WSMS Principal Newsletter
March 24, 2023
Dear Willow Families,
We are very much looking forward to the Spring Social this afternoon at Willow Springs! Students will be ready for pick up right at 6:30. We will release students through the courtyard exit and through the front doors of the school. It's been a great week of learning and we are looking forward to a busy and successful spring! Parents, be sure to complete the intent to return form for your family for the 2023-2024 school year if you have not done so already.
Thank you for your support.
Blessings,
Caitlin Eldredge
Interim 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:
Intent to Return to Lovejoy ISD 2023-2024
Lovejoy Families,
If you haven't already, please complete our Intent to Return to Lovejoy ISD form, this information will help plan for a successful school year and prepare for adequate staffing. The form can be found here.
We are looking for responses from all Lovejoy ISD families.
Thank you for your help and support. It’s great to be a Leopard!
Congratulations Wind Ensemble
23-24 LHS Student Council Applications Due March 24th
The LHS Student Council is now accepting membership applications for the 23-24 school year! It's open to any incoming Freshman or current high school student. We hope you'll consider joining us!
Front Office Hours
8th Grade Awards and Graduation
3:45 - 4:45
Awards and Graduation are held in the LHS Main Gym.
4:45 - 5:00
Take time to pause and capture the memories with picture time for families in the courtyard.
5:00 - 6:30
Students are invited to attend a student reception in the LHS Commons. We will have desserts, music, and special guests to congratulate the 8th graders and welcome them to high school. Information about how to purchase a ticket for the student reception will be shared at a later date. Tickets will be available online and at the door. The attire is semi-formal wear that is in dress code.
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.
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).
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
As we move into the spring, please review our campus tardy policies. Teachers will provide an overview of the policies with students during homeroom time. Please reach out to our assistant principals if you have questions. We know that sometimes students need breaks and time is short during the passing period. Students should report to their teacher to be counted present and utilize a hall pass to take care of their needs if they are concerned about arriving on time to class.
A student is considered late when the tardy bell rings and the student is not in the appropriate classroom. Repeated instances of tardiness will result in more severe disciplinary action. As a measure to ensure a safe, orderly, and secure school environment, WSMS enforces a tardy policy.
Students who are late will be allowed to enter class, but will be marked as tardy in PowerSchool by a designated staff member. Students who are more than 20 minutes late will be counted absent.
● Students will be assigned a teacher detention or Leopard Time when they receive 4-6 tardies
● Students will be assigned a two hour detention when they receive 7-9 tardies
● Students who persist in being tardy (10+) may receive additional consequences
Tardies reset each 9 weeks.
Thank you for your support.
Robotics Update
Congratulations to 10820M and 10820P for fighting through many difficult matches at the Texas Region 2 Championship and doing their absolute best. These are both such fun teams to watch compete and at the end they both won awards! 10820M won the Create Award, which is an awesome testament to their great team, design process, robot and how they handle themselves professionally with creative approaches to the design challenge. And 10820P won the Design Award which celebrates the team with the most effective and efficient robot design process, and this award qualified 10820P to VEX Worlds, AKA: The VEX Robotics World Championship! We are so proud of both of these teams for representing Willow Springs Middle School, their district and Coach Woods! The World Championship will take place for our middle school team 10820P April 27-29 in Dallas. More info coming soon.
March Nutrition Newsletter
LISD Calendar
Update From Nurse Glover
Scoliosis Screenings Scheduled
Our school nurse, Tiffany Glover, will be screening all ALL 8th grade boys for possible scoliosis on Wednesday, April 19th, and ALL 7th grade girls on Thursday, April 20th. 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 and individually examined 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 to the school before the screening dates. An affidavit for religious exemption may also be submitted to the nurse's office on or before April 19th. Parents will be notified of the results of the 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.
Student Support Center Update
Classroom Conversations
We have enjoyed getting to speak to the kids through our Classroom Conversations.
The fourth quarter focus will be on: Citizenship. This includes discussing the roles and responsibilities of citizens; explaining how one's personal actions can impact the perception of
others; describing how justice, fairness, and freedom are related; and
identifying and practicing a variety of conflict-resolution skills and strategies.
Please reach out to your student's counselor if you have any questions.
Kelly Collins - 7th Grade
Carey Miller - 8th Grade
Spring Registration Continues
We are excited to continue course requests for the 23-24 school year. Here is the calendar of important dates.
Our 2023-24 Registration Page is updated with parent videos and helpful information to make the registration process easier. Please don't ever hesitate to reach out with any questions. Please know there will be an opportunity to view and make changes to your students' requests in May. This will be done via a Google form.
Kelly Collins - 7th Grade
Carey Miller - 8th Grade
8th Grade Only- 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. Based on the response on the opt-in form, an email has gone out to parents indicating rather or not their child will be viewing the student presentation.
The STUDENT presentation is scheduled for March 28th. Groups will be as followed:
8th Grade Boys Last Name A-L- 8:50-9:50
8th Grade Boys Last Name M-Z- 10-11
8th Grade Girls Last Name A-L- 12:50-1:50
8th Grade Girls Last Name M-Z- 2-3
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
Leopard Time in the Library
Volleyball Spring Clinic
Join Lovejoy Volleyball on April 30th for a spring clinic to raise funds for the prestigious Ann Kang Invitational in Honolulu, Hawaii. This clinic will be run by National Gatorade Player of the Year, Averi Carlson and our 2023 Varsity Team. K-6th grade will go from 1:00-3:00 and 7th and 8th grade will for from 3:30-5:30, both at LHS. Spots will be $125 each with a t-shirt included. Be sure to sign up quickly as there are limited spots for each session.
