Willow Springs Middle School


A Message from the Principal
WSMS Principal Newsletter, April 13, 2021
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Dear WSMS Parents and Guardians,

Not only have we endured a pandemic and unprecedented winter weather this year, but our 7th graders also experienced the phantom writing STAAR test last week.  We feel confident the State has worked out all of the kinks and we will re-administer this exam next week on April 20.  We will review with students where their testing locations are (7th graders) or where their classroom locations have been moved (8th graders).  If you are a virtual student, everything has stayed the same for you as well.  You will show up by 8:45 AM and report to the same location as last week.

I want to take a moment to say a BIG thank you to our additional title sponsors, HelpMD and James Dean Jensen, D.D.S, M.S, P.A., for their monetary donation towards our campus service learning project.  Our annual service learning project is scheduled for next Thursday and Friday, April 22nd and 23rd.  All activities will be scheduled through science classes students will be in their normal classes throughout the day.  If you are interested in purchasing a t-shirt for the day, you can do so using this link.  We are still looking for volunteers and would love for you to join us.  Afternoon time slots are our biggest need at the moment.  You can sign up by going here.  If you are a virtual student, we would love for you to join us as well.  Please let your science teacher know you will be attending the service learning project.  You will, of course, be excused from being late to your next class to give you time to return home after your science class.

Have a great week!


Kevin

Kevin Parker
Principal
1101 West Lucas Rd, Lucas 75002
Office: 469-742-8417
Mobile: 469-667-2280
@WSMSLovejoyISD
#wsmslovejoy
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New / Updated Information
NEW DATE - Tuesday, April 20th -  STAAR 7th Grade Writing
 
 
Cell Phone STAAR Policy
On STAAR testing days, we are requesting students who will be testing do not bring electronics to campus. Cell phones, tablets, laptops, eReaders, electronic watches, or other electronic devices will NOT be allowed in testing rooms. If students forget and bring their devices to school, they will be asked to sign a waiver and place their electronics in a plastic bin that will be removed from the testing room. Any electronics brought to school on testing days will be returned once testing is complete. Students will NOT be allowed to place electronics in lockers on testing days.
 
Additional Information For STAAR Tests April 20th
  • If students have been issued a Chromebook from the school, they will need charge it and bring it to school for testing.
  • Students will have 4 hours to complete the test.
  • If a student arrives past 9:15, then they will NOT be allowed to take the test, and the student will have to make the test up on a different day.
  • If students are absent from the test, they will have the opportunity to take the test on a different day as long as it is within the testing window.
  • All test taking students will need to bring an appropriate snack, a sack lunch, a book, and a bottle of water.
  • Appropriate snacks are quick, easy, and nutritious. Snacks should not require utensils, shouldn't be sticky or full of sugar. (Examples of appropriate snacks are: protein bars, string cheese, crackers, goldfish, cheerios, etc).
  • All test taking students will eat lunch in their testing rooms.
  • Due to security on testing days, parents will not be able to deliver lunch to their students on STAAR testing days.
  • No morning athletics for 7th Graders on 4/6/21.
  • No before school tutorials on 4/6/21.
  • Virtual students are required to take the STAAR.
  • Click here for CoVid precautions the school will be taking for STAAR.


UPDATED! WSMS Service Learning Project - April 22 & 23
On April 22 & 23, all WSMS students will participate in our Spring Leopards by Nature Service Learning Project.   
 
All 7th and 8th grade students will work outside on campus during their science classes to:
  • Improve and maintain our edible garden area
  • Install donated bird feeders and pollinator houses
  • Install new native landscaping and pollinator garden next to edible garden area
  • refresh/maintain existing native landscaping
  • Install and create a new outdoor class seating area

Prior to this project, students will receive an introductory lesson on the importance of native plants, habitats, and ecosystems to their community and school.

Here’s how you can help:
  • Volunteer! Parent and community volunteers are needed (see sign up genius link). It’s been quite an unusual year, so don’t miss this opportunity to serve alongside our students. 
  • Donate/Loan! A wish list (see sign up genius link) for items we need purchased or loaned to the school to make this possible. 
  • Purchase a t-shirt! Click here to order....we are encouraging students to purchase a Leopards by Nature t-shirt for $12 designed by 7th grader, Hannah Xie. All profits from t-shirt sales help fund purchase of compost, mulch and native plants and flowers. 
  • Become a Sponsor! We are seeking local businesses to sponsor this year’s Leopard by Nature Service Learning event. Your company logo will be featured on the back of the t-shirt designed by 7th grade student Hannah Xie. Sponsors help us stretch our dollars to make biggest impact. Thanks for considering!

Please email parent volunteer Lisa Wilkins with any questions [email protected].


