As the weather gets warmer, this is a good time to remind parents/guardians and students about Meeker’s school dress code. Please help by making sure that:
- Tops meet the belt line covering all skin around the waist
- Shirt sleeves are a minimum of 3 fingers wide
- Undergarments are not visible
- Skirts, dresses & shorts must be longer than mid-thigh
- Shoes are appropriate and safe, meaning NO flip-flops, sports sandals/slides, slippers, or shoes with wheels
If you pick your student up from school, consider meeting your student at the front of the school to avoid the bus lot. This is not only safer, but it may also be a quicker alternative for parents/guardians.
Read below to learn about upcoming events and school news.
In appreciation and in partnership on behalf of Meeker Middle School Faculty & Staff,
Dr. Cherlyn Pijanowski, Principal & Taralynn Grau, Assistant Principal
Upcoming Events
| Monday | April 29 | Field Trip: 60 7th Graders to Foss WaterwayWrestling vs. Truman @ Meeker 3:30pmClub B: Art with Elements of Education, Modern Cooking A, Dungeons & Dragons Beyond |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | April 30 | Spirit Day: College Shirt DayField Trip: 60 7th Graders to Foss WaterwayFastpitch vs. Truman @ Meeker 3:30pmClub B: Guitar, Minecraft Madness, Just Stringing Around Yarn Art, Belong Outside |
| Wednesday | May 1 | Late Start Wednesday: Classes begin @ 9:15AMWrestling @ Giaudrone 3:30pmClub B: A Journey into VR Adventures, Modern Cooking B, Dungeons & Dragons Beyond |
| Thursday | May 2 | Field Trip: 60 7th Graders to Foss WaterwayFastpitch @ Giaudrone 3:30pm |
| Friday | May 3 | Teen Late Night 5:00-9:00PM |
| Monday | May 6 | Staff Appreciation WeekWrestling @ Mason 3:30 pmClub B: Art with Elements of Education, Modern Cooking A, Dungeons & Dragons Beyond |
| Tuesday | May 7 | Staff Appreciation WeekTesting: AP Testing in Old Gym 8:00 – 11:30AM5th Graders Visit Meeker 10:00 – 11:30AMFastpitch @ Mason (Heidelberg #4) 3:30 pmClub B: Guitar, Minecraft Madness, Just Stringing Around Yarn Art, Belong OutsideExecutive Board Meeting room 108 3-4:30pm5th Grade Parent Info Night 6:00 – 7:00PM |
| Wednesday | May 8 | Staff Appreciation WeekLate Start Wednesday: Classes begin @ 9:15AMClub B: A Journey into VR Adventures, Modern Cooking B, Dungeons & Dragons Beyond |
| Thursday | May 9 | Staff Appreciation WeekPTSA in Wolverine Warehouse during lunchesWrestling vs. Stewart @ Meeker 3:30 pmClub B: Drama, Minecraft Madness, Just Stringing Around Yarn Art, Belong Outside |
| Friday | May 10 | Staff Appreciation WeekTeen Late Night 5:00-9:00PM |
| Monday | May 13 | Wrestling vs. Gray @ Meeker 3:30 pmClub B: Art with Elements of Education, Modern Cooking A, Dungeons & Dragons Beyond |
| Tuesday | May 14 | Club B: Guitar, Minecraft Madness, Just Stringing Around Yarn Art, Belong OutsideFastpitch vs. Gray @ Meeker 3:30 pm |
| Wednesday | May 15 | Late Start Wednesday: Classes begin @ 9:15AMTesting: ELA SBA out of 4th Period – Testing Snacks Sign UpClub B: A Journey into VR Adventures, Modern Cooking B, Dungeons & Dragons BeyondWrestling @Hunt 3:30 pm |
| Thursday | May 16 | Testing: ELA SBA out of 4th Period – Testing Snacks Sign UpClub B: Drama, Minecraft Madness, Just Stringing Around Yarn Art, Belong OutsideFastpitch @ Hunt 3:30 pm |
| Friday | May 17 | Teen Late Night 5:00-9:00PM |
| Monday | May 20 | Club B: Art with Elements of Education, Modern Cooking A, Dungeons & Dragons Beyond |
To-Do’s:
⧠ If you’re an 8th Grade student/family, submit a baby photo to MeekerYearbook@tacoma.k12.wa.us for the yearbook and end of the year activities!
⧠ It’s not too late to submit photos for yearbook consideration to MeekerYearbook@tacoma.k12.wa.us.
⧠ Pre – order your yearbook online using Yearbook - Meeker Middle School (tacomaschools.org), or visit Mrs. Kinney in the office. Deadline is May 1st! Cost of each book is $25.
⧠ Sign up to bring our students snacks for our testing window in May Testing Snacks Sign Up
⧠ Sign up to help PTSA with Staff Appreciation Week May 6-10. Staff Appreciation Sign-Up
Office Hours & Backpack Storage
Meeker’s Main Office hours are 7:30-3:30PM. The office will be locked beginning at 3:30, and students will not be allowed into the office. In addition, the office is not for students to store their backpack in. If a student does not want to take their backpack to class, they will be instructed to utilize their locker. StudentVUE has locker information if a student needs it.
