Food Drive

Please help WJHS, in conjunction with the local Kiwanis Club, collect food items for the annual food drive.  We're collecting non-perishable items.  Suggestions include: meals in a can (stew, chili, soup), tuna and canned meat, peanut butter, canned foods with pop-top lids, cereals, fruit juices in single serving boxes, canned fruits and vegetables. We'll start collecting on Monday, December 8.  Last day to give will be Monday, December 15.  

Time for Creative Writing!

Wildcat Writers will meet Wednesday, December 10. Get ready for some fun writing activities, a little Christmas snack, and of course, free book giveaways. All are welcome! Sign up in the library and join us! 

WJHS Receives Arkansas School Recognition and Reward Program Grant

WJHS is set to receive $70,761.80 from the Arkansas School Recognition and Reward Program!

The money is awarded for high student achievement and strong student academic growth.

The funds will be allocated to materials, supplies, and equipment to support student achievement.

A committee comprised of the principal, a parent selected by the PTO, and a teacher elected by the faculty will review proposals and determine how the money will be spent.

Congratulations to the students and staff of WJHS. Great job!

Calling all Wildcat Writers!

Our November session will be Thursday, Nov. 20 during seminar. Please sign up in the library asap. All welcome! We'll do some fun holiday writing, eat a piece of candy or two, and have a drawing for free books. Join us! 

WJHS Children’s Hospital Christmas Toy Drive

The CHC will be collecting toys for the 2014 Christmas Toy Drive to benefit the children in residence at Arkansas Children’s Hospital and St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Last year, WJHS collected over 200 toys to send to children over the Christmas holiday. This year, CHC has set a goal to collect 500 toys, so spread the word! Please bring in new toys in original packaging. 7th grade and 8th grade students will compete to collect the most toys. The grade that collects the most toys will enjoy a special Rewards Day in the Spring. 7th graders, please take donated toys to Mr. Price’s room (315). 8th Graders, please take donated toys to Mrs. Sandlin’s room (301). The deadline for collection is December 19th.

FCCLA and FCSI are soliciting donations of art supplies for the Helen Walton Children’s Enrichment Center

Family, Career and Community and Leaders of America (FCCLA) and Family Consumer Science Investigation classes are seeking donations of art supplies that are non-toxic and washable, such as glue sticks and construction paper, markers, crayon, etc, to donate to the Helen Walton Children’s Enrichment Center. Supplies may be brought to Mrs. Foster’s room 314 before December 16th

"REAL" Instruction

I read this following article this morning: Using Technology to Keep the Common Core REAL (Relevant, Efficient, Active, and Lasting). My thought after reading it was that instruction should be "REAL" with or without technology and with or without the common core. Do you agree? Tim Sparacino, Principal

Order your Yearbook Today ! ! !

Yearbooks are available for order, 24/7, at yearbookforever.com. This online ordering process is very streamlined and allows you to pay with debit, credit, or even paypal. If you would like to order with a paper form, ordering day will take place in early December.

STEAM Club Meeting

Are you interested in science, technology, engineering, art or math? Then STEAM club is for you. We will be having our first monthly meeting on Friday, November 7th in room 406. You do not have to be a member of the club day STEAM club to attend. The meeting will begin at 7:45 but you can come down whenever you get to school. Contact Carrie Beach or Blake Matthews for information.

Jr. High Bands Experience Friday Night Lights

The BHS band was competing at the Bands of America Super Region in Indianapolis last week so the bands from Fulbright, Lincoln, and Washington got the opportunity to perform under the lights last Friday night. It was a blast for our band students and really helped maintain the electric atmosphere that Tiger Stadium has become know for. Way to go band!

P.S. The BHS Band made the finals!

WJHS Football Highlights

Thanks to Dave Hughes for compiling and sharing this video of the WJHS Wildcats in action. Go Wildcats!

WJHS 8th Band Fall Concert

Mr. Hughes recorded, edited, and uploaded this video of our wonderful 8th Grade Band Fall Concert last week.

Enjoy!

Calling All Crafty Wildcats!

The next Crafternoon will be Tuesday, December 9th, at the beginning of seminar. For December we're making Christmas ornaments. There are only 50 slots, so sign up in the library now! 

FLU SHOT CLINIC THURSDAY, 11/13

Flu shot forms are available and will be sent home in report cards. There will be no mist available to students 7th grade and above per the health department. Forms HAVE to be turned in by Friday, 10/31.

Interested in Creative Writing?

The Wildcat Writers will meet during seminar Tuesday, October 28. We'll be writing some fun spooky stories. Sign up in the library today. 

