Shared Mission “Each student will succeed through quality, inspirational and innovative education.”

Shared Vision “The Meridian School District works in partnership with our families and our community to educate each

student in a safe and supportive learning environment to become a positive contributor to society”.

December 2015 Meridian High School

Principal’s Message Greetings Meridian High School Community:

As we near the end of 2015 I reflect on the first 60 days of this school year; the students are fantastic, the staff is second

to none, and our parents and community continue to show their support of the school and students in a number of ways.

The most recent expression of that support has come in our Winter Wishes Program. In addition to various gifts, over $7,000 has been raised to grant the wishes of the MHS community. What is great about this program is that the wishes are

for someone else that you want to help out. I have been watching the excitement build up amongst students for the past six weeks and look forward to the finale with an assembly on December 18th to celebrate the MHS community’s kindness

and show school spirit.

At the end of that day, we will have a two week break. The return to school in January will mean that the end of our first

semester is quickly approaching! Please talk to your student(s) about their grades, concerns they might have and work they need to do in January. Our staff is available before and after-school to help students with questions. We also have our

tutoring program after-school Monday-Thursday. There is an late bus that can take students home if needed.

The end of the semester will be Thursday, January 28th. There will be no school on Friday, January 29th. Teachers will be

using that day to finish up first semester grades, and get ready for second semester classes.

There are other important dates in January for different groups of students around state testing, financial aid, and high

school and beyond planning. Please be sure to review the information that follows for those things that pertain to your family.

I feel fortunate to work in such a great school with a staff and student body that make every day enjoyable. I will miss

seeing them over the break, but look forward to starting off the new year strong, with our first day back on Monday, January 4th.

Go Trojans!

January

4 Back to School 2016

6 Auditions for Drama Production, 2:45pm 8 Deadline for Senior Pictures for Yearbook

11 Junior Parent Night, MHS Library 6:30pm 13 FAFSA Night , MHS Auditorium 6:00-8:00pm

14 MLK Assembly, Alternate Bell Schedule #2 18 MLK Day-No School

28 1st Semester Ends 29 Teacher Work Day-No School for students

February

3 Father Daughter Banquet, MHS Commons 5:30pm 6 Tolo, MHS Commons 8:00-11:00pm

12 Mid-Winter Break-No School 15 President’s Day-No School

23 Spring Sports Parent Meeting, MHS Aud. 6:30pm 23 Blood Drive, MHS Auditorium

Important Dates to Remember School Building Information

Father Daughter Banquet Aloha! This year’s theme for Father Daughter Banquet will take

you away to an Island getaway. Our “Hawaiian Luau” theme is sure to make you feel at ease. On Wednesday, February 3rd

come enjoy the taste of the Islands with, BBQ pulled-pork, sweet and sour meatballs, fruit and dessert bar in the Meridian

High School Commons. At 5:30pm we will begin with pictures.

The cost is $10.00 for the first photo and $5.00 for each addi-tional photo, payable only by cash or check. Dinner will be

served at 6:00pm. Tickets go on sale January 20th at all Merid-ian School District schools. Prices are $20.00 for father and

daughter, and $8.00 for each additional daughter.

Tolo Tolo will be held Saturday, February 6th from 8:00-11:00pm in the high school commons. The theme this year is “Wild Wild

West: Boots, Chaps & Cowboy Hats”. Tickets will be on sale during lunches starting the week of February 1st. Prices are

$12.00 per couple and $7.00 for singles.

School Closure Information

Barring any weather related school closures the last day of classes for the 2015/16 school year will be June 16th. Grad-

uation is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, June 14th. In the event that it is necessary to close schools or delay open-ing because of extreme weather conditions or other unusual circumstances, local radio and television stations will be

notified, and the information will be posted on the school district website. You can also sign up on the Meridian School

District website for FlashAlert Newswire to receive school delay or closure information.

Notes from the Registrar

January 28th, the end of first semester is rapidly approaching. Final grades should be in household mailboxes by Febru-

ary 6th. If you have moved recently please contact us with the updated address so that you receive your mail in a time-

ly manner. Semester report cards will be withheld if your student has fines due to lost text books, unpaid fees, lost sports equipment etc. If this is the case a bill for the fines incurred will be mailed instead of the report card. When the

fine is paid, or the items returned, the report card will be mailed home.

To best expedite your student meeting you out front during the school day, send a note with your student. If you state

the time they will be excused they can then sign themselves out and meet you at the car. If you have questions, please call Jennifer Kurz, our attendance secretary @ 318-2260.

