The Hive Happenings

Yellow Jacket Family,

As we move through February, I want to take a moment to say how proud I am of our students and staff. This time of year can feel long, but I continue to see perseverance, growth, and heart in our classrooms and hallways every single day.

One of our biggest priorities right now is showing up—every day, on time, and ready to learn. Attendance truly matters. When students are present, they stay connected, build confidence, and keep moving forward academically. Even missing a few days can make a difference, and we want every student to have the best chance at success.

I also want to thank our families for your continued support. When school and home work together, our students thrive. Please keep encouraging your students to do their best, stay engaged, and ask for help when they need it—we are always here to support them.

Let’s finish this month strong, focused, and proud to be Yellow Jackets. Together, we can make every day count.

As always, thank you for trusting us with your children.

We are beyond proud to announce that the Meridian High School Band of Gold has been selected to perform at the 2026 AutoZone Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tennessee!

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our students as they will:
✨ Perform at halftime
✨ Perform live on ESPN with a guest celebrity artist
✨ March in the game day parade
✨ Compete in the Liberty Bowl Battle of the Bands

What an incredible honor and a true testament to the talent, dedication, and heart of our Band of Gold students and directors. Meridian is about to be represented on a national stage—and we couldn’t be prouder!

💛🎶 Go Band of Gold! Go Yellowjackets! 🐝

This week, we are proud to celebrate two incredible women who make a daily difference in the lives of our Yellow Jackets—Mrs. Jarman, our district counselor, and Estafana Whitmer, our high school academic advisor and newly certified counselor!

Mrs. Jarman and Miss Whitmer are the heart of our student support system. From academic planning and college readiness to encouragement, guidance, and a listening ear, they go above and beyond to ensure our students feel supported, confident, and prepared for the future.

Yellow Jacket Nation, let’s show them some love! 💛

We are proud to recognize the following students for successfully completing all requirements and earning the American Welding Society (AWS) D1.1 2F Structural Steel Welding Certification:

• Jesse Scott

• Ellie Baker

• Dustin Padgett

• Thomas Denman

• Bradly Perry

This is a significant industry-recognized credential and a testament to their hard work, skill, and commitment to excellence.

We would also like to congratulate Taylor Brown, who has successfully met all certification requirements as well. Due to certification expiration timelines, her official AWS paperwork will be completed during her senior year—but her accomplishment and readiness deserve recognition now.

Way to go, Yellow Jackets! We are proud of each of you and the bright futures you are building. 🐝💛

Outstanding showing by our Yellowjackets and Lady Jackets yesterday at the Meridian Powerlifting Meet against some stiff competition!

Results are as follows:

Anthony Alonzo 2nd 114s

Aden McNett 6th 123s

AB Torres 5th 132s

Zack Smith 1st (U) 132s

Hayden Cummings 1st (U) 148s

Dustin Padgett 1st (U) 165s

Kyler Kerbow 2nd (U) 165s

Zeek Mabry 2nd 181s

Jose Cuevas 1st (U) 181s

Devon Eakin 1st (U) 220s

William Boganwright 1st (U) 242s

Cristian Whitmer 2nd (U) 242s

Briar Preston 1st (U) 308

Stephen Potter 1st (U) SHW+

Tori Bible 4th 132s

Bailey Hay 8th 132s

Hannah Beaudin 5th 148s

Landri Duke 7th 181s

Aaliyah Washington 1st (U) 198s

February is often a busy—and sometimes heavy—time of year for students and staff. Through Capturing Kids’ Hearts, we continue to focus on what matters most: strong relationships, a sense of belonging, and a school culture where every student feels seen and valued.

This month, our classrooms are intentionally reinforcing empathy, respect, and encouragement. From daily greetings at the door to meaningful conversations during class and Jacket Period, our staff is committed to creating spaces where students feel safe to learn, grow, and take risks.

As we head toward the final stretch of the school year, these connections make a real difference. When students feel supported, they show up—both academically and emotionally. Thank you to our families for partnering with us and reinforcing these same values at home. Together, we’re building not just successful students, but strong, kind, and confident young people.

**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!

None at this time.

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):

Ms. Alcaraz challenges her students’ creativity in fun and engaging ways. Her classroom is a place where ideas are encouraged, curiosity is sparked, and students are excited to think outside the box every single day.

Coach Schur consistently goes above and beyond—not just for her students, but for her colleagues as well. Her support, dedication, and team-first mindset make her truly one of a kind.

Katelyn comes to class every day ready to accept the challenge. Her consistency, determination, and positive attitude show true grit and a strong commitment to her own growth.

Dawson has worked extremely hard in College Algebra this year. College-level coursework brings a whole new set of challenges, and Dawson attacks those challenges head-on with perseverance and focus.

Kennedy is a fantastic team player in class and an amazing peer tutor. She is always willing to help others succeed, making a positive impact on both her classmates and the classroom environment.

Cylan has been working his tail off during Jacket Period. His effort and determination do not go unnoticed, and his commitment to improvement truly reflects grit in action.

Joshua’s wit and humor make class a fun and engaging place every day. On top of that, he brings creativity and innovation to the way he approaches math problems, thinking beyond the standard solution.

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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 February 06, 2026:

6th grade: 96.95% 🔽

7th grade: 96.78% 🔼

8th grade: 98.19%🔼

9th grade: 96.25%🔼

10th grade: 95.10% 🔽

11th grade: 94.95% 🔼

12th grade: 95.88% 🔼

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!

• 02/07/26 – UIL Solo & Ensemble
• 02/09/26 – JH Boys Basketball
• 02/10/26 – JV/V Girls & Boys Basketball vs Rio Vista
• 02/11/26 – JH Basketball vs Kerens
• 02/13/26 – HS Boys Basketball vs Valley Mills
• 02/15/26 – President’s Day (Student Holiday)
• 02/16/26 – 5th Six Weeks Begins (No School)
• 02/17/26 - Open House @ 6 p.m.
• 02/20/26 – Whitney Powerlifting Meet
• 02/23/26 – JH Track @ Meridian Tri-Meet
• 02/24/26 – Varsity Baseball vs TBD
• 02/26/26 – HS Track @ Meridian Tri-Meet
• 02/27/26 – Varsity Baseball vs TBD
• 03/02/26 – San Antonio Ag Mechanics Show
• 03/03/26 – Varsity Baseball @ TBD
• 03/05/26 – HS Track @ TBD
• 03/06/26 – Varsity Baseball @ TBD
• 03/09/26 – State Tractor CDE
• 03/10/26 – JH Track @ TBD
• 03/12/26 – HLSR Heifer Show
• 03/13/26 – Boys Powerlifting
• 03/16/26 – Spring Break (Student/Staff Holiday)
• 03/17/26 – Spring Break (Student/Staff Holiday)
• 03/18/26 – Spring Break (Student/Staff Holiday)
• 03/19/26 – Spring Break (Student/Staff Holiday)
• 03/20/26 – Spring Break (Student/Staff Holiday)
• 03/23/26 – JH Track @ TBD
• 03/24/26 – Varsity Baseball vs TBD
• 03/26/26 – HLSR Steer Show
• 03/27/26 – HS Academic UIL
• 03/30/26 – Varsity Baseball vs TBD
• 04/01/26 – End of the 5th Six Weeks