A Message from the Principal
 
Willow Springs Middle School Principal Newsletter - October 20, 2016

 
 
 
 
 
 
   
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Dear WSMS Parents and Guardians,
 
 
Fall is finally here, enjoy it while you can-it doesn't last long in North Texas. Our teachers and students continue to work hard as we move into the tenth week of school. With the first grading period behind us, this is usually the time of year that students are settled into campus routines and class expectations. Please continue to work with your son or daughter to build ownership and responsibility in their learning. I have heard great feedback from our teachers and staff about students checking PowerSchool, visiting course websites, and following up with teachers about their learning. If you need any additional information about your student's performance in class, please do not hesitate to contact his or her teacher, counselor, or assistant principal.
 
We are looking forward to a great Red Ribbon Week with our students and staff next week. Have a great weekend.
 
    
Sincerely,
Kent Messer
Principal
Willow Springs Middle School
1101 West Lucas Rd, Lucas 75002
Office: 469-742-8417
Mobile: 214-293-9938
@WSMSLovejoyISD
#wsmslovejoy


Club Day - Tomorrow, October 21
Tomorrow is Club Day and we will be on an activity bell schedule. For copy of the activity bell schedule, please go here . Students participating in the Extreme Club must wear a helmet. Students who are in the K9 and Kritters Club must have permission from the counseling office before bringing an animal to school. Students may leave their equipment for Guitar Club, Extreme and Remote Control Club in the front office.
 

Orchestra Concert - Monday, October 24
Our Orchestra Fall Concert is quickly approaching on Monday, October 24th. All orchestras are working very hard on preparing this music to you and we are looking forward to our performance! Our concert is currently set to be in the courtyard at Lovejoy High School starting at 6:30 p.m. Audience members will need to bring chairs and/or blankets to sit on during the concert. You are welcome to bring snacks and drinks to enjoy during the performance. If we have bad weather that night, we will move the concert in to the gym and the start time will be 7 p.m. instead of 6:30.
 
Red Ribbon Week - October 24 - 28
There will be activities and games throughout the week, to promote drug and alcohol abuse prevention. Please click here to see this year's daily themes!
 
 
WSMS Presents Parent Session/ Drug Prevention - Tuesday, October 25
WSMS invites parents throughout Lovejoy ISD to join them on Tuesday, October 25th from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM in the WSMS gym for a parent presentation on drug prevention. During Lovejoy's Red Ribbon Week, one of our own community members, Susan Hoemke, will be presenting on her own unexpected journey:
 
Our Unexpected Journey: Helping You Be Prepared
We would like to share our son Hayden's story and our dark journey through his downward spiral into drug use, addiction and legal issues. Our seemingly perfect family life came to an abrupt end when we found ourselves unprepared and uneducated to manage these issues. We were ashamed, embarrassed, and felt very alone. We lost our sweet beloved son, Hayden, in 2014 just before his 23rd birthday and on our 28th wedding anniversary. Our experience was very unfortunate and one we wish no parent would experience - sadly many will and are today. As Hayden's parents, one way for us to bring some light to this darkness is to tell others of our experience in hopes to provide you with some knowledge how drug abuse can start, what to watch for, and tools to plan and be prepared.
 
 
Pep Rally - Wednesday, October 26
Wednesday, October 26 we are having a pep rally in our main gym. We will be on our pep rally bell schedule. Please click here for the bell schedule. All parents are welcome to attend and are encouraged to park in a parking space not designated as a fire lane in the front parking lot to enter and sign-in through the front office.
 
 
UT Dallas After School Coding Club Comes to WSMS! - Wednesday, October 26
Beginning October 26th, UT Dallas will host an after school Coding Club here at WSMS. Please click here for more details and click here  to sign up . The cost of this 10-week club is $70.
 
 
8th Grade Service Learning Project - Sign ups begin Friday, October 28th!
As part of the LISD Graduate Profile, to "work for justice through community service," our students at WSMS participate in campus wide community service projects every year. All 8th Graders and teachers will participate in this off campus event on Wednesday, November 16th. Over the next two weeks, our 8th Graders will get more information about how to sign up for the community service project that interests them.
 
 
Wednesday, November 16th - 8th Grade Students will arrive on campus and be transported by bus to their designated community service location. Students will need to wear a red shirt, dress for the location selected, bring a sack lunch and wear comfortable shoes. Students and teachers will return to campus by 2:00 p.m. that same day.
 
8TH GRADE PARENTS: Response Required!
 
Please click here and respond to the required parent forms
 
 
Reflections Entry Deadline - Friday, October 28
This year's theme is "WHAT IS YOUR STORY." There are six arts categories-dance choreography, film production, literature, musical composition, photography and visual arts. Students may enter the Reflections program in one or more arts categories with no limit to the amount of entries in a single category. Everyone that enters will be recognized. Winning artwork will move on to compete against other Lovejoy schools! The deadline for all entries is October 28th. Please go here for the student entry form and go here for more information about Reflections, rules and special entries. Please note, Reflections is now a PTA member benefit.
 
