The Lancer News
The Lancer News - October 13
Important Dates
The Week Ahead:
Monday:
- Permission slips due for 7th & 8th graders to attend Herren Talks
- Herren Talks Presentation for 7th & 8th grade
Wednesday:
- Willowick Spirit Wednesday
- No events at this time
Friday:
- Teacher Records Day - No School
- Last Day First Quarter
- PTSO Fall Dance, 6:00-8:30 PM
Upcoming Events:
- Report Cards viewable in PowerSchool - Wednesday, October 23
- Last Day PTSO Chocolate Fundraiser - Wednesday, October 23
- No School - Tuesday, November 5, Staff PD Day
- Free Fresh Produce Distribution at North High - Thursday, November 7, 10-12 PM
- Picture Retakes - Wednesday, November 13
- Parent-Teacher Conferences - Wednesday, November 20, 4-8 PM
Willowick Middle School Happenings
Erin's Law Information - 7th Grade
Willoughby-Eastlake Schools will begin teaching SPEAK UP to all seventh grade students enrolled in Health during the week of October 21, 2024.
School administrators selected the Speak UP curriculum due to its age-appropriate content regarding child sexual abuse prevention and healthy relationships. Participating in the child sexual abuse prevention curriculum may help to create a greater awareness of the warning signs associated with unhealthy relationships and prevent abuse before it occurs. More information about the specific curriculum can be found at the following site: https://corp.publicschoolworks.com/program/sb-288-erins-law-mandated-training/.
If you don't wish for your child to participate, please return your signed opt-out form to the main office by October 16, 2024. A copy can be found by clicking the orange button below. There is no need to return the form if you wish to have your child participate
Win This Car
Get ready for an exciting opportunity to support our students! You could drive home in a brand new 2025 Chevrolet Trax 1LS.. Thanks to our generous partners at Serpentini Chevrolet of Willoughby Hills, 100% of the proceeds from this raffle will benefit our students. The winner will be selected on January 24, 2025, during halftime of the North/South Boys Basketball game.
When you purchase your raffle ticket, you'll have the chance to choose a school and/or group to represent.
Represent a Specific School with your donation:
- Click on "Participants" to see a list of our schools.
- Click on the name of the building you would like to support
- Click "Support This Cause" to purchase your ticket(s)
Support a Group within that School:
- In Step #3 of purchasing your ticket, leave a comment with the name of the school group you would like to represent.
PTSO Chocolate Bar Fundraiser
Our PTSO World's Finest Chocolate Fundraiser is currently running through Wednesday, October 23.
Each chocolate bar is $1. $60 must be returned when agreeing to sell each box of chocolate. Students can check out more boxes of chocolate each morning in room 114 before school with a new signed permission slip or envelope. All money must be returned by October 23.
Students were given permission slips that must be signed by a parent or caregiver in order to sell chocolate bars. Additional permission slips, prizes and more information can be found by clicking the orange button below. Each box also contains an envelope that can be signed to check out an additional box of chocolate.
Questions can be directed to WillowickMiddlePTSO@gmail.com
PTSO Fall Dance - Friday, October 18
PTSO will be hosting our Fall Dance on Friday, October 18 from 6:00-8:30 PM.
Tickets will be sold the week of October 14. The cost per ticket is $10 and includes pizza, hotdogs, chips, beverages, DJ and photo booth. There are no refunds.
Tickets will be sold beginning the week of October 14 during lunch studies.
Students may dress in spooky themed costumes but cannot bring fake weapons, wear masks that fully cover the face or wear fake blood.
Parent volunteers are needed. A signup will be posted soon.
Behavior expectations beginning September 23 are as follows:
- No expulsions
- No suspensions
- No Saturday School
- No full days of ADP
- No more than two detentions (includes lunch detentions)
Boys Basketball Tryouts
See below for information in regards to seventh and eighth grade Boys Basketball Tryouts:
Seventh grade:
- October 14 and 16 from 3:30-5:00 PM
- October 15 and 17 from 6:45-7:50 AM
- October 14 and 16 from 6:30-8:00 PM
Students should bring a water bottle, basketball shoes and proper clothing.
Students must have an active Sports Physical on file to try out and be registered in FinalForms.
