William J. Johnston School

This school is average I think. It does have many great teachers but some do have an attitude. But the way the teams are set up is organized. Although the school has a great band! But when you look at the building you can tell it is showing its age (some leaks, "on the floor toilets", no a/c, etc.) And sometimes communication between the parents and teachers is poor.

This is a wonderful school. I enjoy attending it everyday. It is very fun. I love it! The only bad thing about it is there is no air conditioning... (the computer lab feels great!) and the bathrooms smell very bad! Lastly, our school is very old, and the eighth grade lockers are so tiny!
--Submitted by a student

WJJMS offers a very positive learning experience for the childen. The teachers work together as a cohesive team creating an interesting and fun learning environment providing a well-rounded education. The curriculum is very broad in scope not bases solely on teaching directed to improve the CMT scores. Students also get the opportunity to participate in a vast variety of activities that foster social and interactive skills.
--Submitted by a parent

WJJMS is a wonderful school. I am a student there and cant say enough good things about it. The teachers are great, they help each student individually, and make the learning experience fun and enjoyable. The school's music program is also a great achievement. Both the music teachers, chorus teacher, and band teachers are very talented and pass their talents down to the students. The school has a track team, many after school programs, and an exceptional art program. The teachers work with us to fit our every need, intrust, and understand what middle school is like. The school also holds dances.
--Submitted by a student

I enjoy WJJMS. I don't know how this other Bonnie came to her opinion, but I personally think that our school system is VERY wonderfuly made. The programs are extremely enjoyable and the staff is very well trained. I think that the team system is wonderful. It gets students to meat with others that they've never met, and it also keeps them from getting lost in the vast crouds. Ontop of that, if the community would give more money to our school system, then maybe we'd have an easier time affording tissues! Seriously, is it the schools fault that we have nearly NO money? I'll leave you to answer that. I'm only in 6th grade and I can write like an adult,so how can you say the staff stinks? Bonnie F.
--Submitted by Bonnie F., a student

William Johnston Middle School is the least attractive of Colchester's 4 public schools. Their reputation amongst parents is poor at best. Part of this, I have no doubt, is that the Colchester Intermediate School is a hard act to follow. Yet parents routinely speak of how their efforts to be involved in, or keep track of, their child's education is rebuffed by school leaders. Their are also constant complaints about teachers not retruning parents' calls as well. The school has some excellent teachers yet the organized team approach often leads to a lack of communication and some of the better teachers haveing smaller roles than they should. The school newsletter though scheduled to does not come out on a regular basis and when it is sent home it is usually quite late. This means that parents, and students alike, often are not infomred of events and other school happenings in a timely manner.
--Submitted by Bonnie Stewart, a parent