The Top Three Reasons Why Your Kids Will LOVE Willams Middle School!

Williams Middle School is a fantastic Center of Academic Excellence!  We offer something for every student and your kids will LOVE our school because:

Reason #3 - We have one of the most diverse student bodies in North Alabama.  This means that your kids will have plenty of options for social groups as well as a variety of learning opportunities.  Whether they aspire to be a chemist or a musician, they will find their place here!  Whether they enjoy hip hop or country music, they will meet and enjoy other students with similar taste while also expanding their horizons.

Reason #2 - We offer a wide variety of educational as well as extra-curricular activities.  Hawk Time is our daily school-wide enrichment which includes Chess Club, Service Learning, Debate Team and our latest offering, Jr. Toastmasters.  Students may also apply for our Technology Magnet Program, join our Team America Rocketry Challenge, Math Team, SWAT Team, and of course one of our award-winning sports teams.  Our girls basketball team is the reigning City Champs as is our boys track team.  Go Hawks!!

Reason #1 - The Number One reason your kids will LOVE our school is because "We're Linking Learning to Life!".  So many times, students ask "why do I need to know this?"  That's a great question!  By linking learning to real life, students will see that Williams Middle School is preparing them for a successful future.  We expose our students to learning opportunities that will prepare them to succeed in high school, college, the workforce and beyond.  Even if your kids do not always appreciate or understand this, we know that as concerned and involved parents, you understand it and expect nothing less!

Welcome to Williams Middle School! Where We're Linking Learning to Life!  Go Hawks!!

PTSA Needs YOU!

The Williams Middle School Parent, Teacher, Student Association is in the process of getting organized and we need you! We have some exciting plans for the new year and your involvement will make all the difference. Please plan to attend our 6th Grade Meet and Greet (if you have a 6th grade student) on Tuesday August 2nd from 5-6pm and/or our Open House from 4:30-6:30pm on Thursday August 4th. Email me for more information at abwilliams@hsv.k12.al.us. We will be accepting PTSA memberships at both meetings. Membership is $6.00 per person. See you soon and GOOOOO Hawks!!

Frequently Asked Questions

We have had a very busy week!  I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting and speaking with new parents and I hope that we were able to assist you and ease some or your concerns.  As previously stated, this blog is one of my primary sources for updates.  With that being said, my office staff and I created a list of FAQs.  Just click on the link below to access it.  Have a great weekend and see you soon!

FAQs

6th Grade Meet and Greet

We want to welcome all of our incoming 6th grades students!  We will have a Meet and Greet on Tuesday August 2nd from 5-6pm in our lecture hall.  We hope you can attend.  Barbara Williams, Redstone's School Liaison Officer for Child, Youth and School Services, will join us and provide some valuable information about after school care and other services offered on the Arsenal.  This will also be an opportunity to meet administrators, teachers and staff and for our new students to connect with one another.  We look forward to seeing you!

Student/Parent Handbook

Please take a look at our Student/Parent Handbook when you get a moment.  This includes our bell schedule, basic rules, our Uniform Policy and other pertinent information.  Students will receive a copy of this at the beginning of the school year.  Thanks for taking the time to review it and we hope it is helpful!
Student/Parent Handbook 2011-2012

Using 21st Century Technology - My Vision for Williams Middle

The start of a new school year is an ideal time to reflect upon what has taken place in the previous year(s) and of course to devise a vision for the new year. This summer, I had the pleasure of participating in an online course, Using Google to become a 21st Century Administrator. As a result, I am more empowered than ever to employ innovative technologies at Williams!

With that being said, I offer the following:

School-wide Technology Goal: Using 21st Century technology, Williams Middle School will reduce the use of paper copies by 50%, thereby saving money and time while eliminating wastes.

Purpose: This goal will allow students to be exposed to 21st Century Technologies that will prepare them for high school, college, the workforce and beyond.

Action Plan:

1. Teachers will use Moodle to complete lessons plans, post assignments, communicate with parents and students and to give additional online resources.
2. Google Calendar will be used to post important dates and reminders. Google Calendar will be accessed by a link on the school website.
3. Google Blogger will be used for school-wide announcements and to give details that are too lengthy for the calendar feature. The blog, Principal's Corner, will be the primary source for this action.
4. Google Docs will be used for teacher, staff and parent communication and collaboration. This tool will also be used (along with Moodle) for vertical teaming by middle school and elementary teachers.
5. School technology leaders will set up a Global Studio to be used for distance learning. Students will use Skype and podcasting as part of this innovative and interactive learning environment.

Time Frame: Implementation will begin immediately with quarterly benchmarks used to monitor progress. All items listed in the Action Plan will be implemented by February 2012.

Side Note - Character education will focus on tolerance and being good digital citizens.

These are lofty goals and actions and they will certainly require collaboration with students, parents and teachers. I'm excited and looking forward to this challenge!

Welcome New Families!

As our Summer Break comes to close I want to welcome all of our new families to Williams Middle School!  We are so excited to have the opportunity to serve you and look forward to getting to know you in the coming months.  I know that you may have many questions and concerns and if you are joining us from Providence Middle School I want to reassure you and provide answers to you in a timely manner.  To that end, I will use this Blog and our school website for frequent updates.  Right now, I want to give you some important dates.  We will have Open Registration Monday-Thursday of next week (July 25-28) from 8:30-2pm.  Our New Student Orientation and PTSA Open House will take place on the evening of Thursday August 4th.  More information about the specific times and location will be provided during registration.  Our Uniform Policy is posted on our website and we will have a Uniform Consignment sale during our Open House.  Also, keep in mind that there will be a tax-holiday again this year during the weekend of August 5th.  Educational Outfitters in Madison is our preferred vendor and I encourage you to visit them soon!

If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at abwilliams@hsv.k12.al.us.  I will get back to you within 24 hours.  Our office phone number is 256-428-7330.  I apologize in advance if your call is not answered immediately, as we do have limited summer staffing.  Again welcome and Go Hawks!

Happy Independence Day!!

"Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed - else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die." ~Dwight D. Eisenhower

I hope everyone has a happy and safe holiday!  God bless you and your families and a special blessing to our men and women in uniform and their families.  Take some time to enjoy yourself on this great day but remember that freedom is not free!