Due to the rising number of cases of COVID-19 in our state, region and our community, we will be changing the format of instruction on Monday, November 2 to an Asynchronous Day for ALL Students in ALL Grades in ALL Programs (including Lakers Online and WBHS). All students will participate in instruction remotely on November 2 and attendance will be taken.

Early Childhood will be available as scheduled. Cloud Care and Kids Klub will also be offered for currently enrolled families ONLY. Details regarding these offerings will be communicated by Early Childhood and Cloud Care/Kids Klub staff.

Staff members will be reporting to their buildings on November 2 to preemptively prepare and plan for the possibility of transitioning instruction online in the event of a building/district closure in the future.

Read the rest of Dr. Hill's letter to families on the district website.

Just a reminder for families that there will be no school on Tuesday, November 3 for Election Day. Please use the day to exercise your right to vote in participate in our democracy. Find out more about our our local and national elections by visiting the Oakland County Election website.

Below you will find links to information from tonight's Classroom to Cloud Take A Glimpse Into Our Classrooms webinar:

• Webinar Recording - Oct. 29
• Google Slide Presentation - Oct. 29

After watching the webinar, we invite you to respond to our short Fall Family survey:

• WBSD C2C Fall Family Survey

The survey closes at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

We thank you in advance for your feedback. Please be sure to visit our Classroom to Cloud webpage for more information, www.wbsd.org/c2c.

On October 2nd, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled that Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s Executive Orders related to the COVID-19 pandemic are no longer valid. Since then, I’ve received numerous emails from parents requesting an update on the West Bloomfield School District’s “Return to Learn Plan.” Some parents would like us to immediately open our schools for in-person learning in all grades, K-12. Other parents, given the current increase in COVID-19 cases, are strongly urging us to exercise continued caution. Because of the many viewpoints, I want to review how we are implementing our “Return to Learn” plan and what guidance and related factors are being considered as we determine the most appropriate, safe, healthy and educationally sound learning model to follow.

Read the rest of Dr. Hill's latest blog entry on the district website.

In order to protect everyone within our buildings and continue to provide outstanding in-person instruction for our K-8 students, we need our families to partner with us.

We need families to be honest with us when monitoring their own student's health each day. If your student is feeling under the weather for any reason, please do the responsible thing and keep your student home from school that day. When keeping students home, please continue to monitor their symptoms throughout the day and reevaluate the next day.

We will work with families to ensure any students remaining at home due to health precautions have the necessary time and resources to stay up to do in their classes without falling behind. We'd rather families take the necessary precautions instead of worrying about class assignments or grades when dealing with potentially ill students.

As we head into cold, flu and allergy season, this honest accounting of our students' symptoms each day will help us keep all who learn, work and play within our buildings safe.

Please reach out to your building principal if you have any questions or concerns.

Are you ready for some FOOTBALL? Voting for the 2020 Michigan High School Mr. Football contest - sponsored by Hungry Howies – is On!

To vote, select our very own Donovan Edwards from the list at the link below and cast your vote!!

Voting is limited to once every 3 minutes, so please refresh your browser after the allotted timeframe to cast another vote! Vote early and often!

• 2020 Michigan High School Mr. Football Contest

The West Bloomfield School District will be hosting a VIRTUAL Scholastic Book Fair running Nov. 2-15. Book fair links for each of our elementary schools are listed below:

• Doherty
• Gretchko
• Roosevelt
• Scotch
• Sheiko

Support our Elementary Schools: 25% of your purchase goes directly back to the school.

Lakers Online families, please consider shopping through your home school. Use the above school links to Shop Online.

ALL purchases are shipped directly to your home. *FREE shipping on book-only orders over $25*

Please click HERE for information on accident and loss protection for district issued Chromebooks. Please contact Allyson Dewar at allyson.dewar@oakland.k12.mi.us for more information or if you have questions.

Please see the attached flyer below for information on how to watch live action of Lakers Athletics for events in our Gymnasium and Stadium. Here is the link for our school page for the NFHS Network:

https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/schools/west-bloomfield-high-school-west-bloomfield-mi

Boys Lacrosse offseason training opportunity Tuesday nights 5-6:30 at Oakland Yard. New and experienced players welcome. 10 sessions November 17th - January 19th.

Contact Coach Jeff: 248 343 4877 jeff70227@gmail.com.

Let’s dust off those sticks and be ready for Spring Season!!

