Willow Springs Middle School


A Message from the Principal
WSMS Principal Newsletter, April 26, 2022
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Good Afternoon Parents!

It's hard to believe that we only have 4 more Mondays until the end of the school year.  This year has been full of surprises and we have almost made it to the finish line.  Every week I am cheering our students and teachers on and reminding everyone involved to FINISH STRONG.

We are less than a week away from our state testing week.  Our students have worked so hard this year and I cannot wait for them to get a chance to show what they have learned.  While every student will perform differently, our main goal for our students is GROWTH.  I am so incredibly excited to see what levels of growth our students have attained over this year.



Thank you all again for your continued support of Willow Springs Middle School and Lovejoy ISD!




Respectfully,

Chris
Chris Koder
WSMS Principal
1101 West Lucas Rd, Lucas 75002
Office: 469-742-8417
@WSMSLovejoyISD
#wsmslovejoy

WSMS Attendance Rates
STAAR Testing Calendar
STAAR Testing Dates -
WSMS Spring 2022

  May 3rd (Tuesday) Algebra 1 EOC (8th Grade Algebra and 7th Grade GT)
May 5th (Thursday) STAAR Grade 8 Science (All 8th Grade)
May 6th (Friday) STAAR Grade 8 Social Studies (All 8th Grade)
May 10th (Tuesday) STAAR Grade 7 Math (7th Grade, except GT)
May 11th (Wednesday) STAAR Grade 7 Reading (All 7th Grade)
May 12th (Thursday) STAAR Grade 8 Reading (All 8th Grade)

May 13th (Friday) STAAR Grade 8 Math (8th Math and 8th GT)

WSMS Library Material Due Date
Hello Parents!

All student library materials are due back on Monday, May 16th. So that you and your student know what materials are currently checked out, I will be sending out weekly overdue notices starting the first week of May. Students with outstanding materials and/or fines will not be allowed to receive their yearbooks until their library account is cleared. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out!

Upcoming Dates
WSMS Choir Pop Show: Survivor!

After two years of what has felt like uncertainty, we are finally coming through the journey as SURVIVORS! Join the WSMS Choral Department as we present our 2022 Pop Concert: SURVIVOR at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, April 27 in the LHS Auditorium. Songs include “Eye of the Tiger,” “Stayin’ Alive,” “Survivor/I Will Survive,” “I’m Still Standing,” and MANY more!

The students are doing an amazing job, and we are going all out with cool lights and sound! You don't wanna miss this show!! Tickets are only $5 - CLICK HERE to buy yours today!

STEM Festival CANgineering 2022
1st Annual WSMS Art Show

On Monday, May 2nd, from 5pm to 7pm, in the Lovejoy High School Gallery there will be the first ever Willow Springs Art Show featuring selected works from current 7th and 8th grade artists. 

I do not have enough words to convey how these young artists have blown me away over the course of this school year. Not only has their quality of work been incredible, but their willingness and excitement to experiment and create has made for a truly awesome environment in the Willow Springs Art Studio. 

I would love for you to stop by the showcase next Monday at the Lovejoy High School gallery to take a peek at what these kids have been creating, and to celebrate their hard work, growth, and success! 

Hope to see all of you there!!

Leopard Fishing

Are you a rising 9th grader or a current LHS student interested in bass fishing for the 2022-2023 school year? If so, we hope you will join the Leopard Fishing Club for an informational meeting on May 4th.
Send any questions to:  [email protected]

Scoliosis Testing

Our school Nurse, Gretchen Young, will be screening all ALL 7th grade GIRL students for possible Scoliosis on Thursday, May 5th and ALL 8th grade BOY students on Wednesday May 11th during their Scocial Studies classes. Scoliosis screening is required by House Bill 832 passed by the Texas Legislature in 1985.
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 2021-2022 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 13th. 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.
Immunizations

Early reminder to parents of students that will be 7th graders during the 2022-2023 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 1st, 2022. 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.
End of Year Award Ceremonies
SAVE THE DATE!
WSMS End of Year Award Ceremonies

7th Grade Awards Ceremony—Thursday, May 19, from 8:00—9:00 in the WSMS Gym
  • Only students receiving Honor Roll or Teacher Awards will be in attendance

8th Grade Awards Ceremony—Friday, May 20, from 8:00 - 9:30 in the LHS Gym
  • All 8th grade teachers will be in attendance. Please arrive by 7:45 and park in the front of the building.
  • Every student will be recognized for completion of middle school
  • Students will also be recognized for Honor Roll, Teacher Awards, and the Principal's Award
  • Students will have the option to ride the bus back to WSMS.

Not Returning to LISD Next Year?
If your student will not be returning to WSMS or Lovejoy High School for the 2022-2023 school year, please email Carol Vik with your student’s name, as well as complete and return this form.
Reminders From The Nurse
Parents...

To keep all of our students safe, please partner with us and monitor your child for the following symptoms BEFORE sending them to school. 