Meridian School District Nondiscrimination Statement

The Meridian School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed,

religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts* and other

designated youth groups. The following employee has been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged

discrimination: Title IX, ADA, and Compliance Coordinator (RCW 28A.640/28A.642) David Forsythe, Assistant Superintendent, 214 W. Laurel Rd., Bellingham WA 98226, 360-398-7111.

Winter Ride Ski & Snowboard Program

Does your 5-12th grade student want to learn to ski or snowboard? For more than 40 years, the Meridian Winter Ride

Ski and Snowboard Program has offered the opportunity for Meridian School District 5th-12th grade students to learn to ski and snowboard. We have teamed up with the Mt. Baker Ski Area to provide a variety of lessons and equipment op-

tions as well as transportation. The program is made possible by the support of our community. If you would like more information, please contact Laney Brannen, Winter Ride Coordinator at lbrannen@meridian.wednet.edu

Guidelines for Students with an Illness

Should I keep my sick student home? Here are some guidelines to help you make a decision about keeping

your student home when they are sick. Stay home if:

√ Temperature of 100 degrees F or higher. It is a sound health practice to keep your child at home until an elevated

temperature has returned to normal for at least 24 hours without the aid of fever reducing medications.

√ Diarrhea

√ Vomiting more than 2 episodes in 24 hours.

√ Rash or sores with fever or behavior changes until a physician has determined it is not a communicable disease, or

has specified the conditions in which the student can return to school.

We hope this is helpful information. Please contact your school nurses if you have any questions.

Cheryl Dennis, RN 318-2176

Feed the Need: Trojan Café Raises Funds for Food Bank

On Saturday, December 5, about 100 students gathered at MHS at 9:00 in the morning until late in the afternoon for a re-

gional chess tournament. And they got hungry!

Trojan Café students saw an opportunity! Making fresh-baked cookies in advance, getting pizza donations from local ven-

dors, and gathering other snacks and drinks…Trojan Café students provided a service by running a snack bar to feed hun-gry chess players. They gained experience with food prep and service, cash handling, and customer service. It was a “win-

win” situation.

Actually, a “win-win-win” event: They did it all for charity. All the proceeds – $296.43 – from the event were donated to the Bellingham Food Bank. Way to go Trojan Café members!

Special thanks to Ray at the Lynden Papa Murphy’s and Jasmine at the Ferndale Domino’s for pizza donations!

World Languages Assessment Day

On Wednesday, October 28, 2015, a group of 14 Meridian High School students who are heritage language speakers partici-pated in the World Languages Assessment Day of testing. The two students who tested in the Russian language and the

student who tested in the Punjabi language each received 4 credits. The 11 students testing in the Spanish Language achieved results ranging from 2, 3 and 4 credits. For more information you may contact Mrs. Grube, World Languages Test-

ing Coordinator at MHS.

Physics Class Field Trip to the Moon

Physics students were given a peek into the complexities of space travel at the Museum of Flight November 4th. Their two

hour simulation had one team at "ground control" another team "on board the spaceship" and then they switched roles. Their goal was to revisit landing on the moon as they simulated the navigation, communication, and monitoring of all sys-

tems involved. Team members were also busy with materials and medical testing challenges, along with probe opera-

tions. After their successful Mission to the Moon, they had some time to visit the museum exhibits. Several students enjoyed the 360 degree flight simulator experience, others liked comparing the variety of airplanes.

Referral for Highly Capable Program Services Meridian School District is now accepting referrals of students to participate in programs for highly capable students.

Teachers, staff, parents, students and members of the community may refer a student (WAC 392-170-045). To refer a

student, please complete this form and return it to Carolyn Sytsma, Highly Capable Coordinator, through your school office,

318-2305.

This form must be received no later than December 17, 2015 in order for the student to be assessed.

Permission for Assessment: to be completed by the student’s parent or guardian (WAC 392-170-047).

As the parent/guardian of ________________________________ (student name) I acknowledge and support this referral for

Highly Capable Program services.

I understand that:

The district will screen each referral using the CogAT (Cognitive Abilities Test) to identify students. Students identified

through the screening process will be assessed using multiple criteria from a variety of sources and data, including tests that

measure cognitive ability, academic achievement and evidence of exceptional creativity.

A multidisciplinary selection team composed of a district administrator, psychologist and a teacher will review data collected

for each of the referred students. They will select those students who would receive the most benefit from participating in

the program.

Parent or guardian may appeal the decision of the multidisciplinary selection team by submitting a letter of appeal to the

highly capable program coordinator no later than two weeks after the decision.

