A Message from the Principal
 
Willow Springs Middle School Principal Newsletter - October 19, 2017

 
 
 
 
 
 
   
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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!
Club Day is tomorrow a nd 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 Mr. Abney before bringing an animal to school. Students may leave their equipment for Guitar Club, Extreme and Remote Control Club in the front office. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Kathy Stone.


4th Annual Lovejoy Letter Campaign

Dear Willow Springs Families,

Lovejoy is kicking off its 4th Annual Lovejoy Letter Campaign. This fabulous program goal is to have our community write at least one gratitude letter to each teacher/staff members in our district.  It's a great way to show how much we appreciate what they do for our children. We like to encourage you and/or your child to write a letter(s) to any teacher or staff, current or past that have been valuable to your child(ren)'s educational experience. Please clearly label the envelope with the recipient's name & LLC (Lovejoy Letter Campaign) and return the letter to the front office by Friday, November 10th. We will begin to collect letters Monday, October 23rd.

Maria Ritchie and Onji Anderson will be coordinating Willow Springs Letter Campaign efforts. The letter campaign has become such a meaningful tradition. We really appreciate you in helping us make the campaign a success this year!

Sincerely,

Maria Ritchie and Onji Anderson
Willow Spring Lovejoy Letter Campaign


PTA Membership
We are in the process of wrapping up our PTA membership drive for the 2017-2018 school year. If you have not joined please consider joining. Membership includes access to the online member directory as well as first access to volunteer opportunities.  We greatly appreciate our members and want to highlight some of last year's accomplishments that were only possible with member time and financial support.
  • Student and parent programs:
    • Screenagers- parent and student screening
    • AIM student and parent program on abstinence
    • Parent program on suicide suicide prevention from Halliburton
    • AIM drug/alcohol program
    • Parent program on drug and alcohol
    • Randy Trevino College Prep parent presentation
  • Volunteer support
    • Donated food items for over 4 teacher/faculty luncheons and 3 student activities
    • Volunteers provided more than 40 hours in copy support
    • Volunteers provided 144+ hours volunteer support to WSMS School Store
    • Provided 175+ hours to WSMS Center for Academic Training
    • Provided 30 volunteers to chaperoned 2 student socials
    • Provided 10 volunteers to monitor hallways during STAAR testing dates
    • Provided 15 volunteers supported the front office during their lunchtime
  • Hospitality treated teachers and staff to luncheons and monthly treats
  • Boxtops collection $428; Kroger $347
  • 463 paid PTA members.
Consider joining today and help make 2017-2018 even better than last year.


Willow Springs PTA Reflections due October 27: Within Reach
The National PTA Reflections program encourages students of all ages and abilities to explore and be involved in the arts. Through the program, National PTA, Willow Springs Middle School PTA, and PTAs across the country urge students in preschool through grade 12 to create and submit original works.  This years' contest theme is "Within Reach".  We hope all Leopards will submit an entry in one or more of the following categories: Dance Choreography, Literature, Film Production, Photography, Visual Arts, and Music Composition.  For rules and entry forms click here .  The deadline is Friday, October 27th.

You may contact Michelle Butler with questions at mmbutler81@gmail.com.  Please click here for additional information.


Locker Room Disinfecting
Locker room disinfecting has started. All athletes, including dance, cheer, tennis, swim, XC will need to take home all of their personal gear from their locker. Football players need to take home their mouth piece as well. We will be spraying the locker room bi-weekly throughout the year. Signs will be posted reminding the athlete of spraying days.


Red Ribbon Week October 23-27
During Red Ribbon Week, we will have student presentations, activities, quizzes to help students learn about the importance of living a Healthy Lifestyle! Please click here to see this year's daily themes!

Red Ribbon Pep Rally - Monday, October 23
Monday, October 23 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.


Drug Awareness Parent Presentation: October 24
Our Unexpected Journey - Helping Parents Be Prepared
Susa'n Hoemke will be sharing her son Hayden's story and their dark journey through his downward spiral into drug use, addiction and legal issues. Their seemingly perfect family life came to an abrupt end when they found themselves uneducated about - and unprepared for - managing these issues. They lost their sweet, beloved son Hayden in 2014 just before his 23rd birthday. The Hoemke's experience was tragic, and one they wish no parent would have to experience. Sadly, many will and are today.
Mrs. Hoemke will bring some light to this darkness by sharing her experience in hopes of providing some information about how drug abuse can start, what to watch for, and tools to handle these situations, if they do occur.  All parents in the district are encouraged to attend the presentation at Willow Springs Middle School on Tuesday, October 24th at 10:30 AM.




