C.H.S. Chronicles

SCHOOL STARTS 8:10 A.M.

DISMISSAL 3:00 P.M.

1/2 DAY DISMISSAL 11:40 A.M.

Please feel free to call our main office with any questions at 248.956.3500. You can also email us.

Principal's Secretary: TerriSzymanski@wlcsd.org

Building/Attendance Secretary: TonyaGray@wlcsd.org

6th Grade Counselor: JulieBraley@wlcsd.org

7th Grade Counselor: KathleenHoover@wlcsd.org

8th Grade Counselor: MaureenBratke@wlcsd.org

Dan Holland, Assistant Principal

Steve Spickard, Dean of Students

Please contact us with positive or constructive feedback, questions, and/or concerns.

Website: www.wlcsd.org/smart
Location: 8500 Commerce Road, Commerce Charter Township, MI, United States
Phone: 248-956-3500
Twitter: @CliffordSmart

You are invited to complete the optional form above. The information you include in this OPTIONAL form will be shared with C.H.S. Middle School Staff only. The intent of this form is to provide our families the opportunity to share some information about their child to start off the school year that we may not be aware of and that you feel is important to share.

Please do not include any names, other than your child's name, in any of your responses.

The optional student profile form will close on Friday, August 25th.

*Reply @LEAVE to the number you are receiving messages from if you'd like to leave the text group at anytime.

As we get ready for Smart Start we just wanted to pass on a few updates and reminders:

• Please be sure to have completed the “Back to School” online packet prior to Smart Start (more information below).
• If you plan on obtaining a district Chromebook for your child you will be able to do so at Smart Start. Please see the Chromebook Program information sent out for more details (more information below).

We will not be passing out books at Smart Start this fall. Any student reference books will be distributed in class, the first week of school.

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CHS Middle School Smart Start will be on Monday, August 21st from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Smart Start is our middle school registration day for all students. Students will get their lockers, schedules, books, student IDs and school pictures taken. It’s also a great time for students and family members to walk around the school and locate their lockers and classrooms.

Volleyball tryouts will begin on the first day of school, Monday August 28th. This is different than the initial date sent in the spring. All athletes that want to tryout must have a completed sports physical dated after April 16, 2023.

You can print a copy of the required MHSAA physical form here. Please have both sides filled out and return no later than on the first day of school.

They should meet in the gym directly following the 3:00 bell. They should dress in athletic/workout clothes and gym shoes. Please no tank tops. The following is the schedule of times for each team tryout:

• Monday 8/28- All three grades tryout 3:00-4:30 p.m. (6th and 7th for 7th grade team and 8th for 8th grade team)
• Tuesday 8/29- All three grades tryout 3:00-4:30 p.m.
• Wednesday 8/30- 6th and 7th graders only- No 8th graders this day 3:00-4:30 p.m.
• Thursday 8/31- 8th grade only –No 6th or 7th graders this day 3:00-4:30 p.m.

Please attend all three of your scheduled tryout dates. Letters of team selection will be given on the last day of each teams tryouts. As volleyball is a "try out" sport, pay to particiapte fees do not need to be paid untill AFTER the team is selected.

If you have any questions please contact 8th grade coach Emily Tatum at Emilytatum11@gmail.com and 7th grade coach Amber Tatum at Ambertatum@wlcsd.org

Hello CHS Middle School!

My name is Kelly Hurley, and I am delighted to be teaching science and math this fall at Clifford Smart Middle School. I grew up in Clarkston and loved science in high school, so I went to Oakland University and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology while I worked for the Detroit Pistons. I then decided to pursue my third-grade dream of becoming a teacher and earned my Master of Arts degree in teaching at Oakland University. I have spent the last fourteen years teaching in the Waterford School District, where I have taught math, science, and language arts. In 2017, I returned to college, earning my Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Michigan Flint.

During my personal time, I enjoy spending time with my family, my boyfriend and his two sons. I am an avid sewer, and I have been sewing since high school and like to make quilts, bags, and purses. I also have a Persian cat named Lily and a Maltipoo dog named Sienna.

I am so excited to continue my career in the Walled Lake Consolidated School District and to join the Clifford Smart Middle School Family.

Sincerely,

Kelly Hurley

During the June 15 Board of Education meeting, the Board of Education voted to make the following changes to the district’s pay to participate fee structure through a policy update:

High School - $255 per sport with a $510 family cap

Previously $425 per sport with a $850 family cap

Middle School - $120 per sport with a $240 family cap

Previously - $200 per sport with a $400 family cap

Please contact the Athletic Department at (248) 956-2073 or visit our Pay to Participate webpage should you have any questions or require additional information.

If your child will be absent, please call the Smart Attendance Hotline (248) 956-3510 as soon as possible. If you know of a vacation or pre planned days off, you can leave those dates on the hotline as well.

If you have not called your child in by 9:30 a.m., you will receive a call from Mrs Gray to verify that your student is not at school for the day. Thank you for partnering with us in keeping your children safe and accounted for.

The District will be using the online Family Access system to automate the process for updating and completing documents such as the emergency card, FERPA form, Code of Conduct and other important annual school forms that require parental approval.

The 2023-24 Back-to-School Family Access Packet must be completed by parents, online, using Family Access, prior to the start of school. It is essential that we receive ALL documents in a timely manner in order for your student to start school on August 28th.

What Parents Need to Know...

Parents are to login to Family Access, using their alphanumeric parent account code, to complete the Back-to-School Family Access Packet.

