The Hive Happenings

We are heading into an important time of year at Meridian High School as we prepare for our first STAAR testing day next week. Our students have been working hard, our teachers have been intentional in their instruction, and now it’s time to show what we know.

To build excitement and keep our energy high, we are celebrating with Academic Spirit Week, April 7–10! Each day highlights one of our core content areas and gives students a fun way to connect their learning to our campus culture.

We are proud of the work happening in our classrooms every day, and we are ready to go ALL IN for our students.

Greetings Hive Families,

I recently had the opportunity to travel to San Diego Unified School District alongside 18 other principals from the Waco area as part of a leadership learning experience. It was an incredible opportunity to visit campuses, observe classrooms, and collaborate with school leaders who are doing impactful work for students.

What stood out to me most is how much we already have in place here at Meridian High School. The strong relationships between our staff and students, our focus on growth, and our commitment to doing what’s best for kids are right in line with what we saw in San Diego.

Experiences like this allow us to reflect, refine, and bring back new ideas that strengthen what we are already doing. My goal is always to ensure that our students have the very best opportunities possible—whether that’s in the classroom, through programs, or in the support they receive each day.

I’ve also included a few pictures in this newsletter of some of the incredible things I had the chance to see while in San Diego. I hope they give you a glimpse into the learning and inspiration that I’m excited to bring back to our students and staff.

Thank you for your continued support of Meridian High School. It is an honor to serve this community and your students.

ELAR Overall
Meets Grade Level: 38%
Approaches Grade Level: 64%

Math (Grades 6–Algebra I)
Grade 6 — Meets: 18% | Approaches: 82%
Grade 7 — Meets: 17% | Approaches: 38%
Grade 8 — Meets: 0% | Approaches: 21%
Algebra I — Meets: 12% | Approaches: 46%

Math Overall
Meets Grade Level: 12%
Approaches Grade Level: 47%

Science (Grade 8 & Biology)
Grade 8 Science — Meets: 32% | Approaches: 52%
Biology — Meets: 31% | Approaches: 88%

Science Overall
Meets Grade Level: 32%
Approaches Grade Level: 66%

Social Studies (Grade 8 & US History)
Grade 8 Social Studies — Meets: 12% | Approaches: 44%
US History — Meets: 68% | Approaches: 96%

Social Studies Overall
Meets Grade Level: 42%
Approaches Grade Level: 72%

Today our high school theatre students received a special lesson in stage wound makeup and special effects from one of our Tarleton State University student teachers, Hope Fambrough. Mrs. Dunn is currently her mentor teacher. The hands-on demonstration gave students a behind-the-scenes look at how theatre productions create realistic effects on stage.

We are fortunate to have 11 Tarleton student observers and student teachers on our campus this semester. Their dedication to learning and teaching adds tremendous value to our classrooms and our students.

We have some exciting news buzzing around the Hive!

Meridian High School has been awarded a $14,783 Region 12 Technology Grant to launch a brand-new Digital Media Studio on campus. This project will provide our students with hands-on opportunities to learn real-world media production skills using professional-grade tools.

The grant will fund the creation of a TV studio, audio recording booth, and video editing suite, giving our students the ability to produce:

School broadcast announcements
Social media and promotional content
Yearbook and campus media projects
Student-created video productions

Through this project, students in our Arts, Audio/Visual Technology & Communications (AAVTC) program will gain experience with industry-standard production equipment and editing software, helping prepare them for careers in digital media, communications, and broadcasting.

This is an incredible opportunity for our students to tell the story of Meridian ISD through their own creative lens, and we can’t wait to see the amazing content they will create.

A huge thank you to Region 12 for supporting innovative programs that expand learning opportunities for our students.

The future of Meridian media is bright—lights, camera, Yellow Jackets! 🐝🎥

At Meridian High School, we are focusing on the character trait of Courage during the month of April.

Courage isn’t just about big, bold moments—it’s about the everyday choices our students make. It looks like raising your hand when you’re unsure, standing up for what’s right, trying something new, or continuing to work hard even when things feel challenging.

Throughout the month, students will be encouraged to:

Take positive risks in their learning
Speak up with kindness and confidence
Support their peers and stand up for others
Push through obstacles with determination

As a campus, we will continue building strong relationships through daily greetings, sharing “Good Things,” and reinforcing our social contracts—creating a safe environment where every student feels supported to be courageous.

