PEN Workshop on "Common Core" Curriculum. Parents of 4th-7th grade students - the new "Common Core" curriculum will be implemented across PUSD secondary schools beginning this fall, with a greater emphasis on application and problem-solving, collaboration and other so-called "21st Century" skills. Come to PEN's interactive parent workshop on Monday, May 20 to learn more! More Information & Registration 

Pasadena High School's Girl's JV Volleyball Camp for incoming freshmen! PHS is excited to have hired a high caliber volleyball coach who is a former collegiate player who has trained with Division I players & coaches. Camp runs June 17-21. More Information & Registration

Don't forget! THIS Saturday, May 11th - Zumba at Wilson 9:00AM Zumba Fitness® is a Latin inspired dance fitness program that will give you a work out while having fun! (Everyone is welcome - students and community members too - tell all your friends and neighbors!) Cost is $10 per person -- this Zumbathon® Charity Event benefits the Wilson Middle School Associated Student Body.

Thursday, May 23. Wilson Carnival - seeking volunteers between 8:30-1:40 PM, and also 4-6PM. 

Thursday, May 30th - 8th grade Magic Mountain Field Trip (all day) 

Saturday, June 1 - Carnival/car show (open to public)  3:00pm - 9:00pm need many volunteers to work in the booths and the game booths. We are also seeking a grill, 4-5 tents, and donations of hot dogs and chips!

PARENT ALL STARS! Recognizing parent volunteers, donors or parent helpers that have gone above and beyond to help in any way. This week we recognize and thank Jose Loera - our marching band drum line instructor. THANK YOU!

The Pasadena Recreation Summer session will start on June 10, 2013. You can browse the online recreation activity schedule - which includes summer camp and other activities for teens - at www.cityofpasadena.net. To request a hard copy, please call (626)744-7500 or email 

hsr-activenet@cityofpasadena.net

The CDF Freedom Schools summer program provides enrichment that helps children fall in love with reading, increases their self-esteem, and generates more positive attitudes toward learning. Children are taught using a reading curriculum that supports children and families around five essential components: high quality academic enrichment; parent and family involvement; civic engagement and social action; intergenerational leadership development; and nutrition, health and mental health. The CDF Freedom Schools program is FREE. More information: http://www.childrensdefense.org/programs-campaigns/freedom-schools/  

Congratulations to Wilson Science/Math teacher Ms Kimberly Knudson, who was recognized by the Pasadena Human Relations Commission on May 1 and awarded commendations by Congresswoman Judy Chu, Assemblyman Chris Holden, Mayor Bogaard and State Senator Carol Liu!

Summer LEARNS for middle school students! PUSD is not offering Summer School again this year due to the state budget crisis. However, PasadenaLEARNs will be offering a middle school summer program at Blair Middle School that provides enrichment and academic support. Enrolling in PasadenaLEARNs can provide an opportunity for your child to continue to work on academic skills while also having fun! The program runs from June 11 - July 12. The Mon-Thurs program is free of charge, and there is optional field trip fee for Fridays. Note from the Wilson Weekly Editor: Applications are due today - Friday, April 26 - but we are told the program will accept students until the program is full. Unfortunately we only found out about this program this week -- don't let this late notice stop you from applying! More Information: English | Spanish

PARENT ALL STARS! Recognizing parent volunteers, donors or parent helpers that have gone above and beyond to help in any way. This week we recognize and thank Maria Karp - music fundraiser, classroom supplies donor, Caltech field trip organizer, and teacher's lounge coffee maker donor.  THANK YOU!

"Go Public," the two hour documentary that chronicles a day in the life of the Pasadena Unified School District, will have its premiere at the Arclight Cinema in Pasadena on May 8. The premiere will take place a year to the day after the filming day, May 8, 2012.  On that day, 50 film crews spread out to all the schools in PUSD to record a day in the life of their subjects.  The subjects included Wilson's own Marvin Hatchett and Merissa Shnorhokian! Tickets to the premiere are available free or with a suggested donation of $10.  The screening is expected to sell out, so reserve your tickets early: order tickets here. 

