Mustang Message

Greetings, Mustang Students, Parents, and Guardians,

A warm welcome to the 2023-2024 school year at William Mendenhall Middle School! We are thrilled to announce that we have a new administrative team on board and would like to take this opportunity to introduce ourselves.

I am Erik Bear Taylor, the new principal of William Mendenhall Middle School. I am genuinely excited to become a part of the Mustang community and am eager to foster positive relationships within our school community. My primary goal is to support our students' academic and social-emotional growth. Over the last two decades, I have been actively involved in education and administration within the LVJUSD. My experience includes teaching at both middle and high school levels, serving as a District Integrated Technology Specialist, and working as a vice principal at Christensen Middle School and Livermore High School. Most recently, I had the privilege of being the principal at Del Valle Continuation High School. My academic background includes a Bachelor of Arts in History with a minor in English from California State University, Chico, and a Master of Arts in Educational Technology Leadership from California State University, East Bay. I am looking forward to working collaboratively with students, parents, and guardians to create an inspiring and nurturing learning environment.

My name is Garrett Fitch and I will be starting as the new Vice Principal at Mendenhall this coming school year. I have spent the past 12 years as a teacher and administrator in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District. My first 8 years, I taught varying levels of math and served as an admin TSA at Iron Horse Middle School in San Ramon. After those wonderful years, I decided to pursue a new challenge and became an Assistant Principal and held that position for the past 4 school years at Charlotte Wood Middle School in Danville. I received my undergrad from Life Pacific University and attended Brandman University and National University for my teaching and admin credentials. In this new role my ultimate hope is to make deep and meaningful connections with staff, students, and parents. Something I live by is knowing that each person I come in contact with deserves to be seen, known, and loved. I am so excited to start this work!

Dear Parents, Guardians, and Students,

On behalf of the entire William Mendenhall Middle School community, it is with great joy and enthusiasm that we extend a heartfelt welcome to each and every one of you!

As we embark on a new school year, we are thrilled to open our doors to both familiar faces and newcomers alike. Whether you're starting your middle school journey with us or continuing the adventure, know that you are an integral part of our tightly-knit family.

At William Mendenhall Middle School, we embrace the values of Be Safe, Be Responsible, and Be Respectful, fostering a culture of inclusivity and kindness. Our mission is to create responsible, independent, and collaborative learners, preparing our students to thrive in a changing world.

With a formal yet friendly atmosphere, our school is committed to providing exceptional academic opportunities to help students reach their full potential. From engaging classroom experiences to a wide array of extracurricular activities, the opportunities for growth and exploration are boundless. Whether your passion lies in athletics, clubs, music, or leadership, there's something here for everyone!

We take great pride in our achievements as a school, having been recognized as a 2023 Schools to Watch, and earning accolades like the 2022 PBIS Gold Award and the 2022 Pivotal Practice Award. These achievements reflect our dedication to nurturing not only academic excellence but also the social-emotional well-being of our students.

Moreover, we are delighted to offer the support of an on-site school counselor, ensuring that our students' well-being remains at the forefront of our priorities.

As you step onto the William Mendenhall Middle School campus, be prepared for a journey filled with knowledge, friendship, and personal growth. We are excited to watch you flourish, and we assure you that our teachers and staff are here to guide, support, and celebrate your successes every step of the way.

Welcome to the Mustang Nation!

Erik Bear Taylor

Principal, William Mendenhall Middle School

Mustang Arena will be held outside the MPR.

Please park on the street or walk and enter through the center El Padro Gate.

Students with the last names beginning with A-L plan to arrive between 9:00 am - 12:00 pm.

Students with the last name beginning with M-Z plan to arrive between 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm.

Schedule Pick-Up will be in front of the Exercise Room

PE Clothes Pick-UP will be in front of the locker rooms. PE Clothes can be purchased through the PTSA Webstore. Your purchases can be picked up during the Mustang Arena. Please bring your receipt and sizes can be adjusted at time of pick up. Volunteers: PTSA needs help on August 14th. Here is the link to sign up, please consider signing up for a spot to help out.

Student Pictures will be in the MPR. Pictures will be used for yearbook and student ID's. Students ID's will be required to check out books from the library, dance tickets, breakfast and lunch.

Yearbook for the 2023-2024 will be available for pre-sale. More information is below!

If you are not able to attend the Mustang Arena please stop by our office August 15th to the 21st. Our office hours beginning on August 14th will be 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. Our phone number is (925) 606-4737.

Attention all 6th graders and new students. We are very excited you are joining our Mustang Nation!!! To help with the transition we will be offering a 6th grade orientation on August 15th. We will be offering two sessions. The first session is from 9:00-11:00 and the second session is from 12:00-2:00. Both sessions will take place at Mendenhall in or near the Multipurpose Room depending on weather. Students can be dropped off on El Padro street. Students only need to attend one session. During each session students will be welcomed and introduced to members of our 6th grade teaching team as well as students from 7th and 8th grade. Students will also be given a tour of campus and much more. Water will be available during the orientation but we encourage students to bring reusable water bottles. Students are welcome to bring their own snacks as well since they will not be provided.

To help organize the day we are asking that you sign up and let us know what session you would prefer. Please complete the form by 3:00 pm August 10th.

Please let me know if you have any questions and we look forward to seeing you on August 15th.

Order your copy now of Mendenhall's 2024 yearbook, The Mustang Round Up, and take advantage of the back to school special ! This special is good through the first week of school and ends August 26th.

To order: go to https://www.yearbookordercenter.com/ using Mendenhall's school code 16440. Your child will not yet be in the yearbook system, but simply click "Add a New Name" when prompted and please use your child's school-registered name.

In addition, 8th grade parents can start designing their 8th grade tribute ads now! Click here for more information.

Questions? Please email Dr. Fidler, yearbook adviser: ccardinale-fidler@lvjusd.org

Our district will be emailing you the yearly PowerSchool Annual Update. Completing your student’s annual update is essential for ensuring parent and emergency contact information is up to date which will ensure you receive all important communications sent from teachers, principals, and our district office.

August Office Hours: Our office will reopen to the public on Monday, August 7, 2023. and will be open from 9:00am - 4:00pm.

Hours will resume to regular hours on Monday, August 14, 2023 from 8:00 am - 4:00 pm.

Website: https://www.livermoreschools.org/mendenhall
Location: 1701 El Padro Drive, Livermore, CA, USA
Phone: (925) 606-4731