WBHS Update

Laker Nation,

STAFF APPRECIATION THIS WEEK!

Staff appreciation week is coming May 5th! We are partnering with the Student Leadership class to show appreciation to our staff for all that they do. We are still in need of gift card donations for the staff! You can turn them in to the front security office on or before Wednesday, 5/7.

The work of our teachers, counselors, school social workers, para educators, administrative assistants, and all of the staff at WBHS is never done. The tireless effort of our staff has a positive impact our our students and community. If you find a moment in your day, I encourage you to take the time to thank a meaningful educator in your life and in that of your student.

We would like to celebrate our amazing teachers and staff at WBHS but we need your help! Please click the link below to donate to make this week special for the WBHS staff.

As always, thank you so much for your support and your contributions!

The WBHS Parent Group

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805094AAAA82EA02-56406300-staff#/

Monday: Everyone's Favorite.... Cappuccino Man in the main office during your lunch (coffee, hot chocolate, smoothies, etc.)

Tuesday: Snacks provided by a partnership with Walmart in the Main Office. Gift baskets made by leadership will be delivered to winners who won through random generator selection.

Wednesday: Deserts in the Main Office

Thursday: Lunch in room 300 & 301

Friday: Gift Card giveaway in the Main Office

-------------------------

WBHS Water Wars Prohibited

Each spring, several 12th grade students choose to participate in a water gun elimination game called Water Wars. Please note that Water Wars and/or the possession or use of a water gun on the WBHS Campus, at any other school, or at any other school related event is strictly prohibited. WBHS does not sponsor or endorse this game in any way. Additionally, we advise that students who do choose to participate understand that they are doing so at their own risk, with no connection to WBHS, and against the recommendation of WBHS. Please DO NOT engage in these activities while driving, on private property, or at other business establishments. Students must adhere to traffic laws and respect our community and its citizens. Students who do not follow these expectations may be subject to discipline per the West Bloomfield Student Code of Conduct with consequences up to and including suspension from school and school activities, and/or legal consequences if students are violating the law while participating in this game.

Thank you for your cooperation,

Eric Pace - Principal, WBHS

-------------------------

Please partner with us to help students maximize learning and instructional time in school. Please remind your students at home that phones should not be used or visible during instruction, and to make sure they are on time to classes and staying in classes outside of typical bathroom needs. We usually experience an increase in tardiness and in students wanting to spend extra time in the hallways in the spring. We will be conducting random hall sweeps and will be extra diligent on excessive use of passes and unauthorized hallway times to make sure our students are utilizing their time wisely in class.

-------------------------

STUDENT PICK-UP REMINDERS

• If your student is not immediately ready to get in your vehicle, please park in a vacant spot so that you do not block the flow of traffic
• There is NO student pickup in the traffic loops closest to the building. When cars are in these loops, it can back up and block bus traffic

Student Planners are being sold in the counseling office for second semester at a discounted rate of $1.00!

Please help us with our goals by reminding students that hoods and ski masks cannot be worn indoors at any time. We need to be able to visually identify people in person, and on camera, to keep our school safe and secure. Hoods and ski masks make it very difficult for us to identify who is in our building. Thank you for your support.

Please remember that school dismisses at 2:23 PM and students must be off campus or in a supervised sport, activity, rehearsal, or club by 2:45 PM. If a student is in an IN-SEASON activity, they may check in with a staff member in Laker Commons, across from the cafeteria, by 2:45 for supervision. Students who are not involved in an after school activity must leave by this time. Thank you for helping keep our school safe by complying with this request.

One of our school goals this year is to have 95% of students in attendance every school day. So far this year, we've been doing a good job, but there's always room for improvement! We all know that research shows that students perform better, learn more, and have more meaningful connections with peers and school when they are in school regularly. Please join us in these efforts by making sure students are in school when healthy, they stay in school all day, and that vacations are planned during our scheduled breaks. We are close to our 95% target, but need your help to meet it!

Eric Pace

Principal

West Bloomfield High School

-------------------------

ATTENDANCE AND OUTPASS CLARIFICATION

In order to support all learners and protect our classes from unnecessary disruption:

• No immediate outpasses
• All outpasses must be called in by noon for the current day in order to be processed
• Students will not be released after 1:45, the release time must be before 1:45
• It is your student's responsibility to come to the attendance office at the time of the outpass, we are unable to call into rooms in order to protect the teaching and learning of the other students.

Drop off items:

If you are dropping off an item for your students please make sure they are aware. They will need to stop by the security desk in between classes. We are unable to call into rooms in order to protect the teaching and learning of the other students.

Teacher Communication:

In order to minimize disruptions we will no longer be calling in for dropped off items or outpasses. Please make sure to check the outpass list when releasing students.

