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Newsletters » DP Lions Share (11–12)

DP Lions Share (11–12)

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Week of January 15, 2025

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Stela

Greetings DP Families!

 

Congrats to our DECA students who competed at the District Career Development Conference (CDC) on Saturday, January 11. Sixteen students are advancing to state level competition in Dallas in March 2025. We are so proud of all of the competitors!

 

Parents/guardians of juniors who are pursuing the IB diploma, please note that we will be taking these students to the University of Texas at Austin to do scholarly research for their Extended Essays on February 20. More info to come on this next week!

 

Stela Holcombe

DP Principal

DPnews

Students in DECA pose for a photo after their conference

Students competed at the DECA conference Saturday

 

Important 👀

  • School is closed Monday, January 20 for MLK Day
  • DP Principal's Coffee Monday, January 27

 

Reminder: Pay IB Exam Invoices through MySchoolBucks

IB Exam invoices are in your MySchoolBucks account. The balance is due April 15. MySchoolBucks adds a 4% fee; you are invited to avoid this fee by paying with a personal check. Please make the check payable to "Meridian School" and write your student's name in the memo like this "John Doe - for IB Exams." Send your check to the high school office in a sealed envelope to the attention of Stela Holcombe.

 

Seniors: Individual Oral Exams for DP English begin January 21

Good luck to our DPY2 English seniors on their upcoming English Oral Exam. These begin on January 21. See the English Oral Exam schedule. 

 

Action Requested of Parents/Guardians:  Please check the schedule to see when your senior is scheduled to do their oral exam and discourage them from being absent unless they are sick. Skipping school to put off this task only causes more stress on the student, and it creates large problems with these individually scheduled exams.


Please note: We don't expect these students to take summatives for other classes on the day of their individual  oral exam. They will be advised to work with their teachers to reschedule conflicting summatives as needed.

 

Attention Seniors: Senior Trip Pre-Departure Meeting

Tuesday, February 11 from 5:45-6:45 p.m.

 

If your senior is signed up to attend the Senior Trip over Spring Break, please mark your calendar for a required, in-person meeting on Tuesday, February 11 in the High School Cafeteria.

Please bring the following items with you: 

  • $95 cash for tips. This is required of all travelers. Holcombe/Elbers will divide and pay tips to the service providers; students will not handle these funds.
  • We will make color copies of the following items:
    • Student’s Driver License, Driving Permit, or Texas ID
    • Student's Medical Insurance Card
    • Student's Passport - please have your student sign the passport before the meeting

 

Save the Date for Graduation Product Orders

Monday, February 10 and Tuesday, February 11

High School Tech Commons between 1:15 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

 

Representatives from Herff Jones will take orders for graduation regalia (cap and gowns), class rings, and graduation announcements. Parents/guardians may come to campus to place these orders themselves, or the student can place their own order. Consider coming on Monday, February 10 when it's less busy.

 

See this guide on graduation products for the Class of 2025!

Two actions re: 2025-2026 School Year

January 1 – February 28


Siblings new to Meridian (K-9): apply now for next school year!

If a currently enrolled student's sibling will be new to Meridian in the 2025-2026 school year (in grades K-9), please fill out an application for the sibling before February 28. Siblings receive priority in the lottery but must apply before the deadline.


Currently enrolled students: One-question Commitment Form

Please fill out a one-question Commitment Form on Skyward. The form is available to the primary parent (the one listed first) on Skyward. There are three options for the answers: returning, not returning, not sure yet. This is not a final answer; this allows us to plan for the admissions process.


If you have questions please email [email protected].

 

 

Teacher Experiences Auction raised nearly $10,000!

Thank you for supporting our bi-annual Teacher Experiences Auction! Together, we raised $9,511 to be used toward special school projects like a marquee.

 

Federal Report Card available

The 2023-2024 Federal Report Cards for Texas schools are now available through the TEA website. See what information federal report cards contain and review Meridian’s 23-24 Federal Report Card here. 

