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Willow Springs Middle School
A Message from the Principal
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Dear WSMS Parents and Guardians,
Tomorrow is not just your average Thursday. It is a day we can honor all of those who have served our country in the armed forces. I am so proud to be the grandson of a WWII soldier and that my father served in Vietnam. You can read all of the books you want or watch the movies, but it doesn’t compare to the emotional first hand accounts of the actual stories of those who experienced service for our country.
If you are a military veteran, I hope you feel the appreciation you deserve. On behalf of the Willow Springs staff, I want to extend our sincere thanks for your sacrifice.
We will have a table set up in the rotunda all day on Thursday. This table tells a story for our veterans and is highlighted in the book, “America’s White Table”. During our SEL time, teachers will play a video of me reading the book. I feel strongly that we should take every opportunity to educate our young people about the sacrifices others have made so we can have the freedom we do. This shouldn’t only be on holidays such as Veterans’ Day. You can view the video of the book reading here.
Willow Springs Proud,
Kevin
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Kevin Parker
Principal
1101 West Lucas Rd, Lucas 75002
Office: 469-742-8417
Mobile: 469-667-2280
@WSMSLovejoyISD
#wsmslovejoy
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NEW! NJHS Service Project: ACO Thanksgiving Box Drive, November 8th - 17th
It’s that time of year when giving just a little can change a needy family’s entire holiday season. Willow Springs homeroom classes are partnering with NJHS to hold a Thanksgiving Box Drive for Allen Community Outreach. NJHS students will be working with 7th and 8th -grade homeroom classes to put together a Thanksgiving Box for needy families in our community. Each class will be assigned ONE item to bring, and the students may bring as many of that item as possible. (The more the better!) Allen Community outreach will combine the items to form a box that contains everything a family will need in order to cook a traditional Thanksgiving meal. The food drive will begin on November 8 and last until November 17.
In addition to canned goods, each homeroom will ask for one volunteer to provide a $20 gift card to Kroger or Walmart for the purchase of the turkey.
NEW! Toy Donations Needed for ACO for Christmas!
Allen Community Outreach will be helping over 2000 children in our community to enjoy Christmas this year! They are collecting new, unwrapped toys for children ages 0-16.
If you would like to donate a toy, please drop off in the boxes located in the Willow Springs front lobby from now until December 3rd. Please see ACOcares.org for more information.
REMINDER! Deadline to Order Yearbook - November 12th
The last day to purchase your 2022 WSMS yearbook at the current price is Friday, November 12th at midnight. The price will go up at midnight on November 12th.
REMINDER! 8th Grade Parents - Yearbook Recognition Ads - Deadline November 12th
All 8th grade recognition ads must be paid for, created, and submitted online by Friday, November 12th. Click here to purchase and create an 8th grade ad.
LAST CALL! Lovejoy Letter Campaign - Deadline, November 12th
Lovejoy Family!! The 8th annual Lovejoy Letter Campaign for teachers and staff members has begun! Many of you are familiar with this beloved tradition, but for those of you who are not, it is the time of year when we write appreciation letters for each of our teachers and staff members across the district.
The letters do not have to be elaborate or lengthy. The goal is just for people to write a note of thanks to show appreciation to their teachers, the staff and administration in our district. It is the opportunity for us to take the time to let each person who makes a difference for us throughout the school day know how much we value them.
Please clearly label the envelope with the staff/teacher’s name and LLC (Lovejoy Letter Campaign) and return the letter to the box located in the front office at Willow Springs (or the designated location at any campus) no later than Friday November 12th. Please feel free to share this message as we spread the word about the campaign. We do not want to add any extra burden to our kids and parents, but we do want to share how much we appreciate our teachers and staff - especially this year!
