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Willow Springs Middle School Principal Newsletter - October 14, 2020
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Dear WSMS Parents and Guardians,
We owe a HUGE Thank You to Mrs. Lisa Wilkins, who was the creative mind and organizer behind our campus service learning project. As many of you know this was to take place last school year, but had to be rescheduled due to rain and Covid. We were blessed with great weather last week and were able to get a portion of this campus wide project completed. This would have not been possible without the donations from numerous parents and the following sponsors: Wild Birds Unlimited, Luxury Floors & Stairs, Matlock Real Estate, Erosion Control Management, Farmgirl Gardens & Market, Rosemary Bates MD, Circle R and Manana Greens. Take a look at the pictures below!
This week we're so happy to have almost 100 virtual students return to the campus and transition back to on-campus learning. We now have approximately 80% of our students back on campus. No matter where you have chosen for your child to receive instruction, virtually or on campus, we strive every day to deliver a great experience for them.
As we move into the Fall season, we will begin having student programs on campus (more information below). We could not have this added value to our students without the support of our PTO. If you have not done so already, I highly encourage you to become a member. There is a minimal membership fee of $8.00. The money raised by the PTO goes directly to the programs we get to bring on campus for our students. Additionally, our PTO does a phenomenal job of supporting our teachers throughout the year. As you know, the teachers need all of the support they can get in a year such as this one. Please consider joining the PTO. You can join by clicking here.
The weather is going to begin turning in the cooler direction this week and it's going to be fantastic! Hope you get a chance to enjoy it.
Have a great week!
Respectfully,
Kevin
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REMINDER - Updated! College Board PSAT 8 - Thursday, October 22
On Thursday, October 22nd, 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 PSAT 8/9 assessment will begin promptly at 9am on Thursday, October 22nd and will last approximately 3.5 hours. 8th graders may want to bring a bottle of water for testing. This will be an online test, and WSMS counselors will review scores with students in the spring.
Virtual students are invited to participate in the PSAT on October 22nd, however, to follow College Board testing requirements, we must have an accurate count of students that will be on campus on the day of testing. If your child is or will be a virtual learner on October 22nd and wishes to take the exam, please click here to complete the form. This form will need to be completed by October 8th.
REMINDER! ParentPortal Update Needed
The PowerSchool ParentPortal is now open for you to complete the online Enrollment & Student Information Forms. Please click here to access the Parent Portal. Parents will access the enrollment forms in their PowerSchool Parent Portal - left navigation panel - "Enrollment & Student Forms." Completion of these forms is required every year for every student. Please take a few minutes to update your contact information and other forms.
NEW! Red Ribbon Week - October 26-30
Willow Springs will be celebrating Red Ribbon Week October 26-30. Please encourage your child to participate in daily themes to show our pride and commitment to living a drug-free life! For a list of daily themes, please click here.
NEW! Picture Proofs and Picture Retakes
Picture proofs have been received and will be distributed to students through their math classes on Thursday and Friday. If your student is virtual for Q2, please stop by the front office to pick them up. On the proof itself, you will see ordering information.
Picture Retakes will be on November 6th. This will be for students who missed the original picture day, new students and for those that wish to have their picture retaken. For virtual students, a sign up will be going out with time slots, as we did originally.
Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact Leslee Cox at
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No Pass - No Play: Six Week Progress Report Grades
Friday, September 25th, will be the last day for six week progress reports. Although we are on a nine week grading system, UIL requires all schools to check eligibility after the first six weeks and again at the end of the first grading period if it exceeds six weeks. Based on our district academic calendar, we will have two eight week grading periods in the fall. Our first grading period will end on Thursday, October 8 th. For a copy of the UIL eligibility calendar, please click here.
Upcoming - Bullying Prevention Presentations to all WSMS students
All WSMS students will have the opportunity to hear Bullying Prevention Presentations the week of October 13-16. Presentations will be given by the WSMS Counselors during History classes. At the middle school level, bullying can be perceived as being different for every individual. Our goal is to help students to understand that it is not always the intent of the action/comment, but how it was received. In addition, all students need to look out for each other and report any incidents where students or staff are not treated fair and respectful. As Leopards, we are all in this together. Please spend some time discussing bullying with your son or daughter.
