Talking to Children About COVID-19

During uncertain times, children look to the adults around them for reassurance. When discussing COVID-19 with your children, there are several things to remember that will allow for an open discussion that should reassure children and provide them with a sense of control, as well as the knowledge they need to protect themselves and others.

The district's School Mental Health Specialist, Lynne Swerhone is here with the latest entry in our Parent Blog series with tips for families when having conversations about COVID-19.

As we continue to support our Cloud Learning Initiative, staff members across the district took time today to come together and develop lesson plans following our return from Spring Break. We are regularly sending updates via email and social media. The website links below are also continually updated throughout the week.

• Cloud Learning Resources
• Parent/Guardian Resources
• Student Resources
• Class of 2020

The district will be offering our Meal Service program over Spring Break as well. Preorder forms will soon be available for April 13-19 at www.wbsd.org/mealservice.

Remember! The district recently transitioned to Meal Service pick-ups three days per week. Families will still receive seven days worth of food per child with pick-ups on Monday, Wednesday and Friday each week. Pick-Ups will still take place between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. each pick-up day at your pick-up location (Roosevelt Elementary or OLMS).

This change comes in an effort to support the Governor’s Stay Home order and to limit personal contact for our families and staff. Visit www.wbsd.org/mealservice for more information on our updated plan, order forms and more. Please call our Food Service office with any questions (248) 865-6732.

The West Bloomfield School District the safety and well-being of all who work, play and learn within our buildings. We regularly consult with officials from the Oakland County Health Department on matter related to public health. We also partner with Oakland Schools to ensure consistency in outreach and communication related to public health.

• COVID-19 Info and Resources

The April 13 Special Board Meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. Members of the community are welcome to participate in the meeting. To participate in Monday's meeting, on an internet-connected device, go to zoom.us/join and enter Webinar ID: 384-716-835. For an extra layer of security, the password for the meeting is 962215.

The agenda for the April 13 meeting can be found at the following link at www.wbsd.org/about-us/boe

Public comment will also be available for members of the West Bloomfield School District community to provide feedback and notes to the Board via a Google Form:

• The Public Comment Google Form for April 13 is available at the following link: https://forms.gle/rypVDdK1Bq6kXH9z9

Please submit your public comments via this form by 6:30 p.m. on April 13 to ensure the Board receives them. During the meeting, those who submit Public Comment Google Forms will be asked to address the board. If you are unable to share your comments, the Board President will read your comments during the meeting.

How the 2020 Census Affects Children

The 2020 Census count impacts the federal funds that communities receive each year for programs and services that are critical for schools, students, and younger children, such as:

• Special education, Head Start, after-school programs, and classroom technology.
• Food assistance, including free and reduced-price school lunches.
• Maternal and child health programs.

Find more about school-related resources by clicking on this link.

Our district will soon be able to utilize the SchoolMessenger system to deliver text messages, straight to your mobile phone with important information about events, school closings, safety alerts and more. This resource is on top of the emails and phone messages you already receive from SchoolMessenger.

You can participate in this service just by sending a text message of “Y” or “Yes” to our district’s short code number, 67587.

Once our opt-in period has completed, we hope to utilize this community tool by early-April 2020.

You can also opt-out of these messages at any time by simply replying to one of our

messages with “Stop”.

SchoolMessenger is compliant with the Student Privacy PledgeTM, so you can rest assured that your information is safe and will never be given or sold to anyone.

The school would like to create an Affirmation video with students. They would like the school community to know how much they APPRECIATE EVERYONE WORKING ON THE FRONTLINE. Here's how you can be a part of the video:

1. Create a poster with an affirming message to people on the frontline (doctors, nurses, grocery store workers, truck drivers, etc.). The poster can include you and your family members or pets. BE CREATIVE!!!
2. All posters must be ready for your ZOOM class picture scheduled for next Monday, April 13th. Your classroom teacher will give you additional details.

Another way to Support and Affirm our Frontline Heroes: WHITE RIBBON CAMPAIGN

• Place a WHITE RIBBON on your front door
• Tie a WHITE RIBBON around a tree in your front yard
• You may take a picture and send that if you don't want to create a sign.

Sheiko Elementary has many family members in our school community that are on the frontline that would appreciate a message or a ribbon from you. Whatever you do to support those on the frontline, they greatly appreciate it!

The WB Athletics Department has found a way to celebrate the successes of WBHS senior athletes as they conclude their interscholastic athletic careers. Find a complete list of student videos with more videos being posted daily on the WBSD Athletics website.

The GWB Community Coalition has prepared meditation videos to continue the live meditation classes taking place at the high school this spring. The videos are available at the link below and the password is meditate.

• WBHS Meditation Video Recordings

Audrey Gunawan was selected to serve on the MASC/MAHS Student Leadership Board of Delegates for 2020-2021! This is a tremendous honor and we are excited for Audrey.

One of the oldest and largest programs of MASC/MAHS Michigan Student Leadership is the ability to offer students involved in a number of activities the platform to raise their voice in our organization. Each year, more than 30 students are selected to represent ALL of our member school students on the Board of Delegates. Learn more about the current students serving on the Board of Delegates, BoD duties and selection process below.

