Meridian Elementary School

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.

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!