WSMS Principal Newsletter
April 28, 2023
Hello Willow Springs,
It's difficult to believe that we are in the last few weeks of school. This newsletter is packed with helpful information. Thank you all for the kind words and congratulations, I am thrilled to continue supporting our Willow community and the excellent work of our students and staff. Have a great weekend!
Blessings,
Caitlin Eldredge
Principal
WSMS
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8th Grade Parents: We are so excited to celebrate your children's accomplishments on 5/13 at the high school. Following the awards, we are hosting a student reception in the commons area. It will include music, food, photo ops, and special guests to welcome the students to high school. Click here to pre-purchase a ticket for your student.
Please also reference the email sent regarding turning in 2 pictures of your 8th grade student for our memory slideshow (one baby or kid photo, one current photo). The form should be fixed after experiencing a few issues early on. Please have these submitted no later than May 5. Participation is optional.
Tuesday, May 2nd - Algebra 1 EOC
Wednesday, May 3rd - 7th Grade Math STAAR
Thursday, May 4th - 8th Grade Math STAAR
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!
Procedures for Entering WSMS Building
Our campus accepts food deliveries from parents and guardians (not delivery services) that are dropped off for their child only. WSMS is not responsible for lost or misplaced deliveries.
Thank you so much for your understanding and support as we work together to maintain a safe and secure campus.
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.
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.
April Nutrition Newsletter
LISD Calendar
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
OCPE Information
If you are interested in Off Campus PE, the 2023-2024 application is now available. Click here for more information.
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
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.
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.
Teacher Appreciation Week
We think our Willow Springs teachers and staff are Sun-sational and we want to show them how we feel during Teacher Appreciation Week. We plan to give them a little taste of summer with fun drinks and snacks by the "pool", a catered lunch, yummy dessert, a chance to win gift cards, and even telling them how they've knocked our socks off with a pair of fun socks. So, help us celebrate them by purchasing an item off of our Amazon wish list or by signing up to buy Willow Teacher Appreciation gift cards.
We can't wait to celebrate and have some fun with our Sun-sational teachers and staff!
Gift card signup:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0f4aa9a62aa2f85-willow3#/
Amazon wish list:
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3OHIJBVLSD2NE?ref_=wl_share
Please deliver gift cards to the front office by May 3rd at 4pm.
General Hospitality Donation
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. Make a donation to the hospitality fund: https://ptowsms.membershiptoolkit.com/form/m/207177
CELSIUS Energy Drinks and Students
Stop The Bleed Training
May 4, 2023
WSMS Cafeteria from 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
This program is a difference maker and will allow students to possess a critical skill set that can be carried with them throughout their entire lives. Stop The Bleed training allows students to learn how to administer initial care in a life threatening situation to an injured individual.
Although this training is not mandatory for our students, we are required by state law (86RHB496) to offer it to all students in grade levels 7-12. If you choose to bring your child to the free training, keep in mind they will be exposed to photographs of injured individuals that will contain severe injuries. Students will learn how to tend to laceration, broken bones, puncture wounds, etc. Students will also learn skills such as applying a tourniquet, applying pressure to injuries and bandaging an injured individual. Our safety and security foundation is built on the “Force Multiply” concept. We believe in empowering our teachers, staff members, students, parents and community members with knowledge that can save lives! The sessions will be led by LISD security personnel.
Click HERE to access the Google Form