New Academic Calendars Are Available Now!
The School District of Philadelphia recently shared the academic calendars for the next two school years. You can find them on the Academic Calendar page.
Of note for those planning for vacations, camps and childcare programs for the summer, the 2025-26 School Year will begin on Monday, August 25, 2025.
Make Earth Day Every Day!
On Earth Day, we unveiled the Meredith beading project! Beads painted by students were hung along the front yard fence, with each bead standing for a pledge that students made to take care of the environment.
The Nature Club celebrated Earth Day by providing a special tour of the front garden for Meredith families, and students also had a chance to watch the recorded virtual garden tour. The kids also loosened up dirt in the tree pits in the yard and added mulch for Arbor Day on Friday!
Nature Club will be selling herbs and house plants this Wednesday immediately after school in the school yard. You can also find the club featured in a four-page spread in the latest issue of the QVNA Crier!
Making Meredith Sparkle
Thank you to our amazing parent, student, and alumni volunteers for coming out this weekend to paint the Monroe Street fence! Our Saturday session was rained out but the crew made amazing progress on Sunday transforming the brown rusty fencing into a brighter silver backdrop for student artwork.
Kudos to SAC Beautification Committee leader Susanna Ding for all her planning to make the painting day a success and to Sarah Peoples for her artistic vision and dedication!
Meredith School Fund Update
We’re thrilled to share that as of March 31, we have raised $78,325 for the Meredith School Fund! This wouldn’t be possible without your generous support – 160 donors have contributed.
As a reminder, our goal this year is to raise a total of $131,500 to bridge the gap between public funding and the school’s budget needs, and we’ve now reached 60% of that goal. Your contributions go toward school support and climate staff, the performing arts program, and beloved annual events.
As we near the end of the school year, help us meet our goal while having a great time by purchasing tickets to the upcoming Meredith Auction & Celebration, or donate today.
Congratulations Meredith Science Olympiads!
Meredith’s Science Olympiad Team had a fantastic showing at regionals. Of the performance, Coach Mr. Leshock said, “Congratulations to this amazing bunch of kids, the Meredith Science Olympiad Team. With high hopes, a ton of practice, and a whole lot of hard work, they qualified for states for the third year in a row. Go team! They finished 7th in our very tough region, one spot better than last year, and even doubled their medal count. It was so cool to hear the name William Meredith called so often. I’m so proud of this team. Now on to states!!!”
See photos of some of the students’ incredible projects here.
A SWEET Pi/Pie Day!
Thanks to all who made Pi Day so Sweet! Principal Brevard, the students, teachers and staff are so appreciative of all the caregivers who made our 1st annual Pie Bake-Off so successful and sweet! The students recited Pi, participated in pie-eating contests, and helped taste the delicious pies baked and donated by our talented Meredith caregivers.
See below for the results of our Bake-Off, as well as a note of thanks from Principal Brevard and the team!
Book Fair Recap
This year’s Scholastic Book Fair was an enormous success! This year, due to the generosity of our community, every student was able to select a book to take home thanks to the Share the Fair fund! In addition to providing an opportunity for students to get excited about reading, the Book Fair also benefits Meredith. Scholastic gives back a percentage of the profit to the school in the form of Scholastic Dollars (which can be used to purchase a large variety of books, classroom supplies and materials), cash, or both.
Thank you to all the parent volunteers who helped make this year’s fair a success by assisting classes, teachers and families as they shopped, as well as by setting up, packing up, flipping the fair, and restocking shelves between classes.
Kudos to Matthew Bear, Nicole Mamula, Marissa Green Anderson, Jennifer Procopio, Susanna Ding, Susan Ramirez-Chung, Ryan Pine, Katharine Malagon, Shelly Shen, Jamie Lee, Jill Levi, Jessica Peterson, Abby Addy, Matthew Solomon, Bridget Kolarik, Sarah Misuro, Nicole Simon, Anna Bruton, Chiamin Bullaughey, Karen Ploucquet, Kate Lutzo, Sara Mazenko, Christine Caldarale, Danielle Cormier-Smith, and Tim Smith. It takes a village to run a multi-day event like this seamlessly, and we appreciate you all for making this such a fun experience for the kids.
A special shout out to the 8th graders who helped younger students shop throughout the week! We couldn’t have done it without you.