ThanksForTeaching.Us Amazing educators have challenged us to be better thinkers, dared us to change career paths in a single lecture, and inspired us to believe that, with a little hard work, a better future is possible. In the spirit of recognizing amazing teachers, ThanksForTeaching.Us is a space to share your thanks for those educators who influenced you. Take a minute to share your thanks for one (or more!) of your favorite teachers and what they inspired you to do. More information: http://thanksforteaching.us

PARENT ALL STARS! Recognizing parent volunteers, donors or parent helpers that have gone above and beyond to help in any way. This week we recognize and thank Katherine Marin, who brings coffee each month for Coffee with the Principal.  THANK YOU!

The Advanced Studies Program at Wilson Middle School provides middle school students with a unique and personalized learning experience, essential for adolescent emotional and academic growth. The program offers a rigorous curriculum in all content areas, and will deepen students' knowledge of academic subjects allowing them to exceed state achievement standards. There are approximately 65 slots available to incoming 6th grade students provided the admission criteria are met. Completed applications (available in the main office) are due by May 3, 2013.
More Information: English | Spanish  Application Form: English | Spanish

ZUMBA CLASS THIS SATURDAY APRIL 13! Zumba Fitness® is a Latin inspired dance fitness program that will give you a work out while having fun! Join us at the Wilson Gym this Saturday April 6 -- class starts at 9AM. Everyone is welcome - students and community members too - tell all your friends and neighbors! Cost is $10 per person -- this benefits the Wilson Middle School Associated Student Body. Last Zumba class at Wilson this month! 

PARENT ALL STARS! Recognizing parent volunteers, donors or parent helpers that have gone above and beyond to help in any way. This week we recognize and thank Erwin Figueroa, for donating paper to Ms Mumolo's class. THANK YOU!

MORE ZUMBA CLASS DATES ANNOUNCED! Zumba Fitness® is a Latin inspired dance fitness program that will give you a work out while having fun! Join us at the Wilson Gym April 6 and 13 and May 11. (Everyone is welcome - students and community members too - tell all your friends and neighbors!) Cost is $10 per person -- this Zumbathon® Charity Event benefits the Wilson Middle School Associated Student Body. This class is a lot of fun!

The Wilson Advanced Studies Program for the 2013-2014 school year will be presented/described on April 4 and 5. The presentation will be at 6:30 on the 4th at the PTA meeting and 9:00 on the 5th at Coffee with the Principal. 

Paula Wang 6th grade - 1st place for ART Grades 6-8

Angela Mejia 6th grade - 2nd Place for ART Grades 6-8

Malik Townsend 8th grade - Judge's Honorable Mention

PHS COUNSELORS will be coming to Wilson on Tuesday, April 9th, and Wednesday, April 10th to help 8th grade students with their program for the 2013-2014 school year.  Prior to the visit students will bring home an enrollment packet. Please fill out the enclosed paperwork and send back to school with your student. *NOTE you must be registered at PHS to receive this packet. My personal experience with open enrollment was that we did not get the packet (which includes everything you need to help your child decide on courses) until we physically registered at PHS this week.

ZUMBATHON TO BENEFIT WILSON! We had so much fun last time (AND we raised over $200 for our school) we're doing it again! Zumba Fitness® is a Latin inspired dance fitness program that will give you a work out while having fun! Join us at the Wilson Gym TOMORROW Saturday, March 9, 9-10 AM. Registration begins 8:30 a.m. (Everyone is welcome - students and community members too) Cost is $10 per person -- this Zumbathon® Charity Event will benefit the Wilson Middle School Associated Student Body!

PARENTS AS LEADERS 2013. Be the change you want to see! Learn how you can make a positive difference in PUSD schools. This seminar will talk about how PUSD is organized, how parents and families make a difference, budgets, student data, and leadership opportunities. Saturday March 16, 2013 8AM-12PM, Edison Professional Development Center, 119 W. Palm St. Altadena 91001. FREE - Registration deadline is March 11. Email Tracy A. Mikuriya (mikuriya.tracy@pusd.us) to RSVP. More information: English & Spanish 

THE PUSD ELEMENTARY MUSIC FESTIVAL will be hosted by Wilson on Thursday March 14 at 6PM. This will be a "side by side" concert with Wilson music students. All 8th grade music students are required to participate; 6th and 7th grade music students are also invited to participate. The Drum Corps will be also performing and the Wilson PTA and ASB will be selling refreshments, food and snacks. T shirts will be provided for all participants. For questions contact prado.chad@pusd.us or Marshall Ayers at ayers.marshall@pusd.us.

