Per Mr. Pygott’s message this evening, we will be going full remote learning beginning tomorrow, Monday, Sept. 14th thru Friday, Sept. 25th.. We plan to resume our blended learning of in-person or remote on Monday, September 28th. Elementary students may come in and pick up their materials and a chromebook tomorrow between 12-3 or Tuesday between 8-2. PPE requirements will be in place for pickup and only the student and 1 parent may come in and go to the classroom to pick up their materials. Students will be given their chromebook to use for the 2 weeks, free of charge. It will then need to be returned to school when we resume on the 28th. Teachers will post to google classroom the days work. We understand you may not have access to this until you pick up your materials and a chromebook . If you need assistance with using google classroom, please contact your child’s teacher for assistance. Later tomorrow, we will be providing you a remote learning schedule to better understand remote instruction for the coming days. Lunches will be available daily to be picked up between 11-12. You will need to call in by 9 am to reserve a lunch if you would like one. Lunches are free if you qualify and regular price if not. School hours tomorrow will be 7:30-3 and then beginning Tuesday will be 8-2. Please be patient with us as we work with you to do this - this is new to all of us. Communication in the coming days will be very important. Please ask us if you have any questions and we will do our best to help you.
Lunch Menu Change -
Friday, Sept. 11 -
Turkey and Noodles
Fruit
Vegetable
Chocolate Graham Crackers
Reminder - Friday, Sept. 4th is an 11:30 dismissal & no school on Monday, Sept. 7th. Thanks to everyone for your patience and understanding as we have started the school year. It is going great!!
Reminder - today is pick up of materials for remote learners. You may pick up anytime between 8:00 am and 3:00 pm. Please remember to wear your mask and only one person should come in. Thanks.
MES staff would like to welcome everyone back to school!! Even though this school year may not look like normal, we are excited and looking forward to a great year. We Are Meridian!!
MES would like to welcome our new staff members for the 20-21 school year!! Andrew Novak - school counselor; Megan Pistorius - part time prek parent coordinator/5th grade sub; Alexandra Heffernan - kindergarten; Rhilee Cochran - 2nd grade; Mariah Henderson - 1st grade; and Katie Harris - head cook. Welcome to our Meridian team!
The 1st day of school is Monday August 31- in person or remote. Cloth face masks required to board the bus and should remain on during transport. Face masks are also required while in school. Daily self certification required with our SIS app or for use on home computer/tablets, etc. Please see our district web site for information related to COVID-19 and school attendance along with a link to help with the Tyler SIS 360 app for phones.
Reminder - Our drive thru drop off of school supplies is today, Wednesday, Aug. 26th. The drop off will be at our north doors. You do not have to drop supplies off, students are welcome to bring them the first day of school. Please have all supplies in a bag or backpack with your child’s first and last name marked on the bag. If you have children in multiple grade levels, you may pick whichever time works best for you. Teachers will be assisting with the drop off. You should not get out of your vehicle, we will walk out to you.
1st grade - 12-12:45
2nd grade - 12:45-1:30
3rd grade - 1:30-2:15
4th grade - 2:15-3
5th grade - 3-3:45
August 11, 2020
Dear Meridian Parents,
Last night (Monday August 10), the Meridian School Board approved a school calendar revision for the 2020-2021 school year. The amended school calendar will delay the start of the school and students will begin on Monday August 31 instead of Monday August 17. The delayed start is in response to the overall rise in COVID-19 cases for the area. The school board is hopeful that a delayed start will coincide with a decrease in positive cases for the area. When students begin school on Monday August 31, they will still follow the individual registration choice of either in-person or remote learning. In addition, the daily early dismissal times are still in place.
We understand the necessary planning that takes place for families to address child care arrangements for when students are not in school. Careful consideration has gone into the decisions regarding the return to school for students and we continue to evaluate the primary goal of safe attendance procedures for students and staff members. An updated school year calendar will be posted on our school websites when completed. At this time, the delay in the school year will not impact any of the scheduled holiday breaks and most of the days for the delayed start will be added on to the end of the school year calendar. If you have any questions regarding your student’s school schedule or registration choice, please contact that building’s office staff for assistance.
Sincerely,
Andy Pygott, Superintendent
Meridian CUSD #15
“We Are Meridian”
Due to our start of school date being delayed until August 31st, our previously scheduled events this week of picking up and dropping off supplies and our kindergarten meet the teachers afternoon will be postponed until the week of Aug. 24th. We will provide you updated information once we get new dates planned. Thank you.
If your child is a returning Meridian student, please complete online registration by August 7. Information being collected through the online registration is being used to help plan and prepare for the upcoming school year. If you have any questions, please call 217-692-2535.
New student registration is on Monday, August 3rd at the school from 8-2. Please bring proof of residency with you. We ask that only one family member come to register and a mask will need to be worn. If you have any questions, you may call the school at 692-2535.
Online registration for the 20-21 school year is open using SIS (online parent portal). The link for SIS is https://sdm.sisk12.com/MM360x3/login. Before logging in, please make sure you have selected the “parent” tab on the home screen. Once you login, you will see a yellow online registration prompt with a link directly above the Announcements section.
If you do not have an online SIS account, please contact Mr. Stielow at stielowp@meridianhawks.net. This account will also be useful throughout the school year as you will be able to check your child(ren)’s grades, fees, meal account balance, etc.
If you do not have internet access and are unable to register online, please email guebertl@meridianhawks.net or call the office (692-2535) to leave a message. Appointments for in-person registration will be available starting on Tuesday, August 4.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email me at guebertl@meridianhawks.net.
Reminder.....Don't forget to call in and pre-register students who will be in kindergarten the 2020-21 school year. We hope to have a lot of new friends joining us!! You may call 217-692-2535 and leave us a message with your child's information, or you may email us at guebertl@meridianhawks.net.
We want to wish Mrs. Cocagne good luck as she moves out of state with her family. She will be missed!
Congratulations to Mrs. Boland and Ms. Wetzel on your retirement. Thank you for all years of service. We will miss you.
Meridian Elementary Kindergarten Screening Update - Due to the current Covid-19 situation, we will not be conducting a formal kindergarten screening for next school year. We do, however, need to get your kindergartner registered in our system. If you have a child ready to enter kindergarten next school year who has not been in our Meridian Prek program we need to you do one of the following: Call the school and leave a message with your child’s information - child’s name, child’s birthdate, parents’ names, address, phone number, and an email address. You may call our main phone line number 217-692-2535 and select ext. 204 and leave a message with the information OR You may email Mrs. Guebert at guebertl@meridianhawks.net and provide the following information - child’s name, child’s birthdate, parents' names, address, phone number, and an email address. If you have any questions, please feel free to give us a call. Once we have your information, someone will contact you back to let you know we received your information and ask any further questions we may have. If you know of anyone new to the district or doesn’t have children currently in the district, please pass this information along to them. Thank you.
Meridian Pre-K Screening Update
Due to COVID-19 the Meridian Pre-K program is making modifications to their screening process this year. If you had already contacted the school and scheduled a screening appointment you should have received a message from a staff member recently about how we are conducting screening. If you have not made a screening appointment and have a child who will be 3 years old by September 1st and live in the Meridian School District please contact Mrs. Reed at 217-972-3039 by Friday, May 22nd to get more information about the screening process.
The fifth graders have worked hard repurposing and "upcycling" with recycled plastic from around their house. Check out their creative projects!
Ms. Bourisaw's 4th Graders have been learning about the states this year. They had fun making their state floats. Good Job!
