Meridian Early Childhood Center

REMINDER: There is no breakfast or hot lunch during Spring Break. Meals return on Tuesday, April 6, 2021.

REMINDER: Schedules for Spring Break are due by today at 6:00 pm. Please be sure to turn yours in, call 687-3455 or email Julie at Julie.sheets@merps.org. Thanks!

Good Morning, All evening activities occurring after 5:30pm this evening (February 4th, 2021) have been cancelled. There will be no ski club tonight.

Childcare Parents: You can now access the 2020 tax receipt in your Sandbox parent portal. Please stop in the office or give us a call if you need help finding it. Thanks!

Meridian Public Schools is closed today due to icy roads. Please call us at 687-3455 ext 0 if your child will be coming to daycare today. There is no breakfast or hot lunch so please be sure to bring the food your child will need. Thank you!

Meridian Public Schools will be closed on Tuesday, January 12th due to icy road conditions.

REMINDER: schedules for the week of 1-4 thru 1-8-21 are due by tomorrow night (Tuesday, 12-29) at 6:00 pm. Thank you!

REMIDNER: We are CLOSED on Thursday, 12-24, Friday, 12-25, Thursday, 12-31 and Friday, 1-1-21. Schedules for the week of 1-4 thru 1-8 are DUE by Tuesday, 12-29 at 6:00 pm. Thank you and Happy Holidays to ALL:)

*REMINDER: Schedules for the next two weeks (12-21 thru 12-25 and 12-28 thru 1-1-21) are DUE by 6:00 pm on Thursday, 12-16. Schedules for the week of 1-4 thru 1-8-21 are DUE by Tuesday, 12-29 at 6:00 pm. Thank you for your help in getting our staff schedules put together in a timely manner:)

December 7, 2020 Dear Meridian Mustang Families: We learned this afternoon the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services issued an extension of the pause for in-person learning for students in grades 9-12 and the continued stoppage in all athletic activities until at least December 20th. As such, students in grades 9-12 will return for in-person learning on Monday, January 4th. As announced last week, students in grades K-8 will return to in-person learning on Wednesday, December 9th. In conversation with the Midland County Department of Public Health this afternoon, our 3-week trend in Midland County continues to show a downward trajectory in the positivity rate. Thankfully, the spread that is taking place in communities is not taking place within schools. To date, there have been six outbreaks in schools in the county that have impacted 26 people and none of those have occurred in Meridian. The schools in the county will continue to work side-by-side with the health department and will continue to be aggressive with the quarantine protocols that have been very effective in limiting the spread of COVID-19 in schools. The quarantine period will follow the latest CDC guidance of 10 days with a possible return on day 11. Your understanding is appreciated as we continue to make difficult decisions. Sincerely, Craig D. Carmoney

NOTICE: Schedules for the week of 11-30 thru 12-4 are due by TUESDAY, 11-24 at 6:00pm. Thank you!

October 30, 2020 Dear Mustang Families, This school year has presented all of us with some unique challenges, and I’m very proud of how our students and staff have responded. Our return to in-person learning has been successful. At the same time, the amount of COVID-19 cases in the community continues to increase and it is having a significant impact within our schools. We have had to quarantine well over 100 students and staff to date and closed multiple classrooms due to students and staff who have been required to quarantine. Thankfully, we have managed this very well with the support of the Midland County Department of Public Health. However, this has placed an extra burden on students, families, and staff who have been directly impacted. We are doing our best to support students while they are quarantined, but this is proving to be challenging due to the number of students and staff impacted. Due to these circumstances, I am making a change to the school calendar. Students will not report to school on Friday, November 13th. Students will be assigned remote learning for that half-day. This will allow school staff to be provided with additional training on supporting students who are not in school for an extended period. We will also use this day to do an extended deep cleaning of all of our buildings. I want to continue to emphasize that the choices that are being made, especially small group gatherings, are having a great impact on the community spread of COVID-19. Schools in the county remain very safe as there has only been one outbreak traced back to a school setting. The one thing that we really need help with is to have those that are exhibiting symptoms to remain home. While we have heard about many symptoms such as fever, dry cough, and the loss of smell or taste, there are some less obvious symptoms such as a runny nose. While I understand that staying home with mild symptoms such as a runny nose goes against what many of us think we should do, this is contributing to the increase in numbers. The conversation around whether or not schools may close is certainly one that I’m well aware of. We are committed to remaining in-person and have the support of the health department. It is a certainty that students and staff will continue to be quarantined and that classrooms and/or grade levels may need to learn remotely for a period of time, so please bear with us as we work through those issues. Perhaps the biggest current threat to in-person learning is staffing levels as there is a shortage of subs for teaching, transportation, and cleaning. All decisions will continue to be made on a case-by-case basis in order to do what is best for students and staff. Yours in Education, Craig D. Carmoney

Calling your child's school? To reach the main office, call the numbers below: Meridian Early College High School: 989-687-3300 Meridian Junior High School: 989-687-3360 Meridian Elementary School: 989-687-3500 Meridian Early Childhood Center: 989-687-3455 Meridian Transportation: 989-687-3249

REMINDER: Childcare schedules are due by 6:00 pm tonight!

Meridian Public Schools is excited to announce that per a USDA Ruling, effective immediately ALL students enrolled at Meridian Public Schools will receive FREE Breakfast and FREE Lunch through December 31, 2020 or until USDA funding runs out. Please contact Food Service Director Melissa Gohl at melissa.gohl@merps.org or 989-687-3212 if you have any questions.

Good Morning, We are asking families to please fill out the form attached, so that we can have accurate information out to everyone regarding bus stop times. Please make sure to fill out the form before Sunday, August 16th. Thank you Transportation Information Update: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSei5LNlS1qlVw-TvIZPwzGuCEgNE8fCJEcU42zfH3fcD_nsLQ/viewform?usp=sf_link

Parents: Today Governor Whitmer issued Executive Order 2020-164 requiring all persons ages 4 and up to wear a face covering that covers the nose and mouth beginning Monday, August 10, 2020. Children under the age of four are strongly encouraged to wear a face covering, but are not required. Children ages 4-11 will need to wear a face covering in the Office, the hallways, and the Gym. Please see the chart below which helps to break down these new requirements. Please contact Julie if you have any questions!

Good Evening Mustangs, Thank you to those who attended our Virtual Academy Webinar yesterday. To find all of the information discussed, the presentation, information on how to sign up, and a recording of the webinar, please go to www.merps.org and click on MENU and Meridian Virtual Academy. Thank you Meridian Public Schools Staff

Good Morning, ​ The Sanford-Meridian Flood Relief Fund was designed to assist our students and their families affected by the recent flood. The Sanford-Meridian Disaster Relief Committee consists of several community members and agency representatives. Together the committee is working to distribute resources to residents in the Sanford-Meridian community whose livelihood and primary homes have been impacted by the 2020 flood and dam breach. The information you provide will be reviewed and used by the committee to help distribute financial support by means of a $500 in-store voucher for eligible primary households in the Sanford-Meridian community. Applications are due by Wednesday, August 5th at 3 PM. PLEASE NOTE: SUBMIT ONLY ONE APPLICATION PER HOUSEHOLD. Apply here: https://bit.ly/merpsrelief2​ Thank you

Unfortunately due to a loss of power, we will be CLOSED on Monday, 7-20-20. We expect to be able to reopen on Tuesday, 7-21-20. We are so sorry for this inconvenience.