July 1, 2008

Dear Johnston Middle School Stakeholder,

It has been another successful year at Johnston Middle School.  Our students posted strong gains in almost every area on the TAKS tests.  94% of all students met the standard for TAKS reading school-wide, and 81% percent met the standard for math school-wide.  96% of our eighth grade students met the standard for social studies, and 95% of our seventh grade students met the standard for writing.  In the first year that science has counted in the accountability system, 79% of our 8th graders met the standard.  That is a 15% increase from 2006-2007.  Of the 25 academic categories used by the Texas Education Association to assign accountability ratings, fifteen performed at the exemplary level, and another six performed at the recognized level.  Not only did the number of Johnston Middle School students meeting the standard for each test increase, but the number of our students achieving commended status increased as well.  Additionally, the majority of our students scored above the average on the Stanford test in comparison to their peers across the country.

Some of the highlights of this year include:

• JMS received TEA Gold Performance Acknowledgments in Reading, Writing, and Social Studies based on the number of students achieving commended status on the TAKS tests.
• Quartile I growth in Math, Science, Language Arts, Reading, and Social Studies based on HISD’s ASPIRE model.
• Johnston Middle School was inducted as an International Spanish Academy.
• JMS received a $405,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education to help develop the Japanese and Chinese programs.
• JMS was designated a “No Place for Hate” school for the seventh consecutive year by the Anti-Defamation League.
• Four of our Odyssey of the Mind teams advanced to the regional competition, and two teams advanced to the state competition.
• The Advanced Orchestra received UIL Superior ratings for the 23rd consecutive year.
• Johnston Middle School hosted teachers and administrators from all over the country and Canada when the National Middle School Association convened in Houston in November of 2007.  JMS is one of only 3 HISD middle schools and one of only 12 in the region to achieve this distinction.
• JMS students excelled at solo and ensemble competitions.
• The school received the renewal of our Houston A+ Challenge Focused Impact Grant for the 5th consecutive year.
• Our 5th cohort of students took the Spanish AP exam.  We expect them to receive college credit when the results are sent to us later in July.
• Five choirs participated in UIL Concert and Sightreading contests.  Four out of the five brought home the Sweepstakes Trophy.  The 5th received Superior ratings
• The Symphonic Band received excellent ratings, and more Johnston band students (19) earned a chair than any other HISD school.
• 41 JMS pianists received superior ratings and 19 received excellent ratings at the Johnston Middle School Solo and Ensemble Contest.
• Our students were winners at the regional Science Fair competition, and some of our students competed at the State History Fair in Austin.
• The JMS Jazz Ensemble was chosen to perform at the NMSA Convention at the George R. Brown Convention Center
• The Mariachis were selected to perform at Jones Hall
• 33 JMS artists were awarded either 1st, 2nd or 3rd place in various prestigious art competitions
• The KickStart program was wildly successful in its first year of existence.
• The Minute Maid girls’ soccer team won 1st place for the spring season.
• The UIL girls soccer team won 1st place in its division
• The Minute Maid all-stars won the 1st Anniversary tournament against the Ching Team.
• JMS produced winner in the Scholastic Writing contest, the DAR contest, the Do the Write Thing contest,
• The 7th grade football team finished in 2nd place in Zone V.
• 7 JMS students qualified for state recognition with the Duke University Identification Program

I am enormously proud of the accomplishments of our students and faculty.  Your support is instrumental in our success.  I am enclosing a copy of our bell schedule.  Please note that the dismissal time has moved up to 3:47, and there will only be one early dismissal per month instead of two.  All returning Johnston Middle School students were issued a book near the end of school.  Please make sure your student reads the book and completes the assignment over the summer.  It is vitally important that all students engage in some summer reading and math during the break.  We want all of our students to return to us sharp and ready to go for the 2008-2009 school year.

The Dress Code for the 2008-2009 school year has changed slightly.  Please see the attachment for more information.  The most significant change is that all outer shirts MUST be purchased from the PTO.  On Fridays, students will be allowed to wear club shirts or a shirt purchased from the PTO.

On behalf of all of us at Johnston Middle School, I want to wish you a safe and restful summer.

Sincerely,

Dave D. Wheat
Principal