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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 25, 2026

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Stela

Hello DP Students and Families,

 

Over the last two weeks, I have had the opportunity to speak to juniors and seniors about our refocus on Academic Integrity in the IB Diploma Program. Our vision is:

 

"The IB Diploma Programme community at Meridian World School is committed to cultivating a strong culture of academic integrity. Students will act as principled learners in the creation and submission of authentic work, and faculty, staff, and administration will implement consistent practices that uphold and reinforce a culture of academic integrity for all."

 

While we know that most of our students consistently demonstrate academic integrity, we see value in pausing to intentionally refocus our attention on this shared responsibility. I invite you to review the presentation and let me know if you have any questions or concerns.  

 

This Friday-Saturday is the annual Junior Lock-In. Thanks to Meenal McNary for rallying parent support for chaperone duties so that this event can proceed for the students!  See below for more info.

 

Next week, the juniors will take the ACT and seniors start Individual Oral Exams – see below for details.

 

Lastly, I'd like to congratulate the amazing team of 31 Meridian students who represented Meridian at DECA State this past weekend!  I will accompany eight students to DECA ICDC (national conference) in April. Atlanta, here we come!

 

TX DECA

Thank you for your continued support!

 

Stela Holcombe

DP Principal

DPnews

Junior Lock In this weekend

February 27-28 from 7 p.m. - 7 a.m.

This beloved tradition is an optional overnight event at Meridian in the Mays building and gym. Students enjoy food, games, midnight on the playground, all-night open gym time, and more. The event is chaperoned by Ms. Riley, Ms. Holcombe, and brave parent volunteers.

 

What to do now

Students

  • Make arrangements to get off of work so you can enjoy this event with your peers.
  • Fill out and turn in this permission form by 4:30 p.m. on Feb 27. Attach $5 for pizza dinner (optional).

Parents/Guardians 

Support the lock in by donating breakfast items and/or to serve as a chaperone. The event is not possible unless we have sufficient parent help!

Next week: Individual Oral Exams for Seniors

Next week, Seniors begin their individual oral examinations in DP Spanish (with Profe D) and DP French (with Madame Ryder).  

Please urge your student not to be absent on their scheduled exam day. Avoiding school to postpone the test causes more stress for the student and the teacher. Good luck to the students–we know they are well prepared!

Class of 2027 quarter zip spirit wear on sale now

Grey quarter zip sweatshirt with blue star and Class of 27

Class of 2027!  Wear your class spirit and order a limited edition embroidered Quarter Zip Class of 2027 jacket.

 

This approved spirit wear jacket can be worn all week over your polo shirt. Available to Class of 2027 students, their families and Meridian staff.

Announcements

Upcoming Free Dress Days

Friday, March 6: World Parade Cultural Dress

Tuesday, March 10: $2 Free Dress Fundraiser 

Fundraising Opportunity: Water for Africa

Three sets of legs with colorful socks5th grade students are excited to launch a meaningful fundraising campaign to help provide clean drinking water to communities in Africa. Through We Help Two, we are selling fun & comfy socks to raise funds for a clean water well project.
 
Every pair purchased brings us one step closer to making a real difference. Join us in turning something simple — like socks — into a life-changing impact!
We Help Two
 
What: Fundraiser for Water for Africa
When: February 25-March 11
To purchase: Use this link!

Amplify Austin

March 4-5

 

Amplify Austin: I Live Here I Give HereMeridian World School is taking part in Amplify Austin this year! It’s Central Texas’ biggest giving day of the year, and it’s an easy way for you to share support of Meridian with friends, family members, and colleagues.

 

What we’re asking: Please share our giving link on your social media channels, as well as to friends and family members.  It’s an easy low stakes way for our community to donate to the school. 

 

Make it extra special by sharing a story about what Meridian has meant to you and your family on social media or share with us at [email protected] and we will feature it on our Amplify Austin page

 

Our goal is to raise $2,000 in community support through March 5, and we need your help spreading the word! 

Board applications due March 2

Paper with "School Board Applications" written across itMeridian has three upcoming openings for our Board of Directors: Should you know someone who you would recommend as a community member, send them the packet above or contact the Board! If you’d like to serve as a parent, please submit a completed parent application to the Board. Applications are due by the end of day Monday, March 2.

Last chance: 2026-2027 admissions

If a currently enrolled student's sibling will be new to Meridian in the 2026-2027 school year (in grades K-9), please fill out an application for the sibling before February 28. Siblings only receive priority in the lottery if you apply before the deadline.

Academics

Juniors: ACT testing next week (March 3)

Juniors will take the official ACT exam on Tuesday, March 3. No action is needed from parents. The school handles registration and payment for this college entrance exam. Students have received an email with testing day details – including testing location, calculators, etc. Questions? Reach out to our testing coordinator, Paige Bender. 

Juniors: one-on-one conferences with Kathy Gregg

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! 

