Weekly Newsletter – May 22nd, 2026

Yearbooks will be on sale beginning, Wednesday, May 27th. They can be purchased online or in the office from Mrs. Gookstetter. The cost is $75.00. Supplies are limited, so make sure you get yours before they are gone!

Graduation will take place on Wednesday, June 3rd at 6:30 PM in the MHS Gymnasium. Doors open to the public at 5:30 PM. Graduates, please arrive by 5:45 PM and head to the downstairs lounge—this space is for graduates only. Don’t forget your cap, gown, stole, and tassel! After the ceremony, graduates will reunite with families in the courtyard. No tickets are required, but balloons are not allowed inside the gym. If your family needs special seating accommodations, please contact Mrs. Gookstetter at kgookstetter@meridian.wednet.edu or 360-318-2282.

Graduation practice will be held on Wednesday, June 3rd at 9:00 AM sharp—please arrive on time and ready to go! You’ll need a partner to walk with; if you don’t have one, one will be assigned at practice. Attendance is mandatory if you plan to walk at graduation. If you can’t attend due to Running Start, email Mrs. Gookstetter and be sure your partner knows to save your spot. Practice will run for about two hours, and we’ll cover lineup, procession, name cards, and the full ceremony agenda. Bring your cap and gown with you. The Grad Parade at MMS and IRE will follow immediately after practice—don’t miss it!

All seniors must return their Chromebook and any accessories before graduation. Device return will take place:

Please bring as many of the following items as you can locate:

Returning these items on time ensures a smooth checkout process before graduation!

Diploma pickup begins Friday, June 12th Running Start and NCTA students will need to wait until final grades are received—these diplomas are typically available in August, once the office reopens.

Important grading deadlines:

To have your transcript sent to your college or university for Fall 2026 registration, complete a request on the Parchment website.

Transcripts will be processed after school ends in June. Running Start grades may delay transcript processing until the end of the month. For questions, contact Mrs. Blankenship at lblankenship@meridian.wednet.edu.

We are now accepting submissions for our Meridian High School senior spotlight! Please fill out the form with answers from your student and include a photo. We will begin sharing these senior celebration spotlights on social media leading up to graduation. Below is an example of what the spotlight will look like. Thank you for helping us to celebrate our amazing students!

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Kurt Harvill will assume the role of Interim Superintendent for the 2026–27 school year, beginning July 1.

As Dr. Harvill steps into this role, he is eager to listen and learn from Meridian staff, families, students, and community members. We invite you to share your perspective by completing our community feedback survey by May 22. Your input will help us better understand what Meridian is doing well, where there are opportunities for improvement and how we should shape our path forward. Thank you for your continued partnership.

Survey link: https://meridiansd.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0rH3MVMpXv3EErs

The Class of 2026 warmly invites the Meridian community to join them for their Baccalaureate Celebration on Tuesday, June 2 at Laurel Community Church.

Doors will open at 6:00 PM, with the celebration beginning at 6:30 PM. This special evening will include student speakers, messages from local pastors, and a time of praise and worship as we honor the graduating class and celebrate the journey ahead.

Graduates are asked to arrive by 6:00 PM wearing their black graduation robe only (no stole).

We look forward to celebrating this meaningful occasion together as a community.