District News. New Campus for Meridian Parent Partnership Program (MP3) Opening Fall 2017

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1 District News M E R I D I A N S C H O O L D I S T R I C T # Snow Make-Up Days Meridian Schools were closed due to snow on February As a result, the school calendar has been extended. The new last day of school is Friday, June 23rd. MHS Graduation will occur on June 16th at 6:30 p.m. in the north gym at MHS. March 2017 Meridian Schools MERIDIAN HIGH SCHOOL (MHS) MERIDIAN MIDDLE SCHOOL (MMS) IRENE REITHER ELEMENTARY( IRE) MERIDIAN PARENT PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM (MP3) New Campus for Meridian Parent Partnership Program (MP3) Opening Fall 2017 The Meridian School District is self-funding a building project that will relocate the Meridian Parent Partnership Program (MP3) to a new campus adjacent to the District Office on Laurel Road. MP3 will begin the school year on this new campus. The former Ten Mile Creek Elementary, which has been the home of the MP3 program since 2014, will become part of the Irene Reither Elementary School campus and will be renamed Irene Reither Elementary Building B. This project for will provide the MP3 program with a permanent campus as well as provide expanded elementary classroom space for IRE, all without any increased costs to our local taxpayers. For more information regarding this project, please contact District Superintendent, Tom Churchill at tchurchill@meridian.wednet.edu or by phone at Inside this issue: Snow Make-Up Days New Campus for MP3...1 Enrollment Growth....2 Strategic Planning.2 9th Grade Success Rate.2 New School Bus. 3 Donated Press Box Math Instructional Fair....3 MMS Chess Club th Grade College Exploration....4 College Bound Scholarship.4 CPR Training at MMS....5 PTA at IRE.. 5 Administrator Contact Info.6 1

2 Enrollment Growth Meridian School District has been averaging approximately 5% growth in enrollment over the last five years. Most notable is the enrollment growth at the elementary level. New Kindergarten enrollment has been coming in at over 100 students for four out of the last five years. See the charts for enrollment by class for in the regular school program in blue and in the Meridian Parent Partnership Program (MP3) in green. Developing a New Strategic Plan for Dr. Larry Francois The current five-year Strategic Plan was developed in 2013 and will expire in The District is pleased to announce that it has contracted with Dr. Larry Francois, the Superintendent of the Northwest Educational Service District to facilitate the development of a new Strategic Plan for The District is committed to having an open, inclusive process with School Board Directors, staff, community members and students all contributing to the development of the District s vision for a directed future. More information will be available later this spring regarding process, timelines and involvement opportunities. 9th Grade Success Rate 9th Grade Course Failure is an early warning indicator of students who may be at risk to not graduate from high school. Course failure is a sign that a student may be facing one or more challenges that could negatively impact their school performance. Meridian High School had the lowest rate of students failing a 9th grade course in Whatcom County in 2016 and half the rate of the state average. MHS =11.19% State Average = 22.54% Families, teachers and community members working together to provide support for our students create the best circumstances for our students to be successful. Great job Meridian! 2

3 District Adds Another New Bus The Meridian School District continues to upgrade our fleet of school buses. This fall the District received Bus #38, a maximum capacity Thomas bus which will be used primarily for field and sports trips. The District retired two older buses from our fleet as we continue to upgrade and modernize our bus fleet. The District utilizes state transportation funding for purchasing new buses. New Press Box Donated for MHS Softball Field Thank you to MHS senior, Brenten Fox and his father, Scott for their generous donation of a new press box for the MHS girls softball field. Thank you to Bryan Michaelson, Athletic Director for coordination of this project. Pictured: Brenten Fox WWU/MP3 Math Instructional Fair For a second year, the Meridian Parent Partnership Program (MP3) was privileged to host a Math Instructional Fair presented by Western Washington University education students and Janet Mock, WWU professor. The WWU students prepared activities which highlighted a variety of concepts including fractions, measurement, money, place value, patterning, graphing, geometry skills and beginning algebra. The gym was abuzz with conversation as students, families and staff collaborated together with the WWU students. The event challenged students thinking and mathematical reasoning, provided families an opportunity to engage in math dialogue and contributed to the first hand experiences of the future teachers. 3

4 After School Chess Club Starts at MMS MMS recently began an after school chess club for students on Tuesday afternoons. Students who participate may ride the activity bus home. Fourteen students are currently participating and all students at MMS are welcome. Please contact the office at MMS for more information. 8th Grade College Exploration Day at WWU On March 23rd, 8th graders from MMS will attend 8th Grade College Exploration Day at Western Washington University. The purpose of this day is to expose students to a college campus, to help students to develop a vision for their future and a plan of how to make the most of their high school years. For more information about this event, please contact MMS Principal, Jerry Sanderson at or via at gsanders@meridian.wednet.edu. MMS Earns Another College Bound Scholarship Gold Star Award MMS was named as a Gold Star school for their high level of commitment to help eligible middle school students enroll in the College Bound Scholarship Program. This program provides college tuition assistance for low-income students in our state. Eligible students must enroll in college within one year of graduation from high school, maintain a 2.0 GPA and have no felony convictions. Congratulations to MMS for their commitment to helping students and families access this assistance program. District Web Site: 4

5 CPR Training at Meridian Middle School Students in the Jobs for Washington Graduates program at MMS recently had the opportunity to learn CPR basics from a local first responder. Meridian PTA Supports IRE The Meridian PTA at Irene Reither works to create enthusiasm and fun in the school community while supporting educational enrichment for all students. This school year the Meridian PTA has worked together with parents, faculty and the community to support and fund many of the Irene Reither s supplies and to provide enrichment opportunities to students and families. This year the Meridian PTA is proud to have provided the following to Irene Reither students: Basic school supplies used by students throughout the year Gold, daily folders for each student Student field trips The Missoula Children s Theater drama experience A visit from the Pacific Science Center complete with an assembly and workshops Family Movie Night Snuggle Up and Read Night Skate Night Kindergarten class shirts Teacher s grant requests for special projects PTA Volunteers at Trojan Trot Fundraiser The Meridian PTA s sole fundraiser for the 2016/2017 school year was the Trojan Trot held in October. All funds raised from the event go directly back to the PTA. Families and the community can also help raise funds for the Meridian PTA by bringing in box tops or linking their Amazon Smile Account, Fred Meyer Card or other store cards to the Meridian PTA. PTA Officers: President - Chelsea Williams Secretary - Andrea Ashmore Vice President - Fawn Morgan Treasurer - Dan Storgaard To learn more about the Meridian PTA, please visit their website at 5

6 Meridian School District No W. Laurel Road Bellingham, WA Nonprofit Organization US Postage PAID Bellingham, WA Permit No. 119 Superintendent Tom Churchill Personnel/Grants/Risk Kurt Harvill Business Services Daniel Yorton Special Services Dr. Carolyn Jenkins Teaching & Learning Patti Fouts District Office 214 W. Laurel Road Bellingham, WA Phone: Fax: MHS Principal Derek Forbes MHS Dean Aaron Jacoby Athletic Director Bryant Michaelson MMS Principal Gerald Sanderson IRE Principal Patti Fouts IRE Asst. Principal Adrienne Somera IRE Asst. Principal Kevin Hersom MP3 Principal Michelle Siadal Superintendent Tom Churchill 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) Kurt Harvill, Director of Personnel, Grants and Risk Management, 214 W. Laurel Rd., Bellingham WA Section 504 questions and complaints can be directed to Dr. Carolyn Jenkins at 214 W. Laurel Rd., Bellingham WA