2024-25 Wildcat News

The school year began on a high note, with students and teachers alike brimming with enthusiasm and fresh energy. The halls were abuzz with excited chatter as new faces and familiar ones reunited, eager to embrace the opportunities ahead. The classrooms were vibrant with thoughtful decorations and inspiring messages, setting a positive tone for learning. With a renewed sense of purpose and optimism, everyone seemed ready to tackle challenges and celebrate successes, making this school year feel like a promising journey just beginning.

Please take a moment to fill out the following After-School Interest Survey: https://bit.ly/3ygjQS0

We are incredibly proud of our students and teachers for their dedication and hard work over the past year. While we were initially disappointed with the 76 we received on our report card—based on the previous year’s data—we are thrilled with the remarkable turnaround we’ve achieved since then.

Our focus at West has been to create an environment where every student thrives, aiming not only to improve test scores but to support each student in becoming their best self. We are excited to share the progress we’ve made, including our new ranking in the District and the substantial growth over the years.

There is still work ahead, but our achievements from last year give us great pride and motivation to continue building on this success. It is definitely a GREAT DAY to be a WILDCAT!

If you haven't filled out the free and reduced meal application, please do so as soon as possible!

Thank you to the volunteers who helped with clean up on Saturday at the Concession Stand!

Use these codes to enroll in Counselor Watson aka Pops' Schoology Courses to find out valuable information regarding your class.

• Seniors: Class of 2025: 2GJG-KKMX-FTQRR
• Juniors: Class of 2026: PHSX-X7MZ-FJZVT
• Sophomores: Class of 2027: VMT4-QHKK-TQ433
• Freshmen: Class of 2028: Course not created just yet....in progress

August: Immunization Awareness Month

5: Window Opens for BOY MS/HS Reading & Math Benchmark Assessment Grades 6-10

6: Board Meeting Items Due

7: Partner in Education Meeting at West 9am

9: Blue/White Game at 5:30 Admission: case of water/gatorade/powerade

9: Kona Ice 5-8pm (Golf Fundraiser)

9: ACT Registration Deadline without Late Fee

10: National S'mores Day

12: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Karen Carter!

13: 6th Grade Parent Meeting at 8am

13: Board Work Session at 5pm

13: Board Meeting at 6pm

13: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Lunetta Reyer!

15: Farmer's Federation Meeting at Willow Oaks at 6:30pm

16: Football Jamboree vs Elkmont Away 7pm

16: JV Football Jamboree vs Elkmont Away 7pm

17: Booster Club Golf Tournament at Southern Gayles

20: Board Meeting Items Due

20: Principal's Meeting

22: First National Bank Student Advisory Meeting

23: Athens City/Limestone County College Fair at Athens State Physical Education Center 8:30am-12:30 (Juniors & Seniors)

23: Football vs Ardmore Home 7pm; Kona Ice will be here! (Girls Basketball Fundraiser)

24: MS Football Jamboree at West Limestone; Kona Ice will be here! (Golf Fundraiser)

25: ACT Late Registration Deadline

26: JV Football vs Lindsay Lane Home 7pm

26: Gifted Services Begin

27: 1st Budget Hearing/Board Meeting at 6pm

28: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Traci Daniel!

29: MS Football vs Lindsay Lane Home 5:30

30: Football vs East Lawrence Home 7pm; Kona Ice will be here! (Girls Basketball Fundraiser)

31: National Trail Mix Day

31: New South Pro Wrestling at West Limestone - more information to come

September: Hispanic Heritage Month

2: Labor Day/No School

3: MS/JV Football vs Danville Home 5:30/7pm

3: Board Meeting Items Due

4: Progress Report

5: Happy Birthday to Coach Justin Taylor!

6: Football vs West Morgan Home 7pm

8: Grandparents Day

8-14: Arts in Education Week

9: FFA County Officer Leadership Workshop at Willow Oaks

9: MS/JV Football vs Clements Away 5:30/7pm

10: Fall School Pictures

10: 2nd Budge Hearing/Board Meeting at 6pm

11: Remembrance Day 9/11

12: Happy Birthday to Coach Kim Cooper and Mrs. Dana Moore!

13: Window Closes for BOY MS/HS Reading & Math Benchmark Assessment Grades 6-10

13: Football vs Danville Away 7pm

14: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Dedi Rolin!

