[{"id":23144,"date":"2026-03-31T09:00:44","date_gmt":"2026-03-31T16:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/?p=23144"},"modified":"2026-03-30T08:34:51","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T15:34:51","slug":"spring-break-april-6-10","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/news\/2026\/03\/31\/spring-break-april-6-10\/","title":{"rendered":"Spring break, April 6-10"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>Spring break is April 6-10. All schools and the District Office are closed during spring break. The Meridian Family Support Center food pantry will be open on Wednesday, April 8 from 2-5 p.m.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/calendars\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">school year calendars<\/a> are available on our website.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><strong>Looking ahead:<\/strong> The last day of school is Wednesday, June 10. The first day of school for the 2026-27 school year is Monday, Aug. 31.<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Spring break is April 6-10. All schools and the District <a href=\"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/news\/2026\/03\/31\/spring-break-april-6-10\/\"> [&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":18390,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23144","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-district-update"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23144","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23144"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23144\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18390"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23144"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23144"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23144"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":23148,"date":"2026-03-31T08:42:02","date_gmt":"2026-03-31T15:42:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/news\/2026\/03\/31\/building-strong-foundations-ires-early-learning-programs\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T08:42:02","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T15:42:02","slug":"building-strong-foundations-ires-early-learning-programs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/news\/2026\/03\/31\/building-strong-foundations-ires-early-learning-programs\/","title":{"rendered":"Building Strong Foundations: IRE&#8217;s Early Learning Programs"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>At Irene Reither Elementary (IRE), the first floor is buzzing with energy and curiosity. It\u2019s home to our youngest learners, ages three to five, who are beginning their educational journey in programs designed to support lifelong success.<br \/>Research shows that high-quality early learning improves long-term academic and social outcomes. Students who begin kindergarten ready to learn are more likely to stay on track.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur teachers are creating a school experience where children feel safe, known, loved, and valued,\u201d said early childhood specialist Natalie Eining. \u201cAt this age, children can take risks, share their thinking, and start building friendships. It\u2019s this collective effort that\u2019s happening across each classroom.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Pre-Kindergarten Programs (PK)<\/strong><br \/>In addition to kindergarten, IRE offers a full-day preschool experience for eligible three- and four-year-olds. The Pre-Kindergarten (PK) Program brings together Transitional Kindergarten (TK) and the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP, pronounced \u201cE\u2011Cap\u201d) into one inclusive model where children learn through play, exploration, and connection with peers.<\/p>\n<p>Teachers focus on early literacy, foundational math, problem-solving, language growth, social-emotional development, and kindergarten readiness.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cKids are excited to come to school. They love one another, and they love the staff,\u201d Mrs. Eining said. \u201cEven in a few months, the growth we\u2019ve seen is tremendous. It\u2019s such a special foundation for their learning journey.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Families also receive support through strong collaboration between school staff and community partners. Eligibility for PK is based on age, need, and family circumstances, following TK and ECEAP guidelines.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Developmental Preschool<\/strong><br \/>Developmental Preschool serves children ages three to five whose families have concerns about their child\u2019s development or learning. Students may experience communication delays, motor or adaptive challenges, social-emotional or behavioral needs, or have a diagnosed disability or health condition.<\/p>\n<p>Through specialized instruction and individualized supports, the program centers each child\u2019s strengths. Children qualify through a free evaluation that families can request anytime during the school year.<br \/>\u201cAll of our staff are here for the kids and what\u2019s best for kids,\u201d Mrs. Eining said. \u201cThis year, especially with adding so many students, everyone\u2019s excited to have them here. They love building relationships and creating intentional experiences to support a lifelong love of learning.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Supporting a Strong Start<\/strong><br \/>Both PK and Developmental Preschool prepare young learners for a successful transition into kindergarten while offering families ongoing support. Whether a child thrives in an inclusive, play-based environment or needs more specialized services, Meridian provides pathways that meet children where they are and help them flourish.<\/p>\n<p>Early childhood education at IRE isn\u2019t just about academics \u2014 it\u2019s about belonging, confidence, and joy. By investing in these programs, we are giving our youngest learners the tools they need to succeed now and in the future.<br \/>Kindergarten registration and applications for PK programs open annually on the Tuesday after Presidents Day. Visit our website to learn more about Irene Reither Elementary\u2019s early learning programs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>At Irene Reither Elementary (IRE), the first floor is buzzing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/news\/2026\/03\/31\/building-strong-foundations-ires-early-learning-programs\/\"> [&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":23149,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34,33],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23148","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-learning","category-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23148","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23148"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23148\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23149"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23148"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23148"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23148"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":23145,"date":"2026-03-30T08:42:39","date_gmt":"2026-03-30T15:42:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/?p=23145"},"modified":"2026-03-30T08:42:39","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T15:42:39","slug":"weekly-update-march-29th-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/news\/2026\/03\/30\/weekly-update-march-29th-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Weekly Update &#8211; March 29th, 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"s_typography-body\">\n<h2>Principal&#8217;s Message<\/h2>\n<div>IRE Families,<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>As we head into the final week before Spring Break and close out Quarter 3, we want to take a moment to thank you for your continued partnership. This time of year is a great opportunity to reflect and recharge. We hope your family is able to enjoy a restful and meaningful break together.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>As we look ahead to the final 10 weeks of the school year, finishing strong is key. Small, consistent habits can make a big difference in keeping students academically sharp while still making space for fun and connection.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Here are a few simple questions you might use during Spring Break to support learning at home:<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>What are you reading right now, and what\u2019s happening in your book?