A Message from the Principal
 
Willow Springs Middle School Principal Newsletter - March 15, 2019

 
 
 
 
 
 









If you would like to update your district/campus email preferences or change your email address, please click on the Update Profile link at the footer of this email. You will receive an email from Constant Contact which will allow you to update your information and campus news preferences.


Dear WSMS Parents and Guardians,
 
I hope everyone has had a safe and relaxing Spring Break with friends and family.  See you on Monday!



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

Upcoming Student Holidays
April 19th is a designated bad weather day.  It will be a student and teacher holiday if we do not have a school closing due to bad weather between now and then.


Academic UIL
Practices are in progress, but we still need students to compete!  If your student is interested, please have them speak with or email the coach of the event in which he/she is interested.  Remember, s tudents may compete in as many events as they would like as long as the events they enter compete at different times during the competition day. (Please see the conflict schedule to help determine which events work best for your student.) Times and locations of tryouts can be accessed by clicking here . Team practices will begin the week of February 25th . If you have any questions, please contact Laura Rogers at [email protected] or the coach of the event your student is interested in.


WSMS Cheer Tryouts - March 20 - 22
Students who are trying out for 7th or 8th grade cheer will meet in the main gym at WSMS from 4:30-6:00 pm March 20th and 21st to practice and prepare for tryouts which will be held on March 22nd from 4:30-9:00 pm in the WSMS Main Gym. Please email [email protected] if you have any questions about the WSMS cheer program or if you missed the informational parent meeting on February 12th.


STAAR Testing Dates
As we approach the STAAR testing dates below, please avoid scheduling doctors appointments or other appoints on STAAR testing days.  This could potentially disrupt your students testing schedule. Our goal is to create the best testing environment that we can for our students on STAAR testing days.



Save the Date: STAAR Testing This Spring

Campus Information and Reminders
Safety Corner--Reminder on Carpool Pick-Up Procedures
As we head into spring, we will have fewer and fewer after school activities.  This means that we will have more students getting pickup in the carpool lanes after school.  In an effort to keep our students safe and help our carpool run efficiently, please see below for a few reminders on carpool pick up.  

  • Please remember to always pull forward in the carpool lane.
  • If your student is not ready for pick up when you arrive, please continue to pull forward rather than stopping and waiting in the carpool lane.  You may also pull into the back parking lot and park in a parking spot until they are ready for pick up.
  • It is important that we keep the carpool line moving so we limit back-up traffic on to West Lucas Rd.
  • Please do not honk to get your students attention.  This distracts other drivers and students as they are getting to their vehicles.   
  • Please do not use your cell phone in the carpool line.
  • We have staff members to assist students at the cross walks and moving toward vehicles.
  • If you are in a hurry, please arrive in carpool after 4:10.  Traffic moves slowly between 4:00--4:10 and then picks up as more students exit the building and load into cars.   

Drug Dogs on Campus
We will have a drug dog on campus for an unannounced visit once a month for the remainder of the school year.  When classrooms are selected to be searched, all students will need to exit the room leaving their backpacks and other belongings.  The drug dog, the handler, and an administrator will enter the room to conduct the search. At the conclusion of the search, students and the teacher can re-enter the room.  

From WSMS Geo Bee to STATE QUALIFIER...
Every year the winner of our Geography Bee gets to take another exam to try and qualify for the National Geographic Geography State Bee.  Our very own 7th Grade School Geography Bee winner, Katherine Smith, did so well on that exam she qualified for the National Geographic State Geography Bee.  The National Geographic State Bee is on March 29th in Bedford, TX. Please congratulate Katherine on this incredible accomplishment and wish her luck at the state meet.  If she wins the State Meet she will travel to Washington, D.C. to represent our state at the National Geography Bee. Best of luck Katherine!!


One Act Play Contest Results
Congratulations to the cast and crew of the WSMS One Act Play, "Lafayette No. 1" The students competed in the Find Your Light One Act Play Festival on Saturday, March 2nd. The cast earned several awards which included:

Best Lighting: Jillian Nuckles
Honorable Mention Cast:  Grace Hurlburt and Zoe Smithey
All Star Cast: Sadie Mowrer and Ellis Smith
Best Actress: Brindley Eaton
Best Actor: Jacob Smithwick
Outstanding Technical Crew of the contest: Clay Diercks, Elizabeth Esposito, Nicole George, Jillian Nuckles and Annalysa Ritchie  1st place Champion Production!!



Orchestral UIL Success
On Wednesday, March 6 and Thursday, March 7, the Willow Springs Orchestras participated in the Region 25 UIL Concert and Sightreading Contest.  Both groups performed with such professionalism and received First Division Superior Awards from every judge. We brought home some wonderful trophies and beautiful comment sheets!

Here are the results!

Stage - First Division Superior Rating Overall (1,1,1)
Sightreading - First Division Superior Rating Overall (1, 1, 1)

Stage - First Division Superior Rating Overall (1,1,1)
Sightreading - First Division Superior Rating Overall (1,1,1)
Please help us congratulate these awesome musicians!!!!

Lovejoy School Stores Announce Sale
The Lovejoy High School and Willow Springs Middle School stores will host a sale beginning on March 18. The entire stores will offer items at 50% off. Some exclusions may apply.

Lovejoy High School School Store Hours
8:30 AM - 4:15 PM
Willow Springs Middle School Store Hours
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday
During Lunch


Inclement Weather
School closures will be determined based on safety. In the event of a school closure, notifications will be announced on the district's website, Facebook, and Twitter pages. We will also announce any closure through the media and by phone. Links to our social media accounts are shown below.


