We hope you'll review this week's District Update filled with news and notes from across the Walled Lake Consolidated School District. Stay up to date with the district by visiting www.wlcsd.org and connecting with the district on social media.

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• May 7: Election Day - Remember to Vote
  
• May 9: Half Day for Students. Staff Professional Development
• May 13: PTSA Installation and Awards - 6:30 p.m. at Sarah G. Banks Middle School
• May 20: Board of Education special meeting (board member interviews) - 6 p.m. at the Educational Services Center
• May 23: Board of Education special meeting (rescheduled from May 2) - 7 p.m. at the Educational Services Center
• May 24: Half Day for Students and Staff

Visit www.wlcsd.org/calendar for a complete list of events with details.

Glengary Elementary second grade teacher, Julie Stout, is in the running for America’s Favorite Teacher presented by Reader’s Digest.

A public vote will determine the finalists, which closes tonight at 10 p.m. You are allowed to vote for free once every 24 hours. It is free and easy to vote.

“The biggest part of being an educator is forming long lasting relationships with each student and seeing them grow as a learner,” said Stout on her favorite part of being an educator. “I would say the most memorable teaching experience is when all my students came to my wedding.”

The winner of America’s Favorite Teacher will be featured in Reader’s Digest, win a trip to Hawaii, and take home a $25,000 grand prize.

If selected, Stout said she will use the prize money to help her son pay for his first year of college in the fall.

You can vote for Mrs. Stout here.

Walled Lake Northern seniors Ava Epley and Ava Kurczewski set a new school records over the past week in both track and field events.

Kurczewski was one of three Northern distance runners to compete in Romeo’s Barnyard Elite Mile on Friday, which is nine meters longer than the 1600 meter. Kurczewski raced against the 50 fastest girls in the state of Michigan and finished as one of just 13 runners to break the five-minute mark. Kurczewski crossed the mile mark at 4:59, which converts to 4:57.92 in the 1600 meter and a new school record. She broke her previous school record of 5:05.71, which she set at the same event a year ago.

Epley etched her name in the school record books on Tuesday at Milford. The senior leaped an incredible 5 foot 2.5 inches in the high jump to set the new Knights mark.

Gooding took the stage at Walled Lake Northern and delivered much more than just a concert for students at Walled Lake Northern on Monday, April 29.

The Knights got a dose of money smarts with a side of rock vibes as the band performed some of their top hits before giving students a lesson on the importance of making good financial decisions. Gooding used examples of personal experiences as the band ascended its career in the music industry.

Gooding’s presentation is a part of the Funding the Future program, which is a non-profit financial literacy tour focused on bringing musicians to schools to teach real-life lessons about personal finance.

The Foundation for Excellence spent past two weeks surprising more than 80 teachers across Walled Lake Consolidated Schools’ with mini grants for their classrooms.

This year the Foundation for Excellence handed out over $40,000 in grants which will be used for books, educational tools, and much more to benefit the district’s students and classrooms.

Help us celebrate the Walled Lake Consolidated Schools' Class of 2024!

Click on the picture on the right to complete the form and have your senior recognized for their hard work and achievements! We'll be honoring seniors through June across district social media accounts.

During the February 2 Board of Education meeting, the Board of Education voted unanimously to move forward with a $250 million bond election on May 7, 2024.

The 2024 bond proposal is focused on student safety, educational opportunities, technology, and facilities; the millage rates associated with this proposal will provide a tax decrease for residents. Over the past two decades, our community has supported bond proposals in 2019, 2013, and 2004. As a result of this past investment, the school district and our students have been able to thrive.

A list of the 2024 bond projects, by school, will be published on the District’s website, as well as the bond language, frequently asked questions, videos, and other information. To help inform our community, the District will host a series of informational bond meetings over the next several months. Meeting dates, locations, and times will also be on the bond webpage.

In an effort to celebrate our staff, the WLCSD Community Relations department requests that families fill out the form below to nominate staff who are rock stars in their classrooms and school communities.

A sample of what these shout outs will look like on social media and in our district newsletters is on the right.

Walled Lake Consolidated Schools has partnered with GoFan for digital ticketing starting this spring for all home athletic events.

Fans can purchase tickets online through each schools’ GoFan page or by presenting a card or mobile payment option at the ticket gate. All major credit cards, including Apple Pay and Google Pay, will be accepted.

Fans are encouraged to buy tickets online before arriving at the event. For your convenience, signage will be set up at the venue to help fans make an online purchase quickly and easily.

As the district launches its new partnership with GoFan, cash payments will be accepted as well throughout the remainder of the spring athletic season. No cash options will be available starting in the Fall of 2024.

To purchase tickets, please visit each schools’ GoFan page:

• Walled Lake Central: https://gofan.co/app/school/MI10112
• Walled Lake Northern: https://gofan.co/app/school/MI10113
• Walled Lake Western: https://gofan.co/app/school/MI10114

Preschool registration is now open for the 2024-25 school year. To register, please visit the preschool website. We invite your child to come grow with us!

Year-end presents a great opportunity to celebrate our top senior student athletes and their opportunity to continue their athletic careers in college.

Please provide the following information on SENIOR athletes that have either:

- received a scholarship to play college athletics

- have a spot guaranteed to them on a college roster as a "preferred walk-on."

Please complete the following form in order to be considered for the Graduate Spotlight section of the WLCSD quarterly Learning newsletter. The nominated student needs to be a 2016 graduate or before. Please contact pamelacole@wlcsd.org with any questions.

The Maintenance Department is seeking State of Michigan licensed individuals in the following trades: HVAC, Plumbing or Electrical. The Building Engineer position is tasked with maintaining district mechanical systems, and is full time, full year employment. Contact Dave Watkins, Maintenance Supervisor for additional job details at (248) 956-3074.

Our mission, in partnership with parents and the community, is to become the best educational system in America so all students demonstrate they are caring, responsible, and knowledgeable citizens.

Email: danieldurkin@wlcsd.org
Website: www.wlcsd.org
Location: 850 Ladd Road, Walled Lake, MI, USA
Phone: (248) 956-2000
Facebook: www.facebook.com/wlcsd/
Twitter: @WalledLkSchools