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Newsletters » DP Lions Share (11–12)

DP Lions Share (11–12)

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Week of April 8, 2026

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Stela

Hello DP Students and Families,

 

I can't believe we are now in the month of April with just seven weeks left in the school year.


We had a great time at the Senior Lock-In!  The seniors enjoyed playing soccer on the new turf and they played volleyball and Pictionary and made S'mores and just had a great time chilling out. Thank you to all the parents who supported this event!

Students roast marshmallows on a fire outside; stand in the Mays lobby

I hope to see many of you this Friday for our annual DP Fine Arts Night! Every senior artist has curated their own space in the Mays Building for the DP Art Exhibition event from 5-7 p.m.  Come see the incredible artwork that they have created over the last two years! After the art show, join us in the black box theater from 7-8:30 p.m. for the seniors' DP Theater Collaborative Project Performance. This will be an inspiring evening as we celebrate the talent and creativity of our senior artists and theater students—you won’t want to miss this special showcase of their incredible work!


We are looking forward to prom this weekend! We have enough parent volunteers signed up, but if you want to jump in to help with set up or clean up, please see the prom sign up for the details. 


The Senior Breakfast is coming up next week! This is an annual tradition where we provide a nice breakfast for the seniors in their last quarter of high school.  Parents/guardians are asked to senior breakfast sign up to  provide donations and volunteer support.

 

Stela Holcombe

DP Principal

DPnews

Assistant Principal Appreciation Week

Ms. Riley holding her dog, Lovey, up next to her room plateIt’s Assistant Principal Appreciation Week, and we want to thank Wendy Riley! Not only does she support our 11th and 12th graders on a daily basis, but she has taken on leadership of our math program K-12, helping to create a strong continuum. She is integral to our Meridian community (and we love seeing Lovey around campus, too!).  We will be showing her some extra love and appreciation this week.

DP Principal's Coffee April 7

Check out the slides from Monday’s DP Principal’s Coffee.  If you have any questions, please reach out!

DPY2 Fine Arts Night at Meridian

Friday, April 10, 2026

DP Fine Arts Night: students stand on stage, botanical sculpture from clayVisual Arts Exhibition, 5 - 7 p.m.

The Mays Building will be transformed into an art exhibition space! This culminating senior project aims to showcase the best work of Meridian’s DP Visual Arts students. The students enrolled in DP Visual Arts spend their junior and senior years creating artworks and preparing for this special show. Please join us!

Collaborative Theatre Project Performance, 7 - 8:30 p.m.

Our DP Theatre Seniors will present two original works of theater for their Collaborative Project. The show is Friday, April 10 at 7 p.m. in the black box immediately following the Visual Arts Exhibition. Admission is free. We invite audiences willing to take part in a talkback after the pieces are over to share valuable feedback. We encourage all theater lovers to attend in support of our DP theatre seniors!

 

 

 

Announcements

Call for Topic Experts: 5th Grade Exhibition

5th Grade Exhibition: colorful hands with dialogue and speech bubblesExhibition is the culminating experience of the Primary Years Program. Each year, our students work collaboratively to explore an issue or opportunity of personal significance within a broad concept.

 

We especially love to connect them with people who are closely tied to the topics – either living them out through a career or hobby. Please view this year’s topics and sign up if you are able to provide expert knowledge. 

Spring Picture Day is April 21

A close up of a student with braids and a maroon sweaterAll K-12 students are invited to wear casual or dressy spring attire for Spring Picture Day, scheduled for Tuesday, April 21 with Lifetouch. Students will not need to wear uniforms on this day, although clothing should be school-appropriate. There's no need to sign up in advance this year.

 

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.

Chicken eggs available for $4/dozen

Friends of Meridian has shared that the chickens are busy laying eggs, and they’re available for purchase for a discounted $4 per dozen! Proceeds go back to support the coop. Fill out the egg purchase form today. 

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 Fest April 18 (Mays Lobby)
  • Between April 27-30 (Any Lobby)
 

Academics

Senior schedule

The last day of classes for seniors is Wednesday, April 29. However, please note that all seniors will continue reporting to school by 9:15 a.m. daily (or earlier if they have an IB exam) and they will be released after the daily attendance is taken at 9:30 a.m.  

