C.H.S. Chronicles

Please click on the tab below and join our CHS Middle School Remind 101 text group. You will receive helpful reminders, time sensitive information along with other pertinent texts.

*Reply @LEAVE to the number you are receiving messages from if you'd like to leave the text group at anytime.

Dear CHS Middle School Families,

Our school has begun the preparation for the upcoming PSAT 8/9 test on Wednesday, April 17th. This date is set by the state, and all of our middle schools in Walled Lake will be testing on this day. It is important that all students are present on test day. Please avoid scheduling doctor, dentist or other appointments on that day.

This year, the PSAT is a digital test. Our school was able to complete the Digital Readiness Check the week of April 1st instead of completing it the week of April 15th. Students were given time on to familiarize themselves with the tools and format of this digital test during this readiness check. Students are able to complete a practice test on their own if they would like using the sign in ticket that was used during the Digital Readiness Check. Directions for this are on Mrs. Bratke's Google Classroom. New tickets will be issued the day of the PSAT.

We will be using district-issued chromebooks for testing that day. If your child has a district-issued chromebook, they will use it on that day. It is important that the chromebook be fully charged. It is also recommended that your child bring their chromebook charger in the event that the chromebook need to be charged during the testing. If your child does not have district-issued chromebook, one will be provided from our chromebook cart that day.

8th graders will attend a full day of school on Wednesday, April 17th . We will run our normal schedule with shortened class periods in the morning (no lunch for 6th or 7th graders), ending at 11:00 am. At that time, all 6th and 7th graders will be dismissed to go home (regular bus routes will run that day). Lunch for 8th graders will start at 11:00 to allow them enough time to eat, use the restroom, etc before heading to their testing room for the afternoon. 8th graders will be dismissed at 3:00 (regular bus routes).

More details will be shared as we get closer to the date of the test. Thank you advance for your time and support as we prepare our 8th graders for this important day!

Maureen Bratke

8th Grade Counselor

Clifford Smart Middle School

248.956.3517 | maureenbratke@wlcsd.org

Our Scholastic Spring BOGO Book Fair is quickly approaching, and we could use some volunteers to help it run smoothly!

The fair will run from April 15th-19th. If you're able to lend a hand, please click the sign up below, to grab a spot. Thanks so much for your support!

CHS Volunteer SignUpGenius

*A very special congratulations goes out to all students who earned the 3rd marking period GAP reading award! Your names will be placed on a list that will be kept at the book fair, and you will receive $5 toward the purchase of your books! Way to go!

Find our book fair info here, as well as the link to add money to your child's "eWallet," to make shopping even easier:

Book Fair Homepage (scholastic.com)

CHS Middle School Smart Start will be on Tuesday, August 20th from 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Smart Start is our middle school registration day for all students. Students will get their lockers, schedules, books, student IDs and school pictures taken. It’s also a great time for students and family members to walk around the school and locate their lockers and classrooms.

Next year's 8th Grade Washington D.C Trip will be March 11th-14th, 2025.

Thanks to all the students and their families who came out for the Yuja Wang concert. We were graced with an outstanding performance! What a treat to have her do 2 additional encore pieces: Prokofiev's Piano Sonata No. 7 in B- Flat Major, and her own personal interpretation of Mozart's Turkish March.

Upcoming concerts that we will attend as a group:

**The Music Of Pink Floyd: Saturday, April 20 – 8:00pm
**Mozart & The Seasons: Sunday, May 5 – 3:00pm
**Disney & Broadway Favorites: The Magic Of Menken: Sunday, June 23 – 3:00pm

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) 2023-2024 concert series in addition to the concerts listed above, and up to two companion tickets (bring your parents/sibling/friend/teacher) for $5 each, access to the best seats, access to DSO Replay and online Live streaming performances.

See attached flyer and Music Appreciation Club Details Document and link to Google form for registration.

https://forms.gle/3eAmCFB4Vf9FCP626

For more information please contact Monique Levu: monique.levu@gmail.com

The C.H.S. Counseling Department is partnering with yoga instructor, Kimberly Blaine, from our Lakes Area Youth Assistance Program to offer after school yoga sessions. We will be offering six sessions on Thursday afternoons. Yoga Club will start at 3:10pm in the Learning Commons and will end promptly at 3:55pm.

Sessions will take place on Thursdays immediately following dismissal on 4/11, 4/18, 4/25, 5/2, 5/9, & 5/16.

