2023-24 Wildcat News

Dear Wildcat Families,

How exciting to be back at West Limestone! It's been 26 years since I graduated from here. I'm not going to lie--I was apprehensive at first because I have been in the elementary world of education for a long time. What I've found over the last 2 weeks is that I love being at West. Our high schoolers are still my kids from Sugar Creek but just in bigger bodies. I've greatly enjoyed seeing them as they are now teenagers and young adults. I've enjoyed the high fives, fist bumps, and the warm welcome I've received from them. We truly have a great group of students here at West!

Please read through the policies/reminders that I have added to our newsletter. Please talk to your child/young adult and help me remind them of our current school policies & procedures. These aren't in place to make our life difficult but to keep everyone safe and provide a fun learning environment.

I have a lot to learn, and I will make mistakes. Please give me grace as I will give it in my new role. I firmly believe that we are #BetterTogether, so let's work together to make West the best it can be.

If you have any questions, concerns, or praises, please share them with me at matt.taylor@lcsk12.org.

Go Big Blue!

Mr. Taylor

Our District purchased a new communication system to communicate with parents and communities. The new communication system uses the new Limestone County app, email, text messaging, and social media. If you haven't downloaded the app, please do so.

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 year. If your phone number or email changes throughout the year, please email Anita Kyle at Anita.Kyle@lcsk12.org to make those corrections.

Feedback is a great way to help us make better choices and more informed decisions. It's also a way to help us reflect, learn, and grow. Below are 3 different survey category groups. Please take a moment to choose the category that best describes you and complete the appropriate survey:

1. WLHS Staff
2. Student
3. Parent & Community

Thank you for taking a moment to answer your survey. #BetterTogether

To park in the Parking Lot, you will need a $25 parking decal. This can be purchased in the front office with Deputy Cody Lewter. Please purchase your decal by Friday, September 29th.

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENT: To do our best to prevent any accidents in our front parking lot or any areas on our school campus, we ask that you stay focused and off your cell phones, watch your speed, and follow the morning and afternoon reminders below:

Morning Reminders:

Don't be late. Arrive on time. School starts 7:50am.

CAR RIDERS: Drop-off location for all car riders is the front parking lot only. The lane next to the school is used as a bus lane and office/visitor parking lane. Use only the parking lot area for car rider drop-off. If you are a car rider who arrives prior to 7:45am, you will need to go to the gym or cafeteria.

BUS RIDERS: If you are a bus rider, your only choice is to go to the gym or cafeteria when arriving on campus prior to 7:45. No students should be going to the parking lot from the bus unless you have special permission from one of the administrators or one of the morning duty parking lot teachers.

CAR DRIVERS: If you drive yourself to school, you may choose to stay in your car until 7:45am. If you exit your car prior to 7:45 for any reason, then you will need to go to the gym or cafeteria. This eliminates swapping cars and congregating at cars. This keeps our parking lot clear of extra students that cars are having to maneuver around through the parking lot. This keeps us all safe. If you exit your car, you will be asked to go to the gym or cafeteria.

Afternoon Reminders:

BUS RIDERS: When the bell rings, you need to go directly to your bus. Do not congregate behind buses or visit with other students on other buses.

CAR RIDERS/DRIVERS: Be careful and watch your speed. No loitering in the parking lot.

Thank you for your cooperation!

No PDA (Public Displays of Affection) on school grounds. This includes but is not limited to kissing, hugging, holding hands, etc... Thank you for your cooperation!

I wanted to share a portion of our Dress Code Policy from the LCS Student Handbook with everyone. These are the main two areas that are being violated at this time.

The Limestone County Board of Education believes good grooming and personal appearance are essential elements in the educational process. Students are expected to dress in a manner that ensures their health and safety. Grooming and dress must not distract from or interfere with the educational process.

Appropriate dress and appearance of the student is the responsibility of the parent/or guardian and the student.

Pants, Shorts, Dresses, and Skirts

• Appropriate dress for students must be worn that does not reveal the body in an inappropriate manner, e.g., clothing must not be too tight, bare at the midriff or sides.
• Shorts, skirts, and dresses too short in length are not allowed. A general guide to length is that the item should fall below the tips of the fingers when arms are fully extended to the side; however, due to physical differences in some students, this guide may mean some items are still too short. The entire hemline of athletic-cut shorts should fall below the fingertips.
• Leggings, jeggings, and yoga pants must be covered by garments that fall to mid-thigh and are an appropriate length for the wearer as described above and as determined by the Principal
• Pants or shorts worn below the waistline or those that display what is or appears to be an undergarment are not allowed. No pajamas.
• Pants should not be oversized, too tight, sagging, or revealing. Pants legs must be worn at the same length.
• Undergarments or undergarment areas are not to be exposed at any time.

