7th Grade

The second quarter of 7th Grade at Washington Middle School is well under way.  I am very proud to see our former 6th graders transition and mature into 7th grade students.  We have seen them grow academically, socially and well as physically.  They are well on their way to being ready for 8th grade.  As Winter Break is quickly approaching, we still have two and a half weeks to focus on setting the tone for the end of the first semester.  We will be working with students the next few weeks to ensure a strong finish to 1st semester.  Please feel free to contact me for any questions or additional support your student may need this semester. 

Welcome back 7th Graders!!

Well…it’s time for another great school at Washington Middle School!  Can you believe that school is back in session, and you’re now in 7th Grade?  You know what people say, time flies when you’re having fun.  And 7th Grade should be a fun and productive year for all!

The first full week went by fast.  There were the usual schedule changes and the getting used to new classes, but from what I could tell, everybody seemed pretty happy and well adjusted.  I want to especially welcome our new 7th Graders to Washington.  Coming to a new school is difficult, especially if you kind of miss your old one.  All I have to say is hang in there, because in no time at all you’ll realize just how great Washington is, and how great it is to be a Jr. Husky.

A few things are coming up that I want you all to know: 
o The first round of MAP (Measurement of Academic Progress) testing will be starting next week, and will go until mid-October.  Remember to get a good night sleep the night before you test, and try and eat a nutritious breakfast the day of your test.  Do the best you can, and take these test seriously—they measure your progress over time. 
o The Bite of Washington is scheduled for Monday night, September 27th.  This is a wonderful opportunity for you and your family to meet and greet other Washington students and families, while eating great food from local restaurants.  This is also a good opportunity for families to meet teachers and other faculty in a fun, informal setting.  Don’t forget about the Washington Middle school Olympics that are featured at the end of the evening.
o Picture day will take place on Thursday, September 30th.  Remember to comb your hair that day!
o Curriculum Night will take place on Thursday evening, October 7th.  This is a very important event which allows students, parents and guardians to meet with teachers about academic content and behavioral expectations.  It’s an opportunity for parents and guardians to ask questions about what will happen in class, and to set up communication lines with teachers and other faculty.
o Advanced Learning test applications are now available at school, or online.  You can pick up an application in either room 134, my office (room 105), or in the main office.  Parent/Guardian permission forms and teacher recommendation forms are due OCTOBER 14TH.  Return your applications to either Mr. Goldstein, or mail them directly to the Seattle School District’s Advanced Learning office.  The address is on the application.  The actual test date is still to be determined, and the testing site will be in our cafeteria. 
o College Bound Scholarship application forms are available in room 134 or my office (room 105).  If you have questions about this awesome resource, see Mr. Bilides (8th Grade Counselor) or Mr. Goldstein.
o H.O.S.T. (Husky Out of School Time) H.O.S.T. after-school activities start soon—look for announcements in the bulletin regarding what cool activities will be offered this semester, when they start, and where to turn in application forms.

It’s been wonderful to see returning students and to meet with new ones.  Please don’t hesitate to find me if you need help, or have a question regarding anything to do with your time at school.  This of course applies to all you parents and guardians as well.  I also want to thank all of you for welcoming me back this school year.  It’s really great to be back again.

Mr. Goldstein
206-252-2614
(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) 

Things were so busy that all of a sudden it’s June, and this is my first entry of the 2nd semester. Our 7th graders have weathered the many assessments they’ve undergone with flying colors. What’s been more difficult than the academics has been the social scenes and dramas. I have said before that 7th grade is the most challenging year in middle school, as students start to stretch out (sometimes literally) and begin trying new and sometimes unlikely ways of interacting with each other.

WMS staff has been vigilant in maintaining safety, encouraging students to ignore hearsay, to speak with adults before acting on hot emotions, to report even the slightest incident of possible bullying on- or off-line, and to continue to foster a caring and respectful environment between peers, and between staff and students. In the end, I believe we were successful. As this was the year of “preparation” we shall see how we did in the fall.

But in the meantime, we want our students to have a solidly good summer. See you in September!

Yes, it’s true: the start of 2nd semester marks the halfway point of not just this year, but of middle school. This is a rough quarter usually for all students, and for 7th graders particularly. They will need extra monitoring and support to keep on a successful path.

The MSP (formerly WASL) test will be taking place in May. The 7th grade test scores are used for long-term measure of student progress, and parents, guardians, and students often get anxious about them. I will be trying to alleviate some of that when i go around to classrooms in the next few weeks.

Also this semester, 7th graders will be selecting some of their hopes for 8th grade classes. Parents and guardians will need to sign off on these choices—a great chance to speak with your 7th grader about thinking about the future.

Over the past two weeks, I’ve visited all the Language Arts classroom (and thereby, every 7th grade student) to talk about the upcoming school year. I focused on several topics that I’ve noticed come up for all 7th graders first semester, as well as some new ones for this class.

• You’re in the middle of middle school. Last year I talked about middle school being the bridge between elementary school, where students where boys and girls, to high school, where students become young men and young women. This year, they are halfway through that process, and as a result there’s a good deal of turbulence during the course of the year.
• Mr. Powell, the 7th grade administrator, and I discussed what we thought 7th graders needed to know during this exciting time. We came up with preparation and expectation. Where 6th grade is an orientation to the world of middle school, 7th grade prepares you for 8th grade, the stepping-stone to hgih school. Organziation, homework, rules, social norms, rleationships with adults, and other areas are developed with an eye to nexxt year. As a result, when 8th grade hits, we have the expectation that students know the basics and can focus on the many skills they will need to hone to be ready for high school.
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Posted by Mr. Bilides at 08:15 PM. Filed under: Start of School •

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The information packet for testing for the Advanced learning Program is no available in the Counseling Office, Room 134. It is also available on line at SPS Advanced Learning, and at the Bilingual Family Center, and Enrollment Services at the John Stanford Center.

The deadline for applications is October 8, 2009.