Meridian 223 Community:
As this school year draws to a close I wanted to thank you for your
patience, support, and encouragement over the past eight weeks. The
feedback we have received from parents has been both supportive and
instructive and has driven many conversations throughout the district as
we prepare for what seem like limitless possibilities as to how we will
‘do school’ in the Fall. As I have already begun to receive questions I
want to assure you that as soon as we know what the Fall will look like
we will communicate that with everyone – and at this point anybody with
a prediction or guess has just that as there is little certainty
pertaining to this situation.
As we close out the year, we have many dates and pieces of
information we need to share with you. While many are directed at the
high school, we feel it appropriate to share in one large message.
- New learning will cease on either this Friday or next Monday.
Students and parents will receive more information from their individual
schools as to the posting of grades.
- We have made the decision to continue providing food to our community through (at-least) June 30th.
We have been providing approximately 2300 meals per week and that
number has increased every week. Given that there is a need, we feel it
our responsibility to continue to support where we can. The pick-up
process will remain the same as it has been the past several weeks.
- We have decided to allow students who have a district-issued
Chromebook or hotspot to keep the materials throughout the summer
months. Our sincere hope is that they continue to access the software
programs they have been throughout Remote Learning to extend their
learning throughout the summer. This extension of learning, however,
will be voluntary and NOT under the direction of any school personnel.
- Material drop-off and pick-up (School and PE Locker Clean-out) -
The scheduled date for this is May 23 from 9 until 3. (Yes, this is a
Saturday.) We felt it was our best chance to have the greatest
participation. May 26th from 9 until 3 is the RAIN DATE. If there is not
rain on the 23rd, then no activity will take place on the 26th. Each
student will need to pick up materials from their respective schools. We
understand that this will mean parents may need to visit multiple
schools, but logistically we believed this was our best chance to
eliminate mistakes and confusion. Lockers will have been totally cleaned
out on behalf of the student at the 6-12 levels and desks, etc. at the
Pre-K-5 levels. Families WILL NOT need to leave their vehicles. Student
materials will have already been gathered and bagged for them and
centrally located for ease of retrieval and distribution. This will also
be the time to return all materials that are the property of the school
including textbooks, Chromebooks (if a family chooses), etc.
- High School Graduation update . . .
- June 14th we will partner with WREX and they will
stream a virtual graduation ceremony to honor our students inclusive of
traditional speeches and a recognition of each graduate.
- We are holding out hope for a July 19th ceremony – even
though this is looking less and less likely. We are also working with
BMO to potentially hold the ceremony there if it is necessary to comply
with social distancing measures.
- If the July 19th date will not work, we will build the
stage at the HS and then assign times for graduates and families to
cross the stage and hear their name announced on the 19th.
This would allow each student to cross the stage, take photographs, etc.
Our current guidance would prohibit school personnel from shaking
hands, handing diplomas, etc.
- Other HS Rites of Passage
- PROM – Friday, June 26th. If this date does not work – it will not be re-scheduled
- Jr./ Sr. Banquet – Friday, July 17th. If this date does not work – it will not be re-scheduled
- Scholarship Night – Held remotely on the 21st – those directly impacted will receive additional information.
Again, thank you. Please let me know if I can help in any way.
PJ Caposey