: https://spring-volleyball-clinic.cheddarup.com
Email lojovballbooster@gmail.com for any further questions.
Middle School Sports Tickets
To purchase a ticket for this week's HOME games, please click here.
WSMS Track Meet Results
Thursday night Lovejoy Middle School Track Meet, all teams place first as a team (7th and 8th grade, both boys and girls)
1st Place: Colby Huston 200m*, Maya Ogbogu 100m, Zoe Grall 100m, Camryn Newhouse 200m, Cason Wright 400m, Braydon Gills 400m, Kenzie Lavender 400m, Zach Carlson 800m, Kaiser Lynch 1600m, Chole Reyna 800m, Natalia Martinez 1600m, Kaiser Lynch 2400m, Rachael Mural 2400m, Audrey Self 100H, Coleman Reaugh 300H, Audrey 300H, Talia Orshalick 300H, 7th Grade Girls 4x100 Relay, 7th Grade 4x200 Relay, 7th Grade Boys 4x400 Relay, 7th Grade Girls 4x400 Relay, 8th Grade Girls 4x400 Relay, Holland Hutchin Shot Put, Runo Enaohwo Discus, Coleman Reaugh High Jump, Will Bbrownlow Pole Vault, Gabriella Sides Pole Vault
2nd Place: Aston Whiteside 200m*, Kitan Balagun 100m, Elizabeth Wood 100m, Anna Akinfolarin 200m, Joseph Mills 400m, Harrison Boyd 800m, Brenna Wallace 200m, Talbree Harris 400m, Matthew Widtfeldt 800m, Harrison Boyd 1600m, Tristan Arceneau 1600m, Natalia Martinez 800m, Dani Sassine 1600m, Rachael Mural 1600m, Tristan Arceneau 2400m, Brenden Waldrip 110H, Dani Sassine 2400m, Lily Fogle 2400m, Michaela Martin 100H, Nolan Meehlhause 300H, Zach Carlson 300H, 7th Grade Boys 4x100 Relay, 8th Grade Boys 4x100 Relay, 8th Grade Girls 4x200 Relay, 8th Grade Boys 4x200 Relay, 8th Grade Boys 4x400 Relay, CJ Smith Discus, Conner Stubblefield Pole Vault, Blake Jones Pole Vault, Brenna Wallace Long Jump
3rd Place: Sele Ehicheoya 100m, Blake Jones 200m, Hudson Heruska 200m*, Josselyn Schuler 400m, Madison Simpson 800m, Madison Simpson 1600m, Josie Roberson 2400m, Kathrine Roberts 100H, Michael Martin 300H, 8th Grade Girls 4x100 Relay, Ollie Hubbard Shot put, Runo Enaohwo Shot Put, Alivia DuBois Shot Put, Blake Jones High Jump, Kaili Harp Discus, Audrey Compton High Jump, Lowen Stubbs Pole Vault, Jonathan Brunson Long Jump, Brenden Waldrip Long Jump, Lyra Johnson Pole Vault, Charles Peabody Triple Jump
4th Place: Jonathan Brunson 100m, Nicholas Post 800m, Katherine Roberts 400m, Aniyah Nicols 400m, Ryan Gafford 800m, Josie Roberson 1600m, Dylan Welch 2400m, Kendall Stubing 100H, Brendan Waldrip 300H, Abigail Pederson High Jump, Aniyah Nichols High Jump, FJ Guignard Triple Jump
5th Place: Jonathan Brunson 200m, Nick Hansen 110H, Will Cate 300H, Kennedy Johns 300H, Will Brownlow High Jump, Ty Muaina High Jump, Olivia Kuhn Long Jump, Mckinney Curry Triple Jump
6th Place: Saxon Smith 100m, Carson Fox 200m, Ajay Prithiviraj 1600m, Lily Sanders 2400m, Jayden Thompson Shot Put, Charlie Ellison Shot Put, Gisela Boitman Long Jump, Aston Whiteside Long Jump, Kenji Ellis Triple Jump, Elia Dresser Triple Jump
WSMS Soccer Game Results
Willow Springs VS Mcmillian
7th grade girls won 7-08th grade girls won 5-1
7th grade boys lost
8th grade boys draw
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.
WSMS PTO Outstanding Service Award
The Lovejoy Council of PTOs will be recognizing two special individuals at Willow Springs Middle School who have given outstanding service to our children this year. This recognition is one of the highest honors which can be bestowed upon an individual by our PTO. The only requirement for receiving this honor is that the recipient has promoted students’ well-being and demonstrated care for children.
A nominee for recognition may be a parent, volunteer, teacher, administrator, or a community leader. The recipient is not required to be a PTO member.
If you would like to nominate someone for this award, please fill out the form below. The recognition committee will carefully consider each candidate.
Nominations are due by Friday, March 31, 2023.
Special Education Parent Connect Info
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.
PTO Parent Program with Ms. Thrash
Come join us for a PTO parent program on March 29th from 9-10am in the WS cafeteria with Ms. Sarah Thrash, Lovejoy's College, Career and Military Readiness Counselor.
Ms. Thrash is passionate about assisting students to prepare, plan and discover their future. She helps the students at Lovejoy gain clarity and confidence in the application process by looking at their unique talents while equipping them with the knowledge to construct a plan that works for them. Come get a head start on planning out the next four years with some good tips and advice from an expert.
Stock the Teacher's Lounge
Thank you all for donating items to stock the teacher’s lounge. We were able to provide snacks, treats and drinks thanks to our wonderful Lovejoy Community.
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!!