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Students walk in the Homecoming Parade for Cross Country, holding up a red sign with "We Are Lions XC"
A student practices the flute as they set up for a band performance during Founders Day
Primary students paint on white paper
Students run across a field, the one on the left holding a football (from a recent Flag Football game).
Enjoying the annual World Parade
Students play guitars in music class
Newsletters » DP Lions Share (11–12)

DP Lions Share (11–12)

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Week of February 4, 2026

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Stela

Hello DP Students and Families,

 

Hello February! There is a lot happening this month. HOSA and DECA have trips coming up soon, and the EE Juniors are going to the UT libraries to do research. 

 

Parents of seniors, it's very important that you order graduation regalia by this Friday, February 6, so that it arrives by early May. You can order online or visit the Herff Jones store in person (located at 202 Laurel Drive in Round Rock).

 

Thanks to those who joined us for the DP Principal Coffee on Monday. The slides are shared below. 

 

Stela Holcombe

DP Principal

DPnews

Principals Coffee Slides

Thanks to those who joined us for the last DP Principal Coffee. You can review the slides to get the latest updates!

Graduation Regalia/Announcements Orders due Friday!

Representatives from Herff Jones were on campus this week to take orders for graduation regalia, graduation announcements, and class rings.  Please note that all orders need to be placed by the end of this week–Friday, February 6 to ensure prompt delivery in early May.  Orders are no longer being collected at Meridian. Please place your order online or at the Herff Jones store in Round Rock located at 202 Laurel Dr, Round Rock, TX 78664. Phone: (512) 243-7901.

 

Attention Seniors: Senior Trip Mandatory Pre-Departure Meeting is next week!

Tuesday, February 10 from 6-7 p.m.

 

If your senior is signed up to attend the Senior Trip over Spring Break to Scotland and Ireland, plan to join us for a required, in-person meeting next week on Tuesday, February 10 in the High School Cafeteria. Every student and at least one parent/guardian must be present.

 

Please bring the following items with you: 

  • $100 cash or check payable to "Meridian School" for tips. This is required of all travelers. Senior trip chaperones will  pay tips and collect payment receipts from the service providers; students will not handle these funds.
  • Student’s Driver License, Driving Permit, or Texas ID
  • Student's Medical Insurance Card
  • Student's Passport - PLEASE HAVE YOUR STUDENT SIGN THEIR PASSPORT BEFORE THE MEETING

We will make color copies of the last three items – please bring them to the meeting if you have not already brought them to our office in advance of the meeting.

Deadlines pending for World Parade, Festival of Cultures

A teacher gets a sample of gumbo from a student at a cultural boothDuring International Week, Meridian World School celebrates our global community, heritage, and history! Each year, families miss these opportunities because they forget to sign up.

 

Here are two ways you can participate (and upcoming deadlines):

 

K-12 Students can walk in the World Parade on March 6!  
  • Parade sign up
  • ⏰ Please check today if you’re interested to make sure your country is listed. If your country is not on the list, sign up before Wednesday, Feb. 11 so that we can order a flag
  • ⏰ If your country is on the list, you have until Wednesday, Feb. 25
 
Families: volunteer at the Festival of Cultures or host a country booth!
  • We have 20 countries represented -- we'd love to see another 20! You make the festival.
  • Booth sign up
  • ⏰ Sign up by Wednesday, Feb. 25.


Announcements

$2 Free Dress Day

Thursday, February 5

$2 Free Dress DayThursday, students may come to school in regular clothing (not in uniform) when they bring in $2! To participate, they can buy wristbands in the lobbies before school. Wristbands must be worn Thursday. No costumes. Clothing choice must be appropriate for school.

 
Additional $2 Free Dress Days will be March 5, April 2, and May 7. Proceeds support our 8th Grade class trip to Camp Olympia!

 

Meridian named 2025 Honor Roll Recipient

We’re proud to be named a 2025 Honor Roll district recognizing schools in Texas with high performance in math and English. The award was given by Educational Results Partnership, a data science organization. Sponsored by the Campaign for Business and Education Excellence, the ERP Honor Roll establishes a high bar of performance using student assessment data and is a valuable resource for all districts to identify successful peers and learn about best practices that improve student success. Results are based on data of student outcomes on the STAAR (State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness), for the 2023-2025 academic years. For more info on the ERP Honor Roll program.