14: ACT Test

15: Hispanic Heritage Month Begins

16: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Tracy Jackson!

16: MS/JV Football vs Elkmont Home 5:30/7pm

17: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Ashley Pressnell!

18: National Rice Krispie Treats Day

18: District PD Day

19: First National Bank Student Advisory Meeting

20: Football vs Central Home 7pm HOMECOMING

20: ACT Registration Deadline without Late Fee

22: First Day of Autumn

23: JV Football vs Athens Home 6pm

23: MS Football vs Tanner Away 5:30

27: FFA County Forestry Contest

27: Football vs East Limestone Away 7pm

28: Pancake Breakfast at Applebee's: Girls' Basketball Fundraiser

29: National Coffee Day

30: MS/JV Football vs East Limestone Home 5:30/7pm

October: Bullying Prevention Month/Down Syndrome Awareness Month/Dyslexia Month/Principals Month

1: Board Meeting Items Due

1: Principal's Meeting

2: School Custodial Worker's Recognition Day

4: End of the 1st Nine Weeks

4: Football vs Hatton Away 7pm

5: World Teachers Day

7: MS/JV Football vs Ardmore Away 5:30/7pm

7: ACT Late Registration Deadline

8: PSAT-MNSQT

8: Board Work Session 5pm

8: Board Meeting 6pm

10: Report Card

10: 1/2 Day for Students/Parent Conferences

10: MS Football Championship

11: Professional Learning Day

11: Football vs Wilson Home 7pm SENIOR NIGHT

14-18: FALL BREAK!

14-18: Digital Citizenship Week

14: MS/JV Football vs West Morgan Away 5:30/6:30pm FALL BREAK

18: Football vs Deshler Away 7pm FALL BREAK

22: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Tobie Craig!

22: Pre ACT 10th Grade; Workkeys 12th Grade; E-Learning Day 6th-9th & 11th

22-26: County-wide trip to National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, IN (leaving at 4pm)

23: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Chasity Legg!

24: First National Bank Student Advisory Meeting

25: Football vs Brooks Away 7pm

26: ACT Test

28: FFA County Land Judging Contest

November: Native American Heritage Month/Family Literacy Month

1: Happy Birthday to Mr. Davin Kyle!

3: Happy Birthday to Mr. Chuck Chiriaco!

3: Daylight Savings Time Ends

4-8: West Limestone's DC Field Trip

5: Election Day

5: Board Meeting Items Due

5: Principal's Meeting

6: Fall School Retakes & Winter Sports Picture Day

7: First National Bank Student Advisory Meeting

7: Winter Art Show Submittal Deadline - See Ms. Chrisman

8: ACT Registration Deadline without Late Fee

9: Happy Birthday to Mr. Matt Taylor!

11: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Jammie Patrick!

11: Veterans Day/ No School

11: Start date of Winter Art Show at Huntsville Museum of Art

12: Board Meeting 6pm

13: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Arlene Adkins!

13: World Kindness Day

13: Progress Report

15: I Love to Write Day

16-24: Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week

17-21: American Education Week

19: Life South Blood Drive

20: Education Support Professionals Day

21: Parent Involvement Day

22: Substitute Educators Day

22: ACT Late Registration Deadline

24: Happy Birthday to Mr. Bob Barber!

25: E-Learning Day

26-29: Thanksgiving Break

28: Happy Thanksgiving!!

December

1-7: Handwashing Awareness Week

2: Happy Birthday to Mr. Ben Campbell!

2: Window Opens for MOY MS/HS Reading & Math Benchmark Assessment Grades 6-10

2: Special Education Day

2: Board Meeting Items Due

3: Principal's Meeting

3: Senior Retakes/Makeups

4: National Cookie Day

5: Happy Birthday to Mrs. LaTunga Clemons!

7: Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

8: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Karen Carter!

9: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Karen White!

9-15: Computer Science Education Week

10: Board Work Session 5pm

10: Board Meeting 6pm

11: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Bethany James!

11: 8th Grade Honors Field Trip to A Christmas Carol 9am

13: Happy Birthday to Mr. Chuck Hood!

14: ACT Test

16: Happy Birthday to Mr. Kerry Gowan & Mrs. Leonah Kyle!

