Shuksan Middle School

They have a new principal and he is great. Yes, the "make your day" was pretty bad, I hated it too. They have a thing called "think time" and it's WAY better than "make you day", you get plenty of warnings and you get to step out of the class room when you get one. It's a little embarrassing but to me, it's better than facing the wall at the back of the class room feeling embarrassed...All in all, this school is great, they also have Scholar assemblies where you win awards for things like, perfect attendance, pride, and many more. They some times even hand out t shirts with the awards. Most of the teachers are nice and help you out a lot. I especially liked this 7th grade teacher, others said she was strict and mean...she is alittle strict but she gets you prepared for the msp. I thank her for letting me receive my first 12/12 on the writing section of the msp. This school is great.

Awful experience at this school. Can't wait for my child to go back to WMS after the fire reconstruction in the fall. The "Make Your Day" program is a wast of time not to mention a wast of funds to pay the MYD adult's job. Gum chewing? I had to go for a conference before my kid could go back to classes for gum chewing. Not challenging enough for bright kids (mine's an "A" student.) Too many low income families holding back the quick learners. Very sad for those kids. Most don't have family support at home. And to the comment on 10/13/10- they did not open their arms. It was always WMS and SMS. My child did not want to acclimate, and neigher did the friends. Oh, and my child didn't feel safe in the environment...lock downs, knives, fights, threats, disrespect to adults/others, graffiti. On the plus side, it's a new school and the rooms are large and bright. The cafeteria is too small. Student drop off and p/u is amazing, large parking lot and ease to move around.
—Submitted by a parent

They opened their arms to take in the kids that lost their middle school when Whatcom Middle School burned in a fire! Thank you!
—Submitted by a parent

Teachers? Some okay, some good, some bad Administration? Bad, bad, bad. (They ignore the students, and it makes me mad, how they don't think about our problems and beliefs. Blek, they make me gag) Extracurricular activities? Pretty Good.
—Submitted by a student

I disagree with the parent who claimed there is a lack of extracurricular activities. There is a very active music program. Each grade - 6, 7 & 8 - has an active band and there is an orchestra made up of kids from each grade. There is a student leadership program, a drama club, a chess club, and the school participates in a creative writing program through the public library. Sixth grade students who excel in subjects such as math are bumped up into higher levels so that by the 7th and 8th grade they are taking high school level classes both at Shuksan and at Squalicum High. Isn't easy (and a cheap shot) to lay the blame on low-income and minority kids...my first and only question to parents who make these claims is 'when was the last time you volunteered at any activity at Shuksan?'
—Submitted by a parent

I really had a very bad time at this school. As someone ese has said, all of the emphasis is put on the students with lower grades and the trouble students. I for one had alot of potential to grow alot as a person throughout middle school but was held back from that becuase we were put under such strict rules because of the group of students who wernt as ready to move foward. Also, the students who knew the school best, no matter how hard we tried by joing clubs like leadership, never really had a say in anything at all, and most of our ideas ended up being shut down. Overall, i would say that shuksan deffinetly needs alot of work.
—Submitted by a student

As already mentioned, the administration at this school has created a very punitive and negative environment. They don't welcome parent (or student) input or involvement. The focus in the school is placed on low-achieving and problematic students. There are large low-income and minority populations, as compared to the rest of the school district, and the administration is clearly struggling with some of the issues these students bring with them to school. There isn't a lot to offer to students who excel academically and who use appropriate behavior and follow school rules. It's all stick, and no carrot. The extra curricular activities are all sports; no art, book clubs, anime groups, music, drama, etc. Very disappointing. Some teachers, on the other hand, are excellent and are doing the best they can given the circumstances at the school. Overall, we not impressed.
—Submitted by a parent

this school is very organised and the teachers, counclers,and the principal, Mr.Mark make it so that you want to go to school. Because they all make it fun while learning a great deal of things.
—Submitted by a student

I recieved great support from teachers and counselors from this school but wasnt too satisfied with the assistant principal
—Submitted by a parent

The teachers and vice principal at this school are so negative that you can feel it when you walk in the building. If you walk the hallways, you can hear the teachers yelling.
—Submitted by a parent

I have a child with special needs and although his needs require less 'extra' help from the teaching staff than other students, my son was never pushed aside when help was needed. He went to school before with a sense of dread and a feeling of being less than, stupid. My son was encouraged beyond belief and I feel that he learned more in one school year than he had learned in all of his previous years combined! The teaching staff of Shuksan Middle School is one of the best that we have ever encountered. We have had our children in privet schools, other public schools, and schools overseas. Discipline is handled in the utmost professional manner and the safety of the students is clearly number one both on and off campus. The open door policy with each member of the staff is a large contributing factor for its success.
—Submitted by a parent