MMS families,
Our staff had another great day of professional learning today, digging deeper into how feedback supports learning. When teachers provide clear, specific, and meaningful feedback, students are better able to understand where they are in their learning and what their next steps should be. Today’s work focused on making feedback more actionable, helping students see feedback not as a judgment, but as a tool to grow and refine their thinking. It’s exciting to see our teachers continuing to strengthen these practices in ways that help every student move forward in their learning.
With the first quarter coming to a close, this is a great time to pause as a family and take stock of how the year is going for your student. With the extended weekend ahead, you might take a few minutes to talk together about questions like:
  • What’s been going well so far this year?
  • What’s been a challenge?
  • Are your grades and effort where you want them to be?
  • Has your behavior reflected your goals and demonstrated your best self?
It’s never too late to make small adjustments and get ahead of any challenges. A quick check-in now can make a big difference heading into the next quarter.
We hope you get time this extended weekend to spend time doing things you enjoy as a family!
As always, please reach out if you have any questions.
Go Trojans!
-Robert Kratzig, Principal
-Jill Hammack, Assistant Principal

UPCOMING EVENTS
Monday, November 3
  • Black Day
  • “Stuff the Bus” Food Drive Begins (see below)
  • Girls Basketball vs. Blaine MS, 4:00pm at BMS
Tuesday, November 4
  • Gold Day
  • Girls Basketball vs. Nooksack Valley MS, 4:00pm at NVMS
Wednesday, November 5
  • Black Day
  • School Board Meeting, 5:00pm at MMS Library featuring MMS Math Department Presentation
Thursday, November 6
  • Gold Day
  • Girls Basketball vs. Horizon MS, 4:00pm at MMS
Friday, November 7
  • Black Day
  • Late Start – School Begins at 9:05am (No Drop Off before 8:45am)
food drive

Food Drive, Nov. 3-13 “Stuff the Bus!”
From Nov. 3-13, Meridian School District is hosting a food drive to support families in our community. Donations will go to the Meridian Family Support Center and Ferndale Food Bank. We’re collecting nonperishable and unexpired items like canned soup, vegetables, fruit, pastas, beans, cereals, rice, flour, cooking oils, peanut butter, and canned chicken and tuna. You can bring donations on the bus or drop them off at the school office. Let’s come together to help our community!
EL

Erika’s Lighthouse in 7th Grade Health
We have adopted a mental health and depression awareness program called We
All Have Mental Health. This program was developed by a highly respected mental health
education and advocacy organization, Erika’s Lighthouse: A Beacon of Hope for Adolescent
Depression. All of these lessons meet National Health Education Standards.
The program goals include:
● Raising awareness of good mental health.
● Reducing the stigma surrounding mental health issues.
● Encouraging help-seeking skills and, if necessary, additional support services.
These fact-based, student friendly and hopeful programs promote the messages we need our
students to hear, everyone deserves to have good mental health. The following lessons will be
taught, once a week over four weeks by our health teacher.
● Lesson 1 – Intro to Depression: To raise awareness of depression and reduce
negative attitudes of depression and its treatment.
● Lesson 2 – Depression is Treatable: To effectively communicate with friends in need.
● Lesson 3 – Help-Seeking: To increase student engagement and communication in
activities which promote good mental health.
● Lesson 4 – Unit Assessment: Students will have the opportunity to put their knowledge
and skills developed in this program to practice.
Dates: 
Lesson 1- Black 10/27, Gold 10/28
Lesson 2- Black 10/29, Gold 10/30
Lesson 3- Black 11/3, Gold 11/4
Lesson 4- Black 11/5, Gold 11/6
Our school wants all of our students to be healthy, both physically and mentally. We encourage students to take control of their mental health and learn how to seek help for themselves or a friend if needed. One of the biggest challenges to mental health is teen depression, a common, yet widely overlooked mood disorder that impacts 15–20% of young people before they reach Adulthood.
We look forward to working together to better inform students of healthy mental health and
provide the tools students need to navigate challenging times. For more information on this
program, please visit erikaslighthouse.org.
hands up

Comprehensive Sexual Health Education Lessons Begin
Students in seventh grade will be taking part in comprehensive sexual health lessons beginning December 5 in health class.
Parents and guardians may review the Positive Prevention Plus curriculum and may remove their children from these lessons with a written request. (RCW 28A.300.475). Families who wish to opt their children out of these lessons must turn in an opt-out form to the school office or complete this online form before the first day of lessons. Students who opt-out of the lessons will (explain alternate activity).
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.
We appreciate your continued partnership in your student’s learning. If you have any questions please contact Ms. Gospodinovich at sgospodinovich@meridian.wednet.edu.
veteran

Veterans Day – Information Needed!
On Monday, November 10th during Homeroom, Meridian Middle School will hold our Veterans Day Assembly. To honor the service of your family members, we invite you to share their name, branch, years of service, photo, and their connection to your student. In addition, if you have a veteran in your family who would be interested in attending and possibly speaking at the assembly, we’d love to include them.
Please send information and photos to our ASB Advisor and Leadership teacher, Spenser Stumpf, by Monday, November 3rd so we can prepare to recognize them. His email is sstumpf@meridian.wednet.edu.

