Willow Springs Middle School


A Message from the Principal

WSMS Principal Newsletter, August 31, 2022

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Good Afternoon WSMS Parents,


Three weeks of school in the books already!  It’s hard to believe that time is marching on as quickly as it is.  My staff has been working so hard these last couple of weeks to make sure that we have a smooth start to the school year, and I feel like they have been incredibly successful.

 

Next week is our Leopard Time kickoff and I couldn’t be more pumped.  We have spent all week training our students on “How to Leopard Time” and I know that if anyone in the area can handle a program like this, it's our amazing students.

 

I hope that you will be able to join us in the morning for Coffee With the Principal at 9:30 in the cafeteria.  I will be talking with you briefly about Leopard Time but I would like to be able to spend the majority of the time in dialogue with you to be able to answer any questions that you may have.  We will have a hard stop at 10:30 so that our cafeteria staff can make sure that the cafeteria is ready to go for lunches.  Also, a huge thank you to our PTO who is providing donuts for you as well.

 

Please see the information below about upcoming events at our school.




Respectfully,


Chris

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


WSMS Student Spirit Shirt

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, athletic events, and field trips. During campus field trips and community service events, we will ask students to wear their spirit shirts to identify them as WSMS students. The 7th-grade shirt will be black with red and white print. The 8th-grade shirt will be red with black and white print.


The tshirts are $15 and may be ordered by returning this completed order form to WSMS with check/cash, or by going online to the Online Payment Center. Deadline for orders is Thursday, September 1st.

Rachel's Challenge - August 30th

Coffee With The Principal


Mark your calendar for September 1st from 9:30-10:30 in the WSMS Cafeteria! It’s our first Principal Coffee of the year and Mr. Koder will be discussing and answering questions about the upcoming launch of Leopard Time.  

Upcoming Student Holiday

We will observe the Labor Day Holiday on Monday, September 5th and then teachers and staff will have a professional development day on Tuesday, September 6th.  We will be ready to welcome back students on Wednesday.  

Open House

Our 7th/8th grade Open House will be Wednesday, September 7th from 5:00p.m. - 6:30p.m. Parents will have an opportunity to walk their student’s schedules and hear from all of their teachers. Student’s schedules will be available in the rotunda upon arrival. This will be a come and go event. Please note, in the library we will have our Book Fair open, as well as representatives from the WSMS PTO and Homecoming shirts for sale.

Book Fair During Open House

We are excited to invite you to our upcoming Book Fair starting September 7th! This is a great opportunity for students to build not only their home libraries but their love of reading as well. As always, Book Fairs help build our library collection and the programs that our school library can run.

 

Below is some important information about our upcoming fair. We are so excited to have this opportunity and we cannot wait to see you there! 

 

Important Information:

  • This fair will offer a cash-free option called eWallet. It is a convenient digital account that your child can use when shopping at the fair. Grandparents, family far away, and others can contribute too! 
  • If you cannot make it to the fair, you can shop online via our Virtual Book Fair (link to come soon). All orders ship directly to your home and shipping will be free on orders over $25.
  •  We will be open to students after school and during lunches. We will also be open during the WSMS Fall Open House on September 7th. This is a great opportunity for your whole family to get to shop at the fair! 
  • The fair dates are September 7th through September 13th.

 

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me, Naomi Emory at [email protected].

ParentPortal Update

ParentPortal Update Needed by Friday, September 16



The PowerSchool ParentPortal is now open for you to complete the online Enrollment & Student Information Forms. Please click here to access the Parent Portal. Completion of these forms is required every year for each student, and need to be completed by Friday, September 16thClick here for instructions on completing.

 

If you need assistance with account access or password reset, please use this link . Access requests and password resets will occur during business hours: 8:30am-4:30pm. We are unable to fulfill requests after hours, holidays or weekends. You’ll be notified via email once your request is complete.

WSMS PTO

Back to School Social

Thank you to those who volunteered to chaperone at our student social on Friday. The kids had a blast.