 

MYP Theatre Class presents: Anon(ymous)

January 29 at 6 p.m.

 

Join Advanced MYP Theatre in the Black Box for a free performance of Anon(ymous), by Naomi Izuka. Separated from his mother, Anon, a young refugee, journeys through the United States, encountering a wide variety of people – some kind, some dangerous and cruel – as he searches for his family. From a sinister one-eyed butcher to beguiling barflies to a sweatshop, Anon must navigate through a chaotic, ever-changing landscape in this entrancing adaptation of Homer's The Odyssey.

 

Anon(ymous)
enrichment
 
Model UN MUNSA award recipients: Rithika S., Sarah O., and Ahladita B.

Model UN MUNSA award recipients Rithika S., Sarah O., and Ahladita B.

Extracurricular Activities and Clubs

 

Model United Nations

Meridian Model UN participated in the JMUNSA (middle school) and MUNSA (high school) conference on Saturday in San Antonio. We are extremely proud of all 41 participants for their effort and dedication in preparation for this conference. Congratulations to the students who received impressive awards: Rithika S. (Distinguished Delegate), Sarah O. (Best Delegate), and Ahladita B. (Best Delegate)!

 

DECA

Meridian's DECA chapter competed at the District Career Development Conference (CDC) on Saturday, January 11. Of the 46 high school students who competed, 16 advanced to State in March. We are very proud of all of our DECA members for working hard to prepare for this competition as we do not have a business program at Meridian. The state qualifiers are (in alpha order by last name): Pranav Anil, Ganesh Balakrishnan, Krish Bhalani, Cylee Dhond, Sri Edala, Rumi Maknojia, Allison Mathias, Vivaan Pai, Riya Palanki, Abdul Azeez Sadiq, Aarin Sandilya, Aarush Sankar, Rithika Saravanan, Connor Scafe, Anish Senthilarasu, and Dheeraz Yamdati.  

 

2024-2025 Secondary Clubs and Student Groups (6-12)

Find the Clubs List for this school year

Learn how students can start or reactivate a club

See Daily Announcements

 

Questions? Email Secondary Enrichment

Meridian Athletics

 

Basketball

Upcoming home games!

Wednesday, January 13 - Boys MS Bold & Boys JV Beast

Saturday, January 18 - Girls Varsity & Boys JV Bold

Tuesday, January 21 - Boys JV Bold, Girls Varsity & Boys Varsity + Senior Night!

 

Basketball Senior Night is Tuesday, January 21!

Join us as we honor our class of 2025 basketball players and student managers between the last home Varsity Basketball games of the season. We'll be celebrating: Juli A., Lily C., Palm W., Joe B., Fenix B., and PJ S.

 

Soccer

First home Soccer games! Just one mile from campus at Rock Field (217 Commerce Blvd. Round Rock)

Friday, January 17 - Boys Varsity, Girls Varsity and Boys JV

 

Tennis

The January 21 Middle School Tennis match has been rescheduled to February 11.

 

See the Athletics Newsletter and the Athletics web section for more about Meridian sports.

 

Questions? Email Meridian Athletics

 

Important DP Program Contacts

DP Principal, Stela Holcombe
DP Assistant Principal, Wendy Riley
DP Coordinator, Charles Ryder
DP Team Lead, Ray Ciccolella
 
Secondary Librarian and EE Coordinator, Renée Ramirez
Counselor for Grades 10-12, Nick Manuszak
College and Career Counselor, Kathy Gregg
HS Campus Coordinator, Jessica Kress
Receptionist / Attendance Clerk, Shawn Seaman
Report absences on Skyward
 

SpEd Director, Susan Mais

ARD Coordinator, Anna Brown

504 Coordinator, Dottie Elliott

SpEd Coordinator, April Harris
 
Registrar, Janette Gaudiesus

Dean of School Culture, Monique Swain

Child Nutrition Director, Kaylee Torres
Meal Program Application/Café Questions
Skyward Questions
Athletics
Secondary Enrichment
 

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