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REMINDER! College Board PSAT 8- Tuesday, November 16
On Tuesday, November 16, WSMS 8th graders will take the College Board's digital PSAT 8 test. This assessment is an opportunity for students, parents, and teachers to assess a student's math, writing, and reading skills needed to be college- ready. For more information on the College Board's PSAT 8/9 test, you can visit this website. The assessment will begin promptly at 9am and will last approximately 3.5 hours. 8th graders may want to bring a water bottle for testing. Scores will be released when they become available which is typically in January/ February.
NEW! WSMS & PTA Presents a look at Sex Education & Your Willow Springs Student - AIM for Success's Freedom to Succeed
Aim for Success is a nonprofit, youth health education organization whose mission is “helping young people make healthy choices that will give them freedom to reach their dreams and goals”.
The program your students will be participating in this year is Freedom to Succeed and focuses on What the Law Says about Sexual Activity. Topics included are the laws the define sex, teen pregnancy and child support, dating violence, and sexting. Click here for the program agenda.
Dates for the program are:
- 8th Grade Student Presentations - Tuesday 11/30 through Math Classes
- 7th Grade Student Presentations - Wednesday 12/1 through Math Classes
The parent presentation will include the entire student presentation and additional information for parents on how they can help reinforce the information at home.
Beginning this year, the State of Texas is requiring schools to obtain permission for students to receive sexual health education. To either Opt-In or Opt-Out, all parents must complete the following Permission Form. Click here to access the form. If you’ve had problems accessing the permission form, a paper copy is going home with students through their Math class. Please complete and have them turn into the SSC.
NEW! Final Exams, December 13th-17th
Final exams will officially begin, Monday, December 13th. Teachers are expected to provide students with final exam reviews by Friday, December 3rd. In addition, all final exam reviews will be loaded on the WSMS website on December 6th (under both student and parent) and teachers will upload exam reviews into their Google Classrooms. Please encourage your son or daughter to begin working on their final exam reviews early. As they begin to study, encourage them to study every night in short 15-20 minute increments rather than “cramming” the night before the test. Research shows that students who study in small chunks of time over a period of days are more successful on assessments.
We will be sending out more information about middle school final exams over the next two weeks.
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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.
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WSMS Spelling Bee - THURSDAY, November 18th
The WSMS Spelling Bee will be on November 18th from 9:15-11, in the cafeteria. Parents are welcome to attend.
PowerSchool ParentPortal Update Needed
The PowerSchool ParentPortal is now open for you to complete the online Enrollment & Student Information Forms. As of today there are still 311 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.
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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.
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Thanks to those who joined us today for the membership meeting of the PTO and the AIM for Success parent presentation!
Opportunities to Support the WSMS Faculty and Staff
Letter Writing Campaign – please drop your letters in the box in the WSMS front office by this Friday! Label the envelope with the staff/teacher’s name and LLC (Lovejoy Letter Campaign).
Give Thanks and Pies - You can also show your thanks to the amazing folks on the WSMS campus by donating a (homemade or purchased from a commercial kitchen) cake or pie. Each faculty and staff member will be treated to full size pie or 8" bundt cake. Show off your baking (or shopping) prowess:
Parent Programs
AIM for Success - We are pleased to be sponsoring the AIM for Success parent presentation today. Unfortunately we are unable to provide this in a recorded format, but hope you were able to attend yesterday’s webinar or today’s in-person event. In a few weeks, AIM will be giving a presentation to students, and it is very helpful to know exactly what the presentation will include, and to equip yourself to discuss this information with your students.
“Your Digital Footprint” parent workshop - If you missed last week's "Your Digital Footprint" Parent Workshop presented by the LHS PTSO, visit their website at https://lovejoyhighpto.wixsite.com/website to view the recording.
Next membership meeting: February 8
Warm Regards,
Christy Forte'
WSMS PTO President
2021-2022
https://willowspringsmspto.wixsite.com/willowspringspto
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WSMS Football vs Allen Curtis 11/2/21
7th Grade
Black Team - Won
Red Team - Won
8th Grade
Black Team - Won
Red Team - Lost
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Athlete Physical Information
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.
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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
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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!
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