Sharing Good Deeds During Ramadan
Thanks again to Ms. Smith, Ms. Taylor, and student volunteers for creating “Good Deed” boxes — where students can write down their good deeds and drop them in the box.
These boxes were placed on each floor at Meredith to help the school community deepen our learning about Ramadan and the practice of showing kindness toward others.
Spreading Meredith LOVE
Our Meredith teachers and staff are the heart and soul of our school, and we are so thankful for all they provide — inside the classroom and beyond. In honor of Valentine’s Day, Principal Brevard showed them the LOVE last week with a delicious catered lunch, special gifts & “golden tickets.”
Thank you to Principal B for organizing and funding this wonderful event and making sure the team knows how much they are appreciated.
Thank you to the parent volunteers who made the day a success by taking care of setup, serving our teachers and staff, delivering gifts, and cleaning up: Kerry Durst, Andrea Gadue, Sara Mazenko, Nicole Mamula, Rebecca Weldon, Elizabeth May, Michaela Petrongolo, and Jill Levi.
Finally, thanks again to our eighth grade volunteers who distributed valentines with notes of appreciation from all of our students to the teachers and staff during this day of celebration.
Introducing the Immigrant & Refugee Toolkit
In light of recent events, Superintendent Watlington has reaffirmed the School District of Philadelphia’s commitment to creating safe, welcoming spaces for all students and families, no matter their race, ethnicity, immigration status, national origin, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, familial status, religion, or abilities.
In alignment with that commitment, SDP has developed an Immigrant & Refugee Toolkit which you can find on the Immigrant Resources Website. All School District employees were also assigned a Safe & Welcoming Schools training course that provides expectations and protocols for creating safe, welcoming spaces for students and families. School leaders have been provided with guidance about how to protect our immigrant students’ rights.
If you have questions or concerns, please reach out to the School District directly via the two-way communication platform, Let’s Talk.
Congratulations, Science Stars!
The Meredith Science Olympiad team has done it again – with a first place finish at the Philadelphia invitational of the Science Olympiad! “The kids faced some stiff competition from a wiley Masterman team, and held off our arch rivals Vare-Washington,” shares Mr. Leshock. “Our kids worked hard and won the day.” Next up, the team is traveling to compete in the Pittsburgh invitational, and from there, they’ll go on to a regional competition next month where they’ll compete to qualify for States for the third year in a row.
Great job, team! You are true Meredith stars. Thank you to Mr. Leshock for your leadership.
Celebrating Meredith Magic
Special shout out to Mike Peterson & Mike Osbourne! This volunteer dad dream team assembled the new popcorn machine and a new trophy case. We really enjoyed some delicious popcorn for our Sing Along Night.
And speaking of trophies to fill the new case, congratulations to the Meredith Thundering Rooks on a successful showing in the ASAP scholastic chess league tournament! Meredith Elementary won first place and Meredith Middle School won fourth place in the team competitions. Congratulations to Asher, Sebi, Isaiah, Noah, Kal, and Severin for each taking home individual awards as well.
Happy Crossing Guard Appreciation Day!
Thank you to our always reliable, always smiling crossing guards, Mr. Herman and Ms. Joanne! You are a vital part of our Meredith Community, and we appreciate you.
Kindergarten Registration Is Now Open!
Do you have a child that will be five on or before September 1, 2025? If so, your child will be eligible to start kindergarten in the 2025-2026 school year!
Registration opened thisTuesday 1/21 and we are already at nearly 50 applicants for a total of 75-90 available spots in our three kindergarten classrooms. As most of you know, there is high demand for spaces at Meredith, and spots are not guaranteed, even if you already have children at Meredith. If you live within the Meredith catchment, we urge you to register as soon as possible, and please share the news with your neighbors.
Online registration is strongly preferred. If you need to register in person, you may visit the main office between 9:30-11:30 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays only. Due to the manual effort involved in processing hard copy paperwork submitted in person, the school cannot guarantee that such paperwork will be processed same-day.
With your registration form, you’ll need to provide copies of parent/ guardian identification documents, proof of your child’s age (such as a birth certificate), your child’s current immunization records, and two documents proving your address.
