2023-24 Wildcat News

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Thank you to all the parents and grandparents who joined us for Thanksgiving lunch on Thursday! We are glad you came!

Students, I hope each of you have completed your e-learning assignments. Get those completed today, if you haven't completed them already, so you can enjoy your the rest of your week.

Enjoy your week!

Mr. Taylor

We would like to welcome our new assistant principal Mrs. Stacy Willoughby to West Limestone. Mrs. Willoughby comes to us from Athens High School where she has taught English for the last 11 years. Mrs. Willoughby was also selected as their Teacher of the Year this year. She has lived in the West Limestone community for 4 years and is excited to be a part of our family. Her position will be split between West and Elkmont. Welcome to our Wildcat Family!

December 15, 2023- Deadline to submit a casual picture, baby picture, quote, and Last Will and Testament. This is an early deadline because we have to get every quote, Last Will and Testament approved. It is also a long process to upload everything.

February 15, 2024- Deadline to submit a Senior Ad for the Yearbook. This is DONE completely ONLINE. That is why it is a later deadline. We as a yearbook staff do not DO ANYTHING to your ad. It is designed exclusively online by whoever is paying for the ad.

April 30, 2024- Deadline to order your Senior year Yearbook. You will notice that there is a discount if you order before December 31, 2023.

If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Gough at heather.gough@lcsk12.org.

Cyber Huntsville will be hosting a College Scholarship opportunity to high school seniors pursuing a college degree in a Cyber related field.

Winning applicants will be awarded a one time monetary scholarship of $4000.00 which will be sent to their college of choice, in late July, once they are enrolled. The cutoff deadline is January 10, 2024. If you are interested, please check out the link: https://cyberhuntsville.org/Scholarship-Application

Here's the 1st Semester Exam Schedule:

• Friday, December 15th - Students will take History, English, and Elective (as scheduled) Final Exams. (CTC students will take A-Day semester exams.)
• Monday, December 18th - Students will take Math, Science, and Electives (as scheduled) semester exams. (CTC students will take B-Day semester exams and Math semeser exams.)
• Tuesday, December 19th Any elective exams that are remaining and all make-up exams only.

Deadline to register is December 5th! Need more information or want to register? Check out this link: https://worldstrides.com/custom/2024-west-limestone-dc-213839/.

If you register by the deadline, you will save $100 on the cost of the trip.

Thank you to those who have already registered! We need at least 35 to register to have a bus for West.

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.

You may find on page 27 of the 2023-24 AHSAA Handbook, Rule 1, Eligibility. Section 6, Outside Participation.

A student who is a member of any school athletic team (grades 7-12) may not participate (includes practice) on a non-school team in the same sport during the school season of that sport. A student who is a member of any member school athletic team may not participate on a non-school team’s activity.

Note: In soccer, during the school’s soccer season, one outside activity (Collegiate ID camp, college tryout, Olympic Develop Program [ODP]) per month per student is permitted with coach and principal approval. (Outside participation, including practice or tryouts, with a club team is not an approved outside activity.)

Note: Private instruction is not considered an outside sports activity.

Note: Members of any school team may receive private instruction in a group setting ONLY with members of their school team. The first time a student violates this rule, fine and restitution will be assessed. Any student who violates this rule a second time is ineligible to join that school team for the remainder of that season and fines and forfeitures will be assessed.

A team’s season begins the day of that team’s first contest and ends when that team’s season has been completed. An ineligible student cannot participate with an outside team after the school team’s season starts and then join the school team upon becoming eligible.

(A) INDEPENDENT RULE: A student who is a member of any school track, cross country or wrestling team may participate as an independent in two outside activities during the season of a sport with the permission of the school principal. The schedule of the school team, including its championship play, takes precedent over any outside participation of an individual. (Members of tennis, golf, bowling and swimming teams are not limited to the number of outside events.)

Note: An outside event is one that is not sanctioned by the AHSAA and is detached from the school.

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.

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).

November

19-22: Priceville Thanksgiving Tournament JVB, VB

19-22: Clements Thanksgiving Tournament VG

20: E-Learning Day

21-26: Thanksgiving Break

23: Happy Thanksgiving!

24: Happy Birthday to Mr. Bob Barber!

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

27: West Basketball 7B, 8G, 8B vs. Ardmore Home Old Gym 4pm

27: West Basketball JVG, JVB, VG, VB vs. Ardmore Home New Gym 4pm

27: SWAP Snack Shack November 27-December 1

27-Dec. 6: i-Ready Diagnostic Testing Window

28: Principal's Meeting

28: Limestone County Honor Band Auditions

28: West Basketball 7B, 8G, 8B vs. Elkmont Away Old Gym 4pm

28: West Basketball JVG, JVB, VG, VB vs. Elkmont Away New Gym 4pm

29: Beta Club Blood Drive

29: Counselors' Meeting

30: ACT Workkeys Paper

30: Instructional Supervisors' Meeting

December

1: West Basketball JVG, JVB, VG, VB vs. St. John Paul II Away 4pm

1: Bethel Christmas Parade

2: State Theater Competition at UNA

2: Special Education Day

2: Happy Birthday to Mr. Ben Campbell!

