2006-2007 Annual Report

Frontier Junior High

ContaCts

22110 108th Ave. E.Graham, WA 98338

Address

(253) 683-8300

Phone

Tom Mitchell

Principal

Scott Martin

Assistant Principal

Daina Hubbard

Secretary

920

Enrollment

MissionOur mission is to create a school commu-

nity where junior high students discover their unique potential, develop self-worth, dignity and responsibility, learn to think critically and creatively, become lifelong learners, show concern for others, and seek to achieve their personal best.

What Makes Us speCial

Frontier puts a priority on developing

students’ self control by framing all rules as

choices with fair, predictable consequences

for those choices.

The Make Your Day (MYD) program allows

students and teachers to self-assess whether

they have lived up to that expectation. MYD

also has one main rule: No one has the right

to interfere with the learning, safety, or well-

being of others. The program makes Frontier

a safe, positive place where learning is the

priority.

CoMMUnity ConneCtions

Students perform the following services:

school beautification, assisting elementary

school teachers, working with FJH teach-

ers, helping in the Independent Living Skills

classroom, church youth groups, feeding the

homeless, helping with music concerts, assist-

ing handicapped and more.

Raising expeCtations and standaRds

In 2006-2007, 72 students passed all three

sections of the WASL. We’re proud of the hard

work our students are doing to meet state

standards -- and we plan to do all we can to

get each and every student over the bar. In

2006-2007, we will focus on math to make

sure our students have the skills they need

to perform at a high level on the WASL math

test. Our efforts include new math curriculum

and classes for select students and ongoing

training for teachers.

paRent and CoMMUnity involveMent in leaRning

Frontier encourages and welcomes parent

involvement in all aspects of school life. Par-

ents may volunteer in the classrooms, office,

library, hallway or lunch room.

We firmly believe that the more positive

adult interaction our students encounter

each day, the more students can benefit from

those connections. Frontier also has a greatly

involved body of parent volunteers who help

the school with a variety of projects.

Frontier Jr. High’s seventh grade reading and math scores increased significantly in 2007. We believe high expectations lead to success for all students.

Wasl ResUltsWASL 2007

7th grade FJH District State

8th grade FJH District State

deMogRaphiCsEthnicity FJH District

top-notCh staffFrontier has 44 classroom teachers. They

average 9 years of teaching experience and

59 percent have a master’s degree. They are

joined by a wonderful support staff who have

students’ best interest in mind in all that they

do.

Bethel sChool distRiCt

Bethel School District serves about 17,500

students in 15 elementary schools, five junior

highs, three comprehensive high schools, one

alternative junior high/high school, and an

online academy. The district has won national

awards in technology and communications,

as well as state awards in professional devel-

opment, energy conservation, and the arts.

In addition, five district teachers have earned

“Washington State teacher of the Year” in the

last 25 years -- more than any district in the

state.

The Bethel School District covers 202-

square miles in south Pierce County. The area

is one of the fastest growing in the Puget

Sound region. In 2006, district voters passed

both a four-year levy for operations and a

$175 million bond to build new schools.

As part of the first phase of the bond, two

elementary schools and one junior high are

scheduled to open in September 2009.

In 2006-2007, the district’s budget was $146

million, about 80 percent of which went to

salaries and benefits. About 1,050 certificated

staff and about 1,000 classified (support) staff

work for the district. Tom Seigel joined the dis-

trict in 2001 as superintendent. He previously

worked in Boulder, CO as a superintendent.

Prior to his work in public education, Seigel

served in the U.S. Navy for 25 years, complet-

ing his military career as a Commander.American Indianor Alaska Native: 4.7% 3.5%

Asianor Pacific Islander: 5.0% 9.3%

Black: 5.9% 11.2%

Hispanic: 6.4% 9.6%

White: 78.0% 66.4%

FrEE &rEducEd Lunch: 25.8% 35.4%

WASL 2006

7th grade FJH District State

8th grade FJH District State

Math 50 46 54

Reading 68 66 69

Writing 33 58 68

Math 35 32 50

Reading 46 50 65

Science 32 28 44

Math 37 33 49

Reading 49 52 62

Writing 47 50 65

Math 29 30 49

Reading 57 55 70

Science 34 27 43

adeqUate yeaRly pRogRess

Frontier Jr. High made adequate yearly

progress – AYP – as defined under the “No

Child Left Behind” Act in 27 of 29 categories,

but did not meet standard in math and read-

ing for special education students.

Each year individual schools and the

school district must “raise the bar” in gradual

increments so that by 2014, 100 percent of

students achieve proficiency in each subject

area.

Wasl sUCCessOur WASL scores showed strong improve-

ment in math and reading. Seventh grade

reading scores increased 18 points, and

math rose 13 oints. Eighth grade math scores

increased six points.

our staff does everything possible to make sure students achieve their best.”

Tom Mitchell,Frontier Jr. High Principal

“