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Newsletters » PYP Pride (K–5)

PYP Pride (K–5)

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Week of March 11, 2026

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Brooke Knight, PYP Principal

Happy Wednesday, Primary Families!

As we head into Spring Break, I want to thank everyone who joined us for International Week. It was such a wonderful week of celebrating the cultures, traditions, and experiences that make Meridian such a special community. Seeing our students and families share and learn from one another is always a highlight of the year.

We are also looking forward to our Spring Parties on Friday. Please be sure to check your grade level newsletters for specific details and information.

As we return from Spring Break and move into the final quarter of the school year, there are a few important reminders to help us finish the year strong.

Attendance will be especially important as we head into the last quarter. Consistent attendance helps students stay connected to their learning and maintain strong routines. Unless your child is sick, we encourage all students to be present and ready to learn each day as we move through the final months of the school year.

When we return from the break, Primary Class Photos will be taken on Tuesday, March 24. These photos include the entire class with their teacher. Students should plan to wear their school uniform for the photo.

We are also seeing an increase in toys and personal items coming to school. While we know students enjoy sharing special items with friends, these items can quickly become a distraction and sometimes lead to unnecessary conflict between students. We ask that toys and personal items remain at home so we can keep our classrooms focused on learning. Thank you for your continued support with this.

We hope your family has a wonderful and restful Spring Break, and we look forward to welcoming students back to campus on Monday, March 23.

 

Brooke Knight

PYP Principal

It was a windy and fun World Parade on Friday!

World Parade 2026

 

Primary news

Sock fundraiser ends today: Water for Africa

Three sets of legs with colorful socksFifth grade’s  fundraising campaign to help provide clean drinking water to communities in Africa ends today! Through We Help Two, they are selling fun & comfy socks to raise funds for a clean water well project. Right now, they are 32% of the way to building a water well. 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! Purchase socks today!

AnnouncementsYour help is needed with attendance

Blank calendar iconWith respiratory viruses making their way through the school in January and February, we saw a significant drop in student attendance this quarter. Hopefully, we are getting past that and everyone returns from spring break healthy and strong for the final quarter!  Higher engagement and attendance is something we pride ourselves in at Meridian. 


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!

Primary Class Photos March 24

PYP Class photos will be taken on Tuesday, March 24. These are group photos of the entire class with their teacher. Students should wear their school uniform. Order forms will be sent home in folders. You can also pre-order class pictures online. These are only available for a limited time, unlike individual photos, and are only sold to families.


Families always retain the option to opt out of vendor-provided school photography if they choose. Please fill out this form if you do not wish for your child to be photographed during primary class photos and/or the spring picture day. Otherwise, no action is required. A note: neither of these options goes into the yearbook. If you missed last week's notice with more details, you can review it here.

RockSports Spirit Wear Sale

Shirts and sweatshirts in gray and red that say "lions"From March 16 - April 6, enjoy 20% off all branded Meridian items at the RockSports store. Short sleeve tees are $12, sweatshirts are $16 (twill version $32), and fleece jackets are just $24!

Amplify Austin review

Amplify AustinThank you for supporting Meridian World School during Amplify Austin! We raised more than $1,500 in two days. The link is open year-round, and it’s a simple way for members of our community to donate without going through our school donation software. Please feel free to share with extended family and friends any time! 

Academics

IB Initiative: The Learner Profile Trait of Thinker

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


Thinkers: a figure sits on a stool with hand on chin

To be a thinker, according to IB, means:

  • We use critical and creative thinking skills to analyze and take responsible action on complex problems.
  • We exercise initiative in making reasoned, ethical decisions.

 

What does a thinker look like? This week, on the announcements, we are looking at the lives of Alexander Graham Bell, Joshua Dahn (the creator of the conundrums we do each week on the announcements), Juliette Gordon Low (the founder of the Girl Scouts), and Archimedes who discovered pi through mathematical calculations. Through the lives of these people, we will see that thinkers focus on their task and benefit from working with others. Thinkers use evidence and reasoning to support their thinking. Creative thinking can turn a dream into a reality. And finally, thinkers have determination to keep trying new ideas until they find a solution.


Find activities and book ideas on Meridian’s website to extend the discussion of what it means to be a thinker at home.

 

Spotlight

Third graders test toys made by 8th grade design students

On Tuesday, eighth grade design students invited third graders to test toys that the older students created. 

Testing the toys with the target audience is part of the evaluation stage of the design cycle, which began with researching how children play, creating an isometric drawing in Procreate, building a cardboard prototype, and then creating the final wooden toy with wheels. 

Students are encouraged to donate the toy should they wish to do so.

 

Students hold painted wooden toys and write feedback

Upcoming Events

PYP Principal's Coffee

Thursday, April 2 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.

Save the date for the final Principal's Coffee of the year!

Spring Dance Camp

Saturday, April 11

Meridian’s Dance Team will host a Spring Dance Camp on Saturday, April 11 for lions in grades K-5.  Details and registration information will be available after Spring Break. Please save the date!

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! Past exhibits include lava lamp experiments with Millipore Sigma, egg drops with Dell, art activities, slime making with Thermo Fisher Scientific, and more! Join the fun as an exhibitor or sponsor an activity! Reach out to Lynda Chapel, Community Coordinator.

 

Thank you to our sponsors, ThermoFisher Scientific, Handzies, and A+ Federal Credit Union!

 

GLobe with art and science icons

 

 

district

 

student playing keyboard

Thank you to all of our participants, volunteers, stagehands, and tech support for making the Talent Show a success!

 

Upcoming Enrichment Activities

 

Holi (March 9 - 11): Students will learn about the “Festival of Colors;" they will explore different traditions, foods, and the stories behind this holiday.

 

Sports and Fitness (March 11 - 13): Students will learn about and play sports for this enrichment - They’ll discover new sports around the world, while practicing teamwork and playing their favorite sports with their groups. This enrichment ends with a Game Day (weather permitting). Students will be able to choose from several stations and activities for the duration of Enrichment.


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.

resourcesPrimary 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

School Nurse

Triple A

 
 

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. 

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