WSMS Principal Newsletter

Willow Springs,

As I write this message, our WSMS staff and students are gearing up for our first pep rally. We've enjoyed seeing our students display school spirit and positive attitudes as we progress through the 2nd grading period. This newsletter contains important information about AIM opt-in forms, Yearbook Ad sales deadline, Color Run, and Scoliosis screenings.

We want to thank you for your support of our ROAR expectations. We have seen an increase in acts of kindness between students and students helping one another in the classroom and other areas of the building. Middle school is a challenging time for many students and we appreciate your partnership as we coach them to display Respect, Ownership, Attitude, and Resilience.

Important Upcoming Dates:

10/27 AIM Opt-In Forms sent home with students

10/31 Halloween (no costumes, please )

11/1 No School for Students

11/3 Color Run

Blessings,

Caitlin Eldredge

WSMS Principal

Our school nurse, Tiffany Glover BSN, RN, will be screening all ALL 7th grade girls on Thursday, Nov. 2nd and ALL 8th grade boys for possible scoliosis on Friday, Nov. 3rd. Scoliosis screening is required by Texas Health and Safety Code, Chapter 37.

Students will be required to remove their shirts for the screening. GIRLS will need to wear one of the following under their shirt: swim suit top, bra or sports bra. The procedure for screening is simple and quick, it requires the back to be visually examined while the student is standing straight and bending forward. Boys and girls will be screened separately. Students will be examined individually by the WSMS nurse.

If you do not wish for your student to be screened at school, you must have your child examined by your healthcare provider and provide the results of the forward bend test. Please notify WSMS school nurse, Tiffany Glover, that you do not want your student screened at school before the screening dates. An affidavit for religious exemption may also be submitted to the nurse's office on or before Nov. 2nd. Parents will be notified of the results of the school screening only if professional follow up is necessary.

If you have any questions or concerns, or wish to submit medical documentation regarding your child, please contact Tiffany Glover by email at tiffany_glover@lovejoyisd.net or by phone at 469-742-8420.

Dear WSMS Community,

We're excited to announce our upcoming Willow Springs Student Color Run, a vibrant and fun event that your students won't want to miss! Students are invited to run or walk a short course while staff and volunteers toss color powder in their direction. We will have a DJ for music, concessions on sale, and extra color packs available for students to toss. Entry fee includes two color packs students will pick up as they enter the event. We are not allowing spectators or non-student community members to enter in order maintain safety and security as our top priority. Approved PTO volunteers and staff members will support the event and monitor students.

Event Details:

📅 Date: November 3rd

🕔 Time: After school until 6:30 PM

🏫 Location: Willow Springs

🏃Who can participate? All students, event is wheelchair accessible

Registration Information:

Early Bird (October 3 - October 27): $25

Standard (October 28 - November 3): $30

Click Here to pay in Revtrak

What to Bring:

• A white t-shirt (because you're going to get colorful!)

• Comfortable running shoes

• Sunglasses or goggles (to protect those eyes from all the colors)

• Cash for concessions

Costumes and team names are encouraged! Let your creativity shine. You can participate as an individual or group.

Race Details: 1 mile

Color Stations: We'll have multiple color stations throughout the route, where you'll be showered in an explosion of vibrant hues. Get ready to run, walk, or dance your way through the color zones!

Safety First: We prioritize the safety and well-being of all participants. Color used in our event is safe, non-toxic, and easily washable. We also encourage all participants to wear appropriate eyewear for added protection. It is washable, but we recommend that students NOT wear their favorite items to the event just in case. We hope to see you there!

7th and 8th Grade Students- Aim for Success Program:

Our school has partnered with Youth Equipped to Succeed (YES) to provide information on relationships and sexual health. Youth Equipped to Succeed believes strongly in connecting students to positive messages and healthy relationships that will help them navigate cultural pressures. Through their programming, students of all ages, backgrounds, and circumstances are equipped with the knowledge, attitudes and skills they need in order to achieve more healthy and successful futures.

Thank you to all of the parents that viewed our parent presentation. If you were unable to join us, please reach out to your student's counselor for an outline of what was discussed.

We will be sending home a paper copy of the OPT IN form on October 27 through 2nd period. Students have to turn in the signed OPT-IN form to their 2nd period teacher by November 7 in order to view the presentation. If the campus does not receive an opt-in form from a guardian by November 7, your child will not attend the presentation.

Student presentations will be on November 14 (7th grade) and November 15 (8th grade).

7th Grade: Ms. Carey Miller

8th Grade: Ms. Kelly Collins

Make up pictures were held on 10/2. If your child did not attend the make up photo session on campus, please reach out to customercare@legacystudios.com to schedule a studio time if desired.