Yoga mats will be provided. Comfortable clothing and a water bottle are recommended.

Please complete the Google form permission slip for your child to be included: https://forms.gle/7ntDMDuP3pt4otBs9. Forms must be submitted by 4/9/24.

Please reach out to Mrs. Braley with any questions- juliebraley@wlcsd.org

Your child will be provided eclipse-safe glasses during their 6th hour on Monday, April 8th. These glasses will allow for a safe viewing experience for those who wish to participate in observing the solar eclipse. It's important to emphasize the significance of using proper eye protection to your child when viewing a solar eclipse. Looking directly at the sun without approved eye protection can cause serious damage to your eyes.

Please consider nominating a student, staff member, parent, and/or community member for the Kindness Matters Award. Additional information below. The deadline is Monday, April 15th.

PLEASE MAKE EVERY ATTEMPT TO HAVE YOUR CHILD IN ATTENDANCE AND ON TIME ON THE DATES BELOW. THANK YOU.

8th Grade PSAT - April 17

M-Step - April 30 - May 3

CHS IREADY TESTING DATES

ELA testing on April 24th

Math testing on May 7th

APRIL 10-13 WALLED LAKE MIDDLE SCHOOLS TRIP TO QUEBEC

APRIL 15-KINDNESS MATTERS AWARD DEADLINE (MORE INFORMATION ABOVE)

APRIL 15-19 SPRING BOOK FAIR (MORE INFORMATION ABOVE)

APRIL 17-PSAT TESTING FOR 8TH GRADERS. 6TH AND 7TH GRADERS ARE DISMISSED AT 11:00 A.M. (MORE INFORMATION ABOVE)

Welcome to the new school year! Don't forget our GAP program- you or your student may have already received a packet at Smart Start. This Goal Achievement Program, or GAP, provides students with the opportunity to work towards and meet objectives throughout their middle school years in four main areas: Citizenship, GPA, Reading Hours, and Community Service.

All students are enrolled in the program from the start of the school year, and will be rewarded for completing their milestones. Please click on the tab below for further information. If you have any queries on this subject, please do not hesitate to reach out to Andi Parel at AndiParel@gmail.com.

As you know, the Federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency has ended and all remaining state epidemic orders have been rescinded. This, however, does not change the recommendation to take precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19, such as isolation and masks. The expectation is that staff, students, and family members will follow the recommended guidelines regarding COVID-19. With that said, at this time, for the 2023-24 school year, COVID-19 positive cases will no longer be monitored at the District level and timelines will not be provided. Please see below for next steps when a positive case is reported to you:

· Report absence and subsequent absences in Skyward as Ill-Excused.

· Report the number of positive cases to the Oakland County Health Division as part of the your building’s weekly aggregate counts via their online portal.

· Advise families to follow recommended guidance from their physician, the Centers for Disease Control, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and/or the Oakland County Health Division.

· COVID cases no longer need to be reported on the WLCSD COVID Report Form, nor do they need to be reported to the corresponding teacher(s)/class(es).

· Building office staff will not be required to track and monitor COVID isolation timelines, nor should they give COVID-19 guidance.

· COVID-19 questions or concerns should be directed to their physician or the Oakland County Nurse On Call Line at 800-848-5533.

· Questions regarding protocol within the District should be directed to Ms. Kelly Baier - Human Resources or Mrs. Tacoma Corbin - District Nurse.

This form below is for any student who is borrowing a district chromebook this year. You will fill this out when you need tech support for your chromebook. Please make sure to check your gmail after submitting for an email response from Mrs. Stasak or one of her interns within 24 hours of your submission. Thank you.

Please feel free to call our main office with any questions at 248.956.3500. You can also email us.

Counseling Secretary: JulieSmith@wlcsd.org

Principal's Secretary: MelissaWilseck@wlcsd.org

Building/Attendance Secretary: TonyaGray@wlcsd.org

6th Grade Counselor: JulieBraley@wlcsd.org

7th Grade Counselor: KathleenHoover@wlcsd.org

8th Grade Counselor: MaureenBratke@wlcsd.org

DROP OFF 8:00 A.M.

SCHOOL STARTS 8:10 A.M.

DISMISSAL 3:00 P.M.

1/2 DAY DISMISSAL 11:40 A.M.

Nayal Maktari, Principal

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