WBSD Weekly Update

IXL offers individualized and unlimited practice for Math (K-5), aligned with our curriculum. I am thrilled to remind you that IXL is available for free from home over the summer for WBSD students.

This summer, we challenge you to have your child use IXL for at least 30 minutes daily. Each skill takes about 15 minutes, so completing two skills a day can lead to significant growth! My own children will be doing this over the summer as well. Of course, we want kids to relax, play outside, and spend time with family and friends as well, but dedicating a small portion of the day to academics will have an impact on their academic progress.

Your child’s Spring NWEA Math score has been uploaded to IXL, creating a personalized study plan tailored to their needs. To access IXL:

1. Visit IXL Sign-in

2. Click "Sign in with Clever"

3. Select "Log in with Google"

4. Use the student’s WBSD Google email account
   
   

If you have trouble accessing your child's school email account, please email katherine.law@wbsd.org. You can view this slide deck if you would like to view step-by-step instructions for accessing your child’s personalized study plan in IXL.

Also, please ensure your child reads for 20 minutes a day, independently, with a buddy, or with a parent/family member.

In partnership,

Dania H. Bazzi, PhD

Superintendent

Check out more photos here of your bond dollars at work!

• Gretchko Elementary Playground
• Scotch Elementary Playground and Magnet Classroom
• Transition Center at WBHS
• Kitchen at WBHS
• Scoreboard at WBHS

For those middle and high school students participating in athletics:

To maintain the scope of programs WBSD provides, allowing students to have a wide variety of opportunities for involvement in activities beyond the school day, it has become necessary to reinstate a fee for those wishing to participate in athletics.

Student-athletes in school-sponsored sports will be required to pay a one-time yearly fee based on the fee structure below. Students can participate in multiple athletic opportunities with this fee.

High School Level:

• Regular Rate $325
• Free/Reduced Lunch Rate $160*

Middle School Level:

• Regular Rate $225
• Free/Reduced Lunch Rate $110*

A family cap of $800, still applies for all athletes in the family, including both Middle School and High School Levels. It is a “true” family cap. *The free/reduced lunch rate is for those who have filed approved paperwork with the Nutrition Office for Free/Reduced Lunch. The FRL form will be available later this month - PowerSchool is being updated now in preparation for next school year.

Students must still provide an updated sports physical. Students participating in self-funded sports (equestrian, field hockey, figure skating, gymnastics, snowboarding, sailing, lacrosse) will pay their fees independently of the fee above.

Important: Please be aware that the fee does not guarantee playing time, only the opportunity to be on the team if selected. Payment will be made upon completion of the Final Forms registration for all teams that are "no cut" sports. Fall no-cut sports include cross country, football, and girls swim. Payments for sports with cuts should not be made until the student has been selected for the team. Please contact the athletic director, Eric Pierce, with any questions. He can be reached at eric.pierce@wbsd.org or 248.865.6743.

As we get ready for the new school year, the PowerSchool Student and Parent portals and PowerSchool mobile apps will be temporarily disabled. All users of our student information system will not be able to access PowerSchool starting this Friday, July 12. We will notify parents, students and staff as the updates are completed and when they can access PowerSchool. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

For work permit procedures and directions, click here.

Online voting is now open for the "I voted" sticker design contest and 3 WBHS students are among the designs you can vote for at Michigan.gov/IVotedSticker!

The Michigan Department of State received more than 480 submissions for the state's first ever "I voted" sticker design contest. Michigan residents can view the top 25 stickers for each category and vote online for their favorite designs. Winners will be featured on the official “I voted” stickers that voters may receive during the Presidential Election this fall.

Learn more and vote for your favorites at Michigan.gov/IVotedSticker

SUBMISSION CATEGORIES

• Elementary/Middle School (K-8)
• High School (9-12) ALL # WBSD ARE IN THIS CATEGORY
• General Entry (open to all Michiganders)

Voting will close at 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, July 31. Voters can select their favorite three stickers in each category. Winners will be announced in August.

All 3 WBSD entries that made the Top 25 in the high school category are from Bridget Falenski's beginning drawing classes at WBHS. Congratulations to Daniella Aldabbagh, Lyric Conway, and Michelle Lekhtman.

Summer EBT is a federally funded program that provides grocery-buying benefits to low-income families with school-aged children when schools are closed for the summer as a supplement to

summer meal sites. This may include students in Head Start and/or Great Start Readiness Program. The Summer-EBT program is also known federally as Sun Bucks. This program is run by MDHHS not WBSD. This is the contact you should pursue first if you need help with Summer EBT.

• phone: 833-905-0028 option 2
• email: MDHHS-SEBT@michigan.gov
• website: https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/assistance-programs/food/summer-ebt
• FAQ: Check out answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Thursday, August 15, 2024:

8th Grade Orientation for Students & Parents 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Parent Meeting for Returning Families:
Thursday, August 15, 2024: 7-8 p.m. in the Auditeria

Friday, August 16, 2024:
7th Grade Orientation for Students & Parents 9 a.m.- 3 p.m.

Tuesday, August 20, 2024:
6th Grade Orientation for Students & Parents 9 a.m.- 3 p.m.
(also make-up date for 7th & 8th graders)

Parent Meeting for 6th Grade Parents & New Families:
Tuesday, August 20, 2024: 7-8 p.m. in the Auditeria

The orientation events will be an open format for students to do the following:

• Walk your schedule with a family member
• Lifetouch Professional Photograph for School ID & Yearbook Photo
  (photo ordering will be online or fill out a form on-site)
• Pick up your new lanyard, ID & student planner
• Purchase a Yearbook
• Pre-Order your House Photo
• Purchase WBMS Spirit Wear

Athletic Information Night:

Thursday, August 22, 2024: 7-8 p.m. in the GYM

Students and families will attend together, anytime between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.on their designated grade level day. This will also be a great time to walk around the building to find student’s classes and to practice opening their lockers.

On Orientation Day: Students will get their planners, schedules, and lockers, as well as take their school pictures and receive their school ID and lanyard. They will need to bring each of these items with them to school each day, beginning with our first day on August 26th.

The building will close at 3 p.m. each day. Please plan to spend approximately 45 minutes collecting your materials and touring the building, with your student. We are excited to see you in August!

For the WBHS Jump Start schedule and more information, use this link.

WBSD offers before and after care. Use this link to register!

To view the 2024-25 Calendar, which includes the start and end times for schools next year, Click Here. All start and end times remain the same except for Sheiko which will be on the center tier time schedule (8:20 a.m. start, 3:12 p.m. dismissal) while at the temporary location.

• WBSD Employment Opportunities
• GWB Historical Society Events
• Greater West Bloomfield Community Coalition
• West Bloomfield Parks and Recreation
• West Bloomfield Township Public Library

The West Bloomfield Parks and Recreation Commission and Township Board have approved a ballot proposal for the August 2024 election that, if approved by voters, would expand recreation programming for all ages as well as enhanced park amenities. On August 6, West Bloomfield voters will consider a 20-year, $25 million bond proposal that would be used to build an expanded multigenerational Connect community center on the Civic Center Campus and make improvements in other parks within the Township.

To learn more about the bond proposal, review concept drawings and ask any questions you might have, you may attend a virtual public information meeting being held on July 11 from 12-1 pm. You can find the zoom link as well as review information about the proposal online at www.wbparks.org/bond.

As you head out on day trips, staycations, vacations, or other summer fun, send us your pictures (bonus points for wearing WBSD gear!) and we’ll share them with our community. Have fun, stay safe, and upload here.