REMINDER! Scoliosis Testing
Our school Nurse, Gretchen Young, will be screening all ALL 7th grade GIRL students for possible Scoliosis on Thursday, May 6th and ALL 8th grade BOY students on Friday May 7th during their Fitnessgram Test. Scoliosis screening is required by House Bill 832 passed by the Texas Legislature in 1985.

Students will be required to remove their shirts for the screening. Girls WILL NEED TO WEAR one of the following under their blouse or shirt: swim suit top, bra or sports bra. The procedure for screening is simple and quick, it requires the back to be visually examined while standing straight and bending forward. For this examination, boys and girls will be seen separately and individually examined by the WSMS nurse.

If you do not wish for your student to be screened you must have your child examined by your healthcare provider and an affidavit submitted to the nurse's office on or before May 10th. Parents will be notified of the results of the screening only if professional follow up is necessary.

If you have any questions or concerns, or wish to submit medical documentation regarding your child, please contact Gretchen by email or phone at 469-742-8420.


REMINDER! Not Returning to LISD Next Year?
If your student will not be returning to WSMS or Lovejoy High School for the 2021-2022 school year, please email Carol Vik with your student’s name, as well as complete and return this form.


REMINDER! Note From The Nurse
Regarding 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 2021-2022 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 2021-2022 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 9th, 2021. 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.

NEW! WSMS Robotic Success
1082G (all girl) 
Robot "Persephone"
Olivia Lee
Megha Siripurapu
Veronica Ye
Hannah Schnurr 
This team won the top award, the Excellence Award, automatically qualifying for State. 
 
1082M
Robot "Black Lightning"
Robert Schnurr
Christian Cazares
Apia Okorafor 
Liam Dunleavy 
Kevin Zhang 
Camden Bratz 
 
1082S
Robot "Xi" 
Paul Jasina
Drew Mori 
Josh Arnett
Liam Whittingham 
Jack Trka 
 
1082T
Robot "Titan"
Austin Hummel
John "JR" Reed
Garrett Payne
Zach Tiedt 
Zach Huettner
Luke Doyle 
 
Teams can win a spot at State, or be invited. Invitations are based on World standing. 1082M was invited in the first round of invitations. Teams 1082S and 1082T received invitations in the second round. 
 
This is a first for Willow Springs but we intend to make it an annual event. So very proud. 
Upcoming Dates
2020 STAAR Testing Dates - Mark Your Calendars
There have been a few updates to STAAR testing dates. Please take a look at the timeline below. If you haven’t already, begin marking your calendars for the Spring 2021 STAAR Testing Dates. If possible, try to avoid STAAR Assessment Dates when making appointments for your children. This allows your child to have adequate time on assessments to do their very best! Click here to access the WSMS STAAR Timeline. Thank you! 


National Junior Honor Society Applications for Current WSMS 7th graders
7th grade students eligible to apply for National Junior Honor Society will be notified by email during the second week of April.  Student eligibility will be based on the cumulative GPA of 94.0 for the first three grading periods of the 2020-2021 school year.  Upon receiving this email, students will be allowed to fill out an application for NJHS that will be included in the eligibility email.  All applications will be due by 5:00pm on May 14th.  This is a firm deadline.  Students will receive acceptance letters via email in August during the first week of school.  The induction ceremony will be held during the first six weeks of the 2021-2022 school year.  More information regarding specific eligibility requirements for NJHS will be coming at a later date.


8th Grade Parents - We Need Your Help 
Parents...we are in need of your help to make our 8th Grade video a success.  Please get with your 8gth grader to find three school appropriate photos to load up to the Class of 2025 google classroom. You can also use quick 10 second clips from their cell phones instead of just all three photos. 
 
Just log into the class of 2025, using your students login -- click on 8th grade video -- click on your student’s name and upload from their phone -- there are several ways to do this -- you can actually share the videos from their phone to google drive then upload from drive to classroom. All students should be able to do this. Or you can just take the picture or video from your phones and upload straight to google classroom to the assignment.
 
 The deadline to get these uploaded is April 30, as we will need the time to edit. If you have any questions, please reach out to Barb Smith at [email protected].




Campus Information and Reminders
April Student Nutrition Newsletter
Click here for a copy of this months newsletter.
LHS School Store Sale
Ready to stock up on Lovejoy gear? You are in luck! A BIG sale is happening at Lovejoy High School! Click here for great deals!

WSMS Twitter Feeds #wsmslovejoy
@WSMSLovejoyISD (Campus Event Updates)
@sscwsms (Counseling updates) 
Athletics
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 the WSMS home games this week can be found here.  


