District Update

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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• October 25: WLW Warriors for Warriors Pink Out football game vs. WL Central, 7 p.m.
  
• October 31: Half Day for Students | PD for Staff
• November 1-3: WLN performing arts presents: "She Kills Monsters: Young Adventurers Edition" | Tickets on Sale NOW!
• November 5: Election Day - No School for Students or Staff - Remember to VOTE!
• November 6: Half Day for HS Students | P/T Conferences
• November 7: Board of Education regular meeting
• November 12: Special Services PAC Conferences and Meeting from 5:45 - 8:00 p.m. at Geisler MS
• November 14: Half Day for MS Students | P/T Conferences

Walled Lake Northern senior Ava Charbonneau will take over our Instagram story for Tech Saturday to give you a behind the scenes look at the preparations of the Knights' play, "She Kills Monsters", ahead of opening night on November 1.

Make sure to follow us on Instagram so you don't miss out on all the fun!

Show Times

• Friday, November 1 - 7 p.m.
• Saturday, November 2 - 7 p.m.
• Sunday, November 3 - 2 p.m.

The Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) of Michigan is recognizing Commerce Elementary’s Cristi Harrington as its 2024 Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year.

“To be recognized as the Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year means everything to me,” said Harrington. “I put my heart and soul into being the best teacher I can be, and it is so nice to be recognized for my efforts by the association that brings the best out of physical education teachers.”

SHAPE-MI honors teachers from across the state annually for their strong commitment to excellence in their schools and local community. Harrington will receive her award at the SHAPE-MI Annual Conference on Thursday, November 7, at the Lansing Center.

The Clifford H. Smart Middle School cross country teams brought out the brooms at the MHSAA Zone 3 Regional Championships claiming the boys’ and girls’ titles on Wednesday at Hess-Hathaway Park.

The Trojan ladies dominated the field winning by 41 points to claim their second-straight regional championship. Eighth-grader Quinn Blewett lead the Smart pack finishing second overall with a time of 12:09.21. Addisyn Atwood, Kara Alt, Ava Montante, Alyssa Dayton, Jovie Rickens and Sophia Wood also earned All-Region honors.

The regional championship came just six days after the Smart ladies claimed their second-straight Lakes Valley Conference title. Six Trojan runners finished in the Top 15 at the conference championships, paced by Blewett who took third overall with a time of 12:17.88. The ladies closed their season undefeated for the second-straight year and also won their first ever Oakland County Championship.

The Trojan boys won their first regional championship in program history on Wednesday afternoon. They held off second place Muir Middle School by 14 points. Zeke Turnbaugh and William Neal were the first Smart runners to cross the finish line within two-tenths of a second of each other taking sixth and seventh place overall. Braxton Carter, Isaac Zetuna, Ty Lawson and Levi Burns also earned All-Region honors.

It was a perfect weekend for the Clifford H. Smart Middle School girls’ volleyball teams as the Trojans claimed both 8th-grade and 6th/7th-grade Lakes Valley Conference championships.

The 8th grade girls’ team beat Centennial Middle School in straight sets (25-17, 25-13) to take home the LVC title and cap a perfect season. The Trojans finished the year undefeated at 13-0 and 9-0 in Lakes Valley Conference play. If that isn’t impressive enough, they only dropped three sets in match play the entire season.

“The team set a goal at the beginning of the season to go undefeated and to win the LVC regular season league title as well as the season ending tournament,” said head coach Brandon Parsley. “Everything they did was focused on that goal, and we are all very proud and excited that they were able to accomplish it! Every athlete on this team contributed and stepped up in various big moments to contribute to the team's overall success.”

The 6th and 7th grade girls’ team also shined in the LVC tournament winning the Silver Division title with a 2-1 (25-10, 23-25, 15-4) victory over Pierce Middle School.

“Winning the LVC Silver Division tournament is a testament to the incredible teamwork and dedication of our players,” said head coach Amy Monroe. “Every single member of the team contributed to this victory, and their improvement throughout the season has been remarkable. I’m incredibly proud of how far we’ve come and excited for what the future holds for this amazing group of athletes.”

The Walled Lake Competitive Marching Band capped its regular season perfect with another tremendous performance at Novi’s Michigan Competing Band Association (MCBA) competition on Saturday.

The combined band from Walled Lake Central and Walled Lake Western took first place in Flight 1 among seven marching bands with a score of 90.0. It also swept the field claiming all four caption awards: Outstanding Visual, Outstanding Music, Outstanding General Effect, and Outstanding Percussion and Color Guard.

The Walled Lake Competitive Marching Band will return to the field on Friday for a halftime performance at Walled Lake Western’s annual Warriors For Warriors Pink Out game against Walled Lake Central as a tune up before the MCBA State Prelims this Saturday at Grand Ledge.

