A Message from the Principal
 
Willow Springs Middle School Principal Newsletter - September 6, 2018

 
 
 
 
 
 


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Dear WSMS Parents and Guardians,

We have had another great week at WSMS and enjoyed seeing everyone at Open House on Tuesday night.  Our students and teachers are settling into the school year and working hard both in and out of the classroom. It is great to see their commitment and dedication in all that they do.

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

Student Spirit Shirts
As part of the WSMS student experience, we would like to offer a spirit shirt for all 7th and 8th grade students.  These will be shirts that students can wear to school, pep rallies, athletic events, and field trips. During campus field trips and community service events, we will ask students to wear their spirit shirt to identify them as a WSMS student.  Spirit shirts may purchased by clicking here . 7th grade shirts will be gray and 8th grade shirts will be red.   Deadline for shirt orders is September 15th.   Let's wear our WSMS spriit shirts to the first varsity home game and Leopard Friday, 9/28!!


Club Day Sign-Up Reminder!  
Club Day at Willow Springs is designed for students and teachers to participate in non-academic activities in a fun and engaging way! WSMS Clubs will occur three times each semester. Students will sign up for 1 club each semester.

Students were given access to a list of clubs today. Please remind your student to sign up for their 1st and 2nd choice clubs (both clubs should be ones they would enjoy participating in this fall)!. Sign ups will begin Thursday, September 6th @ 4pm and will end Monday, September 10th@ 4pm.

Club Descriptions:   Click Here
Club Sign-Ups: https://goo.gl/d8nHDi

 
Advisory Schedule - Friday, September 7th
On Friday, September 7th, we will have advisory. For a copy of the activity/advisory bell schedule for the day, please click here .


Chess Club Enthusiasts, Starting Monday, September 10th
Willow Springs Chess Club is starting soon. Mr. Crocker will be hosting a Chess Day in the library every Monday afternoon beginning September 10. This will be a free opportunity for students to come and play in a friendly open environment. No sign-up is required!  
 
 
PTA General Meeting and Pro-Kindness/Anti-Bullying Presentation, Tuesday September 11th
The Willow Springs PTA will hold the first 2018-2019 general PTA meeting on Tuesday, September 11th at Willow Springs in the band hall beginning at 10:00am - 10:30am.  Immediately following the meeting, please join us for our first PTA parent presentation of the school year, "Hey Dude, Nice Shoes" speaker, Carolyn Jennings Brown. Ms. Jennings Brown has been serving public schools in the state of Texas for nearly two decades.  Her Anti-Bullying/ Pro-Kindness presentation, "Hey Dude, Nice Shoes has been shared all over Texas with students of all ages and their parents.  During this empowering and inspiring workshop, she shares her unique experiences and stories in a passionate and honest way to educate on this sensitive topic and bridge the gap of understanding about growing up.  Carolyn is an honorary lifetime member of the Texas PTA and recipient of the National PTA lifetime achievement award. We look forward to you joining us on Tuesday, September 11th and sharing in on this opportunity to hear Carolyn Jennings Brown's message of kindness and anti-bullying.




Three Week Progress Reports
Tomorrow is the end of the first 3-week grading period. All WSMS students will be given a three-week progress report on Tuesday, September 11th in their 2nd period class.


Nine Week Report Cards
In an effort to "go green," we will not be mailing home report cards for the 2018- 2019 school year. Your student(s) will still receive a hard copy of their report card each nine weeks through their 7th period class. The report card will be printed on yellow paper for students to take home.

If you prefer to have a hard copy of your student's grade report mailed home each three or nine weeks, please contact please contact Carol Vik .


Leopard Fishing Club Meeting - Wednesday September 12th at 6:30pm in the WSMS Cafeteria
For those that missed the meeting last week, we will have a quick make-up meeting.  The purpose of the Leopard Fishing Club is to educate and prepare future Leopard Fishing Team anglers. Sixth, Seventh and eighth grade anglers are invited to join. As a Club member you will be introduced to the art and technique of competitive bass fishing, interact with the high school fishing team, participate in fish camp and have the opportunity to fish in an intersquad tournament.  If you have any questions please contact Nancy Burns 972-898-4046




Swim & Dive Booster Club Meeting - Thursday, September 13th
Swim and Dive Booster Club will be having a meeting for WSMS swim parents. This will be held at 7pm, in the cafeteria at Sloan Creek Intermediate School.