18: Happy Birthday to Mr. Sam Olinger!

19: Happy Birthday to Coach Shelby Davis!

20: End of the 2nd Nine Weeks

21: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Sherry Mashburn!

21: First Day of Winter

23: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Laine Morris!

23: Christmas Break begins

24: Christmas Eve

24: Happy Birthday to Ms. Stacy Willoughby!

25: Merry Christmas!

27: Happy Birthday to Mr. Anthony Taylor!

29: End date of Winter Art Show at Huntsville Museum of Art

30: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Debbie Anderson & Mrs. Laura Mashburn!

31: New Year's Eve!

January: School Board Recognition Month/Get Organized Month/Mentoring Month/Poverty in America Awareness Month

1: Happy New Year! 2025!!

1: Happy Birthday to Mr. Greg Burchell!

2: Christmas Break ends

3: Teacher Work Day

3: ACT Registration Deadline without Late Fee

6: Local/District PD

7: Board Meeting Items Due

8: Report Card

8: Principal's Meeting

12: Happy Birthday to Mr. Brandon Wallace!

13: ACCESS for ELLs Window Opens

14: Board Meeting 6pm

15: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Lauren Kyle!

19: National Popcorn Day

20: Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday/ No School

20: ACT Late Registration Deadline

23: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Amanda Gibbs!

23: First National Bank Student Advisory Meeting

23: National Handwriting and National Pie Day

25: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Bethany Matthews!

27: NAEP Testing Window Opens for West Limestone 8th grade Math/ELA

31: National Hot Chocolate Day

31: Window Closes for MOY MS/HS Reading & Math Benchmark Assessment Grades 6-10

February: Black History Month/American Heart Month

1: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Anita Kyle!

2: Happy Birthday to Mr. Ryan Griffin!

2: Groundhog's Day - Will he see his shadow?

3: Happy Birthday to Mr. Doug Ezekiel!

3-7: School Counselor Appreciation Week

4: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Nissi Clingan!

4: Board Meeting Items Due

4: Principal's Meeting

5: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Kimberely Sutton!

5: Progress Report

8: ACT Test

9: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Sarah Carr!

9: National Pizza Day

9: Super Bowl Sunday

11: Board Work Session 5pm

11: Board Meeting 6pm

11: Safer Internet Day

12: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Sarai Bender!

12: Lincoln's Birthday

14: Happy Valentine's Day

15: School Resource Officer Appreciation Day

17: Happy Birthday to Mr. Brad Dean!

17: Presidents' Day/ No School

17: Random Acts of Kindness Day

20: First National Bank Student Advisory Meeting

23: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Kecia Maddox!

23: Digital Learning Day

28: ACT Registration Deadline without Late Fee

March: Women's History Month/National Reading Month/Music in our Schools Month/American Red Cross Month/Nutrition Month

2-8: School Social Work Week

3: Read Across America Day

3: ACAP Alternate for grades 6th-8th, 10th, 11th Testing Window Opens

4: Board Meeting Items Due

4: Mardi Gras

4: ACT WorkKeys Online Retest- 12th Grade

4: Principal's Meeting

6: National Oreo Day

7: National Cereal Day

7: End of the 3rd Nine Weeks

7: NAEP Testing Window Closes for West Limestone 8th grade Math/ELA

9: Daylight Savings Time Begins

10: Happy Birthday to Mr. Brayden Clem!

11: Board Meeting 6pm

11: ACT with Writing - 11th Grade testing only

12: Life South Blood Drive

13: First National Bank Student Advisory Meeting

14: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Benita Andrews!

14: Pi Day

14: ACCESS for ELLs Testing Window Closes

14: Report Card

15: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Christi Bolton!

16: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Shelley Kennemer!

16: ACT Late Registration Deadline

17: Happy St. Patrick's Day!

17: ACAP Summative Grades 6th-8th Testing Window Opens

17-22: Band Trip to Disney!!

20: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Phyllis Malone!

20: First Day of Spring

20: 1/2 Day for Students/Parent Conferences

21: Professional Learning Day

22: Happy Birthday to Mr. Zach Linley!