Shirts, Blouses, and Tops

• Shirts or tops must cover the stomach, back area, and chest area completely at all times.
• A student’s attire must cover all undergarments or undergarment areas.
• Strapless, off-the-shoulder tops, spaghetti straps, tops with strap areas less than three inches wide, and sheer or see-through clothing are not allowed.
• Tops with large arm holes or cutout sleeves are not allowed.
• Clothing must not include pictures, writings, symbols, etc., promoting, acknowledging, or suggesting drugs, tobacco products, alcohol, sexual activities, gangs, groups, individuals, or activities that would be considered potentially dangerous, disruptive, or hazardous to the student, to other students, or to the school environment.

Holes in all clothing items must fall below the tips of the fingers when arms are fully extended to the sides.

*ALL STUDENT CELL PHONES MUST BE OUT OF SIGHT AND ON SILENT DURING THE SCHOOL DAY.

*NO Airpods or headphones to be worn during the school day.

*Consequences:

• 1st offense is a warning.
• 2nd offense is the parent picking up the phone from school.
• 3rd offense is the parent picking up the phone from school and 3-day ISS.
• 4th offense is the parent picking up the phone from school and 5 days ISS.
• 5th offense is the parent picking up the phone from school and automatic alternative school referral.

September 25-29

Monday: in my midnights era (pj)

Tuesday: in my debut era (country)

Wednesday: rhyme without reason (Example: Fairy & Dairy--one person dresses up as a fairy and the other as a cow)

Thursday: in my winning era (jersey)

Friday: in my spirit era (blue & white)

School-appropriate dress is required.

The WLHS Fall Formal will be on November 4th at Southern Charm in the Owens Community.

We want to be able to provide fun activities for our students, so we need your help to ensure we can continue with the extra activities.

To ensure we continue with these activities and possibly offer more of then throughout the year, we need to have proper behavior and appropriate clothing at all events--whether it's a formal, pep rally, or any school event.

The Formal will be for 9th-12th grade. We are working out the details but more than likely we will split this group into 2 different times.

More details to come!

LCS Truancy Policy

Habitual/excessive unexcused absences from school may require Board officials to refer the matter to juvenile authorities or to initiate truancy proceedings. Seven unexcused absences within a school year constitute a student being truant for the purpose of filing a petition with the Court. The following Early Warning timeline will define the truancy status of a student:

1. 1st truancy/unexcused absence – Warning
2. 3rd unexcused absence – students will no longer be permitted to participate in field trips
3. 5th unexcused absence – parent and administrator conference
4. 7th unexcused absence – court

Only doctor notes will be accepted for student absences once a case has been filed in truancy court.

ATTENDANCE

• Students will have 10 days per year that can be excused by a parent note for the following reasons: personal illness, hospitalization/medical appointments, emergency, death in the immediate family, court subpoena, or religious holiday
• If absent, the parent has 3 days to send in an excuse- either parent or doctor's excuse or the absence will be unexcused.
• 3 or more unexcused absences within a semester = no participation in school field trips
• E-Learning Days - students who qualify are allowed 6 days per year. One of the qualifications is no unexcused days. E-learning days do not count as absences.
• Students with unexcused absences may make up work for up to 70% credit.
• For every 3 Unexcused Tardies, parents will lose 1 Parent Note.

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).

Athletics and other extra-curricular activities are valued parts of our schools. Students must maintain high academic standards in order to participate in these activities. For the immediate preceding school year:

• High School - Students entering grades 10-12 must have passed 6 subjects that total 6 Carnegie units of credit with a minimum composite numerical average of 70 (must include the four core: English, Math, Science, and Social Studies).

• Middle School – Students entering grades 8-9 must have passed 5 new subjects with a minimum composite numerical average of 70 in those five subjects.

The deadline for parents to complete the 2023-24 application is September 18. If you haven't filled it out, please do so prior to the deadline.

Even if you think you won't receive free or reduced prices, please fill it out. You never know you might just qualify. Every little bit helps and if you qualify, you help West Limestone receive federal funds to help level the playing field which helps academic achievement improve.

To register, go to www.lcsk12.org and click on the

LUNCH PRICES

Breakfast: FREE for all students

Student Full Paying Lunch: $2.60

Student Reduced Lunch: $0.40

Visitor Lunch: $5.00

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

September

11: WLHS 7th & MS Volleyball vs East (A) 4:30

11: WLHS JV Football vs. Athens (H) 6pm

12: WLHS MS, JV, & V Volleyball vs ABS (A) 4:00

13: District PD: No School

14: WLHS MS, JV, & V Volleyball vs Elkmont (A) 4:00

14: WLHS MS Football vs. Mars Hill (A) 5:30pm

15: WLHS Varsity Football vs. Brooks (H) 7pm

15: First Day of Hispanic Heritage Month

16: Elkmont JV Volleyball Tournament

16: Southern Showcase - Cross Country

18: Last Day to fill out Free/Reduced Lunch Application before having to pay full price.

