C.H.S. Chronicles
Clifford H. Smart Middle School: December 16, 2024
Music Appreciation Club Update
Music Appreciation Club Update
Thanks to all the families who came out for the Ellington and The Nutcracker concert. We learned about Carlos Simon, Concertos, Tchaikovsky, The Nutcracker and Ray Chen at our Club meet. We also had a great discussion about the future of classical music and how the online presence of artists, composers and their social media content is the major source of introducing and keeping students engaged. Ray Chen stole the show playing with effortless grace and technical mastery, and it was such a treat to hear him perform an encore - his newly released Serenade.
Our next Club meet is Sunday, February 16, 2024 at 2:30 followed by the 3pm Broadway Love Songs concert.
Tickets are available starting Monday, February 3rd at 9am, by calling or visiting the box office and are subject to availability. For those students who usually book tickets online, please note the DSO is transitioning to only booking Student Soundcard tickets through visiting or calling the box office 313.576.5111.
Upcoming concerts where we plan to meet as a group:
· Sunday, Feb 16 2025, 2:30 Club meet, 3pm Broadway Love Songs
· Sunday, March 16, 2025, 2:30 Club meet, 3pm La Vida Loca
· Sunday, April 27 2025, 2:30 Club meet, 3pm Women Rock!
· Saturday, May 24 2025, 2:30 Club meet, 3pm Ben Folds
***Your student soundcard membership allows you to attend many more concerts in addition to the ones listed above. Please consider making the most of your membership and check out other concerts at DSO.org***
It is not too late to join now! After attending only 1 concert, your student membership will have paid for itself.
Cost: $25 per student membership unlocks one free ticket to almost every Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) 2024-2025 concert series, including the concerts outside of those we plan to meet at, and up to two companion tickets (bring or invite your parents/sibling/friend/teacher) for $5 each, access to the best seats, access to DSO Replay and online Live streaming performances. Carpooling opportunities are available!
We will be learning more about the music, the performances, the artists and attend concerts with:
Oldies Music by The Drifters, Roy Orbison, Nat King Cole, The Beach Boys, and The Beatles; Ray Chen; Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker; Broadway Love Songs; Music of Enrique Iglesias, Gloria Estefan, Santana, & Ricky Martin; Women Rock! (Music by Carole King, Janis Joplin, Aretha Franklin, Pat Benatar, Tina Turner), Ben Folds and many more!
See Music Appreciation Club Details Document for more information and link to Google form for registration https://forms.gle/3eAmCFB4Vf9FCP626
SAVE THE DATE-7TH GRADE FIELD TRIP
We have a 7th grade field trip scheduled to Comerica Park on Wednesday, April 23rd for a science lesson and baseball game!
Busses will leave CHS at 8:30 a.m., and return at 5:00 p.m. Permission slips and forms will be shared in January.
*Please note that included in the field trip forms is a behavior and attendance contract. The contract notes that students that violate our District Code of Conduct and/or have excessive tardies and/or absences may not be able to attend the field trip.
26TH ANNUAL DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR DAY CELEBRATION
Walled Lake Schools 26th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration at Walled Lake Northern High School on Monday, January 20th beginning at 5:00 p.m.
This year’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration theme is Unity.
“Unity in diversity is unity between all individuals and groups, regardless of differences. It is unity without uniformity, and diversity without divisiveness. It is an understanding that the differences between people enrich our lives and makes our country the special, and unique place it is”.
Alec Bender Friend of Diversity Award
Walled Lake Schools has created an award to honor individuals who are true friends of diversity. We hope you will join us in an effort that will result in the selection of a Fiend of Diversity. This honor will be bestowed on the recipient(s) at the 26th annual district-wide Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration on Monday, January 20th, 2025.
Our committee hopes that each school building will nominate at least one staff member, student, parent, or community member for the Alec Bender Friend of Diversity Award. Nominations will be submitted to the Walled Lake School Central Office Administration for final selection. Nomination forms must be completed no later than Friday, December 13th, 2024. Please click on the form below and nominate someone you believe is deserving of the Friend of Diversity Award.
