Knightly News

Dear Wilson Families,

I know this is a long message but please click the link below and take a few minutes to read my message. This is the same message I emailed on Friday, October 30th.

Thank you.

Just a quick reminder, as I have already received a few emails and phone calls about this: YES, we have school this Friday.

Only elementary schools are off this Friday. Wilson Middle School and all secondary schools will be open, and we will follow our regular Friday bell schedule.

Please remember to regularly check our Knightly Newsletter and school calendar for important updates and reminders specific to Wilson.

Thank you, and have a wonderful week.

Join us for a fundraiser supporting Woodrow Wilson Middle School! Chipotle will donate 25% of event sales back to our school.

When: Wednesday, November 4

Time: 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Where: Chipotle (132 N Glendale Ave, Glendale, CA 91206)

How to participate:

• In-Store: Show the flyer or mention the fundraiser at checkout.
• Online/App: Place an order for pickup using code CTFYHKM.

Note: Online orders must be for pickup during event hours to count; delivery orders and gift cards do not qualify.

Wilson Students,

Would you like to lead our school in the morning pledge? We are looking for students who would like to take turns leading the Wilson community in the Pledge of Allegiance during our morning announcements. This is a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate leadership, school pride, and responsibility.

Sign up below, and we'll add your name to our rotation! Once we compile a list of students who are interested, we will post the names and dates we need you in the Four Corners/1000 Building.

First, let me say how incredibly proud I am of everyone who participated in our first Wilson Family Pumpkin Carving Contest! We had so many creative, fun, and beautifully decorated pumpkins. You made it VERY difficult to choose our winners!

But here's the best part: EVERY student who brought in a pumpkin received a bag of delicious candy from us.

Our TOP WINNERS also received gift cards to In-N-Out and Chick-fil-A, a big bag of candy, and a beautiful certificate!

Congratulations to our winners!

• Chloe Vartanian – The Pumpkin Jail!

• Anait Khachatryan – The Scary Graveyard Skeleton Pumpkin!

• Frank Leyva – The Awesome E.T. Pumpkin!

• Liliana Leyva – The Creepy Clown Pumpkins!

• Mila Shadunts – The Grandma Pumpkin!

• Petros Ashkharyan – The Scarecrow Pumpkin!

• Artur Asatryan – The Beautiful Fall-Themed Pumpkin Covered in Leaves!

• Vladyslav Streltsov – The Amazing Pumpkin Featuring Multiple Paintings!

• Michael Nanayan – The World Peace Pumpkin!

• Narine Abramian and Emilia Davtyan – The Up-Themed Pumpkin!

Congratulations to all our winners! And to EVERYONE who participated, thank you for sharing your creativity, imagination, and hard work with our Wilson community. Most importantly, I hope you had fun creating these pumpkins and enjoyed some special family time along the way.

I have ONE request... Let's make this an even BIGGER Wilson tradition next year! More pumpkins, more creativity, and even more Wilson family fun!

Thank you, Wilson families, for making our first contest such a success!

Please join us for our next PTSA Association Meeting on Tuesday, November 17, from 6:00–7:00 PM in the Wilson Library. This will be a special meeting with important information for our Wilson families!

In addition to our regular PTSA business, Dr. Akhverdyan will share important school updates. We will also welcome representatives from the Glendale Police Department, who will present on e-bike and scooter safety.

Officers will share videos of actual incidents that have occurred throughout Glendale and discuss how students, parents, and community members can stay safe when riding and driving around e-bikes and scooters.

This is an important opportunity to learn more about a topic that directly impacts the safety of our students and community.

This is a reminder that Wilson Middle School will be closed on Wednesday, November 11, in observance of Veterans Day as we honor all who served.

School will resume as normal on Thursday, November 12.

GUSD's sixth Family Academy session will be held on Thursday, November 5, at 5:30 p.m. via Google Meet. The presentation, Glendale Youth Alliance: Paid Work Experience for Youth Workshop, will be presented by Eliza Dzhaneryan of the Glendale Youth Alliance.

