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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 » MYP Mane (6–10)

MYP Mane (6–10)

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Week of February 25, 2026

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Melissa Reese

Families,

 

We have received recent reports of inappropriate student interactions occurring on Discord outside of school hours, including unkind comments, inappropriate content, and threatening language. While students cannot access Discord at school and we do not have access to private online platforms, these situations can carry over into the school day and affect student relationships and learning.

 

We encourage families to monitor their child’s online activity and have open conversations about respectful digital communication and responsible decision-making. In situations where online behavior impacts the school environment, we may need to address it in alignment with our Student Code of Conduct.

 

Thank you for partnering with us to help maintain a safe, respectful, and supportive community for all students.

 

Melissa Reese

MYP Principal

MYPnews

Reminders about grade level communications

As students grow, our communication structure also shifts to support increasing independence. In middle school, 6th grade newsletters are sent weekly, 7th grade newsletters every other week, and 8th grade newsletters monthly. In high school, communication is shared as needed, as we work to help students take greater responsibility for tracking assignments, deadlines, and important campus updates.

10th Grade: guest speaker on financial literacy

February 26-27
 
College Readiness classes will have a guest speaker Thursday and Friday to discuss financial literacy with author Dean Allen, who wrote Financial Freedom for Your Teenager. Read details here.
 
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

Final chance: sign up for Individual Counselor meetings

8th Grade

Current 8th grade students and their parents/guardians are invited to meet one-on-one with our counselor, Mr. Reyna, to complete a four-year high school plan. Even if your student plans to attend another high school in 9th grade, we are required by the State to complete this four-year plan before the student leaves 8th grade.

 

Sign up for a one-on-one meeting with Mr. Reyna during a class period when your student can most afford to miss instructional time (your student should check their ManageBac calendar or ask the teacher if anything essential is happening in class that day). Questions? Reach out to Mr. Reyna.

9th Grade

Current 9th grade students and their parents/guardians are invited to meet one-on-one with our high school counselor, Mr. Manuszak. This is a great opportunity to ask questions about course options and pathways in the IB Diploma Program. 

 

Sign up for a one-on-one meeting with Mr. Manuszak during a class period when your student can most afford to miss instructional time.

 

Questions? Reach out to Mr. Manuszak.

10th Grade

Current 10th grade students completed their 11th grade course selection form and these have been collected by the counselor, Mr. Manuszak.

Sign up for an individual meeting with Mr. Manuszak to review and discuss their course selections. Learn more about the IB Diploma program.

 

 

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

6th/7th Grade Dance: Saturday

February 28 from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Glow in the Dark Dance: a poster with neon lights

6th and 7th graders can enjoy a Glow in the Dark themed dance! Wear white or neon. Get dance tickets for $12 on MySchoolBucks, or bring $20 cash at the door. Parents and guardians: volunteer for the dance!

 

6th Grade Off Campus Learning Experience

March 27, 2026 from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. (Register by Feb. 27)

Dark lobby with bright space lights and families standing under a Mars Rover replicaGet ready for a mission to the stars! Our 6th-grade class is heading to NASA for an out-of-this-world field trip. Students will explore the frontiers of space exploration, see real rockets up close, and engage with the science that powers our journey into the cosmos. The cost is $82 per student. Families participating in the Free/Reduced Lunch Program: you'll receive an adjusted invoice from the Business Office.

 

There are two actions to take:

  1. Complete the OCLE Registration form by February 27
  2. Pay for the visit to Space Center Houston on MySchoolBucks through March 6.

Please contact Assistant Principal Wyatt Verleye with questions.

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

Coed Middle School Soccer defeated Cedars International 10-2 on Saturday, February 21! Photo by Alexandra Hudson.

 

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 here.

 

 

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

resources

MYP Resources

 

Important MYP Program contacts

MYP Principal, Melissa Reese
MYP Assistant Principal Grades 6-7, Wyatt Verleye
MYP Assistant Principal Grades 8-10, Kim Salazar
MYP Coordinator Grades 6-10, Kimberly Ogo
 
Counselor for Grades 6-7, Stefanie Zook
Counselor for Grades 8-9, Nolberto Reyna 
Counselor for Grades 10-12, Nick Manuszak
College and Career Counselor, Kathy Gregg
Secondary Librarian and Extended Essay Coordinator, Renée Ramirez
 
MS Campus Coordinator, Karina Coburn
6-8 Attendance Clerk, Yasmin Peña
9-10 Attendance Clerk, Tiffany Burnham
Report Absences on Skyward
MS Receptionist, Karen Laywell
 

Director of Special Education, Susan Mais

LSSP/Assistant Director of Special Education, Jennifer Kuester

ARD Coordinator, Anna Brown

504 Coordinator, Dottie Elliott

 
Dean of School Culture, Monique Swain
Child Nutrition Director, Kaylee Torres
Meal Program Application/Café Questions

Skyward Questions

School Nurse
Athletics
Secondary Enrichment
 

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  • Please check your email and cell on Skyward for errors. If they are correct, please check to make sure you didn't accidentally un-enroll and opt back in.
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