August 31, 2018

Dear JW Families:

Happy Labor Day Weekend! It is an honor to be able to greet you with this letter as we
prepare for the 2018-19 school year. We are looking forward to working with your
children and want to assure you that everyone at John Witherspoon Middle School is
dedicated to making this year an amazing educational experience for each of our
students.

Last year, JW placed special emphasis on building relationships. Once again, I would like
to celebrate by providing a brief recap of the positive impact of our “Partnerships.” A
new partnership with Barnes and Noble provided us the opportunity to have an author
visit with Young Adult author Laurie Halse Anderson, and JW celebrated its first ever
“JW Night” complete with music, robotics, and art on display at the MarketFair Barnes
and Noble location. Visiting Princeton University Professor Dr. Kittagawa shared his
prototype for designing emergency temporary shelters for people displaced by natural
disasters and demonstrated its construction on the JW front lawn. Our IDEAS wing
students used his example to complete their unit on shelter/housing design. Our
relationship with the Princeton Rotary Club allowed us to partner with Labyrinth Books
to provide each 8th grade student with a book by popular YA author Jason Reynolds.
Our JW PTO assisted us in bringing Mr. Reynolds for a visit to JW to help support our
focus on Social Justice and equity. Some 8th grade students formed a group called “We
Are People” and under the guidance of Monique Jones, compelled us to examine issues
of discrimination and bias in the first-ever student-led Rising Above Assembly.
We capped our school year with another phenomenal JW REGATTA. This summer, our
Head Custodian Hector Lamos and custodial staff resurfaced the JW Basketball blacktop
and it is now a perfect JW “Blue Top!” This will serve to not only improve our outdoor
appearance but will also provide our young people with an improved space to play.
Students will be permitted to be outside for morning recess prior to school during
Marking Period 1 and 4. We thank the JW PTO for their continued partnership and
support.

As we open the 2018-19 school year, it is with pride that I announce that JW will be
focused on making sure that we are responsive to recommendations made by the
recently completed PPS Equity Report and will be squarely focused on “Community and
Relationship Building.” With this in mind, JW will be celebrating “Community Period,”
each Wednesday beginning on 9/26. This initiative is meant to forge strong
relationships between students and supports a core middle school tenet that all middle
school students be supported by a caring adult. Enclosed you will find a separate
description of “Community Period,” along with this letter. Making sure that each
student is known connected, known, and valued is a critical component of a great
middle school. JW will also be piloting a student recognition program encouraging each
student to “Earn their Stripes” later this month. It is important to note that our students
play a critical role in helping their classmates feel supported. We work tirelessly to build
school spirit and we count heavily on our 8th grade students to be positive leaders for all
students and for one another.

Our schools exist to serve its students and families. The needs of our students must
always come first as we deliver programming, develop daily schedules, and welcome
750 students each day. School and families must both be committed to respectfully
working together to assist our children. When we work together, we are inevitably
stronger. We celebrate our successes but are committed to enhancing our practices
each year, and look forward to another year of inspiration, growth, and innovation.

JW is proud to welcome several new staff members equally dedicated to cultivating

relationships and adding to our tradition of excellence.

• Matthew Halfacre-- • Thomas Foley - 6th gr. • Jennifer Rader--

Tech Prep Guidance Counselor Instructional Assistant:
• Deb Gries--JW Garden • Judy Lebowitz -- • Clare Krulewicz--
Educator Instructional Assistant: Mathematics
• William Tharp-- • Allison Fay--Choir • Marnie Rotter--
Instructional Assistant Teacher Instructional Assistant
• Chaundra Cameron-- • Esmeralda Natareno-- • Leslie Moran--
Drama Instructional Assistant: Instructional Assistant
• Moriah Akrong-- • Emily James--Orchestra • Marilyn Vincent--
Instructional Assistant Teacher Instructional Assistant

Homeroom assignments have been mailed. Please be alert to important messages from
our PTO, and other key announcements as we prepare for a new school year. We will
welcome ALL 6th graders at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, September 4th for orientation. 7th
graders “new to the district” should also report at 10:30AM on September 4th. Our
“new” 8th graders should report at NOON. This will serve as another opportunity for
our students to tour our building, greet teachers, identify classrooms, and purchase JW
spirit wear!

I look forward to an opportunity to shake your hand at Back to School Night (Thursday,
September 20th), and it is my hope that your family and mine will celebrate together at
SUPER SATURDAY (Saturday, October 13th).

Best Wishes, and #JWPRIDE!

Jason Burr
Principal