📣 Wilbanks Middle School Newsletter

Subject: State Testing Begins – Important Dates, VIP Incentive & More!

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The time has arrived for our students to shine! Our State Testing Window begins Monday, April 21st and runs through Friday, May 9th. Please take a moment to review the calendar below for your child’s specific testing dates.

✅Timely attendance and full participation on testing days are absolutely crucial.

To support and motivate our students, we are thrilled to announce a special reward for outstanding effort and presence:

🎉 Introducing the VIP Milestones Incentive!
Students who are present for all of their scheduled testing days and demonstrate their best effort on each assessment will earn a ticket to our VIP Milestones Celebration — an outdoor party packed with fun games, music, and delicious treats, taking place after the testing window closes!

🛑 Please note:
There will be no exceptions to the eligibility requirements for this reward. Students who miss any testing day or rush through their assessments without care will not be eligible to attend the celebration.

Research shows that testing with peers on scheduled days leads to stronger performance, and we want every student to have the chance to succeed.

👨🏻‍🏫 Our teachers have poured their hearts into preparing students all year, and now it's their time to shine. Please help us by encouraging your child to:

• Carefully read all passages

• Use their writer's checklist and formula sheets

• Utilize scratch paper and test-taking tools

🎁 BONUS: 200 LiveSchool Points!
In addition to the party, all VIP Incentive earners will receive 200 Liveschool Points — almost four days' worth of extra points! These can be used toward our awesome end-of-year Field Day, plus...

🏆 House Cup Alert!
Liveschool points also contribute to each student's House total. This bonus could be the game-changer your child's House needs to take home the House Cup — and win an off-campus field trip to The Fun Factory!

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🍎Teacher Appreciation Week: May 5–9
As we celebrate our students, let’s not forget to celebrate our amazing teachers! May 5th–9th is Teacher Appreciation Week, and we encourage you to take a moment to let a teacher know just how much you value their time, energy, and dedication in helping your student grow and succeed. A kind note, small token, or heartfelt "thank you" can mean the world!

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We deeply appreciate your ongoing support in helping our students rise to the occasion. Together, we can help them reach their fullest potential.

Thank you for being our partners in success!

Warm regards,
Chris Chitwood
Principal
Wilbanks Middle School

APRIL 21

• House Battles and Milestones Rally
• Raider Flag Football Parent Meeting at HCHS Cafeteria at 5:30 p.m.

APRIL 22

• FCA Meeting at 7:15 a.m. in the Art Room
• Milestones Testing Begins Today -- 8th Grade ELA 1; 6th Grade ELA 1
• Football - first day of practice for rising 7th/8th grades

APRIL 23

• Milestones Testing -- 8th Grade ELA 2 & 3; 6th Grade ELA 2 & 3

APRIL 25

• 8th Grade Dance at Lake Toccoa

APRIL 29

• Milestones Testing -- 7th Grade ELA 1
• Chorus Spring Concert at HCHS PAC (call at 6:30 p.m.) (Sola Voce call at 6:00 p.m.)
• Football - first day of practice for rising 9th-12th grades
• FFA Splash into Summer Meeting after school until 5:00 p.m.

APRIL 30

• Milestones Testing -- 7th Grade ELA 2 & 3; 8th Grade Math 1 & 2

MAY 1

• Milestones Testing -- 6th Grade Math 1 & 2

MAY 5-9

• Teacher Appreciation Week

MAY 5

• Band Spring Concert at WMS Gym at 6:30 p.m. (6th grade) and at 7:30 p.m. (7th and 8th grades)
• Softball Tryouts at Raider Stadium at 4:15 - 5:45 p.m.

MAY 6

• FCA Meeting at 7:15 a.m. in the Art Room

• Milestones Testing -- 8th Grade Science; 7th Grade Math 1 & 2

• Softball Tryouts at Raider Stadium at 4:15 - 5:45 p.m.

MAY 7

• Milestones Testing -- 8th Grade Social Studies
• Softball Tryouts at Raider Stadium at 4:15 - 5:45 p.m.
• Volleyball Tryouts at Raider Gymnasium at 3:45 - 5:30 p.m.

MAY 8

• Milestones Testing -- 8th Grade Algebra EOC
• Volleyball Tryouts at Raider Gymnasium at 3:45 - 5:30 p.m.

MAY 9

• Honors Day
• Volleyball Tryouts at Raider Gymnasium at 3:45 - 5:30 p.m.

MAY 12

• 8th Grade Field Trip to Biltmore

MAY 13

• Habersham Raiders Middle School Team Tennis Tryouts at Ninth Grade Academy Courts

MAY 14

• Habersham Raiders Middle School Team Tennis Tryouts at Ninth Grade Academy Courts

MAY 15

• Habersham Raiders Middle School Team Tennis Tryouts at Ninth Grade Academy Courts

MAY 15-16

• Chorus - 8th Grade Trip to Pigeon Forge

MAY 23

• Last Day of School - Early Dismissal

The Habersham County School System is excited to launch the FIRST ALERT app. The purpose of this app is to provide parents and students with Real-time notifications on weather alerts, school closings, and important emergency notifications. Please check the school website for instructions on downloading the app and setting up your personal account.

Picture day QR code flyers for viewing and ordering student photos were distributed to students on their picture day - 6 & 8 grades March 19 and 7 grade March 20. Please see below for ordering instructions. Begin viewing Spring picture proofs online beginning Friday, March 28.

Scan the QR code on the flyer

OR

1. Go to nelsonsanders.gotphoto.com

2. Enter the personal access code (this code is printed on the proof or use the QR code on the proof).

3. Order your favorite photos!

Note: Picture Day was August 27 and Retake Day was September 24, 2024. Spring Picture Days were March 19 and 20, 2025. No make up nor retake days are available for Spring pictures.

Please visit us on our newest platform, our very own Wilbanks Middle School YouTube Channel. Like, subscribe, and hit the notification button to keep informed with the latest updates.

https://www.youtube.com/@WilbanksMiddleSchool

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.

FFA Motto

Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve.

Order your yearbook today! They are only available while supplies last.

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