DP Lions Share (11–12)
Week of May 1, 2024
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Hello DP Families!
We are in May! Yesterday was the seniors' last day of classes and IB exams began today! Each senior has their own way of coping with the stress related to IB exams. If you observe that your senior needs some extra support over the next three weeks please reach out to us!
Senior parents/guardians are invited to join a WhatsApp group to receive daily reminders (usually in the evening) from me about things that are happening related to the IB exam period, Senior Fun Week, and more! For example, all seniors who are not CPR certified will need to take a quick CPR class on this coming Friday, May 3. This is something that is required by the state of Texas.
Senior Yard Signs are here! They will be delivered by our faculty and staff to your front yard within the next week.
As always, please reach out as needed in this final stretch of the school year!
Sincerely,
Stela Holcombe
DP Principal
IB Exams: Good luck to our Seniors!
Starting today, May 1, our seniors will embark on three weeks of IB Exams. We want to wish them all luck. You’ve got this!
School Lunch Hero Day is May 3
Friday is School Lunch Hero Day! We would like to say thank you to our amazing Café Crew for all they do. Not only do they arrive each day before everyone else to make lunch, but they also prepare breakfast! Fresh bowls of fruit are filled around school for snacks and they make sure every meal is well balanced, tastes good, and is nutritious. Check it out.
Staff Appreciation Week: Next week May 6-10
Teachers, IB Coordinators, Nurses, Coaches, Administration, Support Staff and more! It takes a village and we have one of the best! Staff Appreciation Week is next week and there are a few ways you can help make it extra special. Handwritten notes or cards from you or your student are always welcomed – and saved for sweet reminders of why we do this work! You can also help ViP provide special breakfasts/treats all week. Want to get a small gift but not sure what your teacher likes? A Staff Favorites list is on the website under “School Resources.”
Spring Parent/Guardian Meeting
Thank you to everyone who came to our Annual Spring Parent/Guardian meeting. If you did not get a chance to come, please take a moment to look at the slides. You’ll find an expansion update, Standards Based Grading review, and more.
Meridian plastic film recycling drive with Ridwell
Do you have plastic bags saved up to recycle but don’t know what to do with them? Join our Ridwell recycling drive! This is what can be recycled.
Recycling drive timeline
- Now: Begin saving bags – make sure they’re clean and dry!
- May 13-16: Drop them off in one of our labeled bins on campus
Through May 31: If 10 Meridian families sign up for Ridwell services, the school will receive free plastic film recycling all next year!
Get your NHS Field Day shirts before it's too late!
9th, 10th, and 11th graders get ready to compete against each other on May 17 in a series of games and tasks in the annual Field Day organized and run by National Honor Society (NHS). This is such a fun day for all students involved and a true labor of service from our NHS members. To make this year's Field Day the most memorable yet, we are selling t-shirts for spiritwear and to be worn by our Survivors on Field Day. Students in 9th - 11th grades are invited to purchase them on MySchoolBucks until Thursday, May 2 to ensure delivery will be made before Field Day!
Graduation 2024 update!
Hot of the Press! Read this comprehensive guide that Robyn Tester and I have put together with everything you need to know about our 2024 Graduation. Please review it and let me know if you have any questions! Regarding graduation tickets: If you made a request for additional graduation tickets (those who need more than 14), I will inform you by this Sunday about how many additional tickets we are able to allocate for your party. I know you need this info ASAP for planning purposes.
Attention Junior Parents/Guardians
It's time to start planning for Prom 2025! If you would like to serve on the Prom Committee please fill out this brief Google Form so we can assemble a team. Ms. Riley will support this committee and is already looking at booking a venue.
Congratulations to Semester 1 "A Honor Roll" and "AB Honor Roll" Students!
Students who made the "A Honor Roll" and "AB Honor Roll" for Semester 1 will be recognized at the DP Awards Ceremony this Thursday, May 2. The list of these students is here. If you think your student was omitted in error, please double check grades for Semester 1 in Skyward first and then email Wendy Riley if a correction is needed.
Graduation medals for Full IB Diploma Candidates - $14 in MySchoolBucksy
Full IB Diploma candidates have the option of wearing an IB medal as part of their graduation regalia. If you would like to buy this item for your graduate, you can find the invoice for $14 in MySchoolBucks. Again, this is an optional purchase for seniors who are full IB diploma candidates.
Graduation Ticket Request
Due Today: Wednesday, May 1
We look forward to celebrating the graduation of the Class of 2024 on Friday, May 24 at 7 p.m. at the Round Rock Sports Center. Each graduate may invite up to 14 guests, and there will be an opportunity to secure up to a certain number of additional tickets once we have a better idea of how many total guests we are expecting. All immediate and extended family members and friends will be required to present an official Meridian School Graduation Ceremony Ticket upon entry to the graduation venue. The graduates will not need a ticket.