Orchestra Concert - Wednesday, October 25
Our Orchestra Fall Concert is quickly approaching on Wednesday, October 25th. All orchestras are working very hard on preparing this music  and we are looking forward to our performance! Our concert is currently set to be in the courtyard at Lovejoy High School starting at 6:00 p.m. There will be 2 food trucks available to purchase food from starting at 5:30 p.m. Taylor's Pizza and Kona Ice. You are welcome to come early and purchase food to watch other groups perform, or stay after. All families will need to bring their own chairs and/or blankets to sit on to watch the orchestras perform. Food and drinks are encouraged, and any younger children that attend need to bring bags for their candy!

 
WSMS Swim Tryouts
We are going to be conducting tryouts for Willow Spring Swim team in 2 weeks. The girls tryouts will take place on Wednesday, October 25th and Tuesday, October 31st. We will be doing tryouts for the boys on Thursday, October 26th and Monday, October 30th. If you are on another team and have conflicts, please let me know and we will arrange for you to tryout in the morning.

On the tryout days we will run practice till 5:00 pm. All other practice days will be till 4:30.

For the tryout process, we will be competing in the following races:
50 Butterfly, 50 Backstroke, 50 Breaststroke, 50 Freestyle, 100 Freestyle, 100 Individual Medley

Top 24 girls and 24 boys will be based on the placement of times in each of the races. Middle School team selection will be finalized by November 1st.


8th Grade Service Learning Project - Sign ups begin Friday, October 27th!  
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 15th . Next week, our 8th Graders will get more information in the science classes about how to sign up for the community service project that interests them.

Wednesday, November 15 5h - 8th Grade Students will arrive on campus and be transported by bus to their designated community service location. Students will need to wear their red campus spirit shirt (or any 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


Teacher Comments in PowerSchool
As a campus, our teachers are beginning to input comments into PowerSchool when students do not meet expectations on assignments and assessments.  If your son or daughter's grade on an assignment or assessment is underlined in PowerSchool, please click on the grade to view the comments for more information about the grade.  


Principal's Coffee - Tuesday, October 31
Topic: Classwork & Homework at WSMS
I would like to invite you to a Principal's Coffee, on Tuesday, October 31 at 9:00 a.m. Our topic of discussion will be classwork and homework at WSMS.  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.


Career Day at WSMS - Wednesday, November 1!
WSMS will host our Career Day on Wednesday, November 1st from 10:00 a.m. - 12:55 p.m. Students will sign up for Career Day presentations beginning Tuesday, October 11th at 4PM continuing through Friday, October 13th at 8PM. Students will visit four presentations during Career Day. Students will select two career presentations of their choosing. Additionally, students will be assigned two presentations in career fields that may be unfamiliar to them, giving students the opportunity to explore four career fields. Sign-up will be through the WSMS web site.


Spelling Bee Tryouts - Thursday, November 2
Willow Springs Middle School will be hosting our 11th Annual Spelling Bee on November 16 at 9:30 a.m. in the cafeteria. Spelling Bee tryouts will be on Thursday, November 2 after school. All 7th grade participants will tryout in room C607/Mrs. Bellows's room; 8th grade participants will tryout in room C605/Mrs. Heid's room. Tryouts will begin at 4:10 p.m. in room C607 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 16th.


7th Grade Hearing /Vision Screenings - November 7th and November 8th
Tuesday, November 7th and Wednesday, November 8th, 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.


Recycle Week November 6-10
Are your shoes too small?? Not your style anymore? Bring your no-longer-worn shoes in for donation any day during the week of November 6-10 for Recycle Week at Willow Springs!

Collection boxes will be available on campus and all shoes collected will be donated to those in need. Thank you in advance for supporting this PTA program!



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 an d entrances.


Scott Watson Memorial Chess Tournament
On Saturday, October 14th, Hagio Pang and Emily Perry represented Willow Springs Middle School at the 8th Annual Scott Watson Memorial Chess Tournament in Irving, Texas. They played against other local schools, finishing in 3rd place in the Middle School Championship. Their trophy will be displayed at WSMS. Congratulations to Hagio and Emily.  



