Good evening, Woodcrest Families,

It gives us great pride to share some exciting news with you and celebrate the amazing work being done to help our young Wolverines THRIVE. Following an extensive review by the California League of Educators (formerly CLMS) and the California Department of Education (CDE), Woodcrest Junior High School (JHS) has been officially recommended as a California School to Watch (STW)! Developed more than a quarter of a century ago, the STW program recognizes middle-grade schools that are academically excellent, developmentally responsive, socially equitable, and lead through strong, collaborative leadership. Designated STW schools serve as statewide models to other schools that strive to improve outcomes for all young adolescents while serving the whole child.

This distinction is truly a community effort. Our initial journey to becoming a School to Watch began with a comprehensive evaluation that became the foundation of our application process. This evaluation helped our school team identify what is great at our site as well as what needs to be improved. It not only developed a shared language for school improvement and a buy-in for the improvement process, but it also encouraged ownership of the school culture among our outstanding staff. After submission, Woodcrest’s application was reviewed by local middle-school experts, followed by a day-long validation walkthrough of the campus that involved the entire school population. Although this group of professionals were in awe of the fantastic work that is happening on campus — and that has earned us several distinction awards over the years — they were exceedingly impressed by the behavior, community, culture, student engagement, rigor, and Woodcrest Buddies program that supports our Mod/Severe program.

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the world-class staff who dedicate themselves to reaching each Wolverine who calls Woodcrest home. The devotion they exhibit for our students is beyond awe-inspiring; a true gift that genuinely radiates from their hearts. They see each child as an individual and work tirelessly to ensure they receive assistance that is exclusive to their distinct needs. We strongly encourage you to give them a high-five, fist pump, handshake, or word of thanks the next time you see them on campus.

Thank you to our amazing scholars who make each day of their education count! We remember what it felt like to be young scholars making a pivotal transition between childhood and young adulthood. Junior high school is a time of transformation that isn’t always easy, but our amazing students have shown such resilience and determination to reach their full potential.

Finally, thank you, Woodcrest families! You have no idea how much of a role your support for both our staff and students plays in our success. We are extremely grateful to enjoy such a supportive partnership with you.

District leadership will be sharing our success with the rest of the community once a fellow junior high school completes its evaluation this month. We invite you to read more about the program and our accomplishments once that announcement is made.

We hope that you have a wonderful week!

Sincerely,
Mrs. Taylor       Mr. Frescas
Principal          Assistant Principal