Bobcat Blitz

The weekly newsletter from Whiteford MS/HS - Updated 9/13/24

Principal's Update

We would like to thank our entire school community for their response to the school threat situation last week, including staff and especially our students. It feels like we are back to learning as usually at the MS/HS. Please know that we are committed to ensuring the safety of our students, and always encourage our students to "see something, say something." You'll find the "OK2Say" website linked to the bottom of this Blitz, and students can utilize the school's "Let Us Know" reporting form during school hours. In addition, please do have a discussion with your student(s) regarding proper use of social media; finally, it is important to remember that we must demonstrate kindness and compassion to one another each day.

Here are a few other updates/Reminders:

-Picture day is MONDAY, September 16th. Please scroll for details.

- We will have a MERT (Medical Emergency Response Team) Drill on THURSDAY, 9/19. Please be advised that this is just a drill for our MERT team to practice their response to a potential student/staff medical emergency. During MERT Drills, students are placed into what is called a "teach in place" that restricts student movement, but still allows learning to continue in the classroom.

- Up to date grades are available through the Schoology Application. Please click HERE for a PDF parent access guide.

- Schedules are now finalized for this semester.

- Students are reminded to wait in designated areas before the school day begins, until 7:50. Please see below for a detailed map.

- Cell phones are not allowed in middle school classrooms; HS students can ONLY have their cell phones out in HS classrooms with teacher permission. Teachers can and will establish designated areas in high school classrooms for cell phones.

- Chromebook insurance covers accidental damages or normal wear/tear, and does not cover damage linked to misuse or overuse. Please do speak to your student about the importance of taking care of the Chromebook, as it is school property.

- Please take a moment to review pages 44-45 of the MS/HS Handbook linked above to understand and help us enforce the school dress code.

SCHOOL PICTURES - Monday, September 16th

School pictures for our MS/HS students is scheduled for Monday, September 16th. Forms went home with students, but digital orders are accepted/encouraged. We will be using schoolpictures.com this year. Below is the flier with packages and prices. You can order by visiting www.schoolpictures.com and use Keyword AA4702Fall24. We will also have hard copies available at Open House and in the office.

Picture Day Timing - Monday, September 16th

Here are the times per grade, which are important for our Juniors and Seniors who may leave on College Prep Periods:

7th - 8:00 AM - Art 7 students can go first so they can head to the Elementary school
6th - 8:30 AM
8th - 9:00 AM
9th - 9:35 AM
10th - 10:05 AM
11th - 10:35 AM
12th - 11:05 AM
Last Call - 11:30 AM

Student Parking/Entry Doors

Students can park in the lot between the High School and the Elementary School, or behind the new High School gym. Painted spots are reserved.

Students may enter the school through the following doors:

Door K - Students who drive
Doors A/D - Students who are dropped off - there are spots painted "1-4" so students can utilize multiple drop-off points to help facilitate a faster drop off in the morning. Cars traveling East on Consear are encouraged to drop off at door D, while parents coming from Sylvania-Petersburg are encouraged to drop off near door A. The middle driveway in front of the school will be for outbound vehicles.
Doors G/F - Students who ride buses (or students who park behind the HS gym).

Unless a student is eating breakfast (which begins at 7:35), they will have to stay in a designated "waiting area" until the first bell rings at 7:50. This is to ensure proper supervision of learning areas before school. Students who enter through door "F" should wait in the area by door "D" until 7:50, or head to the cafeteria for breakfast.

Note: Locker rooms/gyms will be locked until 7:50. The main gym doors on the West side of the new gym will not be available for student entry.

Pick-up/Drop-off Reminders

MS/HS Drop Off

Consear Road: Parents may drop students off in front of the Middle School OR High School ends of the building. We ask parents to pull forward as much as possible so up to four cars can drop students off at once at each end. Traffic should then exit through the middle driveway in front of the MS/HS building.

Sylvania-Petersburg Road: The traffic flow pattern along the sidewalk in the back of the middle/high school building is designated as ONE-WAY (heading towards Sylvania-Petersburg Road) so that students being dropped-off or picked-up can exit/enter vehicles and not have to walk through vehicles in the parking lot. Your assistance in adhering to this traffic flow pattern will greatly increase the safety for our students.

