WSMS Principal Newsletter
February 10, 2023
Dear Willow Families,
We enjoyed precious family time during the "ice-break" and I hope you did as well. We are happy to be back into our routines here at Willow. The students were super excited on Monday to see their friends, lots of hugs and squealing. We jumped right back in to learning with science dissections, coding lessons, Leopard Time, and welcoming our new Administrative Assistant, Ms. Yvonne Gamble. She got right to work organizing the staff Chili Cook off and meeting the PTO. You can read more about her below.
As a reminder, Thursday 2/16 is an early release day for students (12:15 dismissal) and no school for students on Friday 2/17. Bump Up Day is Monday 2/20. Thank you for a fun week at Willow!
Blessings,
Caitlin Eldredge
WSMS Interim Principal
Welcome Ms. Gamble
We are thrilled to welcome Ms. Yvonne Gamble to our Willow Staff as the new administrative assistant to the principal. Ms. Gamble comes to us from a neighboring district having spent the last 15 years there in various roles. She most recently worked as an administrative assistant to middle school assistant principals/counselors and served as the substitute coordinator. She is originally from Buffalo, NY and has called Texas home for the past 39 years. She has three grown children and two grandchildren. In her free time she enjoys traveling, working out, shopping, and watching sports. She is a Dallas Mavericks, Dallas Cowboys, and Buffalo Bills fan!
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:
Annual Bump Up Day is on February 20, 2023
Annual Bump Up Day is to take place on February 20, 2023.
Sloan Creek Intermediate, Willow Springs Middle School, and Lovejoy High School will host 4th, 6th, and 8th graders on Friday, February 20, 2023, for Lovejoy ISD’s Annual Bump Up Day. Bump Up Day was created to assist students with transitioning to a new campus and to help generate excitement for the new experiences they will have. Students will travel to the campus they will be attending for the 2023-2024 school year and have the opportunity to tour the campus, ask questions, and eat lunch. Students will be able to charge lunch and any a la carte/snacks purchases to their lunch account during their visit to their Bump Up school. Please make sure funds are available in your student's lunch account. Lunch prices for students visiting Sloan Creek Intermediate School or Willow Springs Middle School will be $4.00 for a regular meal or $4.75 for a premium meal. Lunch prices for students visiting Lovejoy High School will be $4.50 for a regular meal or $5.25 for a premium meal. A la carte/snack prices vary. Please refer to this document for specific pricing.
Food Delivery to WSMS
Please note that our campus does not accept meal deliveries ordered by students or from delivery services. We can accept food dropped off by a parent or guardian for their child only. Please clearly label these items. Our campus does our best to monitor the numerous deliveries throughout the day. Ultimately, the campus is not responsible for lost or misplaced meals. As a backup plan, please ensure that your student has funds in their lunch account.
Rising 9th Grade Elective Showcase and Student/Parent Meeting *Updated*
Below are the confirmed dates for information/course registration for rising 9th graders:
- Wednesday, February 8: Elective Showcase & Student/Parent Meeting (@ Lovejoy HS)- 5:00-6:15 Elective Showcases, 6:30-7:30 Parent and Student Meeting
- Thursday, February 9: LHS Counselors meet with all 8th grade English classes to explain courses offered at LHS (@ WSMS) *HS students attending with Counselors
- Wednesday, February 15: LHS Counselors meet with all 8th grade Science classes to input courses into PowerSchool (@ WSMS)
8th Annual LJVA Portrait Show
On behalf of LJVA, I am excited to invite you to join us for the 8th Annual LJVA Portrait Show, February 13th from 5-730pm at the LHS Gallery. This collection of work contains a broad investigation of the concepts of identity and self through the eyes and hands of students of all ages and stages of exploration in LJVA. Whether dealing with honest representation or the languages of abstraction and symbolism, the work chosen for this exhibition speaks to the ever-evolving idea of how our artists see themselves and the world around them. This carefully selected exhibition is a celebration of the diversity and personal experience found within our student body and Lovejoy community. Please join us at the opening exhibition to celebrate all of the selected artists and their work Monday, February 13th from 5-730pm at the Lovejoy High School Gallery. (Light snacks will be served.)
We hope to see you at the opening!
Academic UIL
Academic UIL competition is on the horizon, and we are looking forward to attending this year's competition on March 31 & April 1 The competition will be held at Heritage Middle School, which is located at 5300 Heritage Avenue, Colleyville, TX 76034.
All students in grades 7 and 8 are eligible to try out for a team. Students may compete in as many events as they would like as long as the events they enter compete at different times during the competition day. Tryouts for the competitions will occur shortly after we return from Winter Break. Students who make the team will begin practices as determined by the team coach. Practice days and times will vary with each competition. Please click here for a list of events and their descriptions. If you have any questions, please contact Joseph Washburn (joseph_washburn@lovejoyisd.net).
WSMS Registration Dates
We are excited to start course request meetings for the 23-24 school year. Here is a calendar of upcoming important dates.
STAAR Testing Dates
Community Supplies Needed
At the beginning of each school year we ask for donations of the following: kleenex, hand sanitizer, paper towels and sanitizing wipes, to supply our classrooms and other areas. We’ve noticed that our supply is getting low. We are almost out of tissues. Please consider picking up some of these items next time you're at the store. All donations may be dropped off in the front office. THANK YOU!
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
Library Update
SORA Digital Library Parent Notification
Dear Parents,
Lovejoy ISD currently offers students access to digital library books through SORA. The District has the ability to curate the collection of books accessible to students through the SORA platform. However, publishers at times have included external links with the digital books, similar to what is found in some hardcopy books. These external links are not maintained by the District and are not a material within the control of the District. The District neither selects the external links nor endorses the specific links. The District believes the online SORA platform is a beneficial program and will continue to allow students whose parents agree to utilize the resources.
