Tiger Nation
December 2019
Christmas Traditions
A Community Christmas: Tigers Show Out at Christmas on the Bricks!
White Gift Service- Angel Tree
The annual White Gift Service was held on December 4th at the Wills Point High School. This event is presented to the community in an effort to raise funds for the Angel Tree program and presented by students of WPISD. This year the program brought in over $3,000 to help bring joy to many families in the community.
MS Band Holiday Concert
Our 6th grade band students performed their first concert to an audience full of family members and guests. They played songs as a full band and then each section was featured as they played short clips from Christmas songs. Our student body got to enjoy their concert the following day, and our fifth graders are already excited about their opportunities next year. We are so proud of their abilities after just a few short months of band. Our band directors have worked diligently with our students to help them excel musically.
Golden Angels- National Honor Society
The National Honor Society groups raised money to help out some Golden Angels in our community this holiday season. They spent the morning of Dec. 16th shopping for residents of Crestwood Nursing Home to supply them with gifts for the Holiday season.
4th Grade Music Program- The Grumps of Ring-A-Ding Town
We want to congratulate Mrs. Potter and the 4th-grade students on their performance of The Grumps of Ring-A-Ding Town. This was a new Christmas music program for Mrs. Potter and the students, and they had a masterful performance. We have some very talented 4th graders that have bright futures in the performing arts if they choose.
WPHS Band Celebrates with Primary and Woods!
Tiger Techs!
Our teachers continue to innovate and strive to bring the best instruction and learning experiences to our students. We have had classrooms video conference with National Park Rangers, create video commercials with green screen and have traveled far and wide with virtual reality and Google Earth. Below are teachers who have been recognized over the last month for trying different digital strategies and earning badges to level up.
Level 1 (NEW)
Laura Curry (2nd grade at Woods)
Lahri Gentry (Instructional Coach at Woods)
Level 2 (NEW)
Misty Hoedebeck (2nd grade at Woods)
Norma Balderas (2nd grade at Woods)
Level 3 (NEW) TIGER TECH STATUS!
Amy Spurger (5th ELA at MS)
Tiera Homer (Math teacher at the High School)
Mrs. Spurger
Mrs. Gentry
Mrs. Homer
Foundation Plans Gala 2020
2nd Annual Boots, Buckles, and Bling
Van Zandt County Child Welfare Board
Woods raised over $1,100 to support the Van Zandt County Child Welfare Board. This project was lead by our 3rd graders. Students made announcements each day to encourage students to bring in loose change to help out foster children in Van Zandt County. Along with daily announcements, we had grade-level competitions. The classes that brought in the most change won a party. The winning classes were: 2nd grade Ms. Curry, 3rd grade Ms. Dobson, 4th grade Ms. Davis. We want to give a special thanks to Mrs. Mixon, Mrs. Hurley, and our 3rd grade GT students for organizing this project.
Chunking Pumpkins Catapults!
Our 5th grade science classes finished a unit on force and motion where students had to collaboratively design and create catapults using only plastic spoons, tongue depressors, rubber bands, and tape. The goal was to see how far they could launch a candy pumpkin using their knowledge of force and motion in their creation. After they constructed their design, they conducted trial runs and collected their data. Once they analyzed their data and construction, they adjusted their design and justified why the changes were needed. Mrs. Miller and Mrs. Thoele combined their classes in the library for a competition each period, where students launched, measured, and collected more data. Once the project was complete, the students wrote reflections of what they learned, how the activity tied into force and motion learning standards, what they would do differently next time, and how they liked this hands-on learning experience.
College Success
Tigers and Lumberjacks!
The Dual Credit program has increased in numbers since its inception last year. Currently there are 83 students enrolled in classes with Stephen F. Austin University. This has been a great opportunity for students to earn college credits while still enrolled in high school. The district along with the support of the WPISD School Board have been able to help students financially to be able to graduate high school “Core Complete”. Being core complete allows them to focus on their major once attending the college of their choice.
The dual credit students recently attended SFA for a campus visit and informational tour given by current students. They also had a chance to visit with other students from area high schools and share their experiences with dual credit
Texas Association of School Boards
Wills Point Do It Best Hardware
Wills Point Ford
Brazos Trailers
Primary
Visit the Arctic!
This month students participated in Christmas and Winter themed activities. First grade had Arctic Week with some incredible STEM activities. They made igloos out of marshmallows, played with fake snow, had a snowball fight, found what animal blubber felt like and took a virtual field trip to The Arctic and Antartica! Kindergarten classes had Gingerbread Day. Students built gingerbread houses and a bridge using gumdrops and toothpicks for the Gingerbread Man to cross over. PreK learned about the letter L and patterns. Students made an L for lights, practiced writing the word and put lights on the letter using a pattern. They also created a candy cane using a pattern. Oh what fun it is to learn at the Primary!
Beauty in Art
Our art students recently finished a unit on Georges Seurat Pointillism and how he created designs through blended dots and color theory. They learned how your eyes work together to blend the colors and dots to form an image. Students selected a picture image and sketched their own design in pencil based on the selected picture as a reference. Students then created their own Pointillism designs, incorporating two or more colors per area. Students worked on clarity and color choice.
Aeronautics Contest
UIL Academic Contests
Junior High
Congratulations to our writers who placed at UIL competition. Ready Writing 1st place - Presley Mixon, Ready Writing 2nd place - Catherine Dixon, and Editorial Writing 1st place - Mavery Salisbury. Way to go!!
