A Message from the Principal
 
Willow Springs Middle School Principal Newsletter - May 17, 2018

 
 
 
 
 
 


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Dear Parents and Guardians,
 
We have had a great week of STAAR testing at WSMS.  Our students have worked extremely hard and our teachers did an excellent job of creating a positive testing environment.   We are very proud of everyone's efforts.  

Please see below for information about upcoming events.  We are looking forward to a great week.  


    
Sincerely,
Kent Messer
Principal
Willow Springs Middle School
1101 West Lucas Rd, Lucas 75002
Office: 469-742-8417
Mobile: 214-293-9938
@WSMSLovejoyISD
#wsmslovejoy

WSMS 10-Week Healthy Lifestyle Challenge
WSMS PALS are challenging our students and staff to engage in a healthy lifestyle for the last ten weeks of school. Through a series of weekly challenges, students and staff will be challenged to promote healthy living in a variety of ways. For students who meet the challenge each week, they will be invited to put their name in a random drawing for weekly prizes. For a complete list of weekly challenges, please click here . The ninth challenge begins May 18th and will run through May 24th. The current week's challenge is: Spend 15-20 minutes studying or reading ever day . Parents, we ask your support with our challenge by modeling and discussing the week's challenge at home. If you would like to contribute $10 gift card donations for challenge prizes, please drop them off at the front desk, by Monday May 21st.


NJHS Application Packets - Due TOMORROW, May 18th
Reminder that all packets are due by by 4:00 pm on May 18th and that is a firm deadline. Also, the $20 dues payment must be included along with the t-shirt information for the application to be complete.  Packets may be turned into Stephanie McSpadden in the front office.


Final Exam Reviews - Available Tomorrow, May 18th
Tomorrow, teachers will provide students with a copy of the final exam review.  In addition, an electronic copy will be posted on course websites and on the WSMS website under "Parent Resources" on Friday, May 18th.  
Teachers will be going over their review in class prior to the final exam. Each review will provide vocabulary, concepts, and/or skills needed to be successful on the final. Students will be expected to take the information from the review and apply it to questions on the exam that include graphs, charts, maps, diagrams, and excerpts. These application based questions provide a foundation for the level of thinking that aligns with the higher level thinking of our state standards in middle school and high school. Rather than studying the review for 2-3 hours the night before the final exam, we encourage students to prepare for each exam by studying for approximately 15-20 minutes a day. In addition, students should refer to notes, handouts, assignments, and their textbook to support their learning and preparation. For an example of a final exam review topic and how it might be tested on the final exam in each of the core subjects, please click here (these questions are from the 7th grade curriculum in ELAR, math, science, and social studies).


End of the Year Award Ceremonies
7th Grade Student Award Ceremonies - Monday, May 21 (DATE Changed to accommodate a conflict with 9th grade awards ceremony at LHS)

This year our 7th grade student award ceremony will be on Monday, May 21 9:30 - 11:00 in the WSMS main gym. During this award ceremony, a select number of students will be receiving a teacher award from one of their teachers. Parents have been notified if their child will be receiving an award. We will also recognize students who have received perfect attendance for the entire school year and students who participated in the Lighthouse Leaders program.

8th Grade Student Award Ceremonies - Friday, May 25
The 8 th grade student award ceremony will be on Friday, May 25 from 9:00 -11:00 a.m. in LHS auditorium.  Detailed information was emailed to all 8th grade parents.


WSMS Choir Pop Show "The Greatest Show" Performance- Monday, May 21st
The WSMS Pop Show Choir Performance of The Greatest Pop Show will be on Monday, May 21 at 7:00 p.m. at Lovejoy High School auditorium. Tickets will go on sale to the public on May 7th. Tickets are $5.00 (with a $2.00 online fee) All seats are reserved seating this year. Get your tickets early.


