
WBHS Update
6/11/24
Principal's Update
Hello Laker Nation,
We have made it to the end of the 2023-2024 school year! I want to take a moment to thank all of our families and students for their hard work, passion, and commitment to this school year. I hope everyone has a restful and rewarding summer break.
Please join me in congratulating several WBHS staff members who are retiring after long and impactful careers in education. This group of educators combine to have over 200 years of experience in education! Their legacies will last for years to come, and we wish them the absolute best as they enter their next steps with their families, careers, and new found passions. Congratulations to the following wonderful educators:
- Kathy Anaya - Paraeducator
- Sheryl Hauk - Choir Director
- Mervet Ismail - Science Teacher
- Suzan Karmo - Math Teacher
- Robin Loudermilk - Science Teacher
- Molly Marshall - Art Teacher
- Kathy Townsend - English Teacher
- Linda Trotter - Orchestra Director
- Renee Tunic - Administrative Assistant
- Julia Walton - Special Education Teacher
We are sad to see them leave but are celebrating their accomplishments and contributions as we end this school year.
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Please read through this newsletter closely for information regarding summer camp opportunities, jumpstart and 9th grade orientation, and important dates for next school year.
Proud to be a Laker!
Eric Pace
Principal - WBHS
Family Survey
Dear West Bloomfield Families,
Thank you for being our valued partners as we work together to provide the best educational experience imaginable for the children in the West Bloomfield School District. We are proud to provide great opportunities for each student, and we aim to do an ever better job next school year.
As we prepare for the 2024-2025 school year, we are already diligently planning to enhance how we support each student’s journey. Your input and feedback will be instrumental in that planning, as it helps identify what is working and where we can grow as a district.
Therefore, we kindly ask you to take some time to complete this brief end-of-year survey: CLICK HERE FOR THE SURVEY. Your feedback is greatly appreciated.
Thank you again for your support!
Sincerely,
Scott Long
Jumpstart 2024-2025
Exciting news ahead!
Get ready for Jump Start 2024-25, the ultimate event kicking off next school year with a bang. This isn't just any gathering—it's where the magic begins. Picture getting your schedules, snagging those parking passes (Upperclassmen Only), flashing those smiles for your school ID photos, and officially joining the WBHS community.
Jump Start is for all students and is an event where you will:
- Receive your schedules
- Purchase parking passes (Upperclassmen Only)
- Have your school ID picture taken and receive your school ID
- Return books
- Purchase yearbooks
- Pay any outstanding fines, if applicable
Students should plan to come to WBHS on their assigned date and time for Jump Start. Students may not come at a different time, other than the scheduled makeup date. Schedules will not be available for students outside of their assigned time. This is the only time students will receive their printed schedules.
Freshmen Jump Start will be on Thursday, August 15th, 2024. Incoming 9th-grade students should also plan to attend Freshmen Orientation on Monday, August 19th, 2024. The purpose of this orientation is to make the transition from middle school to high school a positive one and provide information to parents about the upcoming year. Incoming 9th graders will meet their mentors and engage in community-building activities while getting to know WBHS.
On August 19th, during Freshmen Orientation, there will also be a short, optional Parent Information Session at 10:30 a.m. While parents are invited to attend the Parent Information Session, it is important to note that Jump Start and Freshmen Orientation are STUDENT events. Our goal is to help your soon-to-be high schooler feel at ease about starting this new adventure, and as such, parent attendance at this event is limited to the Parent Information Session(s).
JUMPSTART SCHEDULE
August 15
Senior Jump Start (12th Grade) 8a-10a
Freshman Jump Start (9th Grade) 12p-2p
August 16:
Junior Jump Start (11th Grade) 8a-10a
Sophomore Jump Start (10th Grade) 12p-2p
August 19:
Freshman Orientation 9:30-11:30a
Freshman Parent Meeting 10:30-11:30a
August 20:
Makeup Jumpstart for ALL grades 8a-10a
2024-2025 School District Calendar
Summer Digital Media Arts Opportunities
MIPA Summer Workshop - this is held on the campus of MSU and offers different camps such as sports journalism, radio broadcasting, television broadcasting, and more. It runs July 21st - July 25th. There is a scholarship deadline of June 1st. We are a MIPA school so there is a discount on fees.
Focal Point - Digital Arts, Film, and Television (DAFT) hosts a film based workshop on the campus of Lawrence Technological University in Southfield. This day camp focuses on filmmaking and runs from August 5 - August 9. There are many full tuition scholarships available.
WBHS Alumni - Donovan Edwards Football Camp
Galileo Leadership Academy Cohort Honored
Congratulations to our WBHS Track and Field athletes on earning all state honors in 4 different events! Kamryn Tatum holds the state title in the 200 meter dash, and we had three relay teams finish top 8 in the state! Check out www.westbloomfieldathletics.com for all WBHS Athletics Updates
Special Graduation Party Partnership for WBHS Graduates
On May 23rd, four WBSD teachers were celebrated as they graduated from the Galileo Leadership Academy. The 2022-24 cohort of Galileo teacher leaders included Kelsey Chewins from WBMS,Taylor Carroll from Roosevelt Elementary, Jennifer Mlutkowski from WBHS, Emily Weiner from WBMS (pictured above left to right). The Galileo Teacher Leadership Consortium provides a teacher leadership program for educational organizations in Oakland, Wayne, and Macomb counties. The academy's curriculum reflects the Teacher Leader Model Standards. We are proud of these teachers for their hard work and dedication to professional growth and student success! Congratulations to our Galileo graduates!
Technology Assistance Links
- Help with Canvas
- Help with Chromebook: www.wbsd.org/departments/technology
- Help with PowerSchool: www.wbsd.org/parents/powerschool
Important Updates and Information
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.
WBSD is Hiring
Mental Health Resources
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.