In this session, families will learn about the many ways in which the Glendale Youth Alliance supports young people in building civic values, developing important job skills, and preparing for future success. Families will also learn about programs and opportunities that help students gain valuable experiences, build confidence, and become productive members of their communities. Discover how the Glendale Youth Alliance can help support your student’s growth, career development, and readiness for the workforce.

Wishing all Wilson families a Happy Thanksgiving Holiday. ​

Please note that Wilson will be closed from November 23 through November 27. We look forward to seeing all of our students back in school on Monday, November 30.

Dear Future Glenale High Families,

We are excited to welcome you to Glendale High School! If you would like a tour of our school, please fill out THIS FORM to schedule a visit. This is a great opportunity to see our campus, explore our classrooms and facilities, and get familiar with GHS before your student joins our family. We look forward to meeting you and welcoming you to Glendale High School!

Go Nitros!

Dr. Lynette Ohanian

CLICK HERE to check out the Wilson calendar for all practice days and times. We will post the schedule for each upcoming week. Please check the calendar regularly, as practice days and times may change. Your coaches will also keep you updated about any changes to the practice schedule.https://wilson.gusd.net/calendar

Please check the school calendar for the most updated schedule. Game schedules may change due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances.

Morning Homework Club

Monday–Friday | 7:30 AM to 8:15 AM | Wilson Library

Morning Homework Club will be available every school day from 7:30 AM to 8:15 AM in the library. Students who attend must remain in the library until at least 8:10 AM. At that time, they may go to the cafeteria for breakfast or join their friends and classmates in the quad until the bell rings at 8:25 AM.

After School Homework Club

Monday–Thursday | 3:10 PM to 4:30 PM | Wilson Library

After School Homework Club will be available Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. There will be no After School Homework Club on Fridays.

During both Morning and After School Homework Club, Wilson teachers will be available to support students with their homework. Students should come prepared with specific questions or assignments they would like help with. Students may also simply work quietly on their own to start or finish their homework.

Please remember that students may stay for different amounts of time. Some students may only need 15 minutes, while others may stay until 4:30 PM. Parents and guardians are responsible for knowing how long their child will be staying each day and making arrangements for timely pickup. Please communicate with your child ahead of time so everyone is clear about the pickup plan.

Exciting After-School Enrichment Opportunities!

I am also super excited that this year we are offering so many different after-school enrichment opportunities for our students! These programs will have different start dates and will meet on various days and times throughout the week, all with our wonderful Wilson teachers.

We have a great variety of opportunities for students to explore new interests, develop skills, have fun, and connect with their Wilson community. Please see below for complete details about all of our enrichment opportunities.

MOST IMPORTANT: Registration Is Required!

In order to participate in Morning Homework Club, After School Homework Club, or any of our after-school enrichment programs, parents MUST register their child through the District's EZ Child Track website.

EZ Child Track:
https://www.ezchildtrack.com/CDCC/parent

If you already have an EZ Child Track account:

1. Sign in to your account.

2. Register your child for the “Homework Lab” program for Morning and/or After School Homework Club.

3. For our enrichment opportunities, register under “Teen Sports” and/or “Teen Clubs.”

If you do not have an account yet:

1. Click Register.

2. Select 2026–2027 Middle School Teen Scene Registration.

3. Complete the registration process.

4. Register your child for the programs they would like to attend.

ALL STUDENTS MUST BE REGISTERED IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE.

Thank you, as always, for your partnership and support. We are excited to make this a great year of learning, connection, and opportunity for all of our Wilson Knights!

Wilson After School Enrichment Programs

Register under "Teen Clubs" or "Teen Sports" on the EZ Child Track website.

They may not have our specific club and sport offering names that you see below.

