Patriotic First Graders on Veterans Day!
Lunch Menu Change - On November 17th, the main course will be pancakes, not breakfast burrito.
In honor of Veterans Day on Wednesday, Nov. 11th, please wear red, white, and blue to school.
We will have picture retakes the morning of Friday, November 13th for anyone who missed pictures earlier this year or want them redone. Remote learners may come in from 8:30-10:00 for pictures.
Meridian CUSD #15 Board of Education Media Release
Re: Remote Learning Adjustment
At the request of Superintendent Andy Pygott, the Meridian CUSD #15 District will be switching to Remote-Only instruction beginning on Monday November 30, 2020 for the remainder of the first semester.
In-person instruction is currently planned to continue at Meridian CUSD #15 until Thanksgiving break. At this time, it is planned that the start of the second semester in January will return back with a resumption of both in-person instruction and remote instruction.
The Meridian CUSD #15 Board of Education and Administrative Team realizes that getting this message out as soon as possible is extremely important for parents, students, staff, faculty, and administrators to
be able to plan and temporarily adjust.
The reasoning behind this temporary adjustment was not due to a high percentage of positive cases of COVID-19, or due to a sudden escalation of COVID-19 cases in the Meridian CUSD #15 District.
Currently, the percentage of positive student COVID-19 cases for the Meridian CUSD #15 District stands around 1% for the 2020-2021 school year. With the diligence & frequency in cleaning activities, and
other protocols in place, it has been noted that our school buildings are not likely the source of COVID19 when a positive result arises, but instead appears to be a case to where COVID-19 may have been
carried into our school buildings. The cleaning and protocols that have been in place have proven to make our schools a safe place, and to greatly reduce the risk of further spread of the virus.
The primary reasons behind this adjustment were due to:
The elevated amount of staff and students in the Meridian CUSD #15 District being placed in quarantine due to Contact Tracing, and the challenges that reality is presenting.
The heightened risk for the COVID-19 virus to spread during the time between Thanksgiving and the end of the first semester, when there will likely be more gatherings among people as a result of the Holiday Season.
One of biggest ongoing challenges that the Board is informed about, from many within the Meridian CUSD #15 District, deals with, in some form or another, remote instruction. Whether that be from
student engagement, students struggling to learn, lack of technology or technology experience within student homes, or extra burdens to our teachers, staff, and administrators. With the amount of issues
regarding remote instruction, it is understood that adding more remote instruction will not alleviate or ultimately solve that problem, and is not in the best long-term interests of our students. While open to
making this temporary adjustment, the mindset of the Board throughout this school year is to take every opportunity to strive towards maintaining, or getting back, to seeing our students educated in the manner that a great many of those served within our District are accustomed to and expect.
Tomorrow (Friday, November 6) is an 11:30 a.m. dismissal!
REMINDER: No School tomorrow. We will be closed to observe the Election Day Holiday on Tuesday, November 3.
Long lines at the polls today!
The First Graders voted for President!
Hudson says, “Fight drugs!”
Are you looking for extra support to help your student(s) with Google Classroom? A free online workshop - 10 Things Every Parent Should Know About Google Classroom - will be available at 3 different times on October 27. To register, click on the following link: https://ltcillinois.org/events/. Scroll down to find the event named "Google Classroom for Parents." A link will be sent to you after the registration is complete.
We had fun writing fall stories and painting with watercolors to get in the fall spirit in Mrs. Owens' 4th grade!
FREE Breakfast and Lunch for ALL -
Through a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant, the Meridian School District is able to offer free breakfast and lunch to all our school aged children and the grant was extended through the end of the 20-21 school year. We encourage all of our families to take advantage of this great offer. If you are a remote learner, please call in by 9am to order your breakfast/lunch for the day.
MES Red Ribbon Week - Oct. 26-30 -
Be Happy. Be Brave. Be Drug Free -
Monday – I’m too bright for drugs – wear neon/bright clothing and BE HAPPY about your healthy choices -
Tuesday – Be BRAVE and take a stand for a drug free land – wear red, white, and blue -
Wednesday – To be drug free is No Sweat – wear your comfy sweats to school -
Thursday- Turn your back on drugs – wear your shirt backwards
Friday – Drugs are Scary – wear your Halloween costume to school (no parade)
Reminder - Friday, October 9th is an 11:30 dismissal day.
Lunch/recess supervisor - supervisor needed at Meridian Elementary School to help supervise students during lunch hour and recess times. Hours 10:40-12:55 - Mon. - Fri., $11 an hour. If interested, please contact Mrs. Guebert @ guebertl@meridianhawks.net or 692-2535 ext. 204.
Free Breakfast and Lunch - Last spring, during the mandatory school closure, the state provided meal waivers to schools which, in effect, allowed for us to provide meals to students free of charge. Our district's request to extend this waiver has been approved and this program will go back in effect from October 1 - December 31. Student accounts will not be charged for breakfast or lunch unless they purchase additional items beyond what is offered. For remote learners, please make sure to notify the appropriate office by 9am if you are wishing to have a lunch(es) provided for your student. Remote lunch pick up times may vary by building so please check with the office. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the office.
Thank you parents!
The MES staff wants to let our parents know that we appreciate all you do to make your child's education possible during these trying times. We could not do it without you! Thanks also to all the grandparents, relatives, and community members who are also helping out!
Back to school message -
Meridian Elementary will be returning for in-person instruction on Monday, September 28th. Any student who was receiving in-person instruction before our remote learning days should plan to return to school for in-person instruction on Monday. Students need to bring back their chromebooks, chargers, books, and any other materials that were sent home. Make sure your chromebooks are charged and ready for class. Students previously doing remote learning, will continue with remote learning unless the school has been contacted in regards to returning to in-person. If you have any questions, please let us know.
If you have not picked up materials/supplies yet, you may pick them up today between 8-2. Thanks.
MES Remote Learning Schedule
8-8:15 - Students log in to google classroom for their daily attendance/check in
8:15 - 9:30 - English/Reading block
9:45-11 - Math Block
11:15-11:30 lunch
11:45 - 2 - Student independent work time - teachers will be available to assist students during this time on work assigned in the AM sessions and students will have time to work on specialist classes
Morning English/Reading and Math Blocks will be delivered live through Google Meets and recorded for those students who are not able to log on at those times and posted to Google classroom for students to view or re-watch as needed.