Willow Springs Middle School


A Message from the Principal
WSMS Principal Newsletter, October 13, 2021
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Dear WSMS Parents and Guardians,

Thank you to those who were able to join me yesterday during lunch to discuss the happenings at Willow Springs Middle School so far this school year.  If you were not able to attend, you can view the video of the discussion and dialogue hereLast year during a Zoom parent presentation, we had a local counselor present on how to manage social media and monitor the devices of our kids.  Many of you requested to view that video and I have attached it here.

I create a video each Monday to share pertinent information with students.  One piece of information I shared with them this week was that we will no longer allow food delivery services (Uber Eats, DoorDash, etc.) to be delivered to Willow Springs.  We are having students have them deliver food to the courtyard which allows the drivers to have access to our students.  We do have adults (teachers, admin, security, etc) in the courtyard, but this is not a safe practice.  Please discuss with your child if you feel it necessary.

Friday, October 22 is Leopard Friday and an early release day.   We will have our annual Career Day that morning.  Students filled out an interest inventory today at school.  Based on that inventory they will be assigned to four rotations in which they will hear presenters from a variety of industries speak.  This year we have almost 50 presenters who will join us.  

Last year we began dismissing students a little differently on early release days than in years past.  We will continue to use the same release schedule this year.  At 12:10 PM any student who does not want to eat lunch in the cafeteria or does not ride the bus, can be picked up.  So, our car line that day will begin at 12:10 PM.  If a student rides the bus or wants to eat lunch in the cafeteria, they will go to the cafeteria at 12:10 PM.  Buses will leave campus at 12:45 PM as scheduled.  You may also pick up your child at 12:45 PM in the car line if they stay to have lunch.

Have a great week and enjoy the cooler weather! 


Willow Springs Proud,



Kevin
Kevin Parker
Principal
1101 West Lucas Rd, Lucas 75002
Office: 469-742-8417
Mobile: 469-667-2280
@WSMSLovejoyISD
#wsmslovejoy
New and Updated Information
LOCATION CHANGE - “Stop The Bleed” Student Training 
Welcome to the “Willow Springs “Stop The Bleed” training program.  This program is a difference maker and will allow students to possess a critical skill set that can be carried with them throughout their entire lives.  Stop The Bleed training allows students to learn how to administer initial care in a life threatening situation to an injured individual.
 
Although this training is not mandatory for our students, we are required by state law (86RHB496) to offer it to all students in grade levels 7-12.  If you choose to sign your child up for this free training, keep in mind they will be exposed to photographs of injured individuals that will contain severe injuries.  Students will learn how to tend to laceration, broken bones, puncture wounds, etc.  Students will also learn skills such as applying a tourniquet, applying pressure to injuries and bandaging an injured individual.
 
Our safety and security foundation is built on the “Force Multiply” concept.  We believe in empowering our teachers, staff members, students, parents and community members with knowledge that can save lives!
 
If you would like to register your child for this training, please click on the link below.  Each class is limited to 40 spots.  The sessions will be led by LISD security personnel.  Participating students should report to the CHOIR ROOM after dismissal.
 
 


UPDATED! WSMS Student Spirit Shirts
Great News!  Our pre ordered student spirit shirts have arrived.  Students may stop by the old school store to pick theirs up during their lunch period on Friday, October 15th.


REMINDER! Parent Portal Update Needed - PAST DUE
The PowerSchool ParentPortal is now open for you to complete the online Enrollment & Student Information Forms. As of today there are still 325 students whose forms need to be completed. Please click here to access the Parent Portal. Completion of these forms is required every year for every student. Please take a few minutes to update your contact information and other forms. These must be completed by September 30th.


NEW! WSMS Garden Club - October 16
WSMS Student Garden Club will meet this Saturday morning from 9-Noon.  We need to transplant several plants, clean up some beds after summer and pull weeds.