MS/HS Pick Up

Consear Road: Parents can pick students up in front of the Middle School or High School ends of the building. We ask that parents pull up as far as possible toward the middle driveway so we can avoid traffic back-ups on west-bound Consear Road. Traffic on Consear road will stop to allow buses to exit the parking lot around 3:05 PM each day.

Sylvania-Petersburg Road: Please see above for information regarding traffic flow, but be advised that there will be a large amount of HS student traffic at the end of each school day.

Detailed transportation information and important safety reminders can be found HERE.

Remember...The safety of students, staff and parents is of utmost importance. Please be patient when entering the district's parking lots before/after school.

Infinite Campus Annual Updates and Agreements Letter

Hey, Bobcats! Click HERE to view the Infinite Campus Annual Updates and Agreements Letter that will assist families in the annual completion of emergency contact updates and agreements. This process is required of all parents/guardians for each of their students, so please take a few minutes to complete this process. If you have any questions, please contact your building administrative assistant or principal for assistance.

Lunch Schedules

Lunch Schedules are based on a student's 3rd/7th hour instructor. Please refer to this lunch and your student schedule...lunch times may vary from day to day for individual students.

Food is not allowed out of the cafeteria during breakfast or lunch times.

Breakfast will be served in the MS/HS Cafeteria from 7:35 - 8:00.

Athletics

Reminder: The athletic office is now located in the east end of the building, or "Middle School" hallway. During the school day, visitors will have to check in at the main office and receive clearance to visit the athletic office. The best time to visit the school for athletic needs is between the hours of 12-3, as Athletic Administrative Assistant Ashley VanCamp is available in the main High School office at that time.

Reminders:

Whiteford no longer takes cash payments for sporting events. Spectators can purchase tickets using the GoFan website, GoFan App, or use of our debit/credit card readers at the ticket gate. All middle/high school athletic events are $7 for adults, students, and seniors.

Athletic Passes can be purchased online and are $150 for a family all-year pass, $100 for an individual all-year pass, and $35 for student (non-participating current Whiteford students) or senior citizen all-year pass.

School Store

We have begun the process of accepting on-line payments using our School Store. You can access the School Store on the district website’s home page button labeled “School Store (On-Line Payments)”. Right now, athletic passes can be purchased through this process. We offer Family ($150), Individual ($100), Student ($35), and Senior Citizen ($35) passes. Note: The Senior Citizen pass is good for individuals 63 years of age and older, and is good for all TCC home/away events.

School meals are free this year, but students who wish to purchase additional lunch items will still have to fill out envelopes with cash/check, as in years past.

Meal Charges and Free/Reduced Applications

Our students will again receive free breakfast and lunch in the State of Michigan. Even though meals are free, it is critical for families that may qualify to continue to complete the Free and Reduced - Price Meal Application (see below). Click the following link to submit your information: https://whiteford.familyportal.cloud/ Here is a PDF letter/guide for families.

Also, please click HERE to visit our family meal purchase guide (for payment info and for those who wish to purchase additional lunch/a la carte items).

Student Grades and Attendance Reporting

Infinite Campus Parent Portal: Student Registration, marking period and semester grades, credits, and attendance are always visible in the Parent Portal throughout the school year. An app can be downloaded to your phone, or you can click HERE for the web version. Students will also have their own login so they can see their information at any time.

Schoology: Our K-12 teaching staff uses Schoology to communicate with students and families, post assignments and grades, and sometimes include instructional videos. Here is a Schoology Parent Account video sharing introductory information about Schoology. If your family has yet to access Schoology or downloaded the App for your phone, you can email your child’s teacher for log-in details or contact Corey Mills for support at: mills@whiteford.k12.mi.us

1:1 Technology

Students will be supplied a Chromebook and a charger for the 2024-2025 school year, and will not be able to access our WIFI network with a personal device. Chromebooks will be distributed on Monday, August 26 from 9:00-12:00 PM, and 1:00-3:30 PM. Insurance for Chromebook is $25.00 for the year; students/parents who elect not to purchase insurance will be responsible for paying for any damage to the Chromebook. Details outlining insurance can be read HERE. In addition, only ACCIDENTAL damage or wear will be covered by insurance. Damage caused by misuse/mistreatment of the Chromebook will be charged to the student, regardless of insurance status. The insurance form and payment can be made through the Infinite Campus Parent Portal.

