Talk Supt: Talk Sup't.

Talk Sup’t. - 5/6/2011

STRATEGIC VISIONING/BUDGET PRIORITIZATION

I wish to thank all of the parents, students, and community members for their energy, time and commitment spent on our Strategic Visioning/ Budget Prioritization process. The Board of Education, Steering Committee and I appreciate the feedback that we are getting from the committees. We are looking for short term as well as long term recommendations that will help us in our immediate circumstances and help to shape a better future for us as well. We welcome different experiences and backgrounds. Thank you for choosing to serve.

On May 16, all committees will report out and we will share in the long and short term recommendations of what we need for our school district. Meeting dates are updated on our website constantly, so check there for your individual information. You may still get involved by attending any of the meetings listed below. Here are the dates for the committee meetings that we have at this time:

BUILDING & ENROLLMENT PLANNING

Meeting date: 4/20 7:30 pm WBHS Room 210

MEETING DATE: 5/4 4:15 PM Scotch media center

MEETING DATE: 5/11 4:15 PM-5:45 Scotch media center

HUMAN RESOURCES

Meeting date: 5/3 7:00 pm WBHS Distance Learning Lab

Meeting date: 5/10 7:00 pm WBHS Distance Learning Lab

OPERATIONS

MEETING DATE: 4/28 7:00 PM ACS

Meeting date: 5/10 7:00 PM ACS

BUS TRANSPORTATION

Meeting date: 4/27 7:00 pm OLMS

Meeting date: 5/10 7:00 pm OLMS MEDIA center

REVENUE ENHANCEMENT, COMMUNICATION & COMMUNITY EDUCATION

Meeting date: 4/20 6:00 pm WBHS Media center Conf Room

Meeting date: 4/28 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm ROOSEVELT ELEMENTARY

Meeting date: 5/4 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm WBHS Media center Conf Room

Meeting date: 5/11 7:30 Am - 9:30 Am WB PUblic library

CURRICULA/ INSTRUCTIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

Meeting date: 4/20 7:00 pm WBHS Distance Learning Lab

Meeting date: 4/25 6:00 - 7:15 PM WBHS Distance Learning Lab

Meeting date: 5/4 7:00 - 8:30 PM WBHS Distance Learning Lab

Meeting date: 5/9 6:00 PM WBHS Distance Learning Lab

ATHLETICS & CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Meeting date: 4/21 9:00 AM WBHS athletic office

MEETING DATE: 5/2 9:00 AM WBHS athletic office (Athletics)

5/2 10:00 Am WBHS attendance office (Co-Curricular)

5/9 10:00 Am WBHS attendance office (Co-Curricular)

5/10 8:00 pm WBHS athletic office (Athletics)

CURRICULA/ INSTRUCTIONAL MIDDLE SCHOOL

Meeting date: 4/28 7:00 pm OLMS

Meeting date: 5/5 6:30 pm OLMS Media center

CURRICULA/ INSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTARY/PRESCHOOL

Meeting date: 4/27 6:30 pm Green

5/11 6:30 PM Doherty

Congratulations!

The Abbott Middle School Forensics Team competed in both of the semi-annual statewide tournaments for middle schoolers hosted by the Michigan Interscholastic Forensics Association (MIFA).

Twenty-three Abbott Middle School students braved wintery weather to compete in three different categories of competition: Multiple Interpretation, Duo Interpretation, and Oratory. The first place trophy was awarded to the duo of Pierce Kaufman and Ian McGuire for their performance of Abbott and Costello’s “Who’s on First?” Pierce and Ian earned a perfect score! In addition, Ian Graham and Anastacia Torossian’s performance of excerpts from “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” received a score that was one point shy of perfect.

Emma Warnecke, Abbott’s only sixth grade participant placed fourth in the category of oratory for her speech on the history and benefits of family dinner in the fall competition.

