As we sunset another school year, I can say with confidence that it was a terrific one!  Yes, it was difficult for the staff to have to teach six of seven classes yet our school experienced so many accolades this school year.  I credit our successes this school year through our exceptional students who love their school, our extraordinary teaching staff who go above and beyond for our students every day and our loyal and supportive parent community who just cannot do enough for our school.  This has no doubt been personally one of my best school years as an educator and am so very proud of all that we have accomplished together at our great middle school.  I look forward to an equally great 2012-2013 school year.  Have a wonderful summer WRMS Community! 

June 1st, 2012 was Westlake High's graduation ceremony.  652 graduates walked across the Erwin Center stage to pick up their diplomas to a happy full house.  Our Superintendent, Dr. Nola Wellman delivered an inspirational speech to the grads-to- be followed by a farewell speech by retired principal Linda Rawlings. Former West Ridge Wildcats Valedictorian student Alexandra Ilic, Salutatorian Catherine Liu, Student Body Vice President Mehul Mehta, and Student Body President Steven Wilbanks all delivered great speeches to help send the graduating class off to college and to start their young adult lives.  I was fortunate to have attended this important event for our community and left feeling very proud of my former West Ridge students who graduated last night.  Well done former Wildcats-it was truly a memorable evening! 
Pictured from left to Right: Catherine Liu, me, and Alexandra Ilic

Mark today down, Monday, May 14th, 2012 as the day our new track and turf field was accessible to our WRMS students.  Our boys coaches held their first off-season spring football practice this morning on the new field and our girls ran the new track.  Our PE classes and 8th grade boys and girls athletics will be on the field the afternoon.  Tomorrow, our Boys will be breaking in the new field with a soccer game vs. a Hays CISD Middle School and our girls will be playing for the District Soccer Championship!   What a great day for West Ridge and EISD!   Thanks Eanes ISD Community!

Surprise Visit from Alexis Jones at our WRMS I AmThat Girl Club Meeting

This past Thursday, Alexis Jones dropped in and met with our I Am That Girl Club sponsored by Counselor Amy Goodwin and Wildcat Lab aide Lauren Miller last Thursday afternoon in our library.  45 girls were treated to Alexis' advice and wisdom on how to discover their inner-beauty and spawn self-confidence and grow up happy and comfortable in their own skin.  The I Am That Girl Club meets each Thursday during Wildcat Period to discuss various girl related issues among themselves and with our two staff sponsors.  Next year they will be developing a meaningful community service project to help other girls in the Austin area.  Thanks Alexis for being you and for inspiring our West Ridge girls!  T'll next year!

40 strong WRMS Tenor-Bass Boy's Choir takes top honors @ UIL

Our West Ridge Tenor-Bass Boy's Choir made perfect 1's during their three song concert portion of the competition and made all perfect 1's again during the sight reading portion at the Hays CISD PAC last Thursday.  Our talented director of Choirs, Mrs. Andrea Snouffer, successfully directed her 40 7th and 8th grade boys to another Sweepstakes award for our school.  The feedback from all six judges was highly complimentary of our boys, our song selection level of difficulty, and their behavior prior, during and after the performances. It's truly "cool" to be in the Tenor-Bass West Ridge Choir and the sound that these boys make during their performances has been exceptional all year long.  We can be so proud of ALL our Fine Arts programs at West Ridge Middle School.  Bravo boys!

Nick Foles NFL QB prospect talks to WRMS boys 4/5/12

Nick Foles attended Hill Country MS, was the last player picked for the West Lake HS Varsity football team his Jr. year. He played in the state championship game his senior year in 2006 and has played QB for the University of Arizona the past two years.  He is ranked as high as the 4th top college Quarterback prospect in this year's NFL draft at the end of this month. However, as great a football player as he is, he is an even better person.  He talked about the importance of finding passion in whatever you do whether it be sports, music, or whatever. He talked about the importance of growing up a young man of character and said that true character is not necessarily how one acts when a lot of people are around but how one behaves when nobody is watching.  SO VERY TRUE!  He talked about how to treat girls and that it's cool to be a gentleman.  He talked about always treating others with dignity and with respect and to be a person that includes people not excludes people.  The boys were all tuned in to him and sitting on every word.  They asked great questions and were a very good audience.  I was very proud of all our boys and I know that many of them will never forget this important life message and also their special hour with Nick Foles. 

West Ridge Full Orchestra Performs at Anderson High School 4/3/12

Our West Ridge Full Orchestra performed at Anderson High School this afternoon at the annual UIL competition.  The WRMS Full Orchestra is made up of our top Orchestra students as well as several top band students.  They performed three incredible pieces for a panel of three judges then went to another area to perform sight reading.  Sight reading is basically when the conductor, Elizabeth Compton teaches a preset piece by UIL to her full orchestra in the span of 7 precious minutes.  She can only describe to the students how to play the piece, cannot demonstrate the melody or play it for them.  After the seven minutes of detailed instruction has concluded, the students then "bow up" and play the piece together in harmony as a full Orchestra for another panel of three judges.  It's just an incredible experience to see our 7th and 8th graders perform difficult pieces at such a high level of proficiency.  A true testament to their musical talents and to Ms. Compton's teaching gift.  Attached here is a quick video of one of the songs they played at their concert.