WBSD Update
A weekly update from the West Bloomfield School District
May 8, 2020
With another week of Cloud Learning in the books, we want to say thank you to our incredible educators who have embraced this new instructional approach. We are thankful for everyone on Team WB and we will get through this together, even if we are apart.
Teacher Appreciation Week
A single week of recognition is not nearly enough to thank you for all you do for our students, their families and our district. There is no greater testament to your dedication, your passion and your love for our students than the countless hours you have spent learning how to Zoom, making screencasts, uploading lessons and responding to parents. You have sacrificed time with your own families for ours. You have read bedtime stories, conducted experiments, solved complex problems and led discussions. You have asked how your students are feeling each day, how you can help if they are in need and have reached out when you've had concerns. You have called your colleagues to share a story or a laugh or a frustration. Through this all, you've done your very best. No matter what we've asked of you, you've risen to the challenge.
We are so proud of all of you and thankful to have you as part of our WB family. You are a gift to our district and our students. Thank you for being YOU.
Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! We certainly appreciate you.
- Deanna Barash, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning
Mother's Day 2020
Cloud Learning Information
As we continue to support our Cloud Learning Initiative, staff members across the district took time today to come together and develop lesson plans following our return from Spring Break. We are regularly sending updates via email and social media. The website links below are also continually updated throughout the week.
Meal Service Information
The district will be offering our Meal Service program over Spring Break as well. Preorder forms are available for May 11-17 at www.wbsd.org/mealservice.
- Monday, May 11 & Tuesday, May 12
- Wednesday, May 13 & Thursday, May 14
- Friday, May 15; Saturday, May 16; & Sunday, May 17
Remember! The district recently transitioned to Meal Service pick-ups three days per week. Families will still receive seven days worth of food per child with pick-ups on Monday, Wednesday and Friday 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).
WBHS student wins Optimist Scholarship
WBHS senior, Elizabeth Schanz has been awarded a $1,500 college scholarship from the West Bloomfield Optimist Club. Elizabeth will be attending Grand Valley (Honors College) with a double major Dance and Broadcasting.
This scholarship is in memory of Robert “Bob” Mellen who was an active and longtime member of the West Bloomfield Optimist Club. Bob was a partner in the accounting firm of Mellen, Smith & Pivoz. The scholarship is given in his memory because Bob believed public education is the foundation of our democracy and the character of our youth determines the strength of our future.This is the inaugural year for the scholarship program.
Enrollment for 2020-21 open NOW!
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.
"We Are One" - WBHS Spirit Shop
The shop closes on May 20.
COVID-19 Information and Resources
Lakers on the Frontlines
Wellness Resources for 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.
WB Community Education Update
West Bloomfield School District Community Education continues to provide online enrichment and fun educational opportunities in this virtual environment.
FREE RESOURCE: Michigan Virtual – Michigan Cares
Free digital lessons designed to help students in grades K-12 develop the skills required for social, emotional, and mental well-being. Click here
MAY & JUNE
ONLINE ENRICHMENT, RECREATION & EDUCATION
NEW CLASS Challenge Island
You’re invited on a virtual trip around the world with Challenge Island! Weekly 1-hour STEAM challenges from your home every Wednesday at 6 p.m. All materials can be found in your home.
$10 per challenge, price covers entire household.
Click here to register, World Tour Island Challenges begin May 6
Challenge Island Flyer
Musical Theatre Class
Back by popular demand, Sunset Theatre Company presents: 101 Dalmatians Musical Theatre Online Workshop
Learn musical theatre, acting, singing, dance and more! Excellent for both boys and girls 5-12 years and students of all levels!
Click here to register, Tuesday or Thursday classes
Musical Theatre Flyer
Chess Wizards
Online Chess Classes for Beginner, Intermediate and Strong Intermediate - Private and Group Lessons - Safe and Secure
Click here to register, online classes begin the second week in May
Chess Wizard Flyer
NEW CLASS for Young Adults, Teachers and Parents
Author Talk with Kimberly Wyman
Have you thought about publishing a children’s book? Let’s talk about the pros and cons.
In this class, Amazon’s #1 best selling children’s author, Kimberly Wyman, will take you through some of the main elements that go into creating a children’s book. We’ll talk about some of the reasons to create a book, the benefits of being a published author, and the work it takes to get there.
Click here to register, ONLINE on Saturday, May 9, 2020 from 1-2 p.m.
EdReady Math
An online program to help incoming 4th - 8th grade students master a range of Mathematical concepts.