Athletic bags and equipment that are larger than the student locker is still welcomed to be stored in the office.
Last Chance to order your yearbook online!
Order your yearbook online from Lifetouch directly before the deadline of May 1st! For more information, visit our website. Yearbook - Meeker Middle School (tacomaschools.org)
Warmer weather safety tips
As the weather gets warmer, more students are walking or biking to school. Here are some important tips to share with children:
- Walk or bike with a buddy or in a group.
- Pay attention to what’s happening around you.
- Always cross streets at corners or marked crossings.
- Look at drivers and make sure they see you before crossing the street.
- If you’re biking or scooting, wear a helmet every time.
- Follow all the rules of the road if you’re riding a bike.
- Immediately tell an adult about any suspicious activities or people.
- Know the name and phone number of someone to call in an emergency.
- Learn how to use 911 if you need help.
Once you arrive at school, make sure the door latches behind you.
Find maps and safe routes for all elementary schools here.
8th Graders – Send us your baby pictures!
It’s hard to believe that we’re entering the third week of April! Our 8th grade class has a little under three months of their middle school careers left. As we start to think about the end of the year festivities, we are asking 8th graders and their families to submit baby photos to be used for all the activities that are to come, as well as the yearbook. Submit photos to MeekerYearbook@tacoma.k12.wa.us. Please include your student’s name (first & last).
Sign Up to provide snacks for testing!
A month from Monday, we will be starting our Spring testing cycle (SBA, WCAS, AP). We want to provide our students with a snack while they are completing their assessments. Sign up below to bulk snacks for our hard-working Wolverines!
Summer program registration opens Monday, April 29
Registration opens Monday, April 29, for programs available to TPS elementary and middle school students this summer. Programs are similar to Beyond the Bell and Club B – run by Metro Parks Tacoma in Tacoma’s schools.
Register online atCompass (tpsapps.org).
Financial assistance is available through Metro Parks Tacoma. Fill out the form below to apply.
Beyond the Bell: Session 5 - Summer Beyond the Classroom Financial Assistance Request (office.com)
Viva Voce Auditions
I'm excited to announce that auditions for next year's top, auditioned choir, Viva Voce, are happening RIGHT NOW! If you love to sing, want to grow in confidence, and hope to find a strong community at Meeker, this is the place for you! Viva Voce is Meeker’s top, auditioned choirclass for 7thand 8thgrade students of all voice types who are committed to having fun, and who are dedicated to making beautiful music, building a strong community of friends, and growing in confidence! This class kicks off with an evening retreat/pizza party in the early fall to help us bond as a class community. Viva Voce includes fun field trip opportunities and multiple performances throughout the year. While students are selected by audition,NOprior singing/music experienceis required!
- AUDITION STEP 1:Please fill outTHIS FORM. (link sent in the weekly Meeker Memo). Treat this like it’s your interview. Be detailed and thoughtful in your responses. Show me your best self!
- AUDITION STEP 2:Record yourself singing the first verse of America the BeautifulHERE. There is a demonstration video on the page teaching you the song and showing you what I’m looking for. Practice until you feel ready, and then record and submit! Please do not use karaoke tracks or background music – Just your voice!
Both steps are due byWednesday, May 1stat 11:59 PM!See Mrs. Eklof (ceklof@tacoma.k12.wa.us) with questions!
Updates from Meeker PTSA
Meeker Night at the Tacoma Rainiers- SALE ENDS 5/1!
Join yourMeekerfriends on Wednesday, May 22nd for a night of food, fun and Baseball at Cheney Stadium for TPS's Annual Tacoma Public School's night at theRainiers! Arrive early to participate in the on the field Pre-game parade. The Rainiers take on the Las Vegas Aviators.
GATES OPEN 5PM | PREGAME PARADE 5:30PM | FIRST PITCH 6:05PM
Tickets are on sale via our PTA website only: https://www.meekermiddlepta.com/shop
- $20 - Express Play - comes with a Reserved Seat Ticket • Ballpark Meal (NO SUBS) • Hotdog, Snack & Water
- $30 - Double Play comes with comes with a Reserved Seat Ticket • Ballpark Meal (NO SUBS) • Hotdog, Snack & Water • Limited Edition Tacoma Rainiers Hat
Staff Appreciation week is comingsoon - May 6th - 10th!
PTSA is organizing a week of gratitude for our hardworking teachers and staff and we need your help. Please consider saying thanks by contributing to the week of staff meals. Sign up here!https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E49ACAD2CA7F8CE9-49148651-meeker#/
If you would rather donate cash toward the effort you can make a donation in our store here:https://www.meekermiddlepta.com/shop
Our staff looks forwardto this week every year - and we can't wait to make it special for them so thank you all for your support!
