November 2026 Meridian Monthly

• One Team: Food Service
• American Education Week – Thank You Notes
• Shine and Thrive Awards
• Student Voices Shape Meridian Schools
• Standard Response Protocol: Evacuate
• Community Partner Feature: Miracle Food Network
• Meridian Family Support Center Clothes Closet
• Stuff the Bus! Food Drive, Nov. 2-12
• Meridian in the Media
• Key Dates

One Team: Food Service

Nourishing Students to Learn, Grow and Thrive

Behind every school meal is a dedicated team working together. Our food service professionals prepare and serve more than 780 lunches and 450 breakfasts each day. While the meals students see on their trays are just one part of the story, there is an incredible amount of planning, coordination, creativity, and care that goes into feeding our students every day.

At Irene Reither Elementary (IRE), where the greatest number of meals are served (over 500 daily), the team makes the most of a very small space. In a kitchen that feels more like a galley than a commercial food preparation area, staff navigate around one another, lean across counters to help students whose eyes barely reach the countertop, and work together to keep the lines moving.

Despite the tight quarters and fast pace, these dedicated professionals greet students with a smile and help even the youngest learners gather all the components they need for a well-rounded meal. Every day, students have access to meals that meet nutritional requirements, along with fresh fruits and vegetables and milk options, including chocolate milk. It takes teamwork to make it all happen!

At the middle and high school, students enjoy a variety of meals, from spaghetti and meatballs to chicken enchiladas, newer offerings like Philly cheesesteaks, and beloved favorites such as the annual November turkey dinner. Behind these meals is a team that finds creative ways to make the most of available ingredients and resources while offering students meals they look forward to.

At the middle school, the team is constantly on the move. Greeting students, accepting payments, and making sure everyone has what they need as nearly 150 students move through the line each lunch. Once the first part of lunch wraps up, the space quickly transforms. A cart is wheeled out full of snacks available for purchase, including chips, drinks, and cookies.

At both the elementary and middle school, food service staff are constantly on the move with limited time between lunches. In just minutes, fruits, vegetables, and meal offerings are replenished, and the kitchen is ready to do it all again.

In between serving students, the food service team finds opportunities to create meals from scratch. The middle school kitchen, the largest (and oldest) of our school kitchens, prepares homemade favorites such as chicken pot pies and chili. The high school also makes scratch-made meals and bakes fresh bread for hoagies.

Creativity and thoughtful planning are essential to the team’s work. Many food commodities must be ordered nearly a year in advance, requiring staff to plan ahead and find innovative ways to turn available ingredients into nutritious and appealing meal options. What may look like a simple meal on a student’s tray often represents months of planning and the combined efforts of people working across our schools.

Whether preparing scratch-made meals, serving hundreds of students in a small kitchen, helping our youngest learners navigate the lunch line, or making sure the next meal period is ready to go, each person plays an important role. Together, the team exemplifies what “One Team. One Purpose.” means in Meridian.

To our food service team, thank you! The meals you serve are important, but so is the kindness and dedication you bring to our students every single day!

Send a Thank You Note! American Education Week is Nov. 16-20, and it’s the perfect time to celebrate the incredible people who make Meridian School District special. Each day, our staff members help students learn, grow, and thrive while creating welcoming and supportive schools. We invite students, families, and community members to help us recognize their dedication by sharing a personalized thank you note. Do you know a Meridian staff member who has made a difference for your student or family? Submit your note by noon on Nov. 20!