Change to Attendance - Effective Oct 13, 2020, start of Q2:
Students who are in grades 5 - 12 and are Face-to-Face/On-Campus students will no longer be able to gain attendance credit by attending classes virtually, or otherwise engaging asynchronously. Attendance for On-Campus students will now be entered as it always has been: students are either Present (PF) or Absent (A). The Attendance Office can change the A as needed based on medical notes, parent notes, parent calls and so forth, but these students will not receive PA - Present Asynchronous.
The only exception to this is if an On-Campus student is officially quarantined due to exposure, or isolated due to actual COVID illness.
This state provision of allowing PA for On-Campus students is not part of Lovejoy ISD's 20-21 learning plan that was previously filed with the State.
Only Virtual students may receive PA.
Attention 8TH GRADE PARENTS - Deadline for recognition ads, November 13th
8th grade yearbook recognition ads are also now on sale! The deadline is Friday 11-13. You can purchase and create your senior recognition ad online via the link below as well. Note all 8th grade recognition ads must be paid for and created online by Friday 11-13.
This program will be offered again this year to WSMS students both in person and virtually on November 30 and December 1. The parent portion will be available for viewing online on November 18.
The PTO is able to schedule and fund these programs because of membership dues and donations from our awesome parent community. This year, 100% of those funds stay in Lovejoy instead of a significant portion being sent to the state and national PTA. Haven't joined yet? Use this link and once you've created an account you can sign up for any Lovejoy PTO.
WSMS Career Day ~ SAVE THE DATE, February 11, 2021, 9:15 - 12:50pm
Come share your professional expertise with Willow Springs students! Each Career Day presenter will meet with groups of students in 20-30 minute presentations, sharing educational requirements, salary and travel expectations, future prospects, and what a "day in the life" is like in this career field.
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Campus Information and Reminders
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WSMS Mentoring Program
Willow Springs Middle School is looking for positive adult role models to mentor students in our Mentoring Program. The ideal candidate is willing to share knowledge, skills, and possesses humanitarian qualities. Other merits for a mentor are commitment to community, openness to diversity, the desire to positively impact our youth, and an opportunity to guide and teach. The WSMS Mentoring Program promotes the well-being of the mentee by providing a role model that can support the student academically, socially, emotionally, and in general.
Pictures needed for the WSMS Yearbook
Thank you for emailing photos to Beverly Zetsche, the yearbook adviser. We now have an easier system for you. Please use the link to upload pictures for consideration in the 2021 yearbook! Use the link below:
October Nutrition Newsletter
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Tickets for WSMS Sporting Events
In order to control our environment as best we can, we are requiring attendees to pre-purchase tickets. The link to do this for all WSMS home games can be found here. All middle school football games will be played at the high school this year in order to increase capacity.
Volleyball Results vs Allen Ereckson
8th Grade
C Team - Lost
B Team - Won
A Team - Won
7th Grade
C Team - Lost
B Team - Won
A Team - Won
Football Results vs Wylie Burnett
8th Grade
Red Team - Won
Black Team - Lost
7th Grade
Red Team - Won
Black Team - Won
Girls XC Results
Girls finishing in the top 10 and earning a medal:
Jocelyn Chapman - 4th
Tatum Novicke - 5th
Lauren Gonzalez - 8th
Ava Easley - 9th
Boys XC Results
Boys finishing in the top 10 and earning a medal:
Will Carlson - 1st
Tyler Morefield - 2nd
Jack Thompson - 3rd
Aaron Wimbish - 4th
Jackson Reid - 5th
David Groves - 6th
Luke Armstrong - 8th
Caden Gary - 10th
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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.
For the latest Athletic News, download the "Lovejoy Leopards Athletics" app.
For the latest Fine Arts News, follow @LovejoyArts on Twitter, or like them on Facebook at Lovejoy Arts.
Foundation For Lovejoy Schools
It's not too late to give to the Annual Appeal campaign. Every gift makes an impact. Invest today in our students' tomorrow.
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