We hope you'll review this week's District Update filled with news and notes from across the Walled Lake Consolidated School District. Stay up to date with the district by visiting www.wlcsd.org and connecting with the district on social media.

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• December 12: Half Day for Elementary Students | P/T Conferences
• December 12-13: WL Northern Collage Concert - Tickets on Sale NOW
• December 17: WL Western Collage Concert - Tickets on Sale NOW
• December 19: WL Central Collage Concert - Tickets on Sale NOW
• December 23-January 3, 2025: Winter Break - No School for Students or Staff
• January 6: School Resumes

As part of the District’s Facility Utilization plan and with the community’s strong support for the 2024 Bond, Geisler Middle School will be repurposed following the conclusion of the 2024-25 school year. This decision was approved by the Board of Education during its December 5 meeting and reflects our commitment to serving the evolving needs of our students and families.

Families impacted by adjustments to the District’s feeder patterns as part of this transition will receive a detailed communication before winter break. We remain committed to keeping you informed and supporting our students, staff, and families throughout this process.

Thank you for your ongoing partnership as we shape an exciting future for our District!

The newest members of our Board of Education were officially sworn in during the December 5 regular meeting. Congratulations and welcome Michael Smith and Lisa West!

The December 5 Board of Education meeting marked the final meeting in Peggy Casagrande's career as a member of the Board. Mrs. Casagrande joined the Board of Education in 2008 and her leadership, vision, and unwavering dedication have made a lasting impact on our students, staff, and community. Throughout her time on the Board, Mrs. Casagrande has been a steadfast advocate for "Every Child, Every Day," exemplifying the commitment to excellence that defines our district.

On behalf of the entire Walled Lake Schools community, we thank Mrs. Casagrande for her years of service, passion, and commitment to our shared mission. We wish her all the best in her next chapter and look forward to carrying on her legacy of making a difference for every child, every day.

Walled Lake Western’s Model United Nations program shined at the Canadian American Security Councils Conference in Lansing December 6-7 with five Warriors taking home awards.

Sara Mala, who represented Netherlands in NATO, and Alex Vucinic, who represented the United States in UNSC, both earned first honors. Ian Kim, Chase Rybak and Avery Stallman also were recognized with second honors. Kim represented the People’s Republic of China and Rybak represented the Republic of Korea in UNSC. Stallman represented Slovakia in NATO.

Dean Transportation held its annual holiday party for our incredible transportation team on Tuesday. Along with a magical performance by the Walled Lake Western choir, President Patrick Dean presented Dr. Michael Lonze with a $750 donation for the Hospitality House Food Pantry on behalf of the district, spreading kindness and joy this season!

Walled Lake Western’s Troy Temple, Donovan Triplett and Liam Vaughan were all named First Team All-State in Division 3 by the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association.

Temple played on both sides of the ball as a safety and wide receiver. The senior finished the season with 89 tackles, eight interceptions, two forced and recovered fumble, as well as four touchdowns on the defensive side of the ball. Offensively, Temple had 600 all-purpose yards with seven touchdowns. He also scored twice on punt returns and took one kick return back for a touchdown.

Triplett was a dominant force in the ground game. He rushed for 2,303 yards, 32 touchdowns and averaged over 11.5 yards per carry. The star junior also had two receiving touchdowns.

Vaughan, who signed with Washington State University, was named First Team All-State for the second-straight year. The 4-year, 2-way starter tallied over 100 pancake blocks and did not allow a single sack his entire high school career. Defensively, Vaughan tallied 31 tackles, 15 for loss, as well as two sacks, two forced fumbles and a blocked field goal.

Lakes Area Youth Assistance (LAYA) adopted 66 children this year as part of its annual “Adopt a Child” event thanks to generous donations from Huron Valley Hospital, Wixom DPW, Spencer Roofing, Walled Lake United Methodist Church, Crossroads Presbyterian Church, and the Wixom Senior Center. Additionally, six children were also gifted gently used bikes compliments of the Wixom Police Department.