Advocating for Yourself and Others/Bullying Prevention Presentations, September 18 & 19
According to StopBullying.gov , the school years most at risk for bullying are 4th through 8th grades. At WSMS, we are committed to preventing bullying behavior on our campus and teaching students to be strong advocates for themselves and others. On September 18th and September 19th, all students at WSMS will participate in an Advocacy / Bullying Prevention presentation. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your student's counselor: Kathy Stone , A-Le at 469-742-8423 or Kay Bordelon , Li-Z at 469-742-8424 .


ParentPortal Update Needed by Friday, September 21st
The PowerSchool ParentPortal is now open for you to complete the online Enrollment & Student Information Forms. 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, emergency contacts, authorized pickup, FERPA acknowledgments, Student Code of Conduct, Student Handbook, etc.
PLEASE NOTE: Regarding the Release of Directory Information for School Use:

In order for your child's picture to appear in the Yearbook, you should answer "YES".

IMPORTANT - Students and parents have a separate login/password for PowerSchool. Students should never have access to ParentPortal or use their parent login. If students were to access the ParentPortal on a school or public computer and not log out, family demographics as well as sibling's grades would be open for others to access. If you have any questions, you may contact Carol Vik at 469-742-8415.



Principal's Coffee - Friday, September 21st   DATE CHANGE
I would like to invite you to our upcoming Principal's Coffee, on Friday, September 21st 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.

For our first principals coffee, Dr. Ray Levy will be our guest speaker.  Dr. Levy is clinical psychology who has extensive experience in working with and supporting middle school students and their families.  His topic for this presentation will focus how to better understand middle school students. This presentation will share parenting strategies to best support your middle school student through the emotional, physical, and intellectual changes of adolescence.    



Immunizations 7th Grade Students
If you have not done so already, please send a copy of your child's updatedshot record to our school nurse, Gretchen Young, before September 20th. 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)
  • Menactra (Meningococcal)
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 fax at 469-742-8501 or email our nurse  Gretchen Young.


Career Day at WSMS!
How old were you when you decided what you wanted to be when you grew up?  What do you love about your career? What do you dislike? Do you enjoy sharing your experiences in your chosen career?  If the answer to the last question is YES, we want to invite you to share your career with WSMS students. On Friday, November 2nd from 9:30am to 12:50pm, WSMS will hold our 4 th annual Career Exploration Day.  This event is designed to provide students exposure to a wide variety of careers.  Face-to-face conversations and hands on investigation gives students the opportunity to consider careers in fields otherwise unknown.  We are looking for professionals in the following fields. This list is not exhaustive!


Advertising / Marketing
Agriculture
Architecture
The Arts - music, dance, theatre, visual arts
Automotive
Business
Computer Science
Construction
Culinary Arts
Data Science
Education
Engineering
Fashion
Government
IT
Journalism
Law
Media
Medical
Military
Nutrition
Research
Retail
Security
Science
Sports
Technology
Transportation
Veterinary

If you are interested in helping, please fill out the Career Exploration Presenter form here.  We look forward to seeing you on November 2nd!

Campus Information and Reminders
Safety Corner
Picking Up Students from Rockland Farms
We have been contacted by the Rockland Farms Homeowners Association about parents parking at the entrance of Rockland Farms and then having their students walk from WSMS to Rockland Farms to be picked up.  The residence of Rockland Farms have asked that parents refrain from parking and picking students in their neighborhood as it creates a safety concern for our WSMS students and their community. Please follow the WSMS carpool procedures and flow when picking up your students from school.  Our carpool is moving smoothly and usually concludes around 4:15 every day.


Dress Code at WSMS
Please assist in supporting your son or daughter with appropriate dress for school. 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. The LISD dress code was created by the LISD administration and can be found in the student handbooks for each campus. For more information about the LISD Dress Code, please
go here .  


Attendance
One of our focus areas for this year is to increase our student and teacher daily attendance on campus.  Research shows that the more students are in class with their teacher, the more they will learn over the course of the school year.  The more students learn, the more success and confidence they will have in middle school. To promote this, we will be recognizing students and staff who have perfect attendance during each six weeks.  Please assist us by working with your son or daughter to ensure they are getting enough rest, eating a healthy diet, and are taking care of themselves overall.

In addition, our new state accountability system uses student attendance as criteria for evaluating the performance of schools.  We also receive state funding based on our "Average Daily Attendance" of students that are present during 2 nd period, which ends at 10:30 AM.  As you begin to plan out of town trips around Thanksgiving, Winter, and Spring Break, please consider keeping your children in school through the Friday before each break.  Let's work together to encourage our students to be in class every day.