This year’s spring tournament was held at Wayne State University. Eighteen Abbott students competed in four categories: Duo Interpretation, Multiple Interpretation, Dramatic Interpretation, and Storytelling. Emma Warnecke came home with a second place trophy, for her storytelling piece “La Cucaracha Martina.”

Congratulations to all Abbott forensics participants for representing themselves and their school well through their performance and conduct at these two events, and thanks to these students for their incredible investment of time and effort, much of it given outside the school day.

ATHLETICS

National signing day was held at WBHS on May 5, 2011 in the Media Center.

Congratulations to the following athletes who have committed to these universities:

Phil Washington - University of Michigan - Track

Taylor Gunn - University of Texas at El Paso - Track

Phil Brown - University of Chicago - Football

Derrick Mason - Findlay University - Football

Leonard Sanford - Urbana University – Football

Tricia Grant – Oakland University - Diving

Yasha Moore - Wayne State University - Tennis

Morgan Taylor - Southern University – Tennis

Tricia Grant - Oakland University Swimming

Nicholas Russell - Bluffton University Football

Nick Leventis - Adrian College Basketball

Jordan Evans - Lake Michigan - College Football

ATHLETIC PHYSICALS

Please mark the date of June 2 also for all students who wish to participate in sports for the 2011-2012 season. Athletic Physicals will be held at WB High School Gym at 2:00 pm. The cost is $20 and you should RSVP to Kay Grabenstein at 248-865-6743.

DECA

Congratulations to our 29 WBHS students who traveled to Orlando this past week to compete as part of the DECA National Conference. All of our students performed extremely well and represented our school well. We are especially proud of Carly Krainen, Andrew Goldstone, Matthew Seiss, Eric Steele and Alexander Finkelstein who all placed in the top ten nationally. Thank you to Mr. Whitlock and the entire business department for all of your hard work in pushing our students to this level.

CHOIR

We are proud to announce that both Chorale and Concert Choir A received blue ribbons of Excellence at the Michigan State Vocal Music Association State (MSVMA) Solo/Ensemble and MSVMA State Choral Festival this week on May 3 & 4th. Thank you for exhibiting that great Laker pride! Also, Evan Marymee and Chris Brody will be performing May 14 in ALL State Choir at the Michigan Youth Arts Festival.

OLMS Symphonic String Orchestra

This past weekend the OLMS Symphonic String Orchestra competed in the MSBOA Orchestra Festival where they received a 2nd Division, under the direction of Music Department Chair, Linda Trotter.

It is with great pleasure that I share with you the outstanding accomplishments of the Orchard Lake Middle School Orchestra students this past weekend at the MSBOA Solo and Ensemble festival.

The following students received 1^ST DIVISION RATING:

Violinists

Parker Feldman Sydney Pruitt

Cara Lewis Jessica Lee

Nataliya Kruk Ashley Cousino

Gaelle Mace Morgan Williamson

Lakyah Tyner Lilliane Pukhrambam

Marii Shimoda Bhavana Garapati

Reina Otsuka Alexis Sanders

Edwin Selvaraj

Violists

Grant Keymanesh (3 events 1^st division ratings)

Mikayla Tyner

Cellist

Matthew Rowley (3 events 1^st division rating)

Alia Fuqua

Bassists

Courtney Alexander

Torrey Vannostrand

The following student violinists received 2^nd DIVISION RATING:

Mark Gladstheyn Lilliane Pukhrambam

Marii Shimoda Afeefa Iqbal

Ashley Shultz Brianna Spurlock

Tiffeny Gripper Chelsea Smith

Caitlin Sandiha Bhavana Garapati

ABBOTT Strings Orchestra

Abbott Strings are to be congratulated on winning the Mark O’Connor Contest through Shar Music. The history of our District and Abbott’s String program was submitted by Orchestra Director Lynn Brosnan to Shar Music and only 4 schools in the U.S. were selected. The winners will receive a concert put on by Grammy Award Winning Fiddler and String Educator, Mark O’Connor. We’ll watch for that event to be scheduled . . .