Buddy Bench for Adaptive Playground
Willoughby Eastlake Classified Professionals (WECP) are working on a Community Service Project called the Heart Hub Adaptive Playground. The playground will be constructed on the back field of Royalview Elementary School for our Special Needs students.
Please help by nominating Royalview Elementary School as the location for securing a Buddy Bench for the Heart Hub Adaptive Playground by clicking the orange button below.
Nominations close on February 27, 2025.
Herren Talks Presentation 7th & 8th Grade
Chris Herren, former professional basketball player, author and wellness speaker, is scheduled to speak to our seventh and eighth grade students on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, at the North High School Performing Arts Center (PAC). W-E Schools transportation will be provided and requires a permission slip to attend.
Permission slips are due no later than Monday, October 14 to homeroom teachers. Permission slips will be distributed to students on October 1.
We invite parents and guardians to initiate a conversation with your student following this impactful student assembly. Chris Herren, was a high school All American basketball star from Fall River, Massachusetts who went onto a career in the NBA with the Denver Nuggets and the Boston Celtics. As a high school student, he was living every high school athlete's dream on the outside, but the overwhelming pressure and expectations that come with small town fame was a heavy burden on his inner world.
Like so many teenagers, Chris turned to alcohol to cope with his intense emotions. Alcohol use led to other substances, and eventually, to a substance use disorder. Addiction ultimately ended his career.
Chris Herren's journey was documented in the ESPN FILMS 30 for 30, UnGuarded, which aired on ESPN in 2011 and captures Chris’s story and how he attained recovery. In 2019, Chris Herren teamed with filmmaker Jonathan Hock again to film The First Day which focuses on what Chris learned on his journey of recovery since he committed himself to sharing his story with young people.
Rangers Youth Wrestling K-6
The deadline to enroll your child in Rangers Youth Wrestling for grades K-6 is November 11. Please click the orange button below for more information.
The cost is $110.00--non-refundable (this will include a competition singlet, t-shirt and shorts).
Email Coach Jackson at Artzeus1234@yahoo.com with any questions.
2024 Lady Ranger Fall Basketball Clinics
North High School's Girls Basketball Coach, Paul Force, will be hosting the 2024 Lady Ranger Fall Basketball Clinics. The cost is $20.
Clinics will take place Sunday evenings September 22, 29, October 6, 13, 20, 27 from 6:30-7:30 pm. 8th graders only are then invited to stay after for our high school 7:30-8:30 for Open Gym.
Email Coach Force at CoachForce@yahoo.com with any questions.
PBIS Donations Welcomed
PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) is a proactive approach used in schools to improve students' behavior and create a positive school environment. The goal is to foster a safe, respectful, and productive learning atmosphere where all students can succeed.
Makerspace Donations Welcomed
Calamity Day Information
W-E Fresh Produce Markets
The Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools and the Cleveland Food Bank provide monthly produce for any family in the community. Service will not begin prior to 10 a.m. See the posting for more dates and information.
Volleyball Concession Stand Volunteers Needed
Our PTSO and Athletics Department are seeking parent and caregiver volunteers to help operate our concession stand in our main lobby during Volleyball games.
Please consider signing up for a slot or two by clicking the orange button below. Profits go towards our PTSO and Athletics Department.
Questions? Please email WillowickMiddlePTSO@gmail.com
Updating Emergency Contacts - Please Complete ASAP
All parents and caregivers should have received an email from WE Schools on or around July 29 for updating your Returning Student Annual Registration. This was to be completed by August 21 so that contact information, emergency contacts, school pickup and custody information is up to date. Students can only leave school early for an appointment with an adult that is listed as a contact and is labeled as a school pickup contact. Please look in your inbox or spam folders for this email. You will need to use a web browser and not the PowerSchool app to complete this.
Additionally, SchoolMessenger is the automated system used by the Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools to make attendance calls and send district wide messages, such as school closings due to inclement weather, and event reminders. You can manage your account through the parent portal in PowerSchool. It’s simple! You can also identify more than one primary email address to receive notifications. Instructions are provided in the button below for your convenience. The building secretaries can also help with editing your contact information and with questions regarding non-custodial adults, such as significant others, who need to receive messaging.
Willowick Middle School's Teaming Model
The middle school teaming model is designed to provide a more personalized and supportive learning environment for students. By grouping students into smaller teams, teachers can collaborate more effectively, share insights about students' needs, and create a stronger sense of community. This model helps address the academic, social, and student wellness challenges that students face during middle school, fostering better relationships and improving overall student engagement and success.