Conversational Armenian, Culture, and Crafts with Mrs. Elaryan in Room 2206 on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 3:15 PM - 4:30 PM. MUST BE SIGNED UP ON https://www.ezchildtrack.com/CDCC/parent

Conversational Spanish, Culture, and Crafts with Ms. Lau in Room 1125 on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 3:15 PM - 4:15 PM. MUST BE SIGNED UP ON https://www.ezchildtrack.com/CDCC/parent

ELD Literacy Tutoring - Support in Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking for our English Learners with Ms. Seukunian in Room 1211 on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays from 3:15 PM - 4:30 PM. MUST BE SIGNED UP ON https://www.ezchildtrack.com/CDCC/parent

Track and Cardio Team with Mr. Blackshaw and Mr. Garcia on the Field on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:15 PM - 4:30 PM. MUST BE SIGNED UP ON https://www.ezchildtrack.com/CDCC/parent

Varsity Math - Fun Math Enrichment and Problem Solving with Ms. Dzhbrayan in Room 1215 for Grade 6 students on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 3:15 PM - 4:30 PM and with Mrs. Nersisyan in Room 2205 for Grades 7 and 8 on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays from 3:15 PM - 4:30 PM. MUST BE SIGNED UP ON https://www.ezchildtrack.com/CDCC/parent

Craft and Create: Arts and Crafts with Mrs. Berger in Room 1216 on Tuesdays from 3:15 PM - 4:45 PM. MUST BE SIGNED UP ON https://www.ezchildtrack.com/CDCC/parent

Pickleball with Ms. Herington on the Field/Blacktop at Wilson on Wednesdays from 3:15 PM - 4:30 PM. MUST BE SIGNED UP ON https://www.ezchildtrack.com/CDCC/parent

Boys Lacrosse with Mr. Aviles on the Field at Wilson on Tuesdays from 3:15 PM - 5:00 PM. MUST BE SIGNED UP ON https://www.ezchildtrack.com/CDCC/parent

One of the best things you can do as a parent is learn who to contact when you have a question or concern. When you direct your question to the person who can best help you, you will usually receive the fastest and most accurate response.

Here is a quick guide:

• Questions about curriculum, assignments, tests, grades, projects, or classroom concerns: Start with your child's teacher. They are the person who knows your child's classroom experience best. CLICK HERE for our teacher directory.

• If you need additional assistance: Contact your child's counselor or assistant principal based on your child's last name:

• Last Names A–K:

• Mrs. Lucha, Assistant Principal mdagesyan-lucha@gusd.net

• Mrs. Gasparyan, Counselor mgasparyan@gusd.net

• Last Names L–Z:

• Mr. Ledesma, Assistant Principal cledesma@gusd.net

• Mrs. Crabtree, Counselor sarahveliz@gusd.net

• ELD questions: Contact our Teacher Specialist, Mrs. Tashchian atashchian@gusd.net

• Special Education questions: Start with your child's teacher, case carrier, school psychologist, or assistant principal.

• Mrs. Delgado, School Psychologist kdelgado@gusd.net

• Attendance questions: Please contact our main office 818-244-8145 and our attendance clerks.

• Attendance - Ms. Casillas, acasillas@gusd.net

• Attendance - Mrs. Oganesyan, koganesyan@gusd.net

• Student discipline, bullying, or student mental health concerns: Please contact your child's counselor and assistant principal together. They work as a team to support students and families.

• Questions about the library: Contact Mrs. Nevins, enevins@gusd.net

• Questions about the health office: Contact our LVN Mrs. Mireles, jmireles@gusd.net

One Small Request About Email

When emailing teachers and staff, please, please keep your messages brief and to the point.

We receive a very large number of emails every day, and concise messages help us understand your concern and respond more quickly. We sometimes receive very long emails, and by the end, we're not even sure what the main question or concern is.

A simple email explaining your concern in your own words is all we need to get started. Just tell us what is happening, what your concern is, and what you need help with. We will take it from there.