8th Grade Panoramic Picture - Monday, May 22nd
The WSMS 8th grade class of 2018 will be taken on Tuesday, May 22. Panoramic pictures will be on sale during all lunches on Wednesday, May 23. Click here for ordering information.


WSMS Library Books and Fines - Due May 22nd
All library materials are due back on Tuesday, May 22nd. Students will not be able to pick up their yearbooks, until all materials are returned and/or fines are paid. If these items are lost, please pay the lost book fine. You may bring a check for the exact amount to the library made out to Willow Springs, or you may pay online through RevTrac at https://lovejoy.revtrak.net/lisd-library#/v/lisd-library-fines-wsms


8th Grade Retreat to Main Event in Frisco - Thursday, May 24th
Congratulations to our 8th Graders for a superb year! We would like to celebrate this momentous transition to high school with them at Main Event in Frisco on May 24, 2018 . A packet with details was sent home previously with 8th Graders. Check out details by clicking here.  The cost is $25 per student which includes access to bowling (shoes included), billiards, a gravity ropes course, laser tag, mini golf, and shuffleboard.  Additionally, students are provided a $20 fun card to use on games. Lunch vouchers are included for two slices of pizza and a drink. Any additional purchases while at Main Event would require extra money.


LHS Course Verifications for Current 8th Graders - Changes due May 25th
LHS Counselors uploaded instructions for making course request changes as well as a copy of Freshman Elective Options to your 8th grader's Google Classroom (Class of 2022). If your student would like to request changes for their courses next year, please direct them to Google Classroom for the instructions. Changes are due by Friday, May 25.


Flapjacks for Finals - Tuesday, May 29th
As a tradition at WSMS, we will be kicking off final exams with "Flapjacks for Finals" on Monday, May 29 from 8:00 a.m. - 8:55 a.m. in the cafeteria. This is the day before the first final exam. Please encourage your son or daughter to stop by the cafeteria for hot cakes before school.


Course Request Verifications for WSMS - Changes due May 30th
WSMS Counselors distributed instructions for making course request changes for the 2018-2019 school year to rising 8th graders on Friday, May 18th. If your student would like to request changes for their courses next year, please follow these directions. Changes are due by Wednesday, May 30th.


Lost and Found - Donated June 4th
Please encourage your son or daughter to look through the lost and found by the library and the athletic lost and found and claim any sweatshirts, shoes, hats, etc. they may have left behind.  All items not claimed by June 1st  will be donated to Allen Community Outreach the week of June 4th.





Campus Information and Reminders
BrightBytes Parent Participation
Lovejoy ISD is partnering with BrightBytes, an educational research organization, to learn more about our students' school and home technology use and the impact it has on instruction. We are reaching out to ask you to take part in the Technology & Learning questionnaire. This is a semi-annual initiative, and your participation is essential in helping us form a more complete picture of the role technology plays in your students' learning.
Please know that all of your responses will remain anonymous to protect your privacy.


LHS and WSMS School Store Spring Sale
Don't miss the LHS and WSMS School Store Spring Sales. Save 50% on all in stock merchandise. Store hours are as follows:
LHS Store - Monday - Friday - 8:30 AM - 4:15 PM
WSMS Store - Monday, Tuesday, Thursday - 11:15 AM - 1:15 PM  

Winner at Town of Fairview Art Show
Congratulations to Eric Wang (8th grade) who won 1st place in his age group at the Town of Fairview Art Show Contest this past weekend. He created this beautiful acrylic paint "The Man and the Universe". We are very proud of Eric's dedication to the art!


Dress Code Policy
With the weather getting warmer over the next six weeks, please help us by making sure what your son or daughter wears to school every day is in compliance with the LISD dress code. As part of the emotional, psychological, and physical changes of adolescence, middle school students can sometimes be nervous and apprehensive about what they or other students are wearing to school. Let's work together to lower their anxiety by following the LISD Dress Code. For more information about the LISD Dress Code, please go here.