  • Feeling feverish or a measured temperature greater than or equal to 100.0 degrees
  • Loss of taste or smell
  • Cough
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Shortness of breath
  • Headache
  • Chills
  • Sore throat
  • Shaking or exaggerated shivering
  • Significant muscle pain or ache
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea/Vomiting
  • Fatigue
  • Congestion or runny nose
 
If your student is not feeling well, please keep them at home and email your child’s assistant principal. Please also keep them home, contact the nurse, and their assistant principal if your student receives a lab positive COVID test.

Nurse Young [email protected] or by phone at (469) 742-8420. 
 
Carol Vik [email protected] - Attendance/PEIMS Clerk

Rebecca May [email protected] - Assistant Principal for students whose last name begins with the letters A-Le.
 
Rachael Merrick [email protected] - Assistant Principal for students whose last name begins with the letters Li-Z.

If there is a positive case of COVID in your child's classroom, we will send an email to let you know. Lovejoy ISD will maintain our current COVID-19 dashboard by each campus on the website. Numbers will be updated at the end of each day. We are also required to notify the Health Department and the TEA of positive cases in our schools.
 
Please click here for the most up to date information regarding LISD’s 2021-2022 Health and Safety Measures.


NEW! Regarding Medications in Clinic
If your child has medicine at school, please make sure your child has exactly enough medicine to finish the school year.

All Medications must be picked up by Friday May 27th by 12:00 pm.

You are responsible for picking up any extra medicine as the school district has a policy against sending medicines home with students. After 12:00 pm on Friday 5/27/22, 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 2022-2023 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.

Campus Reminders
April Nutrition Newsletter
Click here to view our nutrition newsletter for this month.


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

LISD Calendar
Please go here for LISD calendars.


WSMS Report Card
We recently received our updated TEA federal report card for Willow Springs. This has been uploaded to our website and can be viewed by clicking here.



WSMS Student Successes
WSMS Orchestra Solo and Ensemble Contest
We are SO proud to announce the results of last Thursday night's Orchestra Solo and Ensemble Contest!

For this contest, students had to play independently as a soloist, and some also chose to prepare a small ensemble (2-6 players), which takes an immense amount of practice and listening. All of our students really stepped up to the challenge and did a fantastic job preparing their performances.

EVERY STUDENT who performed on Thursday earned either a Superior or an Excellent rating, which earned every single one of them a medal!! Our judges said students were poised, confident, and well prepared to perform. This is a huge accomplishment!  

19 performances from WSMS students earned an extra special award called the "Exemplary Musician" award. These performances impressed their judge in a BIG way! Our exemplary awards are as follows:

WSMS Students
Zeynep Kaya, viola
Victoria Harris, cello
Jenna Li, violin
Morgan Powell, bass
Naoise Wheeler, violin
Lyla Fairchild, cello
Mohamed Khalil, violin
Mathew Sun, violin
Jackson Perry, viola
Keith Goeders, cello
Justen Mao, violin
Grace Dinard, violin
Carson Dykstra, bass
Claire Wu, violin
Catie Simpkins, violin
Alice Lee, cello
Ashton Scott, bass
Caroline Wilkins, violin
Landon Truong, violin


WSMS PTO
Teacher Appreciation Week
We need a few helpers to make sure Teacher Appreciation Week is a huge success!
View the opportunities and sign up:

Check out all the fun things your support of the PTO is enabling us to do to show appreciation to our teachers:
 

STEM Festival Volunteers Needed
The district is asking for volunteers for Saturday’s STEM Festival at the High School from 9:30am to 2pm. Email Diana Saylak ([email protected]) to sign up and then check in at the shirt table on Satureday.
 

Next Parent Program
Mark your calendars for May 9! At 12:15, juvenile defense attorney April Doyle will join us for an informative discussion about the legal implications of the decisions our teenagers make. Bring a lunch and your questions and the PTO will provide drinks and sweet treats.

 
Parent Program Recordings
Parent programs can be found on our web site at:



Warm Regards,
 
Christy Forte'
WSMS PTO President
2021-2022
https://willowspringsmspto.wixsite.com/willowspringspto
Athletics

Athlete Physical Information
Online athletic forms are online and ready to be completed for the 2021-2022 school year. Please go to https://lovejoyisd.rankonesport.com/New/Home.aspx set up your account, and fill out the forms.

Any and all online paperwork questions should be directed to Steve Smith at 469-742-8411 or [email protected].

The 2021-2022 physical forms are now available for players to pick up. Players may get one at the front office of WSMS, or print one by clicking here.  
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.


Foundation for Lovejoy Schools
See below for more information for Denim & Diamonds.


NEW! Denim & Diamonds Silent Auction
Come check out the Denim & Diamonds Silent auction! We have something for everyone: Play dates with your favorite teacher, beautiful jewelry, fund a grant for a teacher, summer camps for the kids and so much more! Visit our auction site here: https://lovejoy.muradbid.com


NEW! Leopard Store Spring Sale


NEW! Teen Mental Health and Substance Abuse Presentation


NEW! Lovejoy ISD Summer Enrichment
NEW! Lovejoy ISD Summer Sports Camps

NEW! Lovejoy High School Jazz Band
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