Washington Middle School Counseling

Here are the tour dates for families and incoming students for the 2012-2013 school year:

• 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.

Don’t miss this school-wide, all students and families event. Besides a wide variety of inexpensive foods from different countries available for purchase, there will also be tables of community organizations working with WMS present with staff and literature to answer your questions. Families will be able to meet and greet their student’s teachers, administrators, and support staff. And of course, there is the WMS Olympics, where each grade competes in fun and unusual events with an eye to taking charge of the BIte trophy for the upcoming year. It’s all in good fun, and quite a scene.

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.

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.

Today is the start of 2nd semester! The year is half done, and we have a lot of work to do to help all your students have a successful year. Parents and guardians: be aware of the “3rd quarter slump”, where students inexplicably start sliding in virtually all areas. They will need extra attention and support to stay afloat.

Washington will host an Open House from 6:30 to 8:30 pm on Thursday, January 21, for prospective families in all three grades. Come and get a tour of the school, meet staff, hear about our programs, and get questions answered.