Students: Read at least 10 pages a day! Remember, if you read 10+ pages a day, that’s over 70+ pages a week, which adds up to 280+ pages a month. That means, you’re reading one novel a month, which is pretty amazing if you think about it.

Remember, great things and big things all have small and humble beginnings. Big achievements always start with small steps. Keep on reading your 10 plus pages a day!

Parents: Consider reading the same book as your child and then come together during dinner time to discuss the book. It's a great way to encourage reading and to spend some quality time with the family.

Morning Homework Club sessions are available every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 7:30 AM to 8:15 AM in our library. Come get extra help on your homework from our amazing Wilson teachers! Students must stay inside the library until at least 8:10 AM. After 8:10 AM, they may go to the cafeteria to get breakfast or join their friends and classmates in the quad.

After school Homework Club is available every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. No after school Homework Club on Fridays. After school Homework Club is from 3:10 PM to 4:30 PM. Please arrange for timely pick up and know how long your child will be staying for Homework Club each day.

Promotion and Promotion Activities expectations were shared with students during our Rules Assembly in the first week of school, and our counselors will continue to reinforce them with our 8th graders throughout the school year. You can also find these expectations in our Student Parent Handbook and in student agenda books.

It’s important to note that we will not be making any exceptions for any student who has not met these requirements when we prepare for the 8th grade activities, trips, dances, awards nights, and promotion ceremony. Please review these requirements with your children to ensure they are prepared. We want to see all of our 8th graders promoting and participating in the 8th grade activities.

PROMOTION & PROMOTION ACTIVITY REQUIREMENTS

In order to participate in the school’s 8th grade promotion ceremony and 8th grade activities which include awards ceremonies, theme park trips, the 8th grade dance, the honor roll picnic, and other activities, a student must:

1. Earn a minimum of 100 credits in grades 7 and 8 combined.

2. Receive NO more than two (2) Fs in the second semester of the eighth grade year on the semester report card.

3. Receive NO more than four (4) unsatisfactory (U) citizenship grades during the eighth grade year on the semester report cards. NO more than two (2) unsatisfactory (U) citizenship grades can be received in the second semester of the eighth grade year.

4. Receive NO more than two (2) suspensions in eighth grade and no more than one (1) suspension during second semester of eighth grade.

Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, up to about 25 students may visit Wilson’s Wellness Room in Room 2103. The wellness room is a relaxing space where students can visit to spend some quiet time with other students to play games, do arts and crafts, or read. No food or drinks allowed in the wellness room so be sure to eat your lunch before you visit. The Wilson Library is also open for up to 40 students during snack and lunch daily. Students can either read, play games, or use the quiet space in the library to just relax.

Knights, we’re introducing a new way to recognize students and staff who demonstrate “The Wilson Way” virtues. Teachers and staff members will have a limited number of Wilson Way cards to give out to students who exemplify our core values: Being Responsible, Reflective, and Kind.

How It Works

• Monthly Opportunity Drawing: Each month, Dr. Akhverdyan will hold a raffle where 25 students will be selected to choose a prize from the office, along with 5 staff members.

• Prizes Include:

• A beautiful Wilson Way certificate

• A bag of candy

• Gift cards

• Treasure box items

• A gold Wilson Way pencil

• Drop-Off Locations: You can submit your Wilson Way Cards at various locations around the school:

• Library

• Four Corners blue box

• Main Office

• Directly to the principal or assistant principals, who will place them in the box for you.

Each month, the raffle starts fresh. If you aren’t picked, keep showing those Wilson Way virtues, and submit new cards to increase your chances in the next drawing!

Teacher Appreciation - Students Giving Back!

Students, teachers, and parents can also recognize teachers and staff by giving them Wilson Way Cards when they see our adults demonstrating "The Wilson Way." Write a comment on the back, and your teacher will be entered in a separate staff raffle box for their chance to win a reward. We’ll provide KORT time if you’d like to write a card for a teacher.

