district news - wordpress.meridian.wednet.edu
TRANSCRIPT
1
Snow Make-Up Days…………..……...1
New Campus for MP3………………...1
Enrollment Growth………….……..….2
Strategic Planning……………………….2
9th Grade Success Rate……………….2
New School Bus ……….…………………3
Donated Press Box ………..…...….....3
Math Instructional Fair.…………......3
MMS Chess Club…………….…..……...4
8th Grade College Exploration...….4
College Bound Scholarship………….4
CPR Training at MMS...……………….5
PTA at IRE…………………………..………5
Administrator Contact Info………….6
Meridian Schools
MERIDIAN HIGH SCHOOL (MHS)
MERIDIAN MIDDLE SCHOOL (MMS)
IRENE REITHER ELEMENTARY( IRE)
MERIDIAN PARENT PARTNERSHIP
PROGRAM (MP3)
Inside this issue:
March 2017
M E R I D I A N S C H O O L D I S T R I C T # 5 0 5
District News
www.meridian.wednet.edu
Snow Make-Up Days Meridian Schools were closed due to snow on February 6-10. 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.
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 2017-18
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 [email protected] or
by phone at 398-7111.
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
2016-2017 in the regular school program in
blue and in the Meridian Parent Partnership
Program (MP3) in green.
Developing a New Strategic Plan for 2018-2023
Dr. Larry Francois
The current five-year Strategic Plan was developed in 2013 and will
expire in 2018. 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 2018-2023. 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!
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.
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 398-2291 or via e-mail at [email protected].
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: www.meridian.wednet.edu
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
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 Vice President - Fawn Morgan
Secretary - Andrea Ashmore Treasurer - Dan Storgaard
To learn more about the Meridian PTA, please visit their website at www.MeridianPTA.org
PTA Volunteers at Trojan Trot Fundraiser
6
District Office
214 W. Laurel Road
Bellingham, WA 98226
Phone: 398-7111
Fax: 398-8966
Superintendent Tom Churchill [email protected] 398-7111
Personnel/Grants/Risk Kurt Harvill [email protected] 318-2153
Business Services Daniel Yorton [email protected] 318-2161
Special Services Dr. Carolyn Jenkins [email protected] 318-2155
Teaching & Learning Patti Fouts [email protected] 318-2480
MHS Principal Derek Forbes [email protected] 318-2280
MHS Dean Aaron Jacoby [email protected] 318-2281
Athletic Director Bryant Michaelson [email protected] 318-2160
MMS Principal Gerald Sanderson [email protected] 318-2380
IRE Principal Patti Fouts [email protected] 318-2480
IRE Asst. Principal Adrienne Somera [email protected] 318-2481
IRE Asst. Principal Kevin Hersom [email protected] 398-2111
MP3 Principal Michelle Siadal [email protected] 318-2580
Superintendent
Tom Churchill
Nonprofit Organization
US Postage PAID
Bellingham, WA
Permit No. 119
Meridian School District No. 505
214 W. Laurel Road
Bellingham, WA 98226
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 98226. 360-398-7111.
Section 504 questions and complaints can be directed to Dr. Carolyn Jenkins at 214 W. Laurel Rd., Bellingham WA 98226. 360-398-7111.