Action Required: The family of every graduate must complete this Google Form by Wednesday, May 1 to request their graduation tickets. Meridian faculty and staff will be offered tickets separately, so please do not reserve tickets for special teachers or staff that you would like to invite.
Important: If you do not need all 14 of the initial tickets offered, please do not reserve them so they can be offered to families who would like to invite a larger number of guests.
Questions? Please email Stela Holcombe. Thank you!
IB Exam Schedule & Review Sessions
IB exams for seniors began today, May 1, and they continue through May 17 (DP May 2024 Exam Calendar). The only day without an IB exam over this period of time is this Friday, May 3.
Several teachers are offering review sessions for the IB exams. Read the live document that lists the review sessions chronologically by date. Students are encouraged to attend as many of these optional sessions as possible. Note: This is a live document that is subject to change. Please check back for changes before showing up for a review session.
Is Your Senior Taking IB Exams?
If the answer is yes, we need your help! The IB Oasis is a room in the high school building where seniors can grab some food before or after IB exams. It is a place to decompress and refuel during the most stressful days of their Meridian career. They have three weeks of exams, so there are lots of slots available to keep the IB Oasis well-stocked. Please sign up to donate food/snacks and/or volunteer to set-up one morning in May during IB exams. Thank you to those who have already signed up!
Attention Juniors: Student Parking for 24-25
Action Required by Friday, May 3
It's time to sign up for student parking for the 24-25 school year! The deadline to submit this form is Friday, May 3. If no response is received, it will be assumed that the rising senior does not desire to drive and/or park on campus for the 24-25 school year. All rising seniors are asked to complete the form–even those who do not desire to drive and park on campus in the upcoming school year. This will help Ms. Riley confirm who does not need a parking space. Questions? Please email Ms. Riley.
College Newsletter (Published by DP Students)
Two seniors from the Class of 2024 (Leon T. and Abigail T.) have decided to share what they have learned about the college admissions process with you in the form of a newsletter. The content has been reviewed by our College Counselor, Kathy Gregg, but keep in mind that the newsletter is written from the perspective of the students who have contributed the content. I'm sure you will find it informative and interesting. Read the second edition of the College Newsletter.
Informal Senior Slideshow (canceled)
Due to insufficient interest, the senior "informal" slideshow will not be produced this year. This is the slideshow of pictures submitted by the students. But it's okay! The formal slideshow (pics submitted by parents/guardians) is being produced as we speak by parent volunteer Crystal DuRette. This will be shared with seniors and their parents on the morning of Wednesday, May 22 (the last day the seniors are on campus).
Senior Fun Week: New activity at Georgetown Lake
The seniors will enjoy an outing to Georgetown Lake on Tuesday, May 21. This is happening after the annual cap and gown parade that we do for the primary and middle school students. This event at the lake will start at about 10:30 a.m. and will go through 1 p.m. Stela Holcombe is seeking some parents who would be willing to go set up that morning and do some grilling of hot dogs and/or hamburgers for the students. If you would be interested in helping with this, please email Mrs. Holcombe. Thank you!
End of Year: Important dates for Seniors
- Last day of class for seniors was yesterday Tuesday, April 30 - but all seniors are expected to attend school daily through May 22.
- There are no retakes on the last summatives for Q4, but seniors may turn in Q4 work through 5 p.m. on this Friday, May 3. (There are no IB exams on May 3.)
- Final Q4 Senior grades will be in Skyward by Monday, May 13 by 8 a.m.
DP Awards Ceremony
Senior Prank Night
Registration for Fall Competitive Sports is now open!
Registration for Summer Sports Camps opens May 8!
Summer Sports Camps will be available for rising 7th-12th grade students for Basketball, Soccer, and Volleyball. Registration opens May 8 and ends May 15 at 9 p.m., or sooner if the limited spots fill up first. Details will be available by May 8.
See Sports Registration for additional 24-25 sports experiences and their registration windows.
Model United Nations (6-12)
Model United Nations is a very popular extracurricular activity at Meridian! In 23-24, the competitive organization had more than 170 members! Model UN gives students the opportunity to work on their research, public speaking, and diplomacy skills. Middle school and high school members can participate in conferences in the central Texas area, and high school students will also have the option to participate in an out-of-state conference in the spring.
Registration for 24-25 Model United Nations opens on Wednesday, August 28 and closes at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, September 4. No late registrations will be accepted.
