WBSD Weekly Update

Winter Break runs from Monday, December 25 through Friday, January 5 (returning to school on Monday, January 8). We look forward to seeing everyone back in school on Monday, January 8, 2024!

We wish you a wonderful Winter Break and look forward to the learning WBSD will accomplish in 2024.

8th grade students in Ms. Henry's and Ms. Wynn's English classes recently participated in a challenge to commit an anonymous act of kindness, inspired by the title character of the novel Stargirl, by Jerry Spinelli. In the novel, Stargirl is known to perform anonymous acts of kindness without needing people to know it was her. She doesn't need the credit because knowing she made someone's day brighter is enough to make her happy. Over the last week, evidence of these acts started to appear around the school. Uplifting notes were left on lockers, on bathroom mirrors, inside pencil cases, and even inside copies of shared books in classrooms. Keep it up Lakers!

Beginning January 16th, K- 8 students will participate in the Winter NWEA Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Growth Assessment for Math and Language Arts. Each school and teacher will be communicating when your child will take the assessment. We need your help in ensuring that your child takes the assessment seriously, gives his/her very best, and is well rested for the assessment. Please read the information below so that we can work together to maximize this assessment experience.

• Please be aware of communication from your child’s school regarding the dates of the assessment so that you can help your child mentally prepare. If you are unsure of the dates, please feel free to connect with your child’s teacher.

• Our mindset and words matter. Please take the time to emphasize the importance of the assessment and to encourage your child to do his/her very best.

• The NWEA MAP Growth Assessment is a computer-adaptive test designed to measure your child’s academic growth in Math and Reading.

• This assessment is a helpful data point that we use to measure your child’s academic progress and growth at three different points of the year–fall, winter, and spring. It is also one of the benchmark assessment options that is required by the state.

• Our teachers use the results of this assessment to shape future lessons, instructional groupings, and individualized instructional strategies.

• The data from this assessment can be used to identify additional instructional support outside of the classroom and to identify students who have not self-selected into accelerated programs, like Advanced Math or Magnet.

For more information regarding the NWEA MAP Growth Assessment in Math and Reading, please read the “Frequently Asked Questions” portion of this communication by clicking on this link. Thank you for your continued partnership and support!

WBHS Laker Express showcased their talent at Holiday Nights in Greenfield Village. Sincere appreciation to Mrs. Hauk, our dedicated choir director, for providing our students with meaningful and enriching experiences.

January 24th, The Laker Express will be performing the National Anthem at the Pistons game, and it is lovely to have our community there with us. Click here to purchase tickets: https://fevo-enterprise.com/Lakerexpress

Congratulations to those signing this afternoon and Go Lakers!

Jamir Benjamin Signs to Attend University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)

Brandon Davis Swain Signs to Attend University of Colorado

Kari Jackson Signs to Attend Penn State University

Montele Johnson II Signs to Attend Rutgers University

Bryce Rowe Signs to Attend Central Michigan University

• Boys 8th Grade Green rolls over Derby Middle School – Team Red 37-18

• Boys 7th Grade Green beats Derby Middle School – Team Red 24-17

• Coed Middle School Swimming beats Ferndale, goes undefeated 4-0

On the Presidential Primary Ballot, February 27, 2024, the West Bloomfield School District will be voting on the following operating millage renewal. The actual ballot language is below:

West Bloomfield School District Operating Millage Renewal Proposal

This proposal will allow the school district to maintain the

number of mills required to be levied for the school district to

receive its revenue per pupil foundation allowance and renews

millage that will expire with the 2024 tax levy.

Shall the currently authorized millage rate limitation of 18.6967 mills ($18.6967 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) on the amount of taxes which may be assessed against all property, except principal residence and other property exempted by law, and 4.6587 mills ($4.6587 on each $1,000 of taxable valuation) against principal residences, qualified agricultural property, qualified forest property, supportive housing property, property occupied by a public school academy, industrial personal property and commercial personal property, in West Bloomfield School District, Oakland County, Michigan, be renewed for a period of 10 years, 2025 to 2034, inclusive, to provide funds for operating purposes; the estimate of the revenue the school district will collect from combined property taxes authorized herein if the millage is approved and levied in 2025 is approximately $13,371,684 (this is a renewal of millage that will expire with the 2024 tax levy)?

Key points:

• This is not a tax increase. This is a renewal of an existing millage.

• This makes up approximately 17% of our budget.

• The non-homestead millage proposal is only for non-homestead properties, like commercial, business, rental properties, vacant land, and second-home property owners. This portion does not impact primary residence.

• There is an Operating Millage Renewal FAQ on the district website that contains facts about the ballot proposal.

Paid for by: West Bloomfield School District, 5810 Commerce Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48324

The WBEF has impacted every grade at every school in the district. Can we count on you to make a lasting impact on our community?

Tickets are on sale now for the WBEF Casino Night Friday, February 2, 2024. This is their one fundraiser to support all the grants they give to the District.

Four Ways To Support WBEF:

• Sponsor our Annual Casino Night Event on 2/2/24
  
• Attend our Annual Casino Night Event on 2/2/24
• Give online https://www.wbef.org/donate/
• Mail your gift to West Bloomfield Educational Foundation, 5810 Commerce Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48324

The Laker Opportunity Center offers an alternative learning experience for those that have struggled in the traditional learning environment and need credit recovery. The Laker Opportunity Center offers students the opportunity to complete high school and graduate with a diploma. Our school leaders help select the right learning mode for each student. The program is open to all students in the State of Michigan who are 16-22 years old. Learn more on their facebook page or https://www.wbsd.org/lakeroppcenter.

