Today during Little Hawks Home Visits we learned all about our teeth and how to take care of them! We read ‘The Tooth Book’ by Dr. Seuss, counted marshmallow teeth, and practiced brushing and shape recognition! 🦷
MES Menu Change 2/24 -
Chili
baby carrots
apple slices
corn chips
First grade enjoyed their second presentation of Ag in the classroom! Thank you to the Macon County Farm Bureau for taking the time to teach us about how important our farmers are!
5th Grade students gearing up for our Contig tournament!
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!! The 2022 MES Scholatic a Book Fair was a BIG success! Can’t wait to start planning for 2023!📚
Mrs. Rambo’s Class enjoying a small field trip in Decatur to visit Governor Oglesby Mansion.
Mrs. Meisenhelter’s class enjoying a trip to Ogelsby Mansion in Decatur.
Congratulations to our County Spelling Bee participants today - Alayna Bickel, Ella Parks, Grady Stock & Eleanor Moyer. Alayna and Ella placed in the top 9 and will advance to the Regional Bee on March 12th. Good luck girls!!
The following statement was issued by our District today -
Effective immediately, the use of masks will temporarily NOT be required in our schools within the Meridian CUSD #15 District until further notice, but the use of masks is still recommended. As always, we expect all students, faculty and staff to be respectful of others' decisions on masking at school.
There have been many tough decisions to make throughout the pandemic. While very many of us within the Meridian District have not agreed with the mandates issued by the State, and the strong-arm tactics that the State and others within our own District have used to try to ensure compliance to these mandates, we have demonstrated and maintained a high standard of civil discourse for our students to see and follow.
At the beginning of the school year, it was agreed the most important issue was getting our children back to school as well as not jeopardizing the long term sustainability of our District to be able to provide an education to the children of our District. It is understood that the vast majority of people within our District are very ready to unmask. We have all likely seen the news clips of other places where there was unrest that did not end peacefully. We have also likely seen where other States, operating similar to Illinois, have recently changed their masking policies.
The path that many school districts throughout Illinois have been traversing has temporarily changed given the ever-changing landscape that continues to evolve daily. Until further future ruling(s) from the Judicial Branch occur, in the interim the Meridian District will deem null and void the terms of the previous executive mandates issued by the Governor of Illinois.
The Temporary Restraining Order issued by a Sangamon County judge last week is a victory for freedom of local control - an opportunity for decisions to be made within our District and not in Springfield or Chicago. There has been confusion and mis-information floating around the general public about the ruling on Friday Feb 4. Even though Governor Pritzker, on the afternoon of Wednesday Feb 9, issued a statement indicating that he will lift the indoor mask mandate at the end of February, he is still excluding K-12 schools from that action.
It is apparent that the legal proceedings and appeals stemming from the ruling will continue and may take longer than originally thought. The reasoning behind staying status quo locally was to avoid even more confusion being created, as different statewide parties continue to try to make decisions for local school districts, until things come to a natural close in our State's Judicial Branch. This possibility still exists, but it is now believed that a final ruling on the case may take several weeks. Please note that the District’s original decision back in August was to have masking recommended but not required – but our local decision was trumped by the statewide mask mandate imposed by Gov Pritzker, and the threats and actions taken by the Governor’s bureaucrats for funding being lost for any Districts that did not comply.
We are making this change with the hope that our District can end the divisiveness and come together to support each other regardless of political bias, ideology bias, or whether one chooses to wear a mask or not. While the belief remains that the status quo decision was the right one, we have all seen almost all school districts in the area who made this same decision, reverse course this past week.
In the end, our District simply asks for all to have just a little more patience and understanding as we hopefully near the end of this weary chapter of our existence.
Mrs. Meisenhelter and Mrs. Rambo’s classes worked together to create a Rocket that will transport Cupid to the bullseye. Learning about force, motion, and trajectory .
Just a quick reminder that the MES Book Fair will be open from 3-6 this evening!
Home Visit Day! Today we read a Valentines Day story, then did a white crayon/watercolor craft to work on name recognition. We ended the morning with some heart themed gross motor activities!
📚📚The MES Book Fair is underway and the kids are loving every minute! Don’t forget we will be open from 3-6 tonight and a Thursday night!! Also, shopping will continue all week in the mornings if you are unable to make it in the evening. 📚📚
Join us for Little Hawks Open Gym every Thursday morning from 8:00-9:30 AM!
Scholastic Book Fair 2022 is set up and ready for preview day tomorrow! We can’t wait to see the kids faces when they see the gym!📚
Elementary PE for Friday Feb. 4, 2022. HELP SOMEONE OUT DAY
I would like for students to help shovel sidewalks or driveways for parents, neighbors or even better elderly. Have fun doing it, dress warm. Would love to see pictures of you doing this. https://classroom.google.com/c/MTU0ODczMjU4OTcx
Due to extent of the winter weather at this time and continued travel concerns over the next 24 hours, Meridian will utilize an e-learning day for Friday February 4. Teachers will provide curriculum expecations. It will be considered a student attendance day and if your student is not able to "attend" please let your teacher(s) know. Unfortunately, due to the expected travel conditions, we will not be able to provide meal availability at either campus.
Please be safe!
Today during Little Hawks Home Visits we read 'The Mixed Up Chameleon' then explored mixing paint colors! If you have a little one between the ages of 0-3 and you'd like to sign up for a Tuesday Home Visit time slot, please email Lindsay Trimble at evensonl@meridianhawks.net!
The excitement is real when this truck pulls up in front of the school! MES Scholastic Book Fair is in ONE week!!
Meridian District Spelling Bee Winners -
Congratulations to our top 4 district spellers – 1st place Alayna Bickel - 8th grade; 2nd place Ella Parks - 5th grade; 3rd place Grady Stock - 7th grade; & 4th place Eleanor Moyer - 6th grade. Congratulations and Good luck to our spellers at the Regional Bee at Richland on February 15th.