Interested in Becoming a Mentor?
Willow Springs is seeking strong adult volunteers to become mentors on our campus. An effective mentor understands that his/her role is to be dependable, engaged, authentic, and tuned into the needs of the student. Becoming a mentor is a great way to pay it forward, make a positive impact on a student's life, and make a positive impact on your own life! If you are interested in becoming a mentor at WSMS, please contact Kathy Stone at kathy_stone@lovejoyisd.net.


WSMS---It's Community Service Time

8th grade - Wednesday, November 15, 2017

7th grade - Friday, March 2, 2018

Community Service is set up for 8th and 7th graders as part of the Graduate Profile, Works for Justice in the Community, so that all students can experience giving service back to the community.

One of WSMS's business for 8th graders is Vogel Alcove. This organization deals with the homeless children in the metroplex area. 30% of  Dallas children grow up in poverty. That is 2 out of every 5 children that Vogel Alcove is helping.

Vogel Alcove provides an education and food supply to these children. Part of their food supply consist of Bye-Bye Bags. These bags are given out daily to all of the children. The bags provide dinner to some kids, and additional nutrition when the kids are away for Vogel Alcove.  

We are asking all of WSMS to be part of a Give $5 for LIVES Campaign . We would like for all staff and student body to give $5 to this campaign. This money will be donated to Vogel Alcove to buy Bye-Bye bag food items.

The PALS class will be collecting at lunch times for the Give $5 for LIVES Campaign during the week of October 30- November 3 . Coach Coonrod will take the money donated to Vogel Alcove when 8th grade has their community service day on November 15th.

In addition to the Give $5 for LIVES Campaign we would like WSMS to donate items for the Bye-Bye Bags. Coach Coonrod will take these bags with her on November 15, our community service day, to Vogel Alcove. A list of food items can be found on the hallway poster and below.

WSMS thank you in advance for your support of the Give $5 for LIVES Campaign . Your generosity will help provide nourishment to those in need right here in our community.        

Items needed for donation-- all items need to be self packaged and be able to  fit in a small brown paper lunch sack.
Goldfish crackers Cheese crackers
Small cans of vienna sausages Tuna salad kit
Chicken salad kit Fruit cups
Applesauce cups Fruit strips
                                                                  
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.


Student Nutrition Newsletter for October


WSMS School Store and Student Spirit Shirts
Our Willow Springs School Store is open from 11:15-1:15 on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. In addition to Lovejoy spirit wear, there are a limited number of grade-level spirit shirts for pep rallies, athletic events, and field trips to identify them as a WSMS student, also available for sale in the school store. If you pre-ordered a grade-level spirit shirt, please have your son or daughter pick their shirt up in the school store during lunch. These grade-level spirit shirts may also be purchased by clicking here .  We will place another order based on our online purchases.



WSMS PTA


CAT Volunteers Needed!
Parents are invited to help in the Center for Academic Training (CAT) this Fall! Volunteers are asked to help read a test aloud to a student. If you are able to help for an hour on one of these days please view our calendar and select a time that works best for you by clicking here . We need volunteers between 11:15 to 1:20 (1-hour time slots available) Thank you in advance for your support and time. Please contact Cynthia Beets, txbeetsall@aim.com for any questions.



District and Other News



School Bus Safety Week
#STOPONRED
Held during the third full week of October each year, National School Bus Safety Week is a public education program designed to address the importance of school bus safety, and serves as a reminder for students, parents, teachers, and the community to keep school bus safety in the forefront. The theme this year is #STOPONRED.

Following are some important reminders regarding school bus safety:
  • When you see a school bus, assume children will be in the area, and take extra care; leave lots of space around the bus.
  • When the bus turns on its flashing yellow lights, the bus is either preparing to stop at a railroad crossing or preparing to stop to pick up or drop off children.  Please slow down and prepare to stop.
  • When the bus turns on its flashing red lights, traffic must stop in both directions.  Never pass a school bus with flashing red lights. #STOPONRED

Thank you for your assistance in helping to keep our students safe.




