WBSD Update
A weekly update from the West Bloomfield School District
WBSD Weekly Update - September 10
We hope you'll review this week's Weekly Update filled with news and notes from across the West Bloomfield School District. Stay up to date with District updates by visiting www.wbsd.org and connecting with the District on social media - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Have a great weekend!
JOIN US FOR FAMILY FUN NIGHT! - SEPT. 17
The West Bloomfield School District is excited to announce the 10th Annual Family Fun Night will be held on Sept. 17 at 5 p.m. at West Bloomfield High School. The entire West Bloomfield community is invited to attend this free event filled with activities, prizes and more! Attendees are encouraged to come for the fun and then stay to cheer on the 2020 State Champion, West Bloomfield High School Laker football team as they take on Stoney Creek High School at 7 p.m. following Family Fun Night. All elementary and middle school students wearing spirit wear items are admitted into the game for free!
Community organizations across West Bloomfield will be present with special activities and giveaways for those in attendance. There will be exhibitions, demonstrations including a magician, rock climbing wall and more. Tours of military and first responder vehicles will also be available to attendees. Members of the West Bloomfield Police and Fire Departments will also be playing in a charity softball game starting at 3:30 p.m. as part of the evening’s festivities.
COVID-19 Travel Reminders for Families
The CDC recommends that unvaccinated individuals should refrain from traveling internationally. If you are not fully vaccinated and must travel, it is important to follow the CDC's recommendations. Students that travel internationally must do the following upon return if they are not fully vaccinated:
- Get tested with a viral test 3-5 days after travel AND stay home and self-quarantine for a full 7 days after travel. Even if you test negative, stay home and self-quarantine for the full 7 days. If your test is positive, isolate yourself to protect others from getting infected.
- If you don’t get tested, stay home and self-quarantine for 10 days after travel.
- Avoid being around people who are at increased risk for severe illness for 14 days, whether you get tested or not.
- Self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms; isolate and get tested if you develop symptoms.
- Follow all state and local recommendations or requirements.
Fully vaccinated individuals must get tested with a viral test 3-5 days after travel, but do not need to quarantine. These individuals should self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms and isolate if symptoms do develop. These individuals should also follow all state and local recommendations or requirements.
WBSD embarks on Strategic Planning Process
The Board of Education and the Administration is launching a new initiative to guide the West Bloomfield School District through a Three- to Five-Year Strategic Plan. The purpose of this initiative is to help develop new goals and strategies for continuing to offer an excellent education for our students, while using scarce public education resources in the most effective and efficient way.
The strategic planning process is designed to produce approximately five goals to be accomplished over a three- to five-year period. The plan uses data—along with the feedback of staff, students and community members—to help create a shared vision for the future that will help make the district an even better place for our students.
Your ideas about the strengths of West Bloomfield are very important, as well as your opinions
concerning where there is opportunity for removing any barriers to implementation and other input.
Face-to-face sessions will be scheduled for future dates, but in the meantime, you are invited to
provide input electronically through this link:
Thank you for your assistance in helping us design our next Strategic Plan.
Bus Tracker App Reminder
As a reminder, Durham Transportation, our district’s transportation partner, offers a helpful bus tracking app for West Bloomfield families. The Bus Tracker app is available for iOS, Android and web and allows families to track their student(s) bus along its route, to and from school.
Families will need to have their student(s) ID number(s) which are available in PowerSchool in order to log into the app and create an account. As a safety protocol, the Bus Tracker app will only allow families to see their student(s) bus route(s) only.
If you have any questions, please consult the Bus Tracker instructions and visit the Bus Tracker webpage on the Durham Transportation website for more information and to download the app.
We hope the use of the Durham Transportation Bus Tracker app will help better inform our families of slow downs and delays in the bus pick up and drop off times. We appreciate your patience, understanding, and flexibility as we navigate the first days of this new school year. We value the importance of consistency and safety in our transportation offering to families.
If you have any questions or would like more information, call our Transportation Offices at (248) 865-3680.
Help Wanted - Lunchroom & Playground Monitors
- $15/hour
- 3 hours/day (working hours during the school day only)
- School Days Only
Apply by visiting www.EDUStaff.org and fill out an application today!
IRS Advance Child Tax Credit Materials To Share With Michigan Families
As you might be aware, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 was recently signed into law and it contains numerous relief provisions for individual taxpayers, including some significant changes to the Child Tax Credit.
As for background regarding this Advance Child Tax Credit, please look at the attached Publications 5534B and 5534C.
The Advance Child Tax Credit is not just available to taxpayers with children that file tax returns, but also to people with children who have low or no income. Which could help many children escape poverty in America.