Our campus does not accept items sent through meal delivery services. We do not deliver food and drinks to classrooms during the school day.

If you are a parent or guardian dropping off lunch to your child, please do so before lunches begin. A lunch is from 10:58 - 11:32 and B lunch is from 11:47 - 12:17. You may drop off food for your child only. Please clearly label the food and place on the table in the foyer.

MAP reports were sent home with students through their math class on 10/19. More information about MAP Growth can be found in the MAP Growth FAQ.

Beginning 10/23, students should begin carrying their student IDs with them while on campus. Whether it is on a lanyard or in a backpack, the expectation will be that a student will be able to produce their WSMS ID card upon request. More information will follow regarding replacement cards if students have lost their ID badge.

Please see the campus tutorial schedule below. If you do not see the teacher's name or have questions, please email your child's teachers directly to partner with them if your child needs academic assistance. Thank you for your support.

Tutorial Schedule Click Here

We would like to encourage you to talk to students about competing in this year's Academic UIL Competition in April. This competition gives our students an opportunity to experience what it's like to compete in a high-stakes, fast-paced academic setting. We will have more information on the specifics soon. If you or your students have any questions, please reach out to,

Joseph Washburn (joseph_washburn@lovejoyisd.net). We are seeking students to compete in the events listed below:

Spelling

Number Sense

Calculator Applications

Science

Social Studies

Mathematics

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:

WSMS office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:35 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Each visitor to our campus is required to show ID at the front doorbell camera and state the reason for the visit before clearance to enter the building. Please wait for the door to be unlocked and do not hold open the door for others who have not yet been verified to enter. When students are signing out, a parent or guardian is required to enter the office to sign them out. We do not send our students outside to waiting vehicles. Thank you for supporting us as we keep safety and security the top priority.

Please go here for LISD calendars.

Click Here to view the nutrition newsletter

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:

1. Log out
2. Update app
3. Log back in

Click Here

Click Here

Lovejoy Wrestling Family, Winter sports are just around the corner. If your son or daughter is interested in joining the wrestling team, practice starts on Monday November 6, 2023 at Willow Springs in the auxiliary gym at 4:15pm-5:45pm. Also, we will have a 15 minute interest meeting on 10/30/2023 in Coach Foshee's room (C200). Hope to see you there! #GRIT!"

Mark your calendar for our next PTO membership meeting of the year on Wednesday, November 15th at 10:00 in the WSMS band hall .

We hope to see you there. Everyone is welcome so encourage your friends to become a PTO member and join you!

2023-2024 PTO Meetings:

November 15, 2023

February 21, 2024

April 17, 2024

May 17, 2024

The Annual Lovejoy Letter Campaign for teachers and staff members is just around the corner! Many of you are familiar with this beloved tradition, but for those of you who are not, it is the time of year when we write appreciation letters for each of our teachers and staff members across the District. The letters do not have to be elaborate or lengthy. The goal is for people to write a note of thanks to show appreciation to their teachers, the staff and our administration. It is the opportunity for us to take the time to let each person who makes a difference for us throughout the school year know how much we value them.

This year’s campaign will run from Monday October 23rd to Thursday November 9th.

Please place your letter in a clearly labeled envelope including the staff/teacher’s name, the campus and LLC (Lovejoy Letter Campaign). There will be collection boxes available at all campuses in the District. The last day for drop off is Thursday November 9th.

Please feel free to share this message as we spread the word about the campaign. Let’s show our teachers and staff just how much we appreciate them!

We are so thankful for our Willow Teachers and staff and want to show them in a big way. The PTO is looking to partner with the WSMS community to treat every staff member to a cake or pie to take home for Thanksgiving. These will be handed out with their letters from the Lovejoy Letter Campaign.

Pie Sign-up:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0F4AA9A62AA2F85-45351837-give

Your membership dues and donation enables us to provide important programs for students and parents, to organize volunteers to support our campus, and to deliver appreciation events for teachers and staff throughout the year. Please encourage your friends to join PTO today. We appreciate your support!

Dues are $10 for individual and $20 for the whole family. Join and Donate Here

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

Kroger Community Rewards offer a great way to earn money for the Willow Springs Middle School PTO. Just swipe your Kroger rewards card or use the phone number on your Kroger rewards account when shopping to earn money for WSMS.

Visit Kroger Community Rewards website:
www.kroger.com/i/community/community-rewards.

New users will need to create an account which requires a valid email address and a rewards card. Once logged into your Kroger account, search for WILLOW SPRINGS MIDDLE SCHOOL PTO either by name or WG753 and then click Enroll.

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.