• Need help enrolling? Contact the Office of Student Services at studentenrollment@wlcsd.org or (248) 956-2086.
• For bilingual assistance, contact Kallee Iverson at kalleeiverson@wlcsd.org or (248) 956-2093.
• To acquire a new or lost parent account code, email FamilyAccess@wlcsd.org or call (248) 956-2190.

Dear Incoming 6th Grade Families:

Last school year WLCSD began a new 1-to-1 Chromebook Program in all of our middle and high schools. This program provided different access to technology than our elementary school students had at their buildings. For some of you this may be your first child entering middle school so I wanted to reach out to share the importance of reviewing the information about the 1-to-1 Chromebook Program as part of your Back-to-School Online Registration Process. This information is also important for our families who may have a 7th or 8th grade student and did not take advantage of the District issued Chromebook program last year.

Each student will be required to bring a device to school each day as the middle schools do not have Chromebook carts in the building for students to use a Chromebook during the day. District issued Chromebooks often work much better within the building than personal devices do as they are set up to connect to the District Wi-Fi.

Important Highlights

Students will have two choices for technology use while at school:

1. Bring your own device from home
2. Sign up for a District issued Chromebook*

*Additional carts of Chromebooks will no longer be available for students to utilize extra building devices on a daily basis. Students will be expected to bring a charged device (personal device or District issued Chromebook) daily in order to utilize online curricular resources as well as participate in daily instruction within the classroom.

We strongly encourage families to sign up for a District issued Chromebook.

There are advantages to this practice including:

• Better Wi-Fi connectivity in District
• Increased support from District IT staff including
• curriculum resources
• support apps
• Streamline repair process

MIDDLE SCHOOL students (grades 6-8) must complete PAYMENT for the Chromebook deposit ($50) and Technology Protection Plan ($20) no later than Thursday, August 17th at 11:59 p.m. in order to receive the District issued Chromebook at Smart Start on August 21st. Payments made after August 17th will still receive a device, but not until the first few days of school.

PLEASE CLICK ON THE TAB BELOW FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Hi! My name is Mrs. Allison (Allie) Wasiak and I am thrilled to be joining the CHS community this fall.

I have spent the past 7 years teaching 5th and 6th grade students in Birmingham. This is my first year in WLCSD but this community holds a near and dear place to my heart as I grew up in the district. I attended Eastern Michigan University for my undergrad where I graduated with dual degrees in education and mathematics. I then went on to student teach at Loon Lake Elementary where I spent time in a 4th grade classroom. I continually take graduate level classes to keep my skills up-to-date and am working toward my masters degree.

My family consists of my husband, our 15 month old daughter, Nora, and our two beagles, Gus and Marvel. When I’m not teaching I enjoy trying new things, coaching sports, cooking, reading, and spending time outdoors. I look forward to building relationships with the entire CHS School Community!

Bus routes will be available to via Skyward and the WLCSD Transportation website on Friday August 18th. You can find answers to a majority of your questions by visiting the transportation website.

You will start to see school buses out in the community beginning the week of Monday, August 14th. All drivers are required to complete a "dry run" during that week.

Students who are school of choice and/or in-district transfers can request busing using this Google Form. Once busing counts have been conducted, our transportation department will notify you via email if a bus is available. You can expect the notifical emails to begin going out on September 15th.

I am excited to welcome Mrs. Jennifer Bond to her new position as NJHS Advisor. She can be contacted at JenniferBond@wlcsd.org later this month and during the school year.

During the 2023-24 school year, all Michigan public school students in grades Pre-K through 12 will have access to free breakfast and free lunch everyday through the "Healthy School Meals for All" program. This includes a meat/meat alternative, grain, fruit/vegetable and milk. A la carte items will be available for purchase.

Families are still encouraged to complete the free/reduced meal form in Skyward help secure additional funding for the District including Title I funding. By completing the form, eligible families may also receive access to other free and reduced programs within the District including SAT testing, pay to participate, and more.

Attention all middle school families!

Looking for something fun for the whole family to do on August 12th? Come to Walled Lake Northern from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. to watch our Northern Knights first home scrimmage and take on our football players in a skills competition! Admission is free for all with concessions available for purchase thanks to our Football Booster Club. If you plan on attending, we ask that you complete this short form to help our Booster Club prepare concessions for the event. See the flyer below for event details.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfwleYoXdr-tJsgaTA2cwy1_k4mi8c-1FQhiDmP1nuQ-i1Ing/viewform?usp=sf_link

Signed up but can no longer attend? Please email Tony McNamara AnthonyMcNamara@wlcsd.org

Dear CHS 8th Grade Parents,

Our Annual 8th Grade Washington D.C. Trip is scheduled for March 12th-March 15th. You can expect more information at the Washington D.C. Trip Parent Meeting immediately following Curriculum Night on September 20th.

Hello CHS Parents,

If you are interested in joining the cross country team this fall please use the link below:

https://forms.gle/39szqCfKEGXsRjJs9

WE WILL WORK WITH ANY OTHER SPORTS SCHEDULES IN ORDER TO GET YOUR CHILD TO EXPERIENCE CROSS COUNTRY. Strength in numbers.

6th graders have the option to run one mile races or two mile races. 7th/8th must run the two mile races.

Summer practices began in late July. Practices run at night (6:30PM-8:00PM) at various locations in the area and are NOT mandatory.

Once school starts practices will be after school from 3:00PM-4:45PM everyday with 7-9 meets to compete in (usually one a week) during the week.

Any questions please email me at: alricken@gmail.com

Thank you,

Mr. Alex Rickens

CHS Cross Country Coach