Meeker Middle School -

Hello Meeker Students and Families,

We are very excited for the start of the 2025-2026 school year. Staff are eagerly preparing for students to return. We have several announcements and information to start the school year.

First Day of School (Wednesday August 27th):

Students in 6th grade will start at regular time (8:15AM). Breakfast will be served before school then students will have an opportunity to meet all their teachers, learn about Meeker, and become familiar with the campus. Students in 7th and 8th grade will start 3 hours late (11:15AM). We will be in an alternative bell schedule for the first day. All students will report to their 1st period teacher upon arrival.

Student Schedules:

Student schedules will be printed and available for pick up before students arrive on the first day of school, 6th grade on stage in courtyard, 7th and 8th grade in the courtyard near rooms 601 and 603. Students may also view their schedule in Qmlativ Skyward. Please note that we will process schedule corrections if there is an inappropriate academic placement, a repeat of the same class. (Example: 2 English classes), a gap or missing period in their schedule or there is a current health issue that requires a change in schedule. Schedule correction request forms will be available in their 1st period class, counseling office, or main office. Schedule correction forms should be returned to the main office.

We anticipate changes in student schedules to occur as well. We apologize for the inconvenience this may cause. Schedule changes may occur because we have a higher enrollment than projected and need to confirm attendance of students. Attendance is an important part of school. Please contact MKAttendance@kent.k12.wa.us if your student will be absent. Schedule changes will help balance class sizes and potential of adding more classes in compliance with Kent School District policies and Kent Education Association Collective Bargaining Agreements.

Lockers:

Students may request a hallway locker during Open House on September 24th. We are encouraging students to wait until after the school year starts to determine if they want and will use a hallway locker. If your student needs a locker before Open House, they may request one through their counselor.

All students will be assigned a padlock for PE during class. Students will need a change of cloths for PE however, they will not need this change of cloths on the first day of school. Their teacher will communicate when to bring PE cloths to school. We have PE cloths available for purchase online or through Meeker cashier's office. Student may use the optional Meeker PE cloths or bring their own from home.

Student Devices:

Student device distribution is Wednesday September 10th and Thursday September 11th.

Picture Day:

Picture day is Tuesday September 9th.

Meeker Spirit:

We are excited to officially announce that Meeker Middle School has been approved to adopt a new mascot: the Mambas! Order your Spirit Wear Today! https://bsnteamsports.com/shop/MAMBAS Order Yearbook and ASB online! https://wa-kent.intouchreceipting.com/

Save the Date: Meeker Open House September 24, 2025 from 6:00 to 8:00PM.

Welcome Night for 6th grade is tonight from 4 PM to 6PM. School supplies are ready for pick up in the Cafeteria during this time.

Please take a moment to read our August newsletter!

https://kentsd.edurooms.com/engage/meeker-middle-school/newsletters/meeker-august-newsletter

It's time to prepare for fall athletics and activities! We're using FinalForms for online registration for all secondary sports, clubs, and field trips this year. Please check your email and confirm your new FinalForms account before registration opens on Monday, August 4.

Meeker Students Win Battle of the Books! Congratulations to Team "Cheese Sauce", Luke J, Rayden N, Corey G and Odessa F. This marks Meeker's return to the Battle of the Books competition for the first time since COVID. Our Meeker team showed amazing skill and knowledge, and are deserving of the title of District Champions!

The Meeker Middle School Sunshine Committee is thankful for our amazing Nutritional Services staff! Your hard work, dedication, and care ensure our students are well-fed and ready to learn each day. We appreciate everything you do!

Meeker Robotics STEM Club students attend the Kent International Festival on May 31. Our students did an incredible job running the STEM station from 10 AM to 5 PM, engaging the community in fun and educational STEM activities. We were thrilled to welcome over 100 parents and children who visited our booth and participated in hands-on learning. It was a busy, energetic day, and while the students were exhausted by the end, they were also filled with pride and excitement from sharing what they loved. We were honored to have the support and presence of Mayor Dana Ralph, Mayor-Elect Sharmila Sahay, KSD Superintendent Israel Vela, City Council member Satwinder Kaur, and Meeker teacher Brad Pizzalato and his family. Thank you all for being a part of this and encouraging our students. Looking ahead, we are excited to announce plans to bring our robots to the festival next year and launch a new "Coding Girls" Club to encourage more girls to participate in STEM.