After School Expectations

Thank you for all of your support this year with attendance and student behaviors! As we enter the colder months, there are a couple of areas we are focusing on. We need your help. In order to keep our students and school safe, we cannot have students staying after school for extended periods of time. Anyone who stays after school MUST be in a supervised activity or sport. Students cannot stay beyond 2:45 if they are waiting for a ride. Please make proper arrangements, as we cannot safely supervise students who stay after school with nothing to do. We will ask students to be outside at 2:45 and they will not be permitted to re-enter the building. Students in unsupervised areas will be subject to disciplinary action. As it gets cold outside, it is important to make proper arrangements.

Also, it is essential that students are in school regularly and on time. As it becomes darker earlier, and cooler in the mornings, we typically see an increase in the number of students arriving late. Please join us in making prompt arrival and attendance a focus for all.

If you have questions regarding your child’s disciplinary record, please contact the principal.

Proud to be a Laker!

Eric Pace

Principal - WBHS

West Bloomfield High School Theatre department proudly presents the family-friendly fantasy Matilda, the Musical, at 7 p.m. TONIGHT at West Bloomfield High School (4925 Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield). Tickets are $20 ($5 for any WBSD student) and are on sale NOW at https://wbhstheatrearts.ludus.com. Tickets will also be on sale at the school’s box office prior to each performance.

On Thursday, May 1, 2025, West Bloomfield students Lucas, of Sheiko, and WBHS sophomores Leilani Morgan, Monisola Fagbamila, and Khailyn Townes presented their Apple Island 3P (Place-, Project-, and Problem-Based Learning) Projects at the Oakland County 3P Showcase.

We are delighted to announce that our students were awarded The Local Lens Award for their "Connection to Community and Place." This award recognizes "a project that deeply engaged with the local community, environment, or culture, bringing learning to life through place-based connections."

Our entire place-based learning team could not be more proud of our extraordinary students. Amy has a ton of great pictures from last night! I hope you will join us in congratulating them on their hard work and spirited dedication to their projects.

Senior lawn signs are here!

If you ordered a sign from Signsunleashed.com celebrating your senior, the Senior All Night Party Committee will be here on Monday, May 5th, and Tuesday, May 6th from 2:15 pm - 4:30 pm to facilitate sign pick up.

Any signs not picked up at the Monday or Tuesday May 5th and 6th scheduled time, will be available for pick up in the security office on school days until 2 pm.

If you have not purchased your Senior All Night Party ticket there is still time! Don't miss out! The committee is planning a fantastic party to celebrate your senior's accomplishments and end to their high school career! The party will follow the commencement ceremony on May 29th. See the flyer below for information.

Questions: sanp2025wb@gmail.com

Please consider donating an item from our Senior All Night Party wish list. Our goal is to send each kid home with a gift at the end of this wonderful event, aimed at celebrating our graduates and keeping them safe on graduation night. Thank you very much.

Please consider supporting WBHS DECA by shopping at Kroger! You can go right to Kroger.com and log in to your account and select WBHS DECA (code XA702) under community rewards. You still get all your points, but you can also support our incredible DECA program!

Free & Reduced Lunch forms have a new name - please fill it out

The new school year has opened in meal magic so we are ready for free and reduced applications to start coming in. We are serving free meals under Michigan School Meals again this year, but we still need all families to complete an application. The free and reduced meals application is now called the "Education and Nutrition Benefits Application." This is because it is tied to other benefits that families may receive such as Summer EBT. 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 also critical in determining the amount of money our schools receive from a variety of State and Federal supplemental programs.

Here is an FAQ letter answering Frequently Asked Questions. All of our applications are taken 100% online.

Our special dietary needs form is also posted online. This needs to be filled out and returned to nutrition services for any students that may have severe medical food allergies. Thank you!

Congratulations to #LakerNation’s own Maxwell Hairston on being drafted in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. The West Bloomfield High School standout was selected by the Buffalo Bills with the 30th overall pick. While at West Bloomfield High School, Max participated in Football, Basketball and Track. He was a member of the All State 4x200M Relay Team and was also First Team All State in Football. A 2021 graduate of West Bloomfield High School, Max signed his National Letter of Intent to the University of Kentucky and had a remarkable four year career with the Wildcats as a defensive back.

4 more former Lakers have agreed to Undrafted Free Agent contracts as well. Donovan Edwards (Michigan) has agreed with the New York Jets. Makari Paige (Michigan) has agreed with the New York Giants. Lance Dixon (Penn St, West Virginia, Toledo) has agreed with the Seattle Seahawks, and Tyrone (Rudy) Broaden, Jr. (Bowling Green, Arkansas) has agreed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Congratulations Max, Donovan, Makari, Lance, and Rudy! Best of luck to you in the NFL!!!

