PYP Pride (K–5)
Week of October 22, 2025
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Happy Wednesday, Primary Families!
We’re already heading into the second week of the second quarter, and it’s been wonderful to see our students back in the rhythm of learning and growing together!
This Friday evening, our amazing VIP team will host our annual Trunk or Treat, and we can’t wait to see everyone there. This event is always such a fun night filled with creativity and community spirit. I love seeing families decked out in their costumes and I love admiring all the festive trunk designs. It’s truly one of my favorite school traditions!
Looking ahead, our next Principal’s Coffee will be on Thursday, November 6. I’d love for you to join us, either in person or virtually. It’s a great time to connect, share updates, and chat about all the wonderful things happening across our campus. We’ll be introducing some new faces on campus and sharing about our newly implemented Phonics program. Please save the date.
Thank you for being such an important part of our school community. Your support means the world to us!
Trunk or Treat
Trunk or Treat is a beloved school tradition led by ViP, and it’s Friday at 6:30 p.m.! Check out Trunk or Treat details and an event map -- this year, tickets are $7 per family, and you can skip the line and pick up wristbands after school today and Thursday!
Red Ribbon Week
Red Ribbon Week is next week, where students learn how to live a healthy lifestyle drug-free in age-appropriate lessons. The week incorporates fun activities like dress up days. It’s also fentanyl awareness month. Empower your child with knowledge and talk with them about the dangers of fentanyl, counterfeit pills, and the risks of purchasing pills via social media. Learn more about prevention and overdoses.
K-5 Dress Up Days:
- Monday - Mismatched Clothes Day- "Stay True to What's Good for You"
- Tuesday - Crazy Socks Day (uniforms or spirit wear) - "Sock It To Unhealthy Choices"
- Wednesday - Teams/Sports/College Day - "Be on a Healthy Team"
- Thursday - Pajama Day - "Wake Up to Healthy Choices"
- Friday - Costume Day - "Use Your Superpowers"
Grade Level Fall Showcases
Mark your calendars for Student Fall Showcases. Check your grade level newsletters for details closer to the events.
3rd Grade (RSVP ) - Map Showcase | Friday, October 31, 10-10:30 a.m.
2nd Grade - Artist Showcase | Wednesday, November 12, 10:45-11:15 a.m.
4th Grade - Native American Showcase | Friday, November 14, 2-2:45 p.m.
1st Grade - Culture Showcase | Tuesday, November 18, 12:45-1:15 p.m.
5th Grade - Living Museum | Wednesday, November 19, 8:45-9:30 a.m.
Kindergarten - Celebrations Showcase | Wednesday, November 19, 11:30 a.m. - noon
IB Initiative: Concept of Form
The Primary Years Programme (PYP) has identified seven concepts that offer depth and breadth across all content areas. We’ll explore each of these concepts for a week between now and winter break, beginning with FORM.
FORM explores the question, “What is it like?”
- To explore FORM is to explore the identifiable properties of an object or topic.
- When we explore two objects or topics, we will begin to see similarities and differences. Comparing the traits of two or more things is part of exploring FORM.
- As we notice the forms of objects and topics, we begin to notice patterns: traits that are true of all or most.
As part of the announcements this week, we’re exploring this idea by looking at the traits of a pencil, comparing different pencils and noticing patterns of things that are true of all or most pencils. You could do this at home too. One great place to observe is outside. Nature gives us many things to observe – rocks, plants, birds – all have observable properties, similarities and differences, and patterns.
Exhibitors Needed: Career Exploration & Volunteer Fair
Friday, January 23 from 9:20 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Parents and guardians: this is your opportunity to share what you do with students in grades 6-12! This fourth annual fair is come-and-go style, allowing students to talk to adults in career paths spanning from landscape architecture to military to retail management to photography. Sign up now to present! YOU make the fair!
2026 Yearbook Cost goes to $70 November 1
A reminder, the yearbook cost will rise from $65 to $70 on November 1. Get yours today at a cheaper price! Need to pay over time? Jostens has a payment plan option. Yearbooks come out in the late spring semester.
Do you work in the Medical Profession?
Our HOSA Club (Health Occupation Students of America) student leaders have created a parent volunteer Sign-up Genius with the hope that some parents in the medical field will volunteer to help our HOSA members prepare for competitions. You will be matched with students who are competing in your specific health field and/or you may be invited to attend a HOSA meeting on campus to offer guidance and feedback.
Report absences, add doctor notes to Skyward
A reminder: please report absences in Skyward, and add doctor’s notes! Did you know that when you include doctor’s notes, it helps the school receive funding for morning absences? You can view this very short video about how to report absences in Skyward.
