Mission

• To teach
• To inspire
• To succeed
• To celebrate success

We celebrate the diversity of our population in instruction and activities. We stimulate creativity, expect excellence, foster respectful, positive attitudes, and encourage effective communication, cooperation, and pride of ownership.

Vision:

"Rigor and Excellence - All Students Meeting Standards"

What Makes Us Special

Spanaway Jr. High has a school uniform/dress code policy. This helps to promote a positive climate for students and create a safer environment for learning at SJH. Other unique programs include Spotlight on Cultures, Technology, Reading, Independent Living Skills and English Language Learners.

Community Connections

Community groups use Spanaway Junior High facilities on a daily basis. Organizations include: Bethel Recreation, church groups, Boy Scouts, Boys and Girls Club and various community adult athletic groups.

Parent and community involvement in learning

Parents are a very important part of our school. We believe strongly that teachers and students achieve our best when parents are fully involved.

Parents will be invited to student-led conferences in the spring!

Raising expectations and standards

Spanaway Jr.High has incorporated the "Nine Characteristics of High Performing Schools" into its strategic plan. We believe that every child can achieve higher educational goals and experience success in the classroom if they make an effort to apply themselves in a positive manner.

It is the goal and aspiration of each teacher to provide all students in grades 7-9 a quality educational experience that incorporates academic achievement, personal growth, and an excitement for learning. We do this through innovative teaching, the use of technology and student-focused instruction.

Top-notch staff

Spanaway Junior High has 46 classroom teachers. They average 11 years of teaching experience and 67 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

Our WASL scores showed strong improvement in seventh grade writing and across all eighth grade content areas.

Adequate Yearly Progress

Spanaway Jr. High did not meet adequate yearly progress - AYP - as defined under the "No Child Left Behind‚" Act. Of the 36 areas measured, the school met all but eight of the required benchmarks. We did not many proficiency goals in math and missed one target in reading. We have increased professional development for math teachers and also added a new curriculum for struggling math students.

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.