The Hive Happenings

As we continue moving through these final weeks of the school year, I want to share a few important updates and celebrate the incredible people who make our campus so special.

First, parents—please be on the lookout for dual credit permission forms from Ranger College coming home this week. Some have already been returned, and we appreciate your help in getting those completed promptly so our students can continue taking advantage of these great opportunities.

I’m also proud to share some exciting news. I have officially been hired as an embedded adjunct instructor with Ranger College, where I will be teaching Dual Credit Education courses for students in our Education/Teaching pathway. This is a great step forward for our program and will allow us to continue expanding opportunities for our students right here at Meridian.

We also have an update regarding our upcoming field trip. The date has been moved to Tuesday, May 19th, and we will be traveling to the Dallas Zoo. If you would like to attend as a chaperone, please let me know. Be on the lookout for permission slips coming home next week.

Looking ahead, Teacher Appreciation Week is May 4th–8th, and it is one of my favorite times of the year because we get to celebrate the heart of our school—our teachers.

Our teachers give so much of themselves to ensure every student is supported, challenged, and cared for each day. The impact they make reaches far beyond the classroom, and our students are better because of them.

Next week, we have the opportunity to show them just how much they are appreciated. We are currently accepting donations of snack items and canned sodas to help us celebrate our staff throughout the week. If you would like to contribute, items can be dropped off at the high school anytime leading up to May 4th.

If you have questions or would like to help, please feel free to call or text me directly.

Thank you for your continued support of our school, our staff, and our students. 💛🖤

Last night, our Meridian community was treated to a wonderful evening of music at the Spring Band Concert, led by Mr. Daniel Yguerabide and Mr. Nicholas Jeter.

This special performance highlighted the growth and talent of our student musicians from 4th grade all the way through our senior class. It was truly a showcase of dedication, hard work, and the strong music program we are so proud of here at Meridian.

A very special recognition goes to our senior band members, who performed in their final spring concert:

Ellie Baker

Isaac Lira

Guissel Neri

Dyna Potter

Arianna Sandley

Noah Smith

We wish each of these students the very best as they move on to the next level. Their leadership and commitment have left a lasting impact on our band program.

Thank you to all of our students for a wonderful performance, and to our directors for the time, passion, and excellence they bring to our campus. It was a night to remember!

We are proud to recognize six outstanding students who advanced to the Regional Academic UIL Meet!

Hannah Beaudin, Kerrington Dagley, Mailey Padgett, Arianna Sandley, Noah Smith, and Afton Smith represented Meridian High School at the Regional competition held at Grayson College in Denison, Texas. They competed in Literary Criticism, Feature Writing, Science, and Prose, going up against some of the top students in our region.

These students have put in long hours preparing, practicing, and pushing themselves to compete at a high level. We are incredibly proud of their hard work, dedication, and the way they represented our school.

Way to go, Jackets! 💛🖤

Parents --

There are still 4 seniors who have not turned in Biographies for the Robing Ceremony. Please remind your seniors to get them turned in.

We will be doing a presentation of baby/child pictures of our Seniors. Very, very few seniors have turned in photos. Please submit them to bdagley@meridianisd.org or lpaceley@meridianisd.org. Waiting until the last minute makes it difficult to have the presentation ready for our Senior robing ceremony.

Reminder that the Senior walk through MES and MHS will take place directly after the Robing Ceremony. Please make plans to attend. Students may either wear the college shirt they will attend or a nice outfit.

The end is near -- can you believe we are only 3 weeks from graduation?!?

Our Yellow Jackets wrapped up the season at the regional meet with heart, grit, and pride.

Our girls 4x100 relay team competed hard against tough competition, just missing a spot in the finals. On the field, Guillermo Ortiz delivered an outstanding performance in the triple jump, finishing 5th overall and setting a new personal record of 42’9.75”.

We are incredibly proud of the effort, determination, and sportsmanship our athletes demonstrated all season long. They represented Meridian ISD with class every step of the way.

Way to go, Jackets!

The "All-In Era" is officially in full swing. We are on a 30-day mission to fund a free yearbook for every single student and staff member at Meridian ISD, but we don’t just want to provide the book; we want you IN it.

We’ve opened up a digital "Community Era" vault, and we’re inviting every parent, fan, and neighbor to share their receipts from the year. Whether it’s a shot from the sidelines, a community event, or a "behind the scenes" Meridian moment, we want to see it!
*Disclaimer: By uploading any photos or videos to the shared folder, you grant us permission to use them in both the physical and digital versions of the yearbook.

How to Get Involved Today:
1. Become a Legacy Partner (The Support)
Help us cross the finish line! View our sponsorship tiers and secure your business’s place in Meridian history. Every partnership puts books directly into the hands of our kids.
https://www.meridianisd.org/page/yearbook26

2. Upload Your Photos (The Story)
Got a great shot? Drop it in our community folder! Your photos could be featured in the physical yearbook or our digital edition.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1whTlbQA1z0MzddMQdeOMc7Qk4SRGBMNZ?usp=sharing

3. Spread the Word
Share this post! The faster we reach our goal, the sooner we can guarantee a book for every Yellow Jacket.

Meridian is more than a town—it’s an Era. Let’s capture it together.

As we step into the final stretch of the school year, our focus remains on finishing strong—together. Through Capturing Kids’ Hearts, we are reminded that relationships come first. A smile at the door, a word of encouragement, and taking time to truly listen can make all the difference for our students. May is a busy season filled with tests, events, and celebrations, but it’s also a time when our students need us most. Let’s continue to build a campus where every student feels seen, valued, and supported all the way to the finish line.

Hive Heart Volunteers 💛🖤

Teacher Appreciation Week (May 4–8) is coming up! We’d love help with snack donations or a 12-pack of drinks for our staff. If a few families each bring one item, we can cover the whole week!

We also need a few volunteers on Friday, May 8th to help supervise students in the gym.

If you can help, please reply here or text Dr. Paceley. Thank you for loving on our teachers!

🌟 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):

None at this time.

None at this time.

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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 April 30, 2026:

6th grade: 96.87% 🔼

7th grade: 95.87% 🔽

8th grade: 97.70%🔽

9th grade: 95.98%🔽

10th grade: 94.76% 🔽

11th grade: 94.99% 🔽

12th grade: 95.16% 🔼

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!

• 05/07/26 - Band Banquet
• 05/09/26 - Grand March / Prom
• 05/11/26 - MHS Awards Night @ 6:00 p.m.
• 05/12/26 - FFA Banquet
• 05/14/26 - Athletic Banquet
• 05/15/26 - Senior Robing Ceremony @ 10 a.m., Senior Walk immediately following
• 05/17/26 - Baccalaureate @ Methodist church - 6 p.m.
• 05/18/26 - MS Awards @ 10 a.m. -- Livestreamed on Youtube Media Channel
• 05/21/26 - Last day of School
• 05/22/26 - Graduation