Wilbanks Middle School Newsletter
Home of the Patriots
September 13, 2024
From the Desk of Principal Chris Chitwood
Dear Wilbanks Middle School Families,
As we navigate the school year, I want to take a moment to assure you that the safety and well-being of our students remain our top priority. Ensuring a secure and supportive environment for every student is a responsibility we take very seriously.
Our Comprehensive Safety Measures
To maintain a secure atmosphere, here are some of the safety protocols we have in place. These include but are not limited to:
- Locked Exterior Doors: All exterior doors are locked and checked frequently to ensure they remain secure throughout the day.
- Visitor Screening: We have a robust system in place for screening visitors and parents, which includes a detailed check-in process.
- Surveillance: Our security cameras are monitored regularly to maintain a watchful eye on school grounds.
- School Resource Officer (SRO): An SRO is present on site to provide additional support and ensure a safe environment.
- Panic Buttons and Emergency Buttons: These are strategically placed to alert authorities swiftly in the event of an emergency.
- Trained Staff: All staff members are trained to handle various emergency situations, ensuring a coordinated and effective response.
- Mental Health and Counseling: We provide access to mental health resources and counseling services to support our students' emotional well-being.
- Threat Assessments: We use a comprehensive resource for any potential threat that is reported at our school.
However, our most impactful safety measure is our school culture. At Wilbanks, we strive to create a nurturing environment where students feel safe, valued, and connected. Our faculty and staff are committed to getting to know each student individually and providing the support they need to thrive.
Our “See Something, Say Something” motto underscores the importance of communication. We encourage our students to approach trusted adults whenever they need assistance or notice something that feels amiss. The strong relationships we build at our school make this approach highly effective, fostering an environment where students and parents work together to maintain safety.
Addressing Recent Social Media Concerns
Recently, there have been troubling incidents across Georgia involving students posting false threats on social media, causing unnecessary fear and disruption. Please be assured that any such posts we become aware of are immediately reported to the Sheriff’s Office, and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) thoroughly investigates every threat. We are committed to holding accountable those who misuse social media to instill fear.
At Wilbanks, we have addressed this issue with our students, emphasizing the serious consequences of such actions and encouraging better decision-making regarding social media use. We appreciate the support of our community in reporting any concerns directly to us rather than sharing them on social media, which can exacerbate the situation.
Gratitude and Commitment
I am proud of the supportive and resilient community we have here at Wilbanks Middle School and in the broader Habersham community. Your trust in us and collaboration in safeguarding our students are deeply valued.
Thank you for your continued support. We remain dedicated to making Wilbanks a safe, engaging, and enriching place for your children to learn and grow.
Warm regards,
Chris Chitwood
Principal
Wilbanks Middle School
Upcoming Events
SEPTEMBER 16
- Volleyball vs. Rabun County at 5:00 p.m.
- Softball vs. North Hall County at 5:30 p.m.
SEPTEMBER 17
- FCA School Meeting - before school
- Parent Orientation Series 8:30-9:30 a.m. WMS Cafeteria
- Tennis at Rabun County at 4:00 p.m.
- Habersham Swim Team Parent Meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the HCHS Cafeteria
SEPTEMBER 19
- Tennis vs. Rabun County at 4:00 p.m.
- Cross Country at Rabun County at 4:15 p.m.
- Softball vs. Elbert County at 5:00 p.m.
SEPTEMBER 20
- Book Club Meeting after school until 5:00 p.m.
SEPTEMBER 21
- Volleyball End of Season Tournament at Elbert County
SEPTEMBER 23
- 6th Grade Honor Chorus Tryouts (during class)
SEPTEMBER 24
- Parent Orientation Series 8:30-9:30 a.m. WMS Cafeteria
- Picture Retake and Make Up Day
- 6th Grade Honor Chorus Tryouts (during class)
- Tennis at Macon County, NC at 4:00 p.m.
- Chorus - 7th/8th Grades Movie Night (5:20 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.)