PASADENA HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELORS will be coming to Wilson on Tuesday, April 9th, and Wednesday, April 10th to help 8th grade students with their program for the 2013-2014 school year.  Prior to the visit students will bring home an enrollment packet. Please fill out the enclosed paperwork and send back to school with your student. 

PARENT ALL STARS! Introducing a new section of the Wilson Weekly, recognizing the parents who recognizes parent volunteers, donors or parent helpers that have gone above and beyond to help in any way. This week we recognize and thank Sofia Khalaf:
Wilson PTA Secretary, Wilson ASB Liaison, Wilson LEARNS Liaison, Wilson Colour Guard Instructor, Wilson Yearbook Photographer/Editor, Bright Futures and Odyssey of The Mind Parent and PUSD Rolling Reader. She is committed to the success of all Wilson students! Thank you Miss Sofia!!

The STAR Writing test for 7th Grade students will be on Tuesday, March 5.

Girls' Science Day is held on the first Saturday of March (This Saturday, Mrach 2) from approximately 9 am to noon at PCC. It is free for all 6th through 8th grade girls in the Pasadena Unified School District, and bus transportation is available from certain local schools.  Information and registration forms are distributed to science teachers prior to the event. When space permits, walk-in registration on the day of the event is encouraged. More information.

The PUSD African American Parent Council is hosting its All District Cultural Event on Friday, March 15 at 5PM. "Young, Gifted, and Black: Embracing Identities of Achievement" showcases the talent of PUSD students K-12 in Visual Arts, Music and Poetry. More information.

Some photos from the African American History Parade last month.
The kids did a GREAT JOB!!

ODYSSEY OF THE MIND TOURNAMENT. Friday (tomorrow) will be the last night before Tournament on Saturday, so parents are asked to allow their children to stay until the kids are all prepared for the Competition the next morning. Saturday morning participants will meet at Wilson at 6:30 a.m. The Long Term Problem Solution is at 9:40 at San Marino High School. Parents, please come and watch our kids! Any questions, please feel free to call Ms Giannini at (818)324-4263 More Information: http://LA_Odyssey.org 

SPRING SEASON OF GIRLS ON TRACK is now taking registrations. Practices will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4pm to 5:15pm, starting Tuesday February 26. Girls that were on the team in the fall are not automatically on the spring team. They will need to register again. To sign up or ask questions contact danellejiron@yahoo.com.

Mandatory practices For Marching Band, Tall Flags/Song/Cheer will be as follows:

  February 5th (Tuesday) 3:30 - 4:30 pm. [Flags stay until 5 pm.]

  February 7th (Thursday) 3:30 - 4:30 pm. [Flags stay until 5 pm.]

  February 12th (Tuesday) 3:30 - 4:30 pm. [Flags stay until 5 pm.]

  February 14th (Thursday) 3:30 - 4:30 pm. [Happy Valentines day!]

IT'S YEARBOOK DEDICATION TIME! Parents, Relatives, Students,Teachers, Friends and Neighbors alike are welcome to submit their dedications between February 5th through March 5th. Forms will be in the main office. Price is friendly and due upon submission. Only $2.00, for up to 10 words! The dedication should include the first and last name of the dedicatee at the beginning. At the end, the name or title (such as Mom or Dad, etc) of the dedicator, should also be included. There is a 30 word maximum, per dedication. You may dedicate to more than one person. The price remains the same, per dedication. 

Examples: 

Angela Lightfoot, CONGRATULATIONS on your GRADUATION! Love, Mom and Dad.

Angela Lightfoot, thank you for being my friend! Jaimie Langsberry.

Remember to spell check and enjoy expressing your sentiment!

