Meridian Elementary News

May

3rd: MES Annual Carnival 5:00-7:00

9th: PTO Last meeting

6-10th: Teacher Appreciation Week

23rd: Preschool promotion 1:00 PM

24th: 5th grade promotion 10:00 AM

24th: Kindergarten promotion 1:00 PM

24th: Last Day of School

Click the link below for the West ADA 2023-2024 Student Calendar:

District Calendar | West Ada School District

We know that many parents have younger children at home and know it can be hard to find a babysitter for just a short meeting. We heard you and will have childcare available with one of our teachers in a Kindergarten classroom. We hope this allows more of you to be able to attend the meetings.

It is not too late at our last meeting we will be making plans for next year. Come and help us end the year strong and get excited for the year to come.

PTO Meetings:

May 9th

Soccer season is up and running. For those participating...

If there is inclement weather such as heavy rain, thunder, lightning, or snow practice and games will be canceled by 3:15.

Ensure your child is attending practice both Tuesday and Wednesday as well as the games on Thursday between 4:05-5:15.

The regular season will end the week of May 6th and final games will be the week of May 13th.

Please contact Mrs. Hylton (Hylton.brittany@westada.org) for any other questions.

Teacher appreciation week is just around the corner. Let's tell our teachers how much we appreciate them. Students feel free to make cards or small gifts to thank your teachers for all the hard work they do.

Summer is coming quickly! If you are looking for something to do with your kids over the summer, the city of Meridian has a Summer Activity Guide full of information for classes, camps, workshops and other recreational activities and ideas!

Financial Assistance is available for youth classes, camps and activities. Qualifying families residing within the City of Meridian can receive assistance for up to 80% of an activity fee or membership, for a maximum of $250.00 per year/ per child (up to 18 years of age). To be eligible, families must reside at an address within the Meridian city limits AND be receiving assistance through a program such as:

Free or Reduced School Lunch

Food Stamps

Medicaid

Energy Assistance

Documentation that the applicant is participating in an approved assistance program is required and must be provided with the application.

For more information and to view the guide, click here: Activity Guide | City of Meridian (meridiancity.org)

Please contact me if you are in need of emergency resources such as food, clothing, hygiene items or household cleaning items. I'm also available if you have any questions on outside resources that you may be looking for.

Melanie Morales -Community School Liaison
208-855-4335 ext 2002
morales.melanie@westada.org

Hey parents some friendly reminders about pick-ups and drop offs. The front pick up and drop off semi-circle is a one lane only. We don't want to see any accidents. In the parking lot there is no pick up or drop offs of students. If you park in the lot to get your student, you need to come and walk them back to your car. We are not allowing students to walk through the parking lot without an adult. Watch the flow of traffic through the parking lot it is also a one way. We have red paint and a new sign for an area in the parking lot that is a no parking zone. Please do not park there for any reason. We want to keep our students safe, please help us by following the rules.

Please remember that drop off times in the morning are M, T, Th, F at 8:50 and on Wednesdays at 9:05. Before these times we do not have adults out to watch for kids his creates an unsafe situation. If you arrive before this time you need to stay with your kids. Please do not come early and drop them off.

At the end of the day all students need to also be picked up in a timely manner. We do watch for traffic alerts and are understanding of that. It is helpful if you can communicate that with us so that your student is not anxious about where you are. All students are to be picked up by 4:05. Chronic lateness can result in us needing to call an SRO to have your student taken home (per the elementary handbook).

Spring Testing is going strong. It started April 8th and will run through the rest of April into May. Please help us ensure that your student is in school. If you are planning any trips, try to plan them when your student is not testing. It is also good to make sure students are getting enough sleep during this time. Proper nutrition is also helpful make sure students have eaten breakfast or come to breakfast at the school. Students are doing great so far. Keep up the good work.

Dear West Ada School District Students, Families, and Staff,

I trust this email finds you well. As we kick off the annual Engagement Survey, I'm reaching out to share crucial information about our procedures in alignment with Idaho Code 33-6001 - Parental Rights in Education and state requirements for accountability and reporting.

