Meeker Middle School -

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.

All schools and the administration campus are open and operating on normal schedules today, Friday, February 7. We thank our facility and maintenance teams for their work clearing parking lots and sidewalks. However, we urge everyone to exercise caution on the roads, in parking lots, and along walking routes and sidewalks., as conditions may still be slippery.

There is a 2-hour late start today, Thursday, February 6. Plese be careful walking or driving. Families: View your student(s) school bell schedule to determine when your student’s school will begin two hours later than normal. https://www.kent.k12.wa.us/page/bell-schedule Buses will run two hours later than the regular schedule. Please be at the bus stop two hours later than your normal pick-up time. Zero hour canceled. All out of district transportation canceled. All A.M. and P.M. preschool classes canceled. Lunch served. Find more information at https://www.kent.k12.wa.us/article/2013013

We are planning a 2-hour late start for tomorrow, Thursday, February 6 because we are currently under a winter weather advisory until 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, with the strong possibility of more snow and freezing temperatures. We are sending this communication the evening before to provide families and staff with time to plan for the potential effects of a two-hour late start. This advance notice aims to help those that need to make arrangements to accommodate this schedule change. Find more information at https://www.kent.k12.wa.us/article/2013013

All schools and the administration campus are closed today, Wednesday, February 5. Because of the Wednesday early release schedule, we are unable to implement a two-hour late start, as it would conflict with our transportation system and the need to run buses on multiple routes for both elementary and secondary schools. Find more information at https://www.kent.k12.wa.us/article/2010584

Monitor communications early Wednesday, Feb. 5. We are continuing to watch the weather forecast and will be checking the roads, parking lots, sidewalks, and walking routes early tomorrow morning. We will notify families and staff tomorrow as soon as a decision is made to open or close schools. Wednesday morning, February 5, monitor your phone/email, school/district websites, social media, and local news for updates to school schedules or bus routes. Because of the Wednesday early release schedule, we are unable to implement a two-hour late start, as it would conflict with our transportation system and the need to run buses on multiple routes for both elementary and secondary schools. For February 5, 2025, there are two options....find more information at https://www.kent.k12.wa.us/article/2010445

Tuesday, Feb. 4, all schools and the administration campus are closed. Thank you for your patience as we prioritize the safety of our students, families, and staff when making these difficult decisions to alter school schedules. This morning, our district leaders, maintenance, facilities, safety, and transportation staff surveyed roads, school driveways and parking lots, along with sidewalks for our walking students throughout the 72-square miles of our district before making a decision. Find more information at https://www.kent.k12.wa.us/article/2008397

There will be a two-hour delay to the start of school on Tuesday, February 4 due to the weather forecast of snow and freezing temperatures. The administration campus will be open. Buses will run two hours later than the regular schedule. Continue to check your email, news, and social media for updates. Today, our maintenance and facility teams worked diligently to clear parking lots and sidewalks. We thank them for their hard work. Even with their efforts to clear the snow, surfaces may be icy tomorrow morning. Be extra careful driving and walking. Find more information at https://www.kent.k12.wa.us/article/2007464

All schools and the administration campus are closed today, Monday, February 3, 2025. Because the weather conditions worsened overnight and out of an abundance of caution, we are closing schools and the administration campus today, Monday, February 3. With our district covering over 72 square miles, we must consider all our district’s geography from the foothills to the valley. Find more information at https://www.kent.k12.wa.us/article/2005241

2-HOUR LATE START ON MONDAY, FEB. 3, 2025! Weather reports indicate likely snow showers and freezing temperatures overnight which will cause slippery road conditions in the morning, Monday, February 3, 2025. To keep our students, families, and staff safe, there will be a two-hour delay to the start of school. The District Administration Campus is open. Families, please view your student(s) school bell schedule to determine when your student’s school will begin two hours later than the regular schedule. • Buses will run two hours later than the regular schedule. • Buses will run normal pick-up routes unless it is determined in the morning that it is unsafe. Please be at the bus stop two hours later than your normal pick-up time. o Only if there is a change: a notification of buses running on snow/limited bus service routes will be sent around 7:00 a.m. Find the snow/limited bus service route pick-up locations. • Zero hour is canceled. • All out of district transportation is canceled. • All A.M. and P.M. preschool classes are canceled. • Lunch will be served. Staff, please follow the Inclement Weather Memo for your labor group. Be safe and cautious due to possible icy conditions and arrive when it is safe to do so.

REMINDER: NO SCHOOL Wednesday January 29th. Semester 1 ends January 28th.

Tomorrow January 24th, we do have school, and it is our 2nd Quarter Pep Assembly! Students don't forget to wear GREEN to show your school spirit! Staff will be in GOLD. Let's go PIONEERS!