Meridian School

🐾 Big welcome to our four newly graduated therapy dog teams! 🐶🎓 With these fresh faces (and furry friends), we now have 18 certified D102 therapy dog teams! You'll see them bright and early at the start of each summer school session, ready to greet students with wagging tails and warm smiles. 🐕☀️💛 #D102 #EveryDayEveryStudent

🚨 We’re Hiring: Special Education Teacher 🚨 Join our amazing team and make a difference every day! 💙 We’re looking for a compassionate, student-focused educator to support learners with diverse needs through individualized instruction and collaboration. 📍 Location: Meridian School 📅 Start Date: August 19, 2025 🎓 Required: PEL with LBS1 endorsement 💼 Benefits Include: ✔️ Medical, dental, life & disability insurance (employee premiums paid by D102) ✔️ Paid sick, personal & bereavement days ✔️ Salary range per the Collective Bargaining Agreement 📧 Apply Now: https://tinyurl.com/46tnzumw Help shape brighter futures in a supportive and inclusive school community.

🌟 Celebrating Our Retirees 🌟 As summer kicks off, we want to take a moment to celebrate and thank our incredible D102 staff members who retired this year. Each one of them has left a lasting mark on our district, dedicating their time, passion, and care to generations of students and families. Some of these remarkable individuals began their careers right here in District 102, growing with us over the years and shaping the very heart of our schools. 💛 Thank you to Tom Ivarson, Laurie Friman, Stacy Lipshutz, Cheri Brill, Gina Perovic, Tracy Ticknell, Sherrie Cummins, Sue Wolf, and Beth Berger. Your legacy of kindness, dedication, and excellence will continue to inspire our community for years to come. We wish you a joyful and well-deserved retirement full of new adventures, rest, and plenty of time to enjoy the things you love. 💐 #D102 #EveryDayEveryStudent

🎉 The Meridian Ambassadors have been hard at work creating a special exhibit, Celebrating Meridian School, now open at the Raupp Museum in Buffalo Grove! This exhibit honors the history of D102 and Meridian School since it opened in 1994, spotlighting our incredible staff and administrators through the years. You'll find familiar faces like Ms. Zucker, Mrs. Podeschi, and Mr. Teplinsky, along with a heartfelt tribute to Mrs. Brill, Mrs. Cummins, and Mrs. Lipshutz — the “final three” original teachers who are now retiring. 💙 On display: the original blueprint, the groundbreaking shovel, a modern time capsule, and so much more! 🏫✨ Thank you to everyone who joined us for the opening celebration. We invite all community members and students to stop by and explore Meridian’s rich history. Don’t miss it! 📍 #D102 #EveryDayEveryStudent

📬💙 Pen pals turned real pals! First graders at Tripp and fifth graders at Meridian spent the school year writing letters to each other—and they finally met in person for the first time! Their special meetup was filled with smiles, laughter, and fun “get to know you” activities as they connected face-to-face with the friends they’ve been writing to all year. ✉️🤝 #D102 #EveryDayEveryStudent

📬💙 Pen pals turned real pals! First graders at Tripp and fifth graders at Meridian spent the school year writing letters to each other—and they finally met in person for the first time! Their special meetup was filled with smiles, laughter, and fun “get to know you” activities as they connected face-to-face with the friends they’ve been writing to all year. ✉️🤝 #D102 #EveryDayEveryStudent

It’s the last day of school and the start of retirement for Meridian teachers Mrs. Brill, Mrs. Cummins, Mrs. Lupshutz, and Mrs. Tincknell! 🎉📚 We’re sending them—and all our amazing staff—off into summer with big smiles and even bigger gratitude. ☀️ While school is out, we’re still in (just at a slower pace)! Follow along all summer for behind-the-scenes construction updates, exciting progress, and stories you won’t want to miss.

🏗️ AJHS Gymnasium Construction Update We’re in the home stretch! 👟✨ Inside the new AJHS gymnasium, the floors are fully installed and are now being sanded and finished—bringing us one step closer to game time! 🏀 In the locker rooms, doors and hardware are in place, adding the final touches to the space. Outside, a brand-new track has been laid, and fresh landscaping is taking shape around the gym and track, transforming the look of the campus. 🔧 Now that summer has begun, the next phase of construction will kick off with mechanical upgrades, casework installation, and a full roof replacement. None of this would be possible without the support of our community and the approved referendum. Thank you for investing in the future of our students! 💛 We can’t wait to welcome everyone into this beautiful, upgraded space! 🎉🎉 #D102 #EveryDayEveryStudent #BrightFuture #BuilD102

🎉 Field Day Fun Across D102! 🎉 Students at Pritchett, Tripp, and Meridian celebrated the end of the school year with one of our favorite traditions: Field Day! There were bounce houses and relay races to friendly contests and high-energy music. Schools were buzzing with excitement, teamwork, and pure joy. Thank you to our amazing staff and volunteers who helped create a day full of laughter, movement, and unforgettable memories. 🏃‍♂️🎶🎈 #D102 #EveryDayEveryStudent