To qualify for Advance Child Tax Credit payments, individuals must:
· Have a main home in the United States for more than half the year (the 50 states and the District of Columbia) or file a joint return with a spouse who has a main home in the United States for more than half the year; and
· Have a qualifying child who is under age 18 at the end of 2021 and who has a valid Social Security number; and
· If have earned income, made less than Modified Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of:
- $75,000 or less for singles,
- $112,500 or less for heads of household and
- $150,000 or less for married couples filing a joint return and qualified widows and widowers
Advanced Child Tax Credit payments are not considered income and will not affect your access to government benefits like SSI, SNAP, TANF or WIC. See #IRS info at https://go.usa.gov/x6fyE
WBHS FIELD HOCKEY MUMS SALE
The WBHS Girls Field Hockey Team and coaches are reaching out to you to inform you of the WBHS Annual Fall Mums Sale. The mums are big and beautiful this year! We are taking pre-orders until September 17, 2021. The mums arrive Friday, September 24, 2021 and can be picked up from 2:00pm - 7:00pm. We will have a limited supply of cash and carry that we will sell on Saturday, September 25 from 9am - 1pm or while supplies last.
The order forms can be returned to Maggie in the Athletic Office by September 17, 2021. For questions please contact Emily Roland at wbfieldhockey@gmail.com; Cindy Chen at 248-470-6650; or text Katrina Crane at 248-255-1130.
The WBHS Girls Field Hockey Team and coaches would like to Thank You for your support!
Attention Bowlers!
Blessings in a Backpack Application - 2021-22
If your child qualified for the Free and Reduced Meal Program last year or this year, s/he can also participate in the Blessings in a Backpack program. This program sends six non-perishable meals home each Friday of the school year. Its goal is to make sure that no child goes hungry on the weekend. Run by volunteers, there is NO cost to you.
If your child is going to school Face to Face, s/he will get his/her bag of food at his/her local school. If your child is enrolled in Lakers on Line, please indicate that on the form and we will contact you on food pickup arrangements.
WBSD STAR CERTIFICATE NOMINATION FORM
The purpose of the West Bloomfield School District Board of Education Star Certificate award is to recognize outstanding achievements by the students, staff and community members of the West Bloomfield School District. Honorees are also recognized for service to the district above and beyond the call of duty.
In order to be recognized, nominees must be a member of the district as a student, staff member or community member in West Bloomfield. Student groups and teams are also eligible for nomination.
Join Cub Scouts!
Start your adventure with Pack 101! We'll be having a short hike and scavenger hunt to learn about what Cub Scouting has to offer. Cub Scouts is open to both boys and girls in grade K though 5. If your home school is Doherty or Sheiko, then Pack 101 is for you!
When: Wednesday, September 15th.
Time: Stop by anytime between 5:30pm and 7:30pm.
Where: Woodland Hills Nature Park, Farmington Hills
Questions?: Contact us at wbpack101@gmail.com
Community Resources
Open Hands Food Pantry
Saturdays from 9:00am - 11:00am at St. John's Episcopal Church, 26998 WoodwardAve. (Royal Oak, corner of 11 Mile and Woodward - enter at 11 Mile)
For the safety of the mobile pantry guests and our volunteers, food will be placed in the trunk / back hatch of a vehicle.
Visit openhandspantry.org for more information
State of Michigan’s COVID Emergency Rental Assistance Program
WB Township Library Information
Book Lists
The Library’s study rooms are now open.
All seating has returned to the Main Library and Westacres Branch, along with select youth spaces and toys. The Friends of the Library are accepting donations again, and the Library’s hours have expanded.
Print from home.
Library cardholders can now send documents from home to library print stations and pick them up in the Main Library or Westacres Branch. Visit bit.ly/wblib_print to get started.
Registration is open for the West Bloomfield Library on the Go: Grandparents Day.
Click here to register by Sunday, September 12. These kits will come with all the materials needed for a fun at-home bonding experience between grandparents and grandchildren. Kits are limited to residents of West Bloomfield and contract communities. Funded by the Friends of the Library. For families of children up to 5th grade.
Renew or request a library card.
Ask at the Main Library Reception desk or the Westacres Branch Circulation desk. You can also continue to renew or request a library card on the Library’s website.
Connect with Us!
Email: daniel.durkin@wbsd.org
Website: www.wbsd.org
Location: 5810 Commerce Road, West Bloomfield Township, MI, USA
Phone: (248) 865-6420
Facebook: facebook.com/WestBloomfieldSchools/
Twitter: @wbloomfieldschl