Dismissal Parking Lot Procedures
Parents who are picking up their children after school, please be sure to pull all the way up to the main doorway entrance of our building along the sidewalk curb near the bike racks.
Do not have your child meet you or walk into in the parking lot as this can create unsafe conditions for students walking into moving traffic.
Our parking lot traffic is usually less busy about ten minutes after dismissal. Please note that the majority of our parking lot is one-way-only traffic flow.
Due to Royalview Elementary School's dismissal time being so close to ours, we are asking parents not to arrive any earlier than 2:55 PM to prevent overlap and back-up of traffic. If you must arrive earlier than 2:55 PM, please park in the WWMS lot and then wait until Royalview's dismissal traffic has cleared. Our dismissal bell rings at 3:10 PM.
Student Chromebooks
UPDATE: Now Due December 20: An annual technology fee of $20 will be required for all students to defray the cost of technology and associated digital software related to student learning and will cover the cost of one repair as a result of accidental damage during the school year.
- Students must bring their Chromebooks to school fully charged each day
- Students should visit Mr. O'Donnell's classroom in 304 during homeroom if they have an issue that requires a repair
- Students whose Chromebooks are sent out for a repair will report to the Media Center to be assigned a loaner Chromebook until their repair is complete - only for non-intentional damages
- Students who forgot their Chromebook at home will need to make a phone call home from our main office in order for it to be dropped-off at school
- Parents/guardians will be assessed a fee for any Chromebook damages that were intentionally made
- Students will receive a one-time free repair for any unintentional damages
School Clinic Information
Incoming seventh grade students for the 2024-2025 school year must receive a Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis booster (Tdap) AND one dose of the Meningococcal (MCV4) vaccines were due prior to the start of school, August 21st in accordance with Ohio Statute 3313.671. Please read the letter to parents/guardians by clicking the orange button below for all details including a required health care provider's signature that must be returned to the school or emailed.
Prescription medications require a doctor’s order and must be supplied in labeled pharmacy containers and must be delivered to the school by an adult.
Non-prescription medications (Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, cough syrup, etc.) require only written permission from a parent/guardian, must also come in original containers and be dropped off by an adult.
Do not send medication to school with your child.
Cell Phone & Headphone Reminders
Students in middle school are to have their personal communication devices in their lockers during the school day. We are asking our families to support our efforts in enforcing this Board Policy in order to keep distractions to education and learning minimal by not accessing devices during the school day for social and entertainment purposes.
Our focus needs to be on student learning at all times of the school day. Students have been reminded of this policy throughout the school year. Consequences are assigned to students who repeatedly abuse this policy.
Middle School Dress Code Policy
Our dress code is in place to promote a focused learning environment, reduce distractions, and ensure student safety. Please note that students cannot wear pajama bottoms to school in 2024-2025. Parents and caregivers will be called and a request for a change of clothes will be made if a student is found in violation of dress code.
2024-2025 Key Calendar Dates
Get Involved With PTSO
Our Parent Teacher Student Organization (PTSO) meetings are located at Willowick Middle School in room 11 during the regular school year on the second Tuesday of each month beginning at 5pm. If it is a holiday or a snow day, then meetings will be held on the following Tuesday.
Upcoming PTSO meetings:
- Tuesday, October 8 (room 203)
- Tuesday, November 12
- Tuesday, December 10
Past PTSO events:
- Fall and Spring Dances
- PBIS Rewards funding
- Fundraisers
- Field trip funding
- GaGa Ball pit installation
- Picnic tables for lunch
- End of the year grade level parties
- Tshirts for students
Contact info: WillowickMiddlePTSO@gmail.com
Student Spectator Information:
- For all indoor WWMS sports, student spectators may only watch a game for the same grade level that they are in unless they have a sibling that is a student athlete that is playing or are with a parent/guardian. For example, a seventh grade student may only watch an indoor seventh grade game.
- Sixth grade students may not attend indoor home games unless with a parent/guardian.
- Middle school students may not attend indoor home games at the high school unless with a parent/guardian.
- High school students may not attend middle school indoor home games unless with their parent/guardian.