Safety Corner
As school dismisses at 4:00 every day, we are asking our students to exit the building by 4:10. If they remain in the building, we ask that they be in a classroom for tutorials, the CAT, the Library, or the Fine Arts wing for rehearsals. We will be sweeping the halls between 4:00-4:10 asking students to move to their designated location. If your student needs to remain on campus past 4:10, please encourage them to remain in tutorials, the CAT, the Library, or the Fine Arts wing until you arrive.


Not Returning to LISD Next Year?
If your student will not be returning to WSMS or Lovejoy High School in the fall, please email Carol Vik at carol_vik@lovejoyisd.net  with your student's name and where they will be attending school.


Important News from Student Nutrition - Regarding Change in Student Meal Accounts
In an effort to help minimize negative balances at the end of the school year, beginning Monday, May 14th, and for the remainder of the school year, students will no longer be able to charge meals which result in the student incurring a negative meal account balance. Students may continue to use their lunch accounts as long as they have a positive meal account balance. Household with students who currently have negative balances will receive reminder emails and phone calls. Federal regulations prohibit us from rolling over negative balances to the next school year. Please arrange to remit payment for any negative lunch accounts your child may have incurred.

All positive balances will be rolled over to the next school year. If you have a graduating senior, fund may be transferred to any sibling in the school district. To request a meal account refund, please complete a refund request form, located on the Student Nutrition website. For assistance, please contact us at 469-742-8041.

The Department of Student Nutrition Services thanks you for your understanding and for allowing us to serve your student(s) this school year.


Notes from the Nurse - Medications
If your child has medicine at school, please make sure your child has exactly enough medicine to finish the school year. You are responsible for picking up any extra medicine as the school district has a policy against sending medicines home with students. At the end of this school year, any remaining medicines, including inhalers, will be thrown out. The school cannot store these for you during the summer.

Please remember, if your child is going to continue being medicated at school during the 2018-2019 school year, you will need to complete a new medication sheet at that time and bring a SMALL or travel size bottle of medicine that is not expired.


Immunizations
Early reminder to parents of students that will be 7th graders during the 2018-2019 school year:
It is a State requirement that all 7th grade students must have had 2 required updated immunizations in order to attend school. These required immunizations are, TDaP booster (Tetanus booster) and Menactra (Meningococcal).Please obtain a copy of your child's updated shots and provide it to our school nurse, Gretchen Young, BEFORE August 17, 2018. You may drop it off in person, send it through the mail to Willow Springs Middle School, 1101 West Lucas Road, Lucas, TX 75002, by email to Gretchen Young or fax at 469-742-8501.


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.

Athletics
 
Athletic Locker Clean-Out
All athletic students will need to remove contents from their lockers over the next week.  Any items left, will be donated with Lost and Found items.


Performance Course for incoming 7th-12th
Attached is the summer brochure for the female session.
The program will start on June 18th.
1. The ladies will be the first group of the day, starting a 7 AM, and going to 8:30 AM. The program will still run 4 days a week M-Th.
2. The ladies program will be only girls 9-12th graders.
3. Incoming 7th and 8th will be from 12:00-1:30pm
The brochure has more information. We are encouraging all of our players to participate in performance course. This is a great opportunity for team building and individual development!
Please click here to register.



Sports Physicals and Cardiac Screening
The Lovejoy Sports Medicine Department is offering sports physicals and hosting "Who We Play For" for cardiac screenings. Physicals and cardiac screens are open to all 2018 - 2019 incoming 7th - 12th grade student athletes. A parent or guardian should attend the physical/screening with the student to sign permission forms.
Saturday, July 21, 2018
Willow Springs Middle School
1101 W. Lucas Road, Lucas, TX 75002
$20 per student for physicals
(Please make check payable to Lovejoy Athletics)
$15 per student for cardiac screen
(Please make check payable to Who We Play For)

Please click here to RSVP for each student registering for a physical and/or cardiac screen. Space is limited and registration will close when capacity is full.