Click here for more information about Laker Athletics

ALLERGIES/ASTHMA/MEDICAL CONDITIONS – Students are not allowed to carry medication. The office must have a complete, signed West Bloomfield School District Medical Action Plan to be able to carry out any medication distribution. Each medication requires a separate form. Each year we need an updated plan for students needing medication. If your child requires medication the first day of school you must contact the office before school to verify paperwork and deliver the medication to the office. Further questions, please contact the school office at 248-865-6720.

ATTENDANCE – West Bloomfield School District expects students to be in school and on time for school on a daily basis. Absent and tardy students will be recorded daily and parents will be notified.

If your child will not be in school or will be late to school, you must call the 24-hour answering machine at 248-865-6722. Leave your student’s name, teacher’s name and reason for absence. For the safety of our students, please do your best to remember to call before the start of school (even if you are only going to be “a little” late).

• PROMPT 1 - Excuse an Absence - Absences must be called in within 24 hours of the student missing school, or the absence will be marked as unexcused.
• PROMPT 2 - Excuse a Tardy (only if a student is late to school, not to a class after they've arrived)
• PROMPT 3 - Early Dismissal (Outpass) - These must be submitted prior to the dismissal time if possible. Those trying for an early dismissal at the time that it is needed may experience a delay while the information is processed and the student is retrieved from class.

In an effort to support student safety and proper accountability, all absences should be excused by a parent. If the absent in unexcused, this tells us that the school and the family do not know where the student is, if not in school. Please make sure to excuse all absences. Teachers may not accept work for unexcused absences in an effort to discourage skipping.

Students who accumulate too many tardies may be subject to disciplinary actions such as after school detentions or suspension of school parking.

Students who accumulate too many absences will be referred to Oakland County Youth Assistance for support and may be referred to Oakland County Truancy is absences become excessive.

BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS - Students are expected to be safe, respectful, and responsible at all times. Specific expectations can be found in the student handbook or the student code of conduct, and key items are listed below.

• Closed campus for lunch - Students MAY NOT receive an outpass to go to lunch or to pick up food for any reason.
• No food deliveries during school hours. This includes Door Dash, Grubhub, etc.
• No inappropriate or revealing clothing for any students
• No clothing with alcohol, drug, sexual, or inappropriate language or images
• No inappropriate language or gestures to be used by students at any time
• No hoods to be worn in school at any time
• No ski masks to be worn in school at any time
• No sunglasses to be worn in school at any time
• Phone use should only occur during passing time or during lunch. During class, it is up to the teacher's discretion as to how students may or may not use phones. If a student violates a teacher's phone policy/expectations, the teacher may confiscate the phone and return it to the student at the end of the period, or turn it in to the Student Relations office.
• Students must be in the cafeteria, Laker Commons, or the courtyard during lunch times. Students may not wander the halls or be in any unauthorized areas during lunches.

AFTER SCHOOL EXPECTATIONS - School dismisses at 2:23 PM. ALL STUDENTS need to be in a supervised activity or out of the building by 2:45 PM. We do not have the ability to safely supervise students after this time. There will be a late stay location for students who are in athletics or activities that begin AFTER 2:45. This supervised location will be in Laker Commons, across from the cafeteria. This supervision is ONLY for students who are in an activity. Students who are staying later than 2:45 who are not in a sport/activity must exit the building at or before this time. Students will be required to sign in with their ID and the activity they belong to.

LATE STARTS – throughout the school year we will participate in professional development that delays the start of the school day. On these days, school will start at 8:30 a.m., and the doors will be open for students beginning at 8:00 a.m.

IMMUNIZATIONS – All students that attend West Bloomfield School District must have accurate shot record information on file. Please be sure records are up to date. New students that do not have a shot record or a waiver on file are not allowed to attend school.

• Talk with your child about the importance of showing up to school every day, on time.
  
• Help your child maintain daily routines, such as finishing homework and getting a good night’s sleep.
• Try not to schedule dental and medical appointments during the school day.
• If your child attends an unavoidable appointment during the school day, please ask the dentist, doctor, etc. for a note to excuse them from school. This should be turned in to the main office.
• Communicate with us if your child is sick. Please always call the SAFELINE if your child will be absent.
• Help your child stay engaged--remind them that you are excited to hear about their day when they come home.
  
• Ask for help from us if you’re having trouble getting your child to school. We are here to partner with you for your child's success!

WBSD has partnered with Parent Guidance.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.

For all updates related to college, careers, counseling, scholarships, college rep visits, and more, make sure to check out the Counselor Connection Newsletter.