Hello Team WB!
It has been an exciting few weeks as we welcome teachers back into the building. As you can imagine, the boxes have been piled high as teachers unpack, but now classrooms are getting closer and closer to being ready to welcome our Lakers to the 24-25 school year.
Prior to the first day of school, we hope you'll be able to join us for Popsicles with the Principal on August 21st from 4-6pm. This is a great open-house-style event for students to see the building, drop off school supplies, enjoy a treat, and meet their teacher! Speaking of teachers, you will receive a welcome letter from your child's teacher via email by the end of the evening on August 16th. We know your students are excited to learn whose class they will be in, and we are excited to share the news!
In next week's newsletter, look for the start of additional information that will help you prepare for the school year, including our arrival and departure procedures. LOTS of great information will be distributed at Popsicles with the Principal, and it will be sent home on your child's first day of school if you are not able to attend on August 21st.
Finally, we wanted to share that this year, our Food Services Department will be partnering with a fresh bread vendor and local produce vendors to provide fresh fruits and vegetables to our students every day. Remember that all MI students qualify for a free and nutritious breakfast and lunch at school. We're looking forward to the new menu selections, which include warm breakfast options!
As always, please reach out to us with any questions as we near the start of our school year.
Warmly,
Jen Teal, Principal
Don't forget to mark your calendar for this kick-off event! Students in all grades are invited to join me and many of our staff members at Gretchko to launch our school year together. Students will receive their teacher placement in advance of the event and can meet their classmates, see their classrooms, visit with our staff, enjoy a sweet treat from PTO, and more. Our amazing office team (Mrs. Kitty and Mrs. Sue) will be there to answer questions you may have, and we will provide a back-to-school packet with lots of important information. Additionally, if you purchase school supplies, you are welcome to drop them off on this date to lighten your load a bit on the first day of school. If you cannot attend, don't worry! The welcome packet will go home with students on the first day of school!
We strongly encourage students to take the bus if they qualify for busing. It gives your student a chance to experience some independence on their way to and from school, it spares you from waiting in the car line, and overall it provides more consistency in students getting to school on time.
If your child will be utilizing school bus transportation this year, please consult the school district website for safety rules and bus tracker info (www.wbsd.org).
Dear Parents of West Bloomfield School District Students,
If your child is a student (3 to 26 years of age) in the West Bloomfield Schools, s/he can also participate in the 2024-25 Fueling Kids’ Futures–One Meal at a Time (previously known as Blessings in a Backpack) program. This program sends six non-perishable meals home each Friday of the school year. Its goal is to make sure that no child goes hungry on the weekend. Run by volunteers, there is NO cost to you.
To enroll in this program, please fill out the form below and return it to your school office or email it to katherinesheiko@hotmail.com. This registers your child/ren in the Fueling Kids’ Futures–One Meal at a Time program and alerts us to any allergies they might have. The first backpack of food will be distributed to your child at his/her local school the first week of October.
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_____ Yes, I would like my child/children to participate in the 2024-2025 Fueling Kid’s Futures–One Meal at a Time program.
Child’s Name_____________________________ Grade ______ Teacher __________School__________
Child’s Name____________________________ Grade_______Teacher________ School___________
Allergies_____________________________________________________________________
Parent’s Name______________________________________________________________
Parent’s Email address ______________________________________________________________
If you have any questions, please contact Kathy Sheiko at katherinesheiko@hotmail.com or at
248 521 0074.
Regards,
Katherine Sheiko, Chairperson
Fueling Kids’ Futures–One Meal at a Time
West Bloomfield/Keego Harbor
If you are interested in looking at the school supply lists, those can be found here, as well as on our website.
WBSD has partnered with ParentGuidance.org to give parents free access to resources and helpful information. We have shared this information with our families. We hope that it will be useful for some of you as well!
ParentGuidance.org is an online service by licensed therapists that provides trusted and specialized courses, professional support, and a safe community for parents to learn how to support their children and get answers to mental health questions.
There are many community resources available to families in need. See the Oakland County Community Resource Guide, which includes resources about topics including Abuse & Protective Services; Food Pantries, Clothing & Household Support; Healthcare Services; Housing Assistance; and Parenting & Pregnancy Resources.
211 (United Way) offers resources/connections for family support as well. Parents/adults can call, text, or email. Here is the link to the 211 website, which is searchable by topic. Additionally, see these 211 flyers in English, Spanish, and Arabic.
Finally, here are some resources for Food Pantry/Supplies near WB/Oakland County.