2: Saturday Morning Basketball 9am-4pm

4: West Basketball 7B, 8G, 8B vs. Lauderdale County Home 4:30pm

5: West Basketball MSB, JVG, JVB, VB vs. Tanner Away 4pm

5: Happy Birthday to Mrs. LaTunga Clemons!

5-12: Book Fair

5-11: Computer Science Education Week

6-7: EL PD Opportunity for Classroom/Content Teachers

7: FCCLA Trip to Opryland Hotel

7: Wildcat Cafe Open for Business

7: Athens Christmas Parade

8: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Karen Carter!

8: i-Ready Diagnostic Rewards for students

8: FFA County Livestock CDE

8: West Basketball 7B, 8G, 8B vs. Lauderdale County Away 4pm

8: West Basketball JVG, JVB, VG, VB vs. Lauderdale County Away 4pm

9: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Karen White!

9: Fishing Tournament at Ingall's Harbor at Wheeler Lake

9: ACT Test Date

9: Saturday Morning Basketball 9am-2pm

11 or 12: Cheerleaders will compete at STATE!

11: Band Christmas Concert

11: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Bethany James!

11: Library Media Specialists Meeting

12: West Basketball JVB, VG, VB vs. East Lawrence Away 4:30pm

13: Happy Birthday to Mr. Chuck Hood!

14: Principal's Meeting

15: Deadline for Seniors to turn in casual pic, baby pic, quote, and last will & testament

15: West Basketball JVG, JVB, VG, VB vs. Westminster Home 4pm

15: EL Team Meeting

15-19: Semester Exams

16: JVG Wildcat Classic: Home

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

18: Happy Birthday to Mr. Sam Olinger

18: West Basketball 7B, 8G, 8B vs. Elkmont Home Old Gym 4pm

18: West Basketball JVG, JVB, VG, VB vs. Elkmont Home New Gym 4pm

18: Instructional Supervisors' Meeting

18-19: Semester Exams

19: End of the 2nd 9 Weeks

19: Last Day for Students prior to Christmas Break

19: West Basketball 7B, 8G, 8B vs. Ardmore Away Old Gym 4pm

19: West Basketball JVG, JVB, VG, VB vs. Ardmore Away New Gym 4pm

19: Happy Birthday to Coach Shelby Davis!

20-January 3: Christmas Break

21: Winter begins

21: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Sherry Mashburn!

22: West Basketball 8G, 8B, JVG vs. Clements Home Old Gym 12pm

22: West Basketball JVB, VG, VB vs. Clements Home New Gym 12pm

23: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Laine Morris!

24: Christmas Eve

25: Merry Christmas!

27: Happy Birthday to Mr. Anthony Taylor!

27-30: Bracy Invitational at Deshler: JVB, VB

27-30: West Morgan Christmas Tournament: VG

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

31: New Year's Eve

31: Deadline to purchase yearbook with a discount

January

School Board Appreciation Month

1: Happy New Year!

1: Happy Birthday to Mr. Greg Burchell!

2: West Basketball 7B, 8G, 8B vs. East Home Old Gym 3pm

2: West Basketball JVG, JVB, VG, VB vs. East Home New Gym 3pm

2: Teacher Work Day; PST Groups A & B

3: Institute; Local/District PD

4: 1st Day Back for Students

4: West Basketball 7B, 8G, 8B vs. Lindsay Lane Away 4:30pm

5: Report Card

5: West Basketball JVG, JVB, VG, VB vs. Randolph Home 4pm

5: EL Team Meeting

5: ACT Regular Registration Deadline for February 10 Testing

6: Saturday Morning Basketball 9am-2pm

9: West Basketball JVG, JVB, VG, VB vs. Westminster Away 4pm

9: Law Enforcement Appreciation Day

10: MOY Reading & Math Assessment Window Closes

12: MOY Data due to Central Office

12: West Basketball JVG, JVB, VG, VB vs. St. Paul II Home 4pm

12: Happy Birthday to Mr. Brandon Wallace!

13: Saturday Morning Basketball 9am-2pm

15: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Lauren Kyle!

15: MLK Holiday: No School

15-20: Limestone County Tournament at East Limestone

16: ACCESS Window Opens

17: Aspiring Administrators Academy

19: ACT Late Registration Deadline for February 10 Testing

20: Saturday Morning Basketball 9am-12pm

23: West Basketball JVG, JVB, VG, VB vs. Randolph Away 4pm

23: MOY iReady Testing Date

23: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Amanda Gibbs!

25: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Bethany Matthews!

26: West Basketball JVB, VG, VB vs. Lauderdale County Home 4:30pm

27: Saturday Morning Basketball 9am-2pm

29: West Basketball VG, VB vs. Brooks Home 6pm

30: Principal's Meeting

30: West Basketball JVB, VG, VB vs. Rogers Away 4:30pm

31: Counselors' Meeting

February

1: West Basketball VG, VB vs. Tanner Home 6pm SENIOR NIGHT

1: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Anita Kyle!

1: Instructional Supervisors' Meeting

2: Happy Birthday to Mr. Ryan Griffin!