<\/li>\n<li>Can you tell me about a new word you learned or noticed?<\/li>\n<li>Where do you see math in our day today (shopping, cooking, traveling)?<\/li>\n<li>Can you write or draw a story about something we did today?<\/li>\n<li>What is something new you learned this year that you\u2019re proud of?<\/li>\n<li>What is a goal you have for the last part of the school year?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Even 10\u201315 minutes of reading, writing, or math practice each day can help maintain momentum, while still leaving plenty of time for rest, play, and family connection.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with you in supporting your child to feel known, loved, and valued each day. We look forward to a strong finish together this spring!<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Last, 5th grade closed out their annual Pi Day celebration by getting to the &#8220;pi&#8221; the principal. Three students memorized nearly 100 (or over 100) digits of pi! Holy smokes. See some of the photos below.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Best,<\/div>\n<div>Tyler Dockins, Principal<\/div>\n<div>Nate Beede, Assistant Principal<\/div>\n<div>Rebecca Kratzig, Dean of Instruction<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<hr \/>\n<\/div>\n<h2>School Safety Drill Update<\/h2>\n<div>At IRE, student safety is our top priority. As part of our ongoing safety efforts, we follow the <a href=\"https:\/\/iloveuguys.org\/The-Standard-Response-Protocol.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Standard Response Protocol (SRP)<\/a>\u00a0developed by the \u201cI Love U Guys\u201d Foundation. This approach uses clear, consistent language so students and staff know exactly how to respond in any situation.<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"s_typography-body\">\n<div><\/div>\n<div>This month, we will be practicing two important drills:<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Shelter-in-Place:<\/strong>\u00a0Students remain inside and take protective action (often used for environmental situations like weather or air quality).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Evacuation (2nd instance for the year):<\/strong>\u00a0Students safely move to a designated location outside or away from the building.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div>These drills are practiced in a calm, age-appropriate way so students feel prepared and confident.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><strong>Questions to ask your child at home:<\/strong><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>What do you do during a shelter-in-place drill?<\/li>\n<li>Where do you go during an evacuation?<\/li>\n<li>How does your teacher help keep you safe?<\/li>\n<li>Why is it important to practice safety drills?<\/li>\n<li>What questions do you still have about school safety?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Thank you for partnering with us to ensure every student feels\u00a0<strong>safe, known, and cared for<\/strong>\u00a0at school.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<hr \/>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Spring Break is April 6-10. School resumes on April 13.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<hr \/>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h2 class=\"s_typography-header2 s_pb-8\">Native American Student Union Presents Children of the Earth Pow Wow<\/h2>\n<div class=\"s_typography-body\">\n<div>Families are invited to attend the\u00a0<em>Children of the Earth Pow Wow<\/em>\u00a0hosted by Squalicum High School\u2019s Native American Student Union on\u00a0<strong>Saturday, April 25, 2026<\/strong>, at the Squalicum High School Gymnasium in Bellingham. This traditional pow wow is planned by Native student youth leaders and celebrates Native American dancing, singing, arts and crafts, vendors, and food. Grand entries will take place at\u00a0<strong>1:00 PM and 6:00 PM<\/strong>, and the event is free to attend with free parking.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>All are welcome at this drug- and alcohol-free community event. A free community dinner will be provided. This is a wonderful opportunity for students and families to experience and celebrate Native culture and traditions in our region.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<hr \/>\n<\/div>\n<h2>PTA Meeting<\/h2>\n<div>You&#8217;re Invited!<br \/>\nMeridian PTA Meeting<br \/>\nWednesday April 1st, 4:00-5:30pm<br \/>\nIn the Building A staff lounge<br \/>\nDoors open at 3:50- Please wait outside until dismissal is over before entering the building for the meeting.<br \/>\nWe will be discussing:<br \/>\nPlanning for end of the year field day<br \/>\nCheck in on yearbook<br \/>\nRecap on past events<br \/>\nFinancial reports and more!<br \/>\nAll are welcome! No obligation to volunteer- come see what we are all about!<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<h3>Yearbook Photos Needed<\/h3>\n<div>The PTA is working hard on designing this year\u2019s yearbook, and we need more photos! If you would like to upload photos, you can use the link below to access our community album and add photos to your student\u2019s classroom folder.<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Yearbook photo upload:<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/books.yearbooks.me\/cg\/9bpjt39b6m73meu4ed8yp7mqtqqtwev59\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/books.yearbooks.me\/cg\/9bpjt39b6m73meu4ed8yp7mqtqqtwev59<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Password: Trojans#1\u00a0 (case-sensitive)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div><strong>OR you can email pictures to the PTA directly. Please include your student\u2019s name and class, and the event the photo is from if it\u2019s not obvious.\u00a0<\/strong><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><a href=\"mailto:IreneReitherYearbook@gmail.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IreneReitherYearbook@gmail.com<\/a><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Pictures DUE by April 3rd 2026.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Principal&#8217;s Message IRE Families, As we head into the final <a href=\"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/news\/2026\/03\/30\/weekly-update-march-29th-2026\/\"> [&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":18708,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[25,18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23145","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newsletter","category-principal"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23145","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23145"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23145\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18708"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23145"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23145"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23145"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":23126,"date":"2026-03-25T15:00:31","date_gmt":"2026-03-25T22:00:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/?p=23126"},"modified":"2026-03-24T15:53:35","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T22:53:35","slug":"summer-nutrition-benefits-for-kids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/news\/2026\/03\/25\/summer-nutrition-benefits-for-kids\/","title":{"rendered":"Reminders: Summer Nutrition Benefits for Kids and Apply for Thriving Schools Planning Team"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3>Summer Nutrition Benefits for Kids<\/h3>\n<div>We want to share information with you about a state program called SUN\u00a0Bucks, also known as Summer EBT. This program provides families with assistance to buy groceries for their school-aged children during the summer; each eligible child receives $120 on an EBT card.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Your child is eligible for SUN Bucks automatically if you already\u00a0participate in SNAP, TANF or other programs directly certified by the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), such as McKinney-Vento, or if your household income meets the requirements for free or reduced-price school meals.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>If your family does not automatically qualify through the previously mentioned criteria, you may complete the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/departments\/food-service-program\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">free and reduced-price meals application<\/a>\u00a0available on our website or in school offices.