4/7/21 Track Results
7th Grade Boys:
100m: 3rd Place - Kingston Shanle; 4th Place - Barrett Bennett; 6th Place - Josh Henric
200m: 4th Place - Kingston Shanle; 6th Place - Barrett Bennett; 8th Place - Wyatt Villarreal
400m: 4th Place - Zach Jones; 8th Place - Brandon Gibson; 9th Place - Wyatt Villarreal
800m: 4th Place - Dillon Helfand;9th Place - Joey Reid; 10th Place - Jonathan Godfrey
1600m: 2nd Place - Arjun Sharma; 3rd Place - Ian Bradshaw; 10th Place - Joey Reid
2400m: 1st Place - Ian Bradshaw; 7th Place - Daxton McKnight ; 8th Place - Kyler Sanchez
110m Hurdles: 6th Place - Brody Madison; 9th Place - Carson Miller
300m Hurdles: 8th Place - Brody Madison; 9th Place - Simi Segun
4x100 Relay: 3rd Place - Kingston Shanle, Connor McKee, Josh Henrich, Zach Jones
4x200 Relay: 4th Place - Seth Moody, Wyatt Villarreal, Connor McKee, Josh Henrich
4x400 Relay: 4th Place - Dillon Helfand, Seth Moody, Zach Jones, Connor McKee
Shot Put: 1st Place - Marshall Branum, 3rd Place - Colton Mills, 4th Place - Wyatt Villarreal
Discus: 3rd Place - Colton Mills, 6th Place - Wyatt Villarreal, 7th Place - Cade George
High Jump: 4th Place - Jack Burnett; 6th Place - Ethan Adcock
Long Jump: 5th Place - Jack Burnett, 10th Place - Carson Miller
 
7th Grade Girls: 
100m: 4th Place - Allie Benefield, 8th Place - Sloane Hempkins; 12th Place - Taylor Nichols
200m: 4th Place - Cailyn Newhouse, 5th - Chloe Long, 6th Place - Scarlet Cole
400m: 1st Place - Lainey Pierce; 2nd Place - Reagan Wiss; 8th Place - Kate Acker
800m: 6th Place - Layne Dechant, 7th Place - Kate Archer, 8th Place - Berkeley Mosel
1600m: 6th Place - Cate Jackson
2400m: 3rd Place - Lauren Gonzales
100m Hurdles: 2nd Place - Addie McCaffity, 4th Place - Bridget Bernal, 7th Place - Harper Jaynes
300m Hurdles: 2nd Place - Addie McCaffity, 4th Place - Bridget Bernal; 5th - Harper Jaynes
4x100 Relay: 3rd Place - Lainey Pierce, Allie Benefield, Scarlet Cole, Cailyn Newhouse
4x200 Relay: 2nd Place - Allie Benefield, Chloe Long, Scarlet Cole, Cailyn Newhouse
4x400 Relay: 1st Place - Chloe Long, Harper Jaynes, Lainey Pierce, Addie McCaffity
Shot Put: 2nd Place - Runo Enaohwo, 6th Place - Sameera Saluja; 7th Place - Lexi Pulley
Discus: 2nd Place - Marisela Alexander, 3rd Place - Sameera Saluja, 6th Place - Teni Segun
High Jump: 1st Place - Addie McCaffity, 2nd Place - Kate Peabody, 4th Place - Sloane Hempkins
Long Jump: 2nd Place - Addie McCaffity, 10th Place - Scarlet Cole;  11th Place - Sloane Hempkins
Triple Jump: 4th Place - Berkley Mosel; 7th Place - Sarah Gable; 8th Place - Taylor Nichols
 
8th Grade Boys: 
100m: 7th Place - Jayce Seaber
200m: 1st Place - Robert McIntosh, 6th Place - Ben Adams
400m: 5th Place - Jake Brunett; 8th Place - Leandro Torres; 11th Place - Adam Morfield
800m: 1st Place - Luke Armstrong; 2nd Place - Jack Reid; 6th Place - Ethan Murray
1600m: 1st Place - William Carlson, 2nd Place - Jack Thompson, 3rd Place - Tyler Morfield, 11th Place - Adam Morfield, 12th Place - Sean Easley, 13th Place - Liam Dunleavy, 14th Place - Will Grazioli
2400m: 1st Place - Aaron Wimbish, 2nd Place - Tyler Morfield, 3rd Place - Devon Muiana
110m Hurdles: 5th Place - Jackson LaTorre, 8th Place - Ignacio Guevara
300m Hurdles: 7th Place - Jackson LaTorre, 9th Place - Ignacio Guevara
4x100 Relay: 4th Place - Ben Adams, Dylan Sears, Colton McSpadden, Robert McIntosh
4x200 Relay: 4th Place - Ben Adams, Colton McSpadden, Kevin Magee, Leandro Torres
4x400 Relay: 3rd Place - Robert McIntosh, Jack Reid, Jack Thompson, Dylan Sears
Shot Put: 2nd Place - Tyler Gafford, 4th Place - Braeden Gibson, 10th Place - Nolan Balette
Discus: 5th Place - John Martin
High Jump: 6th Place - Caden Gary
Pole Vault: 1st Place - Caden Gary, 4th Place - Kade Stubbs
Long Jump: 6th Place - Robert McIntosh, 8th Place - Kevin Magee
Triple Jump: 2nd Place - Jack McGoldrick, 6th Place - Jake Brunett
 