With these cards, we’re celebrating the positive contributions of everyone in our school community. Let's have fun with this and recognize all the amazing things that are happening at Wilson! Go Knights!

Parents, your partnership is crucial in fostering responsible social media use and managing screen time at home. At Wilson, we instill in our students the importance of the THINK acronym before engaging online.

THINK prompts reflection, which is one of our Wilson Way virtues: Is what they're posting TRUE? Is it HELPFUL? INSPIRING? NECESSARY? KIND? If not, it's best left unshared, sparing them from potential scrutiny and negativity.

In an era dominated by technology, finding balance between screen time and real-life engagement is paramount. Excessive social media and phone usage can exacerbate anxiety, cyberbullying, and academic challenges.

You, as parents, wield significant influence in guiding your children toward a healthy balance. Foster open dialogue about technology, establish boundaries that prioritize face-to-face interactions, physical activity, and quality family time. Together, we can nurture mindful digital citizenship and well-being among our students.

Supporting Healthy Technology & Social Media Use

Set Clear Expectations

• Establish clear rules for when, where, and how long phones and social media may be used.

• Reinforce that online behavior should meet the same standards as behavior at school or in public.

• Discuss what is appropriate to post, share, or send and REMEMBER: once something is online, it cannot be taken back.

• Remind students that they should never post or send anything they would not want a parent or trusted adult to see.
  
  

Monitor and Limit Social Media Use

• Consider delaying access to social media or limiting the number of platforms students are allowed to use.

• Encourage private accounts and only accepting followers they know personally.

• Students should only communicate online with people they know in real life and should understand that some people online pretend to be someone else.

• Periodically review your child’s accounts and friend lists together.
  
  

Use Parental Controls

• Enable screen-time limits and app restrictions on devices.

• Review privacy and safety settings regularly.

• Parents should know their child’s social media usernames and passwords and have access to devices and apps when needed.

• Require parent permission before downloading apps, games, or software or making online purchases.

• Remove apps that are inappropriate or no longer necessary.
  
  

Support Healthy Sleep and Routines

• Set consistent bedtimes and screen-free time before sleep.

• Charge phones outside of bedrooms overnight to reduce late-night messaging and screen use.

• Respect family rules for technology and understand that screen use should not interfere with sleep, school, or well-being.
  
  

Keep Communication Open

• Talk regularly with your child about what they are seeing and doing online.

• Encourage them to speak up if they encounter content that is uncomfortable, hurtful, or unsafe.

• If students receive inappropriate messages, images, or requests, they should not respond and should tell a parent immediately.

• Emphasize that asking for help is about safety and not punishment.
  
  

Model Healthy Technology Habits

• Children notice adult behavior. Modeling balanced phone use reinforces expectations.

• Make time for device-free family interactions.

Reinforce Consequences

• Follow through with clear, consistent consequences when expectations are not met.

• Logical consequences (temporary loss of phone privileges, reduced screen time) help reinforce responsibility.

• Students should understand that continued misuse of technology may result in loss of device or internet access.
  
  

Stay Informed

• Learn about the platforms your child uses.

• Ask them to explain how apps work. This keeps conversations open and collaborative.

• Reinforce that there are no online secrets from parents when it comes to safety.

Let us please recommit to safe driving practices in and around our schools. Drop-off and pick-up at schools is never fun, can oftentimes be stressful, and traffic is usually an issue, but we really must slow it down to keep our students safe. Give yourself extra time in the morning, and drive safely.

Wilson Parents: Please drive slowly during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up. Give yourself a few extra minutes, stay focused on the road, and remember OUR STUDENTS, YOUR CHILDREN, ARE WALKING. Pay close attention to children on bikes and scooters. Let’s model patience, care, and community for our kids. Send your children to school each morning with positive energy and take a moment to watch this special video message from our students about road safety.

Students will enter/exit through three locations: front of the school, auditorium gate, and Verdugo gate (behind the school).

