The Meyzeek Mystique
From the Desk of the Principal
Hindsight is 2020: A Year in Review
Among the most important processes of a school leader is the instructional imperative of establishing clear goals, devising a plan of action, measuring progress and assessing how procedures and practices support accomplishing each of these vital components. Additionally, these leadership actions are essential in building and sustaining effective school wide systems in which students are consistently achieving at high levels. While these elements are vitally important, taking time to be reflective on where you have been and refocusing and recharging for the future is an equally imperative leadership ritual . Without question, the first year as the proud leader of the Meyzeek Bears has been one of the most exhilarating seasons in my many years as an educator in JCPS.
Transitioning to a new school requires expedience in understanding the school’s mission, culture, and patterns in student achievement; such has been the case in my Meyzeek journey. Working with an amazing team of administrators, teachers, support staff, and parents has provided the necessary supports to move Meyzeek forward. Over the last 11 months, our school has elevated its level of student engagement and initiated a shift toward building a greater Meyzeek that meets the needs of all of its students. The Meyzeek Mystique is designed to highlight our school's accomplishments, celebrate our students, and keep you connected with what makes us an extraordinary institution of learning. It is my distinct pleasure to share with you the achievements and successes of Meyzeek over the course my first year that have set the trajectory of academic achievement and social development for every Meyzeek Bear!
Culture & Climate
- Rebooting of Restorative Practices and PBIS through revisions to the Bear PRIDE Expectations
- Stakeholder collaboration in defining and rewriting the school’s mission statement and logo
- Increased to three Related Arts rotations to provide more access to educational opportunities
- International Study Abroad-For the first time ever, upper grades Meyzeek Bear Spanish students travel to Costa Rica, Summer 2020 and to Peru in Summer 2021
- School-wide Spirit Weeks
- Recognitions for Student and Teacher of the Month
- Bear Response Team for students needing support during the instructional day
- Counseling Team to include a Mental Health Practitioner
- Creation of the exclusive Youth Services Center Calming Corner
- Assembled the Parent Advisory Council
- Advanced WMZK productions and recording lab
- Increased the number of extracurricular programs
- Recipient of a $15,000 Leader in Me Grant program for the implementation of the Bear Excellence Program to promote the participation of underrepresented populations in STEM programs
- Safety is priority! Staff added to our In-School Security Team
- Trauma Informed Care training for all staff
- KPREP Student Recognitions (Spring 2020)
Bravo Bears!
Shraman Kar-8th Grade-Winner of the Congressional App Challenge- Shraman designed an app to elimate food waste and provide for those in need of food. He was the only middle schooler to receive this honor! He will also be recognized in Washington D.C. this summer.
School-wide Spelling Bee Winner-6th Grade Vallbh Ramesh
Audrey Bruce-7th Grade-Top award winner of the Team Kentucky Inauguration Poster Contest
Geography Bee Winner-Tanya Wu. She will go on to compete in the state Geography Bee with a chance to win a free trip to Washington D.C. and represent Kentucky at Nationals this summer.
Backpack Defenders- There have been 99 successful Backpack defenders! Great job 8th graders!
Meyzeek Bears Shine-Academics
Future Problem Solving Juniors team qualified to compete at the state competition.
Quick Recall places 1st at the JCPS district competition.
Quick Recall placed 1st in the JCPS League Quick Recall Tournament
Quiz Bowl qualified two teams for Nationals
STLP Qualified two teams for the state competition
The Debate Team Participated in the Wilson Wyatt Tournament and members of our team earned speaker awards and placed in the semi finals and emerged victorious in the finals:
Novice Public Forum Speaker Awards
Jeremy You-10th place
Keertana Namgaru-8th place
Rahim Kahloon-6th place
Victoria Fu-5th place
JVPUblic Forum
Kevin Lin-10th place
Novice Lincoln Douglas
Tejaswin Gontla-10th place
KruthiMangur-9th place
Rohan Nayak-8th Place
Jack Riley-6th Place
Ananya Polepali-4th Place
JV Lincoln Douglas
Sahana Alamanda- 10th place
Sreeya Gangyshetty-8th place
Arjun Parmar -7th place
Diya Jaisinghani-5th place
1st-Ruth Kouokam- Champion speaker and JV Lincoln Douglas First Place overall!
Semi finalist
Estella Smith-JVPF
Shashank Kamal-JVPF
Ananya Polepali- NLD
Jeremy You-NPF
Rahim Kahloon- NPF
Meyzeek Band was selected 2019 Mayor's Band of the Year and lead the march for Light Up Louisville.
Meyzeek Fall and Winter Student Led Community Health Fair
Meyzeek Bears Shine-Athletics
6th Grade Boys Cross Country Champions
Varsity Football JCPS Silver Division Champions
Varsity Boys Basketball-Junior King of the Bluegrass
Tennis Team-Winners of the Kentucky Middle School State Championship
Swim Team-JCPS City Championships, the Boys were team champions and overall boys and girls combined came in 2nd place.
If Kentucky Worked Together- Audrey Bruce, Artist
STLP Advances to State
Meyzeek Winter Community Health Fair 2020
Bears Beyond the Bell:Meyzeek Bears Do It All!
Lily Cashman: 6 year Competitive Gymnast
Thomas Kang-Louisville Leopard Percussionist
Kenneth Kennedy-Louisville Leopard Percussionist
Brando Taylor-Louisville Leopard Percussionist
Leigh Wingfield-Louisville Leopard Percussionist
Vaughn Ramirez- Actor in Actor's Theater of Louisville's
Dracula and A Christmas Carol
Addison Thomas-Competitive Gymnast
Laycee Yang-Competitive Figure Skater
Mackenzie & Madeline White-Common Hope International Voluteers to Guatemala
Suhanee Sinha-Synchronized skating competitor for US Figure Skating
Parents, please share with me the extraordinary ways in which your child is engaging with the world "Beyond the Bell". Meyzeek wants to celebrate and cheer each Bear along!
Spotlight on Achievement: Did you Know?
MAP (Measure of Academic Progress) is an adaptive assessment designed to identify content standard students are ready to learn and measures their academic growth in comparison to like peers across the nation.
MAP Math and Reading Growth for our 8th graders: In our third year of MAP implementation, our 8th graders are a shining example of growth based on Winter Map for 2020. Current 8th graders have shown growth by 18 points in Math since they took MAP and 11.6 points in Reading since first taking MAP as sixth graders in the 2017-2018 school year.
An average of over 60% of 6th graders were at or above grade level and an average 60% of 7th graders scored at or above the national norm on MAP.
Promoting academic achievement for all students and providing access to high level learning is a priority for our school. It is our goal to continue to make strides toward even greater gains in achievement during the MAP assessment window and KPREP in the Spring!
Meyzeek's Professional Educators: National Board Certification
Dana Goins, 8th Grade Counselor
Robin Stacy, 8th Grade Math Teacher
Jennifer Kiser, 8th Grade Math Teacher
Tonya Cabral, 7th Grade ELA Teacher
Abigail Palof, 6th Grade ELA Teacher
Way to go Meyzeek teachers for taking your professional practice to the next level!