8th Grade Girls:
100m: 2nd Place - Mia Reaugh, 4th Place - Maria Faoro, 7th Place - Ella Varner
200m: 2nd Place - Mia Reaugh, 6th Place - Rachel Dobbs; 9th Place - Darby Anderson
400m: 3rd Place - Dominique Iannarelli; 5th Place - Kiera Bowling; 6th Place - Savannah Smith
800m:  1st Place - Campbell Lester, 2nd Place - Ava Easley, 4th Place - Emma Nelson
1600m: 3rd Place - Emersyn Runions, 6th Place - Genevieve Jones, 7th Place - Mackenzie Quigley
2400m: 2nd Place - Emersyn Runions, 5th Place - Dana Colston, 6th Place - Angelina Mason
100m Hurdles: 2nd Place - Mia Nowak, 5th Place - Darby Anderson; 9th Place - Ava Easley
300m Hurdles: 1st Place - Maria Faoro; 3rd Place - Ava Easley; 6th Place - Mia Nowak
4x100 Relay: 4th Place - SadieJane Hand, Rachel Dobbs, Dominique Iannarelli, Kathryn Hannah
4x200 Relay; 4th Place - Darby Anderson, Rachel Dobbs, Campbell Lester, Ella Varner
4x400 Relay: 2nd Place - Maria Faoro, Campbell Lester, Ella Varner,  Mia Reaugh
Shot Put: 5th Place - Emma Nelson, 6th Place - Natalie Lenart, 8th Place - Nicole Wright
Discus: 1st Place - Anna Frost, 4th Place - Natalie Lenart, 8th Place - Safiya Elmenayer
High Jump: 2nd Place - Ella Varner, 6th Place - Mia Reaugh
Pole Vault: 1st Place - Maria Faoro, 2nd Place - Mia Nowak, 4th Place - Abigail Fluker
Long Jump: 7th Place - Rachel Dobbs, 10th Place - Kathryn Hannah, 11th Place - Savannah Smith
Triple Jump: 2nd Place - Rachel Dobbs, 7th Place - Savannah Smith, 10th Place - Kathryn Hannah
 
 
4/6/21 Soccer Results vs. Wylie Burnett
Boys
7th Grade - Won
8th Grade - Lost
 
Girls
7th Grade - Won
8th Grade - Won
WSMS PTO
**NEW** Scholarship Application Available – Deadline is April 23, 2021
The Parent Teacher Organizations in Lovejoy each will award one $500 scholarship to a college-bound senior graduating from Lovejoy High School in 2021. A centralized application allows each student to complete the application just once, while being eligible for scholarships at each Lovejoy school they attended.
 
All student applicants must (a) have attended LHS during their sophomore, junior and senior years; (b) belong to the LHS PTSO; (c) complete the online scholarship application, including the essays; (d) upload a resume; and (e) have one letter of recommendation submitted.
 
To begin the application process students must complete this brief survey indicating their intent to apply. Once the survey is received, we will send the student a link to the online application via email. This link will allow students to exit and return to the application in case they cannot complete it in one sitting. The deadline for submitting the completed application is midnight on April 23, 2021.
 
Please email Shannon Verschage at [email protected] if you have any questions. 


Service Learning Project
Volunteers and supplies are needed to help with the Service Learning Project on campus that will take place on April 22-23. Please see the sign up genius for more information and ways to help make this another successful event!
 

PTO Meeting
The next meeting for PTO members will take place on April 20th at 10am (via Zoom). At this meeting the election will take place for next year’s officers. To register please fill out this Google form. 

  
Parent Presentations
This year parent presentations have been done virtually, giving you the benefit of viewing them at your convenience. If you haven’t yet had a chance to watch yet, you may do so here:
Sexting and vaping: https://youtu.be/b3T8t6qFixs
Class Registration Helpful Hints: https://youtu.be/rkGIpL34iQM 
 
 
Warm regards,
  
 
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.
GT Spring Referrals
Denim & Diamonds 2021
LISD Summer Athletic Camp Schedule
Sewing Camp  2021
Join the fun at the 14th annual Summer Sewing Camps to be held at Lovejoy High 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. To reserve your spot;  Click the QR code on the form attached and fill it out.   Your registration will be confirmed by return email.  Space is limited, sessions fill quickly, I do maintain waitlists.  Please call me at 972-890-3724 or email me [email protected] with any questions. Click here for the 2021 form and dates!  Can’t wait to sew with you!
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