RECYCLING continues to purchase new beds for our school health office. Please drop off your empty cans or plastic bottles (no glass) directly to the nurse's office. We are moving closer to our goal of $1,000 for new beds !! THANK YOU !

WILSON TENNIS TEAM - practice schedule this spring: 

 Wednesdays:  3:30 - 4:30 p.m.

 Fridays:  3:30 - 4:30 p.m.

 Saturdays:  12:00 - 1:00 p.m.  (Optional)

Fundraising opportunity! Bring your original receipts from any Westfield Mall (name written on the back) to the box in school office. We will get points towards a cash reward for Wilson. Thank you !!

Sibling Open Enrollment 2013-2014. To register a sibling to attend school with a brother or sister who will be in attendance at Wilson next year, please complete a Sibling Registration Application (available in the school office) between Tuesday, December 4 and Tuesday, December 18, at 12 p.m. noon.

Help needed for Wilson's health office! Ms. Garcia needs a volunteer to take the recycables to Ralphs Mkt. on Foothill Ave. Please contact Ms. Garcia at (626) 396-5800 between 9:30AM and 3:30PM Thank you!

Join the Wilson Tennis Team! Informational Meeting on Friday, December 14 at 3:15 p.m. right after school on the tennis courts for a brief 30 minutes. Come and meet our Coach Esther Hendershott.

During the next few weeks we will be making school lockers available for students on a voluntary basis. It is very important that each student and parent understand the "Student Responsibilities" listed in the Voluntary Locker Usage Plan Contract that was sent home with students this week. The contract must be signed by the student and parent in order to be eligible to use a locker. More Information: English/Spanish

PUSD's Welcome Center invites you to come and play at the Math Cafe on November 14, 2012 at 6:30PM at Eliot Middle School. Play games,sharpen your number sense skills, and get real life applications for math. More Information and Registration: English | Spanish

All students have been assigned to fill out an Activities Survey for their PE classes. Pages for this survey can be found on the Wilson Website. More Information: English

Film and anime fans are encouraged to visit Crowell Public Library November 13th at 3:15pm for a free Teen Anime Club screening of the sci-fi dystopian film “Evangelion: You Are (Not) Alone.”  Popcorn, sweet tea and other yummy snacks served while supplies last!

School photo proofs were sent home with student this week - instructions for placing orders are on the envelope. Picture make-up day is on Wednesday November 14.

Please support the Wilson Avon fundraiser! Students can sell to family and friends, and orders will be delivered before the holidays. The fundraiser ends November 20. Funds will be used for classroom disaster kits and for replacing the marquee in front of the school. Any student who sells $1,000 will received a brand new Kindle, and there will be $100 dollar gift baskets for other top sellers. 

The school nurse's office is raising funds to purchase new beds for our Wilson health clinic. The current beds are torn and over 20 years old. Please bring your recycling directly to the nurse's office. Thank you!

Kids in middle school are particularly susceptible to the lure of these kinds of drinks, and Wilson kids are no exception. Just passing along for info. Talk to your kids about the dangers of these drinks! http://healthland.time.com/2012/10/24/are-energy-drinks-fatally-caffeinated/print/

We had an assembly for 6th grade students on Thursday October 25 regarding bullying. The emphasis was on how to report bullying, what is bullying, no tolerance for bullying, and consequences for bullying. We are working to be proactive rather than reactive to ensure all students at Wilson "can learn in a safe, supportive and positive environment" -- which is part of our Mission statement.

Dances will be held during the school day. 6th Grade Dance 3rd period  (12:20-1:48) after the Halloween show.  7th/8th grade 4th period (1:53-3:20) after another performance of the Halloween Show. The Halloween Show includes performances by the Drum Corp, Dance, Band, Orchestra, and Lion Heads. Special Thriller Dance performance! Students may wear costumes to school; however, costumes must follow dress code guidelines. 

We have a full PTA board and parent volunteers who work behind the scenes to provide teachers with stipends for much-needed classroom supplies, classroom emergency kits, teacher appreciation luncheon, and much more. The California State PTA is advocating for our schools. Proposition 38 is a PTA supported ballot measure for more public school funding. Wilson PTA recommends a YES vote.