Last week we celebrated our October Shine and Thrive Award recipients! These monthly awards recognize student achievements connected to our commitments: belonging, communication, support, wellness and learning. Please join us in congratulating these students! Owen and Jose, grade 4 at Irene Reither Elementary School Owen and Jose earned the Trojan Heart Award for the care they show in supporting our school. Without being asked, they help put away recess equipment, support recess monitors, and prepare the field for the next group of students. Their actions demonstrate thoughtful leadership, a strong sense of shared responsibility, and care for others. They are a wonderful example of how small acts of service can make a big difference in our school. Arya, grade 2 at Irene Reither Elementary School Arya earned the Empowered Learner Award because she shows support and kindness to fellow classmates. She is not only helpful, she is also compassionate in the way she helps. She listens to lessons and is able to not only do them on her own but be a class leader and help others. She is a shining example of being positive and exemplifies our Meridian Mindset traits. Lily, grade 5 at Irene Reither Elementary School Lily earned the Thriving Scholar Award because she stays focused, follows directions, asks questions when she needs support, and is always willing to help others. She enjoys learning and has built positive relationships with her peers. Speaking up and asking for help can take courage, especially when it doesn’t come easily. Lily has shown tremendous growth by facing those challenges and continuing to push herself outside her comfort zone. She is a great example of what it means to be a thriving scholar. Kylee, sophomore at Meridian High School Kylee earned the Thriving Scholar Award because she is thriving in her sophomore year, earning strong grades and demonstrating a commitment to her learning. Her teachers describe her as the kind of student every teacher hopes to have in class because of her positive attitude and willingness to learn. Kylee has set a goal of becoming a welder and is already taking steps toward that future by planning to join the academy next year. In addition, she is known for her bright smile and ability to make everyone feel welcome.

MHS Evacuation and Reunification Drill For school safety, Meridian School District follows the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) developed by the I Love You Guys Foundation. The protocol provides a common set of actions for responding to emergencies, including Hold, Secure, Evacuate, Lockdown and Shelter. On Oct. 28, Meridian High School students and staff practiced an evacuation and partial reunification drill. An evacuation is used when it is necessary to move people from a building or campus for safety reasons, such as a fire, gas leak, earthquake or other emergency. During the drill, students and staff practiced safely exiting the building, reporting to designated areas, and accounting for all students. Participants then boarded school buses, completed a short loop, and returned to campus. The drill took approximately one hour and provided valuable practice for the steps that would be required during an actual emergency.

In a real evacuation, students would be transported to a safe location if needed, and families would receive information through the district’s communication channels. Parents and guardians would be provided reunification instructions before students are released. We are proud of how seriously our students and staff approached the drill. Preparing for emergencies helps ensure a safe and effective response. Learn more about Standard Response Protocol on our website.

The Miracle Food Network (MFN) is a volunteer-powered non-profit operating out of Ferndale and serving all of Whatcom County. Operating under the philosophy of a “hand up, not a handout,” MFN tackles two major issues at once: food waste and hunger. Every day, their network of dedicated volunteers intercepts fresh, surplus food from local grocers, farms, and restaurants that would otherwise go to waste. Instead of heading to a landfill, these high-quality ingredients are rapidly rerouted to nearly 30 pop-up distribution hubs and local families across our region. The Miracle Food Network provides food weekly for the Meridian Family Support Center’s Wednesday food pantry, ensuring students and families have reliable access to nutritious food each week. To learn more about the Miracle Food Network visit their website.

Meridian Family Support Center Clothes Closet The Clothes Closet offers free clothing for Meridian students and families. Families are welcome to browse available items in the portable located behind the Meridian Family Support Center (954 E. Hemmi Rd. Everson, WA, Portable 400A). To visit the Clothes Closet, please stop by the family center during business hours Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and Wednesdays until 5 p.m. We also welcome donations of new or gently used clothing in excellent condition for children and adults. Donations can be dropped off during business hours. Questions? Contact the family center at 360-318-2486 (English) or 360-306-2886 (Spanish). Thank you for your support!

From Nov. 2-12, 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 a school office. Let’s come together to help our community!

MP3 students prove to be persuasive as essays create change (Lynden Tribune) Meridian sweeps Lynden Christian in volleyball district championship (Lynden Tribune) Meridian wins both district XC titles (Lynden Tribune) Sehome, Meridian boys and girls capture district XC championships (Cascadia Daily News) Regular season wraps, local programs sweep conference titles (Lynden Tribune) Meridian High School senior goes all in for FFA (Lynden Tribune) Meridian’s Reuben TeVelde wins Northwest Conference championship (Lynden Tribune)