Two-hundred-plus choir students from across the district came together at Walled Lake Northern for a morning full of learning new techniques and fine-tuning their vocal skills.

High school and middle school altos and sopranos had the opportunity to work with esteemed Oakland University professor Cat Bennett. The two-hour workshop included learning two brand new songs, breakout sessions by voice type, and they concluded with a group performance of songs the students learned at the end.

“It’s fun to see the beginning to the end, where we learning (two songs) in just a short period of time,” said Walled Lake Northern freshman Lily Monacelli.

“Learning the music within two hours is always a little bit nerve-racking, but the teaching methods that we use I think is extremely beneficial,” said Walled Lake Northern senior Kate Kasparian. “It’s really awesome because it is something that people are really passionate about, and getting to work on that passion with everybody else is just a wonderful opportunity.”

Walled Lake Central’s forensic science class got an up-close and personal tour of the Oakland County Sheriff's mobile lab on Wednesday morning!

Our future crime-solvers had the chance to see how the pros do it and learn some serious detective skills form Oakland County Sheriff's investigators. After a class presentation, students had the opportunity to go inside the mobile lab and ask questions about working as a forensic scientist.

Mr. Peace brought his uplifting message of kindness, love, and understanding to Walnut Creek Middle School on Wednesday, inspiring our Hawks to spread positivity everywhere they go! He held a special presentation for each grade level.

Walled Lake Northern welcomed 23 students from its partner school in Esslingen, Germany, marking the Knights’ first German-American exchange since the pandemic.

Mr. Christoph Engler, along with students from his German class and their families, hosted the German students fostering cross-cultural connections and lasting friendships.

Throughout their stay, the German students immersed themselves in Michigan's vibrant autumn season. Highlights included attending Walled Lake Northern’s homecoming dance and cheering on the football team. The group also embarked on memorable excursions to Detroit, Mackinac Island and Sleeping Bear Dunes, allowing them to experience the natural beauty and culture of the Great Lakes region.

Accompanying the students were two dedicated German teachers, Ulla Saur and Anette Lietz, who enriched the experience with their guidance and support. Both the American and German students found the exchange to be an invaluable opportunity to share experiences, traditions and perspectives.

Plans are already underway for a return trip to Germany in the summer of 2025, allowing Walled Lake Northern students to further deepen their connection with their German counterparts.

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.

Walled Lake Consolidated School District (WLCSD) is excited to host a Walk into Walled Lake interview day on Wednesday, November 13, 2024 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Marc A. Siegler Board Room at the Educational Services Center (850 Ladd Road, Building D, Walled Lake, MI 48390).

Walk into Walled Lake is an opportunity for members of the community to learn more about WLCSD and how they can support its students by filling important roles within the district’s 20 schools. Attendees will be able to apply and participate in walk-in job interviews for multiple positions at WLCSD.

“Walk into Walled Lake is a great way for the community to see all of the possibilities that exist within our District,” said Abbie Kidder, Executive Manager of Human Resources. “We pride ourselves in offering jobs that allow our employees to maintain a strong work and home life balance, while having a lasting impact on the children we commit ourselves to each and every day."

Available positions include:

· Instructional Paraeducators – Starting at $16.33 per hour

· Lunchroom and Playground Paraeducators – Starting at $15.74 per hour

· Locker Room and Parking Lot Paraeducators – Starting at $15.74 per hour

· Multiple Secretary Positions – Starting at $17.68-$19.54 per hour (Depending on role)

· Prime Time Care – Starting at $15.91 per hour

· Food Service – Starting at $14.53 per hour

Questions about Walk into Walled Lake can be directed to Mrs. Kidder by email at AbbieKidder@wlcsd.org.

Walled Lake Consolidated Schools is asking the community to replace its current operating millage with an 18 mill non-homestead millage that represents roughly $31 million and a 3.6297 mill hold harmless that represents approximately $2 million of the district’s budget. The total of $33 million accounts for 18 percent of the district’s $187 million revenue budget.

Every District in the state is expected to levy, with voter approval, 18 mills on all non-homestead properties in order to receive full state funding under Proposal A. The 3 mill "Headlee cushion" will allow the district to collect the full 18 mills over the duration of the operating millage. The proposal will not increase property taxes on any primary residence property that is within Walled Lake Consolidated Schools boundaries. Since the approval of Proposal A in 1994, the Walled Lake Consolidated Schools’ community has overwhelmingly supported the operating millage, most recently in 2014.

If the November 5, 2024 proposal is not approved, the school district will lose more than $33 million in operating revenue every year and the state will not make up the shortfall.

More information about the 2024 Operating Millage Replacement can be found at www.wlcsd.org/elections.

Preschool registration is now open for the 2024-25 school year. To register, please visit the preschool website. We invite your child to come grow with us!

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