Joaquin Moraga Intermediate School

School here is awesome!! And I'm just a sixth grader. Everyone (well most) of the teachers here are super nice. Especially the counselors, Mrs. Herbert and Mrs. Felt. Our principal, Mrs. Danilson, is super nice. Everyone gives you support and it's fun learning here at JM.

Hey, I'm only in 6th grade, and I love school. It's like I'm in my element and it's fun to learn at J.M.
--Submitted by a student

This school was wonderful in helping my son mature. There are indeed rules but for the most part the rules are not unreasonable or onerous. The teachers help the students learn to handle increasing responsibility for their own performance. Their student counselor is wonderfully supportive in helping children over rough spots with school (or life). My only wish was that there was a GATE program.
--Submitted by a parent

I love Joaquin Moraga Intermediate school. I loved that the faculty and staff have gone to great lengths to stress academics, responsibility and friendship amoung the children. Both of my children were throughly prepared for HS and have excelled in their academics-A+and sports. Yes, there are rules, as with any school. The emphasis is placed on learning, not fashion moments or social agenda's. What my children have taken away from this school is their confidence in their academics skill, the love for the arts, heathy sports involvement and socially well adapted to succeed in H.S.
--Submitted by a parent

We moved to Moraga in July of 2007 because everyone we talked to raved about the schools. We moved out of Moraga 9 months later because of the poor schooling there.
--Submitted by a parent

We think that this school is a good school but sometimes they give the students the consequences they don't even deserve.. We think Jm is very unreasonble sumtimes. The principal is so used to elementary school that he's treating us like kindergarteners. JM has very good extra curricular activities though. we have lunchtime activities, contests, and we can sit outside anywhere we want for lunch. and we also have a magazine drive tht if you get a certain amount of orders u can go in a limo and go to lunch wherever you want. JM has some good teachers like Ms. Forster, Ms josephson, Mrs, Hoppock, Mr.Gruen, Mr. Flaig(sometimes), Mrs. Warmboe(kinda boring sumtimes), Mrs. Thompson, Mr. Lorie, Sra. Contreras, Mrs Felt(amazing counselor and thts about it for good teachers. The safety is pretty good. And you have their attention and they listen to you sometimes. Jm is a good school!
--Submitted by a student

It is too early to see what the 3rd principal in 3 years can accomplish at JM, but clearly last year's principal was making meaningful curriculum changes before she became ill. I will be very unhappy if Mr. Burns does not follow through. Also, among other issues involving teacher competence, 'differentiated instruction' is failing some of the brightest students. My 2nd child will start JM next fall.
--Submitted by a parent

I'm not thrilled about the trends I am seeing in the school this year after the departure of Mrs Mikes. There is a new focus on Rules Enforcement that is focusing on the petty (minor dress code violations, long lists of forbidden behaviors at dances) rather than the important (education, learning personal responsibility). The enforcement of the Dress Code is most galling as it takes a big problem - girls who see self-worth only in their appearance - and reinforces it by showing that to the teachers at least it is true that appearances matter most and that people do judge you by how you look/dress. Really, this middle school is a blot on the otherwise pristine record of the Moraga School District. But, the teaching staff has improved since my oldest started 5 years ago. My third child starts next fall at JM and we will see how it goes.
--Submitted by a parent

JM currently does not adequately prepare students for high school. The change in leadership should improve teacher apathy and the general attitude that a student can just coast through their three years at this school. The departure of the previous administrator is a step in the right direction. Focus needs to be placed on strong academics and differentiated teaching to reach all students. There is no GATE program which is a travesty in such an academically minded community.
--Submitted by a parent

Our new principal, Mrs. Mikes, is working hard to make our school a better place with more interesting electives. Students like her because of her enthusiasim and she is interested in what we care about.
--Submitted by a student