Payment and consent forms are due at Willow Springs Middle School on Saturday, July 21st. Only cash or checks will be accepted. Payment may not be made by credit/debit card.

Click here for additional information.
 

 
Varsity Tryout Information (8th grade parents) - 2018 - Team Tennis Season Information
First off, please mark your calendars for the 2018 varsity tryouts. We will have varsity tryouts August 6-9 - Monday-Thursday in the morning. Coach Cherry will send out specific times as the time get closer. Most likely 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. for the girls and 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. for the boys. Just like last year, Coach Cherry will invite 16 girls and 32 boys. The top 16 girls and top 16 boys will be in 8th period.
 
If you have any questions please contact Adam Cherry. His cell is (806)330-0188.


WSMS PTA

WSMS PTA Volunteer 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!

Now is the time to help our wonderful students before the school year ends!

The Willow Springs CAT is in dire need of your help to come to school the week of final exams and read tests to a small group of students. 1 1/2 hour time slots are available.  If you can help, please sign up on the link below. If you have any questions, please contact Kathy Hale at Kathy_hale@lovejoyisd.net or Cynthia Beets at txbeetsall@aim.com.

Click the link below to sign up for any of these slots. To access Friday, June 1st slots, click on June in the upper right hand corner.



Tuesday, May 29 th
Wednesday, May 30 th
Thursday, May 31 st
Friday, June 1 st
Period 3 Exam
8:55am - 10:23am
Period 2 Exam
9:45am - 11:13am
Period 1 Exam
8:55am - 10:23am
Period 4 Exam
8:55am - 10:48am
Period 7 Exam
2:32pm - 4:00pm
Period 6 Exam
1:41pm - 3:09pm
Period 5 Exam
12:51pm - 2:19pm
Period 8 Exam
10:52am - 12:50pm




District and Other News


Summer Enrichment Camps
Online registration is now open for Summer Enrichment camps. Click here for a complete listing of camp offerings and additional information.





Sewing Camp
Join the fun at Summer Sewing Camps to be held at Willow Springs Middle School. Sewing Basics 101 teaches machine and tool basics while making a pillowcase and PJs. Sewing Skills Builder 201 continues to develop your skills with your choice of an individualized project.
Choose 1, 2 or all 3 sessions, which will take place in June and July. To reserve your spot, email Louisekingtx@gmail.com. Hurry, as sessions will fill quickly. Click here for additional information and to learn more about the special 3rd week option: a t-shirt quilt.

Lovejoy High Summer Musical Theatre Camp
The Lovejoy High School Theatre Department will produce Disney's The Jungle Book - KIDS this summer.
Students will work together to produce and perform Disney's The Jungle Book- Kids. Students will develop confidence, sharpen their musical and theatrical skills, and create wonderful memories along the way. Directed by Jessica Brewster, LHS Head Theatre Director, and musically directed by Anne Tracy, Puster Elementary Music Specialist, this show will be sure to be an unforgettable experience.
There are three camp opportunities available, which will run simultaneously:
● Lovejoy HS Summer Musical Theatre Camp - for students completing 3rd grade through 6th grade who want to perform on stage.
● Lovejoy HS Summer Technical Theatre Camp - for students completing 3rd grade through 6th grade who want to work behind the scenes.
● Lovejoy HS Summer Musical Theatre Intern Camp - for students completing 7th grade through 8th grade who want to work with the LHS Theatre staff to produce the show.
You may click here for additional information and for registration.

 
Swim Camps
Metroplex Aquatics will host summer camps:
 
June 4th - June 22nd
June 25th - July 13th
July 16th - August 3rd
 
The camps are open to all levels of swimmers who are able to swim 1 length of the pool without stopping or holding on to the lane rope. For additional information, please click here.




Fairview Youth Theater
The Fairview Youth Theater will host numerous summer camps. Please click here for details.