Welcome to Willow Glen Middle School!

Willow Glen focuses on academic excellence and college readiness for all students by providing a strong academic curriculum supported by core instructional teams at each grade level. Electives include art, band, choir, computer technology, French, journalism and yearbook, leadership, robotics, speech, solar energy science and Spanish. Advanced math and foreign language courses are offered, as are support courses in reading and math. Additional academic support and student activities are also provided through the After-Schools All-Stars program. A wide variety of sports are popular after school in conjunction with the Eastside Athletic League, SJUSD Basketball League and the After-School All-Stars.

RECENT NEWS AT WGMS

Academic Performance Index (API) Score is now 740!
Willow Glen Middle School recently achieved the biggest middle school API gain in San Jose Unified. Our Academic Performance Index grew 23 points from 717 in 2007 to 740 in 2008.  Additionally, WGMS scored the 7th biggest gains out of all Santa Clara County middle schools.  We all know a school’s API is just a small part of the picture, but still...it’s good to know WGM is getting better and better all the time.  Congratulations to Willow Glen Middle’s students, staff and parents!

Student Schedules for Second Semester
The second semester begins on Wednesday, January 21.  Student schedules will be distributed on Friday, January 17th. Students will not see much change in their schedule as most classes are year long courses.  The only classes that will change are semester long electives.  The second semester elective is based on the elective choice form that was filled out in the spring of 2008.  Since our classes are full and staffing complete, requests for changes in schedules are not possible.  Have a great second semester!

Seussical the Musical

Seussical the Musical debuted on Broadway in 2000. Based on the famous books of Dr. Seuss, the story centers on Horton the Elephant, and his endeavors to protect the people of Who-ville, who live on a tiny speck of dust. It also features characters from many other Dr. Seuss books, including the Cat in the Hat, Gertrude McFuzz, JoJo, Mayzie LaBird and the Sour Kangaroo. Come join these beloved characters and discover, as Horton has always known, that “a person’s a person, no matter how small.” Auditions will be held on January 26, 28 and 29.  We are looking for performers, singers and tech assistants. Rehearsal will be held every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 3:15 to 4:45 pm. The show will run April 2 through 4. Visit the WG Performing Arts Site to get the latest information http://web.me.com/kathopp/WG_PAB/Welcome.html

Middle School Task Force Update
WGMS is participating in SJUSD’s Middle School reform efforts. The following people are part of the WGMS Task Force Team: Parents Cass Contreras, Stacy Muccino and Lola Ruzic; Instructional Staff Sushma Bansal, Jeanne Boin, Lisa Eisenberg, Kathy Hoffman and Laura Saldana; Administrators Erin Green, Margarita Cuevas, Lynn Hyssop and Thomas Rousseau. We’ve met once monthly for the past three months, and as a result have implemented after-school interventions, a homework center and academic incentives.  Stay tuned for more updates in the future.

Coming soon . . . PBIS (Positive Behavior Systems)
We are excited to bring campus PBIS to WGMS in the fall of 2009-10. Next year, all students will be trained during the first week of school regarding our future school slogan C.A.R.  C.A.R. stands for Cooperation, Achievement, Respect and Responsibility. Students will participate in mini-lessons relating to C.A.R. where they’ll be taught and shown how to demonstrate cooperation, achievement, respect and responsibility in the various areas they frequent on campus: hallways, bathrooms, classrooms, cafeteria, gym, 8th Grade Grove, locker rooms, etc. We’ll work to develop a common language around expectations, and students will be reinforced when demonstrating the characteristics of C.A.R. We have so many students at WGMS; we look forward to bringing all students onto the “same page”.

Homework Center has started!
Our after-school Homework Center is now open. For schedule and answers to questions you may have, click here Homework Center.

School Tours for 5th Grade Families
Word on the street is that WGMS is the place to be!  We are commencing school tours in January 2009. Click here for schedules and more information WGMS School Tours

Fall Fundraiser Raised $20,000!
Our Fall Fundraiser, which began with team meetings in August, and ended with “product pick-up” on November 25, was a huge success.  WGMS made $20,000, and the proceeds will be split three ways.  One third will go the PTA, one third to ASB (Associated Student Body), and the final third to the Athletic Boosters.
- Top Selling Class: Mrs. Allen’s 1st period
- 2nd place class: Mrs. Scrivani’s 1st period
- 3rd place class: Mrs. Saldana’s 1st period
- Top Overall SEller: Gabriel Browndorf
- Pig Race Winner: Daniel Mansperger

Great American consultant, Lori Strohmeier, worked diligently with us to make this a success and we appreciate the close working relationship we have with this company. The biggest applause goes to parent Tess Stahl who organized and worked to pull the entire fundraiser together.  Our school, and ultimately our students, will benefit from the funds earned.

Building Assets at WGMS
Teacher Luis Cardoso has taken on some lunchtime activity organizing pick-up soccer. Approximately 30 students head out to the field daily for soccer during lunch. We’re looking to expand this program, so if you’re interested in helping with a lunchtime activity - sports, games, chess, you name it - we have the students.  All we need are caring and interested adults.  If you’re interested, please contact Lynn Hyssop at .

Additionally, parents Katherine Doar and Jenny Verdonk started a Cornerstone Book Club that meets every other Monday. Presently we have 15 students in the club from all three grades. The first book was Rules, by Cynthia Lord. Thank you to our two dedicated leader parents for dedicating their time to build conversations around literature.