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Applications must be\u00a0submitted before the end of the school year and can be turned in to your child\u2019s school.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>If you are unsure if you have already completed these forms this year, please contact Food and Nutrition Coordinator Erin Groen at 360-318-2267 or\u00a0<a href=\"mailto:egroen@meridian.wednet.edu\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">egroen@meridian.wednet.edu<\/a>.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>For\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.fns.usda.gov\/summer\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">more information about SUN Bucks<\/a>,\u00a0you can call 1-833-543-3230 during business hours Monday-Friday or visit the program\u2019s webpage.<\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Apply for Thriving Schools Planning Team<\/h3>\n<p>Families, staff, students and community members are encouraged to apply for consideration to serve on the Thriving Schools Planning Team. Interested individuals are encouraged to apply by 8 a.m. March 30.<\/p>\n<p>Directed by\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/our-district\/school-board\/policies-procedures\/3112-policy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Board Policy 3112<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/our-district\/school-board\/policies-procedures\/3112-procedure\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Procedure 3112<\/a>\u00a0this team will review data and recommend areas of improvement that would ensure learning thrives for every student. The team serves to bridge the district\u2019s five commitments of Belonging, Communication, Support, Wellness, and Learning by creating safe, equitable, and restorative environments where students and staff feel honored, valued and empowered to succeed.<\/p>\n<p>Visit the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/our-district\/committees-advisory-groups\/thriving-schools-planning-team\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">planning team webpage<\/a>\u00a0to learn more about this group, open positions and timeline.<\/p>\n<p>To apply for consideration to serve on this team, please\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/meridiansd.qualtrics.com\/jfe\/form\/SV_9uIcwFyebMHs6Ro\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">complete and submit an online form<\/a> by 8 a.m. on March 30 or<a href=\"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/MSD_Letter-of-Participation.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u00a0download to print this form<\/a>\u00a0and submit it to the District Office at 214 W. Laurel Road, Bellingham, WA 98226 or email it to communications@meridian.wednet.edu.<\/p>\n<p>Questions? Please contact (360) 398-7111.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Summer Nutrition Benefits for Kids We want to share information <a href=\"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/news\/2026\/03\/25\/summer-nutrition-benefits-for-kids\/\"> [&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":22282,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23126","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-district-update"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23126","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23126"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23126\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22282"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23126"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23126"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23126"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":23129,"date":"2026-03-24T09:09:47","date_gmt":"2026-03-24T16:09:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/?p=23129"},"modified":"2026-03-24T09:09:47","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T16:09:47","slug":"weekly-update-march-22nd-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/news\/2026\/03\/24\/weekly-update-march-22nd-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Weekly Update &#8211; March 22nd, 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3><strong>Principal&#8217;s Message<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>IRE Families,<\/p>\n<p>As we wrap up the third quarter and look ahead to spring break, it\u2019s a great time to pause and reflect on the habits that help our students grow. What strong routines can we build at home to support reading and math each day? Even small, consistent practice like reading together, practicing math facts, or talking about learning can make a big difference in building a better tomorrow for our students.<\/p>\n<p>Spring also brings many opportunities to get involved in our school community. In the coming weeks, we\u2019ll be sharing information about end-of-year celebrations, field days, class placement input, and special events as we celebrate our 5th grade students and their transition to middle school. We look forward to partnering with you to finish the year strong.<\/p>\n<p>Best,<br \/>\nTyler Dockins, Principal<br \/>\nNate Beede, Assistant Principal<br \/>\nRebecca Kratzig, Dean of Instruction<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3 class=\"m_-2028400743126235700s_typography-header2 m_-2028400743126235700s_pb-8\">Spring Break<\/h3>\n<div>\n<div>Spring Break will be April 6 &#8211; 10.<\/div>\n<div>School will resume on Monday, April 13.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>\n<strong>Autism Acceptance Month<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div class=\"m_-2028400743126235700nl-builder_email-image_container\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"CToWUd a6T alignnone\" tabindex=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/ci3.googleusercontent.com\/meips\/ADKq_NYAsfengiuX05ZVg1wI_nq_TqSe5ducdT1LWpPujKJBqXi412oQueVeaNxa25J97GpoJmlvJKrCvRYmMCPYATVdEP69fWAJpCedvljUBKubTYKuto8sLEkmhB6QZHs8GbaLt00hRoQ8zx2fgSKWDn7DbVsxSTpG1n62nnaKCB2r=s0-d-e1-ft#https:\/\/cdn.filestackcontent.com\/auto_image\/quality=v:70\/resize=width:770,height:1000\/L3sHZjeJQ7mMuDJBk7W0\" alt=\"Autism Acceptance Month Shirts\" width=\"385\" height=\"1000\" data-bit=\"iit\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>April is Autism Awareness Month, a portion of each t-shirt or sweatshirt sale will help fund sensory equipment and tools for students in Irene Reither\u2019s Sensory and Autism program (SLE).<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Go to <a href=\"https:\/\/email-link.parentsquare.com\/ls\/click?upn=u001.GJWbfco3RdULUanYsnzmhU5t1A4op1WNlUNUAtthUuDZ31LSgC-2FD-2BIBG0SRImfbytWy8_oSbLEBDYGulrOylDB17zjf7RACDl25-2BbE5RXGzUzWwQJljVUlOZBHiGtMWWtUoGnpTfq38qrfUnKmgQYIYGr7orZLuvN8EvqgtTJ39hzmtXj14DZat3eEjAr9UH-2B1iA-2BK-2F9pe22lBxJGGoe0TfZC8MviIAiuu-2FWezZGcV0fJQyY-2FNsqSr0-2BrNX9nsJzFzh6iJtVBRS2oNpsGeOGFla93mawb5JBFqEl5MwS35M5E-2BFNKbPXl69hKTC8gjXe4rz-2FA-2FMUsKlCXzqJThh9t4JS41A-3D-3D\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/email-link.parentsquare.com\/ls\/click?upn%3Du001.GJWbfco3RdULUanYsnzmhU5t1A4op1WNlUNUAtthUuDZ31LSgC-2FD-2BIBG0SRImfbytWy8_oSbLEBDYGulrOylDB17zjf7RACDl25-2BbE5RXGzUzWwQJljVUlOZBHiGtMWWtUoGnpTfq38qrfUnKmgQYIYGr7orZLuvN8EvqgtTJ39hzmtXj14DZat3eEjAr9UH-2B1iA-2BK-2F9pe22lBxJGGoe0TfZC8MviIAiuu-2FWezZGcV0fJQyY-2FNsqSr0-2BrNX9nsJzFzh6iJtVBRS2oNpsGeOGFla93mawb5JBFqEl5MwS35M5E-2BFNKbPXl69hKTC8gjXe4rz-2FA-2FMUsKlCXzqJThh9t4JS41A-3D-3D&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1774453734023000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3NriixarHtKJevAY2JDo5v\"><strong><u>https:\/\/laureldesign.net\/<\/u><\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<hr \/>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<h3>Thrive Award Nominations Now Open!<\/h3>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>Help us celebrate the incredible people who make Meridian such a special place to learn, work and grow. The Thrive Awards honor staff, teams and community partners who go above and beyond to support our students and embody our district\u2019s values. We need your help to spotlight those who make a difference every day!