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Roary waves during a parade
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Newsletters » DP Lions Share (11–12)

DP Lions Share (11–12)

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Week of April 22, 2026

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Stela

Hello DP Students and Families,

 

I was really sad to miss this year's Arts & Science Fest as I was out of town for a family wedding. I heard that we had strong participation from our secondary students this year–including our DP Design students who were there to share their final products from their Internal Assessments!

 

The Spring Musical, the Wizard of Oz,  opens this Thursday night and runs through Saturday.  Find more info about showtimes below. I hope to see you there!

 

IB examinations begin next week! We wish the seniors well as they embark on three weeks of testing. You can support them by signing up to donate snacks/food for the IB Oasis—a space in high school we keep stocked with snacks for students to grab-and-go before, in between, and after their exams. 

 

Lastly, the DP team is updating Progress Report grades in Skyward by the end of this week. If you have academic concerns about your student, please feel free to reach out the teacher, Mr. Manuszak, Ms. Riley, or me–we are all here and are focused on supporting students as they close out Quarter 4.

 

Students stand next to wooden and electronic builds, including the design process on iPads

DPY2 Design Students: Dariyen S, Lily P, Tati V. and Leah P. 

 

Stela Holcombe

DP Principal

DPnews

Senior Slide Show photos are due this Friday!

Pictures for the Senior Slide Show are due this Friday, April 24.  Please follow these instructions that were previously shared with you via email.  The Senor Slide Show is kind of a big deal as we will show it at the Senior Farewell event (on May 21 at 8:30 a.m. in the Mays Cafe), so I hope you will take some time to select some photos of your graduating senior! If you don't submit any baby/childhood photos, the only photo that will appear for your senior is their yearbook portrait. If your student does not want to be included at all, please let me know.

Graduation Tickets

Graduation tickets will be distributed the week of May 4. If you requested extra tickets above the limit, you will receive two extra tickets, but that is the maximum that any family will be allotted. If you have questions about this please let me know.

Senior Obligations

Must be cleared by Friday, May 8

 

Seniors must clear all obligations (overdue library books, library fines, lunch account balances, etc.) by Friday, May 8 in order to be cleared for graduation.  Some seniors currently owe money for lunch in MySchoolBucks. Please login and clear these obligations asap. This will save Ms. Holcombe the time of having to email families individually.

 

 

Announcements

Facebook Live Volunteer Needed

I am looking for a parent volunteer to do a Facebook Live broadcast on the evening of graduation! We do this every year. It's kinda fun to be on the arena floor in the middle of the action. Graduation is on Friday, May 22 from 6 - 7:30 p.m. If you are available / willing to help, please let me know. You will also be invited to come to graduation practice on that same day so you have an idea of what the ceremony will look like. This volunteer will need to be a member of the Meridian Community Facebook page and have a good cell phone to use for this purpose. Please email Stela Holcombe if you can help!

Sign Up to Donate Snacks for the "IB Oasis"

IB exams begin next week!  You are invited to donate food and/or time for the IB Oasis--a space we set up in the high school for students to grab-and-go snacks before, in between, and during IB exams.  If you have never donated before, now is a good time to chip in! In addition to food donations, we need a parent to volunteer to set up The Oasis space each morning. This is a fun way to get a glimpse of student life during the examination period. Thank you, Michelle Stone (Dariyen's mom), for creating the Sign Up Genius!

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/guardian Skyward account. There is a separate Registration 26-27 tile for each child in your family.

 

Meridian plastic film recycling drive with Ridwell

Ridwell - kids stand with earth

Plastic Bag Drive is next week!

 

It's time for Ridwell’s plastic bag recycling drive! During the drive, if ten families become Ridwell members, Meridian will get free plastic film pick up for a whole year.
 
You can also bring your plastic film/bags to Meridian next week, 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 Begin Next Week

IB Exams begin on April 30. See the 2026 IB 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).

 

 

Spotlight

Wizard of Oz: Spring Musical Opens this Week!

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

  • Thursday through Saturday: April 23, 24, and 25 at 6:30 p.m.
  • A special matinee Saturday, April 25 at 2 p.m.

🎟 Tickets

  • Pre-Sale: $10 Adults | $5 Students (on myschoolbucks)
  • At the Door: $12 Adults | $6 Students
 
Wednesday morning, cast members volunteered in carline and welcomed primary students.
Students dressed up as characters from the Wizard of Oz open car doors

Senior Photo Tradition Continues

Each year, our seniors are invited to take part in a meaningful tradition—gathering together for a group photo while proudly holding the flags that represent their families’ home countries. Although the rain tried to interrupt us on Monday, we were still able to capture a quick photo!

This tradition is far more than just a photograph. It is a celebration of identity, heritage, and belonging. Seeing our students stand side by side, each flag telling a unique story, is a vivid reminder of the rich cultural diversity that defines and strengthens our Meridian community. These annual photos capture not only a single moment in time, but also the pride and global perspective that our seniors carry with them as they prepare to take their next steps beyond Meridian. Gooooo Lions!

Students stand in front of the Welcome wall (with welcome in 7 languages) holding flags
 

Upcoming Events

Senior Prank Night

Tuesday, April 28 from 6-8 p.m.

Senior Prank Night is a fun, optional, school sanctioned activity that students can enjoy under the supervision of Meridian admin. All pranks are pre-approved by administration to make sure that the pranks are creative and fun rather than destructive and/or messy. Students must provide all of their own materials for the pranks.

Senior Trip to Barton Springs Pool

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. Contact Ms. Holcombe by Friday if you have not signed up but want to participate.

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 next to coach outside on a cloudy dayGirls Varsity Soccer advances to the Austin Regional Semifinals this Saturday!

Meridian Athletics (7-12)

Soccer

Girls Varsity advances to the Regional Semifinals! Girls Varsity plays Founders Leander in round 2 of the playoffs Saturday, April 25!  Please note this is a new date and time. Let’s go, Lions!

 

2026-2027 Sports Registration  (current 6-11 / rising 7-12) ends at 9 p.m. Thursday, April 23! 

Registration for Cross Country, Flag Football, Dance Team, and Volleyball ends at 9 p.m. on Thursday, April 23.  There is no late registration available for Dance Team, Flag Football, or Volleyball! Check the status of your registration.

 

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

 

 

Athletics Awards Ceremony - RSVP by April 22!

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

 

Questions about Athletics? Email Meridian Athletics.

 

Clubs & Extracurricular Activities (6-12)

Lettering & Letter Jackets

The 2025-2026 Lettering List is now published! Congratulations to all of the students who lettered in their activity this year!

 

If you expected to letter in an activity this year but didn't, please revisit the lettering requirements and then reach out to your activity coach/sponsor/advisor to inquire, or feel free to email Secondary Enrichment.

 

As IB students, ALL Meridian sophomores, juniors, and seniors can order their letter jacket and “optional patches” during the letter jacket sizing and ordering event! Those who lettered in their activity can order “reserved patches” and an M-letter insert that represent their activity. Ordering a letter jacket is optional. 

 

The Letter Jacket Ordering & Sizing Event is Thursday, April 30 and Friday, May 1 from 1-2:30 p.m. in the Mays Lobby. Parents/guardians are welcome!

 

Letter jacket packets are available to pick-up from the High School office. Or, find the digital brochure and supporting materials at Letter Jackets & Lettering.

 

 

DECA

DECA Nationals (ICDC) is this week! Nine Meridian students will be in Atlanta, Georgia competing in the national DECA competition this Saturday, April 25 through Tuesday, April 28! Good luck, Meridian Lions! 

 

DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) prepares high school for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management.

 

 

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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