Due to the loss of our librarian, the Wilson library is only open and available on Monday's and Wednesday's during the school week until 4pm. Would you like to help? Please come to a volunteer meeting on Thursday, November 1 at 8:45AM to find out how.

The PUSD school board has adopted a more substantive bullying policy 

to include bullying such as cyberbullying. The assembly bill is commonly referred to as Seth's law (AB 9). The new law states that if the bullying causes a significant disruption on campus, after conflict mediation/per mediation and parent involvement has been implemented, the offense may be grounds for suspension and/or expulsion.

Congratulations to 8th grader Taylor Tucker 

for her Rose Bud Vase drawing being selected to represent Wilson Middle School. Taylor will paint her drawing on a 3D vase and it will be submitted to the Tournament of Roses. The T of R invited PUSD students to make a drawing of a rose bud in a vase. 

identifies and assists students in grades 8-12 that have the potential to succeed in higher education, are in need of program services, low income, or are a first generation college student. More Information: English | Spanish

Free Workshop for Parents!

Talking with youth about sex and sexuality may not always be easy. But youth who have accurate information about their bodies and sexuality make safer decisions for a healthier future. We're here to help you get the conversation started, so let's get talking. More Information

Wednesday October 31 in Victory Park (2575 Paloma Street, Pasadena) Activities include: Costume Contest, Safe Family fun, Haunted House, and more! More information

Is your child in Pasadena LEARNS sports program? Check out their new website with LOTS of photos from LEARNS programs across the district: http://www.pasadenalearnssports.com/. There is also a great video of the sports programs at http://www.pasadenalearnssports.com/soccer-football-basketball/football/

NOTE: The Drum Corp BBQ will take place on November 17, rescheduled from October 27. 

Pasadena Education Network (PEN) has teamed up with Invest in PUSD Kids (IIPK) and Pasadena Educational Foundation (PEF) to present "The Education Voter: how voting for Prop 30 or 38 (or both) can impact California's public schools" (Oct 11, 7:30 pm at All Saints Church - 132 N. Euclid Ave, Pasadena).
More information: English & Spanish

October 14-20: Teen Read Week - More Information

October 23: Teen Anime Club - More Information

October 30: Teen Food Fear Factor - just in time for Halloween! - More information

Have you seen "GoPublic" yet? "Go Public: A Day in the Life of PUSD" will be a two-hour video document of one entire day in the Pasadena Unified School District. On May 8, 2012, fifty small camera crews followed a wide-ranging group of individuals who participate, attend, support and work in the School District. These 50 short films are available at http://gopublicproject.org and features two members of the Wilson Community. We are so proud! View their movies at the links below:

The GoPublic team still needs to edit and distribute the theatrical length documentary and they need your help!  The Go Public Kickstarter campaign hopes to raise $25,000 by October 18. The minimum pledge is $1, and every one counts. In addition, you can help spread the word by sharing the Kickstarter link and our video through all your networks.

Tues. September 25 - 3:30 - 4:30

Thurs. September 27 - 3:30 - 4:30

Tues. October 2 - 3:30 - 4:30

Thurs. October 4 - 3:30 - 4:30

Odyssey of the Mind: Are you Creative?  Do you like to work with other kids in a small group setting to develop that creativity?  Do you like to learn to sew, build, write plays, have fun, laughter and use power tools safely?  Then join Odyssey of the Mind!  We meet every Wednesday, after school, for about two hours.  See Ms. Giannini in room 209 to sign up. Please join us this Wednesday at 3:40 in Bungalow 1. 

LEARNS: Girls on the Run has officially begun practices! If anyone is still interested in joining the team please visit the LEARNs office after school and see Ms Espi. Practices are on Tuesday's and Thursday's after school.  You need all documentation necessary to participate. More information about the program is available at the Girls on the Run website.

Football Season is HERE! We host our first game on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 @ 5:00 p.m. Come support the Football Team, Flag Girls, and Cheer Leaders on the Football field! Hope to see you all there! If you would like a season schedule you can pick one up at the LEARNs office.