schedule
T3 and/or Homeroom will be removed from the bell schedule and school will start at 9am. Classes will go for seventy minutes with a ten-minute break between classes.
1st / 2nd – 9am to 10:10am
3rd / 4th – 10:15am to 11:25am
5th / 6th – 11:30 am to 12:40 pm
Office hours will take place at their normal time, 1:15 pm to 1:45 pm
Each teacher will have information available in their google classroom regarding
* virtual classroom expectations
* zoom classroom link
Hybrid Learning Schedule
Updated Meal Distribution Schedule
Cordata Presbyterian Church 10:15am to 11:00am
Pollman Circle 9:15am to 10:00am
The Middle School 11:00am to 12:30pm
Delivery is also available.
This is the same schedule we've been on for the majority of the school year, only the day is now Friday. We will not have a meal distribution the following Friday the 12th due to the Mid-Winter Break, but we will be back on schedule the week(s) following. Our only anticipated break in service will be Spring Break.
RALF
RALF stands for Remote Attendance Learning Form and is required for all students to complete on their non-campus days. This would be the two days their cohort is assigned to be home and on Fridays.
Each teacher has a link to the RALF in their google classroom. We have also provided a link here to the google form. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfTR8ZCRJJKcx4dr5OirHXt_MMjq-7DfyMeuwMeZYsgarna0A/viewform .
Students need to fill out the form for each class they are currently taking. The form needs to be filled out before noon each day to count as being present in classes. If not completed by noon, the student is marked absent for that class period. Students do not need to fill one out for Homeroom as that class is only offered in person.
Google Guardian
One of the tools used in our hybrid learning is Google Classroom. With Google Classroom used by all teachers, we are able to make a feature called "Guardian" available to you. This will improve communication between MHS classrooms and you at home. Below you will find a couple of resources you may want to review to learn more about it.
* Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=120&v=Vl9ofDHkIpE&feature=emb_logo
* Written summary - https://support.google.com/edu/classroom/answer/6386354?hl=en
You can contact the tech helpline or email chromebook@meridian.wednet.edu to request access.
Trojan Wellness and Resources
Parents of 10th Graders
Counselor Information
Finding Hope Event
Student Late Arrival and Early Pick Up
If you need to pick up your student early from school for an appointment or other reason, please call the MHS office at (360)398-8111. We will get your student for you, have them check out in the office, then send them out to your car.
Thank you for helping to keep our school safe!
Sports Practice Time Update:
Starting 2/8 all practices (besides cheerleading) will start at 2:30 pm. There will be an activity bus Monday-Thursday at 4:30 pm to take students, who need transportation, home. No practice will go longer than 5 pm.
Students who do not have transportation home after school are permitted to stay on campus and work on school work.
Please let your coaches know if your student needs to stay on campus between school and practice.
Pandemic-EBT Benefits
The Pandemic-EBT beneift has been approved for families through the end of this school year. Families whose students have been approved for free/reduced meals in the 2020-2021 school year will automatically start seeing extra food benefits show up on their EBT cards starting in Feburary or March. Families who do not have EBT cards will be mailed special Pandemic-EBT cards to the address that the school district has on file.
If families haven't already filled out a free/reduced meal application with the school district, now would be a really good time to do that! Important - the Public Charge rule does not apply to P-EBT benefits and will not impact immigration status.
https://www.mymealtime.com/Apps/SignIn.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fapps (online application)
https://www.meridian.wednet.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/2020-21-Free-Red-Application.pdf (paper applications, English)
https://www.meridian.wednet.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/2020-21-Free-Red-Application-Spanish.pdf (Spanish)
National Pizza Day
Fun Pizza Fact:
In 1861, Italy finally unified, and King Umberto I and Queen Margherita visited Naples in 1889. Legend says that the traveling pair became bored with their steady diet of French cuisine and asked for an assortment of pizzas from the city’s Pizzeria Brandi, founded in 1760. The variety the queen enjoyed the most was called pizza mozzarella, a pie topped with the soft white cheese, red tomatoes, and green basil — much resembling the Italian flag. Since then, this particular choice of toppings has been dubbed the Margherita pizza.
MHS History Moment - A Look Through the Years
Student Life at MHS in 1995
Weight Room
REMINDER ABOUT ATTENDANCE
Being present in class is vital to be successful in school. We want to encourage all of our students to be at school every day! If you are missing school, you are missing out on learning!
Class of 2021
Class of 2021, we are asking for your contact information
Booster parents want to keep you informed of all the hard work that has been going on behind the scenes. The soon to be graduates have their Senior Trip coming up in June and we need to get you the information, so your senior can attend. Please email us at mhsclass2021@outlook.com and include:
Your Name:
Seniors Name:
Email:
Phone Number:
Class of 2024
Request Transcripts Through Parchment
Please find the “Order transcripts through Parchment” link under Families & Students/Resources on the MHS website. Current students may call Mrs. Brinkman or Mrs. Waterman to receive their Parchment access code at the MHS office 360-398-8111.
MHS Points of Contact
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
High School Office
Stay Connected
The homepage has access to recent news.
Meridian School District on Social Media
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/meridianschooldistrict505/
Instagram: @meridianschooldistrict505
Twitter: @meridian505