We are so proud of our students’ patriotism and recognition of our Veterans and our troops that will be returning home soon. At Abbott, Joanne Scheloske’s Leadership class is sponsoring the following activities at Abbott in honor of today, Veterans Day.
The students spelled out Thank You Veterans (with 1,200 cups) and flags on the fence along Commerce Road and painted the exterior windows along D hall with Patriotic symbols & sayings.
Thank You Veterans signs are hung up in school, as well as a display case with memorabilia from staff members & parents who are Veterans. In the main hall/lobby area there is a LARGE Patriotic wall thanking members of our Abbott families for their service. Students, staff, & parents are allowed to write out their Veteran’s name and place it on one of the golden stars. EVERY student was given a Patriotic (live strong band) bracelet (red or blue) that says "Freedom", "Honor", "Strength", "Spirit" and were asked to wear them in recognition of Veterans Day. All of the student body and staff was asked to wear red, white, & blue today.
Abbott students also collected over 4,400 pieces of candy in "1" day from Halloween – which was taken to the Oakland County Sheriff's department on 11/1/11 to be shipped overseas to our Michigan military men & women as part of their "Treats for the Troops" program.
FREEDOM CENTER
Today, The Detroit Metro Airport opened the new Freedom Center in the Delta Terminal to welcome the returning military and their families (mifreedomcenter.org). The dedication will took place on at 11:00 am. (1100 hours on 11/11/11)
Located adjacent to Gate A43 in the McNamara Terminal, the 1100 sq. ft. Freedom Center will serve members of the Armed Forces and their dependents. Hosted by a dedicated staff of trained volunteers, the special needs of the thousands of military travelers who travel through Detroit Metro monthly will be now be met seven days a week, 365 days a year.
Ealy Elementary School prepared a major greeting for these troops. Teacher Marla Gartner planned a project to recognize the men and women that will be coming through the Freedom Center for the first time on this Veteran’s Day, 2011.
The Ealy delegation consisted of students Lindsay Schwartz and Maxwell Martin and their parents, along with Marla Gartner, Principal Rod MacNeal, Ass’t. Superintendent Rick Arnett and Dr. Kenneth Wolf to the dedication. They met the troops at Detroit Metro Airport Freedom Center, and presented them with a video thanking the Armed Forces personnel for the mission they perform in keeping our country safe. The DVD will play on a continuous loop at the Center so all Armed Forces personnel can see and hear the words of our Ealy Elementary students showing thanks to the Armed Forces personnel.
Students also presented them with a book of 450 pictures, poems, and thank you letters written by each student of Ealy grades K-5 (ages 5-11). Japanese families also made a huge origami crane consisting of 1,000 small cranes symbolizing hope and the future.
They believed that seeing and hearing this appreciation from children was particularly gratifying for their sacrifices of time, injury, and commitment they have made for their country.
The Grand Opening was a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony followed by the National Anthem and a beautiful medley of service songs. It was emceed by WJR host Paul W. Smith, and was attended by dignitaries including Senator Carl Levin, Congressman John Dingell and the Brigadier General of the Michigan National Guard, among others. Principal Rod MacNeal noted that this was “a very exciting, moving ceremony. For the students to see the impact that their efforts could make on our community and the veterans from overseas, he was glad that they were able to be part of this great experience.”
Ealy students said that this was an exciting project, and particularly appropriate on Armistice Day (Veterans Day). Marla Gartner said it was especially meaningful to the troops who have children and grandchildren of those ages and touched them emotionally.
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Congratulations to Board Member Nick Hersh and newly elected Board Member Carol Finkelstein. The election on Tuesday was a closely run race. We are inspired that so many dedicated people have taken the time to invest in the best interests of our students, and we welcome and congratulate them both, and look forward to our new year.
