Meridian Public Schools
3303 N. M–30, Sanford, Michigan 48657
p. (989) 687–3300 f. (989) 687–3309
March 13, 2026
MECHS Families,
The week of April 6, the Michigan Department of Education requires public schools to conduct state testing. This will cause a disruption in our schedule on April 8 and April 9. On testing days, it is extremely important that students arrive on time and ready to test. This includes making sure they are well rested and bring the necessary testing equipment. Students are reviewing testing rules and preparing their devices during Advisory.
All assessments will continue to be administered on a fully digital platform. Testing must be completed using the student’s Meridian-issued laptop. Because the testing software frequently pushes updates, we encourage all students to restart their computers multiple times prior to testing.
To prepare for testing, 9th–11th grade students will leave their school-issued laptops at school on the evening of April 7 in their assigned testing location. Devices will remain charging overnight to ensure they are ready for testing the following morning with a full battery.
Wednesday, April 8
9th–10th graders will take the PSAT beginning at 8:05 a.m. Students may leave campus after their testing session if they have transportation. If testing runs on schedule, we anticipate these students will conclude testing at approximately 11:15 a.m.
Students are encouraged to pack light on this school day. Secure locations will be available for students to check in cell phones. Avoiding locker use that day will help students exit the building more quickly after testing. Our Food Service department will provide lunch for students who need it. If students must remain in the building until 2:55 p.m., a supervised location will be available. School transportation will operate as normal, with buses departing at 3:05 p.m.
Juniors will take the SAT beginning at 8:05 a.m. Students may leave campus at the conclusion of their test session. We estimate testing will conclude at approximately 12:15 p.m. A snack will be provided during the test.
SAT rules strictly prohibit the use of cell phones or communication devices during testing. Students are encouraged to leave phones in their locked vehicles. If a phone is brought into the building, it must be powered off and checked in with the test proctor. If a student accesses a phone during testing, the exam will be voided and documented as a testing irregularity.
Seniors do not need to report to MECHS on Wednesday, April 8. We encourage seniors to take this opportunity to explore college and career opportunities.
Thursday, April 9
On Thursday, April 9, all juniors will continue testing and take the WIN Work Readiness assessment and M-STEP. The WIN Work Readiness assessment replaces the ACT WorkKeys exam this year. As this is a newly implemented statewide assessment, the rollout has presented some challenges. Our staff is preparing for potential technical or procedural issues to ensure students are supported throughout the process. Lunch will be served during the mid-day break, and testing will conclude at the normal end of the school day.
All other grades will attend classes as regularly scheduled. Access to the gym area during the school day will be prohibited to not interfere with ongoing testing sessions. PE classes will take place in a different location.
Academic Update
End of MP3: Today marks the end of the third marking period. Teachers will be required to post grades in Skyward by March 20. Please review individual course syllabi for details on how semester grades are calculated. The semester grade is what will be recorded in Skyward.
Other Upcoming Events
Spring Break – March 30–April 3 (No School)
Vacation Day- April 6 (No School)
Spring Testing – April 8–9
Prom – April 18 (11th–12th grade students)
Thank you for your continued support. In a blink of an eye we will be watching students walk across the stage at commencement. Please continue encouraging your students to finish strong in their coursework. We are seeing some fantastic growth across our student body.
If you have feedback on how we can continue improving our school, please complete the following Google Form. We appreciate your input.
Form Link:
https://forms.gle/orfndUUyrotU6fAs7
Sincerely,
Scott LaFever
Principal