18: WLHS V Volleyball vs Lindsey Lane & Central Florence (A) 4:30 & 5:30

18: WLHS MS Football vs. Priceville (A) 5:30pm

18: WLHS JV Football vs. Priceville (A) 7pm

19: WLHS MS, JV, & V Volleyball vs East Lawrence (H) 4:00

20: Faculty Meeting with Dr. Shearouse 3pm in cafeteria

21: WLHS JV & V Volleyball vs West Morgan (A) 4:00

21: FFA County Leadership Retreat

22: WLHS Varsity Football vs. East Lawrence (A) 7pm

23: Fall Begins!

23: Warriors Invitational - Cross Country

23: WLHS MS Volleyball vs Athens Middle (A) TBA

23: WLHS V Volleyball vs Brooks (A) TBA

25: Last Day to sign up for the Talent Show

25: WLHS MS Football vs. East Limestone (A) 5:30pm

25: WLHS JV Football vs. East Limestone (A) 7pm

26: Principal's Meeting

26: WLHS MS Volleyball vs. Clements & Sheffield (A) 3:30 Old Gym

26: WLHS JV & V Volleyball vs Clements & Sheffield (A) 4:30 & 5:30

29: FFA Forestry CDE

29: 6-12 Talent Show 8:30am

29: Homecoming

29: WLHS Varsity Football vs. East Limestone (H) 7pm

28: County MS, JV, & V Volleyball Tournament at West Limestone

30: County MS, JV, & V Volleyball Tournament at West Limestone

30: Kudzu Hills Invitational - Cross Country

October

National Principal Month

2: School Custodian Appreciation Day

2: WLHS JV & V Volleyball vs Catholic (H) 4:00 SENIOR NIGHT

2: WLHS JV Football vs. West Morgan (A) 7pm

2: MS Football Playoff

3: FFA Land CDE

3: WLHS V Volleyball vs Elkmont (A) 4:00 & 5:00 (Pink Out Elkmont)

3: PSAT

5: PST Group A & B

5: WLHS V Volleyball vs Athens (A) 4:00

5: End of the 1st 9 Weeks

5: 1/2 Day for Students: Parent Conferences

5: Strong Leader: Strong Reader Meeting for Mr. Taylor

6: Professional Learning Day: No School

6: WLHS Varsity Football vs. Wilson (A) 7pm

7: Athens V Volleyball Tournament

7: Jesse Owens Classic - Cross Country

7-15: Fall Break

9: MS Football Championship

12: WLHS V Volleyball vs East (A) TBA

13: WLHS Varsity Football vs. West Morgan (H) 7pm

15: Last Day of Hispanic Heritage Month

16: National Boss's Day

16: WLHS MS Football vs. Elkmont (H) 5:30pm

16: WLHS JV Football vs. Elkmont (H) 7pm

16-19: Area Volleyball Tournament (TBA)

17-21: School Bus Safety Week

17-19: FFA Sunbelt Expo

18: Dual Enrollment UNA Field Trip

18-20: ACT Workkeys Paper

20: Report Cards

20: WLHS Varsity Football vs. Central (H) 7pm

21: JC Under the Lights Festival - Cross Country

23: WLHS JV Football vs. Westminster (A) 6pm

23-27: Red Ribbon Week

24: PreACT (Grade 10) & Workkeys (Grade 12); E-Learning 6-11

24: iReady Professional Development

26: Aspiring Administrators Academy

26: NWAL Championships - Cross Country

27: Senor Portrait & 6-11 Picture Makeups

27: WLHS Varsity Football vs. Rogers (H) 7pm SENIOR NIGHT

27: World Occupational Therapy Day

31: Happy Halloween!

November

1-4: FFA National Convention

2: Aspiring Administrators Academy

2: Cross Country Sectionals

5: Daylight Savings Time Ends

8: Veteran's Day Program

9: Happy Birthday to Mr. Matt Taylor!

10: Veteran's Day: No School

13-14: North American Livestock Show

13-17: American Education Week; Retired Teachers Day

13-17: National School Psychology Week

13-17: World Kindness Week

15: Progress Report

15: Education Support Professional's Day

15: WLHS Wellness; PST Group A

16: PST Group B

17: Substitute Educator's Day

20: E-Learning Day

21-26: Thanksgiving Break

23: Happy Thanksgiving!