 
Yearbook Early Order Deadline - Friday, October 28
There is still more time to order your WSMS Yearbook at the lowest price of the year of $40.00. Yearbook may be purchased online only by electronic check, Pay Pal, debit, or credit card. For more information, please click here . The price will go up to $50.00 after October 29 .
 
 
Principal's Coffee - Tuesday, November 1
I would like to invite you to our upcoming Principal's Coffee, on Tuesday, November 1 at 9:00 a.m. The Principal's Coffee is a forum discussion for all 7th and 8th grade parents to visit with me about the middle school experience over a cup of coffee. During the discussion, I will provide information about the overall 7th and 8th grade experience at Willow Springs and answer any questions you may have. Attending parents are encouraged to park in the front parking lot to enter and sign-in through the front office.
 
 
7th Grade Hearing /Vision Screenings - November 3 and November 4
Thursday, November 3 and Friday, November 4, WSMS nurses will be performing the required State Hearing/Vision screenings on all 7th grade students. If your child wears glasses or contacts, please make sure they bring them to school on those dates.
 
 
Spelling Bee Tryouts - Thursday, November 3
Willow Springs Middle School will be hosting our 10th Annual Spelling Bee on November 17 at 9:30 a.m. in the cafeteria. Spelling Bee tryouts will be on Thursday, November 3 after school. All 7th grade participants will tryout in room C601/Mrs. Ream's room; 8th grade participants will tryout in room C605/Mrs. Heid's room. Tryouts will begin at 4:05 p.m. in room C601 and C605. (No make up tryouts will be held, so make sure to come if you are interested!) Students must participate within their appropriate grade level, and the top six spellers from each grade, and one alternate from each grade, will be advance to the campus wide Spelling Bee on November 17.
 
 
Deadline Fast Approaching! Your Student Could Win a $25 Cinemark Gift Card!
This year's WSMS Battle of the Books offers students a chance to compete against their teachers and win a $25 Cinemark card. We currently have THREE teacher teams ready to challenge students, so encourage your students to participate. Student teams can have 1-4 members. The deadline to register is November 4! Click here  for the official rules, and stop by the library to get registered.


Campus Information and Reminders

Safety Corner
Willow Springs Middle School is equipped with security cameras inside and outside the building. The interior cameras provide views of all hallways, gyms, and the cafeteria; while the exterior cameras provide views of the building periphery and entrances.


State Attendance Requirements
Attendance is crucial to the success of your child in school. Although we know that students will get sick or other challenges may arise during the school year, consistent and timely school attendance is of the utmost importance. Our state legislature has enacted a new set of laws intended to encourage school attendance. For a copy of the updated attendance laws, please click here.
WSMS All Region Orchestra Audition Results
We are very proud to announce the outstanding results for our WSMS students.
 
Violin
Richard Dunham - 20th Chair
Jacob Beets - 39th Chair
Jordan Watson - 41st Chair
Maddie Clancy - 60th Chair
 
Cello
Mark Wen, cello - 8th Chair
Jakob Underwood - 19th Chair
 
Bass
Lauryn Watanabe, bass - 4th Chair
Stone Scalf - 1st Alternate


Bringing Your Student Lunch  
As a reminder, parents can bring a lunch of their choice to their own son or daughter but are prohibited under the Texas Administrative Code to bring lunch for other students. For example, we have had parents bring Chick-fil-a for their son and three of his friends. This is a violation of the Texas Administrative Code. In addition, if a parent brings food for other students, the parents of the other student may object to their child being provided a lunch from an outside restaurant due to diet or medical concerns of their child.
 
In the future, if a parent brings lunch for more than one student, we will inform the parent that WSMS and LISD are only permitted to allow parents to deliver food for their own student. Thank you for your cooperation in supporting the nutrition and safety of our students.
 
 
8th Grade Parents - Texas Student Success Initiative
Last Friday, we mailed a letter and brochure to all 8th grade parents regarding the Texas Student Success Initiative (SSI). The SSI details grade advancement requirements for students in grades 5 and 8. After reviewing this information, if you have any questions about SSI, please contact your student's counselor, Kathy Stone (A-K) or Kay Bordelon (L-Z).
 
 
Students feeling under the weather?
As you know, it is prime cold and flu season. To help best manage our students and to keep in line with the policy in the Student Handbook, if students are not feeling well at school, they need to be checked out through the school clinic. The student must be fever free (Temperature of 99.9 or less for 24 hours without the use of over the counter medications to keep the temperature down) and must NOT have vomited or had diarrhea in the last 24 hours. Thank you for your attention to this important matter.


Athletics

WSMS Girls Basketball Tryouts
 
8th Grade
Oct. 31: 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
Nov. 1: 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
Nov. 3: 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
 
7th Grade
Oct. 31: 3:25 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Nov. 1: 3:25 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Nov. 3: 3:25 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
 
8th grade will practice in the mornings and 7t h grade will practice in the afternoons.
 
7th grade games are on Monday nights ( exception is Tuesday, January 17 ) . 8th grade will play on Thursdays.
 
