William M. Meredith School

🌟 Front Entrance Glow Up 🌟

Big thanks to artist and Meredith parent, Elizabeth Bergeland, for transforming the 5th St entry doors into such a fun, vibrant and welcoming portal for students, staff & families!

Shout out to the Beautification Committee and the parents & student volunteers who have been watering the gardens and planters to keep them lush in this summer heat.

We appreciate all the ways that Meredith families support our school, all year round!

Please join us in extending a warm Meredith welcome to our new principal, Ms. Nina Brevard! Learn more about Principal Brevard in her Welcome Letter (linked below) and share in our excitement for her to lead Meredith into this new school year 💙

Principal Brevard invites the Meredith community to an in-person Meet & Greet at Meredith School on Monday, August 5, from 5:30 - 6:30 pm. Light refreshments will be served so please RSVP.

Links can be found in our Welcome Principal Brevard email on 7/22/24 (https://mailchi.mp/meredithmatters.org/principalbrevard?e=bf58690747), and stay tuned for more Back To School info and announcements as they become available.

- Your SAC & HSA Parent Leadership Team

HSA Updates and Reminders - Have a Fantastic Summer! -

Meredith News and Updates - June 13, 2024 Have a Fantastic Summer! Congratulations Grads! Move Up Ceremony Tomorrow!

Congratulations to all the graduating Meredith 8th graders & their families!

Whether you’ve been at Meredith since kindergarten, or joined at another time on your educational journey, you’ll always be part of our Meredith family 💙 We are excited for you as you start your next adventure in high school, and we know that you’ll continue to make this world a better place with your kindness, integrity, courage & creativity.

So go out and shine brightly, because you’re all Meredith STARS!

Meredith School Store CLEARANCE SALE THURSDAY June 13! Beginning at 12 noon in the schoolyard (during early dismissal), ALL IN-STOCK ITEMS WILL BE DISCOUNTED! Come get a head start on next year’s uniforms, plus grab water bottles, mugs and more!

Follow this link to learn more: https://mailchi.mp/meredithmatters.org/june-minutes?e=94e08a3bb7

That’s a wrap on an awesome 2024 Meredith Field Day! Each year at Field Day, students in grades 5-8 are assigned to mixed grade teams (Team Red vs Team Blue), each led by a different teacher/coach. After assembling in their teams and getting hyped up (& colorful) they head to Palumbo Rec to battle it out in friendly competitions - working together to score points in a combination of serious & silly games and challenges. While Team Blue was victorious today, students on both teams showed great hustle & heart, and had lots of fun 💙♥️ Big thanks to Coach Guldin, Mr McCollum & Connie Dollak for all the planning and organization, and thanks to all the parent volunteers who showed up to help make the day a success!

Meredith Minute - XBox Raffle Extended! -

Meredith Minute - June 10, 2024 XBox Raffle Extended! Plus, School Store Sale / Uniform Donations and Year-End Reminders

What a beautiful Pride Day at Meredith!
♥️🧡💛💚💙💜🖤🤎🤍🩷🩵

Thank you to everyone involved in planning and volunteering, especially our student leaders and members of the LGBTQIA+ club who made rainbow ribbons, hung handmade hearts around the schoolyard, and led the coloring of a beautiful inclusive pride flag in the schoolyard with the help of students at recess. Special thanks to teachers, Mr Hamm & Mx Tartaro, and parents Blair Cardinal & Amy Henderson - for your time, energy & love! And thank you to all the teachers who create welcoming, representative, and inclusive classrooms that reflect the unique identities of all students and families at Meredith!

Meredith is committed to creating, fostering and upholding a joyful environment that is welcoming to all students and families. Together, we are aligned with School District of Philadelphia in its commitment to “celebrate the diverse experiences and affirm the unique identities of our LGBTQIA+ students and providing a supportive and inclusive environment where every student can thrive”.

Meredith Parents & Caregivers - please follow this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScS3IHGYmxPIHKY7Vlrc-vWP82XDmLuDU6GN8PFUqIqyrPscQ/viewform

HSA Updates and Reminders - Pride Day - Updates and Clarifications -

Meredith News and Updates - June 6, 2024 Updates and Clarifications, XBox Raffle Sales End Monday, Move Up Details, Play Day Thanks

Meredith Play Day - 2024
💙🎪🏀🍭🍿💙🎶🪩

A huge THANK YOU to all the amazing volunteers that made Play Day 2024 such a joyful celebration today! None of the fun would have been possible without your help - including planning, setup, volunteering at stations throughout the day, and helping with clean up. It was a real team effort and every person’s contribution of time and energy was essential to making Play Day magic today! Whether you are a seasoned Play Day pro, or a new Play Day participant, we appreciate you and hope you had a great day!