27: MOY Reading & Math Assessment Window Opens 6th-10th

28: Principal's Meeting

29: Beta Club Blood Drive

30: ACT Workkeys Paper

December

2: Special Education Day

5-12: Book Fair

5-11: Computer Science Education Week

8: FFA County Livestock CDE

14: Principal's Meeting

19: End of the 2nd 9 Weeks

19: Last Day for Students prior to Christmas Break

20-January 3: Christmas Break

21: Winter begins

24: Christmas Eve

25: Merry Christmas!

31: New Year's Eve

January

School Board Appreciation Month

1: Happy New Year!

2: Teacher Work Day; PST Groups A & B

3: Institute; Local/District PD

4: 1st Day Back for Students

5: Report Card

9: Law Enforcement Appreciation Day

10: MOY Reading & Math Assessment Window Closes

12: MOY Data due to Central Office

15: MLK Holiday: No School

16: ACCESS Window Opens

17: Aspiring Administrators Academy

30: Principal's Meeting

February

5-9: National School Counseling Week

7: Progress Report

7: Leadership Meeting

8: PST Group A

8: Strong Leader: Strong Reader Meeting for Mr. Taylor

8: West Soccer vs Elkmont (A) 5pm 7pm

12: PST Group B

12: West Soccer vs Lee High (A) 5pm 7pm

13: West Soccer vs Danville (A) 5pm 7pm

14: Happy Valentine's Day!

15: FFA Donkey Basketball Game (More Details to come)

15: SRO Appreciation Day

15: Aspiring Administrators Academy

16-17: Soccer Tournament

17-24: FFA Week

19: Presidents' Day: No School

19: West Soccer vs Lee High (H) 5pm 7pm

23: West Soccer vs Haleyville (A) 5pm 7pm

27: Principal's Meeting

27: West Soccer vs Mae Jemison (H) 5pm 7pm

29: West Soccer vs Elkmont (H) 5pm 7pm

March

1: Maintenance Worker Appreciation Day

1: West Soccer vs Fairview (H) 5pm 7pm

4-8: Read Across America Week

4-8: National School Social Worker Week

4: ACAP Alternate Window Opens (Grades 6th-8th)

5: ACT WorkKeys Online Retest (Grade 12)

6: Leadership Meeting

8: End of the 3rd 9 Weeks

10: Daylight Savings Time Begins

12: ACT with Writing (Grade 11)

12: Aspiring Administrators Academy

13: Strong Leader: Strong Reader Meeting for Mr. Taylor

13-14: FFA SLE State Livestock Contest

15: Report Cards

15: ACCESS Window Closes

15: FFA Tractor Driving/Speaking Contests

18: ACAP Summative Window Opens (Grades 6th-8th)

19: Spring Begins

19: Principal's Meeting

21: 1/2 Day for Students/Parent Conferences

21: PST Groups A & B

21: Prom @ The Cotton Gin

22: Professional Day: No School

23-31: Spring Break

April

1-5: National Assistant Principal Week

3: Paraprofessional Appreciation Day

4: School Librarian Appreciation Day

5: ACAP Alternate Window Closes

9: ACT with Writing Makeup

12: FFA Safety Day

16: School Bank Day: Make a Deposit today!

17: Progress Report

20: Volunteer Recognition Day

23: School Bus Driver Appreciation Day

24: National Administrative Professionals' Day

26: District FFA CDEs

26: ACAP Summative Window Closes (Grades 6th-8th)

29: EOY Reading & Math Benchmark Assessment (Grades 6th-10th) Window Opens

30: Principal's Meeting

May

1: School Principal's Day

3: School Lunch Hero Day

6-10: Teacher Appreciation Week

8: School Nurse Day

15: EOY Reading & Math Benchmark Assessment (Grades 6th-10th) Window Closes

18: National Speech Language Pathologist Day

21: Graduation at Clements (5pm) and West Limestone (7pm)

23: Last Day of School

23: Report Cards

23: Graduation at Tanner (5pm) and East Limestone (7pm)

24: Teacher Workday

24: Graduation at Elkmont (5pm) and Ardmore (7pm)

27: Memorial Day

June

19: Juneteenth

20: Summer Begins

July

4: Happy 4th of July!

PHONE NUMBERS

Main Line: 256-233-6687

Fax Number: 256-233-6673

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

7:20am: Earliest arrival time - Students arriving on campus must either go to the gym or cafeteria until 7:45.

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

7:50am: Tardy Bell Rings

DISMISSAL TIMES

3:00pm: Dismissal Bell

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.

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 counselor Mrs. Helen Thrasher or Mrs. Velvet Black.