• January 8 Late Start 10:10
• January 8 January PTO Meeting: Doherty iCenter 7 PM
• January 10 5th Grade Camp Tanuga Deposit Due
• January 16 Half-Day 12:12 PM
• January 17 Half-Day 12:12 PM
• January 20 MLK Jr. Day No School
• January 22 Late Start
• January 22 Doherty & Sheiko 5th Grade Band/Orch/Choir Concert 7PM WBMS

Link to district calendar home page 🔗

Thanks to the enormous generosity of our Doherty Families and Staff the Student Council organized and wrapped gifts for **FOUR** community families in need of extra holiday support. Heartfelt thanks to our amazing community for spreading joy this holiday season!

Volunteer to be a Reading Buddy

In West Bloomfield, our mission is to support each student’s needs by providing the opportunities, experiences, and educational tools for their journey. As we strive toward this mission, we live by a set of core beliefs, which includes the belief that education is a shared responsibility.

Would you like to be part of this mission by volunteering to help a young reader in first grade? If you are interested, please:

1. Complete the linked volunteer form and submit to michelle.berman@wbsd.org

2. Complete the sign-up form to identify when and where you would like to volunteer as a Reading Buddy.

A Reading Buddy Mentor:

• Gives 30 minutes of time per session with one first grade reader at one of the following elementary schools: Doherty Elementary, Gretchko Elementary, Scotch Elementary, Sheiko Elementary

• Participates one day per week OR two days per month

• Can work in pairs

• Mentors from January 13th to May 30th (can adjust the schedule as needed)

• Receives training, support, and materials.

Reading Buddy Training Sessions

You can attend one of two available training sessions:

• Option #1: Monday, January 6th at 5:30 pm

• Option #2: Wednesday, January 8th at 11 am

More Information

If you would like additional information about the program, please contact any one of the following staff members:

• michelle.berman@wbsd.org

• randi.fogel@wbsd.org

• erin.pawlaczyk@wbsd.org

We have an opportunity for Doherty Families to share about their experience at Doherty with CKH.

Doherty Elementary School Family Survey

We have students and staff that utilize the handicap/accessible parking spots in the parking lot. It's VERY important that those spaces remain available for students (parents) with disabilities as well as staff and the sidewalk ramp should always be clear. There should be a visible placard or plate in view on any vehicle parked in those spaces all day every day. Please help us keep those students, their parents and staff safe during their arrivals and departures from Doherty.

Doherty staff will be reaching out to caregiver and/or emergency contacts to remove a student from school for any of the following reasons.

1. A student with any of the following symptoms will be excluded from school until the student is symptom-free, has been satisfactorily treated, or submits a signed physician's statement that he/she is not contagious:

• Temperature of 100.4 degrees or more. Student must be fever free for 24 hours, without medication, before coming back to school.
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Student must be symptom-free for 24 hours without medication before coming back to school.
• Headache of unknown origin or due to injury.
• Pain and/or swelling in the neck.
• Undiagnosed rash over any part of the body.
• Undiagnosed scaly patches on the body or scalp.
• Red, draining eyes.
• Intense itching with signs and symptoms of secondary infection.
• Open, draining lesions that cannot be covered.
• Jaundice, yellow color of skin or eyes.
• An unwell-looking student that is acting abnormally such as lethargy, crying, difficulty breathing, or continuous cough.

2. The Principal or his/her designee will notify the parent/guardian that the student must be

excluded for medical reasons.

3. It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to transport the student from school to

his/her home in a timely manner. If the campus cannot reach the parent/guardian, emergency contacts will be notified to pick the student up.

4. For readmission to school, some diseases may require a statement from the student's physician affirming that the student is not contagious. This will be evaluated and determined on a case-by-case basis.

Doherty will be home to 6 new classrooms filled with our littlest Lakers and their staff as the new (south end) home of the West Bloomfield Preschool Academy.

This addition will impact our Doherty K-5 daily operations and it is important info for all of our families and staff.

WBPA daily start times- 8:00 am and 8:30 am

Doherty K-5 start times- 9:10 (students exiting cars/bus at 8:55)

WBPA dismissal: 3:00 pm

Doherty K-5 dismissal: 4:02 pm

All WBPA families utilize the carline every day because buses are not provided. Doherty K-5 families are asked to arrive as close to Doherty K-5 arrival and dismissal times as possible. During WBPA arrival and dismissal you will be asked by staff to use the inside lane (not curbside) to queue or asked to loop around re-enter the carline if your arrival impedes the flow of WBPA arrival or dismissal.