Special shout out to our 8th grade volunteer squad and the 8th grade homeroom teachers, Mr McCollum & Ms Alliegro, for partnering with us on today’s day of service. Our Meredith 8th graders were such an important part of Play Day: sharing their muscles (with all the heavy lifting for setup & cleanup), helping at every station (and being flexible to change stations as needed), and - most importantly - being role models of kindness, teamwork, and service to your school (and community). This really is a special group of students, and we’re going to miss them very much when they graduate next week!

Check your email tonight for a link to our shared 2024 Play Day photo album where you can check out candid pics from today, or add your own. The smiles on everyone’s faces say it all - it was the best day 🌟

With gratitude,

The Play Day Team

🌻 Follow this link to learn more: https://us7.campaign-archive.com/?e=%5BUNIQID%5D&u=c62582397aae9655af1642ed9&id=b4e229d179

Meredith Minute - Pride Day Friday -

Meredith Minute - June 4, 2024 Pride Day Friday, Important Play Day Reminders, Xbox Raffle, Take the HSA/SAC Survey

MEREDITH PRIDE DAY 2024 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️
Let’s Celebrate Together on Friday, June 7!

Meredith Pride – the new coalition of LGBTQ+ students, families, teachers and allies – is PROUD to announce the first-ever Meredith Pride Day! Friday, June 7 will feature a fun dress down day, rainbow ribbons, a schoolyard art project, and other age-appropriate classroom educational activities.

♥️ Dress Down Day - Dress in rainbow colors, tie-dye, or coordinate with friends and classmates to “make a rainbow.” This is a free, school-wide dress down day…we hope even caretakers wear their colors at drop-off!

🧡Rainbow Ribbons - A group of middle school students have been busy making rainbow ribbon pins for the whole school. They will be passed out by Ms. Zaback, students, and parent volunteers during morning drop-off in the school yard - be sure to grab yours and wear it all day!

💛Recess Art Activity - Kindergarteners, first graders, and second graders will join our talented Rainbow Family volunteers to create a giant inclusive Pride Flag in the schoolyard during recess. Of course, all students are welcome to contribute during their recess!

💚In-classroom Activities - Teachers will engage students in age-appropriate classroom activities throughout the day that teach about the LGBTQ+ community.

We look forward to celebrating PRIDE with the entire Meredith community on June 7! Please feel free to reach out to Meredith parents and co-leaders of Meredith Pride Blair Cardinal ([email protected]) or Amy Henderson ([email protected]) with any questions or to get involved.

HAPPY PRIDE! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Interested in neighborhood safety issues and initiatives? Join QVNA and BVNA for the monthly community safety meeting on June 6, where they will be joined by Lt. Ricci to hear about issues in our neighborhood, as well as updates on the Weccacoe Playground Safety Initiative.

Meredith Stage Crew Superstars 🌟 Huge shout out to the Meredith stage crew who flawlessly managed every aspect of light, tech, and sound, and running logistics for the set & prop management. Special thanks to graduating 8th graders Lev Teytelboym (Stage Manager), Nathaniel Rodriguez-Lombardo Jackson Randolph & Zach Filmore (Assistant Stage Managers), and Harper Emerick (backstage & photography) for all their dedication and leadership!

What an incredible journey - and what an incredible group of student performers, cast, creators and crew!

So much hard work, love and energy goes into building a musical from the ground up - and we are so proud of what these incredible students made TOGETHER! We hope that this experience reminded them that they will never be “alone in the universe” (or at Meredith)!

Thank YOU for joining us on this adventure and for all the ways you supported Seussical, Jr (& the arts) at Meredith!

There were too many fabulous photos to share in 1 post but parents/caregivers received a link to the full shared album via email 📸

In closing, a note from our Director, Monica Flory, who always says it best:

A Note from Director Monica Flory…

“The function of art is to do more than tell it like it is - it’s to imagine what is possible.” - bell hooks

Does it seem frivolous to do musical theater as the world falls apart around us? We could make the case that making art must be reserved for times when there is energy and patience to spare—times when our collective bandwidth allows for something a little extra. Musical theater is nothing if not a little extra!

And yet, we could make the case that we benefit from our collaborative imagination more than ever—to build bridges, seek solutions, and distract our weary souls. We might seek the brightness, laughter, and melody that a musical can provide. We might need it.

I hope that for an hour or so, we can rest together and imagine a brighter world right here. I know that in our better future there is music, there is dancing, and there are unworried children. Children can remind us to be present, to love fiercely, and to “think the biggest thinks” we can. They are here to sing and dance their hearts out so that they–and we–can imagine what is possible.

HSA Updates and Reminders - Seussical Wraps Tomorrow! Tickets Still Available -

Meredith News and Updates - May 30, 2024 Seussical Wraps Tomorrow! Tickets Still Available. Plus, XBox Raffle, PB&J Love, Dress Down Day, Play Day Reminders, Kindergarten Registration Ends Tomorrow

We’ve gathered a few helpful links all in one place - check it out!
https://mailchi.mp/meredithmatters.org/end-of-year-links?e=94e08a3bb7

Opening night of Seussical, Jr is 2 days away on Wednesday, May 29th!!!