24-28: Spring Break

30: National Pencil Day

April: Autism Acceptance Month/Poetry Month/School Library Month/Month of the Military Child

1: Board Meeting Items Due

1: Principal's Meeting

1: April Fool's Day

2: Paraprofessional Appreciation Day

4: School Librarian Appreciation Day

4: ACAP Alternate for grades 6th-8th, 10th, 11th Testing Window Closes

5: ACT Test

6-12: Library Week

7: World Health Day

7-11: Assistant Principals Week

8: Happy Birthday to Mr. Tim Ferguson & Mr. Weston Stewart!

8: Board Work Session 5pm

8: Board Meeting 6pm

11: Prom at the Lofton

12: Drop Everything and Read Day

14: Window Opens for EOY MS/HS Reading & Math Benchmark Assessment Grade 6-10

16: Progress Report

16: First National Bank Student Advisory Meeting

18: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Stacy Cook & Mr. Russ Gant!

18: National High Five Day

19: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Nancy Christopher!

20: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Lisa Davis!

20: Happy Easter!

20-26: Administrative Professionals Week

21: Happy Birthday to Nurse Gina!

21-25: National Public School Volunteer Week

22: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Molly Fenn!

22: School Bus Driver Appreciation Day

22: Earth Day

23: Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day

25: Arbor Day - Plant a Tree!

25: ACAP Summative Grades 6th-8th Testing Window Closes

26: National Pretzel Day

27: National Gummy Bear Day

28: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Shirley Messer!

28: Pay It Forward Day

29: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Karen Murray!

30: Día: El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children's Day/Book Day)

May: Teacher Appreciation Month/Inventors Month/Mental Health Month/Physical Fitness & Sports Month

1: May Day

1: School Principal's Day

2: School Lunch Hero Day

3: Astronomy Day

4: Star Wars Day - May the fourth be with you!

4-9: Teacher Appreciation Week

5: Cinco de Mayo

6: Teacher Appreciation Day

6: Principal's Meeting

6: Board Meeting Items Due

7: School Nurse Appreciation Day

9: ACT Registration Deadline without Late Fee

11: Happy Mother's Day!

13: Board Meeting 6pm

14: Window Closes for EOY MS/HS Reading & Math Benchmark Assessment Grade 6-10

15: Senior Class Partner-in-Education Field Trip

17: Armed Forces Day

18: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Magan Stewart!

18: Speech Pathologist Day

20: Happy Birthday to Deputy Cody Lewter!

22: Board Meeting 7am

23: Happy Birthday to Mr. Brady Clay!

23: Teacher Work Day

26: Happy Memorial Day!

26: ACT Late Registration Deadline

June

1: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Tina Coats!

1: Say Something Nice Day

3: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Olivia Hardy!

6: National Doughnut Day!

6: ACT Registration Deadline without Late Fee

9: Happy Birthday to Mr. Bryan Jach!

14: Flag Day

14: ACT Test

15: Happy Birthday to Mr. Austin Hyde!

15: Happy Father's Day!

17: Happy Birthday to Mr. Jaret Britt!

18: Happy Birthday to Mr. Eric McGee!

19: Juneteenth

20: ACT Late Registration Deadline

21: First Day of Summer

July

4: Happy 4th of July!

4: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Sharon Wallace!

8: Board Meeting Items Due

9: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Tammy Jones!

12: ACT Test (2025)

15: Band Camp 1:30-8:20pm

15: Basketball Camp 9am-noon

16: Title I Retreat 8-3pm at Toyota Field

16: Band Camp 1:30-8:20pm

16: Basketball Camp 9am-noon

16: Board Meeting 6pm

16: Senior Schedules for Last Names A-M: 9-11am; N-Z: 1-3pm

17: Junior Schedules for Last Names A-M: 9-11am; N-Z: 1-3pm

17: Band Camp 1:30-4:30pm

17: Printed ISR and labels delivered to districts

18: Sophomore Schedules for Last Names A-M: 9-11am; N-Z: 1-3pm

18: Band Camp 1:30-8:20pm

18: Happy Birthday to Mrs. LeeAnn Reed!

19: Freshmen Schedules for Last Names A-M: 9-11am; N-Z: 1-3pm

19: Band Camp 1:30-8:20pm

20: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Heather Gough!

22: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Alex Chrisman!