<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Award Categories:<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>Community Builder Award (Belonging)<\/li>\n<li>Communication Excellence Award (Communication)<\/li>\n<li>Together We Thrive Award (Support)<\/li>\n<li>Wellness Champion Award (Wellness)<\/li>\n<li>Inspiring Educator Award (Learning)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div>Anyone can\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/email-link.parentsquare.com\/ls\/click?upn=u001.Mn4yxfqNAdY6h-2FnN25MhUS0Rwzz-2BASPTIUTz8zobkDD7B-2FAu4C5eKAoKGGk2GOmUL6BSsYsc8mptkVdRvsVFkRxpJ-2B-2B9R3k8M08ahUuXASg-3DeP9W_oSbLEBDYGulrOylDB17zjf7RACDl25-2BbE5RXGzUzWwQJljVUlOZBHiGtMWWtUoGnpTfq38qrfUnKmgQYIYGr7orZLuvN8EvqgtTJ39hzmtXj14DZat3eEjAr9UH-2B1iA-2BK-2F9pe22lBxJGGoe0TfZC8BA7GlkW2xGyDLkxWVpFO6EUEE-2BAPn-2B383YQep7z3hJSRnadj-2FXBibGsCk3k71hSZLlPdZG8Bkaprsqwf2W0Nuet47fS9LxKitp9CJhxY6dlMhzj8uVyfme38-2FDuetfwzQ-3D-3D\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/email-link.parentsquare.com\/ls\/click?upn%3Du001.Mn4yxfqNAdY6h-2FnN25MhUS0Rwzz-2BASPTIUTz8zobkDD7B-2FAu4C5eKAoKGGk2GOmUL6BSsYsc8mptkVdRvsVFkRxpJ-2B-2B9R3k8M08ahUuXASg-3DeP9W_oSbLEBDYGulrOylDB17zjf7RACDl25-2BbE5RXGzUzWwQJljVUlOZBHiGtMWWtUoGnpTfq38qrfUnKmgQYIYGr7orZLuvN8EvqgtTJ39hzmtXj14DZat3eEjAr9UH-2B1iA-2BK-2F9pe22lBxJGGoe0TfZC8BA7GlkW2xGyDLkxWVpFO6EUEE-2BAPn-2B383YQep7z3hJSRnadj-2FXBibGsCk3k71hSZLlPdZG8Bkaprsqwf2W0Nuet47fS9LxKitp9CJhxY6dlMhzj8uVyfme38-2FDuetfwzQ-3D-3D&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1774453734023000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1LOUx_J87CybdnRuI7vyK7\">nominate a staff member or team<\/a>\u00a0for a Thrive Award. Our online nomination form closes at 5 p.m. on Friday, March 27.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<hr \/>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h3 class=\"m_-2028400743126235700s_typography-header2 m_-2028400743126235700s_pb-8\">Native American Student Union Presents Children of the Earth Pow Wow<\/h3>\n<div>\n<div>Families are invited to attend the\u00a0<em>Children of the Earth Pow Wow<\/em>\u00a0hosted by Squalicum High School\u2019s Native American Student Union on\u00a0<strong>Saturday, April 25, 2026<\/strong>, at the Squalicum High School Gymnasium in Bellingham. This traditional pow wow is planned by Native student youth leaders and celebrates Native American dancing, singing, arts and crafts, vendors, and food. Grand entries will take place at\u00a0<strong>1:00 PM and 6:00 PM<\/strong>, and the event is free to attend with free parking.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>All are welcome at this drug- and alcohol-free community event. A free community dinner will be provided. This is a wonderful opportunity for students and families to experience and celebrate Native culture and traditions in our region.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<hr \/>\n<\/div>\n<h3>From our PTA<\/h3>\n<div>The PTA is working hard on designing this year\u2019s yearbook, and we need more photos! If you would like to upload photos, you can use the link below to access our community album and add photos to your student\u2019s classroom folder.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Year book photo upload:<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/email-link.parentsquare.com\/ls\/click?upn=u001.STUnuiPTnCCSzXnx-2BjMisNgPyRXitEymcMYdVR8PCQ1W15oAyYXfnY90v8gxec32J3au95pXBRZRvFV94lV-2BgQjQwmdC3sTcBAEyo1oz1Gc-3DN6eF_oSbLEBDYGulrOylDB17zjf7RACDl25-2BbE5RXGzUzWwQJljVUlOZBHiGtMWWtUoGnpTfq38qrfUnKmgQYIYGr7orZLuvN8EvqgtTJ39hzmtXj14DZat3eEjAr9UH-2B1iA-2BK-2F9pe22lBxJGGoe0TfZC8E3ImjjFxrQKl-2BdVhtvs23XBYUY-2FE90jpo2QgnPl3LKutr8RfF0ivB9SOdwPvM3fp3-2B7B2nh4HtleFAKedyl4uT5W0TYMzGYxBqU6X2yvyn7yrlu7g7bRu7YUY1MmbmhNw-3D-3D\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/email-link.parentsquare.com\/ls\/click?upn%3Du001.STUnuiPTnCCSzXnx-2BjMisNgPyRXitEymcMYdVR8PCQ1W15oAyYXfnY90v8gxec32J3au95pXBRZRvFV94lV-2BgQjQwmdC3sTcBAEyo1oz1Gc-3DN6eF_oSbLEBDYGulrOylDB17zjf7RACDl25-2BbE5RXGzUzWwQJljVUlOZBHiGtMWWtUoGnpTfq38qrfUnKmgQYIYGr7orZLuvN8EvqgtTJ39hzmtXj14DZat3eEjAr9UH-2B1iA-2BK-2F9pe22lBxJGGoe0TfZC8E3ImjjFxrQKl-2BdVhtvs23XBYUY-2FE90jpo2QgnPl3LKutr8RfF0ivB9SOdwPvM3fp3-2B7B2nh4HtleFAKedyl4uT5W0TYMzGYxBqU6X2yvyn7yrlu7g7bRu7YUY1MmbmhNw-3D-3D&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1774453734023000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0bllWtyzGElXEXNx-Ix8X9\">\u00a0https:\/\/books.yearbooks.me\/cg\/<wbr \/>9bpjt39b6m73meu4ed8yp7mqtqqtwe<wbr \/>v59<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Password: Trojans#1\u00a0 (case-sensitive)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div><strong>OR you can email pictures to the PTA directly. Please include your student\u2019s name and class, and the event the photo is from if it\u2019s not obvious.\u00a0<\/strong><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><a href=\"mailto:IreneReitherYearbook@gmail.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IreneReitherYearbook@gmail.com<\/a><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Pictures DUE by April 3rd 2026.<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Principal&#8217;s Message IRE Families, As we wrap up the third <a href=\"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/news\/2026\/03\/24\/weekly-update-march-22nd-2026\/\"> [&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":18708,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18,32],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23129","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-principal","category-school-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23129","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23129"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23129\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18708"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23129"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23129"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23129"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":23105,"date":"2026-03-16T08:07:13","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T15:07:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/?p=23105"},"modified":"2026-03-16T08:07:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T15:07:13","slug":"weekly-update-march-15th-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/news\/2026\/03\/16\/weekly-update-march-15th-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Weekly Update &#8211; March 15th, 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<table role=\"presentation\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"s_padding-container s_pl-24 s_pr-24 s_pt-24 s_pb-24\" width=\"100%\">\n<table role=\"presentation\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"s_pb-8\" width=\"100%\">\n<h2 class=\"s_typography-header2\">Principal&#8217;s Message<\/h2>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<div class=\"s_typography-body\">\n<div>IRE Families,<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Our Trojan community continues to show the power of partnership. During Autism Awareness Month (April), members of our staff and families have partnered with a local business to raise funds that will support additional resources and opportunities for our students with Autism.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>If you would like to support this effort, you can order Autism Awareness sweatshirts and t-shirts using the QR code below. Proceeds will directly support materials, experiences, and supports for students in our Autism programs. Thank you for considering supporting this important work and helping us continue to serve every student in our community.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><strong>Reminder<\/strong>: No School This Friday<\/div>\n<div>There will be no school this Friday. This day was originally scheduled as a potential make-up day for inclement weather earlier in the year, and since it is not needed as a make-up day, students will not have school.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><strong>Family Pickup Reminder &amp; Thank You<\/strong><\/div>\n<div>Thank you to the many families who have been arriving closer to 3:30 p.m. for afternoon pickup. Your help makes a meaningful difference in keeping dismissal safe and efficient for everyone. When cars arrive significantly earlier, it can create traffic congestion and safety concerns on Hemmi Road and Hannegan Road.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>A quick reminder of our dismissal timing:<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>3:30 p.m. \u2013 Students may begin leaving if they are scanned by their family using School Dismissal Manager (SDM).<\/li>\n<li>3:33 p.m. \u2013 Students begin leaving through the regular pickup process without scanning.<\/li>\n<li>3:40 p.m. \u2013 Official school dismissal time.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Your partnership helps keep traffic flowing and ensures a safe environment for students, families, and staff. Thank you for supporting a smooth dismissal for everyone.