Walled Lake Schools 26th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration at Walled Lake Northern High School on Monday, January 20th beginning at 5:00 p.m.

This year’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration theme is Unity.

“Unity in diversity is unity between all individuals and groups, regardless of differences. It is unity without uniformity, and diversity without divisiveness. It is an understanding that the differences between people enrich our lives and makes our country the special, and unique place it is”.

Alec Bender Friend of Diversity Award

Walled Lake Schools has created an award to honor individuals who are true friends of diversity. We hope you will join us in an effort that will result in the selection of a Fiend of Diversity. This honor will be bestowed on the recipient(s) at the 26th annual district-wide Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration on Monday, January 20th, 2025.

Our committee hopes that each school building will nominate at least one staff member, student, parent, or community member for the Alec Bender Friend of Diversity Award. Nominations will be submitted to the Walled Lake School Central Office Administration for final selection. Nomination forms must be completed no later than Friday, December 13th, 2024. Please click on the form below and nominate someone you believe is deserving of the Friend of Diversity Award.

• Alec Bender Friend of Diversity Award

Express Yourself Contest

Walled Lake Students are invited to submit an entry that express’s the theme of “Unity” in your own unique way. There are lots of possibilities for creating a project. It can be a piece of writing, music, art, or other visual that shows what unity means to you. Click on the contest form below and submit your entry to your school’s main office by Friday, December 13th.

• Express Yourself Contest

Brian Blackney, social studies teacher at Walled Lake Western was awarded a Golden Apple Award at the December 5 Board of Education meeting. Brian was nominated by Terri Szymanski, WL Western parent, because he is not only knowledgeable about the subject matter but also able to engage and inspire students. At the high school level, where students are often disengaged and unmotivated, a history teacher who can make the past come alive is a true asset.

Continue reading on the District website.

Sara Greer, medical support paraprofessional at Walled Lake Elementary was awarded a Golden Apple Award at the December 5 Board of Education meeting. Sara was nominated by Alyssa LeButt, 1st grade teacher at Walled Lake El., because Sara embodies the essence of dedication and support in every aspect of her work. Her interactions with students go beyond just assistance; she fosters genuine connections, and offers unwavering support and encouragement to each child she encounters.

Continue reading on the District website.

The Walled Lake Consolidated School District is committed to supporting the health and well-being of our students and families. To help address concerns about vaping, we are sharing valuable resources that provide information on the risks of vaping and strategies for prevention. These tools are designed to empower families with knowledge and support meaningful conversations at home. Together, we can help every child make healthy choices every day.

• E-cigarettes and Vaping: What Parents Should Know - American Lung Association
• E-cigarettes and Youth: What Parents Need to Know - Centers for Disease Control

• E-cigarettes/Vaping Facts - Oakland County Health Department

In an effort to find additional ways to celebrate our staff, the WLCSD Community Relations department requests that families fill out the information below for staff who are rock stars in their classrooms and school communities.

A sample of what these shout outs will look like on social media and in our district newsletters is on the right.

Please complete the following form in order to be considered for the Graduate Spotlight section of the WLCSD quarterly Learning newsletter. The nominated student needs to be a 2016 graduate or before. Please contact pamelacole@wlcsd.org with any questions.

During the 2024-25 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 Child Nutrition and Education Benefits Application in Skyward to help secure additional funding for the District including Title I funding. By completing the form, eligible families may also receive access to other benefit programs including reduced registration fees for standardized testing, discounted college application fees, pay to participate, discounted home internet access, and more.

Our mission, in partnership with parents and the community, is to become the best educational system in America so all students demonstrate they are caring, responsible, and knowledgeable citizens.

Email: danieldurkin@wlcsd.org
Website: www.wlcsd.org
Location: 850 Ladd Road, Walled Lake, MI, USA
Phone: (248) 956-2000
Facebook: www.facebook.com/wlcsd/
Twitter: @WalledLkSchools