Drive through lane: Students may be dropped off using the drive-through lane on Monterey Road. Do not drop off students in front of the auditorium, which will cause traffic to build up. Drive forward and use the drop off lane.

Do NOT enter the staff parking lot. Do NOT drop off students in the parking lot.

The drop-off lane needs to move. It is not a parking lane or a waiting lane. It is there so that students can be safely dropped off and the next family can move forward. Please pull forward. Let your child out. Keep moving. If your child is not outside yet, you need to keep moving and loop back around.

We’ve noticed an alarming increase in unsafe riding behaviors among students using electric bikes and scooters, including excessive speeds, dangerous maneuvers, and riding without helmets. This is absolutely unacceptable and dangerous. I don’t ever want to call a parent to tell them their child has been involved in an accident.

Safety is our top priority. While we will contact parents directly when specific students are identified, we want to address this as a broader concern affecting many students.

Please ensure that all riders are adhering to safety guidelines, including wearing helmets at all times and following safe riding practices. Your cooperation is essential to keep our school community safe.

If you have a child who is riding their bike to school, please also talk to them about bicycle safety. Refer to the DMV page to learn more about bicycle safety by CLICKING HERE.

• The cafeteria offers breakfast and lunch daily. All students can receive one FREE breakfast (before school or at snack) and one FREE lunch daily.
• No outside food deliveries.
• Students can bring their own snack/lunch to school.

Zero Tolerance for Hate Speech: Hate speech, defined as abusive or threatening language targeting individuals or groups based on characteristics such as race, religion, disability, gender, or sexuality, is strictly prohibited. This includes any behavior that disrupts the educational environment or causes psychological harm.

Disruption to the Learning Environment: Hate speech disrupts the educational experience by fostering a climate of fear and division. This not only affects the targeted individuals but also negatively impacts the overall sense of community and safety in the school for all students and staff.

Consequences and Intervention: Students found engaging in hate speech will receive counseling and education. Persistent or severe violations will lead to disciplinary actions, including suspension. Parents will be notified of such incidents.

Fostering a Supportive Community: Building a sense of community and togetherness is crucial for creating a safe and inclusive school environment. We will achieve this through classroom education, cultural celebrations, and providing information and education to all community members, ensuring that every student feels valued and supported.

At Wilson, we are proud to continue our important work as a No Place for Hate® school. No Place for Hate is a national initiative through the ADL that empowers students and educators to create inclusive, respectful, and safe learning environments. The goal of No Place for Hate is simple but powerful: to inspire a movement where positive peer influence helps ensure every student feels valued and able to thrive.

Our Wilson students have been collaborating over the past several weeks to create our very own Wilson No Place for Hate Pledge. During lunchtime, all students had the opportunity to sign the pledge and commit to living out our shared values: showing kindness, choosing love, and honoring people of all backgrounds, identities, and religions.

In a world where we still see far too much hate and intolerance, even after humanity’s constant promise of "Never Again, Never Again," it is more important now than ever to be part of a movement like this. Here at Wilson, in our own small corner of the world, we are choosing to say that we understand more, we will do more, and we will always stand up for love and justice for all. How beautiful is it to be part of that promise?

Wilson has so much to be proud of. Our community is rich with diversity. Students and families at Wilson speak 23 different languages! This incredible diversity makes our school stronger, more vibrant, and more connected.

We will continue to uplift one another and promote love, kindness, and respect in all that we do. At Wilson, there is truly No Place for Hate. We value and expect only a place for unity, understanding, and belonging. Go Knights!

Wilson Pledge

I will respect and learn about other cultures and traditions.

I will not judge others for their differences.

I will stand up against bullying and unkindness.

I will help create a school where everyone belongs.

I will make our school a “No Place for Hate” school.

Wilson Middle School provides a supportive environment that fosters academic success, social responsibility, creativity, and reflective thinking in all students.