A Night at Cranbrook Science Center with Mr. Miller
Richard Miller, Science Teacher at Orchard Lake Middle School had almost 50 OLMS families that took the opportunity to explore Science at Cranbrook last Friday night with him. The 7th and 8th grade students along with their families, attended planetarium shows on the "Sky Tonight" seeing the new 3-D projector that Cranbrook installed over the fall. A 3-D presentation on Natural Selection featuring scenes from the life and times of Charles Darwin had direct ties to the 7th grade Science curriculum. The students also explored a new traveling exhibit at Cranbrook’s "Life on Earth". The Sky Tonight" was a cumulative activity for High School benchmarks that 8th grade students will see with the ACT. The highlight of the evening was the use of Cranbrook's large telescope to see the planet Jupiter. Clearly visible were the 4 Galilean Moons, Io. Europa, Callisto, and Ganymede and many students could discern the cloud bands of Jupiter. Mr. Miller expects another good turnout tonight at Cranbrook Science Center as they repeat the visit.
ATHLETICS
Cross Country State qualifiers:
Erin Finn Bjorn Kempf
Ben Griessman
Cross Country All League:
Erin Finn Bjorn Kempf
Ben Griessman Megan Eiswerth
Luke Bersche Braden Burton
Swim and Dive All League:
Maison Moore Krysia Chesire
Niki Robichaud Emily Edwards
Claire Forhan Mallory Moore
The Laker Swim Team finished second at the league meet.
Soccer All League:
Mark Shaona Ryan Stern
Nick asker Richey Capriccioso
Joe Rosenthal
The Laker Soccer Team finished second in the OAA.
Erin Finn has been selected as the Oakland Press Female Athlete of the Month for October. As part of the promotion a photo and video interview of both the Male and Female Athletes of the month are published in the paper and on the website. Erin will receive a trophy; and West Bloomfield HIgh School will receive a plaque and a check for $250 from Sunkist for the Athletic Department. Congratulations, Erin! You continue to make all of us shine!
Allyson Kus, a senior at West Bloomfield High School, will pitch for Western Michigan University beginning next fall. Allyson maintains a 3.6 grade-point average and is a member of the National Honor Society. She is excited for opportunities to grow within WMU's pre-med department as she hopes to attend the school's new School of Medicine, which is scheduled to welcome its' first class in 2014. Allyson is happy considering that she wants to be a doctor in the field of sports medicine or pediatrics. Congratulations, Allyson!
Strategic Visioning
A reminder to the community and staff that worked on the Strategic Visioning/Budget Prioritization in the spring: we will meet again on Monday November 14 from 7:00 – 9:00 in the West Bloomfield High School Media Center as we look to bring closure to the process. This will be a broader Strategic Vision as we begin to look at long range planning for our district. Some groups will end as they complete their missions, and others will be explored to determine what the next steps will be. PCN (Parent Communication Network)
Next Thursday, November 17th, Scotch Elementary will be hosting our PCN meeting at 10:00 am in the media center. This month we have a special two part meeting planned.
· Dr. Robert Martin’s presentation will focus on MEAP/MME cut scores.
· TOPIC: “Why You Should Attend West Bloomfield Schools”
A panel from our middle schools and high school will answer parents’ questions, concerns and issues with regard to our middle and high schools. The panel will consist of:
· Amy Hughes, Principal of Abbott
· Sonja James, Principal of OLMS
· Ellen Simmons, Parent
· Dr. Robert Martin, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction
· Tom Shelton, Principal of WBHS
· Sheryl Lederman, Parent
· Ryan Eaton, Student
Please join us at the Parent Communication Network meeting, as all are invited to attend each month to learn about what is happening in our schools
DISTRICT WIDE OPEN HOUSE
All Parents looking ahead to high school, middle school or kindergarten - Mark your calendars and JOIN US NEXT TUESDAY on November 15th, as we kick off our District Wide Open House: All Roads Lead to West Bloomfield High School! Come and explore all that West Bloomfield has to offer, so you can make good decisions regarding your child’s education.
WBHS will hold its Curriculum Fair showcasing the best of our district, with an overview of our unique offerings and programs. Elementary and middle schools will be on site with Principals who can give all the information about their buildings. This Open House is for all levels – so be sure to attend regardless of the age of your child. There will be information for everyone!
Real Estate professionals will be on hand as well for those looking to relocate in the district, with home information right on-site. I look forward to seeing you there!
Have a wonderful, safe weekend!
