Meridian Community Unit School District #223

Please join Monroe Center Grade School for an evening of fun. We will have opportunities to create your family mission statement just like our students do in their classrooms with teachers, have a light snack, and enjoy kicking off our One Book One School and introducing the book chosen. Hope to see families there on Thursday the 10th. #We AreMCUSD

Our flu shot clinic is tomorrow, Tuesday Oct. 8th, from 2:30-4:30pm at MJHS! Open to all students (with parent present), families, and community members.

🎉 Happy School Custodian Appreciation Day! 🎉 Today, we want to recognize and thank the amazing custodians at Meridian CUSD #223 who work tirelessly day and night to keep our schools clean, safe, and welcoming for everyone! 💪✨ A special shout-out to: SVHS Custodians Dee, Don, Gezim, Marcus, Greg, Jacob HES Custodians April, Kelly, Lynette MC Custodians Danni, Mike, Craig MJHS Custodians Ashley, Matt, Allen Substitutes Brian, Rob We appreciate your hard work and dedication for our students and staff! You are true heroes!

We will host our annual flu shot clinic with the Ogle County Health Department on Tuesday, October 8th at Meridian Junior High School. The clinic is open to all students, families, and community members!

Both Highland and Monroe Center Parent Teacher Conferences are now open for scheduling through Skyward Family Access. Please see the attached directions to schedule your conference time. Thank you

The Health Services Newsletter for the 1st quarter may be viewed here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1t0bHMEytgWYJBFGaHOoD9Dt-NQAVDBRre9urCE716uM/edit?usp=sharing

"Happy National IT Professionals Day! 🎉 Today, we recognize and celebrate the incredible efforts of our Meridian CUSD #223 Technology Department! 💻📱 Their dedication to keeping our systems running smoothly ensures our students, staff, and community can connect and thrive every day. From troubleshooting to innovative tech solutions, they are the unsung heroes behind the scenes. Thank you for all you do!

📢 Parents: Rooms Notification Settings Ensure you stay informed about your child's school activities. Update your notification preferences in Rooms through the Meridian CUSD #223 app to get the updates you need when you need them! 🎥 Watch this quick tutorial to learn how: https://youtu.be/-kojLt-Yt0k?si=tJht5TkLyzQxHljy

Let Hector’s Cocina do the cooking this Tuesday night while supporting the SVHS junior class and prom 2025!

Monroe Center cannot wait to celebrate our Cardinals next week with dress-up days during Homecoming week. Anything we can do to support our team! Go Cards!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monroe Center Grade School Recognized with GreatSchools Thrive Award Monroe Center, IL — Monroe Center Grade School, part of Meridian Community Unit School District 223, has been honored with the prestigious GreatSchools Thrive Award. This recognition places Monroe Center among the top 532 schools in Illinois, celebrated for creating a positive and supportive learning environment for both students and staff. The Thrive Award is a first-of-its-kind, data-driven accolade that highlights schools fostering an environment where students can thrive academically and emotionally. This recognition is particularly significant as it is based on the results of the Illinois State Board of Education’s annual 5Essentials Survey—a key indicator of school climate and culture. The 5Essentials Survey is an annual assessment taken by students and staff across Illinois public schools. It measures five critical areas of school effectiveness: Effective Leaders, Collaborative Teachers, Involved Families, Supportive Environment, and Ambitious Instruction. The survey results provide invaluable insights into a school's climate, offering a comprehensive overview that is often difficult for families to access otherwise. Monroe Center Grade School’s strong performance on this survey underscores the school's commitment to fostering an environment where all students feel supported, safe, and encouraged to succeed. This latest recognition builds on the school's past achievements, including being named a Lighthouse School by Franklin Covey. This honor highlighted Monroe Center’s excellence in leadership and its dedication to developing a culture of student empowerment and accountability. "We are incredibly honored to receive the GreatSchools Thrive Award," said Principal Deana Simpson. "This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire school community—teachers, students, and families. At Monroe Center, we believe that a supportive and positive environment is the foundation of a successful educational experience, and we are thrilled that our efforts have been recognized. Being named both a Lighthouse School and a recipient of the Thrive Award reflects our incredible commitment to the success and well-being of our students. It speaks volumes when you are honored with an award that is based on the input of the community, your staff family, and your students. I could not be prouder of those that created this environment." GreatSchools, the nation's leading nonprofit school information site, developed the Thrive Award to meet the growing demand from parents for insights into school culture, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. By providing this information alongside data on advanced course offerings, STEM programs, and more, GreatSchools aims to empower parents with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about their children's education. For more information about Monroe Center Grade School and its programs, please visit the school's website or contact the school office at 815-645-2230. About Monroe Center Grade School: Monroe Center Elementary School is a proud member of the Meridian CUSD 223, serving students in Monroe Center, Illinois. The school is committed to providing a nurturing and challenging educational environment, where every child is encouraged to reach their full potential. About GreatSchools: GreatSchools is the leading national nonprofit empowering parents to unlock educational opportunities for their children. We provide school information and parenting resources to help millions of American families choose the right school, support their child's education, and improve schools in their communities.

🚨 Parents and Guardians, we need your help! Staying informed about your child's education has never been easier – but we need YOU to take action! 💪 Download and USE the Rooms app today to get updates on everything happening at school. Be the first to know and stay engaged in your child’s success, from assignments to events. Rooms is also available on a web browser: https://id.edurooms.com/ Your involvement makes a huge difference. Let’s work together to support our students – one notification at a time! 🙌

Our Health Services Department is wishing everyone a safe and healthy school year ahead! Important forms and contact information may be found here at the Health Services tab of our district website: https://www.meridian223.org/page/health-services

This Friday, Aug. 30, is an early release and students will be dismissed at 11:10. It is also $1 Day! Students may dress as a career of their choice if they bring $1 to support our Leadership activities. We can't wait to see the students' dreams!

Due to current and projected weather conditions, tomorrow's High School Volleyball games have been moved to Dakota High School. Freshman will play at 5:00, JV at 6:00, and Varsity at 7:00!

Highland Elementary Picture Day is 09/03/2024, mark your calendar! Order before Picture Day to receive free shipping to the school. Ordering online is easy, visit https://inter-state.com/FlyerEntry/87200QF.

Message from the Meridian 223 Health Services Dept: Health requirements are now due! Please view the link below to see which requirements pertain to your student. Contact your student's school nurse if you have any questions! https://bit.ly/4dxR0f3

Join us Friday night for our 2024 Cardinal Night! All fall sports athletes will be introduced in the stadium starting at 5:30 PM. The SVHS volleyball scrimmage will follow in the main gym, and the boys' soccer scrimmage will take place on the soccer practice field in front of the high school. The SVHS football scrimmage against Byron will begin at 6:30 PM. Come out and get a first look at our 2024 fall athletic teams in action!

Highland is excited to welcome our preschoolers back to school! Open House for preschool will be Thursday, Aug. 22 from 5:00-5:30. Stop by and meet the teachers and see the classrooms.

We look forward to seeing everyone on Monday, Aug. 12 at 4:00 for our Back to School Night. Please bring supplies to drop off for your student. PTO will have sign-ups in the gym and transportation staff will be on hand to help! There will also be Boy and Girl Scout tables with information! Teacher assignments will be on Skyward Friday, Aug. 9.