The Hive Happenings

As we step into our Thanksgiving break, my heart is full. I am so grateful for our families and the trust you place in us every day. Your children bring a light to this campus that can’t be described — only felt. From the morning greetings to the classroom moments to the big celebrations, they make this job a joy.

Thank you for raising such incredible young people. Thank you for supporting our teachers and cheering on our programs. And thank you for allowing me to serve a community that feels like family. I am proud to be a Yellow Jacket, and I am thankful for each of you.

Wishing your family a restful and joy-filled Thanksgiving break.

This week, we reminded families about our BIG six-weeks goal: 98% attendance.

We wrapped up the week at 94.07%, which is lower than I'd like but the flu and strep have hit our campus pretty hard!

Here’s what’s waiting when we hit 98%:

💈 Chaz and Cash Spivey – A student gets to shave their heads on stage.

🥧 Dr. Paceley, Miss Whitmer & a Coach – Ready to take a pie to the face.

🎨 Mr. Prost – Will let a student dye his beard bright neon colors.

And if we go all the way to 99% attendance?

🔥 Mr. Pittman will let a student shave his hair and beard!

Let’s keep building momentum, Yellowjackets. Every day in class counts! 💛🖤

As we wrap up the week and head into our Thanksgiving break, I’m reflecting on just how much we packed into these last few days at MHS.

Our basketball teams hit the court with heart, we completed our benchmark assessments, and we hosted school board members for campus walks that highlighted the strong teaching and learning happening every day. Our students also stepped up in service by volunteering at Helping Hands, supporting our local food pantry and giving back to the community that supports us so well.

We celebrated perfect attendance with nachos, handed out goody boxes filled with brownies, cookies, and cupcakes, and recognized the students who completed our Hive Happenings scavenger hunt — I loved seeing their excitement. And for a little extra fun before the break, I donned my turkey costume and made my way around campus gobbling at anyone in my path. Laughter really is good for the soul.

Thank you for a wonderful week. I’m thankful for our students, our families, and our staff. Enjoy your break, and we’ll see everyone back on December 1st, ready to finish the semester strong!

Our MISD School Board completed their Fall Board Walks this week, traveling through both campuses to experience teaching and learning up close. From engaging lessons to students proudly sharing their work, our board members were able to see the heart of Meridian ISD in action. Students loved having them on campus and were excited to show off the good things happening in their classrooms.

The visit ended with a high school teacher roundtable that was filled with encouragement, insight, and shared celebrations. It was a powerful reminder of the teamwork and community spirit that make our district so special.

Our Meridian Band students and NHS members are honored to partner with Wreaths Across America this year as we work to remember the fallen, honor those who serve, and teach our children the value of freedom.

This year’s ceremony will take place on December 13, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Meridian Cemetery, with wreath placement immediately following. During the ceremony, volunteers will place wreaths on the graves of our veterans and speak each name aloud—an act of remembrance that keeps their legacy alive.

Our students are working hard to support this event, and we still need 10 more wreaths sponsored to honor every veteran resting at Meridian Cemetery.

You can order wreaths by clicking the button below. 👇👇

For any questions, please contact Daniel Yguerabide.

Thank you for supporting our kids, our community, and the veterans who gave so much for our freedom.

As we send our students off for Thanksgiving break, our hearts are full of gratitude for their hard work, their growth, and the support of our amazing Meridian families. We hope next week brings rest, joy, and time together.

When we return on December 1, we’ll step into our next Capturing Kids’ Hearts trait: Responsibility—and it couldn’t come at a better time. Once we’re back, students will have 2.5 weeks to complete their assignments, raise their grades, and finish the six weeks strong.

We’ll also be taking our campus-wide mock assessments. These are incredibly important for helping us see where our students are academically and what support they still need before the spring STAAR tests. The more effort they put in, the better we can guide them.

In December, we’ll be encouraging our Yellow Jackets to:

• Take ownership of their grades and make a plan to improve

• Complete missing assignments and communicate with teachers

• Build strong study habits ahead of STAAR and mock testing

• Show up every day ready to learn and give their best effort

Responsibility isn’t about perfection—it’s about maturity, effort, and making the next right choice. Our students can do hard things, and we believe in their ability to rise to the challenge.

Thank you, families, for your continued support. We are grateful for you, and we can’t wait to welcome our kids back on December 1 ready to finish the semester with pride.

**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. As of 11/09/2025, no other seniors have submitted their bios.**

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!

