Last night we held our fifth and final Budget Coffee Talk at Orchard Lake Middle School where there were approximately 50 people in attendance. It was an extremely productive evening where those who intended listened to an informative presentation on finances provided valuable feedback and input. Community input is an extremely important element of this process as the Board of Education looks to make important decisions regarding our school district.
In addition, we will be making a brief presentation at these upcoming PTO meetings. They will take place at the following schools:
· West Bloomfield High School on February 8
· Green Elementary February 9th
· Ealy Elementary on March 2
Please remember that Count Day is on February 10th. It is imperative that all students are in class that day, so please understand the importance of their attendance.
Our educational foundation has been incredibly active over the past few months. The SOS campaign is in full swing. They have a very informative website at WBEF website, www.WBEF.org where you can find out about all of the activities that are in the works. There is also an FAQ page that responds to the important questions being asked regarding the Save our Schools campaign. Please refer to it often as new things are happening every day!
Last Sunday the WBEF conducted a phone bank for the SOS campaign. I want to thank the many volunteers who devoted their Sunday afternoon to helping to raise nearly $10,000 for our school district. The next phone bank is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 28 from 12 to 5 pm. We need volunteers, so if you can donate a couple of hours of your time to help this worthwhile cause, please contact Heidi Tischer at 248-225-7037.
Watch for the next issue of the Laker newsletter inserted into next Wednesday, February 10 edition of the West Bloomfield Beacon. It contains information on the great student programs that are taking place in our schools as well as hundreds of donors to the WBEF are listed also.
This edition of the Laker also announces the next very exciting fundraiser sponsored by the WBEF. We think that this will be our best fundraiser yet, because it promises some great fun for four lucky people!
In addition, we are asking all of our basketball fans to join us at the Detroit Pistons game on Feb. 21, where proceeds will go towards the WBEF. The Detroit Pistons have been extremely supportive of the WBEF and its efforts to help us raise $2 million. The Pistons have not only discounted the tickets to the game but are donating 50% of all sales towards the SOS Campaign. Go to the WBSD website and watch our incredible, entertaining You-tube video on the homepage, taped right in the Pistons locker room with Coach John Koessler, Rip Hamilton, Austin Daye and our own principals and myself encouraging your support of the WBEF. In addition, our own Laker Express will be singing the National Anthem at the game.
As a bonus, of the principals and myself have volunteered to staff the Culver’s Restaurant just north of the Palace before the game, from 4-6 pm, and will be serving you your meals! Join us as Culver’s has graciously offered to donate 25% of all receipts to the SOS campaign. We also accept TIPS!
Congratulations to the following WBHS students who signed National Letters of Intent for scholarships at the Press Conference on Wednesday February3: Christian Bilkovic, Wayne State University – Baseball; Lawrence Brown, Saginaw Valley State University – Football; Cameron Fields, Grand Valley State University – Football; Aaron Foster, Bowling Green (Ohio), Football; Matt Judon, Grand Valley State University –Football; Vince Simpson, Western Illinois University – Football; Jenn Topor Winona State – Softball.
Another congratulations goes to Sheryl Hauk, Vocal Music Director and the WBHS Choral students who will be singing several numbers at the New York City Jazz Festival at Lincoln Center on February 28!
Life on a college campus seems to be agreeing with our Oakland Early College students who are performing well academically. In the fall 2009 semester, OEC students took nearly 300 college courses, ranging in subject from Calculus III and Linear Algebra to Guitar and Yoga. Our students had an exemplary college course pass rate of approximately 92% , a transfer rate of 87%, and carried an aggregate course grade of 2.8 GPA. Several of our students served as officers in the college’s Phi Theta Kappa academic honors society.
