Mission

We, the learning community of Cougar Mountain Jr. High School, foster a safe and respectful atmosphere where students and staff walk the halls with Pride. Excellence is promoted in our academic programs, technology, and the arts. We celebrate diversity, display positive school spirit, and recognize student achievement. Parent and community involvement play an essential part in the success of our learning community.

What Makes Us Special

Special people make special places. A beautiful new building along with an outstanding group of teachers and support staff helped Cougar Mountain Junior High students have the highest scores among all district junior highs on the reading, writing, and math sections of the WASL.

Raising expectations and standards

• At CMJH we believe in raising the bar, not lowering it
• Our motto is "We are Family" because we believe in each other
• Teaching expectations for students through classroom instruction and grade-level assemblies
• WASL academy before and after school
• "Pizza with the Principal" is a monthly recognition program
• WASL style prompts used in every class every day
• Enforcement of a school-wide dress code that is conducive to learning while helping to prevent harassment and bullying
• Pancake Appreciation: Every quarter, all students who have "0" missing assignments or have A's and B's in all classes can attend a pancake breakfast put on by the academic counselors and building administration.

Community connections

• Local Churches
• Bethel Recreation
• Babe Ruth Baseball
• Adopt a Business Program at CMJH
• Battle of the Books & Geography

Parent and community involvement in learning

Parent and community volunteers in the library, classrooms, front office and as chaperones for dances and field trips. CMJH has a PTSA. For more information on PTSA, check out the PTSA link on the Cougar Mountain school website or call 683-8154.

Top-notch staff

Cougar Mountain has 42 classroom teachers. They average 13 years of teaching experience and 57 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.

WASL success

In 2006-07, our WASL scores showed strong improvement in seventh grade math, reading and writing. Our reading scores increased eight percentage points, math scores rose 15 points, and writing scores jumped 22 points!

Adequate Yearly Progress

Cougar Mountain Jr. High did not meet adequate yearly progress - AYP - as defined under the "No Child Left Behind" Act. Of the 36 categories measured, the school met all but five of the required benchmarks.

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.

Bethel School District

Bethel School District serves about 17,500 students in 17 elementary schools, five junior highs (with another opening its doors in 2010), 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 development, 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 (temporarily housing Spanaway Lake High School) were opened in September 2009.

In 2007-2008, the district's budget was $158 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 district 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, completing his military career as a Commander.