8th Grade Party Highlights
- Amazon Wishlist
- Ordonate shopping fundsdirectly to PTSA and we will shop for you. Just send the PTSA an email to notify us of the donation.https://www.meekermiddlepta.com/shop
- We wantbaby photos!MeekerYearbook@tacoma.k12.wa.us
- Food items needed and Items to borrow https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E49ACAD2CA7F8CE9-48157885-2024
- If you are an artist or makeup artist, please reach out! We are looking for someone for face painting.
PTSA Board Members & Committee Chairs Needed for 2024-2025 School Year
We invite you to submit nominees for the following positions on the PTSA Executive Board for 2024-2025:
- President:Leads PTSA and EC meetings, serves asspokesperson for PTSA
- Vice President:Fills in for thepresident as needed, assists president as needed
- Treasurer:Manages the budget, writes checks,balances the books, prepares for audits
- Secretary:Keep records of all meetings
- Member at Large:New positions, support all board projects and functions.
All executivecommitteemembers are expected to attend the general membership PTSA meetings and PTSA board meetings, attend or supportPTSA-sponsoredactivities, and act as a point person forCommitteeChairs. Terms are for one year, beginning July 1st, 2024.
You maynominateyourself or someone else who you think would be a positive addition to the PTSA Board. If you plan tonominatesomeone other than yourself, be sure to make him/her aware so there are no surprises. To run for office, you must have been a PTSA member atMeekeror another school for 30 days prior to the election. Voting for these positions will take place at our May 21stPTSAGeneral Membership Meeting.
Nominationsare dueMay3rd,2024and can be submitted by email at:meekernomcommittee@gmail.com
Wolverine Warehouse
We only have a handful of Wolverine Warehouses left for the school year! If you are interested in volunteering, it's a quick-paced, easy, super fun way to interact with the students while helping to reward good behavior at Meeker. Sign up here: Wolverine Wearhouse Volunteer Link
NE Tacoma Healthy Kids Coalition
May Volunteers Needed! The NE Tacoma Healthy Kids Coalition needs volunteersto unload food deliveries, pack weekend meal bags and deliver to our schools in the month of May. Please sign up here if you are able to help:https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080545AAAE2DA1FF2-48981980-nethealthy.
Worth Repeating...
Mid-term report cards coming soon
Mid-term report cards will be available in ParentVUE and StudentVUE April 23. You are an important part of your student’s success. As you review grades with your child, please know you can reach out to your child’s teachers to ask questions about assignments and ways to support your child.
ParentVUE is a great tool for you to monitor your student’s progress. If you have questions about how to view assignments, grades, or report an absence, please visit the ParentVUE Help page on our website.
Transportation changes would impact school start and end times for 2024-25 school year
Transportation changes to bus route schedules would impact school start times beginning in the 2024-25 school year. The need for a more efficient system drove the change. These updates reduce the number of bus routes, which will save about $1 million in transportation costs per year.
- High school would start at 8:05 a.m. and end at 2:35 p.m.
- Middle school would start at 7:40 a.m. and end at 2:10 p.m.
- Some elementary schools would start at 8:40; some would start at 9. This will be determined in May and will be communicated to families at that time.
Questions? Please email us atinfo@tacoma.k12.wa.us.
Update Your Bus App
The school bus app offered to TPS families this year will retire May 1 and be replace with My Ride K-12. You can download the free My Ride K-12 and start using it now. My Ride K-12 allows families to access their secure data for their child’s bus stop location, route and pickup time from their phone. Download the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
No food deliveries to students or by students
Please do not order your student food and have it delivered to Meeker by DoorDash, Uber Eats, etc. All Tacoma Schools run as closed campuses. Per our handbook in the Closed Campus section on our website: Students may not have food or other items delivered to campus by outside vendors. Thank you for understanding.
Handbook - Meeker Middle School (tacomaschools.org)
Free online tutoring services available 24-7
Students in grades 3-12 can access a free, 24-hour tutoring service, Tutor.com. We encourage you and your child to look at what the service offers, including access to a live tutor online, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Students access the service through Clever. Learn more about what’s offered on our web site.Online Tutoring Support - Tacoma Public Schools (tacomaschools.org)
Gradebook Updates
Students and families in grades 6-12 will see more grading detail in their daily assignments and exams for second semester. Daily assignments and exams will now show grade points to the tenth; for example, 3.8, 3.7, 3.6, etc. This enhancement allows students to receive more specific feedback from their teachers. Report cards will continue to show the overall GPA. To understand how each grade point is assigned to an overall grade score, view thesecondary grading chart on our website.
10-School-Day Rule for Grades and Assignments
We know that all students learn differently, so I want to highlight some changes in our grading policy. There are two important ways that students can advocate for their own learning:
Students have 10 school days from the original due date to turn in an assignment and receive full credit.
Students have 10 school days from receiving a grade on an assignment or assessment to request a revision, retake, or correction.
I encourage you to review assignments and grades with your child and reach out to their teacher if you have questions. As a reminder, students in grades 3-12 have access to a free tutoring service online.
Submit Photos for the Yearbook!
Do you have photos of your student that you would like to see in the yearbook? We would love to see what our students are doing in athletics, clubs, and other school activities. Please submit any photos for yearbook consideration to MeekerYearbook@tacoma.k12.wa.us.
