Hello Trojans!
We are officially six weeks into the 2026–27 school year. We’re past the beginning-of-the-year stage and are now firmly in the flow of the school year. This is a good time to take inventory of where our students are academically, check in on how they’re doing, and reach out for support when needed. Early communication and connection can make a real difference in helping students get back on track or build on the progress they’re already making. We’re here to partner with you and help every student succeed!
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As always, please reach out if you have any questions or need support!
Go Trojans!
-Mr. Doffing, Principal
-Mr. Zabel, Assistant Principal
Homecoming Week Bell Schedule

Counselor Appointment Booking

Students can now book appointments with their counselor online. They are also welcome to stop by the main office to request an appointment, but online booking gives students another convenient way to find a time that works for them.
Families are welcome to share the appropriate booking link with their student:
Mr. Muskavage:
Ms. McBride:

New Chromebook Distribution Starting Oct. 13

Next week we will begin distributing new Chromebooks to students. With over 500 devices to replace, distribution will be staggered across multiple days. Replacements will happen from 8-10 a.m. Oct. 13-15, Oct. 21-22 and if needed, Oct. 27-29.
During these windows, students will be called to the library to exchange their current Chromebook and charger for a new set. We will start with freshmen on Oct. 13.
Before Oct. 13, students should:
  • Locate their current Chromebook.
  • Locate their charger.
  • Remove any stickers, if possible.
Students need to move all locally stored files to their Google Drive before the swap, otherwise they will lose those files.
We expect each student to be out of class for less than 15 minutes during the swap.

Evacuation and Reunification Drill at MHS on Oct. 28
At Meridian High School, the safety of our students is our highest priority. As part of our ongoing commitment to a safe learning environment, we will be holding a reunification drill on Oct. 28. This drill is part of the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) and Standard Reunification Method (SRM) developed by the I Love You Guys Foundation. Meridian Middle School completed this same drill in February last school year.
This response protocol is used by all Whatcom County school districts and supported by local law enforcement.
While we practice monthly safety actions like evacuate and secure, a reunification drill helps us practice how students would be safely reunited with families during an unexpected event. We will share more details soon about what to expect.
You can learn more about our safety procedures on our website.

Running Start Students
It is time for students who will be taking winter quarter courses to make appointments with their school counselor for RSVF signatures.
Students can now make their own appointments to see their school counselor
Mr. Muskavage’s Booking Link: https://calendar.app.google/yWMf1NeR7eHxAxkv9
If you are a senior your counselor will also be reviewing your transcript and other graduation requirements at that time as well.
October 27th-current and former students with 45-89 credits will begin enrolling
October 28th -current and former students with 0-44 credits will begin enrolling

Financial Aid Night, October 28th 6-8 pm at MHS

FAFSA = Free Application for Federal Student Aid
There is no cost to complete the FAFSA. Students should use the official Federal Student Aid website and be cautious of websites or services charging a fee to complete the application.
FAFSA/WASFA Help: Families who are not eligible to complete the FAFSA may want to explore the WASFA (Washington Application for State Financial Aid).

FAFSA Preparation Checklist
Before you begin the FAFSA, take a few minutes to get organized. Having these items ready will make the application much easier to complete.
☐ 1. Create Your StudentAid.gov Account
  • ☐ Student creates a StudentAid.gov account (FSA ID)
  • ☐ Parent contributor creates their own StudentAid.gov account, if required
  • ☐ Make sure names and Social Security numbers are entered exactly as they appear on official documents
  • ☐ Keep your username, password, and account information somewhere safe
  • ☐ Do not share your StudentAid.gov password with anyone
☐ 2. Gather Important Documents
Have the following information available:
  • ☐ Student’s Social Security number
  • ☐ Parent contributor’s Social Security number, if applicable
  • ☐ Student’s driver’s license number, if applicable
  • ☐ Alien Registration Number, if applicable
  • ☐ Federal tax information
  • ☐ Records of child support received, if applicable
  • ☐ Current balances of cash, savings, and checking accounts
  • ☐ Information about investments, if applicable
  • ☐ Records of certain businesses, farms, or other assets, if applicable
☐ 3. Know Your Family’s Tax Information
The FAFSA uses information from your federal tax return.
  • ☐ Have your federal tax return available if needed
  • ☐ Be prepared to provide information about income
  • ☐ Use the IRS Direct Data Exchange (DDX) when prompted, when eligible
  • ☐ Make sure the student and parent information is accurate
Tip: Using the IRS Direct Data Exchange can make completing the FAFSA faster and reduce the amount of information you have to enter manually.
☐ 4. Determine Who Needs to Participate
The FAFSA will determine which parent must provide information based on the student’s circumstances.
  • ☐ Student completes their portion
  • ☐ Required parent contributor completes their portion
  • ☐ Each contributor uses their own StudentAid.gov account
  • ☐ Contributors must provide consent and approval for federal tax information to be transferred, when required
☐ 5. Make a List of Colleges
Before completing the FAFSA:
  • ☐ Make a list of colleges, universities, or career schools you are considering
  • ☐ Check each school’s FAFSA requirements and deadlines
  • ☐ Add the schools to your FAFSA when appropriate
  • ☐ Keep track of financial aid deadlines separately—college deadlines may be earlier than you expect

Student Life Skills and Well-being Survey

Thank you for your continued partnership and support in your child’s education. In Meridian, part of our commitment to learning is helping students develop academic and personal skills for life.
To support this, we will be asking for your child to reflect on their own mindsets and approaches to learning via an online survey they will be completing on November 2, 2026. The survey shouldn’t take more than 20-30 minutes to complete.
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.
We are asking that all of our students participate in the surveys, as 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’t feel like they have enough information to answer a question, they will be able to skip the item altogether.
If you have any questions about the survey, please contact us at 360-398-8111.

Seeking Feedback on our School Year Calendar by Oct. 12
We are working to develop our school year calendar for the next three years and we want to hear from you. Please take a moment to share your feedback by noon on Monday, Oct. 12.

Senior Class Meeting

There will be a senior class meeting on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, during T3, in the auditorium.  A representative from Jostens will be here to discuss cap and gown ordering.

End-of-Day Pick-Up Requests
To allow our staff sufficient time to locate and prepare your student, all end-of-day pick-up requests must be received by 2:00 p.m.
If a pick-up request is received after 2:00 p.m., we will do our best to have your student ready; however, we cannot guarantee that your student will be ready at the time of pick-up.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Picking Up Your Student Early From School?

If you need to pick up your student early from school, please contact the office at 360-398-8111. We would be happy to get your student for you. If possible, please try to call at least 30 minutes in advance. We understand that emergencies happen and a last minute pick up may be needed, but it is great to have the extra time to make sure your student is ready when you arrive.

Arriving Late To School

Please remember to sign in, in the office, when you arrive at school. Make sure to write your first and last name on the sign in sheet. Remember we need to be able to read your writing.

Booster Club Information
Meridian Booster Club Craft Show, Saturday, October 10th from 9:00am-4:00pm in the MHS South Gym.

Community Information & Resources
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Family Resource Center
The Meridian School District Family Resource Center is open daily from 8:30am to 3:00pm daily and until 5:30pm on Wednesdays on the Irene Reither campus.
Students who qualify for free or reduced meals can stop by to get school supplies or sign up for Operation School Bell which provides new school clothes for students enrolled in Meridian School District. We also have the clothing closet available for any Meridian family looking for gently used adult and kid clothing.
Questions? Contact Alicia Roberts (English) at 360-988-1949 or Elvira Trautman (Spanish) at 360-306-2886.