WSMS Principal Newsletter
September 15, 2023
Principal's Message
Willow Springs,
Fall. Football, cooler weather, all things pumpkin spice and sweater weather! What I love about fall is that my family feels especially hopeful during this season. Our students have enjoyed time outside for athletics, gardening, drone flying, and working on their photography skills for media and yearbook. Please be sure to save the date for our WSMS Student Color Run in November. We look forward to seeing you at Open House on 9/27 from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. We are excited to celebrate Lovejoy Homecoming next week with school spirit dress up days next week. Thank you for your partnership and support!
Ms. Eldredge
Principal
Attendance continues to be a top priority for Lovejoy ISD. It should come as no surprise that attendance has a direct relationship with student learning. Additionally, public school funding is provided by the State of Texas based on each district's average daily attendance (ADA).
Lovejoy has developed an Attendance Task Force consisting of staff, parents, and students to formulate ideas about how to positively impact ADA in our district. One suggestion is to update the community via weekly principal communication on the number of absences each campus has accrued YTD along with the budgetary impact of those absences. This information can be found below:
Important Map Growth Information
MAP Growth testing will be completed at the end of this week. We are looking forward to using the information it provides to meet the needs of our students. On October 4th, we will send home the MAP Growth Family Report with each student. This report will provide you with information about your child’s performance on the assessment. If you have any questions, please reach out to your child’s teacher or campus administrator. You may also find helpful information in the MAP Growth Parent FAQ.
Important Disciplinary Update
"There has been a significant change in the law that directly impacts our school district’s approach to addressing e-cigarette usage on school premises. Recently, the Texas legislature passed a new law, House Bill 114, that requires school districts to implement mandatory Disciplinary Alternative Education Program (DAEP) placement for students found in possession of, using, selling, giving, or delivering e-cigarettes on school grounds or at a school-related event.
Effective September 1, our school district will be enforcing this new state law, and any student violating the new law related to e-cigarettes will be subject to a DAEP placement. Our primary goal is to ensure the well-being and academic success of all students. By enforcing the DAEP placement for e-cigarette violations, this law aims to discourage the use of harmful substances and create a safer environment that supports the overall health and development of our students.
As we navigate this new legal requirement, we value your partnership and input as parents and guardians. If you need assistance in talking to your child about the dangers of vaping, or your child is in need of support to quit vaping, the linked resources provided by the Anti-Vaping Truth Initiative are available.
Thank you for your understanding and support as we work together to create a safe and nurturing learning environment for all students."
8th grade Ad Order
Deadline Nov 10th
4 Free Cover Icons w/purchase.
Deadline Sept 15th
Open House
Please join us for Open House. The format is come and go. Please bring a screenshot or a copy of your child's schedule in order to plan your visit and locate classrooms and teachers.
Visitors to Willow Springs and Office Hours
WSMS office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:35 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Please arrive with a few extra minutes to facilitate this process. We appreciate your partnership in making safety and security our top priority.
Student Support Center Update
Counselor's Message: Upcoming SOS Program
This year school staff are working to teach students about mental health and how to seek help if they are worried about themselves or a friend. We are using a program called SOS Signs of Suicide. The program teaches students about this difficult topic and encourages them to seek help. We will present to 7th graders on September 27 and 8th graders on September 28 during their History class.
SOS has been used by thousands of schools for over 20 years. Studies have shown that it effectively teaches students about depression and suicide while reducing the number of students’ self-reported suicide attempts.
Through the program, students learn:
that depression is treatable, so they are encouraged to seek help
how to identify depression and potential suicide risk in themselves or a friend
to ACT (Acknowledge, Care and Tell a trusted adult) if concerned about themselves or a friend
who they can turn to at school for help
Students will watch age-appropriate video clips and participate in a guided discussion about depression, suicide, and what to do if they are concerned about a friend. School staff will conduct brief meetings with any student asking to talk.
We encourage you to visit www.mindwise.org/parents for information on warning signs for youth suicide, useful resources, and some of the key messages students will learn. Please note, we will not be conducting the depression screener or exit slip.
If you have any questions, concerns, or would like to not have your child view this presentation, please contact your school counselors.
Carey Miller, 7th Grade Counselor
Kelly Collins, 8th Grade Counselor
WSMS Color Run - Save the Date
LISD Calendar
September Nutrition Newsletter
Click Here to view the nutrition newsletter
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. **Helpful Tip: If your app is not syncing, follow these steps:
- Log out
- Update app
- Log back in
WSMS 23-24 Athletic Shirt Purchase
Please click Here to purchase. Please select Red for WSMS.
No cheer orders please, different athletics shirts.
Next PTO Meeting September 20th @ 10am
Join & Give
Your membership and donations to the Leopard Drive allow us to fund programs like Red Ribbon Week, College Preparedness presentations, and more. It also provides access to the WSMS PTO directory, parent resources and helps us provide opportunities to show our teachers and staff how much we appreciate them.
Dues are $10 for individual and $20 for the whole family. Join and Donate Here
Website:
Please bookmark our website for PTO contact information, event/speaker updates and more ways you can participate in supporting our school.
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://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe-ZUVnniJK4utt6GgYVq8mkXVZVxAlz1uo3VdBkLeXkjnIVA/viewform
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.
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
The Lovejoy Green Team is implementing a new recycling program beginning on Leopard Friday: Sept. 8th at Leopard Stadium. There are an estimated 4000 bottles at every varsity home football game that have been going to the landfill but they can be recycled. The Lovejoy Green Team does not funding from Lovejoy ISD and we need your help to buy bins for fields, courts and gyms.
Please consider donating to sponsor-a-bin or donate towards the purchase of a bin. Thank you for helping to make Lovejoy Cleaner and Greener. 100% of donations directly support Green Team programs and your donation is tax deductible.
Buy-a-bin link: https://bit.ly/lj-buybin
Program details: https://bit.ly/LJGreenTeam