Will C. Wood Middle School
Vision Statement
Students and teachers actively collaborating to meet the academic and social challenges of the 21st century
Parents:
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Principal Porter's Graduation Speech
June 10, 2009
Good Morning. I want to thank all you parents relatives and friends that have come out to both support and share in this achievement of your loved one.
Every speech writer has a purpose, a perspective, a point of view they would like their audience to enjoy, and my speech this morning is no different.
If I were to guess this morning what most students believe I am going to speak of …most would guess…High Achievers.
Well you’re wrong…sort of.
Students, my goal this morning is to motivate those that need motivating, provide clarity for any who haven’t found their way, and be a shirpa to those wanting to be led up to the top.
My speech this morning is entitled: On Your Mark, Get Set, Go!
You see student’s school is like a race and elementary school is like getting on your mark. This is the time when students learn to read, learn to add, subtract, multiply and divide. You learned about nouns and verbs adjectives and adverbs. You learned about the planets and where the Earth stood in the cosmos.
Elementary school was a time that you learned how to socialize in small groups, work independently as needed, run like wind at anything and everything and oh yes, my favorite, line up quietly.
Elementary school was a time of new beginnings, your eyes were wide open and you thirsted for knowledge. You did great! Congratulations!
Get Set.
Middle School is the point in the preparation where the race starter say’s Get Set.
In Middle School you didn’t learn to read…instead you developed an enjoyment of reading. You’ve read over 25K books in your 2 years at Will C. Wood, and during those same 2 years we’ve had over 400 million word readers.
In Middle School you didn’t learn to add and subtract but instead you beacame MathMasters and Mathletes, Algebraic Wizards, and Slope Intercept Skiers. You became masters of monomials and pharaohs of polynomials. You became High Achievers.
In science you moved away from where we stood in the cosmos to what elements are the cosmos derived. You were introduced to the periodic table and now can recall the symbols for many of the elements. For those seeking careers in the sciences remember to come back and thank Mrs. Miyasaki, Ms Wolf, Mr. Krier, Mrs. Yeager and Mrs. Phalares. They sincerely care.
Middle School was not a period of new beginnings but a period of expansion and expanding horizons and again you did great. Congratulations.
Go.
In a short while I am going to pronounce to your parents “I present to you the graduating class of 2013”. In 4 short years you will all, you will all, you will all be graduating from high school and heading to 4 year universities and colleges.
But back to Go.
High school is the part of the race when the race starter yells at the top of his / her voice Go. It’s where all the preparation from elementary school and the expansion of knowledge and interests learned in middle school are put on the track for testing.
So here is my advice;
Listen and ask more questions than anyone else
Read for learning but never forget to read for pleasure
Plan ahead for how you will study
Be willing to make mistakes, that’s why it’s called school
And remember And Remember And Remember
A friend that’s not interested in school is no friend at all
The future belongs to those who believe in the possibility of their dreams.
Will C. Wood
Middle School
"Learning begins when you admit...I don't know."
Habits of a High Achiever
High Achievers ARRIVE TO SCHOOL EARLY
High Achievers SIT IN THE FRONT AND MIDDLE OF CLASS
High Achievers LISTEN
High Achievers ARE QUIET WHEN TEACHER IS GIVING INSTRUCTION
High Achievers ARE ON-TASK
High Achievers PRACTICE A TASK 6 TO 8 TIMES
High Achievers ARE SMART
High Achievers ARE PATIENT
High Achievers HAVE FUN
High Achiever Pledge:
I am a High Achiever
I Listen
I Learn
I ask Questions
I use my Memory
Welcome! This site was designed to provide information about Will C. Wood Middle School, Sacramento, CA., in a convenient format for parents, students, and teachers. The jump menu in the upper left of each page provides quick navigation to the various pages within this website. Teachers and administration are listed by name and department. Email contact information is provided under each staff name. The calendar page displays upcoming events. It is hoped that many of the questions that you may have about our school are answered here in the Frequently Asked Questions page of the site.
Will C. Wood Middle School houses grades 7 and 8 and has a student population of about 750 students. There are about 40 full-time teachers. The regular school day runs from 8:15 until 2:16
Will C. Wood Middle School is located at the corner of 65th and Lemon Hill
