Shark Tales Weekly Update

Wow! What a great week! We had wonderful parent/caregiver meetings at all four elementary schools, students worked diligently on MSTEP, and you could see students learning everywhere in the building! As mentioned last week, please be sure to check your email on Tuesday to view your child's report card and see all of the growth they have made this card marking!

This week's "Big Announcement" is about our Mileage Club! Mileage Club is a choice at recess to run the course that we have set up. Five laps equals a mile. Be sure to ask your child about it...AND check out their backpack to see if they have ran a mile yet! Students will earn "foot charms" at certain levels of running. We also have special charms for showing amazing effort, helpfulness, and good sportsmanship.

We do need your help to keep this going. Please consider volunteering from 11-2 on a Monday, Wednesday, or Friday from now until May 22nd. It is great fun!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Gooooooooooo Sheiko Sharks!

Blaine McDowell

• Tuesday, April 16th- PTO meeting 6:30pm

• Wednesday, April 24th - LATE START -school starts at 10:10am, dismissal is 4:02pm

• Friday, April 26th - 1/2 DAY- school starts at 9:10 am DISMISSAL IS 12:12PM

• Wednesday, May 8th - LATE START -school starts at 10:10am, dismissal is 4:02pm

• Thursday, May 16th - 4th grade Music Concert 5:30pm

• Wednesday, May 22nd - LATE START -school starts at 10:10am, dismissal is 4:02pm

• Monday, May 27th - Memorial Day - NO SCHOOL

• Wednesday, June 5th- Field day

• Thursday, June 6th- Half day dismissal is 12:12pm

• Thursday, June 6th- 5th Grade Promotion, more information to follow

• Click here for the district calendar.
  

We are asking all families to use the car line. We have had some close calls with cars squeezing in between buses, and could not get the ambulance into the parking lot when needed, so we want to be sure that the bus loop is clear for safety reasons.

Thank you for your support!

West Bloomfield Elementary Families,

By now, you should have received your child’s final elementary placement for the 2024-25 school year. Additionally, this placement letter was also sent home with students in their backpacks yesterday. Please feel free to reach out to the office staff if you have questions about your child’s placement. We are planning a lot of activities and events to help with this transition.

Redistricting Transition Activities and Event Dates:

• Parent/Caregiver Meetings for:
1. Gretchko Elementary - April 11th 6-7pm
2. Scotch- April 11th 7:30-8:30pm

• Student Mingle Field Trip:
1. Rising K/1st Grade - April 26
2. Rising 2nd/3rd Grades - May 10
3. Rising 4th/5th grades - May 14th

• Preparing all Families for Launch
1. At Doherty and Sheiko - May 8th @ 5:30pm-6:30pm *Sheiko families meet at the Abbott/Roosevelt location
2. At Gretchko and Scotch - May 16

• Popsicles with the Principal for Families (dates in August TBD)

For answers to frequently asked questions about this process, please visit the district website - under About Us, click K-5 Redistricting.

WBSD had added a half day (Friday, April 26th) to the school calendar for these purposes:

• elementary teachers to meet with their new principals at their new building for transition activities.
• middle and high school teachers to receive important professional development including student wellness and safety training.

Ethan Munson received a Silver medal.

Grady Long and Frankie Polhamus received bronze medals.

Preston Roy, Santiago Belt, and Ava Holly received math pentathalete ribbons.

All 6 kids worked so hard all year and I’m so proud of all of them!

We are looking for a lunch and recess monitor from now until the end of the year on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 11-2. We would love to have you!

We have an amazing opportunity to bring a new wellness and fitness program to our 3rd-5th grade students during recess called, Mileage Club. Mileage Club is a walking and running program that will be offered a few days a week during recess this spring. Students are encouraged to walk or run with friends during their recess time to earn small Toe Tokens and have fun!

A parent volunteer is needed to assist students in logging their laps, keeping track of student QR code lanyards, caring for the Mileage Club equipment and, most importantly, being an encouraging face as students take their laps. The parent volunteers are needed approximately 2.5 hours twice a week during the lunch/recess periods from 11:30-1:50.

Please email Mrs. McDowell at blaine.mcdowell@wbsd.org to express your interest in being a part of this amazing program for our kids. Mileage Club is sponsored by Lederman Kwartowitz Center for Orthopedics & Sports Medicine (LKO) in West Bloomfield.

4th grade- completed color study in primary colors.

3rd grade- texture monster.

I had some special visitors from Colorado Springs. My grandson Luca, who recently had a heart transplant and my daughter Kati.

Tickets for the WBHS production of Mamma Mia! are available for purchase as of March 28th on the website https://wbhstheatrearts.ludus.com. The show dates are April 25-27th at 7pm and one ASL interpreted matinee on Sat, April 27th at 1pm. All WB student tickets are only $5! All WBMS 8th grade students are invited to the Sat matinee at 1pm for no cost at all. This show stars Carley Law and Emelia Duffield, as well as features the Scotch Elementary student Thea Maher. Please consider supporting the high school theatre department, and just great theatre in general, by booking tickets today! They are selling fast! We hope to see you there!