If the student, parent or teacher determines the program no longer fits the needs of the student, an exit process will be initi-

ated. If teachers and/or the program director determine the student is not demonstrating consistent academic progress, a

conference to discuss alternatives will be scheduled with parents.

Highly capable student program offerings include: differentiation within the core classroom, flexible grouping within class-

rooms, grade and/or subject advancement, independent study, cluster grouping, Advanced Placement (MHS), Leadership

Class (MHS) and enrichment classes. Program offerings vary from year to year based on the needs and interests of our stu-

dents.

Meridian School District has my permission to administer screening assessments to determine if my child qualifies for

Highly Capable services.

Parent/Guardian Name _____________________________________Phone number _______________

Signature ______________________________________________ Date ______________________

Student Name:___________________________________________ Current Grade/Teacher____________________

Person completing the form:_______________________________________________________________________

Relationship to child:______________________________________Phone number___________________________

Freshmen, Sophomores and Juniors who took the October PSAT test will be receiving their score reports in December or

January. They will be given information on the free services available for SAT test preparation and skill building, as well as

college and career searches that are available at the College Board website (www.collegeboard.org/quickstart).

Important info for Seniors: Mrs. Kratzig and Mr. McMains have been meeting with seniors to assess progress toward graduation and provide assistance

for future plans and goals. Seniors and their parents/guardians are encouraged to connect with their alpha counselor through

appointment, e-mail or phone. Contact information is as follows: Julie Kratzig: 318-2276, jkratzig@meridian.wednet.edu (Serving students last names A-L)

Don McMains: 318-2261, dmcmains@meridian.wednet.edu (Serving students last names M-Z)

Juniors who plan to attend a 4-year college are encouraged to register for the May 7th or June 4th SAT and/or the April

8th or June 11th ACT. The online registration websites are: SAT----www.collegeboard.org ACT---- www.actstudent.org

Free test preparation is available on these websites.

Junior Guidance will be delivered in the month of January, followed by a Junior Parent Night. Dates and times will be sent home in a letter.

Sophomore Guidance: Sophomore Guidance and Parent Night were held in November. The students took a Career Assessment on WOIS (http://

www.wois.org/) and took a “Reality Check” for careers and wages needed for their chosen lifestyle. Parents and students can access these assessments from home. The PowerPoint used for the sophomores is posted on the Meridian High School web-

site.

Freshmen Guidance and parent night is slated for February; more information to follow.

Transcripts: If you need a transcript sent to a college, see Mrs. Brinkman, our registrar, in the main office. If you have questions, her contact information is as follows: 318-2284 or rbrinkman@meridian.wednet.edu

Scholarships: Searching for scholarships can be overwhelming and time consuming. The WashBoard

(www.theWashBoard.org) is a free, web-based, nonprofit scholarship search engine for Washington students seeking Wash-ington college scholarships. WashBoard is advertising and spam free and will not sell your information. Students are able to

set up a personal profile and explore scholarships that match their profile.

FAFSA: The free financial aid form is available online as of January 1, 2016. The optimal window to apply is between Janu-

ary 1st and February 1st. All eligible “College Bound” students need to apply during this window. FAFSA is used to determine financial aid eligibility for technical community, and 4 year colleges and universities.

Meridian High School is hosting a FAFSA Completion Event on January 13th from 6-8 pm at the high school. Experts from WCC, WWU, and BTC as well as tax experts from the community will be present to assist families with the online form.

Parents and students will need to bring: a driver’s license or state ID, income information like bank statements, a W-2 or pay

stub, and a past tax return, a Social Security Card or green card. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Kratzig or Mr. McMains. The financial aid offices at the various schools can also be of assistance.

After School Credit Retrieval and Study for Students 9-12:

After school study is open to all students grades 9-12, Monday-Thursday from 2:45-4:00 pm in the high school library. Ms.

Seeley is the coordinator and can assist students with study help and tutors. Her contact information is as follows: tseely@meridian.wednet.edu or 318-2259.

Credit Retrieval is held in the CTE Computer classroom. Mr. Dave Brannon is the instructor. Students can use this time to

retrieve credit on APEX, an online credit retrieval program. If you would like your son/daughter to retrieve credit, they need

to start by signing up with their counselor. There is an activity school bus at 5:00 pm to take students home.