SEPTEMBER 25
- 6th Grade Honor Chorus Tryouts (during class)
SEPTEMBER 26
- 6th Grade Honor Chorus Tryouts (during class)
- Cross Country at Franklin County (Region) at 5:00 p.m.
- Football at Franklin County at 5:30 p.m.
SEPTEMBER 27
- 6th Grade Honor Chorus Tryouts (during class)
- 7th/8th Grades Chorus Hangout (afterschool - 5:00 p.m.)
Counselor's Corner
Hello Patriot parents and students,
Lugz and I wanted to remind you all that we are always here to help! We are almost finished up with our first classroom lessons for the year. August and September lessons are focusing on orientation to the counseling program and problem solving. Wilbanks will continue to use the ICRAFT model to support students as they become more independent problem solvers. Please ask your students about this model.
I nvestigate
C hoose not to respond
R emove yourself
A sk nicely
F irmly state your request
T ell an adult
Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns. You can reach me most quickly by email at ahawkins@habershamschools.com. Students are able to reach me by completing a Google form at school.
Thank you and we look forward to serving you this year,
Audra Hawkins and Lugz
Parent Orientation Series
Athletic Department
Clubs and Activities
Patriot Band
8th Grade Band Night at HCHS
8th Grade Bands Perform With Band Of Blue!
The Habersham 8th Grade Middle School Bands performed with Band of Blue (Jacob Weinstein, director) at the Habersham vs Cherokee Bluff on Friday, September 6, 2024. The 8th grade band members spent the entire evening with the high school marching band to get an idea of what it will be like to be in the Band of Blue. The middle schools that performed were Wilbanks Middle School (Curt Sanders, director), South Habersham Middle School (Yurii Henriques, director), and North Habersham Middle School (Sam Berman, director). For the half time show, the middle school bands and the Band of Blue performed “Great Balls Of Fire” by Otis Blackwell and Jack Hammer – arranged by Jerry Burns, “Hey Baby” by Margaret Cobb and Bruce Channell – arranged by Mike Story, and “Rock Around The Clock” by Max C. Freedman and Jimmy DeKnight– arranged by Johnnie Vinson.
Habersham County Beginning Band Boot Camp
The Habersham County Beginning Band Boot Camp was held on September 7th . The Middle School Band programs attended the camp were Wilbanks Middle School, South Habersham Middle School and Banks County Middle School. There were professional instructors for each instrument. The students learned how to put their instruments together, learned the mechanics for making a great sound, and learned the proper techniques to set a great foundation for band performance. The instructors were professional musicians on instruments such as flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, French horn, trombone, euphonium, tuba, percussion, and bass guitar. The band directors are Curt Sanders (Wilbanks Middle), Yurii Henriques (South Habersham Middle), Marcus Shockley (Banks County Middle), and James Geiger (Banks County High).
Clarinet (left to right): Rebecca Ledford, Sophia Vargas, Lorena Mora Duran, Tania Ramirez Manuel, Ashley Taylor Waller (parent volunteer)
Trombone (left to right): Joshua McDaniel, Christian Young, Preston Flory and Tripp McGlone
Wilbanks Chorus
Book Club
Book Club meetings are held in the Media Center.
The Book Club at Wilbanks Middle School is a part of the Tome Student Literacy Society (Tome Society). Tome Society serves students in grades 2-12 by providing a diverse menu of digital student competitions; an annual book award list of new, clean, fun-to-read children's and young adult literature titles; student book club activities; curriculum materials for educators; and the TomeCon annual conference for both students and educators. All activities promote self-esteem, leadership skills, character ethics, and nurture critical thinking, creativity, and imagination in the digital age.
FCA * Fellowship of Christian Athletes
FFA (Future Farmers of America)
FFA Motto
Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve.
Yearbooks are now on sale at yearbookforever.com
Academic Booster Club
Connect with Wilbanks
Hilliard A. Wilbanks Middle School
3115 Demorest-Mt. Airy Highway, Demorest, GA 30535
(706) 894-1341
INTERNET/SOCIAL MEDIA:
WEBSITE: https://hwms.habershamschools.com/
INSTAGRAM: @wilbanks_ms