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Best,<\/div>\n<div>Tyler Dockins, Principal<\/div>\n<div>Nate Beede, Assistant Principal<\/div>\n<div>Rebecca Kratzig, Dean of Instruction<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table role=\"presentation\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"s_padding-container s_pl-24 s_pr-24 s_pt-24 s_pb-24\" width=\"100%\">\n<div class=\"nl-builder_email-image_container\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.filestackcontent.com\/auto_image\/quality=v:70\/resize=width:770,height:1000\/L3sHZjeJQ7mMuDJBk7W0\" alt=\"awareness\" width=\"385\" \/><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table role=\"presentation\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"s_padding-container s_pl-24 s_pr-24 s_pt-24 s_pb-24\" width=\"100%\">\n<table role=\"presentation\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table role=\"presentation\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"s_padding-container s_pl-24 s_pr-24 s_pt-24 s_pb-24\" width=\"100%\">\n<div class=\"two-col\">\n<table class=\"column s_text-wrapped-image-container\" role=\"presentation\" border=\"0\" width=\"30%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"right\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"s_pl-12 s_pb-20\" align=\"right\" width=\"100%\">\n<div class=\"nl-builder_email-image_container\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.filestackcontent.com\/auto_image\/quality=v:70\/resize=width:416,height:416\/lCs6koyTHm1Kbo3fM0EA\" alt=\"Thrive Awards\" width=\"208\" \/><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2 class=\"s_typography-header2 s_pb-8\">Thrive Award Nominations Now Open!<\/h2>\n<div class=\"s_typography-body\">\n<div>Help us celebrate the incredible people who make Meridian such a special place to learn, work and grow. The Thrive Awards honor staff, teams and community partners who go above and beyond to support our students and embody our district\u2019s values. We need your help to spotlight those who make a difference every day!<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Award Categories:<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>Community Builder Award (Belonging)<\/li>\n<li>Communication Excellence Award (Communication)<\/li>\n<li>Together We Thrive Award (Support)<\/li>\n<li>Wellness Champion Award (Wellness)<\/li>\n<li>Inspiring Educator Award (Learning)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div>Anyone can\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/meridiansd.qualtrics.com\/jfe\/form\/SV_byckxMJiP2vHTvg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">nominate a staff member or team<\/a>\u00a0for a Thrive Award. Our online nomination form closes at 5 p.m. on Friday, March 27.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Online form:<\/div>\n<div><a href=\"https:\/\/meridiansd.qualtrics.com\/jfe\/form\/SV_byckxMJiP2vHTvg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/meridiansd.qualtrics.com\/jfe\/form\/SV_byckxMJiP2vHTvg<\/a><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table role=\"presentation\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"s_padding-container s_pl-24 s_pr-24 s_pt-24 s_pb-24\" width=\"100%\">\n<table role=\"presentation\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table role=\"presentation\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"s_padding-container s_pl-24 s_pr-24 s_pt-24 s_pb-24\" width=\"100%\">\n<div class=\"two-col\">\n<table class=\"column s_text-wrapped-image-container\" role=\"presentation\" border=\"0\" width=\"30%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\" align=\"left\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"s_pr-12 s_pb-20\" align=\"left\" width=\"100%\">\n<div class=\"nl-builder_email-image_container\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.filestackcontent.com\/auto_image\/quality=v:70\/resize=width:416,height:538\/SLabl6BT8OfcWwz7rXdG\" alt=\"Children of the Earth Pow Wow\" width=\"208\" \/><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2 class=\"s_typography-header2 s_pb-8\">Native American Student Union Presents Children of the Earth Pow Wow<\/h2>\n<div class=\"s_typography-body\">\n<div>Squalicum High School Gymnasium<\/div>\n<div>Saturday, April 25, 2026<\/div>\n<div>1:00pm &amp; 6:00pm<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table role=\"presentation\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"s_padding-container s_pl-24 s_pr-24 s_pt-24 s_pb-24\" width=\"100%\">\n<table role=\"presentation\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table role=\"presentation\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"s_padding-container s_pl-24 s_pr-24 s_pt-24 s_pb-24\" width=\"100%\">\n<h1 class=\"s_typography-display nl-builder_hero-text-title\">From our PTA<\/h1>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table role=\"presentation\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"s_padding-container s_pl-24 s_pr-24 s_pt-24 s_pb-24\" width=\"100%\">\n<div class=\"nl-builder_email-image_container\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.filestackcontent.com\/auto_image\/quality=v:70\/resize=width:1552,height:452\/CMghFajASgq1uW8TZUsl\" alt=\"2025-2026 Yearbook photos needed\" width=\"776\" \/><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<table role=\"presentation\" border=\"0\" width=\"100%\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"s_padding-container s_pl-24 s_pr-24 s_pt-24 s_pb-24\" width=\"100%\">\n<div class=\"s_typography-body\">\n<div>The PTA is working hard on designing this year\u2019s yearbook, and we need more photos! If you would like to upload photos, you can use the link below to access our community album and add photos to your student\u2019s classroom folder.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Year book photo upload:<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/books.yearbooks.me\/cg\/9bpjt39b6m73meu4ed8yp7mqtqqtwev59\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/books.yearbooks.me\/cg\/9bpjt39b6m73meu4ed8yp7mqtqqtwev59<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Password: Trojans#1\u00a0 (case-sensitive)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div><strong>OR you can email pictures to the PTA directly. Please include your student\u2019s name and class, and the event the photo is from if it\u2019s not obvious.\u00a0<\/strong><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><a href=\"mailto:IreneReitherYearbook@gmail.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IreneReitherYearbook@gmail.com<\/a><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Pictures DUE by April 3rd 2026.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Principal&#8217;s Message IRE Families, Our Trojan community continues to show <a href=\"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/news\/2026\/03\/16\/weekly-update-march-15th-2026\/\"> [&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":18708,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23105","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-principal"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23105","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23105"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23105\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18708"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23105"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23105"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23105"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":23079,"date":"2026-03-09T09:25:32","date_gmt":"2026-03-09T16:25:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/?p=23079"},"modified":"2026-03-09T09:25:32","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T16:25:32","slug":"weekly-update-march-8th-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/news\/2026\/03\/09\/weekly-update-march-8th-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Weekly Update &#8211; March 8th, 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>IRE Families,<\/p>\n<p>During our recent staff professional development day, our teachers spent time deepening their understanding of reading fluency and the important role it plays in helping students become strong readers.<\/p>\n<p>Reading fluency is the bridge to comprehension. When students read with appropriate speed, accuracy, and expression, their brains are able to focus less on figuring out the words and more on understanding the meaning of the text. One of the best ways families can support this at home is by reading aloud with your child and modeling fluent reading yourself.<\/p>\n<p>When listening to your child read, you might consider questions such as:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Does the reading sound like natural talking?<\/li>\n<li>Is my child pausing at punctuation like commas and periods?