Talk Sup’t. - 4/15/2011
Congratulations!
The Oakland Press Excellence in Education Awards
West Bloomfield High School won two awards in the Oakland Press/Oakland Schools Excellence in Education Awards.
On Thursday, March 31, The Oakland Press held its annual Excellence in Education awards ceremony. West Bloomfield High School had nominees in both the categories of Innovative Student Programming and Student Achievement.
Student, Jeremy Wagner, won third place in the county for Outstanding Achievement in the Face of Adversity. Congratulations, Jeremy!
Our Political Leadership program was awarded third place in the county for Innovative Student Programming. This is another phenomenal achievement for our high school and for those staff members and students involved.
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
Congratulations to our award winning WBHS Student Leadership Program and WBHS Student Government!
Under the leadership of President, Mac Coddington, and Jill Rosenthal-Vinter, Instructor,
both groups were awarded the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals/Michigan Association of Student Councils (MASC) AWARD OF EXCELLENCE and the Star Award. The Award of Excellence is the highest honor a student group can receive from the MASC.
Our Student Leadership Program received the first perfect score awarded in the State of Michigan!
Student Government executive board officers Mac Coddington and Becca Miller were selected from students around the state to advance from Regional competition to State competition to present WB's "Random Acts of Kindness" program at the state conference in Traverse City.
West Bloomfield Band and Orchestra
On Saturday, March 26th many West Bloomfield Band and Orchestra students participated in the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association (MSBOA) State Solo and Ensemble Festival. Students started at the District Level and those who achieved a 1st division rating moved forward to the State Level. Our state level participants were:
BAND:
Lauren Klemz & Taylor Meiser: Flute Duet - I
Taylor Meiser & Jenn Clawson: Flute Duet - I
Lana Sharba: Flute Solo - I
Taylor Meiser: Flute Proficiency 1 - I
Rachel Berkowitz: Flute Proficiency 1 (100)
Jenn Clawson: Flute Proficiency 3 Solo - I
Bradley Joshowitz: Clarinet Proficiency 1 - (99)
Emily Levine: Bassoon Proficiency 1 -
Taylor Meiser & Jenn Clawson: Flute Duet - I
Lana Sharba: Flute Solo - I
Taylor Meiser: Flute Proficiency 1 - I
Rachel Berkowitz: Flute Proficiency 1 (100)
Jenn Clawson: Flute Proficiency 3 Solo - I
Bradley Joshowitz: Clarinet Proficiency 1 - (99)
Emily Levine: Bassoon Proficiency 1 -
Lauren Klemz: Flute Proficiency II – II
ORCHESTRA:
Zara Pylvainen: String Bass Proficiency II (98)
Zara Pylvainen: String Bass Proficiency II (98)
Emily Vrbensky: Violin Proficiency II (95)
Jessica Nicosia: Cello Proficiency II (85)
Ayrn Fromm: Cello Proficiency I (93)
Eric Vrbensky: 9th Grade String Bass Solo - I
Phillip Sylvester: 9th Grade Violin Solo - I
Toni Robinson and Megan Sturm: Violin Duet - I
Jessica Nicosia & Rebecca Berenbon: Cello Duet - I
Jessica Nicosia & Esha Bizwas: Cello/Piano Duet- I
Emily Vrbensky, Joyce Chen, Aryn Fromm and Zara Pylvainen: String Quartet - I
Phillip Sylvester & Sarah Chang: Violin Duet - II
Due to their outstanding performance and ratings at the MSBOA State Solo & Ensemble,
Rachel Berkowitz and Bradley Josowitz were selected to participate in the Michigan Youth Arts Festival (MYAF) Band and Zara Pylvainien and Emily Vrbensky were selected to participate in the Michigan Youth Arts Festival Orchestra.
Rachel, Bradley, Zara and Emily were also selected to audition for four coveted concerto spots at MYAF. Finally, the West Bloomfield String Quartet: Emily Vrbensky and Joyce Chen (violins), Aryn Fromm (cello) and Zara Pylvainen (string bass) were also selected to audition to perform at MYAF in the chamber concert.
STRATEGIC VISIONING
Thank you to the parents, students, and community members that attended Wednesday night’s Strategic Visioning/ Budget Prioritization event and for taking time out of your busy schedules to share ideas about our future and our budget prioritization.
This is a work in progress; a journey, not an event. Give us time and permission to do the best job we can for our children. In order to determine where we are going, we need to know exactly where we stand, then determine where we want to go and how we will get there. This process will help us give birth to our “strategic vision”.Our continued long-term focus needs to be in the areas that we consider to be the most impactful, such as revenue producing and cost containment strategies. We are working with our committees on short-term recommendations, which will be discussed in the next weeks. We will consider a timeline for long-term reductions, which will take time, research and deliberation.
Wednesday night, our intention was to give the community the opportunity to brainstorm, exchange ideas, give clarification, and prepare for the serious work that lies ahead for each committee. This information will guide us into arriving at suggestions and ideas that generate revenue and cost containment while preserving our educational excellence. "How do we excel?" Based on the survey we took at last night’s meeting, the top two areas that distinguish us from other districts are 1) good teachers and 2) rigorous curriculum that meets the needs of all students. Our strategies should continue to affirm that hallmark.
In the next few weeks, we will be providing the chairs and co-chairs with templates outlining the framework and structure of upcoming meetings. Our future course will be determined by the work that you are putting into the strategic visioning process and help us to continue educating our students to be their best IN and FOR the world. Thank you all for your vision.
DONATE BLOOD
Be a Hero! Donate blood April 28, 7:30-1:30, at the WBHS Red Cross Blood Drive. Students 16 years old (new age in Michigan) and older and WB parents are needed to help save lives! Please come donate and encourage your child to donate. Visit www.redcrossblood.org and use sponsor code WBHS13 to sign up now! Student donors must all fill out forms available in room 553.
By donating at our drive, you will be automatically entered to win a luxurious Caribbean getaway. (Must be 18 to claim prize)
Package includes:
Round-trip airfare for two on Spirit Airlines
Luxury, all-inclusive accommodations for two
(four days and three nights) at any Sandals resort
Package includes:
Round-trip airfare for two on Spirit Airlines
Luxury, all-inclusive accommodations for two
(four days and three nights) at any Sandals resort
For more information go to: http://www.westbloomfield.k12.mi.us/webpages/sleadership/index.cfm
NEGOTIATIONS
The Administration and Union are looking at common dates to get back to the bargaining table.
LEGISLATION – Take Action!
No Action by House Subcommittee on K-12 Budget on Thursday
The House K-12 Appropriations Subcommittee meeting scheduled for 8 a.m. Thursday morning was adjourned prior to any action on a K-12 budget proposal. It is expected the subcommittee will meet next week to report their version of FY11-12 K-12 budget bill. The Senate K-12 Appropriations Subcommittee is scheduled to report their recommendation Tuesday, April 19.
A great deal of concern remains on 1) the devastating impact the Governor's proposal will have on schools, 2) the impact of further reductions to categoricals, 3) the possible change in funding for kindergarten, and most importantly, 4) the use of School Aid Fund dollars for community colleges and higher education.
Thank you for the contacts you have had with your legislators - they are effective. Time is limited before both the House and Senate K-12 Appropriations Subcommittees report their recommendations next week. Please continue your efforts in contacting your legislators.
Have a great weekend!!