WSMS School Store
The WSMS Store will be open every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Stop by to get your school spirit gear!

If you are interested in volunteering in the school store this year, please email
Willow Springs Yearbooks
Do you know what the spots on leopard is called? Answer: The spots on a leopard are called rosettes. In order for your child to be spotted in this year's yearbook, parents can order their child's 2018-2019 Willow Springs award-winning yearbook, Rosette, for a cost of $40.00 online now.  Yearbook orders are available to purchase online only by electronic check, Pay Pal, debit, or credit card. Order now, as the price goes up September 14 to be sure to guarantee your child is spotted in the Rosette yearbook. For more information, please click here .


Share Your Wisdom: Mentor a Student
You've learned life lessons and gained wisdom. Be a positive influence for teens and pre-teens in our own community. Become a mentor! Each year, Willow Springs administrators work with students and mentors to provide an understanding, impartial connection. Mentors share time and care, often simply listening and reflecting ideas for those young people who are facing various challenges. To learn more and/or volunteer email WSMS counselor Kathy Stone at [email protected] or call 469-742-8423.


Cell Phones at WSMS
As we have done in the past, students are welcome to bring their cell phones to school, but cell phones are not required.  Our philosophy as a campus is to work with students on the proper use of cell phones in a school setting by maximizing cell phone potential as an informational tool.  We have observed that students sometimes struggle with the use of cell phones during class when they are not being used for educational purposes. This year, we are implementing a new strategy where students will turn off their cell phones at the beginning of each class period and place them in a hanging bin at the front of the classroom.  If needed for educational purposes, teachers will ask students to access their phones. This will allow them the opportunity to be less distracted by their cell phone, yet still be able to use it to support and enhance learning. Students may use their cell phones before school, during passing periods, at lunch, and after school.


Bring Your Own Device to Willow Springs
Beginning next week, 7th and 8th grade students are welcome to bring their own lap top and/or iPad to class. Students are not required to bring their lap top and/or iPad to school, this is strictly optional. In addition, they will not use these devices every day, in every class, but would have the opportunity to use them when they align with the lesson to enhance student learning. If your child would like to use their laptop or iPad at school, it will be their responsibility for care and technical support. We are looking forward to this opportunity with our WSMS students.

For a copy of the LISD technology resources acceptable use policy, please click here.


Want to Learn More About Your Son or Daughter's Teachers?
Please visit their staff webpage on the WSMS staff directory website and find the names of your son or daughter's teachers.


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


WSMS Twitter Feeds  #wsmslovejoy
@WSMSLovejoyISD (Campus Event Updates)
@sscwsms (Counseling updates)


Reporting an Incident at WSMS
One of our top priorities at Willow Springs Middle School is to ensure the safety of all of our students.  Our most important asset in this is the eyes and ears our students can provide us on campus. We will begin using the Safe Schools Alert System this year for students and parents to report incidents they are aware of happening.  You can access the system by going to www.lovejoyisd.net .  Under Quick Links click on "REPORT IT!"  You will have four ways to submit an incident.  Furthermore, you will receive an access code to follow the progression of how an incident is being handled.  


Student Nutrition and Cafeteria Accounts
For information about student breakfast and lunch accounts, and our student nutrition program, and free and reduced lunch, please click here.


LISD Calendar
Please go here for LISD calendars.




Athletics
Volleyball Results - August 30th
7th Grade
A Team - Won
B Team - Won
C Team - Won

8th Grade
A Team - Lost
B Team - Lost
C Team - Lost


Football Results - September 5th
7th Grade
Red - Lost
Black - Lost

8th Grade
Red - Won
Black - Did not finish due to issue with lights


RUN-A-THON ---SAVE THE DATE!!! MONDAY, OCTOBER 15th
We are planning on having our first ever Run-a-thon at the middle school on October 15th!! Coach Kelly and I are still tossing ideas around... but we thought it would be really fun if we did this in an evening under the stadium lights around the track and had glow in the dark gear for the kids. We asked the kids about it, and they were pretty excited.  We will start the event at 7:30. There will be a cap of 25 laps (around 6.2 miles).Mark your calendar ASAP because I think it will be a blast for the kids!

