Start time 9:10 a.m.

Dismissal time 4:02 p.m.

Late Start Time: 10:10 a.m.

Half-Day Dismissal time: 12:12

If immunizations are not up to date by the start of school and you wish to obtain a waiver, please schedule an appointment with the Oakland County Health Department ASAP. They are already scheduling into mid-October and the district exclusion date will likely be mid-October as well. If you do not obtain a waiver or complete the required immunizations by that exclusion date, your child will NOT be able to attend school.

• Students may elect to pack a lunch from home OR order a Free Lunch
• One breakfast and one lunch permitted per student per day

Families who have previously received breakfast and lunch assistance or are currently in a difficult financial position need to fill out the application by clicking the blue button below. There are a variety of important resources that are tied to that application, including Blessings in a Backpack, grant funding, etc. The applications are confidential and should be filled out each year for your students. The goal of completing the forms is to provide extra support for those students who need it.

Families planning to use our carline this year are asked to print out the form below and place it on the dashboard when picking up your student. Please complete the form with student first and last name, as well as the teacher's last name.

Please write big enough so those staff members on the sidewalk will be able to read your sign.

As you prepare to send your child to school this fall it's very important that you label everything you send in with them. Especially common items like water bottles, lunch boxes, shoes, boots, jackets, backpacks, etc. Many of the students have nearly identical items and labeling them is the very best way to keep their items out of the lost and found!

You can use a sharpie, or if you'd like it to be more convenient you can order from our Mabel's Labels fundraiser. One pack will easily provide labels for several years of your student's belongings! Best part is it's FREE SHIPPING on all orders. Click on the image to head ot the Mabel's Labels site and search Doherty Elementary to find us. We recommend any of the multi use labels, mini or rectangle- with at least a first name with last initial.

The small commission from this sale will be put into our student activities account that is used for covering the costs of items or activities that our students may not be able to cover themselves.

• Anne Stevens anne.stevens@wbsd.org or 248.865.6733

Contact Anne with any questions regarding lunch accounts, free and reduced lunch applications or account set up.

Jake Sutton, General Manager
jake.sutton@wbsd.org

Durham School Services, West Bloomfield
3340 Orchard Lake Road
West Bloomfield, Michigan 48324
Phone: (248) 865-3680

• Bethany Helka
  Kids Klub/Tween Time Secretary
  (248) 865-6468
  bethany.helka@wbsd.org

When will I find out who my child's teacher will be?

Classroom placements and teacher assignments are prepared over the summer and will be shared with families approximately a week before the school year starts or sooner if finalized.

When can I see my child's classroom?

We will hold an open house for families in September, the information is included in this newsletter and will be sent home several times before school starts.

How do I find out where my bus stop is and when the bus picks up and drops off?

The transportation department routes all students eligible for bussing throughout the summer and will mail that information directly to families in mid-August. Other information about transportation is available on the WBSD Transportation website including School Of Choice Shuttle requests.

How does the school keep the building secure throughout the day?

The exterior doors and main entrance are ALWAYS locked at Doherty. All visitors must access the building by being admitted through our main office. Unscheduled visitors are not permitted and guests are accompanied at all times while in the building. We are also equipped with video surveillance and frequent patrols from the West Bloomfield Police Department.

Is the school nut-free?

The school is not nut-free but classrooms are. Any snack consumed in the classrooms must be nut-free. Parents of students with severe allergies should contact the office before school starts.

Can we send in cupcakes, or cookies or birthday cake to celebrate my child's birthday?

At this time our district and building policy is to not celebrate birthdays with treats, baked goods, candy or food of any kind. Elementary teachers will recognize students on their special day in special ways.

Will the students go outside for recess all year long?

All Doherty students will participate in outdoor recess when safe and weather permits. Outdoor play is important for a child's social and physical development. Parents are encouraged to acquire various weather-appropriate gear for their student to wear during recess. Students are outside for recess unless there is heavy rain, thunderstorms/lightning or the 'feels like' temperature is below 10* Fahrenheit.

How should my child dress for school daily?

Doherty students will play, use various learning materials and art mediums on a daily basis. They will also foster independence outside on the playground and in the cafeteria. Their clothing should be comfortable, weather appropriate and ok to get a little dirty sometimes. Closed toe, well fitting athletic style shoes are strongly encouraged for both safety and practicality.

Can I walk my student to their class on the first day of school?

Unfortunately, we cannot allow parents to accompany their students into the building and to their classrooms. Unscheduled visitors are not permitted for safety reasons and you can imagine what it might look like if there were nearly 500 students and their parents streaming into the building all at the same time! We will have many smiling staff members and teachers greeting students outside every day making sure they get to where they are supposed to be safely.

Families with students in elementary school who would like to utilize Kids Klub services on Late Start Wednesdays may register for a drop-in contract through the Eleyo registration site. Drop-in rates are $15 per drop-in session, per day. A non-refundable registration fee of $60 per child or $90 per family will be collected at the time of registration. Automatic Payment is required. All children who attend Kids Klub must be registered for services for the state of Michigan licensing compliance. Children who are not registered will not be accepted. If you are interested in registering for Kids Klub services, please click here. Families must notify Beth Helka the Monday before a Late Start Wednesday to ensure staffing compliance. To view the 2023-2024 calendar, click here.

After careful consideration and research amongst the surrounding Districts, WBSD will not offer Tween Time Services for middle school students. This decision is based on previous enrollment numbers, which have not been high enough to justify staffing.

The Early Childhood Department