Meeker Science Night! Wednesday, April 30 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Featuring a performance form the amazing Science Wizard who appeared on "America's Got Talent"! Meeker families are invited to the cafeteria where the night will begin with an extreme science show from the Science Wizard, David Hagerman! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnPrOCJnNcM

WEA Recognizes Neeraj Agnihotri with Human and Civil Rights Award for Student Involvement. Meeker Middle School science and robotics teacher Neeraj Agnihotri on April 4 received the Washington Education Association (WEA) Human and Civil Rights Award for Student Involvement. https://www.kentreporter.com/news/meeker-middle-school-teacher-receives-state-award/

Celebrating Miss Armstrong: A Champion of Creativity! Great teachers don’t just instruct—they inspire. Miss Armstrong doesn’t tell students what to create; she nurtures their imagination, guiding them to discover their own artistic voice. In her classroom, creativity has no limits, and every student’s unique talent is given the space to shine. Because of her dedication, our students don’t just make art—they express who they truly are. Thank you, Miss Armstrong, for fostering a space where creativity flourishes and for believing in the brilliance of every young artist. Your passion makes a difference every single day! #ThankYouMissArmstrong #CreativityUnleashed #ArtThatInspires

Shout out to Mr. Buchinger and Meeker students who participated in the South Puget Sound National History Day contest! Around 150 students from schools in the area took part in this event that was held at Meeker on Saturday, March 22. Meeker student winners for Individual Exhibit are First place – Odessa F, Second place – Kaylie C, Third place – Helen W, Fourth place – Austin G, and for Group Exhibit Sixth place – Rayden N and Jay W. Congratulations on a successful event! National History Day (NHD) is an annual, project-based contest for students in grades 6-12, encouraging them to study and learn about historical issues, ideas, people, and events, culminating in the creation of projects like exhibits, performances, documentaries, or papers. Students compete at school, regional , and state competitions, culminating in a national competition at the University of Maryland outside Washington, DC.

Congratulations to Matt Roark, our Meeker Head Custodian, and We Love Kent for being honored with the Legacy Award. This award is given out for excellence in community service in the City of Kent and is presented by Mayor Dana Ralph.

Congratulations to our Meeker Wrestlers for their wins over the weekend at the District Tournament. As a team, they placed in the top 5…way to go team! 1st place – Cash, DK, Grace, Isaac and Teagan. 2nd place – Matvii, Logan and Kai. 4th place – Jason. 5th place – Mason.

Congratulations to Meeker teacher Neeraj Agnihotri for receiving the "Teacher of the Year Award" from the Washington Industrial Technology Education Association! Neeraj teaches Science and Robotics at Meeker and has over 17 years of educational experience. She combines her passion for student-centered learning with innovative teaching practices, integrating robotics, coding, and engineering into her STEM curriculum. Neeraj fosters an inclusive environment where all students, including those with disabilities, thrive in hands-on learning experiences. Through her involvement in initiatives like the Unified Robotics program, she promotes inclusivity and teamwork among diverse students. Her work has had a significant impact on student success, and her leadership continues to enhance the CTE community.

A huge thank you to the Kent Rotary Club for hosting a beautiful breakfast to celebrate our school community! This special event honored two outstanding students for their academic excellence, two remarkable students for their dedication to community and service, and two exceptional staff members whose hard work and commitment impact our school. Moments like these remind us of the power of recognition and the importance of coming together to uplift one another. The generosity and support of the Kent Rotary Club continue to inspire our students and staff, and we are deeply grateful for their commitment to making a difference in education and beyond. 💙 To the students and staff recognized today—your efforts do not go unnoticed. You are leaders, role models, and the heart of our school! #ThankYouKentRotary #CommunityMatters #HonoringExcellence #GratefulHeart

Shoutout to Amazing Educators & Engaged Students! "I want to take a moment to give a huge shoutout to John Buchinger and Amanda Aldous for creating an incredible learning environment! As the new assistant principal, I walked into the library and was absolutely floored by the energy, engagement, and depth of learning taking place. Project-based learning has always been one of my favorite teachings methods and witnessing it in action today reminded me of why I fell in love with education in the first place. Seeing students actively engaged, collaborating, and bringing their learning to life was truly inspiring. A heartfelt thank you to these amazing teachers for their dedication and to the students for their enthusiasm and hard work. This is what education is all about—creating experiences that make learning meaningful and unforgettable!" 🚀📚✨ – Mr. Ray Jenkins, Assistant Principal #PassionForLearning #StudentEngagement #Inspiration

All schools and the administration campus are open today, Friday, February 14. Schools are starting and ending at their normal times with the exception of elementary schools that will release three hours early due to elementary conferences. We urge everyone to dress warmly and exercise caution on the roads, in parking lots, and along walking routes and sidewalks.

A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect for our area until 8:00 a.m. tomorrow, Friday, February 14. This weather system is expected to bring snow and freezing temperatures overnight and into the morning hours. Due to a scheduled three-hour early release for all elementary schools as part of elementary conferences, a two-hour delayed/late start cannot be implemented due to conflicts within our transportation system, which operates multiple routes for both elementary and secondary schools. We encourage you to stay informed by checking local weather reports and monitoring your email or other preferred communication channels early tomorrow morning, Friday, February 14. In the event of any changes to school schedules or district operations, we will make a decision by 5:00 a.m. on Friday, February 14.

February Newsletter! Click on the link https://kentsd.edurooms.com/engage/meeker-middle-school/newsletters/meeker-newsletter-february-2025 to see the Meeker monthly newsletter.