WSMS PTA

WSMS PTA welcomes you to a new year and hopes that you will join PTA today!  Each WSMS membership as well as Leopard Drive donation made by our parents and students helps us fund both student and parent presentations through the school year. Topics range from encouraging healthy teenage lifestyles to college preparedness and all the memberships as well as donations stay here at Willow Springs. Our first parent presentation for the 2018- 2019 school year is Tuesday, September 11th at 10 am in the Willow Springs band hall immediately following our first General PTA meeting.  Join us in hearing presenter Carolyn Jennings Brown on the topic of Pro-Kindness / Anti-Bullying.
 
By joining PTA you will receive exclusive access to the online directory as well as first access to all the ways to support WSMS through volunteer opportunities.  To join the WSMS PTA today or donate to the Leopard drive please follow the link :
 
Please also visit the WSMS PTA's website to find volunteer forms and process your annual LISD volunteer application under the volunteer tab at: Willow Springs PTA
 
Kasey Havens
WSMS 2018-2019 PTA President
 
 
To see our WSMS PTA volunteer opportunities please go here .

District and Other News

Foundation for Lovejoy Schools
North Texas Giving Day
The Foundation for Lovejoy School's Annual Appeal, #WeLoveLovejoy, is underway.  Our goal is to raise $200,000 with remarkable community support and 100% Lovejoy family participation.  The Foundation Board of Directors asks you to join them in giving to the Foundation on North Texas Giving Day, Thursday, September 20th, from 6:00 AM - midnight.

Schedule Your Pledge to Give!
If you are unable to give on September 20th, you may schedule your gift during this year's 10 Days of Giving, from September 10th - 19th. Visit Northtexasgivingday.org for additional information regarding scheduling your gift, and donate.  Every gift, big or small, is valuable to the mission of enhancing education in Lovejoy.  Let's keep those campus thermometers rising!




Volunteer Background Application Now Available
For the safety of our students, a criminal history record is obtained annually for every person interested in volunteering at a LISD campus. Upon completion of the background check, applicants will be notified of approval to volunteer.

Please click here to access the Online Volunteer Application. The online application is a secure link.

All information regarding volunteer applications received for the 2017-2018 school year has been deleted.  If you submitted an application prior to August 2018, you will need to complete another application.

Thank you for your assistance with this very important matter.  Your interest in serving as a volunteer is appreciated. Should you have any questions, or require assistance, please contact:

Stacey Dillon
Assistant to the Superintendent
469.742.8003




Lovejoy Gifted Association Meet and Greet - Wednesday, September 19th
Are you interested in learning more about the Gifted and Talented program in Lovejoy? Click here for details regarding the Lovejoy Gifted Association Meet and Greet.


New! Tutoring and Test Prep Now Enrolling
ACT and PSAT/SAT classes will be starting soon. Private tutoring is available for students in grades K-12 in all subjects. Tutoring 101 recommends once a week tutoring for an hour to increase grades and learn subject matter more deeply. A once a week appointment usually results in an increase of 1 letter grade or more. Turn those C's into B's. Click here:    Tutoring 101@Lovejoy High School for additional information.


New! Girls and Boys Lacrosse Free Try-It Clinics
Lovejoy Lacrosse will host 2 girls' and boys' lacrosse try-it clinics on August 25th and September 8th from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM at Willow Springs Middle School. The try-it clinics and introduction to girls' and boys' lacrosse is open to Lovejoy ISD and surrounding communities.
Both try-it clinics are free and are open to all grade levels - kinder through high school. Girls and boys are welcome to attend one or both of the clinics. No registration is required. Just come on out to the field ready to have fun. There will be lacrosse equipment available to borrow.
No lacrosse experience is necessary. There will be drills for players of all skill and experience levels. The clinics will be a fun, no pressure environment where girls and boys can try lacrosse and parents can learn about the Lovejoy Lady Leopards Lacrosse program.
For additional information click here .

New! Chess Club for Elementary and Intermediate Students
Chess Club Enthusiasts: Lovejoy Chess Club registration is now open. The first session will be held the week of September 10th. You may  click here for additional information and to register. If you have any questions, please email Miles Knight.


Lovejoy Orchestra Spirit Day/Night - September 1 1th
Lovejoy Orchestra Spirit day/night is at Kelly Family Farms: Tuesday, September 11th, from 10:30 AM - 8:00 PM. This is an all-day event, so if you are unable to join us for dinner you may meet a friend for lunch, pick up lunch and bring to your kids, or bring back lunch to your office and still support the Lovejoy Orchestra Booster Club. Please plan to join us for delicious food, good company, and support of our Lovejoy Orchestra.  Ten percent of the proceeds from your visit will go to the Orchestra Booster Club. When you order please let them know you are with Lovejoy Orchestra. This giveback includes dine in and take out. You may call 972-754-7974 to place an order for pick up. Click Orchestra Spirit Night at Kelly Family Farms for additional information.





