🎉 Honoring 138 Years of Service! 🎉
Friday night, Meridian CUSD #223 celebrated the incredible dedication of five amazing retirees at our annual retirement dinner held at Lino’s Italian Restaurant. Together, they’ve given 138 years of service to our students, staff, and community!
👏 Join us in congratulating:
✨ Cindy Meyers – 13 years
✨ Dana Brooks – 31 years
✨ Doug Schiltz – 26 years
✨ Deb Thibodeau – 36 years
✨ Scott Wilhite – 32 years
The evening was filled with laughter, memories, and well-deserved recognition. Thank you all for your commitment to MCUSD #223—you’ve made a lasting impact, and you will be missed! ❤️
One Book One School special 1st edition questions from Monroe Center Grade School. We can't wait to see how many students and families engage with the book and questions.
1. Do you think Odder is a "wild" otter at heart, even though she is raised in captivity?
2. How does the author use descriptions of the ocean to create a sense of danger and wonder?
3. Expalin the concept of a "Keystone Species" and why sea otters are considered one.
1.¿Crees que Odder es una nutria "salvaje" en el fondo, a pesar de haber
sido criada en cautiverio?
2. ¿Cómo utiliza la autora las descripciones del océano para crear una
sensación de peligro y asombro?
3. Explica el concepto de "especie clave" y por qué las nutrias marinas se
consideran una.
Odder by Katherine Applegate
Monroe Center certainly showed support as they "Rocked their Socks" to support World Down Syndrome Day and all of our friends. Students and staff had amazing participation - Thank You
Hello,
MJHS track registration is still open. The deadline to order track shirts and spirit wear has been extended through Tuesday, March 18th. Students must have a track t-shirt to compete in meets! Registration can be completed at https://manage.snap.app/register/stillmanvalley . There will be a parent meeting this Thursday at 2:45 in the main gym. Track Rooms will also be created this week for communication purposes.
Congratulations to Preston King from Monroe Center Grade School, who qualified for state with the Special Olympics for basketball skills in Bloomington. Way to go Preston! We're so proud of you!
Congratulations to the MJHS Wrestling Team on a Fantastic Season!
Our team had an incredible year—taking 1st place at Regionals, sending 9 wrestlers to Sectionals, and having 2 qualify for State!
A huge shoutout to 8th graders Tyler Bell and Bradley Bankes, who both placed 4th at State this weekend! Congrats to these young men on their impressive accomplishments this season!
We also want to recognize the MJHS students who qualified for state wrestling tournaments through their clubs—we can’t wait to hear how they did this weekend!
Way to go, MJHS wrestlers—we’re proud of all of you! #WeAreMCUSD223
Highland is excited to meet our next year's kindergarteners! We are hosting a Kinder Kick-Off on March 18 and March 20th! Please see the attachment for more information.
Meridian CUSD 223 is hosting a preschool screening for children ages 3-5 years old who live within the Meridian district. Children must be 3 years old by the screening date. Please call Highland Elementary at 815-645-2230 to schedule. There are a few appointments left!
The IKWF State Wrestling tournament will take place this Friday and Saturday and these young athletes within the Meridian school district have worked so hard to earn their place at the state tournament. Let’s give them encouragement and a big round of applause as they represent the Stillman Valley Wrestling Club this weekend! Pictured: LtoR Brycen Legue, Liam Ross, Donavan Shelby, Kennedy Collins, Brinley Wrage, Evan Ross, and Jordi Collins. Good luck everyone!
Stillman Valley High School Prom 2025
HUGE THANK YOU to all those able to join Monroe Center's first Pack the Parking Lot for state testing this morning. We were so excited to see all the cars we forgot to take pictures. 5th graders started state testing today and parents and community celebrated them and showed support as we kicked off testing. Cars and trucks drove through the lot honking and sharing signs of encouragement. Then students were surprised by 3rd and 4th grade students and staff as they entered the hallways full of signs and people cheering for them. What a way to show support and encourage our students. Thank you to everyone! #WeAreMCUSD
Students at Monroe Center have been developing their leadership skills in many ways. We'd like to highlight our Bird's Nest Newsletter team and the work they are doing. Please enjoy the latest edition of the student newsletter. We will share updated newsletters as they continue their interviews and publications. Click https://shorturl.at/wgFfw to enjoy the latest edition.
Amazing students extending kindness towards other students at Monroe Center Grade School. Principal Lucy helped students with their rewards for their extension of kindness at different places in the building. Just some of the great things they did were helping another student who speaks a different language feel welcomed and successful each day as well as seeing another student by themselves and thinking they could use a friend so they went and sat down next to them to help them through their day. Keep up the great work of changing the world one step at a time by being a leader and good friend.
Congratulations to Mrs. Tompkins at Monroe Center Grade School. Northern Illinois CPR and First Aid awarded a grant to Mrs. Tompkins for $250 to put towards supplies or anything she needs for her classroom this year. How exciting and rewarding. Thank you so much to Northern Illinois CPR and First Aid for this opportunity for our teachers. Mrs. Tompkins was nominated by those in the community who shared comments on the wonderful work she does with and for her students. Thank you both!
Principal Lucy is doing such a great job today with Mrs. Simpson. What a fun day with activities helping get ready for state testing and working with adults and students in the building. Lunch together was super fun too all thanks to Meridian Elementary PTO. Thank you, Principal Lucy! #WeAreMCUSD
Dear MJHS Families,
After numerous calls, emails, and efforts to adjust Monday’s game schedule to allow families to support the high school girls' basketball team, we were unable to find an alternative date that worked for both Polo and us. However, Polo has agreed to move our game times up by an hour to help accommodate everyone.
Here is the updated schedule for Monday's 6th-8th grade girls' basketball games:
-Games will now begin at 3:00 PM.
-7th and 8th grade games will still be played at MJHS. The 7th grade game will start at 3 PM, with 8th grade immediately following.
-6th grade will depart from school at 2:00 PM to travel to Polo and play at 3 PM at Centennial Elementary School. Parents should park in the south parking lot and enter through Door 2 (not the main entrance).
We understand this isn’t a perfect solution, but it is the best option available. We appreciate your flexibility and support. Please reach out to Mrs. Jepsen if you have any questions.
🏀 MJHS PTO Fundraiser at The Wooden Nickel! 🎟️
Join us on March 13th at The Wooden Nickel for a fun-filled basketball uniform fundraiser!
📌 Tickets: $20.00 (includes a delicious chicken buffet dinner)
📌 Pre-sale tickets preferred
📌 To purchase tickets or donate raffle baskets, contact Caroline at 815-721-7191
Thank you for your continued support—we can't wait to see you there! 🙌🏼
Congratulations on all your hard work Daniel. This young man, in Mrs. Tompkins 3rd grade class, already has 125 ar points. He got a chance to head to the book vending machine and has already started his new book! #WeAreMCUSD
Highland is excited to meet our next year's kindergarteners! We are hosting a Kinder Kick-Off on March 18 and March 20th! Please see the attachment for more information.
Meridian CUSD 223 is hosting a preschool screening for children ages 3-5 years old who live within the Meridian district. Children must be 3 years old by the screening date. Please call Highland Elementary at 815-645-2230 to schedule. There are a few appointments left!