In-Person Cohorts

Students may join an in-person cohort, meeting 2-3 times weekly. Monday & Thursday OR Tuesday & Friday are available, with a Wednesday rotation.

Drop-In

Qualifying students completing coursework from home may qualify for opt-in meet-ups only.

All Online

Qualifying students can learn entirely from home 24/7, communicating with school staff via email and video only. All students must make weekly contact with staff.

For more information please contact Morrison Borders, Principal at morrison.borders@wbsd.org

Do you have a newsworthy story to share? We want to share your wonderful stories with the rest of the community! Please share with us what is happening with your child(ren) and our staff. We would love to hear about your events and activities including awards, honors, good deeds, and accomplishments. Help us share your success stories in art, music, scholastics, athletics, drama, debate, and more. We look forward to sharing your news! Submit a story here.

Congratulations to Cindy Carson, the new Assistant Principal at WBMS! She is joining WBMS leaders Principal David Gardner, Assistant Principal Jermaine Evans, and Dean of Student Services Haley Barnes. Cindy has worked as an educator in the West Bloomfield School District since 1996. She taught Kindergarten, Grades 1, 2, and 3 for 20 years before transitioning to the iCenter as a Media Specialist in 2016. Most recently, Cindy has served as the Media Specialist at WBMS for the past two years. Cindy is certified in grades K-8, as well as early childhood and educational technology. She holds a bachelor’s degree in early childhood and elementary education from Western Michigan University, a master’s degree in teaching from Marygrove College, and a second master’s degree in educational technology from Lawrence Technological University. Cindy is well-known as a leader in the WBSD FIRST Robotics program and has been active on many district-wide committees and projects during her career.

The Board of Education approved the redistricting plan shared previously. Here is the map that shows the new boundaries along major roads (click to enlarge). By late January, district administration will decide if we implement for the 2024-25 or the 2025-26 school year.

For answers to frequently asked questions about this process, please visit the district website - under About Us, click K-5 Redistricting.

A collaboration between the Greater West Bloomfield Community Coalition, the Jamie Daniels Foundation, West Bloomfield Youth Assistance, West Bloomfield School District and Soul Happy Kids Yoga brought yoga to WB elementary schools to introduce healthy coping mechanisms to students.

The article is listed on page 18 in the West Bloomfield Today magazine, click here. To view the WBSD December edition of The Laker, click here.

The Bloomfield Baseball League is now offering recreational baseball in West Bloomfield. Register now at www.bloomfieldbaseball.com, for the Spring 2024 Season (April-June). Save $50 off of registration fees if you sign up by January 31, 2024. We offer co-ed recreational baseball for pre-K through 6th grade players April through June. Middle and high school seasons start in early June and run through July.

West Bloomfield Teams will complete against other West Bloomfield and Bloomfield Hills based teams in a 12-game season. The season also includes an All Star game and Playoffs! Home games will be played at Marsh Bank Park, Pine Lake Park, and Sylvan Manor Park and away games will be on those fields or Bloomfield Hills School fields.

Coaches, we want you! Every team starts with a dedicated coach. Please consider volunteering as a head or assistant coach on your son or daughter’s team. The BBL provides all equipment and supports our volunteer coaches with equipment, practice plans and coaches workshops. We’re looking for 1-4 coaches per team and we would like to have at least one team for each grade at each elementary school so please let us know if you would like to help run a team in 2024!

2024 Spring Training Academies: If your player is interested in some off-season training, they can sign up for our Spring Baseball Academy. We offer four skills based instruction sessions hosted by Bloomfield High School Coaches Camp; Players, these academies are Feb. 25, March 3rd, 10th , and 17th and are for grades K-6.

For more information about the 2024 Spring Season, registration, the Spring Training Academies or go to www.bloomfieldbaseball.com, Feel free to contact the BBL league administrator, Stephanie Chapa at bloomfieldbaseballinfo@gmail.com or 586-372-6299 or BBL Board Member and West Bloomfield School Rep., James Sheridan at jamesasherida86@hotmail.com, or 248-409-8484. See the FLYER for more info.

Let’s Play Ball!

West Bloomfield Optimist Club invited 72 families to the fire station for food pick-up and gifts. Partners in this initiative included Keego Harbor Jacket Club, WB Fire Department, and WB School District, and sponsors National Corvette Restorers Club, Johnny Pomodoro, VC Fresh Marketplace, WB Youth Assistance, and Henry Ford Health System West Bloomfield.

West Bloomfield Optimist offers the kids in our community opportunities to be recognized, to win scholarships, and to learn how to be good community citizens. For more information, click here.

Book Lists

· Christmas (Kids)

· Kwanzaa (Kids)

· Winter Wonderland (Kids)

Library Closed

• The library is closed on Sunday, December 24 and Monday, December 25 and will reopen on Tuesday, December 26 at 9 a.m.
• The library is also closed on Sunday, December 31 and Monday, January 1 and will reopen on Tuesday, January 2 at 9 a.m.

New Website, Catalog and Calendar
Checkout the new mobile-friendly library website with greater accessibility, improved reliability, and user-centered design? The library launched its new website on December 18. Staff are available to help anyone who might have difficulties navigating the new website, which includes a new search catalog feature and a new program calendar.

• WBSD Employment Opportunities
• GWB Historical Society Events
• Greater West Bloomfield Community Coalition
• West Bloomfield Parks and Recreation