 

IB Exams begin on April 30. See the 2026 IB exam schedule. If your student is taking IB exams, it's important for you to know that they cannot be rescheduled. You will not want to plan travel or make doctor appointments on examination days. If you have an older student graduating from college in May 2026 (or another big family event), please share those dates with me asap so we can see if there is a potential schedule conflict. 


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

STAAR Testing Schedule – 11th Grade

Students in 11th grade have one STAAR exam: the EOC (End of Course) exam for US History on Wednesday, April 15. Students should get plenty of sleep the night before and eat a healthy breakfast that morning. See STAAR page.

What does "NG" mean in Skyward?

If a student has any marks below 50 in Skyward (such as a 0 for missing work), the course grade shows as “NG.” This means that your student is failing the course and immediate action is needed. Ideally, the parent/guardian would talk with the student about what is going on and then the student would take needed action. However, parents/guardians are welcome to email the teacher directly if needed to inquire about their student's performance in the class. If you have questions about how you see grades in Skyward, please contact Wendy Riley.

 

 

Spotlight

Staff members honored for 5, 10, and 15 years of service

Staff and faculty stand on risers in the library

Last week, Meridian administration honored 31 staff members who are celebrating 5, 10, and 15 year anniversaries with the school.
 
This year, DP English teacher Russell Baker celebrates 5 years, and DP Theater teacher Amy Crowl celebrates 10 years! We are so lucky to have these passionate, talented instructors on our campus.
 

Upcoming Events

Annual Senior Breakfast

Friday, April 17 from 7:30-8:15 a.m.

 

The Senior Breakfast is an annual tradition where we provide a nice breakfast for seniors in their last quarter of high school. This event is being led by parent volunteer Michelle Stone.  Parents/guardians: see how you can donate and volunteer.

ViP Social at the PYP Playground

Social April 12 from 3-5 PMSunday, April 12 from 3-5 p.m.

 

ViP hosts their next social for the whole family at the Primary School playground, with snacks and drinks provided! Bring a chair and please RSVP to help them plan. 

 

Arts & Science Fest

Saturday, April 18, 2026

2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

 

Arts & Science Fest It's time for our 4th annual Arts & Science Fest! Enjoy live performances, interactive demos, a mobile planetarium, and exhibits from more than 30 school and community STEAM partners! Discover rockets with Longhorn Rocketry Association and Meridian Aerospace Club. Play with City of Round Rock Park Rangers. Enjoy a whole wing of hands-on science fun with Austin Community College!

 

⏰ Score a free T shirt if you sign up to volunteer by April 2! ⏰ If you’re not sure if you’re really needed at big events like this, consider this your invitation! We still need at least ten volunteers to make this event a success!

 

Thank you to our sponsors, ThermoFisher Scientific, Blick Art Materials, Handzies, and A+ Federal Credit Union!

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 (coming soon on myschoolbucks)
  • At the Door: $12 Adults | $6 Students
enrichment

 

Students stand behind a table with an orange H Logo, soccer ball, and orange balloonsSigning Day was April 2! Congratulations to Daniel H. who signed with Heidelberg University to play soccer!

Meridian Athletics (7-12)

occer

Girls Varsity advances to the playoffs! HCAL area playoffs begin April 15. Please watch the 2026 Soccer Game Schedule for updates.

 

 

Dance Team

The Dance Team is hosting a Spring Dance Camp for Meridian Lions in kindergarten through 5th grade on Saturday, April 11. Both the Dance Camp participants and Fierce Dance Team will perform at the 2026 Arts & Science Fest on April 18!

 

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

Registration for Cross Country, Flag Football, Dance Team, and Volleyball opens Wednesday, April 15 and ends at 9 p.m. on Thursday, April 23.

 

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

 

 

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.

 

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

 

Questions about Athletics? Email Meridian Athletics.

 

Clubs & Extracurricular Activities (6-12)

After School Band and Orchestra

New Spring Concert date and times! 

The Spring Concert has been rescheduled to Saturday, May 16. There are also new performance times:

1 p.m.  – Band Concert
3 p.m. – Orchestra Concert 

2026-2027 After School Band & Orchestra (Subject to changes before school starts)

  • Open to 7th-12th grade intermediate musicians next year!
  • Student musicians must meet prerequisites to participate.
  • Registration opens Wednesday, August 12 (first day of school).
  • Registration ends Thursday, August 20 at 9 p.m. No late registrations accepted.
  • Rehearsals start the week of August 31.

 

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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