More info and to register, click here.
EdReady Flyer
GRASP 2020
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.
More info and to register, click here.
GRASP Flyer
For registration information please contact:
andrea.foglietta@wbsd.org
Senior Spotlights - Class of 2020
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:
SchoolMessenger SMS Messaging Support - Coming Soon!
Our district will soon be able 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.
Once our opt-in period has completed, we hope to utilize this community tool by early-May 2020.
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.
Community Resources
WB Township Library Information
News from the West Bloomfield Township Public Library
The West Bloomfield Township Main Library and the Westacres Branch remain closed until further notice. We will not be accepting returns until we reopen. All overdue fines will be waived. For updates, please check our website. We will post our reopening date as soon as it is known.
Learn from Home with Resources from the eLibrary
The Library’s Learning Resource Center helps match learners of all ages with ways to learn, practice and improve skills. Find subject-specific resources for grade levels from kindergarten through high school. Explore hundreds of topics with independent, self-paced courses for teens and adults from Gale Courses and Lynda. Explore all that’s available.
Use BookFLIX to helps early readers in grades Pre K – 3 develop and practice essential reading skills while building real-world knowledge. This online resource pairs classic video storybooks with related nonfiction eBooks from Scholastic to teach comprehension, vocabulary and other important skills. Educational activities and games reinforce skills and extend the learning experience.
TumbleBooks are online fiction and nonfiction eBooks with animation, music and narration for students in kindergarten through 5th grade. This online resource comes with lesson plans that parents can use.
TumbleMath is an online collection of math picture books with animation, narration and sound for students in kindergarten through 6th grade.
TumbleMath comes with lesson plans, instructional videos, educational games, plus quizzes to test and track progress. Categories include counting, addition, subtraction, multiplication, word problems, geometry, fractions, place value, measurement, probability, division, graphing and finance.
TeenBookCloud is a collection of eBooks and other resources for middle school and high school students and teachers. Enjoy graphic novels, classic literature, nonfiction, AP English selections, National Geographic videos, audiobooks and more.
Parents of kindergartners: Haven’t finished reading all the books on the list of “100 Picture Books to Read in Kindergarten”? No worries. Just keep reading to your child and place a sticker on your poster for each book you read, even if it’s not on the list. Need to reread a book? That’s okay too. Just keep reading!
Join us for a Virtual Storytimes for kids.
Enjoy singing, dancing and learning during these Facebook Live storytimes.
Monday, May 11 at 10 AM with Miss Emily
Tuesday, May 12 at 7 PM with Miss Jen
Wednesday, May 13 at 1 PM with Miss Megan
Friday, May 15 at 11 AM with Miss Emily
Saturday, May 16 at 10:30 AM with Miss Julie
Watch, learn and have fun with videos created by our staff.
Our staff wants to stay in touch with you. Join us online.
Use the eLibrary from home 24/7 for books, movies, music and more.
Read or listen to books, and read magazines and newspapers
Download or stream eBooks and eAudiobooks from cloudLibrary, OverDrive or hoopla.
Find Great Reads for Teens with links to popular eBooks and eAudiobooks teens will want to read.
Browse eBooks for children with lists of lists of recommended reading from our youth librarians.
NEW! Read current issues of more than 3,600 magazines now available from RBdigital. Read online or download to read later.
Keep up with national and international news with same-day, full-content digital editions of newspapers and magazines from PressReader. Choose from hundreds of publications in more than two dozen categories.
Watch TV shows and movies
NEW! Watch Acorn TV with the Library’s 7-day all-access pass for an unlimited streaming video experience. Enjoy mysteries, dramas, comedies, documentaries and more from the United Kingdom, as well as Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Spain.
Watch family-friendly shows on hoopla Kids Mode or Kanopy Kids.
Listen to music
Stream albums or singles from a variety of categories, including award-winners, Broadway musicals, classical, gospel, jazz, Latin, rock, music for kids and families, and more. Temporarily download selections to tablets and cell phones. Browse music on hoopla.
Learn the Latest from the Library
Subscribe to text messaging lists for general Library announcements or tips for busy parents who want to help their children Grow Up Reading™. This is an opt-in service. Message and data rates apply.
Text 797979 to sign up and use these keywords:
- wbinfo (General Library Information)
- wbparents (Parenting Tips)
Or signup at the eLibrary.
Sign up for an eNewsletter with the latest information about the Library.
Need to renew your West Bloomfield Township Library card?
Do it online here.
Connect with Us!
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