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Newsletters » DP Lions Share (11–12)

DP Lions Share (11–12)

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Week of April 15, 2026

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Stela

Hello DP Students and Families,

 

The students made great memories at Prom 2026. Thanks once again to Hannah LeBreton for leading all of the planning for the event and thanks also to the many parents who donated food, supplies, and/or volunteer time to make prom possible! Shout out to Michael Chapel for taking many lovely photos of the students arriving to prom!
 

Our annual DP Fine Arts Night was a great success as well! If you have not seen the DPY2 Visual Arts students' work on display in the Mays Building, I highly recommend you come check it out! It will be up through the Arts & Science Fest.

 

Students stand in blue and white dresses, play outside, and pose in suits

Above: Prom 2026

 

Students on stage wear western wear; a student stands next to paintings of blues, greens and purples

Above: DP Fine Arts Night

 

Seniors will be done with classes in just two weeks on Wednesday, April 29. They must continue attending school everyday through Thursday, May 21 for daily attendance from 9:15-9:30 a.m. (and of course be present otherwise as required for IB examinations). They will be released to go home when their IB exams are over for the day – but they are welcome to stay on campus to attend IB exam review sessions or to study with friends for the next exam. I will send more information about daily procedures and expectations during the IB examination period in the last week of April. If you have questions in the meantime, please let me know!

 

Stela Holcombe

DP Principal

DPnews

Action Required by Sunday: Senior Trip to Barton Springs Pool

Deadline to Sign Up: Sunday, April 19

Trip Date: Friday, May 1 from 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

 

This is an optional "Senior Fun Day" trip that we do every year for the seniors. Parents/guardians must complete the Barton Springs Pool Permission Form by this Sunday, April 19 so we can proceed with trip logistics. The cost is $18 for school bus transportation (invoiced through My School Bucks) and students should bring money/debit card for lunch (we will eat at a food truck park). The trip will be chaperoned by Mr. Manuszak, me, Ms. Kress, and at least one or two teachers.

Annual Senior Breakfast

Friday, April 17 from 7:30-8:15 a.m. in the High School Cafeteria


The Senior Breakfast is an annual tradition where we provide a nice breakfast for the seniors in their last quarter of high school. This event is being led by parent volunteer Lori Murphy. It looks like virtually all needs have been met on the sign up!

 

 

Announcements

Help us celebrate our amazing staff!

colorful paper with thank you in langaugesPlease take a moment to write a kind message to a staff member. Your message will be shared with them during Staff Appreciation Week. See the form and details.

Returning Student Registration: Required by Thursday, April 30

colorful paper with thank you in langaugesIt’s time to complete returning student registrations for each student! Log into your parent/guardianSkyward account. There is a separate Registration 26-27 tile for each child in your family.

Spring Picture Day is April 21

Girl in burgundy smiles with a pastel backgroundAll K-12 students are invited to wear casual or dressy spring attire for Spring Picture Day, scheduled for Tuesday, April 21 with Lifetouch.  All juniors will take a photo, but this photo day is optional for seniors. Parents/guardians please tell your senior to report to a camera on this date if you want them to take a photo!

 

Please note three important updates:

  • If ordering with physical form: New Policy – LifeTouch will not accept any paper forms or payments after the photograph is taken. If you use the physical form, make sure your child knows to bring it with them to hand directly to the photographer. 
  • If ordering online: make sure you choose the right year (25-26 Spring Pictures). If it doesn’t populate for your student, try using the code instead.

 

There are three ways to order photos:

  • Online pre-order – log into your LifeTouch account or use code EVTBRQKP2. (Secondary only. See primary grade code in PYP Pride). Pre-orders close on April 20. The photo packages will be sent to the school for distribution.
  • In person – Complete the physical form, which should be going home with students next week, and have your student hand it in to the photographer. The photo packages will be sent to the school for distribution.
  • Post-proofs online –log into LifeTouch using the information provided on the proof, which will arrive a few weeks following the picture day. Pictures will be mailed directly to you.

The photos will be available for purchase -- the school does not use these photos in the yearbook. Families always retain the option to opt out of vendor-provided school photography if they choose. Please fill out this form if you do not wish for your child to be photographed during the spring picture day. Otherwise, no action is required.

Meridian plastic film recycling drive with Ridwell

Ridwell - kids stand with earth

Plastic Bag Drive runs through April 30!

 

Do you have plastic bags saved up to recycle but don’t know what to do with them? Meridian School has joined Ridwell’s plastic bag recycling drive for schools! During the drive, if ten families become Ridwell members, Meridian will get free plastic film pick up for a whole year!
 
