Ms. Williams also co-facilitates an 8th grade girls group. The purpose of this group is to discuss the transition from middle school to high school, explore the obstacles that may arise in middle and high school, share and learn from their experiences, and develop academic and leadership skills.
Finally, Ms. Williams will be coordinating this year’s Career Fair, for all students. When students have a positive vision for the future, it helps them to focus on their work and be more successful. We at WMS are lucky to have Ms. Williams aboard this year helping our students toward those long-term goals.
With a vast history in Education Andre Benjamin has a passion to see all students succeed both inside and outside the classroom. Currently serving at both Garfield HS and WMS, Andre specializes in serving students with Academic Coaching from 7-10th grade. He Is a graduate of Seattle Pacific University.
Welcome Sydney and Andre, and thank you!
]]>• Thursday, 2/2, 8- 10 AM
• Thursday, 2/9, 8-10 AM
• Thursday, 2/16, 8-10 AM
• Thursday, 3/1, 8-10 AM
• Open House for incoming families will be held on Monday, January 30th, from 7-8:30 PM
No reservations required for any of these events.
Between 60 and 70 Washington students received one on one tutoring from these volunteers 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.
In addition to one on one tutoring, our volunteers participate in math, science, social studies, language arts, reading, and world language classrooms. Over 25 of our teachers welcomed volunteers into their classes this year. Tutors assist with labs, work with small groups, coach writing, even give reading assessments. Many of our college students worked after school with our students in the HOST Academic Study Club or Math Study Club programs as well.
Here is just a sample of feedback from our teachers about this year’s classroom volunteers:
“___ is fantastic with the kids. They like her, accept help from her.. she could come any day, any period, and be an asset.”
“All of this support is just amazing.”
“My student is very motivated to work with ___ because of his increased success. He has transformed from one of my most un-motivated students to the most motivated in that class.”
“___has a great rapport with the students and she holds them to high standards.”
To volunteer as a tutor next year, please contact Susan Huntley at 206-252-2644, or write .
]]>Career Fair!
Washington Middle School students began exploring career opportunities through a February career interest survey. In mid March students received the Washington Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board’s Where Are You Going? guide). (Also check out the Bureau of Labor Statistics for Students website.) As a class, students reviewed the guide’s career interest surveys and career cluster descriptions of occupations. Then, on March 22nd Washington students heard from forty-seven community members including engineers, scientific writers, journalists, and the director of the Seattle Center. Speakers presented on their jobs, career experience, and…
education. Many also explained what a day in the life of their work entailed whether saving lives as an EMT or analyzing samples as a Washington State Toxicologist.
Summer Jobs and Volunteer Opportunities
This month I began presenting summer job opportunities for eighth grade students at lunch. Jobs include the Ecology Youth Corps summer program and Parks Department positions for teens. I will also recommend summer volunteer programs as an excellent way to build leadership skills that translate back into the classroom.
I also recruit eligible students for the Washington State College Bound Scholarship—the deadline for all Washington State eighth grade students is June 30, 2011. Washington Middle School has three hundred and thirty-five eligible students. More information about the College Bound Scholarship can be found on the Higher Education Coordination Board’s HEC Board.
]]>This is the first year of the new school assignment plan and the new transportation plan. We expect there will be many glitches and not a few surprises as old expectations are dashed against the rocks of fiscal tightening. Definitely contact your counselor with questions (check the FAQ area of this site first), and we’ll do our best to answer your concerns or direct you to someone who can. Even with all this, we are looking forward to another great year, and we can’t wait to see your children!
]]>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.
In addition to one on one tutoring, our volunteers participate in math, science, social studies, language arts, and reading classrooms. This year, over 20 of our teachers have welcomed volunteers into their classes. They assist with labs, work with small groups, coach writing, even give reading assessments. Here is some feedback from our teachers about the classroom volunteers:
“I am really appreciating (volunteer) in my classroom. She is a wonderful tutor as well as student-teacher. .. she also helps monitor students and redirect them as they work. Thank you for sending her my way.” (math teacher, grade 6)
I want to let you know how terrific it has been to have help from your wonderful volunteers…. They provide an incredibly valuable service that is necessary for the success of students who receive Special Education services. The individualized attention is most critical in addressing students’ needs such as: teaching and re-teaching skills to the students, keeping students on task, assisting with completion of class assignments, and helping students maintain appropriate behaviors.
(The volunteers) have made lasting connections, and our students look forward to seeing and working with the volunteers each week. I cannot thank them enough for their assistance and for providing a nurturing and caring environment for my students.”
(Special Education teacher, all grades)
From the volunteer’s point of view, I will close with this quote from a parent who worked with a 7th grader this year:
“In the beginning of the year, my student acted as though he did not care about his grades. As the year progressed he showed me little by little that his grades are tremendously important to him and affect how he feels about himself. Tutoring allows us a little opportunity to help another accomplish and learn, directly impacting their self esteem. That’s an enormous opportunity for us as community members.”
To volunteer as a tutor next year, please contact Susan Huntley at 206-252-2644, or write
]]>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.
]]>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.
]]>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.
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