<\/li>\n<li>Do they change their voice to match the characters or excitement in the story?<\/li>\n<li>Are they reading smoothly, or stopping frequently to decode words?<\/li>\n<li>What part of the story sounded the most expressive or interesting?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>After reading, you might also ask:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Which part of the story should sound exciting or dramatic?<\/li>\n<li>How would a character in the story say that line?<\/li>\n<li>Can you reread that part with even more expression?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Just a few minutes of reading together each day can make a big difference in helping your child grow as a confident reader.<\/p>\n<p>Best,<br \/>\nTyler Dockins, Principal<br \/>\nNate Beede, Assistant Principal<br \/>\nRebecca Kratzig, Dean of Instruction<\/p>\n<h3>Family Pick Up Reminders<\/h3>\n<p>PLEASE REMEMBER: Arriving at student pick up too early can lead to back ups and cause safety issues.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Please arrive after 3:30 p.m., scan in, and proceed as far forward in your color coded section as possible.<\/li>\n<li>If arriving before 3:30, park in the gravel lot. There is a scan station located there for those who would like to walk up.<\/li>\n<li>Scanning is vital to optimize flow. If you are unable to scan in, please contact our school office for support.<\/li>\n<li>Blue Section (last names beginning A-F). Use the right lane and pull up to the first crosswalk in front of building B.<\/li>\n<li>Yellow Section (last names beginning G-M). Use the left lane and you will be directed to merge into the yellow lane in front of building A up to the main entrance crosswalk.<\/li>\n<li>Green Section (last names beginning N-Z) Use the left lane, go past the main entrance crosswalk and pull up along the curbside in front of the portables.<\/li>\n<li>All groups: Please do your best to file forward behind the car in front of you and move as efficiently as possible. If extra buckle ups or rearranging is needed, please pull ahead into the gravel lot in order to preserve traffic flow. If turning on to Hannegan Rd., turning right is required so traffic does not back up on the back end (we have been experiencing this lately).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>IRE Families, During our recent staff professional development day, our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/news\/2026\/03\/09\/weekly-update-march-8th-2026\/\"> [&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":18708,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23079","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-principal"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23079","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23079"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23079\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18708"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23079"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23079"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23079"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":23070,"date":"2026-03-09T07:00:50","date_gmt":"2026-03-09T15:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/?p=23070"},"modified":"2026-03-05T14:33:56","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T22:33:56","slug":"celebrating-education-support-professionals-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/news\/2026\/03\/09\/celebrating-education-support-professionals-week\/","title":{"rendered":"Celebrating Education Support Professionals Week"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>This week we proudly recognize Education Support Professionals Week, a time dedicated to honoring the incredible individuals who help our schools run smoothly and ensure every student feels welcomed, supported, and safe.<\/p>\n<div>\n<p>Our education support professionals include our secretaries, bus drivers, technology staff, health services teams, paraeducators, student monitors, food service workers, custodians, and many others who contribute to the heartbeat of our schools. Their essential work is often behind the scenes, but is felt in every classroom, every hallway, and every student\u2019s experience. They greet students with a smile, ensure our buildings and buses are safe, support learning in countless ways, grow a love for reading, keep our technology functioning, prepare nutritious meals, and provide the care and consistency that help students thrive.<\/p>\n<p>To all of our education support professionals: thank you. You make a meaningful difference every day, and our schools simply couldn\u2019t succeed without you!<\/p>\n<p>We invite our families, students, and community members to join us in expressing appreciation during this special week.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This week we proudly recognize Education Support Professionals Week, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/news\/2026\/03\/09\/celebrating-education-support-professionals-week\/\"> [&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":20293,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23070","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-district-update"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23070","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23070"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23070\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20293"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23070"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23070"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23070"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":23065,"date":"2026-03-04T09:07:38","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T17:07:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/?p=23065"},"modified":"2026-03-04T09:07:38","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T17:07:38","slug":"weekly-update-march-1st-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/news\/2026\/03\/04\/weekly-update-march-1st-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Weekly Update &#8211; March 1st, 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>IRE Families,<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>We are excited to welcome the first week of March! As we head into a new month, it\u2019s a great time to reflect on the growth we\u2019re seeing across our classrooms and to continue building strong momentum together. Spring is just around the corner, and our students are working hard every day.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>This is also the final week to complete the Center for Educational Excellence (CEE) Survey. Your feedback matters deeply to us. The survey helps us understand what we are doing well and where we can grow as a school community. We use this information to make immediate adjustments and to plan thoughtfully for the 2026\u20132027 school year. If you have not yet taken a few minutes to complete it, we strongly encourage you to do so.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>A reminder that there is no school this Friday. Our staff will be participating in professional development focused on increasing student language production by aligning on how we intentionally build vocabulary across grade levels and content areas. Strengthening students\u2019 vocabulary directly supports reading comprehension, writing, and overall academic success.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Lastly, we have some amazing events that the PTA is putting on shortly that helps to build community, as well as the ALL GRADES talent show. Check them out below!<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Thank you for being such an important part of our Irene Reither community.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Best,<\/div>\n<div>Tyler Dockins, Principal<\/div>\n<div>Nate Beede, Assistant Principal<\/div>\n<div>Rebecca Kratzig, Dean of Instruction<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<hr \/>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<h3>Family Survey &#8211; Complete today!