Start saving bags now and bring them to Meridian on one of the following days:
  • During Arts & Science FestApril 18 (Mays Lobby)
  • Between April 27-30(Any Lobby)

Cafeteria Balances

A reminder: Please clear any meal balances owed to the Cafeteria (check MySchoolBucks) before the end of the school year. Any remaining funds will carry over to the next year.

Academics

Senior IB Exams, Q4 Deadline

IB Exams begin on April 30. See the 2026IB exam schedule. IB exams cannot be rescheduled. You will not want to plan travel or make doctor appointments on examination days.


The deadline to submit work for Quarter 4 is Friday, May 1 (at teacher discretion).

Juniors: Upcoming EE Checkpoint

Checkpoint coming April 22

 

The next round of Extended Essay checkpoint meetings for juniors is one week from today, Wednesday, April 22, after school. A schedule will be shared with the students soon. It is very important for juniors to stay on track with their Extended Essay task. They will write the full draft of the paper over the summer.

 

 

Spotlight

Arts & Science Fest: Rain or Shine

Exhibitors are still rolling in for another dynamic Arts & Science Fest! Check out the list.

 

Rain or shine, 

  • Explore CSI, geology, space science, AI, and more
  • Enjoy hands-on science and art experiments
  • Hear Round Rock Drums and 5th Grade French class
  • Experience a mobile planetarium sponsored by ThermoFisher Scientific!
  • Watch a mobile printing press and color in your freshly-printed T shirt or bag! 

Get planetarium tickets in advance and save time in line! These always sell out.
 
 
Families play with science experiments and view art
 

Upcoming Events

Wizard of Oz: Spring Musical

🌈 Follow the Yellow Brick Road to Meridian’s Musical Production of The Wizard of Oz! There’s no place like our stage! Join us somewhere over the rainbow for a magical evening as our talented students present the beloved musical, The Wizard of Oz. 

 

✨Performances

  • April 23, 24, and 25 at 6:30 p.m., with a matinee April 25 at 2 p.m. 

🎟 Tickets

  • Pre-Sale: $10 Adults | $5 Students (on myschoolbucks)
  • At the Door: $12 Adults | $6 Students

DP Student Awards Ceremony

Tuesday, May 5 from 6-7:30 p.m. in the Mays Gym

A notifying email will go out to juniors and seniors receiving an award (and their parents/guardians) by Saturday, May 2 at 10 p.m. Students who are not receiving an award this year are invited to come cheer on their friends!

Senior Farewell Event / Senior Wave Out

Thursday, May 21 from 8:30-10 a.m. 

If you have not yet done so already, everyone please mark your calendars for this special event! I hope you are working on submitting photos for the Senior Slideshow! I will share more specific information about this event in next week's newsletter.

enrichment

 

Girls Varsity Soccer players stand in red uniforms and black shorts stand holding iridescent soccer balls Girls Varsity Soccer plays in Round 1 of the playoffs on Wednesday, April 15!

Meridian Athletics (7-12)

Soccer

Girls Varsity advances to the playoffs! Girls Varsity plays IDEA Montopolis in round 1 of the playoffs Wednesday, April 15 at 6 p.m. at Onion Creek Soccer Complex. Let’s go, Lions!

 

Now open! 2026-2027 Sports Registration  (current 6-11 / rising 7-12)

Registration for Cross Country, Flag Football, Dance Team, and Volleyball is now open and ends at 9 p.m. on Thursday, April 23. 

Physical forms for Flag Football, Dance Team, and Volleyball are due April 23. 

Check the status of your registration.

 

 

Athletics Awards Ceremony

All students who participated in Meridian competitive sports this school year are invited to attend the Athletics Awards Ceremony in the Mays Gym on Monday, April 27 at 5:30 p.m. Student athletes are encouraged to dress up for this event and are welcome to invite their parents/guardians to join them. RSVP by April 22.

 

Dance Team

Fierce Dance Team has cancelled the team’s performance at the Arts & Science Fest. 

 

Athletics Newsletter / Athletics Calendar / 2026-2027 Sports Registration

 

Questions about Athletics? Email Meridian Athletics.

 

Clubs & Extracurricular Activities (6-12)

Lettering & Letter Jackets

High school students who participate in their competitive, performance, or leadership extracurricular or co-curricular activity at the highest level could letter in their activity this year if all lettering requirements are met.  Students who letter are eligible to purchase a Meridian letter jacket and/or jacket sleeve patch representing their activity. The list of students who have lettered in 2025-2026 will be  published on the Lettering Jackets & Lettering web page on April 22. Letter jackets can be ordered on campus on Thursday, April 30 and Friday, May 1. As IB students, all sophomores, juniors, and seniors can order a letter jacket at this event. Please note that most letter jacket patches are reserved for those who letter in that activity. Letter Jackets & Lettering

 

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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