2-8: Basketball Area Tournament

3: Happy Birthday to Mr. Doug Ezekiel!

3: Saturday Morning Basketball 9am-2pm

4: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Nissi Clingan!

5-9: National School Counseling Week

6: Library Media Specialists Meeting

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

9-10: Sub-Regional

10: ACT Test Date

10: Saturday Morning Basketball 9am-1pm

12: PST Group B

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

12: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Sarai Bender!

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

14: Happy Valentine's Day!

15: Deadline to submit Senior Ad for Yearbook

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

17: Happy Birthday to Mr. Brad Dean!

19: Presidents' Day: No School

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

19-21: Basketball Regional Tournament

21: Counselors' Meeting

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

23: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Kecia Maddox!

26: Basketball State Tournament

27: Principal's Meeting

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

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

29: Instructional Supervisors' Meeting

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

6: Happy Birthday to Mr. Barry Ferguson!

8: End of the 3rd 9 Weeks

8: ACT Regular Deadline for April 13th Test

10: Daylight Savings Time Begins

10: Happy Birthday to Mr. Brayden Clem!

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

14: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Benita Andrews!

15: Report Cards

15: ACCESS Window Closes

15: FFA Tractor Driving/Speaking Contests

15: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Christi Bolton!

16: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Shelley Kennemer!

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

19: Spring Begins

19: Principal's Meeting

20: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Phyllis Malone!

20: Instructional Supervisors' Meeting

21: 1/2 Day for Students/Parent Conferences

21: PST Groups A & B

21: Prom @ The Cotton Gin

22: Professional Day: No School

22: Happy Birthday to Mr. Zach Linley!

22: ACT Late Registration Deadline for April 13 Testing

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

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

9: ACT with Writing Makeup

12: FFA Safety Day

12: Library Media Specialists Meeting

12: EL Team Meeting

13: ACT Test Date

16: School Bank Day: Make a Deposit today!

17: Progress Report

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

19: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Nancy Christopher!

20: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Lisa Davis!

20: Volunteer Recognition Day

21: Happy Birthday to Nurse Gina!

22: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Molly Fenn!

23: School Bus Driver Appreciation Day

24: National Administrative Professionals' Day

26: District FFA CDEs

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

28: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Shirley Messer!

29: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Karen Murray!

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

30: Principal's Meeting

30: Deadline to order Senior Year Yearbook

May

1: School Principal's Day

2: Instructional Supervisors' Meeting

3: School Lunch Hero Day

3: ACT Regular Deadline for June 8th Test

6-10: Teacher Appreciation Week

8: School Nurse Day

10: EL Team Meeting

13: Happy Birthday to Mr. Lee Francis!

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

17: ACT Late Registration Deadline for June 8 Testing

18: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Magan Stewart!

18: National Speech Language Pathologist Day

20: Happy Birthday to Deputy Cody Lewter!

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

21: ACT Late Registration Deadline for July 13 Testing

23: Last Day of School

23: Report Cards

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

23: Happy Birthday to Mr. Brady Clay!

24: Teacher Workday

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

27: Memorial Day

June

1: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Tina Coats!

3: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Olivia Hardy!

7: ACT Regular Deadline for July 13th Test

8: ACT Test Date

9: Happy Birthday to Mr. Bryan Jach!

15: Happy Birthday to Mr. Austin Hyde!

17: Happy Birthday to Mr. Jaret Britt!

18: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Eric McGee!

19: Juneteenth

20: Summer Begins

July

4: Happy 4th of July!

4: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Sharon Wallace!

9: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Tammy Jones!

13: ACT Test Date

18: Happy Birthday to Mrs. LeeAnn Reed!

20: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Heather Gough!

22: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Alex Chrisman!

25: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Jennifer Freeman!

29: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Cheyenne Bonner!

30: Happy Birthday to Mr. Hunter Camp!

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

August

1: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Andria Francis!

12: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Karen Carter!

13: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Lunetta Reyer!

28: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Traci Daniel!

September

5: Happy Birthday to Coach Justin Taylor!

7: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Leigh Carter!

12: Happy Birthday to Coach Kim Cooper!

14: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Dedi Rolin!

16: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Tracy Jackson!

17: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Ashley Pressnell!

October

22: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Tobie Craig!

23: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Chasity Legg!

25: Happy Birthday to Mr. Dakota James!

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!

13: Happy Birthday to Mrs. Arlene Adkins!

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: 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

DISMISSAL TIMES

3:00pm: 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 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

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 counselors Mr. Bob Watson or Mrs. Velvet Black.

If I omit adding something to our newsletter, please let me know and I'll highlight your accomplishment in our next newsletter.

Congratulations to Paisley Smith and Alivia Fisher on marching in the Captain All-American Varsity Spirit Spectacular at Disney World.

Congratulations to Addie Mae Taylor & Lily Winnette on performing with Auburn Marching Honor Band at half-time! Here's the link to the performance: https://vimeo.com/886274319

These pieces can be viewed at the Huntsville Museum of Art in the Children's Community Gallery from November 13 through January 7.