DP Lions Share (11–12)
Week of May 15, 2024
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Hello DP Families!
We are in the last few days of the IB exams! Senior Fun Week is coming soon (next week) and then graduation!
This Friday, May 17, will be a busy day. The juniors will participate in the NHS-sponsored Field Day, and the seniors will finish up IB exams. We are making plans for both grades (juniors and seniors) to have time to sign yearbooks. The yearbooks are being delivered to seniors today (Wednesday), and then to juniors tomorrow (Thursday).
Senior Fun Week kicks off this Friday night with the Senior Overnight Camp Out on the Mays Lawn (see below for all the details). If it's too hot and humid, we may move this event indoors. Either way, however, this event cannot happen without the help of parent supervision. Please sign up for a shift!
Students will have free dress on the last day of school, next Thursday!
Please reach out with any concerns as we close out the 23-24 school year.
Sincerely,
Stela Holcombe
DP Principal
No Triple A or After School on the last day of school
Triple A and After School 6–12 does not operate on the last day of each semester; therefore there will be no Triple A or After School 6–12 Thursday, May 23. Waiters will operate as usual. All students must be picked up in the carline. Please communicate pick up arrangements with your students and if you use Pikmykid update your pick up mode.
Reminder: Next Wednesday, May 22 is a full day of school.
Please Clear Obligations: Lunch balances/Library books
Please have your student return any overdue books to the library and log into your students’ MySchoolBucks account and pay any outstanding lunch balances before the end of May. Lunch balances carry over from year to year and can prevent a student from participating in extracurricular activities.
Any extra funds in your child's school lunch account automatically roll over to the next school year. If you have any questions, please contact Kaylee Torres.
Yearbooks have arrived!
Secondary yearbooks will be distributed during advisory tomorrow Thursday, May 16. Students will be given their order ticket to present when picking up their book. Students may not pick up books for siblings. Students may also get their book during lunch on Friday, May 17.
Primary yearbooks will be distributed to classrooms next week Tuesday, May 21. The books will be sent home with each primary student that purchased a yearbook, so please make sure that the yearbook is accounted for that day.
24-25 Volunteer Interest Survey
We expect all of our parents and guardians to volunteer at least 20 hours during the school year. We want to know where your interests and availability lie to better target our volunteer opportunities. Please complete this 2-minute survey to help us understand how you would like to be involved in our community during the 24-25 school year.
This week: Ridwell plastic film recycling drive
We’ve already collected two trunks full of plastic bags – thank you! Haven’t dropped off your bags, yet? There’s still time to join our Ridwell recycling drive! This is what can be recycled.
- May 13-16: Drop them off in one of our labeled bins in each school lobby!
- Through May 31: If 10 people sign up for Ridwell services through this link, the school will receive free plastic film recycling all next year!
Expanded Meridian Orchard: Thank you
Pranav A. finished his Eagle Scout project by expanding the orchard with additional fig trees and irrigation. The original orchard was planted in 2018 by Ryan Trefny as an Eagle Scout project.
Early Voting for Primary Runoff Elections is May 20-24
For those planning to vote in primary runoff elections, early voting starts next week. Election Day is Tuesday, May 28. See details here.
Senior Obligations
Must be cleared by Friday, May 17
Seniors will not be permitted to participate in senior fun week activities until they clear all obligations: library books, library fines, lunch account balances, etc. Please take care of these obligations by May 17. Some seniors currently owe money for lunch in MySchoolBucks. Please login and clear these obligations asap. This will save Ms. Holcombe the time of having to email families individually.
Senior Overnight Camp Out
Friday, May 17 - Saturday May 18 from 7 p.m.-6 a.m.
Senior Fun Week will kick off with an overnight campout!
- Students should bring: Tents, bedding, school appropriate PJs, toothbrush, and games. Parents are invited to come help their student set up tents if they like.
- Food and snacks: Students need to bring their own food and snacks. They may Doordash or order Uber eats throughout the night, but they may not leave campus.
- Remember: No senior assassin activities can take place on campus.
- The college banner (the banner that the seniors sign annually) will be set up in the Mays Cafeteria.
- A paper permission form will be distributed to the seniors on Thursday.
This event cannot happen without the help of parent supervision. Please sign up for a shift please!
Senior Prank Night
Friday, May 17 from 9 p.m. - 11 p.m.
Senior Prank Night has been moved to Friday, May 17 during the Senior Overnight Campout. The campout will start at 7 p.m. The pranking will be from approximately 9 p.m. - 11 p.m. This allows the seniors time to focus on their IB exams and prepare for the fun night! Find the list of Senior Pranks.
Say Goodbye to Your Polos!
Seniors, if you do not have a younger sibling who can use your red and black polos, please bring them and donate them to the Senior Prank Night. We will scatter them all over the high school upstairs common area as a celebration of this milestone. It will look like Target employees evaporated leaving only their polos behind. They will ultimately become a wonderful contribution to Meridian’s uniform exchange program for future lions to wear.
Senior Slideshow and Senior Banner Presentation
Wednesday, May 22 from 9 a.m. - 10 a.m. in the Mays Cafe
Parents/guardians, bring your tissues and join us for the formal slideshow presentation honoring our graduating seniors. After the slide show, the DPY2 visual arts students will present the senior banner they have painted for the Class of 2024.