Butterfly Garden workday doubles pollinator plants
A group of second grade families completed work on the butterfly garden on Sunday, adding in $300 worth of native pollinator-friendly plants, thanks to a grant from the Native Plant Society of Texas.
The project also demonstrates the full circle of the compost process at Meridian. Five cubic yards of compost was donated by Organics By Gosh, the same organization that picks up and composts Meridian’s cafeteria food waste each week. The delivery fee was covered by the remainder of a $1,000 grant from Friends of Meridian, which will also include additional native plants in the nearby Rain Garden on a subsequent work day.
The butterfly garden includes signs that talk about the life cycle and the monarch migration, and it draws in students into creative play as they look for blooms, bugs, and seeds. The garden features several drought-tolerant native pollinator plants, including autumn sage, blue mistflower, and four nerve daisy, as well as larval host plant milkweed to support monarch and queen butterflies.
Special thank you to Michelle Braet-Alford and Ramsey Andrews for taking the lead on the project, with the support of Sarah Gardner, and to Jeff Alford, Vince Andrews, Brit Gardner, and Kristin Gebhart for joining in the workday. It was a multi-family project, with students assisting with planting and supervising the compost pile.
PYP Principal’s Coffee
Thursday, November 6 from 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Save the date for the next PYP Principal’s Coffee! You will have an opportunity to meet with our admin team. We hope to see you there!
Fall Picture Retakes / Make-Up Day
Tuesday, November 4
Picture proofs from our Fall Picture Day (held on September 29) are being sent home with your students. These are the head and shoulder photos that will be used in the Meridian yearbook, THE WORLD. If you and your student liked the picture, no action is needed.
If you and your student are not satisfied with your child's image, your child may do a "retake" on the morning of November 4. Please read and follow the instructions on this Yearbook Picture Retake sign up.
If your student was absent, or newly enrolled on or after September 29, there is no need to fill out the above form. We will automatically pull them for a photo on November 4.
Questions? Email Sarah Whitley.
Upcoming Enrichment Activities
October 23 - October 29: Fall Holidays
An exciting new enrichment where students will explore how different cultures celebrate the Autumn season. From the glowing lights of Diwali, to the colorful traditions of Día de los Muertos, to the harvest feasts of Chuseok—students will journey through up to 14 unique fall holidays from around the world. They will discover the stories, foods, symbols, and customs that make each celebration special!
K-2 Students build lego battering rams with Snapology's After School STEAM program.
Enrichment Schedule:
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday - 4:30 p.m.
- Wednesday - 2:10 p.m. & 3:55 p.m.
- Early Release Wednesday Only - 2:55 p.m.
Primary Resources
Daily Announcements: Did you know you can watch the daily morning announcements that your student sees? Watch them on Ms. Lieurance’s Announcements Channel.
Toddle: Our one stop site/app for everything PYP. Curriculum, family communications, student portfolio, and more. Learn more about Toddle and sign in.
Skyward: To check report cards, submit an absence, fill out paperwork, and update your contact information, log in to Skyward using this link.
Important Contacts
PYP Principal, Brooke Knight
PYP Assistant Principal Grades K, 2, 4, Rachel Gabriel
PYP Assistant Principal Grades 1, 3, 5, Dion Reyes
PYP Counselor K, 2, 4, Dana Burks
PYP Counselor 1, 3, 5, Heather Mossell
PYP Coordinator grades K-5, Leah Lieurance
Media Literacy/Library, Kelly Chapman
Primary Campus Coordinator, Kathy Finch
Report an absence, Skyward
Director of Special Education, Susan Mais
LSSP/Assistant Director of Special Education, Jennifer Kuester
ARD Coordinator, Anna Brown
504 Coordinator, Dottie Elliott
Registrar, Kelly Abbett
Dean of School Culture, Monique Swain
Child Nutrition Director, Kaylee Torres
Meal Program Application/Café Questions
Skyward Questions
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PYP Calendar
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Oct 27, 2025
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Oct 28, 2025
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Oct 29, 2025
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Oct 30, 2025
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Oct 31, 2025
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Nov 4, 2025
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Nov 6, 2025
- PYP Principal's Coffee - 8:30 am - 9:30 am
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Nov 18, 2025
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Nov 20, 2025
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Nov 24, 2025
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Nov 25, 2025
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Nov 26, 2025
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Nov 27, 2025
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Nov 28, 2025
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Dec 1, 2025
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Dec 2, 2025
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Dec 3, 2025
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Dec 4, 2025