Today is jersey day for MMS as we team up against drugs for Red Ribbon week!
We are looking forward to tomorrow' Red Ribbon theme - Twinning without drugs!!
Congratulations to our students who earned Honor Roll, High Honor Roll, or Principal's List for the 1st quarter! The students who earned Straight A's will be treated to donuts and juice next week. We challenge our students to keep working hard as the year progresses so we can watch this list grow!
Students are allowed to wear their favorite hat tomorrow as we kick off Red Ribbon week!
Picture retakes are on Monday. To order, use code 87933RD to order.
This week is Red Ribbon week. The national theme this year is "Life is a movie, film drug free!" Our student organizations have planned themed days for the week.
Monday: Put a cap on drugs - Cap Day
Tuesday: Team up against drugs - Jersey Day
Wednesday: Twinning without drugs - Twin Day
Thursday: Chill out drug free - Pajama Day
Thursday of this week is the LAST day for students to turn in raffle tickets for our fall raffle fundraiser (sold and unsold tickets)! We will begin drawing for the cash giveaways on Friday, November 1. Thank you to everyone who purchased or helped sell tickets to benefit our MMS students!
Parent/Teacher conferences will take place on Friday, November 1 from 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. If you would like to schedule a conference with one of our grade level teams, there are still spots available! Please contact a team teacher or the office at the beginning of the week to secure a spot!
There is no student attendance on Friday, November 1 and Monday, November 4 due to parent/teacher conferences. There is also no school on Tuesday, November 5 - Election Day. When students return on Wednesday, November 6, we will dismiss at 1:30 p.m. for curriculum development.
Girls Basketball -
The Okaw Jr. High Conference tournament will continue all week with both teams playing again on Monday. The 7th grade team will play in Clinton at 5:30 p.m. The 8th grade team will play in Macon at 7:15 p.m.
Go Hawks!
At the October 21, Board of Education meeting, the Meridian BOE issued the following public statement:
“As contract negotiations continue between the Board of Education and the Meridian Federation of Teachers, the district wishes to inform the public of the status of negotiations. On Wednesday, October 16, the Meridian Federation of Teachers initiated a public posting process with the State of Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board. With this process, both the MFT and the district will submit their most recent proposal to the Labor Relations Board within seven days. Subsequently, the Labor Relations Board will publicly post the submitted proposals on their website after another seven days. So, within the timeframe of Illinois labor statute, the most recent proposal for both the MFT and the Board of Education will be publicly available. The district will also post the Board of Education’s proposal to the district’s website. The Board and the MFT are scheduled to meet again on Wednesday, October 30.”
The Board of Education submitted its public posting document as required by law to the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board, the mediator, and the MFT on Tuesday, October 22. The Meridian Federation of Teachers submitted their public posting document on Wednesday, October 23.
Illinois labor law (115 ILCS 5/12 Section 12) requires that the ELRB “shall make public the offers,” “seven days after receipt.” The Board has been advised by its attorney that the posting documents are not public documents until the ELRB publishes them. Upon receipt of the Board’s submission, the ELRB confirmed that the document should be posted on October 30.
The Board is aware that the posting document from the MFT has been made publicly available. From the beginning of the public posting process initiated by the MFT, the Board has remained committed to following all applicable Illinois labor laws.
Today is statewide Principal Appreciation Day. Thank you to each of our building leaders for all they do for students and staff daily!
This week's Hawk Proud award was presented to Easton B! He was nominated by a teacher for voluntarily helping a classmate understand an activity on IXL. Having helpful students in the classroom is what it's all about! Way to go, Easton!
Next week is Red Ribbon week! The 2024 National theme for Red Ribbon week is "Life is a Movie, Film Drug Free!" We look forward to daily dress up themes planned by our student organizations.
We are looking forward to our Halloween dance that will take place tomorrow from 7-9 p.m. A reminder that this dance is for MMS students only and costumes are encouraged! The dance is free for students to attend, but there will be a concession stand, picture opportunity, and a costume contest. The doors will not be open until 7:00, and we ask that students are promptly picked up at 9:00!
Make sure to ask your student for their report card and IAR reports when they get home today! Report cards are also accessible on TeacherEase.
The MJHS is collecting non-perishable food items and cash all week to benefit the local food pantry! Students can drop off all donations to their homeroom teachers. The grade level that donates the most will receive a movie reward in the auditorium. In addition, individuals who donate will have a chance at some great prizes! Most importantly, thank you in advance for helping the Meridian community this holiday season.
ATTENTION ALL SPECTATORS JH 8th Grade OKAW Basketball Tournament parking is attached. Please review.
HAWK HOOPERS attached is the 8th/7th grade OKAW conference tournament brackets
7th grade OKAW Conference Tournament will be held @ Clinton
8th grade OKAW Conference Tournament will be held @ Meridian
CALLING ALL BASKETBALL FANS! We have a packed weekend for our JH 8th grade Lady Hawks please join us this Saturday to kick off the OKAW Conference Tournament!
We will continue to collect raffle tickets (both sold and unsold) for our fall fundraiser this week! We will begin drawing daily winners on Friday, November 1 for our cash winners, so please make sure tickets are turned in by then.
The MJHS food drive to benefit the local food pantry will take place this week. Students can turn all non-perishable food items or cash donations into their homeroom teachers. Please check the expiration dates prior to sending the food items to school. All donations will be dropped off at the Blue Mound Food Pantry for this holiday season.
1st quarter report cards will be printed and provided to all students on Wednesday. In addition, last year's IAR and ISA reports will also be sent home.
The Student Council sponsored Halloween dance is scheduled for Friday from 7-9 p.m. This dance is for MMS students only and is free to attend. We do request students bring smaller bills for concession stand purchases. Students are encouraged to wear costumes!
Girls Basketball -
Monday: AWAY vs. Clinton; 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday: HOME vs. Mt. Zion; 6:00 p.m.
Saturday: Conference Tournament kicks off with the 7th grade team playing in Clinton and the 8th grade team playing at Meridian.
Boys Basketball -
Tryouts will begin on Monday. The 8th grade will tryout from 2:30 - 4:00 p.m. 6th & 7th graders will tryout from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Go Hawks!
Congratulations to Mrs. Houser who was inducted into the Track & Field Hall of Fame at North Central College this weekend!
Our Halloween dance (for Meridian Middle School students) is one week away!
The 8th grade basketball team picked up another win (21-11) over Argenta last night! Way to go, Lady Hawks!
This Friday (October 18) is the last day of the 1st quarter. Report cards will be provided to all students on Wednesday, October 23. In addition, Math and Literature teachers will be sending home last year's IAR reports with students.
Looking ahead - Team leaders are currently scheduling parent/teacher conferences that will take place on Friday, November 1. There will be no student attendance on Friday, November 1 - Tuesday, November 5.