<\/h3>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>We are always working to strengthen our schools and ensure every student thrives. Your input helps guide that work! Please\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/email-link.parentsquare.com\/ls\/click?upn=u001.sobm8SUczPwbPQoYwjV44-2BhiBBz-2FF8pX7Lj8Z34zm2sRabdtGWF82pD6VgdUHI4bW9-2BeljfAhKYA2z5g4dSrTibLLhUb42z-2FAZIYpEpe7GhuOqXj99dxdTn-2F3-2BP5Utb-2B0-2F20yw1GZDVFbooyIF1CU-2BPy3jAmyN-2BygnERU98RVAq5fAIwlsUVcHth3n8Vt-2F1OE0W-2FMNfBUjxqO-2FYrcwxHjDPLg6lgR5YZmnuy31l0DysUbo37V6ftdSqh3hlxxYSCO2YLLJfzo-2Flac6s-2BFrdWbHFU0XT1Nmk9Bp3Tozn444cPGQx2rfMN-2FyzvA-2FAsi1kb0xTrSaU-2FtCSDFZP3gd-2F0XcOjRra8rMlxsa28YRDwQiw-2BzBYnmfK2yv2EaMD9bGDthM-2FTosylnlmTr-2FX9K6dZPwWhFMRSw4vXstdfKCGYmiWhDFcWjVF99pLadot4b8XFwFPAniEgqR7S9QNANau1-2B6fmUzSIyx9TwSrbJOcEZfTmY3IfeWt9M-2FmXS-2BVFgR-2FJzeHECZR9aXd-2BWotGFLnk7r0bc-2FshUCicLiYL0BEn4YOk7c9t-2BrFfqPkyI7lX9ouCv-2BMpt4BtID7-2F2ufLI6Ojw5eQFSvscCd0bJL6hn7OfLrXIV0fOGfqJUbcbvwUmJ-2B-2BF2ztz5AlJzNQgvvQ-2BwQdwyg2lczLutBDaI8HQ-2Fm1Sfw-3D5E5z_oSbLEBDYGulrOylDB17zjf7RACDl25-2BbE5RXGzUzWwQJljVUlOZBHiGtMWWtUoGnpTfq38qrfUnKmgQYIYGr7u5KlrzZMOHIu1NDNGlHE1-2BeTYERh3OGAtLpB72Kx8h4LKbgC4f6vsQ7DujlGpXVEPdlSlnJVFpFdVjPXUYjWWpKsGCrjlfCv8lYsef2QF6YXwPtWlXSKkfetF-2Faxen-2BODbXFoDsOrXt-2Fb88m2g7W-2BZ6ToEyZzZIgbtyCJ7ojkPEaAr9GkxI6SMBbNAq0lS8rQ-3D-3D\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/email-link.parentsquare.com\/ls\/click?upn%3Du001.sobm8SUczPwbPQoYwjV44-2BhiBBz-2FF8pX7Lj8Z34zm2sRabdtGWF82pD6VgdUHI4bW9-2BeljfAhKYA2z5g4dSrTibLLhUb42z-2FAZIYpEpe7GhuOqXj99dxdTn-2F3-2BP5Utb-2B0-2F20yw1GZDVFbooyIF1CU-2BPy3jAmyN-2BygnERU98RVAq5fAIwlsUVcHth3n8Vt-2F1OE0W-2FMNfBUjxqO-2FYrcwxHjDPLg6lgR5YZmnuy31l0DysUbo37V6ftdSqh3hlxxYSCO2YLLJfzo-2Flac6s-2BFrdWbHFU0XT1Nmk9Bp3Tozn444cPGQx2rfMN-2FyzvA-2FAsi1kb0xTrSaU-2FtCSDFZP3gd-2F0XcOjRra8rMlxsa28YRDwQiw-2BzBYnmfK2yv2EaMD9bGDthM-2FTosylnlmTr-2FX9K6dZPwWhFMRSw4vXstdfKCGYmiWhDFcWjVF99pLadot4b8XFwFPAniEgqR7S9QNANau1-2B6fmUzSIyx9TwSrbJOcEZfTmY3IfeWt9M-2FmXS-2BVFgR-2FJzeHECZR9aXd-2BWotGFLnk7r0bc-2FshUCicLiYL0BEn4YOk7c9t-2BrFfqPkyI7lX9ouCv-2BMpt4BtID7-2F2ufLI6Ojw5eQFSvscCd0bJL6hn7OfLrXIV0fOGfqJUbcbvwUmJ-2B-2BF2ztz5AlJzNQgvvQ-2BwQdwyg2lczLutBDaI8HQ-2Fm1Sfw-3D5E5z_oSbLEBDYGulrOylDB17zjf7RACDl25-2BbE5RXGzUzWwQJljVUlOZBHiGtMWWtUoGnpTfq38qrfUnKmgQYIYGr7u5KlrzZMOHIu1NDNGlHE1-2BeTYERh3OGAtLpB72Kx8h4LKbgC4f6vsQ7DujlGpXVEPdlSlnJVFpFdVjPXUYjWWpKsGCrjlfCv8lYsef2QF6YXwPtWlXSKkfetF-2Faxen-2BODbXFoDsOrXt-2Fb88m2g7W-2BZ6ToEyZzZIgbtyCJ7ojkPEaAr9GkxI6SMBbNAq0lS8rQ-3D-3D&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1772726942890000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1DFHpEekZSeKAPeEYQrjGS\"><strong><u>share your thoughts<\/u><\/strong><\/a>\u00a0on school communication, learning expectations, and your experiences with our teachers and administrators. Please take a few minutes to complete our annual\u00a0survey\u00a0by March 6.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<hr \/>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h3 class=\"m_7396999061867053817s_typography-header2 m_7396999061867053817s_pb-8\">Spring Picture Days<\/h3>\n<div>\n<div>Our Spring Picture Days will be on<\/div>\n<div>Wednesday, March 4 and Thursday, March 5.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<hr \/>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h3 class=\"m_7396999061867053817s_typography-header2 m_7396999061867053817s_pb-8\">No School &#8211; March 6th<\/h3>\n<div>\n<div>There will be no school for students on Friday, March 6th. This will be a learning improvement day for staff.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<hr \/>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<h3>From the PTA<\/h3>\n<div><strong>Snuggle Up and Read<\/strong> is Thursday, March 5 from 6-7:30 p.m. On Thursday, March 5 from 6-7:30 p.m. join us at IRE for this annual event. Put on your PJs and bring the whole family to Snuggle Up and Read! Doors open at 6 p.m., with stories beginning at 6:15 p.m. Each room will feature a community member reading aloud to kids and families. You will get to rotate stations and choose up to four different stories to hear. At 7:15 p.m., students will be able to choose a free book to bring home. This event is sponsored by the Meridian PTA.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><strong>The Reptile Lady<\/strong> is Wednesday, March 11. All IRE students attend during the school day. Free evening show for families is from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Building B Gym.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>IRE Families, We are excited to welcome the first week <a href=\"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/news\/2026\/03\/04\/weekly-update-march-1st-2026\/\"> [&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":18708,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18,32],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23065","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-principal","category-school-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23065","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23065"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23065\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18708"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23065"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23065"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23065"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":23042,"date":"2026-02-23T08:09:08","date_gmt":"2026-02-23T16:09:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/?p=23042"},"modified":"2026-02-23T08:09:08","modified_gmt":"2026-02-23T16:09:08","slug":"weekly-update-february-22nd-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/news\/2026\/02\/23\/weekly-update-february-22nd-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Weekly Update &#8211; February 22nd, 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>IRE Families,<\/p>\n<p>Each year, the <a href=\"https:\/\/email-link.parentsquare.com\/ls\/click?upn=u001.e-2BQWcsA14BCsH-2B-2BeXdDAF-2BGzeUorf-2BoFkiLXbCBw3l0lgB1FS-2FRvsUXdlV4iDRmrWRe4F3pVxGLuHoipUmtMID8RRPAWI-2BsZ4L25vCRuG-2F4-3DKEro_kW5jp6MhdN-2BJvEVoxC3gwP4CkSGSe1qHbrVS65QB57uWuUSGAx1SEktqIK5M3oi-2FlBIniEXZMn8YFqXij7aT1ZTFFzXJUGRaHSuimAFYInUPLDrh4uJTyY-2FTjicHfXoenjWVnHfn5-2FKXwCTtSrSIuTHKZ17witpXedA2tKFK20yeHnIB4YwLQZQAh9J9EPRHXFKFe3vsHjKRnWr7DSUuST9aeDVLQxub-2FMxcnyHY1oRs2ey-2F9aOSRxgL-2B473fca5vtjufUXY7GqYxPVuSBXgcA-3D-3D\">CEE Survey<\/a> gives us one of the most important lenses into how we\u2019re doing as a school, input directly from our families. Your feedback helps us assess our progress, understand how connected and supported families feel at Irene Reither Elementary, and identify what\u2019s working well and where we need to grow.<\/p>\n<p>We use this information not just for reflection, but for action. With this data we make immediate adjustments this spring and also plan meaningful shifts for the 2026\u20132027 school year. This year, we\u2019ve also streamlined the survey to reduce the number of questions and make it quicker to complete.<\/p>\n<p>Please take a few minutes to share your voice. Your input truly shapes our next steps as a school. The survey is due March 6th.<\/p>\n<p>Best,<br \/>\nTyler Dockins, Principal<br \/>\nNate Beede, Assistant Principal<br \/>\nRebecca Kratzig, Dean of Instruction<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Lockdown Drill This Week<br \/>\nThis week, our school will conduct a lockdown drill as part of our regular safety practices.<\/p>\n<p>These drills help students and staff know what to do in case we ever need to secure the building. We approach these drills calmly and in an age-appropriate way\u2014much like we do with fire drills\u2014to help students feel prepared and safe, not scared.<\/p>\n<p>You can support your child by talking together about the drill. Here are a few age-appropriate discussion questions you might use:<br \/>\nWhat did you do during the drill?<br \/>\nHow did you feel before, during, and after?<br \/>\nWhat helps you feel safe at school?<br \/>\nWho are adults at school you can go to if you ever feel worried?<\/p>\n<p>Thank you for helping us keep our school a safe and supportive place for everyone.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Winter Panorama Student Survey<\/p>\n<div class=\"s_typography-body\">\n<div>Thank you for your continued partnership and support in your child\u2019s education. In Meridian, part of our\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/our-district\/strategic-plan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><u>commitment to learning<\/u><\/strong><\/a>\u00a0is helping students develop academic and personal skills for life.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>To support this, we will be asking for students in grades 3-5 to reflect on their own mindsets and approaches to learning via an online survey they will be completing by February 20. The survey shouldn\u2019t take more than 20-30 minutes to complete.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>The survey content will ask students to self-reflect on overall learning experiences at school and in life, their behavior and how they respond to different situations, how they experience emotions at school and in life, and how other people help them.