January 18 - Half Day - All Levels

January 19 - Half Day - All Levels
January 24 - Late Start, Kindergarten Showcase 6:30 p.m. WBMS

February 27 - Operating Millage Renewal on Primary Ballot

Click here to view other important dates.

Due to the two cancelled school days, please see below for the new final exam schedule for WBHS. Many options were considered and reviewed. Thank you for your understanding.

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

All West Bloomfield School District Schools of Choice openings will be criteria-based through our STEAM program. We have limited openings in the following grade levels:

• Elementary: K-5
• Middle School: 6th grade
• High School: 9-10th grade
  
  

The window is open January 16th - February 14th, apply here!

Interested families can visit wbsd.org to learn more about Schools of Choice. When visiting the site, go to the “Parent” tab and then select Schools of Choice. This document provides all of the key elements. Families should email the following address if they have questions they want answered about Schools of Choice or to submit any required materials for the SoC application: soc@wbsd.org

Beginning this week, 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!

There are 4.5 hour and 7.5 hour positions available in food service starting at $13/hour. Work at your child’s school while they’re in class! For more information, click here.

Nandi is the author of Tapped Out and American Family: A Syndrome, and she is Michigan's first African American Poet Laureate! In this interview they discuss how her life has changed as a poet, what Detroit means to her, how she got into poetry, and more! Nandi also shares her favorite poem. Check out the interview below.

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

• Girls Varsity Basketball beat Lake Orion 73-29

• Girls JV Basketball beats Groves 48 – 17

• Girls Freshman Basketball falls to Lake Orion 41 – 22
  
  

Shake off those winter blues and support our schools! Enjoy live music by local band Good Gravy. You won't' want to miss this fabulous evening featuring dancing, casino games, raffles, and more!

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

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.

Presents a Meeting for Multilingual Parents

Please join us! Topics covered include:

• The WIDA ACCESS test

• What it is and when it will be given

• View sample test items

• How can my child practice for the test?

• We will have a special guest speaker, Ms. Emma Loudermilk, to speak about helping your child regulate emotions.

All parents of English Learners in grades K-5th grade are invited. Japanese, Spanish, and Arabic translators will be present. The meeting will be from 6-7 p.m., Thursday, January 25, 2024 at Doherty Elementary School - 3575 Walnut Lake Rd.

The Essay Contest is sponsored by Optimist International to give young people the opportunity to write about their own opinions regarding the world in which they live. The approach can encompass a young person’s personal experience, the experience of their country or a more historical perspective. In addition to developing skills for written expression, participants also have the opportunity to win a college scholarship!

Club winners advance to the District contest to compete for a $2,500 college scholarship. The District-level scholarships are funded by the Optimist International Foundations. Local prizes are provided by the individual clubs.

MIDDLE SCHOOL: Keego Harbor Middle School Essay Contest Information, Click Here
HIGH SCHOOL: West Bloomfield Optimist Club Essay Contest, Click Here

Book Lists

· Winter Sports (Youth)

· Winter Wonderland (Youth)

· Coming of Age in Space (Teen)

Library Closed

The Main Library will be closed on Wednesday, January 17 from 9am to 1pm and Tuesday, January 23 from 9am to 1pm for building maintenance. The Westacres Branch Library will be open 9am – 9pm both days.

Cozy Up With a Good Book

Winter Reading Program

Started on January 13 and goes through Sunday, March 10

Library cardholders of all ages are encouraged to enroll in the library’s Winter Reading Program to earn incentives for time spent reading.

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.

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