Dear WBSD families and staff,

As of right now, all afterschool programs and activities are being held as scheduled with the following exceptions:

• The WBHS band pre-festival clinic originally planned for 7 p.m. tonight 2/12 will be rescheduled (this impacts some middle school students also)
• The Global Equity Meeting will be held via zoom, so please contact Sonja.James@wbsd.org for the link
• Middle School Specific Updates:
• Volleyball (Both Grades) – CANCELED
• After-school tutoring – CANCELED
• Theatre Rehearsal – CANCELED
• PSAT – WILL CONTINUE (Dismissal at 4:30 PM)
• Wrestling – WILL PROCEED at Royal Oak Middle School, starting promptly at 4:00 PM with abbreviated matches.
  
  

If there are any changes to times or locations for clubs or sports, the coach or sponsor will contact you directly.

Emails, texts and social media messages will not impact the decision for a snow day. Thank you for your patience as we watch the weather and road conditions. We promise to update you as soon as possible when a decision is made about tomorrow. Please see the graphic at the bottom of this newsletter for more information on how those decisions are made.

WBSD Administration

Oakland Schools is proud to host author Jacqueline Woodson as our guest for this year's African American Read-In. She's the award-winning author/illustrator of numerous critically acclaimed books for children. The first 500 Oakland County households who register will receive a copy of one of Jacqueline Woodson's books.

All West Bloomfield Families are invited! Join us at WBMS to enjoy food, books, and crafts for all ages.

Date: Thursday February 27, 2025
Time: 5 p.m.
Location: West Bloomfield Middle School iCenter

You'll receive a confirmation email that includes the event's Zoom link -- keep an eye out for that information in your email inbox.

You can find more information about the National African American Read-In here: https://ncte.org/get-involved/african-american-read-in/

Please contact Shahenda VanNostrand, Sheiko Elementary Librarian, with any questions regarding the event.

shahenda.vannostrand@wbsd.org

Are your children safe while online? Michigan families, especially minors, are becoming inundated with advertisements from alcohol, tobacco, pornography, illegal drugs and gambling marketers through different internet and cell phone inboxes. Thankfully, the State of Michigan offers a free program to stop adult advertisements from reaching e-mails, text messages, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, Discord, TikTok, Twitch and Twitter. The Michigan Child Protection Registry, is a free do-not-contact service for Michigan’s families and can be located at www.ProtectMIChild.com.

To sign up only takes seconds. Just go to www.ProtectMIChild.com and keep your family safe.

WBHS 8th Grade Parent Info Night (for parents of incoming freshmen)

3/4/2025, 7 p.m., West Bloomfield High School, 4925 Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield
Come learn about West Bloomfield High School -- and how we work with families to develop socially responsible citizens empowered to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing global society, and who are characterized by curiosity, creativity, critical thinking and the ability to effectively communicate and collaborate. Meet staff. Ask questions. Call or email Principal Eric Pace to schedule a personal tour (248) 865-6720 eric.pace@wbsd.org. There is a link to last year's presentation at the bottom of this page:https://www.wbsd.org/west-bloomfield-high-school

Oakland Early College Info Night Webinar
3/18/2025, 7 p.m., Webinar - email morrison.borders@wbsd.org for the link
At Oakland Early College, we do school differently; through our partnership with Oakland Community College, we provide an early middle college experience where OEC students are simultaneously enrolled in high school and college classes at no cost to families. All students in 9th through 11th grade whose families reside in Oakland County can apply. Here, students earn transferable college credits, up to an associate's degree, that will follow them to a four year university. There is also an option to earn a work certificate through one of OCC’s many programs. All students are supported by our tenets of college, culture, community, and connection in a small and diverse school community while they progress through our five year high school program. Learn more at our webinar March 18.

Oakland Schools' Dream Big Event takes place on President's Day and gives families a fun, educational outing. This free event has been well attended, so reserve your space now at the link below. This year we will watch the brand new Cities of the Future movie highlighting how engineers are making plans for a more sustainable world! Afterward, students will build and test a Magnetic Levitating (Maglev) train. Popcorn will also be provided! See a preview of the movie Here.

Monday, February 17, 2025

10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon

Oakland Schools Building 2111 Pontiac Lake Road Waterford, MI 48328

Recommended for 3rd to 8th Grade Students

Sign up to attend here: www.tinyurl.com/dreambig25

West Bloomfield Middle School is presenting the musical Freaky Friday! Tickets are just $5. Poster artwork created by WBMS 8th grader Comet Erickson.