Family Connection Tip:

Ask your student, “What’s one thing you did this week that took courage?” Celebrating even the small wins helps build confidence and resilience.

We are proud of our Yellow Jackets for showing courage in and out of the classroom every day!

**Note: Senior Spotlights will feature 2-3 Seniors per week in the newsletters. Students will be put in the newsletter in the order they are received. Reminder that students who do not submit photos will only have their bio posted.**

The journey to graduation is filled with achievements, friendships, and unforgettable moments. Meridian High School is proud to shine a spotlight on this year’s seniors, celebrating their hard work, stories, and the bright futures ahead. Join us in recognizing the Class of 2026 — each week in our newsletter, we’ll share personal highlights and memories from our amazing seniors. Let’s honor their dedication and celebrate the start of their next adventure together!

Stay tuned for inspiring stories and help us cheer on the Class of 2026!

Volunteer Opportunities

No volunteer opportunities at this time.

Hive Heart Volunteer Form

MHS Faculty/Staff/Student Recognition Form

🌟 Gold Stars: Celebrating Our Everyday Heroes

Every week, we’ll shine a little spotlight on moments—big and small—that make our campus stronger, kinder, and more connected. Gold Stars aren’t about titles or checklists; they’re about the heart and hustle we see in each other every day.

💡 Want to nominate someone for a Gold Star? Send me a quick note with their name and what they did. All shout-outs are not just welcome—they’re encouraged!

This week's Gold Star Nominations were (insert drum roll here):

Sadie Yant

Sadie Yant was nominated by Crystal Olivarri. She said, "Congratulations for making Varsity cheer "

Lauren Hurley

Lauren was nominated by Mrs. Edmiston. She said, "Lauren has a great attitude toward learning math and is always willing to help classmates, offering support in a kind and encouraging way."

Aaron Alonzo

Aaron was nominated by Mrs. Edmiston. She said, "Aaron has a great attitude toward learning math and works hard to understand new concepts. He is always willing to help his classmates and even supports me when I need tech help.

"

Ben Rosas & Nate Swertfager

Ben and Nate were nominated by Mrs. Edmiston. She said, "Ben and Nate consistently step up to help get the class started, like handing out math books without being asked. After finishing their own work, they make a point to check in with classmates and help them work through math concepts. They’re reliable, thoughtful, and genuinely helpful to others."

Tony Franco

Tony was nominated by Mrs. Edmiston. She said, "Juan puts in consistent effort to understand math concepts and is quick to offer help when classmates need another explanation or example."

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Remember anyone can nominate a teacher, staff member, or student! Let's help build each other up this year to make this the best school year ever! Go Jackets!!

🔽🔼Attendance by grade level as of March 27, 2026:

6th grade: 96.89% 🔼

7th grade: 96.17% 🔼

8th grade: 98.11%🔽

9th grade: 95.98%🔽

10th grade: 94.86% 🔼

11th grade: 94.98% 🔼

12th grade: 95.33% 🔽

Note: A student may not have any absences or tardies to earn the library lunch.

For field trips, a student can have zero unexcused absences, no more than 2 excused absences, and no more than three tardies.

It will reset every three weeks for the lunch and every six weeks for the field trip!

03/30/26 – District Tennis in Waco
03/30/26 – District Golf (Gatesville)
03/31/26 - Baseball vs Rio Vista
04/01/26 - OAP Bi-District @ Waco Connolly @ 3 p.m.
04/02/26 – End of the 5th Six Weeks
04/03/26 - Good Friday (No School)
04/06/26 - No School
04/06/26 - District Track @ Rio Vista
04/07/26 - Varsity Tennis @ Madisonville
04/10/26 - JH District Track @ Meridian
04/13/26 - FFA District Convention @ Whitney
04/14/26 - Varsity Baseball @ Itasca
04/16/26 - Science STAAR
04/18/26 - Band Gala Fundraiser
04/21/26 - Baseball @ Italy
04/24/26 - Varsity vs Italy
04/27/26 - No School
04/30/26 - MISD Band Program Spring Concert (4-12)
05/01/26 - Bad Weather Day

The Hive Happenings