Congratulations to the UIL One Act Play— 5th place over all.
Two honorable mention awards -
Chloe Moya and Liberty Goldman
One All Star Cast Award - Elisa McVeigh
One tech award - Makale Strutton
Parent Night Showcase!
On Thursday December 12th, Wills Point Junior High hosted our annual Parent Night. This year's theme was Winter Wonderland. All of our students prepared for this night by creating projects in their classes that related to the theme as well as the TEKS they were covering. Thursday evening came and our building was flooded with eager students ready to show off their hard work. Parents and families filled our hallways, looking at the amazing projects our students have been working on. Along with the classrooms set up, students and families were able to visit our Library and Book Fair as well as take a picture at the Santa's Sleigh photo booth. Overall, it was a great night and we look forward to seeing our students' families again really soon.
Staff of the Month!
Noel Weems
Wanda Wise
Christina Covin
Jennifer Ozona
Karri List
Billie Jo Bushness
Alyssa Deen
Kevin Dunn
Mischeal Rowdon
MS Cafeteria
Jami Wilkinson
Nancy Morris
Calendar of Events
Primary
Dec. 20th Class parties at 9:30 am
Dec. 20th Early Release at 11:00 am
Dec. 23rd Winter Break Begins (No School Dec. 23rd-Jan. 7th)
Jan. 8th Back to School - 3rd Nine Weeks Begins
Jan. 9th School Resource Officer Day
Jan. 13th WPISD School Board Meeting at 7:00pm
Jan. 13th MAP Testing Begins (Ends Jan. 17th)
Jan. 14th PTO at Woods Intermediate at 6:00pm
Jan. 16th Head Start Parent Meeting at 11:30am
Jan. 20th Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day (No School)
Jan. 24th PTO Hospitality
Jan. 30th 100th Day of School
Feb.1st PTO Mother Son Nerf Night
Woods Intermediate
Dec. 20th- Class parties at 9:15 am
Dec. 20th- Early Release at 11:00 am
Dec. 23rd- Winter Break Begins (No School Dec. 23rd-Jan. 7th)
Jan. 8th- Back to School - 3rd Nine Weeks Begins
Jan. 9th- School Resource Officer Day
Jan. 10th- Academic Pep-Rally
Jan. 13th- WPISD School Board Meeting at 7:00 pm
Jan. 13th- MAP Testing Begins (Ends Jan. 17th)
Jan. 14th- PTO at Woods 6:00 pm
Jan. 31th- Kona
Feb. 1st- Mother Son Nerf-Night
Middle School
Jan. 8th - Students return; report cards sent home
Jan. 10th - Academic Assembly at 2:45 in MS gym
Jan. 13th - 6th grade UIL competitions; MAP testing window begins
Jan. 14th - PTO meeting at Woods Intermediate @ 6:00
Jan. 17th - AR parties
Jan. 20th - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday - No School
Jan. 25th - 5th grade UIL competitions
Jan. 29th - Progress reports sent home
Feb. 1st - PTO Mother/Son Nerf Night
Junior High
Jan. 8th- Boys and Girls Basketball pictures
Jan. 8th - Students return; report cards sent home
Jan. 14th - Cheer and Drill Parent Meeting @ 5:30 in the cafeteria
Jan. 16th- Girls Basketball @ Home
Boys Basketball vs Athens
Jan. 23rd - Boys Basketball @ Home
Girls vs. Brownsboro
Jan. 29th - Progress reports sent home
Jan. 30th- Boys Basketball vs. Mabank
Girls Basketball @ Home
High School
Dec. 20th Early Release at 11:00 am Busses run at 11:30
Dec. 23rd Winter Break Begins (No School Dec. 23rd-Jan. 7th)
Dec. 27th Girls Basketball Tournament @ Kaufman
Dec. 27th Boys Basketball @ Holiday Tournament
Dec. 28th Girls Basketball Tournament @ Kaufman
Dec. 28th Girls Basketball @ Holiday Tournament
Dec. 31st Boys Basketball vs. Eustace
Jan. 7th Girls Basketball vs. Grand Saline
Jan. 7th Boys Basketball @ Grand Saline
Jan. 8th Back to School - 3rd Nine Weeks Begins
Jan. 9th School Resource Officer Day
Jan. 10th Girls Basketball @ Canton
Jan 10th Boys Basketball vs. Quinlan
Jan. 11th Band Area Auditions @ Argyle
Jan. 11th UIL @ Mabank
Jan. 13th Balfour - Sr
Jan. 13th WPISD School Board Meeting at 7:00pm
Jan. 14th Girls Basketball @ Athens
Jan. 15th High School Sports Pictures
Jan. 17th UIL State Cheer Competition @ Ft. Worth
Jan. 17th Band All Region Clinic @ Canton
Jan. 17th Girls Basketball vs. Brownsboro
Jan. 17th Boys Basketball vs. Brownsboro
Jan. 20th Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day (No School)
Jan. 21st Girls Basketball @ Mabank
Jan. 21st Boys Basketball @ Mabank
Jan. 24th Girls Basketball vs. Van
Jan. 24th Girls Basketball vs. Van
Jan. 24th Winterguard Lovejoy Competition
Jan. 28th Girls Basketball vs. Canton
Jan. 28th Boys Basketball vs. Canton
Jan. 31st Girls Basketball vs. Athens
Jan. 31st Boys Basketball vs. Athens
Feb. 1st UIL Solo and Ensemble