Dustin Padgett, a proud member of the Class of 2026, is the son of Bubba Padgett and LeeAnn Ardeneaux. Throughout his high school career, Dustin has been incredibly active, participating in six different sports: football, basketball, powerlifting, golf, baseball, and track. In addition to athletics, he has been involved in FFA and the Volunteer Fire Department, showing his dedication both on and off the field.

Academically and personally, Dustin has achieved a great deal. He is a member of the National Honor Society, received the Fighting Heart Award during the 2024–2025 school year, and has earned Academic All-District honors in both football and basketball for the past three years. Despite all his accomplishments, Dustin cherishes the simple moments most, especially giving his sister Mailey sweaty hugs after every football game, which stands out as his favorite high school memory. His most special high school memory was going to state in Track.

Looking ahead, Dustin plans to pursue a career as a welder and earn his associate's degree in Precision Machinery, ready to build a successful future through his strong work ethic. Known for always putting his friends and teammates first, Dustin’s big heart, loyalty, and dedication make him a truly special Yellow Jacket.

💛🖤 Congratulations, Dustin! We’re proud of all you’ve accomplished and can’t wait to see what your future holds!

None at this time.

A huge thank you to Mrs. Rosie Guerrero, Mrs. Sue Davenport, and Mrs. Cindy Denman for all of their volunteer help this week. I appreciate all you do for Meridian High School!

A fantastic idea from one of our parents: Meridian High is looking to launch a volunteer program—much like classroom moms but for our whole school! We’d love for parents or family members to help greet students, decorate hallways, make positive phone calls home, and support other school activities. This is a wonderful way to build connections and celebrate our students. Interested in joining the volunteer team or learning more? Let us know by filling out the form.

We will send out a monthly sign up sheet requesting volunteers for events happening at the school. Sign up for one or all. Anyone is welcome! Volunteer forms must be signed in order to participate during school hours.

🌟 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):

The SPED department was nominated anonymously. They said, "I appreciate that our Special Education department works with all of our students to ensure they are successful. Their hard work and dedication does not go unnoticed!"

Coach Schur was nominated anonymously. They said, "I appreciate the grace that Coach G. Schur gives to each student every day. He does not let "yesterday's issues" bleed into "today" and makes every student feel seen and heard."

N/A

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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 November 21, 2025:

6th grade: 96.97% 🔽

7th grade: 97.25% 🔼

8th grade: 98.26%🔼

9th grade: 96.55%🔽

10th grade: 95.94% 🔽

11th grade: 95.63% 🔽

12th grade: 96.45% 🔽

**Note: Letters were sent home last Friday for absences and tardies! Call the front office for more information.

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!

• 11/21/25 - Girls Basketball @ Hamilton Tournament
• 11/21/25 - HS Boys Basketball vs Hico
• 11/22/25 - Showdown on the Bosque
• 11/24/25 - Girls Basketball @ Axtell
• 11/24/25 - Boys Basketball vs BCH HMS
• 11/25/25 - Girls Basketball vs Western Hills
• 11/25/25 - Boys Basketball vs Oglesby
• 11/24/25 -- 11/28/25 - Thanksgiving Break
• 11/29/25 - Showdown on the Bosque
• 12/01/25 - Girls JH Basketball @ Bosqueville
• 12/01/25 - Boys JH Basketball vs Bosqueville
• 12/02/25 - Dec EOC Alg 1 Retest
• 12/02/25 - Varsity Boys Basketball vs Covington
• 12/03/25 - Dec EOC Eng 1 Retest
• 12/04/25 - Varsity Girls @ Venus Tournament
• 12/04/25 - Dec EOC Eng 2 Retest
• 12/05/25 - Dec EOC BIO Retest
• 12/06/25 - HS Boys Basketball @ Round Rock
• 12/06/25 - Meridian Christmas Parade
• 12/08/25 - JH Girls Basketball vs Crawford
• 12/08/25 - JH Boys Basketball @ Crawford
• 12/09/25 - JH Academic UIL
• 12/09/25 - HS Girls Basketball vs Gordon/Axtell
• 12/09/25 - HS Boys Basketball vs Cransfill Gap
• 12/11/25 - MES Christmas Program
• 12/12/25 - Varsity Girls Basketball @ Lone Oak
• 12/12/25 - Varsity Boys Basketball @ Covington
• 12/14/25 - Winter Concert (Full Band Program 5th - 12th)
• 12/15/25 - JH Girls Basketball @ Itasca
• 12/15/25 - JH Boys Basketball vs Itasca
• 12/16/25 - JV/V Girls Basketball vs Valley Mills
• 12/17/25 - End of 3rd Six Weeks
• 12/18/25 - Boys Basketball vs Waco Christian Academy
• 12/18/25 - 01/06/26 -- Christmas Break