As we have increased the number of spectators allowed at our sporting events, please help us keep our events going by doing your part to follow our spectator guidelines. In order to attend a WBHS event, all guests must adhere to the following regulations:

• Masks/Face Coverings Must be Worn at ALL TIMES, even outdoors. This includes in line, or waiting at the concession area.
• Attendees must sit with members of their household.
• All individuals or groups within the same household must be seated at least 6 feet apart from anyone not in their household
• Please DO NOT attend if you have had exposure to a person with COVID or COVID-symptoms.
• Please DO NOT attend if you have had a fever, cough, shortness of breath, loss of taste/smell, or any other symptoms of COVID in the past 72 hours even if you've received a negative test
• Please DO NOT attend if you have tested positive for COVID and have not completed the proper quarantine procedures, even if asymptomatic

Guests who fail to adhere to these guidelines will be asked to exit the event. Please do your part to allow our student athletes to continue to participate in their activities for the duration of their season and the school year. The students deserve these opportunities and we can all make sure that they continue to be able to compete.

Oakland County and United Way for Southeastern Michigan are pleased to offer the Oakland Together COVID-Relief Microgrant Initiative. Eligible residents in Oakland County can apply for a $500 microgrant to cover necessary expenses or gaps in income resulting from the economic repercussions of COVID-19.

For more information and to apply, visit the link below:

• Oakland Together COVID-Relief Microgrant Initiative
  

Durham Bus Tracker is an application (app) developed to help improve communication with families. This app will securely allow parents/guardians to view the location of their child(ren)’s bus in relation to their assigned bus stop as well as provide information about their routes, in near real-time, including the scheduled arrival time of each stop. The application is user friendly and available at no additional charge (mobile carrier data charges may still apply).

• Getting Started Guide
• Additional Information

This information concerns senior yearbook portraits. It does not pertain to your choices of personal or family senior portraits. This only pertains to yearbook.

West Bloomfield High School, by the privilege of state law, has selected Prestige Portraits/Lifetouch Studios to be our official senior photographer. They are prepared to

complete pictures fulfilling yearbook requirements along with offering many other services and contemporary poses to seniors.

For a small sitting charge for color pictures, you will receive a full set of proofs, a retouched

photo for the yearbook, and a class composite as a gift from the studio. ONLY STUDENTS

PHOTOGRAPHED BY PRESTIGE WILL APPEAR IN THE CLASS COMPOSITE.

By the same state law, students may be photographed by other studios, however, the pictures must meet the exact specifications of the yearbook or the same state law will reject them.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR STAFF, STUDENTS AND SCHOOL ALL STUDENTS BE PICTURED IN AN EQUAL AND EQUITABLE WAY.

The most pressing challenge facing both seniors and the yearbook staff is the early color deadline required by our publishing company. This deadline is extremely early which means

it is vital that every senior be photographed before October 15 so that choices or retakes can be delivered to the staff no later than November 20.

WHEN YOU TAKE YOUR PICTURES AT PRESTIGE THEY WILL BE DELIVERED TO THE HIGH SCHOOL FOR YOU. IF YOU CHOOSE TO SHOOT AT ANOTHER STUDIO, IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO DELIVER THE PICTURES BY THE DUE DATE.

IF YOU GO TO ANOTHER STUDIO, PLEASE GIVE THEM THIS INFORMATION.

SENIOR PICTURES MUST BE:

1. Full color, glossy prints.
2. PLEASE, NO soft focus.
3. PLEASE, NO busy, patterned, neon or overly bright backgrounds.
4. PLEASE, NO friends, pets, stuffed animals or props in the picture.
5. PLEASE wear appropriate clothing. PLEASE, NO tank tops, bathing suits, halters, muscle shirts, etc.
6. PLEASE, NO hands under the chin.
7. The smaller your head is in the picture, the smaller it will be in the yearbook because the pictures are reduced by 1/3. A head size of at least 1” is recommended.
8. The finished picture size must be 2 ¼ “ by 3”.
9. We prefer no modeling, acting or specialty pictures.

KEEP YOUR SENIOR YEARBOOK PORTRAIT AS CLASSIC AND FORMAL AS POSSIBLE; IT WILL

MAKE YOU LOOK YOUR BEST. (Save the casual shots for family and friends.)

PRESTIGE PORTRAITS HAS STUDIOS IN NOVI, ROYAL OAK AND AUBURN HILLS.