Please see image reference below and watch the video Mr. Spitzley has created for reference.

Start time 9:10 a.m.

Dismissal time 4:02 p.m.

Late Start Time: 10:10 a.m.

Half-Day Dismissal time: 12:12

• Bell Times
• Calendar for 2024-25
• Family Portal - Online Payments
• Food for Kids (formerly Blessings in a Backpack Information
• Kids Connect Student Care Information
• Kindergarten Information
• PowerSchool Login
• PowerSchool Account Information
• Safeline/Attendance Information

The Doherty PTO (parent teacher organization) plays an important role in making each school year at Doherty successful for both students and staff alike. The fundraising and organization efforts of the Doherty PTO and other volunteers make Doherty a special place to be! Be sure to watch for communications from the Doherty PTO and help out where and when you can!

• Students may elect to pack a lunch from home OR order a Free Lunch
• One breakfast and one lunch permitted per student per day

On behalf of Nutrition Services, we would like to take this opportunity to welcome our students to the 2024 – 2025 school year! As Aramark Student Nutrition, are pleased to be your school district’s food service provider.

We want to share important news that will affect many families. School meals will be no cost to all onsite students this school year through a State funded program called Michigan School Meals. Each child is eligible for one free breakfast and lunch daily in the cafeteria on school days. There will be an additional charge for additional meals, milk only, bottled beverages and snack items.

We encourage families to continue to apply for meal benefits online at westbloomfield.familyportal.cloud. These supplemental programs have the potential
to offer additional support for reduced priced sports, ACT, SAT, college application and AP exam waivers. This information is critical in determining the amount of money our school receives from a variety of State and Federal supplemental programs.

When will I find out who my child's teacher will be?

Classroom placements and teacher assignments are prepared over the summer and will be shared with families approximately a week before the school year starts or sooner if finalized.

When can I see my child's classroom?

We will hold an open house for families in September, the information is included in this newsletter and will be sent home several times before school starts.

How do I find out where my bus stop is and when the bus picks up and drops off?

The transportation department routes all students eligible for bussing throughout the summer and will mail that information directly to families in mid-August. Other information about transportation is available on the WBSD Transportation website including School Of Choice Shuttle requests.

How does the school keep the building secure throughout the day?

The exterior doors and main entrance are ALWAYS locked at Doherty. All visitors must access the building by being admitted through our main office. Unscheduled visitors are not permitted and guests are accompanied at all times while in the building. We are also equipped with video surveillance and frequent patrols from the West Bloomfield Police Department.

Is the school nut-free?

The school is not nut-free but classrooms are. Any snack consumed in the classrooms must be nut-free. Parents of students with severe allergies should contact the office before school starts.

Can we send in cupcakes, or cookies or birthday cake to celebrate my child's birthday?

No. At this time our district and building policy is to not celebrate birthdays with treats, baked goods, candy or food of any kind. Elementary teachers will recognize students on their special day in special ways.

Will the students go outside for recess all year long?

All Doherty students will participate in outdoor recess when safe and weather permits. Outdoor play is important for a child's social and physical development. Parents are encouraged to acquire various weather-appropriate gear for their student to wear during recess. Students are outside for recess unless there is heavy rain, thunderstorms/lightning or the 'feels like' temperature is below 10* Fahrenheit.

How should my child dress for school daily?

Doherty students will play, use various learning materials and art mediums on a daily basis. They will also foster independence outside on the playground and in the cafeteria. Their clothing should be comfortable, weather appropriate and ok to get a little dirty sometimes. Closed toe, well fitting athletic style shoes are strongly encouraged for both safety and practicality.

Can I walk my student to their class on the first day of school?

Unfortunately, we cannot allow parents to accompany their students into the building and to their classrooms. Unscheduled visitors are not permitted for safety reasons and you can imagine what it might look like if there were nearly 500 students and their parents streaming into the building all at the same time! We will have many smiling staff members and teachers greeting students outside every day making sure they get to where they are supposed to be safely.

• Bethany Helka
  Kids Connect Administrative Assistant
  (248) 865-6468
  bethany.helka@wbsd.org