Winter Weather Reminders
With our first snow day already in the books, we wanted to remind families to please check the School District of Philadelphia’s website (www.philasd.org) for any closure announcements this winter in case of snow or other inclement weather. Robocalls will also be made when possible; please make sure your contact information on file is updated through the parent portal.
HSA will also share information via social media (Facebook and Instagram) when we become aware of closings.
On days when school is open, if the temperature is below 32 degrees or it is raining or snowing during morning admission, students will be admitted indoors instead of in the school yard. Please check the forecast before morning drop-off to prepare.
Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
On Monday, Meredith’s very own Girl Scout Troop #986 participated in an MLK Day of Service. The girls and their families worked hard alongside the Friends of FDR Park picking up trash throughout the park as well as painting rocks and tiles to decorate the local garden.
Kudos to troop members Norah McCartney, Dorothy Durso, Teagan Tertel, Eleanor Roller, Talia Briton, Emilia Reyes & Hayden Hill, and thank you to troop leaders Angela McCartney and Maggie Emaus.
Pretzel Sales Resume
Back by popular demand, you’ll find pretzels every Tuesday and Thursday morning at drop-off. Your purchase of a pretzel for just $1 (cash only) helps to fund activities for the 8th grade class.
In case of indoor admission, the pretzel sales tables will be outside the main office. Otherwise, they will remain in the schoolyard.
Having Fun For A Great Cause – Meredith Wine Mixer
Thank you to all who came out to support our school – and have a fun, adult night out – at the 2nd Annual Meredith Wine Mixer!
The event allowed us to mingle, enjoy delicious food from local restaurants, taste a number of wines, and for many to win wine and raffle prizes – all while supporting Meredith! (Congratulations to all our winners!) Thanks to the generosity of the attendees and our event donors, we raised $3,000 to benefit the school.
The event would not have been possible without support from our food and beverage donors, including Bridget Foy’s, Famous 4th Street Deli, Farina Di Vita, Guavaberry Market, Little Italy 2, Mahalo Hawaiian BBQ and Square Pie. We also raffled off prizes donated by BeerLOVE, Fitz on 4th, Fringe Salon, Full Moon Blends, Gleaner’s Cafe, People’s Light, Redcrest Chicken, Rosy’s Taco Bar East and ZoomDance. A special thanks to our partner Old Pine Community Center, who offers us the beautiful Wasson Hall at a discounted rate. We are so grateful to all these neighbors for their contributions!
Finally, this event was pulled off by our wonderful committee and day of volunteers, Jane Anderson, Jennifer Burdick, Keith Doughty, Marissa Green, Andrew Kennedy, Stacy Koilor, Nicole Mamula, Sara Mazenko, Angela McCartney, Imali Sirisena and Timothy Smith.
You can see photos from the event here; please feel free to add your own!
THANK YOU MEREDITH COMMUNITY
Meredith community, you are incredible! We are absolutely blown away by your generosity the last few weeks – and so very proud to hold space with you. When we launched our Giving Tuesday campaign, we challenged you to help us reach a goal of $20,000. You immediately surpassed that, as well as our next goal of $30,000, then $40,000.
We are thrilled to announce that as a result of your generosity, we raised more than $41,000 during our Giving Tuesday campaign from November 12 – December 6! Even more incredible, our community has already contributed more than $50,000 to the Meredith School Fund this year – that is almost 40% of our goal for the entire year! And that doesn’t include corporate matches and donations made through corporate platforms, so this figure is expected to grow rapidly between now and the end of the calendar year!
If you have not yet contributed, but would still like to, you are welcome to do so whenever convenient to you.
But there’s even more amazing news to share! In addition to supporting our fantastic school, you all continued to spread the Meredith LOVE by contributing to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) through our Pajama Day fundraiser.
We are astounded to share that we surpassed our very ambitious goal of $1,200, donating a total of $1,253.64 to the CHOP Foundation!
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your support and generosity! Your kindness will make a positive impact on so many young lives, both at Meredith and beyond. You are evidence of all the love we are capable of spreading together.
EXPLORING NEW HORIZONS
Meredith kindergartners went on an exciting adventure to the LEGOLAND Discovery Center to learn and explore outside the classroom. Thank you to the kindergarten team & Principal Brevard, as well as the chaperones and parent helpers. Your hard work made this dream a reality!
Also, our first grade classrooms enjoyed walking trips to the Free Library of Philadelphia.