Idaho mandates that schools conduct an Engagement Survey annually to gather insights from staff, parents, and students, providing valuable feedback on our school community's connections and perceptions. Historically, the state has partnered with EProve Cognia for these surveys, using standardized questions. However, due to changes in funding, districts now have the autonomy to determine their approach. It's imperative for us to internally maintain this data for potential state accountability purposes and for our continuous improvement efforts.

According to District Policy 401.20, Superintendent consent is required before administering any survey. Additionally, Idaho law mandates obtaining consent from the superintendent or designee before administering non-curricular student surveys, well-being questionnaires, or health screenings.

While the annual Engagement Survey does not require parental notification and permission as per Idaho Code, we prioritize transparency and communication with our families. Hence, we want to ensure you're aware of this year's survey, as noted in last week's "What's Bub-ling" in the Community Newsletter.

The Engagement Survey aims to gather feedback from parents, students, and staff on their experiences and perceptions within our school community. Your input is instrumental in identifying strengths and areas for improvement, guiding our efforts to better serve our students and families.

The surveys for students, parents, and staff close today, Friday, April 26, at 3:00 pm. Participation is voluntary, and if you prefer your child not to participate, rest assured, it's optional.

Additionally, I want to reassure you that survey results will be shared with families via the newsletter on May 17 and presented to the Board of Trustees on May 13. We're committed to transparency and accountability in sharing the survey outcomes with all stakeholders.

Please utilize the link below based on your role(s) in West Ada School District:

• Student Engagement Surveys:

  • Elementary Students (grades 3-5)

  • Middle School Students (grades 6-8)

  • High School Students (grades 9-12)

• Parent Engagement Survey

• West Ada Staff Engagement Survey

Warm regards,
Dr. Derek Bub Superintendent

Check out the attendance board in the front office. We have our March winners for the attendance cup. n first place was Johnson's class, second place Piirto and in third place was Hylton's class. Congratulations to all classes attendance rates are looking good. We will see who wins next month.

Did your child change medication, get new medication, or even did not get medications. Please contact the nurse for any changes or brief changes. It helps us to understand any changes in behavior and mental health. Any other changes in a student's health it is also important to please let our nurse know.

If you have questions, please contact Nurse Fry at 208-855-4335.

Hi Meridian Elementary Families!

Did you know that gratitude has many benefits. There are so many great books about gratitude that you can read with your student. They can also write thank you notes, discuss gratitude with you, or keep a gratitude journal. Just saying each day 3 things we are grateful for can be an amazing start to all the benefits listed below.

Here are 7 Scientifically proven reasons to practice gratitude.

1. It opens doors to more relationships.

2. It improves physical health.

3. It improves psychological health.

4. Improves empathy and reduces aggression.

5. Improves sleep.

6. Improves self-esteem.

7. Increases mental strength.

Please contact Mr. Snell with any questions or concerns regarding your student(s) mental health.

Mr. Snell

Meridian Elementary School Counselor

snell.ethan@westada.org

Over the coming weeks, all 5th-grade and 8th-grade students will be receiving a new device that they will take with them over the summer to use for the next few years at middle and high school. To coincide with the deployment of these new devices, we will also be opening early enrollment for Device Protection for the 2024-25 school year on March 1st. Families will be able to log in to the Payment Portal in PowerSchool and purchase Device Protection for $20 instead of $25. This coverage will be effective immediately and run through the summer of 2025. Additionally, please note that as part of the process of checking in these students' older devices, inspections may identify damaged or lost components. Fines resulting from these incidents of damage and loss will start showing up in the Payment Portal, and notification emails will start going out shortly after your 5th or 8th grader receives their new device. For any questions about Optional Device Protection or outstanding balances in our online payment system, Rycor, please send an email to onlinepayments@westada.org, or call our IT Service Desk at 208-350-5300, Monday-Friday 7:30 am - 4:30 pm.