Juniors: Course Selection for 2026-2027

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. The choices students make are not final.

 

Spotlight

Biology and Chemistry Connection

Our Junior Diploma Program Biology students enjoyed a chemistry demonstration to show the respiration reaction in action! (The Royal Society of Chemistry's Screaming Jelly Babies experiment!)

 

By heating up and melting a precisely measured amount of potassium chlorate and then dropping the jelly baby candy into the pyrex boiling tube, you get a burst of flames and a nice caramel smell.

 

It's a reaction between the sugar and oxygen (made readily available by the potassium chlorate!).

Students kneel by a burner and test tube outside; students show jelly baby candies; students watch a large orange flame behind safety glass

 

Upcoming Events

DP Year One Theatre: The Government Inspector

Thursday, February 26 at 6 p.m. in the Black Box Theatre

 

Two hands hold a dollar bill. Play by Jason Lemire, based on 'The Inspector General' by Nicolai GogolYou’re invited to a free showing of The Government Inspector, featuring DP Year One students! 

 

The synopsis: 

When a mysterious stranger arrives in a small village, the lives of the corrupt townsfolk are thrown into disarray in this raucous retelling of the classic Russian farce. While the stranger is actually the spoiled heiress who has run off with a satchel full of money, the mayor and his cronies mistake her for a government inspector, and quickly set about trying to curry her favor. The results are predictably disastrous.

Friends of Meridian's Celebration of Flavors: this Friday!

Friday, February 27 at 6 p.m.

Georgetown Community Center

Friends of Meridian presents their 5th Annual International Celebration of Flavors: Sips, Samples & Silent Auction—an evening of global bites, drinks, and community fun! This will be an age 21+ kick-off for International Week hosted by the Friends of Meridian! Friends of Meridian Celebration of Flavors: Feb. 27 in Georgetown. Tickets on sale now!

World Parade + Photo

Friday, March 6

 

No entry or early dismissal between 1:30 - 3:15 p.m.

The parking lot will be closed between 1:30 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. for the parade and photo. If you need to pick up your student early on March 6, please arrive before 1:25 p.m.

 

Parade

Students may walk in this beloved annual parade under a country of their heritage/choice. A reminder: sign up by Feb. 25; no late submissions will be accepted this year.

 

All of Meridian's students and staff stand in front of the Mays buildingAll School Photo

Following the World Parade, we will gather students, faculty, & staff for an all-school photo! This is a tradition once every five years, and this year, we celebrate 15 years at Meridian. Students not in cultural wear are encouraged to wear their red polo shirt or red spirit wear.

Festival of Cultures + Holi Celebration

Saturday, March 7 from 2-5 p.m. Holi Celebration starts at 5:15.


Explore family- and student club- led country and culture booths in this 9th annual Festival of Cultures! Learn about countries, sample food, try games and make crafts! Enjoy Primary Student Performances, the Black Culture Choir, and the Texas Dragon/Lion Dance Team. Celebrate your family’s culture and heritage with a country booth, or volunteer. 

students celebrate their cultures through food samples, singing, and flags

 

enrichment

Tennis Senior Night was Thursday, February 19 at Cimarron Hills Tennis Center. Congratulations to the seniors in the Meridian Tennis program: Gavin H., LaMark C., Dru C., Leah P., Isaac L.  Photo by Rachel Phillips.

 

Meridian Athletics (7-12)

 

Dance Team

Final competition of the season! 

Saturday, February 28 - Vista Ridge Dance Championship!

Dance Team Competition Schedule & Results

 

 

Soccer

Upcoming Home Games

Wednesday, March 4 - Coed MS and Boys JV host Cedars International!

Soccer Game Schedule & Results

 

Black long sleeved shirt with red "Meridian Soccer" on front with soccer ball. Back has lion logo

Order Soccer Spirit Wear by 9 p.m. Wednesday, February 25!

This optional long-sleeved black sweatshirt is available to order until  9 p.m. on Wednesday, February 25! This shirt is approved spirit wear and can be worn to school on Fridays. No extras will be ordered. Learn more and find the link to order. 

 

2026 Adults vs. Students Soccer Games!

Open to all adults in the Meridian community, sign up to play our Meridian Soccer teams in this annual tradition on Friday, March 27. Learn more and sign up for the game.

 

 

Tennis

Last matches of the season!

Tuesday, March 3 - Middle School vs. Forbes MS

Saturday, March 7 -TCSAAL State Tennis Tournament

Tennis Match Schedule / Tennis Match Results

 

 

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

 

Questions about Athletics? Email Meridian Athletics.



Clubs & Extracurricular Activities (6-12)

 

Speech & Debate Club (9-12)

NSDA Qualifier - Two Meridian students advance to the NSDA Qualifier on Friday, February 27 and Saturday, February 28 in Austin! Good luck to Aarin S. and Anish S.!

 

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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