Specialist Classes - The Meridian School

Art

Celebrating Individuality and the Creative Process

Meridian’s art program encourages students to express their individuality through a range of artistic techniques and materials, including fiber arts, ceramics, and painting. Students develop confidence in their artistic skills through a building-block approach, solving visual and tactile challenges creatively. At Meridian, the process of making art is just as valuable as the final product, teaching students the importance of exploration and perseverance.

Creativity Lab

Integrating Technology, Arts, and Problem-Solving

The Creativity Lab merges academic learning with technology and the arts to develop students’ critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Projects range from programming with Lego robotics to artistic innovation, encouraging students to experiment, take risks, and learn from their mistakes. The lab fosters a growth mindset, inspiring students to push boundaries and discover their potential through hands-on exploration.

Health & Fitness

Promoting Physical Confidence and Teamwork

Our health and fitness program emphasizes the importance of physical well-being and teamwork in a fun, supportive environment. Students participate in a variety of games, activities, and sports that build both focus and skill. Units such as soccer, floor hockey, archery, track and field, and climbing cater to individual needs and encourage personal success, ensuring that students feel confident and capable.

Library

Nurturing a Love of Reading and Exploration

Our library is a space where a love for reading and learning thrives. Through read-alouds and diverse reading exercises, students encounter literature that reflects their own experiences and introduces them to new perspectives. In the lower grades, students learn how to navigate the physical library, while upper elementary students develop digital literacy skills, using tools like digital catalogs. Older students also gain research skills by utilizing resources such as the Seattle Public Library.

Music

Building Unity Through Creativity

At Meridian, our music program fosters unity, creativity, and courage. Students are introduced to a variety of musical instruments, styles, and composers. Through activities like composition, improvisation, and performance, students cultivate their musical talents. The program culminates in grade-level concerts, where students showcase their skills. Weekly assemblies provide a space for the entire school to come together, sing, and celebrate the joy of music.

Science Lab

Exploring Science Through Hands-on Discovery

In addition to science being integrated throughout their daily academic learning, students also have the opportunity to dive deeper during Science Lab. This specialist class allows students to explore and expand on what they’re learning in their regular classrooms through exciting experiments. As with all our dedicated Specialists, the Science Lab Specialist collaborates with grade level teachers to ensure that lessons are connected, meaningful, and interdisciplinary. We emphasize that science is everywhere, helping our young scientists make real-world connections and fostering a sense of curiosity and discovery.

Spanish

Our Spanish program provides a fun, dynamic learning environment where students practice listening, speaking, and writing skills while focusing on joyful and engaging activities—no matter their fluency level. Through songs, games, and everyday conversations, children explore vocabulary, storytelling, and cultural concepts in Spanish. Whether they’re guessing mystery animals in PreK or sharing jokes and stories in Fifth Grade, our classes are designed to inspire curiosity and build confidence in language acquisition.

“Meridian is different from other schools in how it is able to scaffold learners for high academic achievement, while also offering a calming and loving space to be exactly who each child is. The school has high expectations and rigorous curriculum, but also meets students exactly where they are to help them unlock their own individual learning styles. Meridian is also uniquely Seattle in its setting, its staffing, its vibe and its curriculum. It reflects the open-minded, curious, rugged and individual place where our kids and their families live. It’s not trying to be an elementary prep school or a wanna-be east coast boarding school…it is unpretentious, authentic and still so smart. It’s like the CEO who keeps her Volvo for 15 years and wears Patagonia to meetings because those things serve her needs and style best.”

– Family of Current Third Grader

"他們提供最好的學習環境，是的，也是成長的環境。Meridian 不僅是一所學校，更是一個重視好奇心、仁慈和聯繫的社區。在這裡，老師不只知道您的名字，還知道您的優點、您的熱情，以及那些讓您變得獨特的小事情。你."

- 2018 屆校友

“In the weeks since my son’s last days at Meridian, my husband and I have said so many times, ‘We’re so glad he moved to Meridian.’ The transition wasn’t easy for him, but he left a different kid. More confident, thoughtful, and happy. We’ve experienced four different elementary schools, and Meridian is by far the most special. Thank you for welcoming him.“

– Class of 2025 Alum Parent

"我們向其他人推薦 Meridian，因為這裡有可供玩耍、探索和學習的戶外空間。以地點為基礎的學習將我們的孩子在學校所做的事情帶到生活中，燃起他們對學習的熱愛。這也讓他們能夠探索、觀察、玩耍，並積極參與愛護美麗的公園和 Good Shepherd Center。孩子們的社交和情緒技能超出了我們的預期"。

– A Meridian Family

"我們的女兒在大流行病期間從幼稚園開始就讀 Meridian，即使在最充滿挑戰的時期，學校仍然不斷超越我們的期望。作為一個害羞的孩子，我們的女兒在 Meridian 發現了自己的聲音，並在社交和學業上茁壯成長。作為一個有色人種的家庭，我們很欣賞學校對公平和包容的持續承諾"。

– A Meridian Family

"我的兩個孩子在 The Meridian School 都有非常棒的經驗。老師們的敬業精神、課程中的世界公民精神、對關懷他人和社會正義的強烈強調、對藝術和 STEM 的重視，以及在課堂上進行分化學習的能力，都給我們留下了深刻印象，因此我們的孩子（在 SPS 考入 HCC 課程）在學期間能夠通過特別項目、延展工作和小組討論接受挑戰。“

– A Meridian Family

"學校座落於 Meridian 公園內，我們的孩子可以使用令人驚嘆的綠地、社區花園、遊樂場、傳統蘋果園，以及鄰近的 Woodland 公園動物園和綠湖。這可增進學生的學術學習，因為教師經常透過科學學習、步行實地考察和服務專案，將戶外活動融入課程中"。

– A Meridian Family

“Meridian is a community that will always have your back. You get to do fun projects such as Capstones and go on overnights. I’m really grateful to have Meridian as my school, and I’m sad to leave it. It’s really bittersweet, since my grade and I are graduating, and I’m going to miss Meridian. 5th grade has prepared me well for middle school. Thank you, Meridian!”

– Class of 2024 Alum