Mr. Kory Price Receives The Brightest Classroom Recognition

Mr. Price was surprised this morning by KNWA’s Dan Skoff and received a $500 check from the Brightest Future classroom project.

The presentation will air on KNWA tonight at 5 PM and they will send us a link so that everyone can view it tomorrow.

Congratulations Mr. Price!!!

Link to KNWA story.

Teachers of WJHS: Thanks for Another Great Week

It’s been another great week here at WJHS.

Mrs. Judy Marquess, Executive Director of Secondary Instruction, helped top it off with her visit this morning.

As usual, Judy was very complimentary of what she saw in the classrooms that we visited- engaged students, having fun, AND learning.

Mrs. Marquess and I encountered laughter in virtually every classroom that we visited this morning.  It wasn't “off topic” laughter but genuine happiness about what they were accomplishing within the lessons.

Students were more than happy to share what they were doing and why they were doing it.

Our students are so lucky to have teachers that strive to incorporate real world activities and scenarios and provide students an opportunity to display their knowledge in ways other than traditional paper and pen tests, worksheets, etc.

I appreciate the effort that you put into teaching each week.

Now...

Have a great weekend!  

Tim Sparacino, Principal

Go Wildcats!

In Remembrance

Today at WJHS our students honored Floyd Smith by sharing words of encouragement to his family through a graffiti wall, creating bracelets to wear to show support for our Wildcat community, raising approximately $1000 to give to Floyd's family by participating in a hat day, and planting a memorial tree on the front lawn of WJHS as a lasting symbol.  Our hope is that through these actions and symbols, we will honor the great impact that Floyd had on us as individuals and as a Wildcat community.

WJHS Staff Members Recognized for Excellence

Today Rob and Miguel, important members of our WJHS family, were recognized for their outstanding work. No only do they model the Wildcat Way for our students, but they keep our facilities up and running and we'd be lost without them! Thanks to both of them!

FCA meets Monday mornings at 8am!

FCA meets Monday mornings at 8am in the band room for a Bible study. Anyone and Everyone is welcome! 

A Great First Week and Relationships

We have just wrapped up a great first week at WJHS.

As always, our teachers have been modeling The Wildcat Way and focusing on building a collaborative classroom culture.

We understand that kids don't care what you know until they know that you care.  So, a great deal of our efforts this week have been on getting to know our students and helping them to learn about us.

Our Instagram account has several pictures from the week that depict these relationship building activities.

One of the things that we frequently talk about as a staff is that we are about much more than test scores.  We strive to make a difference in the lives of the students that we teach.

If you have four and a half minutes and some tissue (men, you may want to watch alone so nobody else sees you crying), check out the video below about a teacher that is retiring after 41 years in the business.

This teacher would fit right in with our faculty and demonstrates exactly what we strive to be about every day.

I'm looking forward to another great year of making a difference for students.  Go Wildcats!

Tim Sparacino, Principal

It's All About Ideas

WJHS teachers,

I found two really good blog posts in my short professional reading time this morning.

If you follow me on Twitter (@sparacino), you may have already seen the links.

If not…

5 Questions Every Teacher Should Ask His/Herself

Students Learn More If They’ll Need to Teach Others

You can find and search all of the online resources that I collect in my Diigo library.

My Professional Learning Network helps me keep up with the latest trends in education and more importantly, find ideas.

It’s all about ideas!

Where do your ideas come from?

I’ll be hosting sessions throughout the year to help you harness the power of digital tools to efficiently locate, manage, and share ideas.

Please join in the fun and let me know if I can help in any way.

Tim Sparacino, Principal

Awards Night 2014

We recognized many of our wonderful Wildcats last night for their outstanding achievements in academics, athletics, the arts, and citizenship. These students are excellent examples of the Wildcat Way!

The Annual WJHS 8th Grade Picnic to celebrate the Class of 2018!

Washington Hosts Medal of Honor Winner

We were honored today to have a U.S. Medal of Honor winner speak to our students. Major General Patrick H. Brady spoke about the importance of personal courage, sacrifice, and character. There were performances by the WJHS Advanced band members, choir members sang the National Anthem, Student Council President Morgan Hasler led the Pledge of Allegiance, and art student Whitney McLeland presented a gift to our speaker.

Washington Junior High would like to send a special note of thanks to Walmart for their role in bringing the Medal of Honor winners to Northwest Arkansas, to Flowerama of Bentonville who graciously donated the beautiful plants and decorations for today's event, and to the Bella Vista Veterans Honor Guard who proudly presented our colors today. 

For those who are interested in learning more about our Medal of Honor winner, please click on the link to watch the video:

http://vimeo.com/70869461