
Meridian Message [8-23-24]
Home of the Mustangs
Principal Message
Dear Meridian Families,
This week, Ms. Milewski and myself visited with all the students to share our school wide
expectations, the Zones of Regulation, and what it means to be a Meridian Mustang! Please be
sure to ask your child(ren) about our (3) big rules of:
- Being Safe
- Being Respectful
- Being Responsible.
Be sure to ask about what Zone they are in! Additionally, we also shared our lunch and recess expectations.
Below please find important topics covered in today's newsletter:
School Start Time & Attendance (NEW)
Drop Off & Pick Up (NEW)
Undesignated Medication Program (NEW)
Locker Locks (NEW)
Picture Day (NEW)
PTO Events (NEW)
Quest Food Services
Open House
After School Programming (ASP)
5th Grade Chorus
Upcoming Dates
School Supply Lists
FirstStudent Bus Monitoring System
Changes in Transportation
School Nurse Information
Transportation Contact Information
Thank you for your support.
Gregory I. Michels, Principal
Attendance & Start Time
Attendance Matters.....Attending school regularly helps children feel better about school! Instruction starts at 8:00am. Students must be in their seats and ready for learning everyday by 8:00am. Please know our doors will be locked at 7:59am.
**Any students arriving after 8:00am WILL NEED to be signed in by an adult (parent/guardian)**
As we prepare to start the school year, it is important that students and families establish regular
routines to maximize student timeliness and attendance to school. Students are expected to be at
school daily, and with enough time to navigate to their homeroom.
Please note that for students who struggle to maintain regular attendance, parents/families will
receive additional communication, conference requests, and other interventions to support regular
school attendance - in accordance with state law. This may involve one or more of the following:
Formal written notification(s)
Parent/Guardian meetings at school.
Home visit from Officer Diaz, BGPD
Referral to the Lake County ROE Truancy Division (https:/ /www.lake.k12.il.us/truancy)
Attendance Tips
- Attend Meet & Greet
- Create and explore a plan for drop off and pick up
- Share positive stories from when other family members attended school
- Respond right away from office and/or teacher outreach
- Set a standard bedtime and wake up time during the school week
- Have your backpack packed and ready the night before
- Let your child pick out clothing the night before
- Reinforce routines, as routines help everyone to feel in control
- Develop and share a back up plan for getting to school
Reach out to us....we are here to help!
Drop Off & Pick Up
Traffic safety and traffic flow are very important at Meridian School.
Everyone should follow the ABCs.....
Always
Be
Cautious
The ABCs include the use of crosswalks, not dropping off on Brandywyn, and following the rules of
the road at all times. We understand that mornings are busy times and that there are occasions
that you may run late. Please do not sacrifice safety to save a couple of minutes. Children who take the bus will never be marked late/tardy. Be cautious and alert when driving in the Meridian
School zone.
For those students who are dropped off in the morning, we begin to allow students to enter
the building at 7:47am each morning. Families are welcome to arrive early, but please note
that children MUST remain in their cars until we have adult supervision!
Cars must stay in the drop off lane (curbside). Please do not attempt to make a lane change
to bypass waiting cars as this is dangerous. All drivers must exercise patience! Please pull as far forward as possible (even when it is raining or cold). In order to maximize our drop off we need cars to pull as far down as possible....please do not stop at the main entrance.
Exiting on to Brandywyn is a right turn ONLY. Traffic safety and traffic flow are very important at Meridian School.
During pick up, we will do our best to allow cars to 'pull out' of the car line once the child is in
the car. Please look for supervisor assistance.
We DO NOT ALLOW cars to 'pull out' of the drop off line in the mornings. Cars will need to wait
and follow our traffic flow.
Please see the traffic map below for our drop off/pick up map.
Undesignated Medication Program
Aptakisic-Tripp School District 102 is participating in the Undesignated Medication Program in collaboration with the Lake County Health Department (LCHD). In this program, the medical epidemiologist at LCHD has issued a standing order protocol for trained school personnel to administer epinephrine injection, asthma medication, and/or naloxone in the setting of medical emergencies wherein a student, visitor, or staff person is experiencing severe allergic/anaphylactic reaction, respiratory distress, and/or opioid overdose. The medications will be administered in appropriate circumstances.
All parents/guardians will receive a paper letter in your child's backpack on Friday, August 23, which will provide further explanation (also described in 105 ILCS 5/22-30). Per school code, we are required to provide the letter and have a signed acknowledgment statement for each child. Please return the letter with a signature by Friday, August 30.
If a parent or guardian does not want their student to receive an undesignated medication in emergencies, please submit a written request to the school that their student shall not be administered the drugs under any circumstances.
Locker Combination Locks
As many may have noticed at Meet & Greet, our lockers do not have traditional combination locks. Locks were removed based on stress, anxiety, and frustration that students have over the inability quickly and efficiently open their lockers. Removing the combination locks also aligns with both Pritchett and Tripp School as students do not have locks on their lockers and cubbies.
Students are still welcome to have a combination lock. If families purchase a lock, we ask that you please fill out the form below titled 'Student Locks'. This is in the event a child is unable to open their locker.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Mr. Michels or Ms. Milewski.
Picture Day....Coming Soon
Save the date.....Meridian Picture Day will be Tuesday, September 10, 2024.
Be sure to tell your child to wear their smile!
More information will be shared soon.
