MYP Mane (6–10)
Week of May 1, 2024
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Hello families,
Please see the information regarding our Boosterthon fundraiser that is occurring for the next two weeks. We will have a glow in the dark fund run on May 14 in the gym during the school day. Please consider supporting our fundraising efforts. All funds raised by 6-8 will go to renovating the AUX gym.
Lots of 10th grade info below. Please review parking for next year, senior trip info, and letter jackets.
Thank you!
Crystal Lane,
MYP 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!
Action required: 6th - 8th Grade Play It Safe Program
The Williamson County Children’s Advocacy Center is partnering with Meridian World School on May 6 and 7 (7th/8th grade) and May 9 and 10 (6th grade) to provide personal safety presentations to our 6th - 8th grade students using the “Play It Safe” curriculum.
This program is part of Senate Bill 9 and is an Opt In Program. If you would like your student to take part in this program you must fill out this Google form to opt in. Forms must be completed by May 2.
The “Play It Safe” program focuses on empowering student(s) to identify potentially unsafe situations both online and offline. “Play It Safe” lessons discuss the fundamentals of healthy relationships and how to handle unsafe situations. All materials are presented in an age and developmentally-appropriate manner. If you have any questions or would like to view the curriculum, please reach out to Stefanie Zook (6-7 Counselor) or Andy Harvey (8 Counselor). Learn more about Williamson County Children’s Advocacy Center.
Get your NHS Field Day shirts before it's too late!
Deadline: Tomorrow, Thursday, May 2
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 tomorrow, Thursday, May 2 to ensure delivery will be made before Field Day!
Meridian K-8 Glow Run: Register and pledge today!
Meridian has partnered with Booster to help us raise $35,000. Money raised by K-5 will go to improving our primary outdoor spaces and money raised by 6-8 will go to improvements to the Mays Aux Gym.
Want to help? Register your students and start making pledges/sharing today! Here are tips on how you can help Meridian reach our goal:
- You can pledge per minute run or make a flat donation.
- Does your company match gifts? You can double your donation!
- Share your student’s site with friends and family – this is a great opportunity for out-of-town friends and family to support your student!
Then, it’s time for the fun! May 14, students in grades K-8 get to join in on the Glow Run in the Mays gym to fulfill those pledges! The more funds we have, the more improvements we can make! All students will get to participate regardless of pledges.
Current 10th Grade: Student Parking Lottery
Action required by this Friday, May 3
If you are a rising 11th grader who would like to park on campus next year fill out the application for the Student Parking Lottery. The lottery is for parking spaces that will be assigned to rising juniors for the 24-25 school year. This lottery is open only to students who expect to be licensed, insured, and have a vehicle to drive by August 6 (the day before school starts for Fall 2024). Please complete the form one time per family.
Note: If your student will not be licensed by August 6, please do not complete the lottery application. Instead, you should notify us when your child gets a license and we will let you know if there is parking available.
Please email Wendy Riley if you have any questions about student parking for 24-25.
8th Grade Semi Formal
May 4, 2024 from 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
If not enough tickets are sold, the semi-formal will be canceled.
8th graders are cordially invited to a Starry Night Celebration! This magical evening will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in the Mays Café. Make memories under the stars with dancing, awards, food, friends, a photo booth, and more.
Buy your tickets now on MySchoolBucks for $12. Online sales end at noon Friday, May 3. Each attendee who purchases a ticket on MySchoolBucks is automatically entered into a drawing to win a Chick-Fil-A or Starbucks gift card.
Tickets may be purchased at the door for $20. Contact Mrs. Leaf with questions.
Attention parents/guardians: We need a couple parents to help lead decorations and set up for the dance. If you are interested please email [email protected]. Please sign up to volunteer and/or donate to help make this dance great for our students!
Attention: Current 10th graders and parents/guardians
Please mark your calendars for Tuesday, May 7 from 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. for an informational meeting about the trip and an opportunity to sign up. This meeting will be held online via Google Meet; video call link. A calendar invite has been emailed to families; if you did not receive it please email Stela Holcombe.
Need to raise money for the senior trip? Did you know that you can raise all the money needed for the senior trip through RS3 fundraising? Please read the information about RS3. We will share info about this program at the May 7 meeting.
Questions? Email senior trip coordinator, Jordan Elbers.
Orchestra and Band Spring Concerts
Orchestra Spring ConcertThursday, May 9 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (doors open at 5 p.m.)
Band Spring ConcertThursday, May 10 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (doors open at 5 p.m.)
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.
Additional extracurricular options for 24-25
Check out these opportunities to help you plan for 24-25. Practice dates are now available for these extracurricular activities as well as Fall Competitive Sports. Students who wish to participate in more than one activity should check to make sure the practice dates don’t conflict before registering.
Secondary After School Music (7-8)
- After School Band: Practices Thursdays from 4:15 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. in the Music Room. Students should have a minimum of one full academic year of beginning Band or one full year of ensemble experience. Directed by Cayden Garvey.
- After School Orchestra: Practices Mondays from 4:15 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. in the Music Room. A minimum of one full academic year of beginning Orchestra or one full year of ensemble experience. Directed by Monique Dacheff.
- After School Choir: Practices Fridays from 4:15 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. in the Music Room. No minimum requirements. Appropriate for all levels. Directed by Monique Dacheff.
Registration for these after school music activities opens on the first day of school, August 7, and ends at 9 p.m. on Wednesday, August 14. No late registrations will be accepted. A minimum of 20 participants is needed for each group to form.
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
Upcoming events and dates
May 4: 8th Grade Formal Dance
May 6-10: Staff Appreciation Week
May 10: 9th Grade Social
May 14: 6-8 Glow Run Boosterthon
May 16: Board Meeting
May 17: AB Day
May 17: NHS Field Day
May 17-23: Secondary Book Fair
May 20-23: Secondary end of semester exams
May 20: School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) meeting
May 22: Full day of school no early release
May 23: Last Day of School
May 23: No Triple A or After School 6-12
Check out our online calendar of events for more upcoming dates.
MYP 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)
(middle school and high school are on separate sheets)
Secondary Academic Guide 23-24
On instagram? Follow us at meridianschool_mypcommunity
Important MYP Program contacts
School Nurse
Athletics
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.