PYP Pride (K–5)
Week of March 25, 2026
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Happy Wednesday, Primary Families!
Welcome back! I hope you and your family had a restful and enjoyable Spring Break. It’s hard to believe we are already heading into the final quarter of the school year.
As a quick reminder, third quarter report cards will be sent home this Friday, March 27. These report cards reflect your child’s learning over the past quarter. Please be on the lookout for a Toddle message from Ms. Lieurance, who will share additional details, including how to access your child’s report card, grading criteria and expectations, and the grade-level standards that were assessed.
We hope you will join us for our final PYP Principal’s Coffee of the year on Thursday, April 2. Melissa Reese (MYP Principal) and Stela Holcombe (DP Principal), will join us to share about their programs, the connections across the IB Continuum, and how our students grow from PYP through DP. Please see the information below for details on how to sign up.
We are also thrilled about the new turf on the Front Sport Court! Our students are already so excited about it, especially our soccer players. Thank you to our families for your continued support of the Annual Fund, which made this safe and beautiful space possible.
As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or if we can support you in any way. Let’s make it a great final quarter!
Brooke Knight
PYP Principal
Calendar Reminders
- $2 Free Dress Day next Thursday, April 2
- No school for students on Friday, April 3 and Monday, April 6
- STAAR tests begin April 9 for grades 3-5
- Subscribe to the calendar to get these dates, and more, on your phone!
PYP Principal's Coffee
Thursday, April 2 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.
Our final PYP Principal’s Coffee shows the next stages of schooling here at Meridian. We hear from MYP Principal Melissa Reese about the program for 6th-10th graders and from DP Principal Stela Holcombe about the program for 11th and 12th graders.
Join us in-person or virtually: please RSVP using this link so we know to expect you. If you join virtually, you can use this Google Meet link to join the meeting.
Meridian plastic film recycling drive with Ridwell
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!
- During Arts & Science Fest April 18 (Mays Lobby)
- Between April 27-30 (Any Lobby)
Yearbook Update: almost sold out
Did you miss the ordering deadline? There are 150 remaining books to be sold on a first-come, first-serve basis. Purchase your 25-26 yearbook today.
Not sure if you purchased a yearbook? There are two easy ways to find out!
- Verify your yearbook purchase here
- Search your email for the following phrase: Jostens Order Confirmation #
RockSports Spirit Wear Sale
Enjoy 20% off all branded Meridian items at the RockSports store through April 6. Short sleeve tees are $12, sweatshirts are $16 (twill version $32), and fleece jackets are just $24!
Attendance note
Studies show that missing even nine days a year (95% attendance rate) can hinder both a student’s learning and grades. Students are at the heart of our mission, and we miss them when they’re not here!
With respiratory viruses making their way through the school in January and February, we saw a significant drop in student attendance last quarter. We hope you returned from spring break healthy and strong for the final quarter! Higher engagement and attendance is something we pride ourselves in at Meridian.
IB Initiative: The Learner Profile Trait of Reflective
This quarter, our IB Initiative each week will focus on one of the learner profile traits.
Inquirers • Knowledgeable • Thinkers • Communicators • Principled • Open-Minded • Caring • Risk-takers • Balanced • Reflective
Our last learner profile trait is the trait of being reflective. According to the IB Organization, reflective people thoughtfully consider the world and their own ideas and experience. They work to understand their strengths and weaknesses in order to support their learning and personal development. As you can tell from this definition, an internal reflection always has an external outcome. This week, our students will be learning that reflection is about looking back and looking ahead. Being reflective can help us define our beliefs and values, push us to learn from mistakes and struggles, and guide our actions in the future.
Find activities and book ideas on Meridian’s website to extend the discussion of what it means to be reflective at home.
New turf installed on Primary Sport Court
Experience Meridian: Mini Job Fair
Wednesday, April 1 from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Interested in working at Meridian or know some amazing educators who’d like to join our team? Check out our Experience Meridian Mini Job Fair April 1! Register for your spot or forward to family and friends today.
Spring Dance Camp
Saturday, April 11
Registration open April 1-8
Spring Dance Camp - Meridian’s Dance Team will host a Spring Dance Camp on Saturday, April 11 for lions in grades K-5. Participants will also perform in the 2026 Arts and Science Fest on Saturday, April 18! Registration opens Wednesday, April 1 and ends at 9 p.m. on Thursday, April 8, or sooner if the limited spots fill up first. Learn more.
Arts & Science Fest
Saturday, April 18, 2026
2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
It's time for our 4th annual Arts & Science Fest! Discover 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!
Questions? Reach out to Lynda Chapel, Community Coordinator.
Thank you to our sponsors, ThermoFisher Scientific, Handzies, and A+ Federal Credit Union!
Upcoming Enrichment Activities
Bugs Life (March 23 - 27): Students will delve into the world of insects in this enrichment! From butterflies, to spiders, to ants, kids will be doing arts and crafts and learning about the complexity of these tiny creatures. Students will watch Disney’s A Bug's Life on Wednesday, March 25. The movie will start at 4:39, and continue until about 5:30. If you would like to have your student exempt from the movie day, we will provide a quiet space with alternate activities.
Transportation Changes: If your student will be absent from school or has a change in transportation, email the Triple A Administrative Assistant, the A la Carte Instructor, and your student's school day teacher. Be sure to send the email at least two hours prior to school dismissal. Also, remember to update your student's pick up mode in PikMyKid.
Enrichment Schedule:
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday - 4:30 p.m.
- Wednesday - 2:10 p.m. and 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
Special Education
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
Help us reach you
Do you get our Catapult text messages? If not, try these two steps:
- 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.
- If you have a landline as your primary contact, you will not receive Catapult messages. You may change this in Skyward or fill out the google form with the cell phone number.
PYP Calendar
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Apr 2, 2026
- Fundraiser: Free Dress Day
- Thursday Spirit Wear Day
- PYP Principal's Coffee - 8:30 am - 9:30 am
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Apr 3, 2026
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Apr 6, 2026
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Apr 7, 2026
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Apr 9, 2026
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Apr 11, 2026
- Spring Dance Camp (K-5) - 9 am - 12 pm (Meridian Mays (Middle School) Gym)
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Apr 16, 2026
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Apr 18, 2026
- Arts & Science Fest - 2 pm - 5 pm
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Apr 21, 2026
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Apr 22, 2026
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Apr 23, 2026
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Apr 27, 2026
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Apr 28, 2026
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Apr 29, 2026
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Apr 30, 2026
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May 1, 2026