Wildcat Tales

Wildcat Families,

It's hard to believe next week we start October! Bring on the fall weather! It was a great week at WGMS. I hope you and your family have a wonderful weekend. Be sure to read through the Wildcat Tales for upcoming events!

A reminder from the Midlothian ISD Multi-Purpose Stadium Rules: All students below 9th grade are required to be accompanied by a paying adult in order to attend home varsity football games. Parents and their children are allowed to bring school aged guests. Please be advised that you are responsible for the school aged guests accompanying you to the game, as well as your own children. Students 8th grade and below not accompanied by a paying adult will not be allowed into home contests.

Here is an important reminder about free or reduced lunch applications for the 2024-2025 school year. To ensure your students continue receiving these benefits, parents or guardians must complete a new application each year. If the application isn't submitted by September 28, students who previously qualified for free or reduced lunch will no longer receive it until a new application is approved.

For those who are unsure whether you have completed the necessary paperwork for the 2024-2025 school year, you can reach out to Mandie Tucker at mandie.tucker@midlothianisd.org for assistance.

Wildcats, remember your 4 P's-Prompt, Prepared, Productive, Polite and know that you belong here. Make it a great day and go Cats! 💙🐾

Carly Woolery

WGMS Principal

* Each must have a tag with date.event.name.

For Example: 9-26volleyball8thSCornwall

** Pictures and videos are subject to review and approval by yearbook advisor

2-National School Custodian Day

3-Picture Retakes

6-National Coaches Day

7-Rock the Pink Pep Rally - pep rally schedule (see below for more info)

9-WGMS Band Parent Showcase-Symphonic and Honors Band class periods

10-School Funding Referendum 101 6:30 in WGMS Library (parking available in front and back)

11-Professional Learning Day - No school for students

14-Student and Staff Holiday

15-Professional Development Day - No school for students

16-Beginning Band Showcase Concert 6:30-7:30 WGMS

23-31 Red Ribbon Week (see below for dress up days)

25-Halloween Party sponsored by 8th Grade Boosters 7-9 pm at WGMS cafe (see below for more info)

1-Teacher Work Day - no school for students

15-In and Out Burger $5 per ticket (more details to come)

22-Professional Learning Day - no school for students

25-29-Thanksgiving Break - no school

On Friday, October 25th, 7-9pm, the WGMS Boosters will be hosting the first dance (open gym) of the school year and we need your help to make this night happen! We need volunteers to sell tickets during lunches and to help out at the actual event! Please look over the sign up below and help out where you can! Your help is greatly appreciated!

Background checks are REQUIRED for all adults who volunteer. Here is the link and it's always on the Wildcat Tales. This needs to be completed ASAP so that it can be turned around quickly

September 15-October 15

22-RLA District Benchmark Testing 6th-8th grade

23-Science District Benchmark Testing 8th grade

24-Social Studies District Benchmark 8th grade

28-Math District Benchmark Math 6th-8th grade

30-Algebra I District Benchmark

9-11-Middle of the Year MAP (ELA, Math, Science)

17-19 - High School Credit Course Semester Exams

This month, we’re focusing on empathy and challenging students to make sure that everyone they interact with feels seen, heard, and valued. We are partnering with you to grow and develop empathy in your student at home. As a family, use these activities to reflect on and better understand the needs of others.

Please join our Facebook page for the most direct way to keep in the loop, https://www.facebook.com/share/g/aML4eFAW6uUD4674/. However, if you are not on social media, you can still find information in Mrs. Woolery’s newsletter every week.

Our first two fundraisers are coming up in October and we need your help! On 10/3 we are operating a concession stand at the Jaguar Invitational Cross Country Meet and on 10/25 we are sponsoring the first school dance of the year, a Costume (optional) Dance Party! Both of these events need your support to make them happen. We are starting from scratch, so we are asking for monetary donations to help cover the costs of concession items (both events), a DJ and janitorial staff. We also need volunteers as we can’t do this all by ourselves. Please click on both links below to help.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4EAEA62DA6F5C16-51763067-donations

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0A4EAEA62DA6F5C16-51776588-costume

Background checks are REQUIRED for all adults who volunteer. Here is the link and it's always on the Wildcat Tales. This needs to be completed ASAP so that it can be turned around quickly.

8th Grade students are allowed to sign up as volunteers at the Dance Party (except in chaperone positions). This event will count towards volunteer hours for NJHS.

Business owners… We are also looking into the possibility of doing t-shirts for the class of 2029. If you would be interested in sponsoring this or you have other sponsorship ideas we would love to hear those also! Please reach out to us!

Thank you for reading everything and thank you in advance for any help you can provide!

With gratitude,
The WGMS 8th Grade Boosters (Class of 2029)
Email: wgms8thboosters@gmail.com

Need help checking your student's grades and missing assignments? Our Tech Apps teacher Mr. Sanchez put together this quick video to show you how!