PTO Fall Bash
Quest Food Services Lunch Documents
Open House (Save the Date)
September 5th is our Parent/Guardian Only Open House for all fourth and fifth grade families. This
event is scheduled from 6:00pm to 7:30pm with staff. There will be a session with Mr. Michels & Ms. Milewski starting at 5:30pm. Specifics about this evening will be shared the week of
August 26, 2024.
After School Programming (ASP)
Welcome to the After School Program (ASP) at Meridian! Each trimester, ASP provides 4th/5th grade students with a variety of courses that focus on specific areas of interest. Classes for the fall session will run on Tuesdays and/or Thursdays after school from 2:45 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. between September 10 and November 7, 2024.
Students may enroll in a different course on Tuesday and/or Thursday as long as it does not conflict with chorus or the Meridian Musical. Click this link to read all about the exciting classes offered this fall at Meridian and how to register. Registration is now open and available on a first come, first serve basis so register and pay early to secure your spot!
If you have specific questions, please reach out to either of our ASP Sponsors:
Stacey Hanson (shanson@d102.org)
Kelly Jarava (kjarava@d102.org)
5th Grade Chorus (Coming Soon)
5th grade Chorus is scheduled to begin on September 24th.
Registration opens on Thursday, September 5, 2024 and is limited.
For more information please see the link below.
Upcoming Dates
August/September Upcoming Dates
August 13: Families emailed teacher placement & transportation (District #102 email)
August 20: Teacher Meet & Greet for 4th & 5th grade families (3:00pm - 4:30pm)
August 21: Half-day of school for 4th & 5th graders (11am dismissal)
August 22: First full day of school for 4th & 5th grade!
August 28: Early Release (1:00)
September 2: No School
September 5: Adult Only Open House
September 10: Picture Day
September 10: PTO Meeting (7pm)
September 11: Early Dismissal
September 20: Meridian Team Day
September 25: Early Dismissal
School Supply Lists
Please click on the buttons below to access the 24-25 school supply lists.
FIRSTAct Bus Monitoring System
In an effort to curtail poor bus behavior, First Student has implemented a new bus monitoring system called FIRSTacts. This system quickly and efficiently captures inappropriate behavior and instantly shares it with Mr. Michels and Ms. Milewski. Students who are reported will receive communication through email regarding their child's misconduct. Various disciplinary measures will be issued including suspension from riding the school bus.
To ensure the safest transportation possible for all of our students, please take a moment to review the following bus etiquette with your child:
- Follow our (3) rules: Be Safe, Be Respectful, & Be Responsible
- Use expected behavior
- Keep hands/feet to self
- Use kind words/language
- Do not play with school issued iPads or personal technology devices
- Remain seated, facing forward
- No eating or drinking on the bus
- Use inside voices
If you have specific questions about FIRSTActs please reach out to our Director of Transportation, Ms. Denise Koto (dkoto@d102.org) or First Student.
Meridian Drop Off & Pick Up
Changes in Transportation??
For example, if your child takes the bus every day and you are picking up for a doctor's appointment at 2:30 (dismissal) please send a note that morning. In an 'emergency' situation you can send an email to Mrs. Share or Mrs. Feldstein via email. Unfortunately we will not be able to honor any emails/calls after 2pm.
Nurse's Notes
Health Office
Dale Furnish, CSN, RN, TNCC
Attendance Line: 847.955.3503
Medication Information
Welcome to the new 24-25 school year! I am looking forward to seeing all of your kids. My name is Mrs. Furnish and I am the nurse at Meridian School. Please do not hesitate to call or email me with
any health concerns or questions; dfurnish@d102.org, 847.955.3508.
If you have a child with life threatening food allergies who requires epinephrin, an inhaler for
asthma, a seizure disorder, or a daily medication, please reach out to me ASAP to help with the
necessary steps to have these medications in school. Mrs. Furnish, dfurnish@d102.org,
847.955.3508.
Just a reminder, children may not bring prescription medications or over the counter medications
to school without a medication authorization form completed by the parent and doctor. I have provided the link from the D102 website where you can download this form.
https:/ /sites.google.com/d102.org/d102-health-services/home. This also includes immunizations,
physical, dental, and vision forms that you can download if needed.
Please remember ALL medications must be in the original bottles or boxes. Prescriptions must
have the prescription label on it for me to be able to keep them in the health office and administer
them.
I am looking forward to a happy, safe, and healthy school year with your children.
Dale Furnish, CSN, RN, TNCC
847.955.3508 - Phone
Transportation
Transportation
Information about routes and pick up and drop times can be found here: https://www.d102.org/page/transportation
To check the status of your child's bus, please call First Student Bus Company, at 847.634.0868. If you have a busing question or would like to report a problem, please call our Transportation Coordinator, Denise Koto at 847.353.5680 or email her at dkoto@d102.org.
Gregory I. Michels, Principal
Email: gmichels@d102.org
Website: www.d102.org/meridian
Location: 2195 Brandywyn Lane, Buffalo Grove, IL, USA
Phone: 847.955.3500
Nicole Milewski, Assistant Principal
Email: nmilewski@d102.org
Website: www.d102.org/meridian
Location: 2195 Brandywyn Lane, Buffalo Grove, IL, USA
Phone: 847.955.3500
Meridian Office Information
Office Phone Number: 847.955.3500
Fax Number: 847.634.4229
Office Hours: 7:15am - 3:15pm
Student Hours: 8:00am - 2:30pm