Just 14.5% of eligible school districts received this recognition in 2025. Meridian World School is the only district in Williamson County to receive the honor. Way to go, Lions!

 

Academics

Have you signed up? Junior one-on-one conferences with Kathy Gregg

Each year at this time, Mrs. Gregg offers an individual conference with each junior to discuss plans for after high school and the college application process. Parents/guardians are invited to attend this meeting with their student, in person or via Zoom. Please schedule the meeting during study hall or during a class when the student can most afford to miss about 30 minutes of instructional time. Conferences are available through March 11.  Reserve your meeting time today! 

Attention Juniors: Course Selection for 2026-2027

Attention Juniors: It's time to begin planning for your SENIOR year! Mr. Manuszak visited with the juniors in their US History class to guide them in the completion of their 12th grade course selection form. Students will continue their two-year IB Diploma Program courses, but there are decisions to make in regards to taking an elective vs. taking a study hall. Please note that the choices students make are not final!

 

Spotlight

Counselor Appreciation Week

We celebrate our Counselors this week! A huge thank you to Mr. Manuszak, Mr. Tate, and Mrs. Gregg! You give your all each week in support of our students’ academic and mental health. We appreciate you!

Our amazing DP Counselors, Nathan Tate, Nick Manuszak, and Kathy Gregg smile at the camera



Upcoming Events

ESL Parent/Guardian Night Tonight

Wednesday, Feb. 4 from 7 - 8 p.m.

 

Parents and guardians of students in the Emerging Bilingual program received an email from Mr. Reyes, PYP Assistant Principal, with a Zoom link to today’s ESL Parent/Guardian Night. The purpose of the School's ESL program is to support Emergent Bilingual students in their linguistic and academic performance. During this event, we'll share how the school accomplishes these purposes and how families can partner with us. If you have questions, please reach out to Mr. Reyes (K-5) or Mr. Verleye (6-12). 

Capitol Performance by Meridian band and choir

Monday, February 16 at noon

Meridian’s band, jazz band, and choir will perform at the Texas Capitol in the rotunda at noon on Presidents Day, Monday, Feb. 16!

Extended Essay (EE) Research Trip to UT Austin

Tuesday, February 17

We are taking our EE juniors on a field trip to do research for the Extended Essays at the UT libraries on Tuesday, February 17. Each student/family is asked to pay $10 to help cover half the cost of transportation. More info to come in next week's newsletter.

Black History Month Jamboree & Dress Day

Jamboree Feb. 12 5-7 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 12, The Meridian Black Student Union presents their second annual Black History Month Jamboree: Celebrating Black Culture! Open to all Meridian families (grades 8-12 can attend without a guardian, but we highly encourage parent/guardian attendance). Enjoy talent acts, visual arts, a fashion show, Black history speeches, and snacks.

 

During the school day on Thursday, February 12, all students and staff are invited to dress in celebration of Black History Month and the Jamboree!

 

Options include:

  • 'Celebrate Black Culture' spirit wear 
  • Black history/culture themed T shirt
  • Colors (red, black, yellow, green)
  • Do you have roots in African culture? Wear your traditional African attire!
 
enrichment

Congratulations, Girls Middle School Basketball! Area Champions and Regionals Bound on Saturday! Photo by Stacy Wilson.

Meridian Athletics (7-12)

 

Basketball

Girls Middle School Basketball advances to the Regional Championship!

Saturday, February 7 - Please watch the Athletics Calendar for the tip-off time, opponent, and admissions information. Let’s go, Lions Hoops!

 

Congratulations to Boys Varsity Basketball – Division Champ and Area Runner-Up!

 

Dance Team

Meridian’s Fierce Dance Team participated in their first competition of the season on Saturday, January 31. The team earned first place awards for all five ensembles entered in the Cedar Park High School competition! 

 

Saturday, February 7 - Leander Winter Dance Classic! Fierce Dance Team performs in the second competition of the season at Leander High School this Saturday! Break a leg, Fierce Dance Team!

