On behalf of the entire Wiltsey Middle School staff we would like to welcome you and your student back to an exciting new school year. We say exciting because there are several new things happening that we would like to bring to your attention. First, Wiltsey Middle School has become an International Baccalaureate Interest School for the 2011/2012 school year. This is an amazing opportunity provided by the Ontario-Montclair School District for all Wiltsey students. The International Baccalaureate Programme aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable, and caring young adolescents who actively engage in creating a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. This rigorous international academic program encourages students to become compassionate and reflective lifelong learners who are open minded and understanding of all cultures and people. Wiltsey Middle School aspires to become one of over 3,266 IB schools in over 140 countries throughout the world.

As a result of the International Baccalaureate Programme, 72% of our students will receive a three part elective wheel comprised of Spanish, Art, and an Introduction to AVID. Students will focus on the IB Learner Profiles and teachers will be developing lessons around the IB Areas of Interaction. This is great news indeed. For more information about the International Baccalaureate Programme, please visit their website at www.ibo.org.

An important new development this year is the implementation of Zangle Parent-Connection. Every Wiltsey teacher uses Zangle Gradebook which allows for you to monitor your student’s academic progress online every day. During our registration days at the start of the school year we provided parents with a personal identification number (PIN) and password. Through this online tool you can access your student’s current grades and homework progress. In this way you can be proactive and intervene when necessary before a problem might get out of hand. If you have not received your logon information, you can get it from our Office Manager, who will not only provide you with that information, but will also demonstrate how to access it.

Did you know that you can email any of your student teachers through the OMSD website. The staff at Wiltsey believe in building strong collaborative relationships with our parents and have made a commitment to reply to your emails within 24 hours.

Finally, we would like to share the good news with you that preliminary reports indicate that our Wiltsey students did very well on last year’s California State Test (CST). Overall, we grew 34 points on our API (Academic Performance Index). That exceptional growth reveals a strong commitment from the Wiltsey staff, students, and parents to ensure that our students are prepared for the rigorous academic challenges ahead of them. We look forward to bright new year and thank you for your continued support. 

Sincerely,
William H. Corrette, Principal
John Walton, Assistant Principal