Talk Sup't. July 30, 2010

NEW APPOINTMENTS AND A FOND FAREWELL
Today we bid a fond farewell to Dr. Kendra Hearn, our Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, who is embarking on a new phase of her life. Kendra will be Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan School of Education and will  coordinate their Teach for America (TFA) Detroit certification program. In May, the U of M School of Education was chosen by TFA as their higher education partner for their new region in Detroit. Dr. Hearn will oversee the development and implementation of SOE’s certification program for TFA-Detroit.
We want to thank her for her ten years of service to the WBSD. She has left her imprint on our district and the many children who have benefited from her initiatives.


We also welcome Dr. Robert Martin who will become our new Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction. More information on Dr. Martin will follow his approval from the Board of Education on Monday morning.


We also welcome Roderick MacNeal, Jr. who will be the new Principal at Ealy Elementary. Mr. MacNeal comes to us from the Southfield Public School District where he was most recently Assistant Principal of Levey Middle School. We welcome him to our district.


Mara Hoffert will become Assistant Principal at West Bloomfield High School assuming the role that was held by Jackie Laymac. Mara has been teacher, leader, coach and mentor and is now looking forward to using her talents in an administrative capacity. She has worked on many initiatives including the Diversity Committee, AVID, curriculum development and United We Walk. Mara also implemented the school-wide mentor program helping to enhance the achievement and transition of all 9th graders who enter the high school. We expect that Mara will be a perfect fit in her new role.


Jennifer Newman will be Assistant Principal at Abbott Middle School filling the place of Jim Scrivo, who is now Principal at Scotch. Jennifer has been teaching math at West Bloomfield High School since 1999, and has also been a committee member of the District Continuous School Improvement Team. She was selected to take part in the Galileo Leadership Consortium and also earned an Educational Specialist degree in Leadership. We look forward to her leadership in her new capacity at Abbott.


OPERATION BACKPACK
This weekend I encourage all who can to stop by in the parking lot of Plum Market at Orchard Lake Road and Maple, where you will see one of our West Bloomfield School District buses which is being stuffed with school supplies through the generosity of 96.3 WDVD Radio and many other sponsors.


Many children will not have the proper tools to start school. West Bloomfield School District has joined 96.3 WDVD & FOX 2 Detroit in teaming up with Volunteers of America-Michigan for Blaine & Allyson’s Operation Backpack!
You can help by bringing new school supplies to the Operation Backpack donation collection location in the parking lot of Plum Market at Maple and Orchard Lake Road.


Pepsi Refresh Project will match up to $3,000 worth of school supplies.
Friday, July 30th – Sunday, August 1st
Friday 6a-7p
Saturday 9a-7p
Sunday 9a-7p


The Detroit Pistons, Pepsi, Rochester College, Plum Market Co-Op Services Credit Union and Volunteers of America are all helping to sponsor this worthwhile event and we are proud to be a part of it. Please join us in helping to STUFF OUR BUS!
All details online in the Events Section of 963WDVD.com.


ATHLETICS
Teams have already begun conditioning for soccer, football, tennis, volleyball, cheerleading, swimming and girls golf. For information on sports, contact Athletic Director Pat Watson at watsonp@westbloomfield.k12.mi.us. Also, you can find out more regarding tryouts and schedules on our website at http://www.myschoolpages.com/schools/westbloomfieldsd/about.cfm?subpage=589926
then click on any one of the Quicklinks on the left side.


MUSIC
There’s music in my ears when I see the WBHS Marching Band practicing in the parking lot, and that’s also a good indication that fall is just around the corner. The Marching Band is holding a Red Cross Blood Drive from 2:00 – 8:00 pm on August 13 in the WBHS Media Center, so please stop by and donate if you can.


Abbott Middle School is still looking for instruments that they are in dire need of. If you are cleaning out your closets this summer, please keep Abbott in mind as you run into ANY instrument that you are no longer using.  Instruments can be dropped off at any one of our school offices. We thank you for your donations.