 

Tennis

Three matches this week!

Wednesday, February 4 - Varsity Tennis plays at Liberty Hill High School

Thursday, February 5 - Middle School Tennis hosts Brentwood Christian Academy at home

Monday, February 9 - Varsity Tennis challenges Great Hills at Cedar Park High School

Roar, Lions, Roar!

 

Soccer

Home Games this week!

Wednesday, February 4 - Coed MS and Boys JV at McMaster Field

Friday, February 6 - Meridian Friday Night Lights! Boys Varsity plays KIPP Paseo at Robin Bledsoe

Saturday, February 7 - Boys JV and Coed MS at McMaster Field

Let’s go, Lions!

 

Free Heart Screening

Saturday, February 7 - High school student athletes can register for free heart screening at Dell Children’s.

 

Get ready for 2026-2027 Sports! (current 6-11 / rising 7-12)

New! Flag Football and Volleyball tryouts will be held in May! Dance Team tryouts will be in April!

Registration for Competitive Cross Country, Competitive Dance Team, Competitive Flag Football, and Competitive Volleyball opens Wednesday, April 15 and ends at 9 p.m. on Thursday, April 23. The only competitive sport with a late registration will be Cross Country because Cross Country’s tryouts will be shortly after school resumes in August. The following is a snapshot of each Fall Competitive Sport. Dates remain subject to change.

 

Competitive Dance Team (current 6-11 / rising 7-12)

Registration: April 15 through 9 p.m. on April 23. No late registration available.

Physical Forms: Due April 23.

Mandatory Pre-Tryout Clinics: April 27, 28, 29.

Mandatory Tryouts: Thursday, April 30.

 

Competitive Flag Football (current 6-11 / rising 7-12)

Registration: April 15 through 9 p.m. on April 23. No late registration available.

Physical Forms: Due April 23.

Mandatory Tryouts: Friday, May 15 after school and Saturday, May 16

 

Competitive Volleyball (Girls Volleyball = current 6-11 / rising 7-12; Boys Volleyball = current 7-11 / rising 8-12)

Registration: April 15 through 9 p.m. on April 23. No late registration available.

Physical Forms: Due April 23.

Mandatory Tryouts: Wednesday, May 13 and Thursday, May 14 after school.

 

Competitive Cross Country (current 6-11 / rising 7-12)

Regular Registration ($52.30): April 15 through 9 p.m. on April 23. 

Late Registration ($104.60):  July 22 through 9 p.m. on July 30. This is the only sport with a late registration.

Physical Forms: Due August 1.

Mandatory Tryouts: Saturday, August 15.

 

2026-2027 Sports Registration (Subject to change) / Athletics Newsletter / Athletics Calendar 

 

Questions about Athletics? Email Meridian Athletics.

 

Clubs & Extracurricular Activities (6-12)

Model UN

SICMUN - An impressive 101  Meridian Model UN members in grades 6-12 are participating in the SICMUN conference at Southwestern University this Saturday, February 7! Good luck to Meridian Model UN!

 

2025-2026 Clubs List / Clubs & Extracurriculars / Enrichment & Extracurricular Calendar

Questions about Secondary Clubs? Email Secondary Enrichment

Important DP Program Contacts

DP Principal, Stela Holcombe
DP Assistant Principal, Wendy Riley
DP Coordinator, Charles Ryder
 
Secondary Librarian and EE Coordinator, Renée Ramirez
Counselor for Grades 10-12, Nick Manuszak
College and Career Counselor, Kathy Gregg
HS Campus Coordinator, Jessica Kress
Receptionist / Attendance Clerk, Tiffany Burnham
Report absences on Skyward
 

Director of Special Education, Susan Mais

LSSP/Assistant Director of Special Education, Jennifer Kuester

ARD Coordinator, Anna Brown

504 Coordinator, Dottie Elliott

 
Registrar, Pamela Marmarinos

Dean of School Culture, Monique Swain

Child Nutrition Director, Kaylee Torres
Meal Program Application/Café Questions
Skyward Questions
Athletics
Secondary Enrichment
 

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