Alec Bender Friend of Diversity Award
Express Yourself Contest
Walled Lake Students are invited to submit an entry that express’s the theme of “Unity” in your own unique way. There are lots of possibilities for creating a project. It can be a piece of writing, music, art, or other visual that shows what unity means to you. Click on the contest form below and submit your entry to your school’s main office by Friday, December 13th.
VISION SCREENING
The Oakland County Health Department will be conducting vision screenings December 13th-20th for all 7th graders and students in our self contained classrooms.
Please contact JulieSmith@wlcsd.org if you have any questions.
CHS Goals Achievement Program (GAP)
Our Goal Achievement Program (GAP) is sponsored by our PTSA and asks students to achieve one goal per marking period. The information below was shared with students during morning announcements.
MP1: Citizenship: You’re already in for this goal. There’s nothing to turn in, just keep working on those 1’s and 2’s!
MP2: Grade Point Average: Your GPA is automatically calculated and based off of your report card grade. Your goal is a 3.0 GPA or higher.
MP3: Reading: Read at least 400 pages during MP 3 and you’ve achieved the goal! Turn in the log to the counseling office no later than March 21, 2025.
MP4: Community Service: Complete at least 10 hours of community service to achieve the goal. Volunteering your time to help others is community service. For ideas, please ask your parents, teachers, or counselor. This form is due by May 23, 2025.
Rewards are given for the goals you achieve. Special recognition is given for 8th graders that achieve goals for all 3 years at CHS.
Student Chromebook Support Request Form
- If a student needs support, he/she should fill out the link below. The link can also be found on all Google Classrooms and on the school website under Students. Being logged on to the school google account is required to access the form.
- The information in the form will be sent to Mrs. Stasak, our Middle School Computer Resource Teacher. She will reply to the student at his/her school gmail account. She will offer suggestions to fix the issue or, if it needs service, she will tell the student to take the chromebook to the office and give it to building admin secretary (enter the name for your building).
- The chromebook in the case will be sent through interoffice and the student will be allowed to use a loaner chromebook AT SCHOOL. It will be the student’s responsibility to pick it up each morning from the office and return it at the end of the day.
- When the chromebook has been repaired, it will be delivered back to the school for the student to pick up.
- If the family purchased insurance, the first repair is free and all additional repairs carry a deductible. Deductible invoices or repair invoices, for those that did not choose insurance, must be paid before the repaired chromebook is returned.
- If a student with a personal chromebook has a network issue, the same form can be used. We are not able to fix physical problems with personal devices and loaner chromebooks will not be provided.
As we prepare for the start of the school year, we wanted to touch base with you regarding the process of administering medications to students at school.
Medications are administered at school under the supervision of our office staff. This includes BOTH prescription medications AND over the counter (ibuprofen, pain relievers, etc.) medications. BOTH types of medication require a completed and signed WLCSD medication authorization form by BOTH the parent/ guardian AND the child’s doctor.
For safety and confidentiality reasons, we will not be accepting medications at Smart Start. If you would like to drop off medications and the required documentation prior to the start of the school year, please contact our office secretary, Mrs. Tonya Gray, directly at 248-956-3512.
As you have questions about this process please give Mrs. Gray a call.
FROM THE ATTENDANCE DESK
If your child will be absent, please call the Smart Attendance Hotline (248) 956-3510 as soon as possible. If you know of a vacation or pre planned days off, you can leave those dates on the hotline as well.
If you have not called your child in by 9:30 a.m., you will receive a call from Mrs Gray to verify that your student is not at school for the day. Thank you for partnering with us in keeping your children safe and accounted for.
Smart Administrative Team
Dan Holland, Assistant Principal
Steve Spickard, Dean of Students
Please contact us with positive or constructive feedback, questions, and/or concerns.
Website: www.wlcsd.org/smart
Location: 8500 Commerce Road, Commerce Charter Township, MI, United States
Phone: 248-956-3500
Twitter: @CliffordSmart
MAIN OFFICE CONTACT INFORMATION
Please feel free to call our main office with any questions at 248.956.3500. You can also email us.
Principal's Secretary: MelissaWilseck@wlcsd.org
Building/Attendance Secretary: TonyaGray@wlcsd.org
6th Grade Counselor: MaureenBratke@wlcsd.org
7th Grade Counselor: JulieBraley@wlcsd.org
8th Grade Counselor: KathleenHoover@wlcsd.org