Interested parents can either contact Lisa Wilkins or Mrs. Perez. Anyone who helps can get NJHS credit hours. We will meet either in the front entrance area or in the back by raised beds.


NEW! Early Release & Career Day - October 22
Our Career Day this year will also fall on an Early Release Day.  School will dismiss at 12:10 p.m., but for those who would like to have lunch at school or need to ride the bus home, they will go to the cafeteria.  Buses will begin running at 12:45pm.  Please click here for a copy of the schedule.


NEW! Red Ribbon Week - October 25-29
Willow Springs will be celebrating Red Ribbon Week October 25-29. Please encourage your child to participate in daily themes to show our pride and commitment to living a drug-free life! Here is a list of daily themes:


NEW! WSMS Presents Getting To Know...Rodgers and Hammerstien’s Cinderella - October 28-30
Please join us in revisiting the classic childhood tale of wishes, glass slippers, and happily ever
afters, as Willow Springs Middle School proudly presents Getting to Know...Rodgers and
Hammerstien’s Cinderella. This show will be presented October 28, 29, and 30, 2021 at 7 pm.

Getting to Know Rodgers and Hammerstien’s Cinderella is a youth, one-act adaptation of the
Tony Award winning Broadway Musical with all the same beloved characters and songs,
including “In My Own Little Corner '' and “Impossible”.

Tickets are $8 for students, seniors, and staff and $12 for adults. Tickets will be on sale October
18th through our Online Box Office: www.TinyURL.com/LovejoyBoxOffice We encourage our
audiences to buy in advance for the best seating options. Come join us for this classic fairy tale
at the Lovejoy High School Auditorium at: 2350 Estates Parkway, Lucas, Texas.


Reminders From The Nurse
Parents...

To keep all of our students safe, please partner with us and monitor your child for the following symptoms BEFORE sending them to school. 

  • Feeling feverish or a measured temperature greater than or equal to 100.0 degrees
  • Loss of taste or smell
  • Cough
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Shortness of breath
  • Headache
  • Chills
  • Sore throat
  • Shaking or exaggerated shivering
  • Significant muscle pain or ache
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea/Vomiting
  • Fatigue
  • Congestion or runny nose
 
If your student is not feeling well, please keep them at home and email your child’s assistant principal. Please also keep them home, contact the nurse, and their assistant principal if your student receives a lab positive COVID test.

Nurse Young gretchen_young@lovejoyisd.net or by phone at (469) 742-8420. 
 
Carol Vik Carol_Vik@lovejoyisd.net - Attendance/PEIMS Clerk

Rebecca May Rebecca_May@lovejoyisd.net - Assistant Principal for students whose last name begins with the letters A-Le.
 
Rachael Merrick Rachael_Merrick@lovejoyisd.net - Assistant Principal for students whose last name begins with the letters Li-Z.

If there is a positive case of COVID in your child's classroom, we will send an email to let you know. Lovejoy ISD will maintain our current COVID-19 dashboard by each campus on the website. Numbers will be updated at the end of each day. We are also required to notify the Health Department and the TEA of positive cases in our schools.
 
Please click here for the most up to date information regarding LISD’s 2021-2022 Health and Safety Measures.


Campus Reminders
October Nutrition Newsletter
Click here to view this month’s newsletter.


Developing Student Ownership in Learning
One of our goals is to work with students to build ownership and responsibility in their own learning. Consider having your student make first contact with his/her teachers by emailing them about assignments and/or tests. For example, if your student has not completed a homework assignment or a test, please encourage your student to do the following:

  • Log into Power School to determine what test/assignment is missing.
  • Go to the Google Classroom to print off and complete the assignment and/or any test preparation materials
  • Email their teacher and ask questions about the assignment or missing work
  • Talk to their teacher about the missing assignment or test
  • Know how and where to turn in the assignment or complete the test


 WHY ATTENDANCE MATTERS

How important is it for kids to be in school? 
School attendance is a baseline factor in determining school success. 
A missed school day is a missed opportunity for students to learn. 
Regular attendance fosters a classroom connection between teachers and students. 
Attending school also provides time for social interactions with peers. 