Red Out Homecoming Shirts - Available from LHS Band, Order Now!
Have you purchased your Red Out Homecoming Shirt?  Click  here for more information and a printable order form. The deadline to order is October 12, 2018.



Leopard Volleyball Elementary Night
Mark your calendars for September 14th, when the Varsity Volleyball team takes on 6A state champion Arlington, Martin.  During halftime we will recognize all elementary school students from Puster, Lovejoy, and Hart.



New! Girl Scout Troops Now Forming
New Girl Scout troops are forming for girls in K-12th grade - and you and your daughter are invited to join us to learn more about Girl Scouting. All Girl Scout activities are 100 percent girl-led and girl-focused. Join us for information events on Saturday, September 15th from 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM at Bethany Lakes Park (731 Bethany Lake Blvd, Allen) or Monday, September 17th at 7:00 PM at Marion Elementary School (1595 Stablerun Drive, Allen) or contact us at [email protected] for additional information.




Lovejoy Softball Grand Slam Club Host Spirit Night - Thursday, September 20th
The Lovejoy Lady Leopard Softball Boosters are hosting a Lady Leopard Softball Night at Panera Restaurant on Thursday, September 20th from 4:00 - 8:00 PM. Bring the following flyer to Panera's for redemption and a portion of the bill will go to the Grand Slam Club.  Please come out, enjoy some great food, and help support our Lady Leopard's Softball Team.





Lovejoy Leopards, Inc. Annual Golf Tournament, Monday, September 24th
The 10th Annual Lovejoy Leopards, Inc. (LLI) Golf Tournament will be held on Monday, September 24th at "The Dye Course" at Stonebridge Country Club. This is a new tournament venue.  Registration opens at 7:00 AM. The tournament begins at 8:00 AM and the cost is $150 per player, which includes green fees, cart, gift bag and awards luncheon.

The Tournament is limited to 144 golfers.  Golfers should indicate the booster club they are playing in support of and LLI will return 90% of the net after expenses to that booster club.  Golfers may also purchase a Super Ticket for $50, which includes 10 raffle tickets and all games on the course. The deadline to register is September 17th. To obtain a registration form and pay online, golfers may access the LLI Golf Tournament Flyer by clicking here.


Lovejoy Upper 90 Soccer Boosters Host Juggling-A-Thon - Saturday, October 13th
The Upper 90 Soccer Booster Club will host a "Juggling-A-Thon" to help raise money for the program.  Each Soccer player will have 30 minutes to get his or her highest number of consecutive ball touches.  Prior to this event, the players will be seeking sponsorships for the number of touches they complete during their 30-minute juggling drill.  Please help support our 2019 Boys and Girls Soccer program with a sponsorship.
For additional information, please contact:
Alex Duran, Head Boys Soccer Coach
Ian Keeble, Head Girls Soccer Coach
The team will perform their juggling drills for funds on Saturday, October 13th.  Additional information will be made available as the event nears.


New! Lovejoy Senior Requests Assistance with Senior Project
A message from Lovejoy Senior, Alexandra Brungardt:

"As an incoming senior, I have selected a project that is close to my heart. There is a "Toy Closet" at the Cancer Hospital from which patients can choose an item to help during their stay. I want to stock the Closet with as many toys as possible.  In order to purchase toys for the closet, donation bins will be placed at each of the schools and the red building. These bins will be collecting gently used Lovejoy Spirit Wear. Once collected, the spirit wear will be sold and the money used to buy Toys for the Closet.

The toys will be donated in memory of Walker Jack Rainey.

I can be reached at [email protected] with any comments or questions.  Thank you for your generosity."


Lovejoy Lacrosse - Boys' and Girls' Teams Registration Now Open
Registration is now open for the boys' and girls' 2018 Fall season of Lovejoy Lacrosse.  Join the most exciting, fastest-growing sport in the country.

Register now for Boys: Grades Kindergarten through 8th Grade
Register now for Girls: Grades Kindergarten through High School

Visit www.lovejoylacrosse.com  for information regarding the program and the upcoming Fall season.

Hurry, as rosters are filling quickly!

 


10th Annual Turkey Chess Tournament, Saturday, November 3rd
Register now for Lovejoy's 10th Annual Turkey Chess Tournament. This is a five round USCF (United States Chess Federation) event that will be held at Sloan Creek Intermediate School. Click here to register.