MP3 March Newsletter

It’s hard to believe March is already here and with it, the promise of warmer days ahead! This time of year also marks the beginning of our planning for the upcoming school year.

If your family plans to continue with MP3 for the 2026–2027 school year, please review the re-enrollment information below. We are committed to finishing this school year strong and look forward to continuing to support our MP3 families as you plan for the future.

Your proud principal,

Michelle Siadal

There are some important events in March:

• Re-enrollment for 2026-2027 school year
• March 1st SchoolData Opens to submit Monthly Reviews
• March 1st-30th- Read 2 Ride Silverwood Reading Program

• March 8th- Daylight Savings
• March 9th-13th- Education Support Professionals Week
• March 14th- Pi Day
  
• March 17th- St. Patrick's Day
• March 31st - Last Day to Submit Purchase Orders (SLP curriculum)

• Women's History Month

Enrollment is open! Please confirm your enrollment for the 2026-2027 school year by submitting the following documents to complete your enrollment status with MP3:

1. Statement of Understanding submit to MP3 registrar, Lori Moore

2. Choice Transfer (out of district students)

Please feel free to contact Lori Moore, MP3 registrar at 360-398-9324 if you need help with registration.

Excitement is high as MP3 has been chosen again to participate in Silverwood Theme Park’s reading program, Read 2 Ride! During the month of March, students in Kindergarten through 6th grade are invited to read for 10 hours (600 minutes) to earn a free ticket to Silverwood Theme Park and Boulder Beach Waterpark. Please return the completed logs to your SLPC or a campus teacher by March 30th!

Please reach out to your SLPC for the reading log!

We are committed to continuously improving our school district and providing the best education for all our students. To do that, we need your feedback!

Please take a few minutes to complete our annual survey. Your insights will help us identify key areas to focus on, ensuring we deliver the highest quality education. This survey is also crucial for tracking our progress towards the goals outlined in Our Commitments, our strategic plan.

We want to hear your thoughts on various topics, including school communication, learning expectations, and your interactions with teachers and administrators. The survey is available in multiple languages. Please complete the survey by March 6.

Following the district survey, families will also be invited to complete a brief MP3 parent survey. This short survey was created in response to last year’s CEE feedback and is aligned with our School Improvement Plan to help us monitor our progress and continue improving for our students and families.

Thank you for taking a few minutes to complete both surveys and for helping make MP3 such a great place for our students. MP3 Parent Survey - Due by 3/6

Education Support Professionals Week (formerly classified appreciation week) is March 9-13. This week recognizes secretaries, paraeducators, student monitors, custodial and maintenance staff, bus drivers, food service workers, family and health services staff, tech support and librarians. We are so thankful to the wonderful support professionals that help make our schools and district a great place!

March is Women's History Month and a great time to reflect on how the stories and experiences of women are an integral part of educational content. I found some resources that I hope you find useful during Women's History Month.

SchoolData ALE opens on March 1st for parents to submit monthly reviews. It is greatly appreciated having your monthly reviews submitted during the first week of each month prior to the 5th to reflect on the past 30 days. Also, thank you for acknowledging you reviewed your SLPC's comment in SchoolData ALE. We hope the friendly reminders are helpful!

Celebrate this never-ending number (3.14159 . . .) and Einstein's birthday on March 14th. Participate in π-related activities and enjoy a piece of pie. Exploratorium is celebrating Pi Day. Learn more at Exploratorium.

The last day to submit PO requests is March 31st. This allows us time to be sure all vendors are paid on time to close out our accounting records for the school year. As a friendly reminder, please use the following guidelines when requesting educational items with CIS to support your teaching and learning experience:

1) CIS can support a simpler version of an expensive item

2) CIS cannot be used to duplicate learning that has already taken place.

3) CIS use must directly relate to the SLP goals and be listed in the SLP (and Monthly Review.)

4) CIS is public funds and non-consumed items should be returned to the MP3 library when the learning experience is finished or when the class is completed.

Did you know families can print documents for free at the Whatcom County Library System?

Using the library’s online Printing Request Form, you can send your documents directly to your nearest library branch for printing. Printing Request Form – Whatcom County Library System

Spring is a great time to get organized. If you have learning materials, purchased with CIS or checked out from the MP3 library that you are no longer using please return to the MP3 library. If shipping labels are needed please request through your SLPC. Flat rate USPS medium or large boxes are available free at your local post office. (If available, CIS can be used for shipping cost) or feel free to make arrangements to drop off at our MP3 campus.

The Assistance League of Bellingham is announcing applications opening for their Enrichment Scholarship Program. Students may apply for summer enrichment camps in a variety of areas such as music, science, art, debate, technology, dance, leadership, and many others.

Applications are now open on the ALB website and are due by March 21, 2026. Please visit them online for more information or stop by the office for a printed application.

College Bound Scholarship: The College Bound Scholarship program is an early commitment of state financial aid to eligible students who sign up in middle school (7th & 8th grade) and fulfill the scholarship pledge. Click to Apply

Students must meet one of the following requirements to be eligible for College Bound:

■Attend a public school and qualify for free-and-reduced price lunch in 7th, 8th, or newly eligible in 9th grade. Free and Reduced Meal Application (annually).

■If you are in state foster care or a dependent of the state between 7th grade and high school graduation, you may be eligible for College Bound.

The March edition of the VIBE is now available for viewing. Please click on the pdf below to read The Vibe! If you want to contribute to The Vibe, email thevibenewspaper@gmail.com with your submission!

Our campus teachers are excited to share what students have been learning in campus classes. Parents are welcome to use information from campus class reviews in their monthly reviews in SchoolData. Here is the link with information about MP3 Campus Monthly Reviews.

Attention 8th Grade Families! Meridian High School is hosting Incoming Freshman Night on March 26 at 6pm in the MHS Auditorium and Commons. Come hear from MHS Administration, explore club and sports opportunities, and more!

Meridian Athletic registration is available through FinalForms at https://meridian-wa.finalforms.com/. In addition to registering online, your student will need a current sports physical on file. The sports physical cannot expire during the sports season and is required for the student to participate in athletics. You can get a sports physical from your regular healthcare provider. Spring sports for 7th and 8th-grade students will start soon for Track, Baseball, and Girls Soccer.

If you need support registering through FinalForms, use this Parent Playbook, or contact Bryant Michaelson at 360-318-2160.

Meridian Youth Sports spring baseball, softball, and t-ball registration is now open! Sign up today on the website: www.meridianyouthsports.com! Space is limited so jump on this ASAP if you are interested.

Please visit our district food service program for free and reduced meal applications, meal prices as well as other FAQs. School lunch deposits can be set up through my meal time online application. Please contact Erin Groen, Director of Food Services at 360-318-2267 for questions about the food service program.

The Meridian School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employee has been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Title IX, ADA, and Compliance Coordinator (RCW 28A.640/28A.642) Kurt Harvill, Director of Personnel, 214 W. Laurel Rd., Bellingham WA 98226. 360-398-7111. Section 504 questions.