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Their responses will provide invaluable insights into their experiences and how we can improve and adapt our district to their needs. If a student doesn\u2019t feel like they have enough information to answer a question, they will be able to skip the item altogether.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>If you have any questions about the survey, please let us know.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<hr \/>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Register for Kindergarten<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"s_typography-body\">\n<div>Kindergarten registration for the 2026-27 school year begins Tuesday, February 17. Children must be 5-years-old before September 1, 2026 to be eligible.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Research shows that high-quality early learning programs increase graduation rates, reduce disparities in early literacy and language development, and support long-term emotional well-being. Students who begin kindergarten ready to learn are more likely to stay on track academically.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Daily learning for our youngest students includes morning meetings for social development, two recesses, structured play, and enrichment classes. IRE uses Creative Curriculum, a research-based program that blends literacy and math into hands-on, interest-driven units of study.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Questions about registration? Contact\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Irene Reither Elementary School<\/a>\u00a0at 360-398-2111.<\/div>\n<div><a href=\"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/families-and-students\/registration\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Visit our online registration webpage.\u00a0<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><strong>Early Childhood Programs at Irene Reither Elementary<\/strong><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><strong>Pre-Kindergarten Programs (PK)<\/strong><\/div>\n<div>In addition to kindergarten, IRE offers a full-day preschool experience for eligible three and four-year-olds. The Pre-Kindergarten (PK) Program, brings together Transitional Kindergarten (TK) and Early Childhood Education Assistance Program (ECEAP, pronounced e-cap). Each program is designed to help children build a strong foundation for school and life.<\/div>\n<div>This blended model creates an inclusive setting where children learn through play, exploration, and connection with peers. Teachers emphasize early literacy, math concepts, problem-solving, language development, social-emotional skills, and kindergarten readiness.\u00a0Families also receive support through strong collaboration between school staff and community partners. Eligibility is based on age, need and family circumstances following TK and ECEAP guidelines.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><strong>Developmental Preschool<\/strong><\/div>\n<div>Developmental Preschool serves children ages three to five whose families have concerns about their child\u2019s development or learning. Students may experience speech or language delays, motor or adaptive skill challenges, social-emotional or behavioral needs, or may have a diagnosed disability or chronic health condition. Through specialized instruction and individualized support, the program centers each child\u2019s strengths. Children qualify through a free evaluation which families can request throughout the school year.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Learn more about our\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/early-childhood\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">early childhood programs.<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<hr \/>\n<\/div>\n<div>Comprehensive sexual health education lessons begin March 25<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"s_typography-body\">\n<div>Students in fourth and fifth grade will be taking part in comprehensive sexual health education lessons beginning March 25.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Families may review materials on the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/pubertycurriculum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Puberty: The Wonder Years<\/a>\u00a0website, which includes the following information for grades 4 and 5:<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pubertycurriculum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/WonderYears_BifoldBrochure_2021-Final.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Brochure<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 Why teach about puberty?<\/li>\n<li>Links to additional details<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pubertycurriculum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Lessons-and-Student-Learning-Objectives-Grade-4-Puberty-The-Wonder-Years-2021-English.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Grade 4 Lessons<\/a>\u00a0Summary<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pubertycurriculum.com\/register\/parent-preview-puberty-the-wonder-years-grade-4\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Grade 4 Curriculum Preview (requires account creation)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pubertycurriculum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Lessons-and-Student-Learning-Objectives-Grade-5-Puberty-The-Wonder-Years-2021-English.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Grade 5 Lessons<\/a>\u00a0Summary<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pubertycurriculum.com\/register\/parent-preview-puberty-the-wonder-years-grade-5\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Grade 5 Curriculum Preview (requires account creation)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pubertycurriculum.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Synopsis-Puberty-The-Wonder-Years-Grades456-2021ed-English.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Synopsis<\/a>\u00a0of all the lessons<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div>Parents and guardians may remove their children from these lessons with a written request. (<a href=\"https:\/\/apps.leg.wa.gov\/rcw\/default.aspx?cite=28A.300.475\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">RCW 28A.300.475<\/a>). Families who wish to opt their children out of these lessons must turn in an opt-out form before the first day of lessons. Opt-out forms are available in the school office or\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/departments\/teaching-and-learning\/instructional-materials\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">on our website<\/a>. Students who opt-out of the lessons will spend time on classroom projects and\/or work on their i-Ready goals in the library.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Curriculum materials are available for families to review at the District Office, 214 W. Laurel Road, Bellingham, WA , during business hours 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. If families are unable to review materials during business hours, please call 360-318-2170 to schedule an appointment.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>We appreciate your continued partnership in your student&#8217;s learning. If you have any questions please contact your teacher.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<hr \/>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>PTA Meeting<br \/>\nPlease join us at our next PTA meeting:<\/p>\n<p>Thursday, February 26th<br \/>\n6:00-7:30pm<br \/>\nIRE Library<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"s_typography-body\">\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>IRE Families, Each year, the CEE Survey gives us one <a href=\"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/news\/2026\/02\/23\/weekly-update-february-22nd-2026\/\"> [&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":18708,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18,32],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23042","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-principal","category-school-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23042","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23042"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23042\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18708"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23042"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23042"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.meridian.wednet.edu\/ire\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23042"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}]