FAMILY GUIDES

We often hear from families that they’d like more information about what their children are learning at school. Last year, we started sending out Family Guides alongside each quarter’s report card. These guides gave families a snapshot of what the grades represented and what students had been working on.
This year, we’re taking it a step further. Instead of waiting until the end of the quarter, we’ll make Family Guides available during the quarter. This way, you can see the standards and learning targets your child will be engaging with while they are happening. Our hope is that this helps you ask more specific questions, celebrate progress along the way, and feel more connected to what’s happening in the classroom.
We know that when families and schools work together, students thrive. The Family Guides are just one way we’re trying to keep that partnership strong and make learning more transparent for everyone.
6th Grade Family Guide – Q1
7th Grade Family Guide – Q1
8th Grade Family Guide – Q1

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Digital citizenship

Digital Citizenship Learning Update
This week in library, our 6th and 7th graders engaged in important digital citizenship lessons using Common Sense Media’s research-based curriculum.
Our 6th grade students explored digital footprints, learning to distinguish between active footprints (information they choose to share, like posts and comments) and passive footprints (information collected automatically by apps and websites). Through hands-on activities, they discussed how to make thoughtful choices about their online presence and understand that everything they do online leaves traces that can impact their future.
Our 7th grade students participated in a lesson examining how technology can both support and challenge privacy, connection, and authenticity. Students analyzed how different technologies make it easier or harder to support those items, helping them make more intentional choices about their digital habits. These lessons provide an excellent foundation for ongoing family conversations about responsible technology use.
thank you

Celebrate our Staff: American Education Week
American Education Week is Nov. 17-21, and it’s the perfect time to celebrate the incredible people who make Meridian School District special! Each of our staff members work hard every day to make a positive impact in the lives of our students.
Do you know a Meridian staff member who has made a difference for your student or family? Submit your personalized thank you note by Nov. 21 to be delivered during American Education Week!
attendance

Attendance Office Notes
Transportation Changes
All requests must be made before 2:00 pm. If your student already knows their transportation is different for the day (for example, they usually ride the bus but today you’ll be picking them up), you do not need to contact the office.
Bus Change Requests
If your student is riding a different bus (such as going home with a friend), a written request from a parent/guardian or a phone call to the office is required. Requests must be submitted to the main office before 2:00 pm.
Early Dismissals
The best way to ensure your student is ready for an early pick-up is to send a note in the morning. If you call instead, please contact us at least 10 minutes before pick-up time so we can transition your student to the office.
Pick-Up by Someone Other than Parent/Guardian
If someone other than a parent, guardian, or emergency contact will be picking up your student, the office must hear directly from a parent. Please provide the person’s name and relationship to your student.
Tissue Box

Reminders: When to Keep Your Child Home
A Message from Health Services
Fall is quickly approaching and so is cold and flu season! Please help us keep our school community healthy by keeping your child at home when they are not feeling well. Keep your child home if they are experiencing any of the symptoms: fever or chills, shortness of breath, wet or productive cough, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, sore throat, runny nose, nausea or vomiting or diarrhea.
We encourage regular attendance and students may return to school as soon as they are feeling better, and are fever-free for more than 24 hours without fever reducing medication. While in school, your student can help slow the spread of germs by covering their nose or mouth when coughing and sneezing, and washing hands frequently with soap and water.
Please contact your child’s school if they are going to be absent due to illness. If you have additional questions, please visit our Health Services webpage or contact our school nurses.
FRC

MSD Family Support Center
The Meridian Family Support Center’s Food Pantry and Clothing Closet will be open as follows:
  • Monday–Friday: 8:30 AM–4:00 PM
  • Wednesdays: Open until 5:30 PM
  • Location: Portable 400A on the Irene Reither Elementary campus
Questions?
  • Alicia Roberts (English): 360-988-1949
  • Elvira Trautman (Spanish): 360-306-2886

Kiwanis Kid’s STEAM Expo

The Kiwanis Clubs of Whatcom County is hosting a Kid’s STEAM Expo at the Northwest WA Fairgrounds on November 1st. This free event gathers exhibitors from across the county to provide hands-on educational activities with a focus in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math. Some of our exhibitors include Marine Life Center, WSU extension-Whatcom 4-H and Bellingha