Fees, Sports Physicals & Final Forms:
- School fees must be current for students to participate in the athletic season. Athletic fees must be paid by the start of the season for students to participate in the season.
- Please make sure that you and your child are signed up on Final Forms before the first practice. All athletes must have an active Sports Physical on file to participate in the season.
Student Code of Conduct applies at all school-sponsored events and on transportation.
When school is canceled due to the weather, athletic events and practices are canceled.
If you have any questions related to athletics, please email Athletic Director, Mike Bubonics: Michael.Bubonics@WESchools.org
Student Meals
Middle School Meal Prices:
- Lunch: $3.50
- Breakfast: $2.25
Important Meal Information:
- Do not drop off fast food for your child during the school day
- Use PaySchools Central to add funds to your child's meal account
- No change given at registers, change is applied to your child's meal account
- A student can charge up to $20 of meals in a negative balance, an alternative meal is given if balance exceeds
- No snacks given (chips, cookies, etc.) if your child has a negative meal balance
Student Code of Conduct
Student Code of Conduct is enforced on all school grounds, at all school related-activities including athletic events and on transportation.
Attendance Procedures
Please contact our attendance line at 440-283-2183 so that we may update our records and notify staff of your child's absence. Any student returning to school from an illness-related absence must report to the office attendance window upon his or her return. Doctors notes can also be submitted at this time.
Students should email their teacher for assignments that are posted on Schoology if absent.
Remote learning is not an option for this school year as classes are not live-streamed.
Absences for Appointments: Please send a doctor's note to the school office for each doctor's visit so that we can properly code the absence as a medical absence. If picking your child up for an appointment, a parent or guardian must enter the school to sign their child out.
Family Vacations: Please contact our school office if you are planning to have your child absent from school due to a family vacation. A vacation form must be signed by a parent or guardian prior to the start of absence. Please alert our school as soon as you are aware of the approaching vacation so that teachers can be prepared to assign work in-advance; preferably at least one week. We kindly ask that families try their best to schedule vacations during school breaks.
Homework Requests: Requests for homework can be made for a student that has missed three or more days of school. Please allow at least one full school day for teachers and staff to arrange assignments. Please contact our main office to place nay homework requests. Homework can be picked up at our main office window.
Student Mental Well Being
If you believe your child is experiencing challenges in terms of their mental well-being, it is important to reach out to your principal. To meet your child’s needs, it’s essential to collaborate with the principal and school personnel to explore resources and services available at school. In addition to Crossroads Counselors, the District also has family liaisons and guidance counselors who can provide needed interventions and support.
Our Crossroads Health providers may be embedded in the classroom providing support and intervention on a large-scale for all students in the room. For students who may need more personalized care, we offer the opportunity for them to meet with the Crossroads Health counselor individually or in a small group.
If you do NOT want your child to be considered for individual, small group, or whole classroom support and intervention, please complete the Opt-Out Form below and return this form to your student’s guidance counselor or principal.
PowerSchool & Schoology Access
You can view your child's current grades and class schedules in PowerSchool by downloading the PowerSchool app through the Apple App Store or Google Play on a mobile device. You may also log-in on a desktop or laptop by viewing the Student Portal webpage.
Once logged-in, simply click on any of the following options:
My Schedule to view the current quarter's class schedule.
Report Card to view this current school year's report cards by quarter
Grades & Attendance to view your child's recent attendance and current course grades.
Click HERE for instructions on how parents can sign-up to receive Weekly Grade Reports that display current grades and attendance that will automatically be generated and sent to your email address on a weekly basis. You must be logged-in to your parent account to access settings.
Please contact our main office if you need access to your parent login information.
Bell Schedule
Please note that homeroom is now at 8:30 AM, before first period.
School Contact Information
Willowick Middle School
31500 Royalview Drive
Willowick, Ohio 44095
Main Office: 440-943-2950
Attendance: 440-283-2183
Fax: 440-943-9964
Scott Stasa, Principal
Kaylee Flynt, Assistant Principal
Debbie Robb, Special Education Supervisor
Emilie Alesnik, Guidance Counselor (last names A-L)
Wendy McNeill, Guidance Counselor (last names M-Z)
Jill Golnick, Family Liaison
Amanda Szabo, School Psychologist
Vera Schwarten, School Nurse
Crossroads Counselor, Kara Brink