Questions: email wbhstheatreprograms@gmail.com

Apply here for the WB Youth Assistance Camp and Skill Building Scholarship! Parents/Guardians of applicants will be notified within two weeks of eligibility after the completion of this application. Please apply three weeks prior to the start of the camp/program to ensure payment of the scholarship is received by the camp/program before its start date. Please email info@wbyouthassistance.org if you have any questions.

The purpose of the West Bloomfield Youth Assistance (WBYA) Camp and Skill Building Scholarship is to offer enrichment opportunities to economically disadvantaged children between the ages of 5 - 17 years old. This application can be used for the following:

• Summer Camp
• Skill Building/Workshop
• Educational and Enrichment Activity

Process and Guidelines:

• Application must be completed and submitted to West Bloomfield Youth Assistance.
• The recipient must reside in the West Bloomfield School District.
• WBYA will award scholarship money on merit and a first come, first served basis while funding is available, and until all available funding is exhausted.
• Families may apply for more than one program per child. However, the maximum awarded is $250 per child per calendar year.
  
• WBYA agrees to cover ninety percent (90%) of the total cost, while families are responsible for the remaining ten percent (10%).
• Please apply three weeks prior to the start of the camp/program to ensure payment of the scholarship is received by the camp/program before its start date. WBYA will pay the program provider or vendor directly. Funding for scholarships is limited, as is the number of students able to attend each camp/program, so please apply as early as possible.
• Applications must be accompanied by a copy of the determination letter (or email) sent to the Parents/Guardians of the applicant(s) by the Food Service Department or State for free/reduced price meals.
• If the scholarship is accepted and not used, or the applicant is a no-show for the camp or program, then the applicant must contact WBYA to let the organization know the reason(s). The applicant may apply for a different program using the same application form (subject to Board approval).
• Families are encouraged to submit a thank you letter and/or a drawing/photo of the applicant at the activity, to share with WBYA Board. If the family chooses to remain anonymous, WBYA will accept the notes without identifying features.

WBHS Alum, Semaj Morgan
Football Camp by the Champ at WBHS

Ages 6-14

WB Lacrosse is hosting Kids Day Saturday, April 27th. We have Free WB Lacrosse Tee shirts for the first 100 respondents!

Join West Bloomfield High School Boys Lacrosse Kids Day Meet and Greet!! This is for elementary and middle school students interested in LACROSSE. WB Boys Lacrosse is hosting Kids Day Saturday, April 27 at West Bloomfield High School Athletic Field after the Varsity game finishes. Meet and Play LAX with the high school team on the West Bloomfield High School Athletic Field after the Varsity game. The JV game starts at 10:30am and the Varsity Game starts at 12 noon Saturday April 27th.

The first 100 registered participants will receive West Bloomfield Lacrosse Tee shirts generously donated by Maple Orthodontics located in West Bloomfield. Sign up early. You don't want to miss out on your free WB Lacrosse swag. Show your school spirit and wear your Tee to the game. Free admission for ALL Students wearing their WB Lacrosse Tee shirt!

Sign up now for a great time!!

WEEK 17

Weekly SEL Family Activity:
Choose a night this week to head outside and look at the stars. As a family, check out the night sky. Can you find any constellations?

PTO meetings will be in person and you can zoom in.

Please join us at 6:30pm on:

• April 9
  
• April 16
• May 14

This will be our link for all future dates: https://wbsd-org.zoom.us/j/4211617208

Spring is upon us and students should be prepared for warmer/wetter weather. Please have your student bring extra clothes (pants & socks) to keep in their locker.

Please label everything. It will help eliminate the need for a Lost & Found table.

We are asking that students leave their smart watches at home. They have proven to be a huge distraction to teaching and learning. Students may have phones (but totally not necessary!) as long as they are powered down and in their backpacks. Students will have one reminder to put them away. Otherwise, these items will be turned into the office for parent pick up if they are out.Thank you for your support in this matter!

To protect all children from communicable illnesses, students infected with certain diseases are not allowed to come to school while they are contagious. Students should be symptom-free for 24 hours before returning to school. Please call our Safeline (248-865-6372) if your child will be absent from school. We also have a masking station at the front of the building in which students are welcome to help themselves. For more information regarding the sick policy, please see the attached document.

The West Bloomfield School District uses the Bridges math program. By clicking on the grade below you will find the family letter for the month of March & April

Email: blaine.mcdowell@wbsd.org
Website: https://www.wbsd.org/sheiko-elementary
Location: 4500 Walnut Lake Road, West Bloomfield Township, MI, USA
Phone: 248-865-6370
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/225210744201191
Twitter: @BlaineMcDowell