Lovejoy ISD App
The Lovejoy ISD App is available for download on both Apple and Android devices.  To download the app for Apple devices, please click here .  To download the app for Android devices, please click here .  



Twitter and Facebook
Are you following the district on Twitter ?  Have you liked us on Facebook ?  Join us on social media for news and announcements.


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.  


LISD Calendar
Please go here for LISD calendars.



Athletics
WSMS Soccer Tryout Information
Boys Middle School Soccer
Tryout times and dates:
Thursday - March 7th
Friday - March 8th
8th - 3:20 - 4:20
7th - 4:20 -5:20

After Spring Break:
Monday- March 18th
Tuesday - March 19th
8th-  3:20 - 4:20
7th - 4:20 -5:20

Wednesday - March 19th - Meet with players individually during the same times above and finalize roster spots.

22 spots for 8th grade
22 spots for 7th grade

For those making the final rosters:  
Practice begins every day starting on Thursday March 21st during the same times listed above.
First game is a home game on March 26

If you have any questions please contact Coach Alex Duran at  [email protected] .


Girls Middle School Soccer
Thursday-Friday, March 7-8. After talking to Coach Littlefield, she said it would be best for the girls in track to come try out on these days.
7th- 7:00-8:15, 8th- 8:00-9:10
 
Monday-Tuesday, March 18-19.
7th- 7:00-8:15, 8th- 8:00-9:10
 
Wednesday, March 20. Meet with players individually to finalize teams. I will be able to talk to the 7th graders running track before their track practice starts. For the 8th grade girls running track, I will be able to talk to them after their track practice ends.
7th- 7:00-8:20, 8th- 8:30-9:20

The only equipment the girls need to bring with them are a pair of cleats, if they have them, and shin guards. We will provide balls, bibs, cones, and water.

If you have any questions please contact Coach Ian Keeble at  [email protected] .


WSMS Track and Field
The Willow Springs Track and Field teams competed in their first meet of the season in Rockwall.

7th grade girls were Team Champions scoring 169 points
8th grade girls were Team Runner-up scoring 153 points
7th grade boys were 3rd overall scoring 123 points
8th grade boys were Team Runner-up scoring 135 points

7th Grade Girls Gold medal/Blue Ribbon kids from the meet:
Sara Morefield - 2400 meter run
Kailey Littlefield - 800 meter run/1600 meter run/4x4
Lauren Dolberry - 300 hurdles
Jessica McKintosh - High Jump
4x400 meter relay - Cambry Patrick, Annabelle Clay, Kamryn Messick, Kailey Littlefield

7th Grade Girls Silver medal/Red Ribbon kids from the meet:
Lauren Dolberry - 100 hurdles
Cambry Patrick - 400 meter dash
Sara Morefield - 1600 meter run
Kendell Coppinger - HJ/4x2
Eva Underwood - Pole Vault
4x200 meter relay - Marleize Basson, Kamryn Messick, Brielle Schoelle, Kendell Coppinger

8th Grade Girls Gold medal/Blue Ribbon kids from the meet:
Amy Morefield - 2400 meter run/4x4
Chloe Schaeffer - 800 meter run/4x4
Bella Landrum - 400 meter dash/4x4
Emma Smith - 200 meter dash
4x400 meter relay - Bella Landrum, Chloe Schaeffer, Callan Snider, Amy Morefield

8th Grade Girls Silver medal/Red Ribbon kids from the meet:
Callan Snider - 800 meter run/4x4
Morgan Streeter - 300 meter hurdles
Margo Friloux - High Jump
4x100 meter relay - Emma Smith, Morgan Streeter, Taylor Murphy, Bella Landrum




WSMS PTA

We hope you all have a safe, relaxing and fun Spring Break!  We look forward to seeing you once we return on Monday, March 18th.  
 
Please mark your calendars for our final parent presentation for 2018-2019 PTA Programs:
 
  • Tuesday, April 2nd, at 10:30am, College Readiness with Randy Trevino, Co-Director of College Counseling at Lovejoy High School.
  • What we will discuss:  College Planning, College Visits, Naviance, Rigor, SAT/ACT and Holistic Review.
 
Our final PTA Membership meeting begins at 10:00am, we will be electing officers for the 2019-2020 school year as well as approving our budget for next year, we hope you will join us.  This parent presentation will be made available thru Facebook Face-time.
 
For past speaker facetime videoing and handouts, check out the link:


Sincerely-
Kasey Havens
WSMS PTA President 2018-2019
214-534-6200




District and Other News

Foundation for Lovejoy Schools
Denim & Diamonds - The Party!
Thank you to everyone who made the 2019 Denim & Diamonds a fun and successful party. Sponsors, donors, auction bidders, LISD staff and volunteers all came together to make it happen. $322,000 was raised to support education in LISD. The new format was a big hit, so we will make some tweaks and do it again next year. Mark your calendars - February 22, 2020.


Ladies Night Out
Tickets went on sale on March 5 at 10:00 AM. Click here for the reservation page and here for the Foundation's website.







NEW! - Lovejoy Hockey
Lovejoy Hockey is looking to grow. All interested players who are currently in grades 6 and up are encouraged to reach out so we can share information regarding the upcoming spring and fall seasons. Spring registration is right around the corner! Contact the board at [email protected].






Hop Into Spring Chess Tournament - March 30
This annual Lovejoy Tournament continues to be a hit around the metroplex.  Come join your fellow chess players on March 30 at Sloan Creek for a wonderful day of chess play. This five round tournament awards the top three players in each section a trophy and fourth place receives a chocolate bunny. Gather up a team from your school and compete together.  Registration is going on now. Please visit North Texas Chess Academy's website to register.