📚✨ Meridian’s annual Historical Fiction Showcase was a true celebration of student learning and creativity! As part of their book club unit, students explored historical time periods through deep research and storytelling. They created both nonfiction and fiction pieces that reflected their knowledge, voice, and personal interests. From powerful writing to confident presentations, these projects were a fantastic display of academic growth and self-expression. 👏 #D102 #EveryDayEveryStudent

🚗💥 Engineering in Action! Meridian students in Project Lead the Way took on a crash-test challenge: design a car that can protect an egg! 🥚 Using VEX kits, tape, straws & more, they built and tested their vehicles—only one egg cracked! #D102 #EveryDayEveryStudent

🎶 Big News! 🎶 We’re proud to share that Aptakisic-Tripp School District 102 has once again been recognized with the Best Communities for Music Education Award by the NAMM Foundation! 🌟🎼 This national honor highlights our district’s deep commitment to providing exceptional music education for all students from kindergarten through 8th grade. From learning rhythms in kindergarten to performing in band, orchestra, or choir in junior high, our students are supported every step of the way by passionate, skilled music educators who inspire creativity and a lifelong love of the arts. 🎷🎻🎤 👏 Thank YOU for helping make D102 one of the best places for music education in the nation! #D102 #EveryDayEveryStudent

🌲 Meridian’s 5th Graders Take on Camp Duncan! 🎯🧗‍♂️ Our students had an unforgettable extended day field trip filled with outdoor adventure, teamwork, and hands-on learning! From scaling rock walls and hitting bullseyes in archery to tie-dye creations and epic scavenger hunts, Camp Duncan delivered memories to last a lifetime. 💚 #D102 #EveryDayEveryStudent

39 AJHS Catalyst Club students returned to Meridian to help 5th graders prepare for junior high with a student-led “Glow Up in Junior High” presentation! With glow bracelets, great advice, and big smiles, they inspired confidence and excitement for what’s ahead. ✨ #D102 #EveryDayEveryStudent

🎉 This Sunday, we celebrate Speech Pathologist Day and the incredible SLPs here in D102! Our speech-language pathologists are dedicated professionals who help our students find their voice—literally and figuratively. 💬💙 They create fun, welcoming spaces where students feel supported, confident, and empowered to grow. From building communication skills to collaborating with teachers and families, our SLPs are essential partners in student success. Thank you for all you do! 🙌 #D102 #EveryDayEveryStudent

⭐ New Board Members Sworn In! ⭐ At the May 12 D102 Board of Education meeting, we welcomed new Board members Laurie Kuriakose and Anthony Q. Lee, along with re-elected members Jordan Sklansky and Pelleg Graupe. The Honorable Marnie Slavin — a proud D102 alum — officiated the swearing-in. We were also honored to have State Representative Daniel Didech in attendance to thank outgoing Board members Deepa Ajmire and Vera Gaskill for their dedicated service. Following the ceremony, the Board selected its officers: ⭐ Jordan Sklansky – Board President ⭐ Pelleg Graupe – Board Vice President ⭐ Melissa Rose – Board Secretary It was a night of celebration, gratitude, and a strong commitment to the future of D102 students!

🎉 The Meridian Ambassadors have been hard at work on a special project — "Celebrating Meridian School" — an exhibit opening soon at the Raupp Museum in Buffalo Grove! This unique showcase highlights the legacy of D102 and Meridian School since opening its doors in 1994. It honors beloved staff members, past and present, including: 🍎 Lindsay Zucker, Priscilla Podeschi & AJ Teplinsky — former Meridian students who are now teachers at the school! 🎓 Cheri Brill, Sherrie Cummins & Stacy Lipshutz — the final three original staff members retiring after helping open the school 30 years ago. You'll also find historic items on display like the original blueprint, groundbreaking shovel, and more! 📅 Join us for the exhibit opening: 🗓 Monday, May 19 🕔 5:00–7:00 PM 📍 Raupp Museum, Buffalo Grove Come celebrate Meridian’s incredible journey with us!

🎶 Musical Magic in D102! 🎶 Our talented 5th–8th grade band and orchestra students wowed the crowd with two epic, back-to-back concerts! Performances ranged from James Bond to Guardians of the Galaxy to Final Countdown. The performances were bursting with energy, passion, and talent. 💥🎻🎷 A round of applause goes to Mrs. Rakickas, Ms. Strauss, and Mr. Jenkin for their incredible leadership and dedication. Their guidance helped bring the music to life! 👏🎶 #D102 #EveryDayEveryStudent

🎨💙 Nothing says "thank you" like a message from the heart. In this case, the sidewalk! Our amazing students surprised staff this week with beautiful chalk art across campus to kick off Teacher Appreciation Week. #D102 #EveryDayEveryStudent #TeacherAppreciationWeek

🎉 Budgeting + Birthday Bash = Real-World Learning! 🧮🎈 Meridian students recently tackled a fun and practical challenge: planning the perfect birthday party all on a $200 budget! 💸🎂 Students chose stores and calculated totals (sales tax included!) and even made sure quantities matched their guest lists. Students put their math, organization, and problem-solving skills to the test. One proud planner shared, “Our total is $92, which means we are under budget!” 🙌 Smart choices + real-world learning = success! #D102 #EveryDayEveryStudent