WBSD Update

The West Bloomfield School District does not tolerate racism or injustice of any kind. We believe in equity, diversity and unity for all.

To our Black families, you are not invisible. We see you, we hear you and we are here for you.

To our Black students, you matter. Your life matters. Your education, health and prosperity matter.

Even though we may be apart, we stand together against the injustices, police brutality and racism facing the black community in this country. We recognize we have work to do when it comes to educating ourselves and our young people on these topics but it is work we are committed to do for the betterment of our community.

Black Lives Matter and we stand with you during these difficult times.

Together we are Team WB.

We are in the homestretch, Team WB! We've appreciate your patience and understanding through the transition to our Cloud Learning Initiative and for your support as we utilized this new approach to instruction to truly make this school year a success.

Some important dates to remember:

• June 4 - Last day of NEW instruction
• June 8 - Last daily attendance check
• June 5-16 - Teachers available to meet with students, students complete missing assignments, participate in virtual end of the year celebrations, and more.
• June 16 - Last day of school for students
• June 17 - Report cards will be available

Building administrators will be contacting you with plans for retrieving personal items and methods for returning borrowed items to your school buildings during the week of June 8.

Just as we did to kickoff the start of the 2019-20 school year in September 2019, we will once again be asking staff, students and families to share their "Last Day of School" photos with us on social media using sign which is linked here and the hashtags: #WBLastDay2020 #WBintheCloud #wb2020

We've accomplished some truly wonderful things this school year and it's time we celebrate.

Be sure to take your "Last Day of School" photos with these signs on June 16 and tag us on our social media channels so we can come together as a district while we are apart.

The Orchard Lake Middle School's Advanced Musical Theater Productions class introduces STRANDED: VIEWS FROM QUARANTINE, a musical coming to the youtube channel nearest you. This is a show you DO NOT want to miss!

The performances will premiere on the district's YouTube channel on June 19 & 20. Premiere showtimes and links will be available soon!

The district will be offering our Meal Service program through June 30. Preorder forms are available at www.wbsd.org/mealservice.

Starting on June 8, the district will be transitioning to Meal Service pick-ups two days per week. Families will still receive seven days worth of food per child with pick-ups on Monday and Thursday each week. Pick-Ups will still take place between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. each pick-up day at your pick-up location (Roosevelt Elementary or OLMS).

The district is pleased to offer a second STEAM application window for families interested in attending West Bloomfield High School. This opportunity is available to all high school students in Oakland County who are not currently enrolled in the West Bloomfield School District.

The application only takes a few minutes to complete and will set your student up with all of the advantages WBHS has to offer! Find the application at www.wbsd.org/steam.

Thank you for helping to spread the word to your friends and neighbors who are looking to make a change in 2020.

Word is starting to spread about our Classroom to Cloud Framework for Learning. We are grateful for the support from our staff, families and community as we look ahead to what school might look like in August.

We will continue to provide updates throughout the summer via social media and our Classroom to Cloud webpage: www.wbsd.org/c2c.

Our district recently started to utilize the SchoolMessenger system to deliver text messages, straight to your mobile phone with important information about events, school closings, safety alerts and more. This resource is on top of the emails and phone messages you already receive from SchoolMessenger.

You can participate in this service just by sending a text message of “Y” or “Yes” to our district’s short code number, 67587.

You can also opt-out of these messages at any time by simply replying to one of our

messages with “Stop”.

SchoolMessenger is compliant with the Student Privacy PledgeTM, so you can rest assured that your information is safe and will never be given or sold to anyone.

Michigan's students and schools need our entire Congressional delegation to speak with a single voice in support of schools and students. Districts are facing a projected huge $700 per student loss...a loss that would profoundly hurt students and schools.

Sign our petition to tell Congress to provide financial support for Michigan's schools. Specifically, we are asking Michigan's Congressional delegation to work together to:

• Replenish and enhance the Education Stabilization Fund for preK-12 education with at least $175 billion.
• Ensure Michigan receives at least $3.5 billion to address the financial challenges facing PreK-12 and higher education in the next two years.

In the West Bloomfield School District we make it our mission to support students at all times. We have the following informational links below with documents designed to support the wellness of students and their families:

• Student Wellness and Social Emotional Resources
  
• Supporting Our Students During Covid-19 - 20-minute video from Dr. Stephanie Grant, a trauma specialist, from Holland, MI, helps parents understand what trauma is, how children may react and strategies for adults to respond.
  

Our Central Enrollment Office is open and currently enrolling students for the 2020-21 school year. This includes kindergarten students starting in the fall of 2020. Please complete the registration gateway found at www.wbsd.org/enrollment.

Appointments are taking place over the phone until further notice due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Please call (248) 865-6453 or email marcia.eden@wbsd.org for more information.

Now, more than ever, West Bloomfield School District needs YOUR support! In honor of our graduating class of 2020, we are humbly requesting donations to our 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation in order to support our community’s school district.

Please help us honor this year’s senior class and those who will be continuing their education next fall by visiting www.WBEF.org and clicking on MAKE A DONATION.

All donations are used to fund grants for enhanced learning and providing district staff with a source of funding. These funds are used to assist them in planning, developing and implementing innovative technology, academic tools, and art programs for which funds are not available through WBSD.

Visit https://www.wbef.org/educator-grant-program/ for details on the $200,000 WBEF has raised and donated to the district and how those funds were used.

Thank you to all the WBSD families for your continues support. We look forward to spearheading the effort to keep our children learning at a high level despite these challenging times.

Our district's Summer School team held two student orientation meetings on June 2 with information on Michigan Virtual and Edgenuity. If you have questions related to Summer School, visit the Community Education website.

Classes start June 8!

West Bloomfield School District Community Education continues to provide online enrichment and fun educational opportunities in this virtual environment.