"Always-On" Laptop Case Reminder

This year, to cut down on the frequency of device damage, and to further safeguard families from unplanned repair expenses, protective "always-on" cases were purchased for all Lenovo laptops. If your student has one of these devices, we hope you will join us in encouraging them to keep this device on at all times. This case should not be removed for any reason except by a trained staff member. Removing and installing this case can be difficult and may even damage the screen if not done correctly. If you see your child using their blue Lenovo 500W G3 or G4 laptop without its protective case, please have them bring the case and the laptop to their school's library or designated technical support location and have the case be properly, and safely reinstalled. We appreciate your partnership in protecting these devices!

How to Purchase Optional Device Protection (On or after March 1st):

1. Login to PowerSchool (https://ps.westada.org/public/)
2. Click on the Payment Portal in the left sidebar
3. Click on the name of the child you would like to purchase protection for
4. Add Early Enrollment Device Protection to your cart.
5. Click the cart icon in the upper, right-hand corner.
6. Enter payment information and click Submit to complete your purchase.

For more detailed information and answers to frequently asked questions, please visit our website:

Device Protection Program | West Ada School District

Download the updated tracking and messaging app!

If your child rides the bus, please ensure you have downloaded the My Ride K-12 application and have push notifications enabled to receive these crucial updates. Note: The Ride360 application is not being updated anymore, so it is recommended to make the switch. The log in information for the new My Ride K-12 application would be the same one used in Ride360, so all information will transfer.

We have a new application available for bus notifications! This new application from Traversa has improvements to messaging and tracking. Bus stop/number changes are communicated via push notifications and the messaging center through the My Ride K-12 application. Whenever possible and necessary, this application is also used to send notification of delayed busses. The Ride 360 application can still be used, however messages will only be received as push notifications and not saved within the app.

My Ride K-12 provides secure access to student bus schedule/routing information. My Ride K-12 provides quick access to your child's bus schedule/routing information, which can include the bus stop, route, and bus number. This is accessible on mobile devices, and confidential and secure. This program is free to download and use. Instructions for download can be found on our Transportation Webpage: Transportation | West Ada School District.

Bus badges continue to roll out at the elementary schools through our new pilot program.

Elementary students will scan their Bus Badge as they enter and exit the bus, recording the card number, location, and time of the scan. You can access this information through the Traversa My Ride K-12 application. When the badges are fully implemented, parents will have access to information about when their child boarded and exited the bus, enhancing peace of mind. During the pilot this school year, students who forget their Bus Badge in the morning or did not receive a badge can still ride the bus.

Our Transportation Department staff has enjoyed being on site to see your students load busses in the afternoon and see their new badges in action. The Bus Badge system will help us maintain an accurate list of students using transportation, which, in turn, allows us to maximize route efficiency. We appreciate your partnership in implementing this exciting new system.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Transportation at (208) 350-4747 or create a ticket for Transportation at this link Transportation - Jira Service Management (atlassian.net).

Thanks for continuing to have students dressed properly. Spring is finally here but mornings will still be chilly continue to bring jackets and sweatshirts. Students are outside during the day going from building to building so keep that in mind. As the sun comes out students might need some sunscreen and ChapStick.

Continue to encourage your students to pick up lost clothes. We have so many sweatshirts. We regularly are donating left items. Please come and look it is overflowing with clothes and lunchboxes. It is outside so you can come and check it anytime. All clothes not claimed by the end of the year will be donated.

Did you know that Fridays are spirit days? This is your chance to wear spirit wear like school t-shirts or school colors. Our colors are blue and yellow. Let's show our trailblazer pride.

Our district has partnered with tutor.com. This is a free online tutoring service offered by the district for students in grades 3-12. This service has individualized help for tutoring and homework. Visit the districts website for more information.

Free Online Tutoring | West Ada School District

Email: parker.courtney@westada.org
Website: https://www.westada.org/o/mes
Location: 1035 Northwest 1st Street, Meridian, ID, USA
Phone: (208) 855-4335