In the spirit of transparency, the District is notifying parents of their right to opt out of the use of the SORA platform for their children. If you elect to not have your child access digital books through SORA, please contact your campus librarian.
As a reminder, parents may access a list of digital books their children have checked out by following the steps noted below.
Sora How-To for Parents: https://tinyurl.com/lisdsorahowto
Classroom Conversations
We have enjoyed getting to speak to the kids on Monday through our Classroom Conversations over the first semester.
For the THIRD quarter our focus will be on: Trustworthiness. This will include how to show honesty, reliability, punctuality, and loyalty.
Please reach out to your student's counselor if you have any questions.
Kelly Collins - 7th Grade
Carey Miller - 8th Grade
LISD Calendar
Middle School Sports Tickets
To purchase a ticket for this week's HOME games, please click here.
Track Parent Meeting and Tryouts
WSMS Cheer Squad Parent Meeting and Tryout Information
Boys Soccer Parent Meeting and Tryout Information
Soccer season is right around the corner and we are super excited to get started. Coach Yaeger will be the WSMS soccer coach for both grades this upcoming season. It is going to be a great year for us and we look forward to everything the boys will accomplish. Below is all necessary information you will need to know before we start tryouts!
Parent Meeting 2/22
We will be having a parent meeting on Wednesday, February 22nd at 6:30 pm in the Willow Springs Cafeteria to go over everything you need to know about tryouts and the season. We will discuss practices, game schedule, and other nuts and bolts like pregame meals.
Tryout Schedule 2/27-3/13
Tryouts will be split by grade level. 7th grade will try out on Monday, February 27th- Wednesday, March 1st from 4:15 PM- 5:30 PM. 8th grade will try out Thursday, March 2nd, Friday, March 3rd, and Monday, March 13th. 8th grade will also try out from 4:15 PM- 5:30 PM. We will not do tryouts over Spring Break. This will be a thorough process to look at all athletes who tryout. We will be looking at player skill, coachability, and great attitude.
Tryout Information Form
If you are interested in playing soccer this year I ask that you fill out this form attached below to get some information. This will allow me to create a roster for tryouts and check all necessary paperwork. If you do not fill out the form, your son will still be allowed to try out.
Click HERE for Tryout Form
UIL Paperwork
Your son needs to have all of their UIL paperwork and physical forms filled out in order to try out. This is required of all athletes. The physical must be completed by a doctor. If you have already completed this information, you are good to go! The link to get all of this information filled out is below. An instruction sheet is also attached to this email.
Rank One Paperwork: Click HERE
If you have any questions, please email Coach Yaeger will_yaeger@lovejoyisd.net Looking forward to a great season!
Leopard Golf Program Meeting
- How Does HS Golf Work
- Tryout
- Summer Expectations
- Competitive Culture
- Teaching/Lessons
- Multi-Sport Athletes
Girls Soccer Tryout Sign up Form
***If your 8th grader is NOT in athletics they will tryout with the 7th graders at 7AM. This will allow students the opportunity to change and get to their 1st period on time.***
WSMS Basketball Update
7th Grade Boys
C Team Won
B Team Won
A Team Won
7th Grade Girls
C Team Lost
B Team Won
A Team Won
8th Grade Boys
C Team Won
B Team Won
A Team Won
8th Grade Girls
C Team Won
B Team Won
A Team Won
Lovejoy Softball Bat Girls
Is your daughter interested in softball? Does she play softball? Have her come and join our JV or Varsity teams as a Lovejoy Bat Girl for a game! Please sign up for our softball season using the QR code or signup genius link below! Girls need to be dressed in softball attire and have a batting helmet to wear. Each girl will receive a t-shirt as a thank you for their participation! Please sign up by March 1st! Come and support your Lady Leopards! Play Ball!
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 wsmsathletictrainer@gmail.com.
Join PTO
It’s not too late to join and give
Your PTO membership and donations to the Leopard Drive allow us to fund student programs, 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. All dues and donations stay at Willow Springs.
Dues are $8 per member. Mom, Dad, Grandparents, students and community members are all welcome to join.
WSMS PTO Board for 2023-2024
We are already beginning the process of identifying officers and committee chairs for next school year's PTO board. If you are interested in serving in this way, please complete the attached form. You will be contacted by a board member in the coming months.
National School Counseling Week
Very special thanks to Carey Miller, our 8th grade counselor and Kelly Collins, our 7th grade counselor for all they do every day for all Willow Springs students. Please take a moment to send them a thank you email to let them know how much they are appreciated.
School Marshall Appreciation Day is February 15th
Thank you to Chris Murphy, our amazing School Marshall, who helps keep our students and staff safe and our campus secure. Be sure to say Hi and Thank You next time you see him.
General Hospitality Donation
If you prefer to make a monetary donation instead of donating items to each event, we hear you!
The donation amount is up to you. You can donate to one event or to ALL upcoming events with the form below. All your donations go directly to hospitality events this school year.
https://ptowsms.membershiptoolkit.com/form/m/207177
Thank you for supporting the staff and teachers!!
Foundation for Lovejoy Schools
Lovejoy Student Athletic Training
Special Education Parent Newsletter
Carrie L. Lovejoy Child Development Center
Lovejoy Gifted and Talented
Lovejoy ISD G/T services is hosting a Depth and Complexity session for parents. All Lovejoy families are welcome.