2024-25 Wildcat News | Smore Newsletters for Education

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Stay Focused and Finish Strong!

Spring Break is just around the corner, but let’s stay focused and engaged this week. Make the most of every class, every lesson, and every opportunity to grow.

With springtime in the air, let's also work on learning how to better communicate and get along with one another. Encouraging kindness and understanding will make our school a better place for everyone.

Attendance Matters

Chronic absenteeism is defined as 18 or more absences—whether excused or unexcused. Missing 18 or more days means students will not be able to participate in activities like prom, in-school games, dances, field trips, or field days. Doctors' notes and health plans will be considered only if a student does not have 3 or more unexcused absences. From Day 1, I have emphasized the importance of attendance and included the year’s key dates in the weekly Wildcat Newsletter.

Each student is allowed 10 parent notes per year to excuse absences. If all 10 were used in the first semester, then only doctor’s notes will excuse absences this semester. This is not a new policy—it has been in place since the beginning of the school year and follows the guidelines set in the Limestone County Student Handbook.

The Power of Your Voice

Every day, we have the choice to use our voices—whether in person or on social media—to either support and lift or criticize and trample. Which choice makes us better? Let’s choose to encourage and build each other up.

Finish this week strong, Wildcats!

Mrs. Owsley

MS Counselor

Mr. Watson aka Pops

HS Counselor

When your child feels unwell, they should visit the nurse, who will contact the parent or guardian if it’s necessary for the student to be checked out. Students should refrain from texting or calling home on personal devices during the school day, as having a cell phone out during school hours is against board policy. Our goal is not to keep your sick child at school, but to ensure the proper protocol is followed. If the nurse decides to send a student home due to illness, the absence will be excused by the nurse. Please encourage your child to visit Nurse Gina if they are not feeling well; she will make a professional decision on the appropriate next steps. Thank you, Mr. Taylor

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

17: Happy St. Patrick's Day!

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

17-22: Band Trip to Disney!!

19: Tom's Coffee 8:45-10:30

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 Coach Zane Campbell!

24-28: Spring Break

30: National Pencil Day

31: Bama Zack Scholarship Due

31: Faculty Meeting after school with RSA Retirement Meeting with Amy Stewart

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

2-5: Team 34 Robotics Bayou Regional Competition

4: Wildcat Cafe

4: School Librarian Appreciation Day

4: HS Scholars' Bowl

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

7: ACAP 6th Grade Science 1 & 2 at 8am; Makeup session at 10am

7-8: MS Volleyball Tryouts

8-9: JV & Varsity Volleyball Tryouts

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

8: Good Springs Senior Center Activity Day 10:30-11:30

8: Board Work Session 5pm

8: Board Meeting 6pm

8: ACAP 8th Grade ELA 3 & 4 at 8am; 7th Grade Math 1 at 10am

9: ACAP 7th Grade Math 2 at 8am; 8th Grade ELA 1 & 2 at 10am

10: World's Finest Chocolate Delivery

10: ACAP 7th Grade ELA 3 & 4 at 8am; 8th Grade Math 1 at 10am

11: Prom at the Lofton

11: 10th grade meeting with Balfour - class rings & jackets

11: ACAP 8th Grade Math 2 at 8am; 7th Grade ELA 1 & 2 at 10am

12: Happy Birthday to Mr. Greg Gray!

12: Drop Everything and Read Day

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

14: ACAP Makeup Session at 8am; 8th Grade Science 1 & 2 at 10am

15: ACAP Makeup Session at 8am; 6th Grade Math 1 at 8am

16: Progress Report

16: First National Bank Student Advisory Meeting

16: Classified Advisory Meeting at Central Office from 9:30-11:30am

16: Certified Advisory Meeting at Central Office from 1-3pm

16: Wellness Screening 12:30-2:30

16: ACAP Makeup Session at 8am; 6th Grade Math 2 at 10am

17: LCS Job Fair will take place at Athens State gymnasium from 5-7pm

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

17: ACAP 6th Grade ELA 3 & 4 at 8am; Makeup session at 8am

18: National High Five Day

19: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Nancy Christopher!

18: ACAP 6th Grade ELA 1 & 2 at 8am; Makeup session at 8am

20: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Lisa Davis!

20: Happy Easter!

20-26: Administrative Professionals Week

21: Happy Birthday to Nurse Gina and Mrs. Verena Owsley!

21: ACAP Makeup Session at 8am and 1pm

21-25: National Public School Volunteer Week

22: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Molly Fenn!

22: School Bus Driver Appreciation Day

22: Earth Day

22: ACAP Makeup Session at 8am and 1pm

22: HR Staffing Visit at 10:45

23: Jr. Beta Trash Panda Field Trip

23: Cooks Museum Field Trip

23: Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day

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

24: Senior Girls to Athens State University

24: Cooks Museum Field Trip

25: Cooks Museum Field Trip

25: 10th grade class rings & jackets order due date

25: Arbor Day - Plant a Tree!