Funds raised will directly support WBHS choir program, helping to cover essential costs such as sheet music, performance attire, travel expenses and registrations for festivals and events, pianists for the choirs and solo & ensemble performances, and clinicians for the choirs.

Contributions ensure students have the resources they need to excel in their musical journey and share the joy of music with our community and beyond. Help them reach their goal https://verticalraise.com/.../west-bloomfield.../c/1588766/

• Girls Lacrosse Information Meeting – February 24th

• Girls Freshman Basketball beats Livonia Stevenson 30 – 16

• 4 WB Wrestlers Qualify for Girls Regionals, Khizanishvili Takes 1st

• Varsity Hockey Dominates Midland in Last Home Game of Season
• 4 WB Wrestlers Qualify for Boys Regionals
• CONGRATULATIONS WBHS CHEER TEAM, LEAGUE CHAMPS!
  
  
• Shop Laker spirit gear here.

• All Teams Schedule

Saturday was a beautiful day for a screening, and WBSD had a great turnout for the first National Youth Heart Screening Day event at West Bloomfield High School. The WB Has Heart students did an outstanding job raising awareness among their peers. A huge thank you to 97.1 The Ticket for helping spread the word and engaging with students and parents on-site. We also deeply appreciate Panera Bread and Tim Hortons for donating breakfast, and My Big Fat Shawarma in West Bloomfield for providing a delicious lunch for the volunteers. We also thank senior Ari Saperstein who took incredible photos for us (posted on Facebook).

Thanks to our dedicated volunteers and sponsors, we were able to screen 231 students from 68 different schools. Of those who attended:

• 26 students were advised to follow up with their physician but could continue activities.
• 4 students were recommended to stop sports until cleared by a physician or cardiologist.

These follow-ups are exactly why we do this important work, and we remain committed to expanding our efforts.

We were fortunate to have 11 cardiologists volunteering alongside 87 staff and volunteers—their time and expertise make all the difference! This is one more step in our path to be a Michigan HEARTSafe School! For more information, please visit www.wbhasheart.com.

All Lunch Menus are located on the Nutrition Services page, use this link.

Did you know Laker Opportunity Center is open to all students in Michigan ages 16-22? Help us share with students who are behind in credits and interested in a different path to a diploma, with the flexibility of online learning and the support of real WBSD teachers.

• Finance Supervisor
• English Language Development (ELD) Program Paraeducator

Please share our Job Postings with your friends and family. Several postings are closing soon!

• WBSD Employment Opportunities
• GWB Historical Society Events
• Greater West Bloomfield Community Coalition
• West Bloomfield Parks and Recreation
• West Bloomfield Township Public Library
• West Bloomfield Youth Assistance

Book Lists

· Pine Tree (Youth)

· Civil Rights History (Youth)

· Black History Month

The Movement of Freedom with Anthony Lucas

Monday, February 17 from 11am – 12noon

Main Library Meeting Room
Join us for an interactive program with Anthony Lucas, storyteller from the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village. This program will focus on the Civil Right Movement to provide insight on African Americans’ fight for freedom and equality. The presentation will provide excerpts from two of Dr. King’s most famous speeches, “I Have a Dream” and “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop.”

For Grades 3 - 6. No Registration Needed

Adventures in Art

Saturday, February 22 from 10:30am – 12noon

Main Library Youth Activity Center
A monthly elementary school art class, where creativity knows no bounds! In this vibrant space, young artists embark on an exciting journey through the world of drawing, painting and early color theory. Each lesson is a celebration of creativity and self-expression.

For Grades 2-5. Registration Required

Click here to register: https://westbloomfield.librarycalendar.com/event/adventures-art-8541

West Bloomfield Youth Assistance is now accepting applications for scholarships to help fund summer camp, skill building, or other educational opportunities for students!

The West Bloomfield Youth Assistance (WBYA) Camp and Skill Building Scholarship Program provides families an opportunity to enroll their students in enriching programs during the school year or over summer break. The scholarships are being offered to families of 5 to 17 year olds residing within the West Bloomfield School District. The application form is posted on the West Bloomfield Youth Assistance website. Please complete the application three weeks or more before the first payment due date. WBYA will cover ninety percent (90%) of the total camp/program cost, up to $250 per child per calendar year, if approved. Funding for scholarships is limited, however, so please apply early!

Bus Tracker will be deactivated, so please join the 1,000 families already enjoying the advanced features of BusZone. To sign up you'll need to download the app, use our district code 4079WBSD, and know your student ID number from PowerSchool. Be sure to set up both AM and PM routes and take advantage of the push notification feature. Need help? Contact: Tanja Thomas, General Manager, Phone: (248) 865-3682 or email tathomas@durhamschoolservices.com.