22: Fall Sports Picture Day: Starting at 3:30pm

Fall sports team/individual and senior banners

• 3:30 volleyball 3 teams
• 4:30 cheer
• 5:30 football both teams
• 6:30 band

22: Board Meeting Items Due

22: Band Camp 1:30-8:20pm

23-24: Leadership Academy

23: Band Camp 1:30-8:20pm

24: Band Camp 1:30-4:30pm

25: Band Camp 1:30-8:20pm

25: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Jennifer Freeman!

26: Teacher Work Day

26: 504 Training for Counselors at West

26: Band Camp 1:30-8:20pm

29: High School Principal's Meeting at Noon

29: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Cheyenne Bonner!

29: Local PD Day

30: District PD

30: Elkmont Elementary Ribbon Cutting at 2:30pm

30: Johnson Elementary Ribbon Cutting at 3:30pm

30: Board Meeting 6pm

30: Possible Band Rehearsal and Parent Meeting/Performance

30: Happy Birthday to Mr. Hunter Camp!

31: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Laura Black & Mrs. Jessica Colbert!

31: District PD Day

August

1: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Andria Francis!

4: National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day

4: Friendship Day

CONTACT INFORMATION: You may find a complete list of our staff on our website www.westlimestonehigh.org. There are direct links to each staff member to help make it easier for you to communicate with any one of them.

ARRIVAL TIMES: Please be aware of our arrival schedule.

7:20am: Arrival time - Students arriving on campus must either go to the gym or cafeteria until 7:45. Staff will report to the assigned duty role.

7:45am: Bell Rings to go to 1st Period

7:50am: Tardy Bell Rings/1st Period Begins

DISMISSAL TIMES: Please be aware of our dismissal schedule.

3:00pm: Dismissal Bell - Students will remain in seat until the bell rings.

STAY UPDATED: To stay updated on what's happening at West Limestone High School or any Limestone County school, please keep your child's information up-to-date in PowerSchool when you enroll and throughout the school year. If your phone number or email changes throughout the year, please email Anita Kyle at Anita.Kyle@lcsk12.org to make those corrections.

LUNCH INFORMATION: If you need to add money to your child's account, please use the following link: https://www.myschoolbucks.com/ver2/getmain?requestAction=home

Breakfast: FREE for all students

Student Full Paying Lunch: $2.60

Student Reduced Lunch: $0.40

Visitor Lunch: $5.00

TITLE I STATUS: We are a Title I School. Our status as a Title I School is determined by the percentage of students who qualify for free/reduced lunch. Title I Schools are provided federal money based on their rank of the percentage of free/reduced lunches within our school district. This money provides schools with the necessary funds to hire staff to reduce classroom sizes or interventionists who work with students to close achievement gaps. Some schools use the money to purchase software, provide professional development, or provide other instructional materials needed.

Based on last year's free-reduced lunch count, our school will receive about $148,824.12 which will be used to hire two teachers and two interventionists. Of that amount, $2276.17 will be used for Parent & Family Engagement. The committee chose to purchase paper that will be used to print i-Ready reports, progress reports, report cards, and other school-related activities to share with parents.

These funds are highly beneficial to our school, so please complete the free/reduced lunch application today at https://www.myschoolapps.com/Home/PickDistrict. The link is found on our webpage www.westlimestonehigh.org and on the District webpage www.lcsk12.org. Choose "Alabama" and then choose "Limestone County BOE" for our school district to start the application.

NURSE UPDATES:

• Steps to Staying Healthy
• CDC Respiratory Virus Update
• Free Covid Tests

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES: If you feel your child could use some school-based counseling or you would like some recommendations for outside services, please see our school counselors Mr. Bob Watson and/or Mrs. Verena Owsley.

ATTENDANCE INFORMATION: When your child is absent, you have 3 days to return a note for it to be counted excused. Notes after 3 days will not be accepted. Attendance

CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM: To address problems with chronic absenteeism, students in Grades K-12 who accumulate 18 or more absences, whether deemed excused or unexcused, are by definition chronically absent and will not be allowed to participate in non-academic school activities (e.g., prom, in-school games, dances, and field days). Chronic Absenteeism

E-LEARNING DAY: Each student who meets the requirements of the E-Learning Day Policy, can use up to 6 days a year without being considered absent. See the E-Learning Day form below for the requirements.

STUDENT SUCCESS: Check out these AMSTI Family Guides to Student Success