 
WSMS Boys Basketball Tryouts
7th Grade:
Nov. 2: 1st period and 4:30-6:00 PM
Nov. 3: 7:00 am thru 1st period
Nov. 4: 5:30-7:00 PM
 
8th Grade:
Nov.2: 6:00-7:30 PM
Nov. 3: 8th period until 5:00 pm
Nov. 4: 8th period until 5:30 pm
 
The boys need to bring shorts, a t-shirt, and basketball shoes for tryouts. They do not need to bring a basketball.
 
The boys that make the team will have a follow up parent meeting on November 7th at the LHS cafeteria at 6:00 PM.


WSMS PTA

WSMS PTA Volunteering Opportunities! Want to help at WSMS but not sure how or where??
PT-Ave is a one stop shop for volunteer opportunities at WSMS. By following this link you will find all the ways you can support WSMS for the month of October!
 
Needs for the remainder of the month of October are:
 
Thursday Teacher Copies
 
Letter Writing Campaign Contributions
 
CAT (Center of Academic Training)
 
Our feature volunteer area this week is our CAT! The CAT (Center for Academic Training) serves two main purposes.
 
First, it provides a place for all students at Willow Springs to go before school, after school, or during lunch to receive extra help on their classwork, homework, or projects. Along with help from certified personnel, the CAT has many resources available to all students such as computers, supplies, textbooks, and study aides.
 
Second, the CAT is also the source for retesting for all students.
Some students require oral reading of assessments, and this is when we need volunteers to help read to students.
 
Additionally, we need volunteers to help manage students during lunch times, 11:15 - 1:20, each day. This may include monitoring the testing side to make sure it is a conducive environment for testing, or it could be working with students who need extra help (keys to assignments are available).
 
Your help is vital to the effective running of the CAT and is very much appreciated by all of the staff members.
 
 
WSMS Letter Writing Campaign
We need your help for an upcoming opportunity to let our teachers and staff know how much our Lovejoy ISD community values them and what an impact each one has on our children! The district provides an extra check for teachers the day before Thanksgiving break. In addition to those checks, again this year we would love to include a hand written letter from Lovejoy ISD families expressing gratitude and appreciation to each teacher and staff on your campus.

We would be so grateful if you could write a letter or letter(s) to any teacher or teacher(s)/staff, either current or past, that have been valuable to your child(ren)'s educational experience. Please clearly label the envelope with the staff/teacher's name and LLC (Lovejoy Letter Campaign) and return the letter to the front office by Friday November 11th.

The letter campaign has become such a meaningful tradition, we really appreciate the time and effort your contributions will make again to this year's letter campaign.

Sincerely,
Kasey Havens [email protected]
Lovejoy Letter Campaign WSMS Coordinator  


District and Other News


LHS Choir/Coffee House - Saturday, October 22
You won't want to miss some of the best talent the Lovejoy High School Choir has to offer at "Coffee House" on Saturday, October 22nd at 5:00 PM in the LHS Courtyard. "Coffee House" will feature A Cappella, the Varsity Muses, Limelight (WSMS), Centerstage (WSMS), and talented soloists from the LHS choir. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets to the LHS Courtyard to enjoy some wonderful music under the stars. The LHS Choir Booster Club will be selling beverages and sweet treats, so make sure you also have some cash on hand. In the event of rain, "Coffee House" will take place in the LHS Cafeteria.
 
 
Lovejoy Preschool PTA Holiday Bazaar - Sunday, October 23
The Lovejoy Preschool PTA is hosting a holiday bazaar, with a Kendra Scott Trunk show, on October 23rd. Click here for detailed information.
 
 
E-Waste Recycling Event - Saturday, October 29
Lovejoy High School has arranged for an e-waste recycling day on Saturday, October 29 from 9 AM - Noon in the LHS parking lot. It is the perfect time to start gathering electronic items you would like to dispose of. Please click RECYCLE for additional information regarding the e-waste collection.
 
 
Rudolph Run: December 3/ School Registration Deadline: November 1
The Rudolph Run is one of Allen's most exciting holiday 5Ks and takes place on Main Street in downtown Allen. The event begins with a non-competitive, one-mile run and concludes with the USATF-registered 5K Rudolph Run. Chip timing is used to determine race results of participants. Also, there is an overall male/female Master's division for 50+ winners. This is a family-friendly event open to all ages and skill levels.
 
You may help a Lovejoy PE department earn money by registering through the Rudolph Run's "School Registration Only" page. For each registration, $5.00 will be donated to the Lovejoy campus (PE department) of your choice. Click here to register.
 
 
LHS Girls Soccer Presents Parent's Night Out - Friday, November 4
The LHS Girls Soccer Team is hosting a community Parent's Night out on November 4th, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Click here for additional information.
 
 
STAR PARTY: November 7
Puster Elementary, along with the Texas Astronomical Society, will host a star party on November 7th. Viewing will begin at 6:00 PM and end at approximately 9:00 PM. Join us as we explore the stars, moon, planets, the Andromeda Galaxy, and many exciting objects in the Milky Way. Parking will be available in the front lot. You may enter through the front doors where signs will direct you to the courtyard and back parking lot where viewing will take place. Access to the back parking lot will not be available via the driveway. The Puster PTA will provide hot chocolate. In the event the skies are overcast on the 7th, a back-up date of November 11th is planned.