Did you know that?
  • Attendance is the most significant driver in the funding Lovejoy ISD receives from the state each year? 
  • A 3% reduction in the yearly average daily attendance (ADA) can cause the district to lose $800,000 in funding. 
  • An increase of 1% in the yearly ADA can fund 3 teachers’ salaries. 
  • Although it may seem insignificant that the district loses $50 a day when a student is absent, consider the impact when 250 students are absent across the district and the district loses $12,500. Multiply that by 15 days and it is a loss of $187,500. The impact is significant.
  • Attendance taken at 10 AM determines the ADA funding that Lovejoy ISD receives for that date. If the student is on campus at that time, LISD receives approximately $50.00 per student. If a student is absent, ADA is lost.



PowerSchool App
The PowerSchool app is available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. You use the same PowerSchool online login. Enter the District code NJBC.

LISD Calendar
Please go here for LISD calendars.


WSMS PTO
Thanks to Robertson Orthodontics and many of you, we served Rudy’s BBQ to the teachers and staff at WSMS last week. We appreciate the support of the PTO and our teachers!
 
Volunteers Needed
The WSMS student Garden Club needs help tending the beds this Saturday from 9-noon. Donuts and NJHS credits available. Contact Lisa Wilkins (lisarosewilkins@yahoo.com) or Mrs. Perez (Jennifer_perez@lovejoyisd.net) if you’re interested.
 
Principal Month
Watch your email for information on how you can help show love to Mr. Parker during National Principal Month.
 
Parent Programs
It was great to see some of you at yesterday’s Principal Talk with Mr. Parker! 
 
 
Substance Abuse: Emerging Drug Trends with Misty Harris (Substance Abuse Counselor for the Collin County Substance Program) – October 26 at 1:00pm via Zoom (link to be shared prior to program)
 
 
Next membership meeting: November 9


   
Warm Regards,
 
Christy Forte'
WSMS PTO President
2021-2022
https://willowspringsmspto.wixsite.com/willowspringspto
Athletics
Middle School Sports Tickets for Home Games
To purchase a ticket for this week's home volleyball or football games, please click here.


WSMS Volleyball vs Rockwall Williams 10/7/21
7th Grade
A Team - Won
B Team -  Won
C Team - Lost
 
8th Grade
A Team - Won
B Team - Won
C Team - Won
 
 
WSMS Football vs Rockwall Utley 10/5/21
7th Grade
Black Team - Won
Red Team - Won
 
8th Grade
Black Team - Won
Red Team - Won
 
WSMS Football vs Rockwall Williams 10/12/21
7th Grade
Black Team - Won
Red Team - Won
 
8th Grade
Black Team - Lost
Red Team - Lost


Athlete Physical Information
Online athletic forms are online and ready to be completed for the 2021-2022 school year. Please go to https://lovejoyisd.rankonesport.com/New/Home.aspx set up your account, and fill out the forms.

Any and all online paperwork questions should be directed to Victoria Reyes at 469-742-8411.

The 2021-2022 physical forms are now available for players to pick up. Players may get one at the front office of WSMS, or print one by clicking here.  
District and Other News
Community News
The Lovejoy ISD Community News Page includes news from our schools, programs, booster clubs, student organizations, Foundation for Lovejoy Schools, community, and more. Check back often for up-to-date news on events and activities.


Foundation for Lovejoy Schools
We’re excited to kick off our Annual Appeal campaign!  Our goal is to raise $300,000 and have 35% community involvement. The students of Lovejoy ISD are touched by Foundation dollars in every school and grade throughout the district. Now, more than ever, they need our support to ensure no interruption to the Lovejoy standard of exceptional learning.

Visit our website today to learn more and donate! 
Stay Connected