26: National Pretzel Day

27: National Gummy Bear Day

28: Your Money Your LIfe Trip for Juniors at Athens State

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)

30: Taylor- Statement of Economic Interest Due

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

7: Junior Beta Club Trash Panda Educational Day Field Trip 8am

9: ACT Registration Deadline without Late Fee

9: Sugar Creek Field Day

11: Happy Mother's Day!

12: Senior Class Partner-in-Education Field Trip

13: Good Springs Senior Center Activity Day 10:30-11:30

13: Board Meeting 6pm

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

14: SENIOR History, English, & Scheduled Electives; A-Day CTC Semester Exam

15: SENIOR Math, Science, & Scheduled Electives; B-Day CTC Semester Exam

16: SENIOR Elective & CTC Exams

16: Senior Awards Night at 6pm

17: Armed Forces Day

18: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Magan Stewart!

18: Speech Pathologist Day

19: Underclassmen Awards Day Times TBD

19: SENIOR Makeup Semester Exams

19: Career Tech Awards at Athens Courthouse at 6pm

20: Happy Birthday to Deputy Cody Lewter!

20: History, English, & Scheduled Electives; A-Day CTC Semester Exam

20: Tanner & East Limestone Graduation

21: Math, Science, & Scheduled Electives; B-Day CTC Semester Exam

21: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Trinity Tennison!

22: All Makeup Semester Exams

22: Board Meeting 7am

22: Elkmont & Ardmore Graduation

23: Happy Birthday to Mr. Brady Clay!

23: Teacher Work Day

23: Clements & West Limestone (7pm) Graduation

26: Happy Memorial Day!

26: ACT Late Registration Deadline

28: Happy Birthday to Ms. Makenna Birdsong!

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

7: Happy Birthday to Ms. Leslie Harbison!

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!

17-20: Varsity and JV Cheer Camp at University of Alabama

18: Happy Birthday to Mr. Eric McGee!

19: Juneteenth

20: ACT Late Registration Deadline

21: First Day of Summer

July

1: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Lori Thomas!

4: Happy 4th of July!

4: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Sharon Wallace!

8: Board Meeting Items Due

9: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Tammy Jones!

10: Happy Birthday to Dr. Brittian Anderson!

12: ACT Test (2025)

13-17: MEGA Conference

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

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: Immunization Awareness Month

1: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Andria Francis!

4: National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day

4: Friendship Day

12: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Karen Carter!

13: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Lunetta Reyer!

28: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Traci Daniel!

September

4: Happy Birthday to Mr. Bob Watson aka Pops!

5: Happy Birthday to Coach Justin Taylor!

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

14: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Dedi Rolin!

15: Hispanic Heritage Month Begins

16: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Tracy Jackson!

17: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Ashley Pressnell!

18: National Rice Krispie Treats Day

30: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Katie Wilkerson and Mr. Buford Bates!

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

7: Happy Birthday to Dr. Anderson!

14: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Monica Hobson and Mrs. Terry Whitt!

17: Happy Birthday to Mr. J. Ruiz!

20: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Kari Carter!

22: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Tobie Craig!

23: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Chasity Legg!

24: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Jaime Emerson!

25: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Jessica Crumbley!

31: Happy Halloween!

November

1: Happy Birthday to Mr. Davin Kyle!

3: Happy Birthday to Mr. Chuck Chiriaco!

9: Happy Birthday to Mr. Matt Taylor!

11: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Jammie Patrick!

11: Veterans Day/ No School

13: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Arlene Adkins!

19: Fall Blood Drive

24: Happy Birthday to Mr. Bob Barber!

December

2: Happy Birthday to Mr. Ben Campbell!

4: Happy Birthday to Mr. Greg Gray!

5: Happy Birthday to Mrs. LaTunga Clemons!

11: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Bethany James!

13: Happy Birthday to Mr. Chuck Hood!

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

19: Happy Birthday to Coach Shelby Davis!

21: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Sherry Mashburn!

23: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Laine Morris!

25: Happy Birthday to Coach David Young!

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

January

1: Happy New Year! 2026!!

1: Happy Birthday to Mr. Greg Burchell!

12: Happy Birthday to Mr. Brandon Wallace!

: Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday/ No School

23: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Amanda Gibbs!

25: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Bethany Matthews!

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!

9: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Sarah Carr!

12: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Sarai Bender!

12: Lincoln's Birthday

14: Happy Valentine's Day!

17: Happy Birthday to Mr. Brad Dean!

17: Presidents' Day/ No School

23: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Kecia Maddox!

March:

10: Happy Birthday to Mr. Brayden Clem!

14: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Benita Andrews!

16: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Shelley Kennemer!

April

May:

1: 2025-26 Prom at the Lofton

PHONE NUMBERS: Main Line: 256-233-6687 Fax Number: 256-233-8034

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.

3:15pm: Teacher Dismissal Bell

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 $149,130 which will be used to hire two teachers and two interventionists. Of that amount, $2319 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.

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

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