Washington Middle School Counseling

Unbelievably, another school year is completed. We had a smooth promotion ceremony last night for some very excited new 9th graders. Yearbook signings and goodbyes (some teary) were the order of the day today. We wish all students and their families and safe, healthy, and enjoyable 2 months. And of course, we look forward to our returning students, and our new arrivals in September.

Washington Middle School’s Tutoring Program is only a few years old, but it has become one of the most visible and sought-after academic student intervention programs in the school. The program as a whole has been quite successful, thanks to the efforts of the Tutor Coordinator, Susan Huntley. Her report for this school year follows.

The in-school tutoring program is wrapping up another successful year at Washington Middle School.  Over the course of the year, we saw 85 volunteers working with our students individually and in classrooms.  Of these, 23 were parents and grandparents of students.  We had a a total of 25 undergraduate tutors from Seattle University’s Children’s Literacy Project, and two SU staff members participated as well, thanks to a new program to encourage community volunteerism.  In addition, we had 8 students from University of Washington’s Pipeline Project, and 8 from Seattle Central Community College; for the first time, we had two participants from Bellevue College as well.  Four of our college-age tutors were former Washington Middle School students!  Of all the people who tutored in 2009-10, 16 were volunteering for at least their second year.

Around 70 Washington students received one on one tutoring for at least part of the school year.  These students are referred by their grade level counselors, who may be asked by parents, teachers or the students themselves for more academic support.  Once a week, tutors meet them in the library during their elective (non-core) class time.  They may work on missing homework or classwork assignments, binder organization, research projects, or reading practice.  Tutors are encouraged to stay in touch with the student’s teachers and to keep up with the student’s current grades on Source from the Tutor Coordinator’s office.

This month, there’s a lot of assessing happening with WMS students. They are doing the MAP (Measurement of Academic Performance) for the 3rd time this year. Ideally, students will show improvements in Math and Reading over the course of the year. Right after the completion of MAP, the MSP (Measurement of Student Progress), which replaces the WASL test. In fact, there’s not much difference from the WASL, with the new, shorter time frame being one exception.

As always, it’s best if students get a good night’s sleep before testing, eat a good breakfast, and not get too worked up about these assessments. The purpose is to inform students, parents, and educators about the student’s strengths and areas that need improvement.

Over 900 students—90% of our population—took part in WMS’s 2nd Health Fair today. Seventeen local agencies volunteered their time to talk with students, do interactive demos, and hand out literature. Among many activities available, the students spoke with representatives from SPS nutrition services, got an update on cyberbullying, talked relationships with “Get Real”, tested their balance with Children’s Hospital staff, worked out with the Casey foundation, and answered questions on a scavenger sheet handed out by their science classes.

Our health fair is an endangered species for next year: the District has eliminated Health from the middle school course selection and laid off the District’s Health Department director. This unbelievable and short-sighted decision is another indication of the District’s run away from educating the whole child. Middle school students particularly are vulnerable to dis-information on health, drugs, tobacco, reproduction, and decision-making, and they are going to lose the chance to discuss these in a structured school setting with a trained, professional educator. If this bothers you, contact your grade level counselor or go straight to your school board representative.

Thomas Perez, appointed by President Obama as assistant U.S. Attorney General in the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, visited WMS today, specifically to take a look at our anti-harassment program for all students, “We All Belong (WAB)”. Mr. Perez, who has two children in middle school, was enthusiastic about the work we are doing to educate our students about civil rights for all, and with the protocol we have in place to respond to reports of harassment and bullying.

After discussing our program with some administrators, teachers and counselors, Mr. Perez visited 4 classrooms during our WAB period this morning, observed the curricula exercises and materials being presented in all three grades, and talked with the students. Afterward, he spoke in front of 120 students and Student Cabinet officers, reviewed his own work in civil rights over the past 20 years, discussed the importance of embracing diversity in all areas of our lives, and encouraged students to seek employment in a field they are passionate about. He then took several questions from the student audience. Finally, he met privately with members of WMS’ Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA), offering them his support and encouragement.

We were very happy to welcome Mr. Perez to our school. He is highly supportive of our work, and he is also clear about the importance not only of academic achievement, but especially of non-academic learning for all middle school students. Given the financial cuts happening in our schools, and the increasing emphasis in our District and country on test scores and academic courses at the expense of social and emotional and arts education, his words of encouragement couldn’t have come at a better time.

The Puget Sound Engineering Council (PSEC), in conjunction with National Engineers Week, provides a one day fair that intends to educate K-12 students and their families about the various disciplines within engineering.  The Fair is hosted by the Museum of Flight from 10:00 to 5:00.  There is no cost to attend the Fair, which is held in a separate room of the Museum.