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. 

WRMS field improvement progress report

Dear WRMS Community,
Our West Ridge main field improvement is progressing along nicely.  In the picture, you can see that the field has been leveled, prepped for the turf surface, both goal posts installed, scoreboard erected, and retaining walls built to hold back any water and run-off from rain from the track and field areas.  It won't be long until the track and turf are laid and installed.  What a wonderful surface for our students and community to play and practice on!  We will have strict restrictions regarding no animals or sugar-based drinks allowed inside the the track and field areas.  Will continue to keep you posted as promised on additional progress!
GO WILDCATS! 
Karl

Lunch with two 8th graders this week!

One of the things that absolutely makes my day is to have great interactions and times with my students.  Whether it be in the hall, the cafeteria during lunch, in the gym, at concerts or athletic events, or by having lunch with them.  This week, as part of the Health curriculum, 8th graders enrolled in the class invite various staff members and parents to lunch.  The students plan the menu, either prepare or purchase the meal, research the ingredients/calories, grams of fat, write up a report, and then have the lunch with the staff member or parent.  It is such a great time and one of the highlights of my year.  My particular lunch prepared by these two terrific girls was: A very special turkey, cheese, tomato, pickle and onion sandwich on sourdough bread, pita chips and humus, strawberry shortcake with whipped cream and lemonade!  It was awesome just like the two students!~

West Ridge Cheerleaders collect a ton of t-shirts for Open Arms!

Our West Ridge cheerleaders have again, for the second year collected a very large number of t-shirts for the Open Arms Organaization that helps refugee women get their feet on the ground and earn their way here in America.  These wonderful, courageous and talented women turn these t-shirts into skirts, scarves, purses, rugs, quilts etc.. and sells them on line at http://www.theopenarmsshop.com.  When you get a chance, check out their website they have some really neat items for sale.  Thanks West Ridge community for donating!

WRMS Varsity Treble Choir perfoms in San Antonio

Our West Ridge Varsity Treble Choir sang six moving, very difficult and challenging pieces at the San Antonio Convention Center this past Friday.  Under the direction of Mrs. Andrea Snouffer, our girls sang their hearts out in front of a crowd of approximately 1200 music educators from around the state and country.  Imagine walking out on stage as a 13 or 14 year old and looking out at a sea of people and then composing yourself to perform high school level pieces and sing them at a very high level.  It was both very impressive and very moving and I was so very proud of them all.  Bravo Varsity Treble Choir and Mrs. Snouffer for a great performance!

Rock Star John Moyer from Disturbed at WRMS speaking to Orchestra students!

This past Wednesday, the very talented and articulate Austin resident John Moyer-Bass guitarist for the Rock band Disturbed was at West Ridge giving some incredible demonstrations on various instruments in Elizabeth Compton’s Orchestra classes. With the wealth of musicians based here is Austin, Ms. Compton was fortunate to have him speak to her students.  He played some of the electric violins, cellos and basses as well as his bass guitar and talked about his music talent and to help keep our students following their music passions.  He is truly a civic minded rock star who strives to help out our young people help get them interested in rock and roll music and bands.  He and his qualified staff helps the young musicians get organized, get them gigs, and provide music instruction for them.  Many students in middle school are searching for their passions, ways to find their identity, and to get involved socially.  His enthusiasm, celebrity, and talent was inspirational for many of our West Ridge students.  For more information on Natural Ear Music School please visit their website at: www.NaturalEarMusic.com.  You may register now for spring enrollment for ages 7-17.  You may also call 961-3354 or email NaturalEarMusic@rocketmail.com for more information.

West Ridge Pep Band!! GO WILDCATS!!

Our West Ridge Wildcat Pep Band debuted at our 8th grade boy's basketball game vs. Hudson Bend Thursday night and brought some great West Ridge spirit into the gym.  Under direction of Susan Glover and assisted by Juliana Riecss, the 15 strong pep band made up of 7th and 8th graders played spirit songs during time outs.  Not sure how many middle schools have a pep band that plays at basketball games but no doubt ours is one of the best!  The spirit in our gym was electric and the pep band seemed to help as our 8A team beat Hudson Bend by 15 points! 

WRMS 6th graders presenting at Forest Trail Elementary Friday

We are in the season of beginning the transition from elementary school to middle school and also middle school to high school.  Last Friday, I took three 6th graders that are former Forest Trail students back to their elementary school to talk to  the 5th graders about school life at West Ridge through their eyes.  They have been working on a multimedia presentation since Winter Break and did an excellent job explaining what it is like to be a 6th grader at West Ridge.  The 5th graders at FTE were attentive, asked great questions, and began their first step to becoming a Wildcat Friday. 

Welcome Back to West Ridge Alexis Jones!!

On Friday, Alexis Jones came back to her Middle School for the second year in a row and talked to the girls about building their self esteem, building self confidence, silencing self-doubt, and learning that it is ok to be a person that is "perfectly flawed" as she puts it.  Alexis was a finalist on the reality show "Survivor" a few years ago and now uses her Hollywood fame and influence to help girls grow up in today's society with a positive self image.  She also talked about the dangers of social media (facebook), texting, cyberbullying etc...and to be kind to one another.  She showed powerful videos and wove in stories and experiences to anchor the concepts that she was driving home to the girls.  Our 6th-8th graders were absolutely glued to every word she said.  Alexis challenged the girls to make youtube videos asking family members, friends, teachers etc...who is a girl/woman that they admire and why.  The girls will then email their videos to Alexis who will pick the winning video.  The winner will get lunch with Alexis when she returns back to Austin this Spring.  For more information on Alexis' girl movement-go to http://www.iamthatgirl.com/