Young Rembrandts The Power of Drawing

Draw on Demand, no set time or dates! Courses range from anime, fashion and more!
Ages: 6-12

Click here

Kids Empowered Classes
Slime Time
Girls Empowered Inspired by Frozen 2
Virtual LEGO FUN
View All Kids Empowered Classes Here

Abrakadoodle Remarkable Art Education
Offering 10 different online camps for 10 weeks for 1st - 6th graders
Tour the Museum of Modern Art Collection, create cityscapes, comics and more!
Click here

GRASP 2020 BEGINS JUNE 22
Greater Retention & Achievement through Summer Practice
GRASP is a home-based program consisting of 9 weekly modules to help students maintain or improve their math and reading skills over the summer. Workbooks provided, this is not an online class. Register for the grade your child just completed.
More info and to register, click here.
GRASP Flyer

FALL 2020 ROBOTICS: Parent Zoom Information Meeting

If you missed the Parent Zoom Information Meeting on Thursday, June 4, 2020 and would like more information, click here.

For up to date Community Education Program Offerings, click here. For registration questions contact, andrea.foglietta@wbsd.org

The district is pleased to share the 2020-21 school year calendar with the community:

• WBSD 2020-21 School Year Calendar

To help celebrate our seniors at OEC and WBHS, we've created our Senior Spotlight social media posts. We will be posting these recognitions to our seniors throughout the spring and summer. Please find your school's Senior Spotlight Google Form and share their information including a high resolution senior photo with the PR and Marketing department today:

• OEC Senior Spotlight form
• WBHS Senior Spotlight form

News from the West Bloomfield Township Public Library Update

The Library will resume service in phases, beginning Monday, June 8, 2020. Finally!

Since some restrictions on public libraries have been eased, here’s how you can check out and return materials during the first phase of the Library's gradual reopening. Welcome back!

Phase 1 begins Monday, June 8. Exterior book drops will reopen, the online hold service will be available and the new Parking Lot Pick-Up service begins. For complete details about Phase 1, check the Library’s website.

Services Available in Phase I

Book drops

The outside book drops at the Main Library and Westacres Branch will open Monday, June 8 and be available 24/7. Materials should be returned to the exterior book drops. Staff cannot accept returns at the Main Library Drive-Up Service Window or during Parking Lot Pick-Up.

NO OVERDUE FINES will be charged for any materials checked out before the Library closed March 14.

The online hold service

Beginning Monday, June 8, search the Library catalog to place a hold on books, audiobooks, DVDs and CDs. This service is available to residents of West Bloomfield Township, Keego Harbor, Orchard Lake and Sylvan Lake with a valid Library card. You will be notified when materials are ready to pick up.

The Drive-Up Service Window at the Main Library

Beginning Monday, June 8, service from the Main Library drive-up window will be available during Phase 1 Library hours, as posted on the Library’s website.

Drive-up window service includes picking up materials placed on hold and picking up a new library card. The Library asks that patrons wear a mask if they use the drive-up window service because they will be in close proximity to a staff member. Staff will not accept returned materials at the window. Returns must go into the outside book drops.

NEW Parking Lot Pick-Up Service

Beginning Monday, June 8, the new, convenient Parking Lot Pick-Up service will be available at both the Main Library and Westacres Branch during Phase 1 Library hours, as posted on the Library’s website. During this no-contact service, Library staff will bring materials to vehicles parked in Library lots. Read details about the Parking Lot Pick-Up service.

More about Phase 1 of resuming service

All returned materials will be quarantined for a period of time and cleaned, per guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control, before they are re-shelved. This will take much more time than under normal circumstances. Materials won’t be back on shelves and available to check out as quickly as before.

In addition, shipments of new materials, which had been suspended while the Library was closed, are now arriving at the Library. Processing new materials will also take more time than usual, and there may be a delay in how quickly these materials are available to place on hold and check out.

Phase 1 Hours beginning Monday, June 8

Monday-Thursday: 10 AM – 7 PM

Friday & Saturday: 10 AM – 5 PM

Sunday: Noon – 5 PM

Phase 2 timing is yet to be determined.

The Library will phase in additional services over time. The next phase will include opening the Main Library and Westacres Branch buildings so you can come in to select and self check out materials.

Please check the Library website and follow the Library on social media for updates and the latest information about services.

Summer Reading Goes Virtual!

Summer Reading is online @ the Library June 13 – September 4, 2020.

Our popular Summer Reading program for children, teens and adults will be different in some ways as we offer virtual experiences and online opportunities to participate. The entire Summer Reading program will be offered online. Summer Reading will still focus on learning and improving skills through reading and engaging activities.

Reading over the summer is important for K-12 students. As they read for fun, children and teens practice skills that can benefit them in the new school year. Children and teens can:

• Earn free books for reaching reading milestones.
• Stretch their imagination, have fun with reading and learning activities, collect virtual scratch off tickets and earn points toward Reading Rewards.
• Enjoy virtual programs.

To get started, register and create an account at the Library’s Summer Reading website. Download the “Imagine Your Story” Summer Reading packet beginning Saturday, June 13. You can also request Summer Reading packets through the Parking Lot Pick-Up service or ask that they be mailed to you. Books earned for reaching reading milestones and Summer Reading Rewards will be available through the Parking Lot Pick-Up service.

• Employment Opportunities

• WBMS Transition FAQ

• New Middle School Updates

• GWB Historical Society Events

• WB Township Library News and Events

Preparing our students to be their best IN and FOR the world!

Email: daniel.durkin@wbsd.org
Website: www.wbsd.org
Location: 5810 Commerce Road, West Bloomfield Township, MI, USA
Phone: (248) 865-6420
Facebook: facebook.com/WestBloomfieldSchools/
Twitter: @wbloomfieldschl