A Message from the Principal
 
Willow Springs Middle School Principal Newsletter - August 25, 2020

 
 
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Dear WSMS Parents and Guardians,

Now that we are up and running with our virtual learning, we will shift our focus on the arrival of our face-to-face students beginning on September 8.  I will put out information over the next couple of weeks for all students and parents to become acquainted with.  Even though a student's family has chosen for them to remain in a virtual setting over the first 9 weeks, the option remains for them to return onto campus after the first grading period.  Therefore it is important for all students to be familiar with updated processes and procedures that are new due to the current situation we find ourselves in.  

Students will view videos during their "Announcements" time (10:19 AM-10:39 AM) on designated days.  Please keep in mind that due to state mandates and safety precautions we have had to make adjustments to areas such as hallway traffic, cafeteria seating, dismissal procedures and traffic flow among other things.  

I will be sending a video out at the end of this week for parents to also view regarding these same items.  I cannot stress enough how important it is to reiterate to your children the importance of following these protocols.  The sole reason for student adherence to these is to ensure we are able to continue doing school.  We know what it feels like to have that taken from us.  We have to do everything we can to protect the school experience.

Please take a moment to view the new dismissal traffic flow map below.  


Respectfully,



Kevin


Kevin Parker
Principal
Willow Springs Middle School
1101 West Lucas Rd, Lucas 75002
Office: 469-742-8417
Mobile: 469-667-2280
@WSMSLovejoyISD
#wsmslovejoy



New Information

NEW! Dismissal Traffic Flow
As you know, the district has decreased the number of bus routes.  Therefore, we anticipate more cars in the parking lot picking up students at the end of the school day.  In order to manage this we will be loading cars in the front of the school this year.  Cars will still enter the northeast driveway closest to the red light at Country Club Road.  Traffic will wrap around the campus until they pick up their child along the front curb.  ALL students will dismiss out the front doors of the campus.  More information will be coming out later this week regarding traffic flow.

 
 


NEW! Need a book while learning at home?
Even though you can not visit the WSMS library right now, we still have books available for you to check out.  Visit OverDrive to access our catalog of eBooks and audio books.  

username: lastname_firstname
password: current school password
 
Contact our librarian, Mrs. Barr, with any questions at Ashley_Barr@lovejoyisd.net. 


NEW! Bus Information
For up to date information on Bus Eligibility Guidelines, Campus Eligibility Maps and Transportation Policies & Procedures, please visit the LISD Transportation website by clicking here.



Medication Drop-Off
If you need to bring an Epi-pen and Benadryl,  an Inhaler, or other medications that your child might need at school during the school year, please call the clinic number of 469-742-8420 or email Nurse Young directly at
Gretchen_Young@lovejoyisd.net to arrange a time with her to bring the medication and proper forms. 

She will be available for drop off of forms and medications during the week of Aug. 24th-28th.

The Medication forms, Emergency Action forms, and the Asthma Action forms can all be found on the district website under the Student Health Services page. Some of these forms must be signed by the child's physician as well as their parent, so you will need to fill these out ahead of time.

All medications must be in their original packaging (NO ziplock baggies of medications) and not expired. 

Prescription medications must have the proper label on the bottle or packaging and will have to be counted with the parent dropping the medication off.


Walk the Springs - Wednesday, September 2nd
We are VERY excited to once again have our traditional "Walk the Springs" day.  This year we will have "Walk the Springs" on Wednesday, September 2. It will be adjusted.  This year buses will not run and the day will only be offered to our students who will attend classes in person beginning on September 8.  Instead of having all students on campus at once, we will invite our 7th grade students in the morning with their first class beginning at 9:00 AM.  They will visit all of their "A" Day classes and then all of their "B" Day classes before being dismissed at 11:32 AM.  Our 8th graders will then follow the same bell schedule and visit all of the classes in the same order beginning at 1:30 PM and being dismissed at 4:00 PM.  This event helps to ensure that the first day of school goes smoothly by providing the students with an opportunity to walk through their schedules, find their classrooms, meet their teachers, and reunite with their friends.  This is a day designed for students only. You can access the "Walk The Springs" schedule here.

September 2 will not be designated as an A or B day.  All students will receive asynchronous assignments from their A Day teacher on August 31 that will be due on Wednesday, September 2.


Upcoming School Holiday
Monday, September 7th is a student and teacher holiday in observance of Labor Day.



Campus Information and Reminders
WSMS Bell Schedule
Click here for a copy of our bell schedule.


How will I know if it is an "A/B" day?
Click here for a copy of the "A/B" day calendar.


Change to LISD Calendar
At the August 13 Special Board Meeting, the LISD School Board voted to change September 8th from student holiday to an instructional day. Please go here for LISD calendars.
 
 
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.


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.



Leopard Fishing Club 
7th and 8th grade students anglers - if you are interested in joining Leopard Fishing please send an email to Leopardfishingclub@gmail.com and let us know you are interested.  All anglers need to be signed up by August 31st.
 
The purpose of the Club is to educate and prepare future Leopard Fishing High School Team anglers for competitive bass fishing. As a Club member you will be introduced to competitive bass fishing, interact with the high school fishing team, participate in fish camp and an intra-squad tournament.


Athletics

Physical Packets 
Rank One athletic forms are online and ready to be completed for the 2020-2021 school year. Please go to https://lovejoyisd.rankonesport.com/New/Home.aspx 
set up your account, and fill out the forms.  A physical form must also be completed.

The 2020-2021 physical forms are now available for players to pick up. The forms this year are purple. Players may get one at the front office of WSMS. If you have any questions about the required paperwork please let me know.

Any and all online paperwork questions should be directed to Susan Smiley.


 


WSMS PTO


**NEW** The first PTA meeting for general membership will take place on September 15 at 10am, so please mark your calendars. A zoom link will be published to members prior to the meeting.
 
Thank you to those who have already joined PTA and generously donated to help us support the great programs our WSMS students participate in during the school year!  If you haven't signed up yet, please Join PTO today and give! 
 
Also:
  1. Support the PTO by using Amazon, Kroger and Box Tops (visit Support PTO page for details)
  2. Bookmark our web site and visit frequently for current opportunities
  3. Get reminders on PTO activities by texting @wspto20 to 81010.
Hope you all had a great first week and are settling into virtual learning.

   
Christy Payne
WSMS PTO President
2020-2021





District and Other News


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.





Help us Surprise Dr. Goddard for his 50th Birthday! 
Dr. Goddard sends each and every one of our Lovejoy Leopards a special letter to open on their birthday! This year, Dr. Goddard turns 50 and we thought it would be great to surprise him by asking our students and families to send him special birthday wishes! 

If you are interested in participating, please click here to learn more!