Volunteer Forms

Whiteford Agricultural School District appreciates your willingness to serve as a volunteer in our district and become a substantial and vital part of our school programs! You can access the form here or from any school office. Please complete both sides of the form and return it to your student’s building office, teacher, or coach. Background checks will be done on an annual basis. The background check process is time consuming; therefore, appropriate lead time must be given to ensure background checks are completed prior to volunteer service at the school or for any function conducted by the school.

Medication

If your student will be taking medication during the school day (including over the counter meds) there are forms that need to be completed and turned in to the office. All medications are stored in the MS/HS office. Students are not permitted to keep any medication, including over the counter, in their locker. Parents must drop medicine off at the MS/HS office, as students are not permitted to do so. The office will be open at Registration Day and Open House to receive any medication that is accompanied with the appropriate forms, which can be accessed by clicking HERE and scrolling to the bottom/right of the page.

Parapro/Administrative Assistant Substitutes

We are currently in need of Administrative Assistant ($17.65 per hr) and Paraprofessional ($15.00 per hr) substitutes in both our elementary and middle/high school buildings. If you are looking for a fun way to get involved in our amazing school community all while earning a little extra spending cash, please consider filling in as a substitute in one of our main offices or helping our incredible teachers out as a classroom parapro. Interested applicants must apply through Applitrack at: https://www.applitrack.com/monroecounty/onlineapp/jobpostings/view.asp?district=38699

Updated Cell Phone Policy

Please be advised of the following policy changes regarding cell phones and other wireless communication devices:

Middle school students are prohibited from using cell phones and other personal devices during classes or passing times. Middle school students may use devices before school, after school, or during lunch only.

High school students may possess their device or store it in their locker during class, but the device must be powered off. If possessed in the classroom, the student is prohibited from using the device unless given express and direct consent from the teacher, dean, principal, or other school personnel. Should the student possess the device in the classroom when not given express permission, the teacher/principal/dean of students has the right to enact discipline based on this policy. Teachers may also designate places in their classrooms where students must keep phones/devices; should students refuse to keep wireless devices in designated areas, they will be found in violation of this policy and subject to discipline. High school students may use devices during passing times, before school, after school, or during lunch.

Air Pods, headphones, or other wired/wireless listening devices are prohibited in hallways and classrooms unless given express and direct consent from the teacher, dean, assistant principal, principal, or other school personnel.

Students who need to communicate with parents in regards to matters of illness, safety, transportation, etc., should communicate through the school office so administration is aware of any visitors to the building, medications, or potential illnesses/safety concerns.

Except as authorized under Board policy, use of WCDs and electronic storage devices in school, on school property, at after school activities and at school-related functions will be subject to disciplinary action.

Reasonable suspicion that a communication device has been used to violate District policies or administrative guidelines shall be subject to disciplinary action and may result in the communication device being confiscated.

Wireless Communication Device (WCD) Discipline Protocol

First offense - Device is confiscated by school personnel. The administrator will return the phone or device in question at the end of the day. The parents will be informed. The phone or device may be prohibited from school for a period of at least two weeks, and may be prohibited for the remainder of the semester/school year, depending on the nature of offense. The infraction will be documented.

Second offense - The device is confiscated by school personnel and delivered to the office. The parents will be informed and the student will be assigned a detention, restorative action, or other disciplinary action will occur. The phone or device will be returned at the end of the school day; the phone or device will be prohibited from school for a period of one-to-two weeks and may be prohibited for the remainder of the semester/school year, depending on the nature of offense. The infraction will be documented.

Third and successive offenses - The device is confiscated by school personnel and delivered to the office. The parents will be informed and the student may be subject to a one-day in school or out-of-school suspension. The phone or device in question will not be returned until a parent comes in to pick it up. The phone or device will be prohibited from school for a period of at least two weeks, and may be prohibited for the remainder of the semester/school year, depending on the number and nature of previous offenses. The infraction will be documented.

Post-Graduation Informational Packet

It's never too early to begin planning for the future! Per Michigan Compiled Law (MCL) 380.1293, school districts are required to provide pupils in grades 8-12 with this Post-Graduation Opportunities Informational Packet. The site helps students and parents learn more about Colleges/Financial Aid, entering the workforce after graduation, and entering the military.