Foundation for Lovejoy Schools
Kendra Scott Gives Back
Kendra Scott is hosting a "give back" event with 20% of the sales going to the Foundation for Lovejoy Schools. Kendra Scott will provide snacks and beverages. We hope you will join us for this special event.
Thursday, November 9
5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Kendra Scott in Watters Creek
888 Watters Creek Boulevard




Give to the Foundation via AmazonSmile
If you plan on purchasing items from Amazon.com, please consider visiting Amazon Smile. Amazon established AmazonSmile to give back 0.5% of the price of eligible AmazonSmile purchases to charitable organizations. When you are ready to shop, log in to your Amazon account by visiting the AmazonSmile website for the Foundation for Lovejoy Schools. Once you have logged in, you will have access to the same products, same prices and same service you find at amazon.com. Thank you for your support of the Foundation for Lovejoy Schools.


Gold Award: First Aid Donations for ACO
A message from Neha Kapur :

" My name is Neha Kapur. I am a senior at Lovejoy High School and an ambassador in Girl Scouts. I am working on my Gold Award, which is the highest honor in Girl scouts.
For my service project, No Fear First Aid Is Here, I am creating awareness among kids regarding the importance of first aid in their lives. Knowing what to do when you or someone else is hurt can be very valuable information. I am going to have workshops for children to teach them about first aid, and also to let them practice skills. I feel every child should have at least a basic knowledge of First-Aid.

Additionally, I am holding donation drives at all Lovejoy schools to create first aid kits to donate to Allen Community Outreach (ACO). Items requested for donation are band aids, antiseptic wipes, crepe bandages, cotton balls, gloves, gauze, and any other supplies you would typically find in a first aid kit.  All donations are appreciated and will be accepted through Friday, October 27th. "




Dallas Symphony Orchestra Discount
Thomas Mears, Group Sales Education Specialist for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, has arranged for Lovejoy families and staff members to receive a 20% discount for all DSO Concerts, with the exception of Beethoven's 9th in May. When purchasing tickets online at www.mydso.com , type LOVEJOYISD20 at checkout to receive your 20% discount (you will be charged a $7 fee).  If you call the box office at 214.849.4376, you will receive the 20% discount, and will not be charged the $7 fee.  


Running Over Depression 5K and 1K Fun Run: November 11
Bradley Davis, James Ayers, and Jonah Barton are organizing the second annual Running Over Depression 5K and 1K event for their Senior Projects. Last year, this event had over 360 participants, and raised over $8,000 for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). This year, the organizers are looking forward to increasing the number of participants and involvement from the Lovejoy Community. The event will be held on Saturday, November 11th. The entry fees are $20 for the 1K and $30 for the 5K, with all proceeds donated to the AFSP. You may register by clicking here .  Register early, as prices increase after November 3rd.


Lovejoy High School Student Council
Pink Out Football Game:  October 27
Every year, Lovejoy Student Council makes a donation to help beat breast cancer. The LHS Student Council members invite you to purchase Pink Out t-shirts to raise money and spread awareness for the cause. The t-shirts are $16 and may be purchased through the Online Payment Center .

This year's fundraiser will benefit a local non-profit organization. Check out www.breastcancercanstickit.org , and the organization April Samuels has built to help fight breast cancer. Her story is amazing and her family lives in the Lovejoy district. Orders will be delivered to campuses October 25th and 26th.


Safe!: November 8
Issues Affecting Today's Teens and How You Can Help
We all want to keep our teens safe.  Join Vanita Halliburton and Dr. Ray Levy on Wednesday, November 8th at 11:30 AM in the Lovejoy ISD Administration Building Board Room to learn how to:
  • Recognize signs of distress in teens
  • Promote brain health
  • Foster resiliency and positive coping skills
  • Know the warning signs of suicidal behavior
  • Find help for a struggling teen
  • Implement protective measures to keep teens SAFE!
Vanita Halliburton is president of the Grant Halliburton Foundation, a non-profit organization that works to raise awareness and understanding of adolescent mental health and suicide prevention. She speaks from the heart about her son's battle with depression and bipolar disorder and his suicide at the age of 19.

Ray Levy, Ph.D., LSSP is in private practice in Dallas, TX and works extensively with high risk children, children with ADHD and strong-willed behaviors.  He has appeared on numerous radio and television shows discussing various psychological issues.  Dr. Levy travels throughout the country giving workshops and talks on therapy, and child and adolescent issues.