The spring musical at Meredith is a great opportunity for students to experience the joy, growth, and confidence that comes from a robust arts education where students get hands-on experience with every aspect of bringing a musical to life onstage.

Seussical, Jr is a collaborative undertaking that involves > 120 students at Meredith including:

🌟60 performers in grades 4-8 who will delight you with their acting, singing and dancing

🌟20 student Set & Prop Club artists & creators who worked on every aspect of our set and each handmade prop

🌟16 Stage Crew members who manage all aspects of lighting, sound and tech

🌟45 adorable 3rd grade “dancing Hunches”

In addition, our Spring Musical, Set & Prop Club, and Stage Crew Club also function as after school clubs that provide enrichment for the months of February - May for students who participate.

None of this magic would be possible without the generous support of YOU, our amazing Meredith community! Every ticket sold for Seussical, Jr helps to keep these opportunities available to students at Meredith - so please come show our amazing student cast, creators, and crew your support by filling ALL the seats in the auditorium!

Tickets are available (https://meredith-hsa.ticketleap.com/seussical-jr/) and the 4 ticket limit has been lifted so we can fill those seats!

Wednesday, May 29 at 6:30 pm (*)
Thursday, May 30 at 6:30 pm
Friday, May 31 at 1:45 pm (*)

(*) includes 3rd grade “Dancing Hunches”

Children and guests of all ages are welcome, and please reach out if you have any accessibility concerns so we can help! If you would like to attend but are experiencing financial difficulties, please reach out to Ms Zaback at [email protected] who will assist, confidentially.

If you would like to support the arts at Meredith but cannot attend a show this week, there is also an option to make a donation (in any amount) using the Meredith HSA Donation platform (https://meredithelementaryhsa.betterworld.org/campaigns/support-performing-arts-at-mered)

See you there 💙

Our PB&J drive for Old Pine Community Center has been EXTENDED! Please bring in jars of peanut butter and jelly by Wednesday. Let's see which class can collect the most. Right now, Ms. Hoffman's class is leading Ms. Lieber's class by ONE JAR!

HSA Updates and Reminders - Take the HSA/SAC Survey -

Meredith News and Updates - May 23, 2024 Take the HSA/SAC Survey, Auction Thanks, Dress Down Day, Seussical Tickets, New XBox Raffle

Tomorrow is the LAST DAY of our PB&J Drive to benefit Old Pine Community Center Bring in jars of peanut butter and jelly (plastic preferred). Don't forget to write your class number on the jars - the class that collects the most will receive a pizza party!

Get outbid on your favorite auction items? Try your luck with the End of the Year Xbox Raffle! Take a chance to win a BRAND NEW Xbox Series X. Enter here now until 10 p.m. on June 10th: https://meredithelementaryhsa.betterworld.org/giveaways/x-box-raffle

Thank you to new Meredith family the Griffins for generously donating this prize.

Thank you to everyone who was able to join this Monday’s School Advisory Council (SAC) Meeting. Monthly SAC meetings are open to parents, caregivers, staff, students and community members. For a detailed look at what we discussed, follow the link to the meeting minutes here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KJIKN9cBs41Isd1o1K8XgdgaheMmeMpGIcP2SjrRbug/edit

Highlighting the Meredith Family Engagement & Fundraising Survey 2024:

The School Advisory Council (SAC) and the Meredith Home & School Association (HSA) are conducting a joint year-end survey to hear your input. The survey will only take 5-10 minutes and is an important opportunity for families to provide input into HSA and SAC planning for the 2024-25 school year. Your responses to this survey will be anonymous. We welcome your feedback!

Survey Link here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScS3IHGYmxPIHKY7Vlrc-vWP82XDmLuDU6GN8PFUqIqyrPscQ/viewform

The elegant calm before the storm of a great party! Venue looks gorgeous, thanks .danilo and , the smells delicious and the tunes are gonna be amazing! A few tickets still remain and can be purchased at the door! Come on down to and celebrate this magical year!

Thank you to these generous sponsors for supporting the 2024 Meredith Auction and Events!

Brotherly Booster:
- Methodist Hospital Foundation

School Supporters:
- The Brown Turkin Family
- Amy Conkling

Together we can do great things!

HSA Updates and Reminders - Soirée Under the Stars is TOMORROW! -

Meredith News and Updates - May 16, 2024 Soirée Under the Stars is TOMORROW! Auction Closes Sunday Night (New Items Added!), Spirit Week, PB&J Drive, Seussical Tickets and Program Ads

Thank you to these generous sponsors of the 2024 Meredith Auction & Events!

In-kind Sponsors:
- South Street Sam
- ACME Markets

Family Funders:
- The Cormier-Smith Family
- The McCloskey Family
- The Palmer Family
- The Weil Family
- The Sievert Family

Together we will do AMAZING things!