Visit the Prestige Web Site at prestigeportraits/mi.com

ALL SENIOR PICTURES ARE DUE November 20, 2020

Studios are open for appointments during pandemic*

*if this changes, we will adjust our info accordingly.

The district's instructional team recently shared a Student Login document for families accessing Canvas for the first time. That document is linked below:

• Canvas Login Portal
• Canvas Instructions for Parents and Students
• Canvas Parent Observer Instructions

Additional Canvas resources can be found at www.wbsd.org/canvas.

Food service will be available to all West Bloomfield School District students during the 2020-21 school year. Please see the letter linked below with options for each student learning model.

• Food Service Update for Families - 2020-21 School Year

Please contact Anne Stevens with Nutrition Services questions at anne.stevens@wbsd.org or (248) 865-6733.

The Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) is an income based state-funded (free) preschool program for children four years old by September 1st. GSRP is held at at Scotch and Sheiko Elementary on MT THF. All applicants must meet income guidelines. Contact Laura Poxon at laura.poxon@wbsd.org or Kathi Luthe at kathi.luthe@wbsd.org to see if you qualify or call Collette Goestenkors at 248-865-6466.

Openings are still available for all full-day and half-day preschool programs at ACS and Sheiko Elementary! All West Bloomfield preschool programs utilize the HighScope curriculum.

Little Lakers Virtual Preschool is going Live! West Bloomfield Preschool Academy is offering a virtual option for preschool students. Families may register for 3, 4, or all days if the week. Little Lakers will be taught by a district preschool teacher and use the HighScope curriculum.

Contact Laura at (248) 865-6457 for more information to register for virtual preschool!

Main Library Closed on Election Day

Due to the COVID-19 situation and limited capacity orders, the Main Library will be closed November 3, 2020 to serve as a precinct for the election. It will reopen Wednesday, November 4 at 10 AM.

Fall Reading Lists

• Fall Fun (Kids) reading list
• Halloween (Kids) reading list
• Halloween (Movies) list
• Spooky Reads (Teen) reading list

Math Learning Resource

Looking for a resource to help boost math and reading skills at the same time? Watch this video tutorial on TumbleMath from one of our information experts, Ms. Carrie. Ms. Carrie is a librarian

at the Westacres Branch.

November Teen Programs

• Virtual Tinkercad (Grades 6-12)

Tinkercad is a 3D design program that is accessed via the Internet. In each session, follow along as a different object is created, which will then be printed on the Library's 3D printer. Participants must have Zoom and Tinkercad accounts, which are free. This virtual program will take place on November 7 at 3 PM and November 14 at 10 AM on Zoom. Register to receive connection details

• Virtual Dungeons and Dragons (Grades 6-12)

Whether you are a seasoned gamer or new to D&D, join us for some fantasy adventure and roleplaying. Bring your own character or one will be provided. Participants must have Roll20.net and Zoom accounts, which are free. This virtual program will take place on November 9 and November 23 at 4 PM on Zoom. Register to receive connection details

The West Bloomfield Township Main Library and Westacres Branch are open for Phase 3

services.

In Phase 3, our priorities continue to be the health and safety of staff, users and the community

at large and providing convenient access to collections of materials in all formats. An additional

goal of Phase 3 is providing access the Library’s public computers, scanners and printers,

equipment that we recognize not everyone in our community may have at home. Please see the

Library’s website for the latest updates and temporary hours.

NEW in Phase 3:

• Computer usage by appointment
• Print and scan documents as part of a computer appointment
• Print from home and pick-up at Library
• Use of photocopy machines
• Fax service
• Notary service (please contact library to check for the availability of a notary before you come in)
• Payment of fines and fees at self-checkout stations and Circulation or Reception
• Desks by credit/debit card, Apply Pay, Google Play or Tap to Pay

Phase 3 services also include:

• Digital Materials
• Grab & Go Service
• Parking Lot Pick-Up
• Services from the Main Library Drive-Up Window
• Virtual Programs

Safety precautions continue in Phase 3

While in our buildings, Library staff and Library users age two and older are required to wear

face masks and follow strict social distancing guidelines to stay 6 feet apart from anyone

not living with you. Library visits are limited to 45 minutes per day.

No other use of building spaces will be available during Phase 3

Study spaces are not available at either building. Frequently touched surfaces such as toys

and play equipment, vending machines and water fountains are not be available.

Renew or request a library card

Ask at the Main Library Reception desk or the Westacres Branch Circulation desk. You can

also continue to renew or request a library card on the Library’s website.

• Employment Opportunities

• 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