For the 24-25 academic year, Middle School and High School participants will have different weekly meeting days:
- Middle School will meet on Tuesdays from 4:10 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. (first meeting September 10)
- High School will meet on Fridays from 4:10 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. (first meeting September 6)
It’s lettering and letter jacket time!
In recognition of the dedication and commitment required to be an IB student, all Meridian juniors and seniors have the privilege of purchasing a letter jacket with the Meridian "M" on the front. In the spring of each year, sophomores may also order their jackets to wear starting in the fall of their junior year.
High school students who lettered in their activity can also purchase a Meridian letter jacket, and they can purchase a patch for the jacket sleeve representing their activity. 23-24 Lettering List
Letter Jacket Sizing and Ordering Event
Thursday, May 2 and Friday, May 3
During C lunch and Advisory (1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.) in the Mays Lobby.
Students can try on letter jackets and get help with their orders from our letter jacket partners, Herff Jones/Overall Recognition. Students who already have a letter jacket and wish to add patches can bring their letter jackets and place an order for the additional patches. Orders placed at this event will need to be paid in full at the time of order (cash, check, credit card). Parents/guardians are welcome!
Get ready for this event: Letter Jackets & Lettering. Missed the Letter Jacket Info Session? Watch the recording.
Athletics Awards Ceremony
Thank you to everyone who attended the Athletics Awards Ceremony! It was a wonderful evening celebrating Meridian sports, our student athletes, our coaches, and our parents/guardians. See this year’s award recipients.
State VASE results
Two Meridian juniors, Jordin Edrich and Anjali Kurien, advanced to the Texas Art Education Association (TAEA) State Visual Arts Scholastic Event (VASE) competition on Saturday, April 27. Congratulations to Jordin, who received a State Rating of 4! Only the top 4% of all the entries received State Rating 4! Thank you to Lacy Vain for supporting Meridian artists with both the Regionals and State VASE competitions.
DECA Nationals
Sophomore, Aarush S. participated in DECA Nationals in Anaheim, California this week. He competed in Business Services Marketing, which is part of the individual series. Congratulations, Aarush! You represented Meridian well and made us all proud!
Secondary Enrichment dates
May 1: Registration opens for Fall Competitive Sports (Cross Country, Flag Football, Volleyball)
May 2 - 3: Letter Jacket Sizing & Ordering Event in the Mays Lobby from 1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. (Parents/guardians welcome)
May 4: 24-25 Dance Team tryouts. Must be registered and physically eligible to participate.
May 8: Registration ends at 9 p.m. for Fall Competitive Sports (Cross Country, Flag Football, Volleyball)
May 8: Registration opens for Summer Sports Camps (Basketball, Soccer, Volleyball)
May 15: Registration ends at 9 p.m. for Summer Sports Camps (Basketball, Soccer, Volleyball)
Check out more enrichment dates on our school calendar of events.
Questions about secondary extracurricular activities, eligibility, or letter jackets?
Email [email protected].
Secondary Daily Announcements
Curious about daily announcements? Take a look at the daily announcements slides.
Upcoming Events and Dates
May 1: Deadline for Senior Families to request graduation tickets
May 1: IB Exam Fees Due (via personal check or MySchoolBucks)
May 1-17: IB Exams
May 2: DP Awards Ceremony 6- p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
May 2: Senior Prank Night 8:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
May 3: No IB exams
May 6-10: Staff Appreciation Week
May 16: Board Meeting
May 17: AB Day
May 17: NHS Field Day
May 17-18: Senior Lock-in
May 17-23: Secondary Book Fair
May 20: School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) meeting
May 20-23: Secondary end of semester exams
May 20-23: Senior Fun Week
May 21: Senior Cap and Gown Parade
May 22: Senior Wave Out
May 22: Full day of school no early release
May 23: Last Day of School
May 23: No Triple A or Afterschool 6-12
May 24: Graduation 2024 at the Round Rock Sports Center from 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Check out our online calendar of events for more upcoming dates.
DP Resources
School Calendars and Bell Schedules (including A/B)
Link to A/B Google Calendar
(to add A/B days to your personal Google Calendar)
DP Course Syllabi and Tutorial Schedule
Secondary Academic Guide 23-24
College Visit Opportunities 2023-2024
On instagram? Follow us at meridianschool_dpcommunity
Important DP Program Contacts
Counselor for Grades 10 – 12, Nick Manuszak
College and Career Counselor, Kathy Gregg
Dean of School Culture, Monique Swain
Help us reach you
Are you getting our Catapult text messages? If you have a landline as your primary contact you will not receive Catapult messages. You may change this in Skyward or fill out the google form to indicate the cell phone number you wish to receive messages on.