WATCH FOR PINK HAIR!

Lighthouse of Oakland County will be holding the 2011 Hunger Walk which will be bigger and better than ever with a new route location beginning at West Bloomfield High School. The once-a-year event helps fund the year-round food pantry program. Tomorrow morning, Saturday, May 7, hundreds of walkers will march to help end hunger in our communities. It begins at 10:00 am with registration beginning at 8:00 am.

120 Gretchko Elementary Students are to be commended for collecting approximately 1000 lbs of canned goods to donate to the walk, along with pledging $10 each towards the fundraising event. Approximately 10-15 teachers will be joining them along with Principal Sally Drummond, who pledged to attend providing there were at least 100 students signed up. Her pledge? Sally will be at the Walk bright and early, and you won’t miss her because she will probably be the only one in running shoes and HOT PINK HAIR! Don't miss it!

The walk includes:

• Children’s Area

• Entertainment

• Games and Prizes

• Raffle

• Snacks

All of us together can make a difference! Gather your families, kids, friends, neighbors

and co-workers and join us in the walk!

Advanced Placement Exams

We wish the best of luck to all of our students who will be taking Advanced Placement Exams this week and next. Don't underestimate the value of sleep and nourishment. Make us PROUD!

Scholarships!

Did you know that MANY scholarships go unclaimed every year at WBHS because no one applies for them? ~ Stop. Think about it. ~ When was the last time you checked the Career Center scholarship list? When was the last time you helped your child apply for a scholarship? They are out there, but we can’t do the work for you! Click on the link below and make sure to check out the Career Center website under Counseling on the high school website. New seminars, scholarships and information become available everyday!

http://www.westbloomfield.k12.mi.us/files/1274860/newest%20scholarships.pdf

The Academic Summer School 2011 brochures are now available in all of the high school offices. It is also available online through Community Education at www.wbcommed.org. We have made significant improvements in the offering this year. If you child needs to make up a class or improve a grade for their GPA, please register now. If you are unsure whether or not your child should enroll in summer school, please contact your counselor at the high school immediately for their expert advice – 248-865-6768.

LEGISLATION – GOVERNOR SNYDER’S Education Reform Proposal

After more than eight hours, the House passed the "minibus" budget bill that includes funding for K-12 education. The bill passed by a vote of 57 - 53 and includes the 3.5 percent reduction plus the $170 per pupil reduction. More details to follow.

This is an excerpt from a letter sent to the community from State Representative Lisa Brown from the 39^th District which sums up yesterday’s action by the legislature.

“The grave consequences of this vote by those fifty-six members will change all of our lives, together. This is a manufactured crisis: Taking $1.1 billion from our kids to address a $1.4 billion deficit.

Today, the House of Representatives made the tragic decision to balance Michigan’s budget on the backs of our children by passing the largest single cut to education in our state’s history. The final vote on House Bill 4325 was 57-53. I voted “No.”

For our citizens, Michigan will be a different place to live. For some these cuts will mean their school district will be taken over by the state. . . . And, yes this budget may mean some of our children find themselves facing incarceration rather than matriculation. . . .

There is still time, no matter what you might have been told. We hear there might be as much as $500 million in new revenue that might help save our kids from these cuts. If, next Monday, these new funds are there, let’s redouble our efforts to find solution to our problems together.”

Lisa has summed up the feelings of many of us. I echo her sentiments that there is still time and we must continue to work to lessen these cuts to education at this time.

Please continue to contact your legislators below regarding this crisis.

Senator Mike Kowall

517-373-1758 Phone 517-373-0938 Fax

Post Office Box 30036
Lansing, MI 48909-7536

SenMKowall@senate.michigan.gov

State Representative Lisa Brown

517-373-1799 Phone 517-373-8361 Fax

lisabrown@house.mi.gov

Representative Gail Haines

P.O. Box 30014

Lansing, MI 48909-7514

517-373-0615 Phone 517-373-7512 Fax