Open House

Please come by our PTO table during Open House on Wednesday, September 7th. We’d love to help you join the PTO or just say hello!



Support the PTO by shopping!

Did you know that scanning your receipt or linking your current shopping account can earn your school money? Please help us by connecting your current accounts with Willow Springs PTO. 


Amazon Smile - AmazonSmile, the simple and no-cost way to donate to a favorite charity like the Willow Springs PTO.  It now works on the Amazon Shopping app for iPhone and Android. That means it’s easier than ever to support our work anytime, anywhere. Through its AmazonSmile program, Amazon donates 0.5% of eligible purchases to the charity of your choice — at no cost to you. Use your same Amazon.com login to start shopping today!


Organization Name: Willow Springs PTO

https://smile.amazon.com/


Kroger - You shop. Kroger gives. Be sure to link your Kroger shoppers card with Willow Springs PTO. Donating couldn't be easier. You shop, Kroger gives. 


Organization Name: Willow Springs PTO https://www.kroger.com/i/community/community-rewards


Volunteer

If you’d like to know more about volunteer opportunities at Willow Springs please fill out this form and we’ll notify you as needs arise. https://ptowsms.membershiptoolkit.com/home


Athletics

Middle School Sports Tickets

This week our football and volleyball games get started.  To purchase a ticket for this week's HOME games, please click here.



Athlete Physical Information

Online athletic forms are online and ready to be completed for the 2022-2023 school year. Please go to https://lovejoyisd.rankonesport.com/New/Home.aspx set up your account, and fill out the forms.  The physical forms are now available for athletes to pick up. Players may get one at the front office of WSMS, or print one by clicking here.  


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


Campus Reminders

Attendance Policy Updates

Important Attendance Reminders and Updates:


All families should have received their campus’ Beginning of Year Truancy Letter, via Bright Arrow. We felt that it was important to follow up with additional information.

In addition to the Compulsory Attendance Law that was addressed in the letter, there is also the 90% law; state law mandates that a student is in attendance at least 90 percent of the academic year.


In order to receive credit for a final grade in a class, a student is required to attend 90% of the days a class is offered, regardless of whether the student’s absences are excused or unexcused. 


All absences count towards the 90% law and Truancy, except for the following absences with the proper documentation: 

  • Religious Holidays with written request prior to the absence 
  • Attending a required court appearance
  • UIL eligible absences- Educational Competition administered by school staff
  • Academic, Athletic, and music contests (uiltexas.org)
  • Medical-Related absences, when the student attended a portion of the school day and presents documentation from the health care professional for the same day
  • All day Medical-Related absences do NOT exempt a student from the 90% law or Truancy. Medical Documentation for a full day absence is only used in consideration by the Attendance Committee)
  • Sounding “Taps” at a military honors funeral held in Texas 


Attendance notes for an absence must be submitted to your student’s campus no later than 5 school days after the absence. Notes will NOT be accepted after the 5th day, and your student’s attendance will not be changed.


Absence notification timeline, all absences are counted, (excused and unexcused):

  • A letter will be sent home if your student is absent 3 times in a 4 week period
  • Another letter will be sent home once the student has accrued 6 absences
  • Intervention will begin with the campus attendance committee
  • A 10 day letter will be sent home once the student accrues 10 absences
  • Your student can be referred to Truancy Court

 Although we know that students will get sick or other challenges may arise during the school year, consistent and timely school attendance is of the utmost importance. We all share the goal of enabling the students to reach their full potential and achieve all of their educational goals. The way to allow a student to reach their full potential and educational goals starts with consistent and timely attendance.



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.


Willow Springs Recycling Program

District and Other News

Foundation for Lovejoy Schools

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.


Lovejoy Orchestra Spirit Night at MOD Pizza - August 31st



Ladies Coffee


The Council of PTOs would like to invite all “new to Lovejoy” moms (grades 1st – 12th) to our welcome coffee on September 13th.


Please RSVP and let us know that you are coming. We can’t wait to meet you!


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