Meanwhile, our fourth graders, teachers, and parent chaperones laced up their skates for a day of fun and laughter at Millennium Skate World last week to stretch their legs — and their brains — outside the classroom.
Students from the Meredith Students Run Team ran in the 8K, Half Marathon, and Full Marathon. We are so proud of their teamwork and determination. View the album here.
HARVEST FEST
Our hearts are full of joy and gratitude this week, following a wonderful Harvest Feast!
THANKS FOR MAKING MEREDITH MAGIC!
What a wonderful week we had at Meredith last week with Halloween festivities for all grades!
Thank you to parent volunteers Kerry Durst, Elizabeth May, Karen Ploucquet, Rebecca Weldon, Elizabeth Bergeland, Tor Gray, Carter Paulson and Kate Lutzo for volunteering at our spooky movie night, and thanks to the parents who donated to the concessions stand or attended movie night with our scholars in Grades 4-8. Find movie night photos here.
Thanks also to the parents who attended the Halloween parade for Grades K-3. The kids had such a great time. Find Halloween costume and parade photos here.
Most of all, thanks to our amazing Meredith teachers and staff who brought the spirit with activities throughout the week.
THE MEREDITH LIBRARY IS REOPENING SOON!
After nearly a year serving as a swing space, the Meredith Library will be ready to reopen shortly after Thanksgiving recess!
A great big Meredith THANK YOU to Ms. Bryson and to our volunteers, Beth Pease, Meryl Tucker, Andrea Gadue, Susanna Ding, Bridget Kolarik, Anna Gribova, Meghan Morris, Nate Ela, Tiffany Grech, and Abby Concino. This team was able to transform the library back into a functional and inspiring space in just a few days.
BULLYING PREVENTION POSTER CONTEST WINNERS
Ms. Zaback is sending a huge shout out to the 114 children who entered posters in the Bullying Prevention poster contest! All students who entered the contest received 100 PBIS points and a certificate. Congratulations to the winners, Ava Rossanese, Mara Munez Molina, Rory Jones, Arzu Fazio-Eynullayeva, Leah Teytelboym, Caila Peskin, and Maitri Ahuja! Their posters are featured on the bulletin board and they each received an Amazon gift card.
STUDENT CHROMEBOOKS
Chromebook Charging for Kindergarten to 4th Grade
Cold weather and the potential for inclement weather will be here before we know it. To prepare for a virtual learning day, please consider options for charging your child’s Chromebook at home. While Chromebooks typically remain at school, they may occasionally be sent home.
- School Chargers: To minimize disruption, charging cables will remain wired in the classroom charging carts.
- Full Charge: Chromebooks sent home will be fully charged for online learning.
- Optional Purchase: For added convenience, you may choose to purchase an additional Chromebook charger. Amazon offers various 65W USB-C replacement charging options at different price points.
- Personal Cables: If you have a USB-C charging cable for another device, it can be used to charge your child’s Chromebook if necessary.
Chromebook Charging for 5th to 8th Grade
Students are responsible for charging Chromebooks at home using the charger provided to them. While we replace damaged Chromebooks under warranty, chargers are not covered. Families should replace lost or damaged chargers. Amazon offers various 65W USB-C replacement charging options at different price points.
MIDDLE SCHOOL BATHROOM REFRESH
The middle school bathrooms got a refresh with mirrors and positive affirmations! Take a look. We’re excited to add these to the improvements around Meredith this year, including new outdoor benches, the beautifully decorated front doors and front steps, and the library.
HEAD LICE-INFORMATION FROM NURSE SAVAGE
There are currently several cases of lice in various classrooms. Please review this letter from Nurse Savage which covers School District of Philadelphia policies and how to talk with your children about lice.
Nurse Savage has also shared a chart on when kids should stay home from school.
AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS AND ACTIVITIES
Information on 2024-25 After School Clubs & Activities is now available. See details here!
Please note that this information is subject to change. After school activities are not childcare and could be canceled if a sponsor becomes unavailable. Please reach out to sponsors directly with any questions.
Newspapers Needed
Meredith Art teacher Ms. Smith needs your newspapers for the Art Studio! They will be repurposed for paint palettes and covering of tables and used in various art projects. If you have any at home, please send them into school with your child on the day they have art class.