Communities in Schools 14-15 Programs

Improv for Education will return for a 12 week program starting in January and ending in March with a performance at the Upfront Theatre in Bellingham. This program teaches and builds upon the basics of improve and acting. Students can enroll with no prior acting or improve experience. This course will be taught by Options High School Teacher Leslie Adamson on Thursdays this spring. Interested students should pick up permission forms from CIS Site Coordinator Tir-ra Seely. Applications for 2016-2017 Peer Mentors will be open at the beginning of February to Juniors and Seniors who have full time schedules at the high school the following year. This program links small groups of incoming freshman with a peer mentor to be a guide and resource during their first semester of high school. Interested students can pick up an appli-cation from CIS Site Coordinator Tirra Seely. On February 12 a field trip to Everett Community College and Skagit Valley College will be provided to students who qualify for CIS programs. This is a non-school day and transportation to and from Meridian High School must be pro-vided by each family. For more information and permission forms please contact CIS Site Coordinator Tirra Seely. After school tutoring will continue through the spring semester Monday-Thursday from 2:30pm-4:00pm in the Library. Parents and community members can contact Mrs. Seely at the high school by calling (360) 318-2259 or by email at tseely@meridian.wednet.edu. A general permission form for all of the above programs can also be found on the school website at http://www.meridian.wednet.edu/MHS/CIS .

Communities in Schools Whatcom Resource Update

Employment Goodwill offers free employment prep classes for community members. Registration for the Winter session is now

open. Classes will run from January 4th through February 25th. ESOL and GED students need to make an intake ap-

pointment for placement testing to begin those classes. The phone number is 738-0483. This courses include:

Microsoft Outlook Workplace Skills Writing for School and Work (for GED, ESL, and students transitioning to college) Citizenship Test Prep Job Prep: an intensive job readiness class, including job search, landing a job, and provides interview clothes Customer Service New Connections: a set of workshops and classes specifically tailored to people with conviction histories who are

searching for employment

Food Resources

A list of food resources in Whatcom County can be found at the following site:

http://www.bellinghamfoodbank.org/feeding-hungry-families/food-resources/

Career Center News

Senior Graduation Presentations This year senior students need to complete a presentation, which they will deliver in front of panelists. This presentation should highlight their high school years: who they were as freshmen, highlights of their experiences, and a focus on ca-reer and college plans. Each student has received, either in their advisory class or via email, a worksheet that, when filled out, will give them an outline for their presentation. The worksheet must be seen by their adviser— the due date was Nov. 30th. A visual aid, such as a PowerPoint show, is required. Presentation Day will be March 23rd. Remember, this is a graduation requirement!

Scholarships There is a scholarship database on the Meridian High School website. Click on “student support”, then “career center” for the link. It is not a comprehensive list, but a place to start. Check due dates and eligibility carefully. Scholarships are not just for 4.0 students! Students and parents also receive a monthly email detailing scholarships. Note that some ap-plications are only available online. Students need to ask for letters of recommendation and transcripts in advance. Transcripts are available from Mrs. Brinkman in the office.

There is a free web-based clearinghouse for Washington students seeking college scholarships. It is run by a public/private partnership of nonprofits and the State’s Higher Education Coordinating Board. Students can go to www.washboard.org and complete a profile (information is confidential). Lists of scholarships will be sent that match the student’s profile. See Mrs. Waterman for information on how to get the most from this website. More local scholarships will open up this spring. Be sure to check your future school’s financial aid scholarship list for more financial aid/scholarship opportunities. There are many great scholarships for students to help with the cost of a college education. If you have questions about scholarships, contact Mrs. Waterman, swaterman@meridian.wednet.edu or call 318-2279.

College/Career Links Additional links for college and career information are located on the MHS website under “student support”. This is a great resource and includes college and scholarship links, technical options, career choice exploration sites, financial aid, and much more. MHS hosts many college admissions reps—encourage your student to stop by the info tables.

Career News Almost 30 MHS students traveled to BTC for their annual Tour Day. BTC will host a “Try a Trade” in February. BTC of-fers fantastic programs that are worth checking out! We will also take a group of students to the North Rotary Career Fair in the spring. These are great chances for your students to explore. Job opportunities are listed on our job board, located in the commons. WorkSource also has listings online and some classes for teens on how to fill out applications, interview, and create resumes. MHS will host a speaker who will also give tips on important job skills and how to land employment. The date and time are to be determined. Volunteerism is a fantastic way to gain experience and to serve others. Organizations like the Bellingham Food Bank, St.

Francis Care Center, Lighthouse Mission/Agape House and the Bellingham Parks Department are just a few in need of

willing workers. Check out the Whatcom Volunteer Center for other opportunities to give back. Mrs. Waterman is availa-

ble to help with the process.