The Pipeline

Hello Ford Students and Families!

We hope this newsletter finds you in good spirits. We truly understand how important it is to stay connected and informed, especially during uncertain times. Today, we want to talk about the challenges we all face and the incredible resilience that exists within each of us.

Life often throws unexpected difficulties our way, and in those moments, our strength shines through more than ever. We are committed to exploring new opportunities for student growth and nurturing the unique talents within our school community. Additionally, we are fostering partnerships with external organizations that can support us in creating a brighter future for our students.

Keep an eye out for our upcoming Pipeline stories, which aim to bring us all together and share valuable insights on overcoming life’s challenges. We believe that by working together, we can unify our efforts toward one important goal: the success of our students.

Thank you for your unwavering support and trust in our school district and William D. Ford. Together, we will not only confront the challenges that lie ahead but will also cultivate a stronger, more resilient community prepared for the great opportunities that await us.

Kind regards,

Stephanie Bigelow, M.A., L.P.C.

If you are interested in supporting any of our CTE programs, please feel free to fill out the form:

https://forms.gle/rD22kqhwbJrWVMJL6

Michigan CAT is hosting their Think Big Career Night, an exciting opportunity for students and parents to learn about the Caterpillar Think Big program. This program combines classroom learning with hands-on training to prepare students for careers in the heavy equipment industry. Representatives from Owens Community College will be available to provide information and answer questions about this unique educational pathway.

A Success Story to Celebrate:
We’re proud to share that one of our recent graduates, Nolan Whitsel, who completed the Auto Tech class with Mr. Batko during the 2023-2024 school year, is now enrolled in the Think Big program while continuing his work at Michigan CAT. Nolan’s journey began with the Work-Based Learning program, demonstrating how opportunities like these can lead to long-term career success.

If you’re interested in exploring career options in the heavy equipment industry, we encourage you to attend this event to learn more about the possibilities available through the Think Big program Tuesday, January 21, 2025 6pm-8pm.

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1. Magnum Manufacturing

2. Downriver Refrigeration Supply

3. Mountain Machine

4. Contract Welding

5. Avis Ford

6. Woolf Aircraft Products Inc.

7. Ford Motor Company

8. Jack Demmer

9. E & E Manufacturing

10. Fox Motors

11. Henry Ford OptimEyes

12. City of Westland-City Hall

13. Detroit Institute of Arts

14. Jade Child Development Center

15. Primrose School of Canton

16. Glacier Hills

17. MedPro New Boston

18. Trinity IHA Cherry Hill

19. Michigan High School Firefighter Combine

20. Praveen Modi, MD, PC

21. Frobel Child Care & Montessori School

December 18 - Moonbeams for Sweet Dreams (EMT/Fire)

December 19 - Christmas Banquet (Culinary)

December 20 - Fire, EMT and Law & Public Safety Christmas Connection

December 23 to January 3, 2025 - Winter Recess - No School

January 20 - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - No School

February 5 - Official Count Day

February 10 and 11 - Reality Fair (Only Seniors)

February 11 - Fire Up Your Future - Open House 6 to 8 PM

March 19 - National Technical Honor Society Induction Ceremony @ 6 PM at WMHS

April 11 thru 13 - SkillsUSA State Competition in Grand Rapids

April 29 - Job Fair

May 6 - Career-Tech Recognition Night at Stockmeyer Auditorium 6 - 8 PM

May 26 - Memorial Day - No School

May 28 - Gear Up For Success Event - 25/26 Student Orientation - 6 - 8 PM

June 23 - 27 - SkillsUSA National Competition - Atlanta, GA

TBD - Summer Camp for Elementary and Middle School Students (more info to come)

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On Friday, November 22, 2024, Trenton Ray, student from William D. Ford Career-Technical Center participated in the competition sponsored by Ironworkers. We are proud to announce that Trenton finished in 3rd place. Well done, Trenton! Thank you to Ms. DeBord and Mr. Meiers for preparing our students for competition.

Cutting torches are an important tool used by firefighters. The torches are used for many different purposes including entry into collapsed buildings and victim extrication. Firefighters also use torches during urban search and rescue operations, for forcible entry.

Our firefighter cadets needed to be trained and experienced in using cutting torches. They did not have to go far. Welding is one of the 19 programs offered at William D. Ford.

This is an important reminder for all students and families: we have a strict NO Food Service Delivery policy in place. To maintain the safety of our building, visitors are only permitted to enter through the main office. Any students who chooses to open doors and retrieve items from delivery services will face immediate suspension, as this behavior endangers the safety of everyone in the building. Compliance with this policy is non-negotiable.

Please see the following information regarding transportation and parking:

Please be aware that each sending school has distinct rules, times, and requirements concerning transportation. Students must verify any transportation-related questions and concerns with their home high school. If you intend to drive, you are required to obtain a parking pass from Ford Tech’s administration. These passes are priced at $25 and come with a mandatory arrival time at school. For morning arrivals, drivers must be on-site no later than 7:25 am, and for afternoon arrivals, no later than 11:10 am. Please note that Ford Tech reserves the right to revoke parking privileges in the event of any concerns or issues.

****Attention Wayne-Westland students: Please be mindful that Wayne-Westland students should park ONLY at their respective home high school. Specifically, John Glenn students MUST park at their school, while transportation has been arranged for Wayne Memorial and Innovative Academy students. Due to the limited parking spaces of over 1100 students and the restaurant, we urge strict adherence to this policy. Exceptions are granted for students with higher-level work-based learning experiences, provided they obtain approval from both schools' administrative teams. Students who drive without permission may face disciplinary consequences.

Please click on the link for one of the TikTok videos made for the Fire/EMT program at William D. Ford.

https://www.tiktok.com/@wwcsd_ccr_sel/video/7310370034260430111

Our latest video for our Welding program.

https://www.tiktok.com/@wwcschools/video/7335874530986085678?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7328075319805265451

If you want to see more of what's happening in the district, please follow the link...

https://www.tiktok.com/@wwcschools

Wayne-Westland Attendance Policy:

District Policy:

Wayne-Westland Schools prioritizes student attendance, student safety, and student support. Our District has implemented a comprehensive attendance policy that will identify barriers families face and provide support so that they may attend school regularly. Working with our community partners, our goal is to reduce chronic absenteeism at all grade levels.

Additional details regarding the policy can be found here:

https://www.wwcsd.net/departments/administrative-services/student-services/#Attendance

Wayne-Westland Community Schools has a Family Resource Center (FRC), which provides services to any student/family enrolled in our District, free of cost. Some of the services they provide are: basic need assistance, access to over 700 local resources, Laundry Assistance Program and material items for those unable to afford them (emergency toiletries, socks/underwear, hats/gloves/scarves, etc.). They are also able to provide school supplies and backpacks year round for any WWCS student. Please contact our Family Resource Center at: 734-419-2709 or FRC@wwcsd.net. Our FRC also has a Digital Request for Services Form, which can be used to request assistance. Please contact the Family Resource Center directly with any additional questions regarding their services.

Please see the following link regarding the procedures followed when having to cancel school due to inclement weather. Link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Q7PF241OdFeYLO2P5KylZZC2J7Q00WEBLzVx7bAeZaY/edit?usp=sharing

Take Charge of Your Internet: To ensure all students have the access they need, the State of Michigan is conducting a Broadband Mapping Challenge, which can help secure federal funds to expand quality broadband to homes in our district. Michigan residents can visit the website to check the map for their home address and submit necessary corrections to the state internet map. This program may be the best opportunity to get all of our students and families online. Link to PDF