Parking: Parents/Guardians who are driving their senior out of the parking lot for the Senior Wave Out should park inside the senior lot when they arrive at school for the senior slideshow that morning. If your senior is a driver, you should park your own car in the grassy area along Meridian Lane.
Senior Wave Out (parents/guardians invited!)
Wednesday, May 22 from 10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. along Meridian Lane
This is a tradition that started during COVID for the class of 2020. Parents/guardians, please stay after the Senior Slideshow to "wave" the seniors out of the senior parking lot for the last time!
Parents/guardians/seniors are invited to decorate their cars for this event. Parents/guardians/extended family/friends will be invited to line up along Meridian Lane to wave goodbye to the seniors as they depart towards Mays. You are welcome to bring posters, noisemakers, etc. if you like.
Parking: Parents/Guardians who are driving their senior out of the parking lot for the Senior Wave Out should park inside the senior lot when they arrive at school for the senior slideshow that morning. If your senior is a driver, you should park your own car in the grassy area along Meridian Lane.
Yearbook Delivery
The 2024 yearbooks have arrived! The seniors received their books today. Juniors will get theirs during advisory on Thursday, May 16. Students will be given their order ticket to present when picking up their book. We will be set up again during lunch on Friday, May 17 for a second distribution day for all remaining yearbooks. Please sign up if you would like to volunteer to help with distribution.
Last Call: Graduation medals for Full IB Diploma Candidates $14 in MySchoolBucks
Full IB Diploma candidates have the option of wearing an IB medal as part of their graduation regalia. If you would like to buy this item for your graduate, you can find the invoice for $14 in MySchoolBucks. Again, this is an optional purchase for seniors who are full IB diploma candidates.
Graduation Update
Graduation is just 9 days away! Graduation tickets are being distributed this week. Otherwise, everything you need to know (including information about seating for the disabled) is included in this Graduation Guide that Robyn Tester and I have put together for you.
College Newsletter (published by DP students)
Two seniors from the Class of 2024 (Leon T. and Abigail T.) have decided to share what they have learned about the college admissions process with you in the form of a newsletter. The content has been reviewed by our College Counselor, Kathy Gregg, but keep in mind that the newsletter is written from the perspective of the students who have contributed the content. I'm sure you will find it informative and interesting. Read the third edition of the College Newsletter.
Senior Class News
You can find everything you need to know regarding end of the year activities for seniors here in this week's Senior News.
Registration for Summer Sports Camps ends at 9 p.m. Wednesday, May 15!
Summer Sports Camps are available for rising 7th-12th grade students for Basketball, Soccer, and Volleyball. Spots are limited! Registration ends May 15 at 9 p.m., or sooner if the limited spots fill up first. Register for each sports experience separately: Basketball Summer Camps / Soccer Summer Camp / Volleyball Summer Camps.
Learn more and Check your registration status. See Sports Registration for additional 24-25 sports experiences and their registration windows.
Sports registration for newly enrolled students
Students who enroll in Meridian after the sports registration window for competitive sports can request the Newly Enrolled Student Registration from the registrar ([email protected]).
- Dance Team: Newly Enrolled Student Registration is May 23 - July 15. Physical forms are due by July 15.
- Cross Country, Middle School Flag Football, and Girls Volleyball: Newly Enrolled Student Registration is May 23 - July 22. Physical forms are due by August 1.
For students who enroll in Meridian after a sports registration window closes, please see this webpage for guidance.
Meridian Athletics & Secondary Enrichment closed for summer
Secondary Enrichment dates
May 15: Registration ends at 9 p.m. for Summer Sports Camps (Basketball, Soccer, Volleyball)*^
May 23: Registration opens for Newly Enrolled Students for Dance Team, Cross Country, Flag Football, and Volleyball. Please request access through the registrar at [email protected].
June 4 - July 14: Athletics Department and Secondary Enrichment closed for summer
*No additional registration window available for this extracurricular activity.
^Limited spots for this extracurricular activity.
Newly Enrolled Students are students who enrolled in Meridian School after the regular registration window closed for that sports experience (after April 24 for Dance Team and after May 1 for Cross Country, Flag Football, and Volleyball).
Check out more enrichment dates on our school calendar of events.
Questions about secondary extracurricular activities, eligibility, or letter jackets?
Email [email protected].
Secondary Daily Announcements
Curious about daily announcements? Take a look at the daily announcements slides.
Upcoming Events and Dates
May 16: Board Meeting
May 17: AB Day
May 17: NHS Field Day
May 17-18: Senior Lock-in
May 17-23: Secondary Book Fair
May 20: School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) meeting
May 20-23: Secondary end of semester exams
May 20-23: Senior Fun Week
May 21: Senior Cap and Gown Parade
May 22: Senior Wave Out
May 22: Full day of school no early release
May 23: Last Day of School
May 23: No Triple A or After School 6-12
May 24: Graduation 2024 at the Round Rock Sports Center from 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Check out our online calendar of events for more upcoming dates.
DP Resources
School Calendars and Bell Schedules (including A/B)
Link to A/B Google Calendar
(to add A/B days to your personal Google Calendar)
DP Course Syllabi and Tutorial Schedule
Secondary Academic Guide 23-24
College Visit Opportunities 2023-2024
On instagram? Follow us at meridianschool_dpcommunity
Important DP Program Contacts
Counselor for Grades 10 – 12, Nick Manuszak
College and Career Counselor, Kathy Gregg
Dean of School Culture, Monique Swain
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