Help your child succeed in school

Parents, you play a crucial role in your child's education. Creating healthy daily habits of attending school can make a difference in your child's success later in life. By working together, we can create a supportive environment that promotes consistent attendance and fosters a positive learning experience for your child. Check out our MISD Attendance Matters newsletter for attendance tips and positive steps you can take to help your child be successful.

https://secure.smore.com/n/1pvys

We asked the students ways that they could ripple kindness at WGMS. Here are some of the most popular answers!

Event Details:

- Date: Saturday, September 28, 2024

- Location: Midlothian ISD Multi-Purpose Stadium

- Packet Pick-Up / Day of Registration: 7:00 a.m.

- Fun Run Start Time: 8:00 a.m.

- 5K Start Time: 8:15 a.m.

If your child attends any Midlothian ISD game or event, they must be picked up immediately after the game or event has concluded. Students that are not picked up within 30 minutes of the game or event's conclusion will be denied entrance to future MISD games or events.

What is a Wildcat Parent Volunteer?

We are a group of Wildcat parents who donate goodies to the Walnut Grove staff once a month. This is usually in the form of breakfast, lunch, and snacks for all staff on campus.

How can you help?

There are a few ways you can help.

1) You can sign up to be a donation supporter. A donation supporter is for our families who cannot necessarily be away from their home or office during the school day but want to be part of the WPV group. Monthly, we would send out a request for donations. This is usually sent via Venmo and the funds are used to purchase meals and snacks for that month's event.

2)If you have free time and like to be more hands on, you can sign up to help us decorate the designated area for that month. This is usually done in the front office conference room. We arrive on campus around 10:30 AM and are typically wrapping up around 1:10 PM. You would not have to commit to the whole time slot. We decorate and then help serve the food, restock between lunches, etc. Any amount of time you are able to give is greatly appreciated.

3) Do you own a business and want to get your name out to Walnut Grove teachers and staff? We would love to partner with you and have you sponsor a meal for us that month or even sponsor only the drinks or a dessert option for the month.

We have lots of ways for you to be involved. If this sounds like something you would like to participate in, please complete this Google Form and we will add you to our group communication.

Thank you so much for your interest in joining the Wildcat Parent Volunteers.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The State of Texas mandates scoliosis screening (for sideways curvature of the spine) for 5th grade girls, 7th grade girls, and 8th grade boys.

We will be conducting scoliosis screenings on the following dates:

• September 5, 2024: 7th Grade Girls
• October 4, 2024: 8th Grade Boys

If a referral is needed, a letter will be sent home for further assessment by a physician.

If you would like your child to be excluded from this screening, please sign, date, and return the attached form to your school nurse by September 3, 2024.

Name of student: ______________________________________________________________

Parent/Guardian signature for exclusion from screening: ____________________________

Date: ______________________________

Thank you for your cooperation.

Sincerely,

Mandy Berry, BSN, RN, CPN

School Nurse

469-856-5710

mandy.berry@misdlothianisd.org

Medication forms must be updated every school year. Please download forms here and submit to your campus nurse before the first day of school August 14. You can email Nurse Berry at Mandy.Berry@midlothianisd.org.

Dear MISD Parents,

Safety and security are a top priority in MISD. As an added layer of student safety, vape sensors have been installed throughout all MISD secondary campuses serving grades six and above. The installation of the sensors supports legislative requirements set forth by House Bill 114 that went into effect with the start of the 2023-24 school year. The new law takes a strong stance on prohibiting the possession and use of vape devices at school.

Any student who possesses or uses a vape device of any kind on school grounds is subject to disciplinary placement in DAEP and the student's ability to participate in extracurricular activities could be impacted. The law also requires the district to notify School Resource Officers (SROs) about violations. Vape device use of THC is subject to felony drug charges. Parents may reference Texas Health and Safety Penal Code 481.002(26) for more information.

Installed sensors are equipped with tamper detection software and should not be touched. This includes throwing anything at the sensors. Students will be held accountable and subject to disciplinary consequences in accordance with the district’s Student Code of Conduct policy if they tamper with a detection device.

Thank you for your partnership and support as we work together to keep our students safe. If you have any questions, please contact your child’s school.

Sincerely,

Midlothian ISD

4 P's: Prompt, Prepared, Productive, Polite

Character Traits: Respect, Integrity, Pride

Carly Woolery, Principal

M'kale Kennedy, Assistant Principal

David Fontenot, Assistant Principal

Email: carly.woolery@midlothianisd.org
Website: https://wgms.midlothianisd.org/
Location: 990 N Walnut Grove Rd, Midlothian, TX, USA
Phone: (469)856-5700
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WalnutGroveMS

Instagram: @wgmswildcats
Twitter: @WGMSWildcats