Board of Delegates Responsibilities:

• Writing, facilitating, and presenting curriculum for new leaders at Leadership Training Institutes.
• Representing their center/region member schools on organization decisions.
• Finding new programs, publications, and events for students or advisers in their area.
• Assisting in promoting MASC/MAHS membership, programs, and events.
• Networking and bringing new ideas to Michigan from regional and national events.
• 
  

Students are the cornerstone of MASC/MAHS Michigan Student Leadership. We love to see our students stepping up to the plate and leading our association into the future!

The West Bloomfield Township Main Library and the Westacres Branch remain closed until further notice. We will not be accepting returns until we reopen. All overdue fines will be waived. For updates, please check our website. We will post our reopening date as soon as it is known.

Join us for a Virtual Storytime for kids. Enjoy singing, dancing and learning during these Facebook Live events. Dates and times are listed below.

• Monday, 4/13 at 7 PM
• Wednesday, 4/15 at 2 PM
• Thursday, 4/16 at 11 AM
• Friday, 4/17 at 11 AM
• Saturday, 4/18 at 10:30 AM

Find craft projects for teens from our Young Adult librarian on the Library’s Facebook page.

Parents of kindergartners: Haven’t finished reading all the books on the list of “100 Picture Books to Read in Kindergarten”? No worries. Just keep reading to your child and place a sticker on your poster for each book you read, even if it’s not on the list. Need to reread a book? That’s okay too. Just keep reading!

Use the eLibrary from home 24/7.

Download or stream books, audiobooks, movies, music and TV shows from the eLibrary 24/7. Use cloudLibrary, OverDrive, Kanopy or hoopla. Find plenty for kids and families to do from hoopla Kids Mode or Kanopy Kids.

Just announced! hoopla has put together a “Bonus Borrows” collection of items that won’t count against the monthly checkout limit. Browse the more than 1,000 items in this special hoopla collection by searching for “more bonus borrows” in the hoopla app or web interface.

Creativebug has more than 1,000 video tutorials for artists and crafters of all levels. Learn or improve techniques with classes about knitting, sewing, quilting, crochet, art + design, jewelry, paper, holiday + party, and crafts for kids. Download patterns and templates, and view the Lookbook with previews of classes and projects. New classes are added weekly. Videos are produced by accomplished artists and creative experts who use proven teaching methods, along with their passion, to help you be creative.

The Library’s Learning Resource Center helps match learners of all ages with ways to learn, practice and improve skills. Find subject-specific resources for grade levels from kindergarten through high school. Explore hundreds of topics with independent, self-paced courses for teens and adults from Gale Courses and Lynda. Use The Great Courses video series of college-level lectures to learn about a variety of topics. Learn a new language with Rosetta Stone or Pronunciator. Explore all that’s available.

TumbleBooks are online fiction and nonfiction eBooks with animation, music and narration for students in kindergarten through 5th grade. This online resource comes with lesson plans that parents can use.

NEW! TumbleMath

TumbleMath is an online collection of math picture books with animation, narration and sound for students in kindergarten through 6th grade.

TumbleMath comes with lesson plans, instructional videos, educational games, plus quizzes to test and track progress. Categories include counting, addition, subtraction, multiplication, word problems, geometry, fractions, place value, measurement, probability, division, graphing and finance.

NEW! TeenBookCloud

TeenBookCloud is a collection of eBooks and other resources for middle school and high school students and teachers. Enjoy graphic novels, classic literature, nonfiction, AP English selections, National Geographic videos, audiobooks and more.

Learn the Latest from the Library

Text Alerts

Subscribe to text messaging lists for general Library announcements or tips for busy parents who want to help their children Grow Up Reading™. This is an opt-in service. Message and data rates apply.

Text 797979 to sign up and use these keywords:

• wbinfo (General Library Information)
• wbparents (Parenting Tips)

Or signup at the eLibrary.

eNewsletters

Sign up for an eNewsletter and learn more about resources available online from the eLibrary.

• All About Books News about bestsellers, publishing trends, tips for book clubs, author updates, reading recommendations and more for reading enthusiasts
• Digital Delivery Links to new and popular eBook and eAudiobook titles, reading recommendations and information for book lovers and reading enthusiasts.
• For Your Teen Updates about online resources the Library offers to teens.
• Grow Up Reading™ Tips for parents, grandparents and other caregivers to help children grow up reading.

• Gov. Whitmer Executive Order - 2020-42

• State Treasurer Urges Michiganders to Be Alert for Phishing Emails

• Camp Invention at Roosevelt Elementary - June 22-26
• Orchard Lake Fine Arts Show - June 25-26

• Employment Opportunities

• WBMS Transition FAQ

• New Middle School Updates

• GWB Historical Society Events

• WB Township Library News and Events

Preparing our students to be their best IN and FOR the world!

Email: daniel.durkin@wbsd.org
Website: www.wbsd.org
Location: 5810 Commerce Road, West Bloomfield Township, MI, USA
Phone: (248) 865-6420
Facebook: facebook.com/WestBloomfieldSchools/
Twitter: @wbloomfieldschl