Talk Sup't. February 23, 2012

WEATHER ALERT It appears that there is a weather pattern approaching that could potentially drop several inches of snow on us. We will watch the weather pattern and determine how much snow has accumulated throughout the evening.
Please consider advanced preparation in the event that you need to make alternate plans for your children.
At the very latest you will be notified by 5:00 am if we are going to close, otherwise school will be open and continue as usual.

There are several events that are scheduled for Friday night:

·        Swim & Dive: Boys Varsity OAA Division Tournament/Meet

·        League basketball

·        Girls Freshman Basketball 4:00, Girls JV 5:30

·        Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at WBHS

Depending on the weather, we will determine by midday on Friday whether these events will still take place.

Please stay tuned to Channel 19 and check our website for information.
You will also be notified by our Brightarrow notification system and broadcast email (if you are a subscriber) if school will be closed.

SURVEY
At this time, the West Bloomfield School District is NOT circulating a survey related to Curriculum, nor have they authorized one.

WBEF ALUMNI MIX & MINGLE TONIGHT!
I encourage all West Bloomfield School District Alumni, supporters and friends to catch up with  their old friends tonight at  the West Bloomfield  Educational Foundation WINTER Mix & Mingle! Bring a Friend and join the group tonight, Thursday, February 23, 2012 from 7 pm to close at the Uptowne Grille in a private room at 3100 E. West Maple (just west of Haggerty). The event is free with FREE appetizers, pizza and desserts and a Cash Bar.

The Foundation has been working hard on this event to bring you Raffle Prizes and a Silent Auction with some really great auction items including Detroit Red Wings & Detroit Lions Memorabilia. Raffle tickets may be purchased at the door. The event is FREE, however Donations to the West Bloomfield Educational Foundation will be accepted with all proceeds going towards WBSD Academics, Arts and Athletics Programs.

BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING - FEBRUARY 27, 2012

Monday night'S board meeting will be held at Ealy Elementary on Maple Road will have a representative from Ray and Associates, the company that has been selected to conduct our Superintendent Search. They will share the process , a tentative timeline  and how parents and community can become involved.

The Board Agenda will be online available after 5:00 on Friday. http://www.westbloomfield.k12.mi.us/wbsd/District/Board-of-Education/Board-Agendas-and-Minutes-197.html

CONGRATULATIONS!!

The WBHS Art Department is proud to announce the entries in the 2012 Southeastern Michigan Scholastic Art Awards. This is a juried show and is considered an honor to have your artwork chosen to be on display. Congratulations to our top awarded Gold Key winners who will advance on to the National Competition in late March.
GOLD KEY WINNERS:
Erica Noelle, Bauer/ Photography
Krysten Caudle, Painting
Shay Gabbara, Painting
Akbar Husain, Photography
Hailey Rozenberg, Photography

The Scholastic Art Show is being held now through next Friday, March 2 at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit. Please see our Laker Newsletter that arrived in the Beacon Newspaper on Wednesday, February 22 (yesterday), or you may view it online to see the entire list of winners on page 5.

If you do not receive the Beacon, you may stop in any building and copies will be available in the office.

IN-DISTRICT TRANSFER OF SCHOOL

Parents requesting an In-District Transfer of School should do so by submitting their request by email to davidson@wbsd.org by February 29, 2012. Please include address and phone number, student’s name, school of attendance, school requested, and reason for the request. For more information you may call 248-865-6453.

AVID
AVID has been a successful program across the nation for over 25 years, well known for helping students gear up for academic success in the present and the future.  One unique element of the AVID program is its use of guest speakers and motivational activities.  Enter Eric Thomas.  When the AVID elective teachers and AVID students saw Eric Thomas for the first time on You-Tube, there was one response: they wanted to meet him.

On March 2, Eric Thomas brings his message to West Bloomfield. Motivational speaker Eric Thomas’ message to youth might best be summed up in his You-Tube video that has been viewed over 500,000 times: “When you want to be successful as badly as you want to breathe, then you’ll be successful.” Our students will have the chance to see him when he appears at West Bloomfield High School on Friday March 2, 2012. To get a glimpse of his motivational message, view his video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPf0sClRgrU

NO PLACE FOR HATE
No Place for Hate® is an initiative of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) that helps schools enhance or create a culture of respect. This initiative is designed to celebrate diversity and empower members of the school community to challenge all forms of bigotry.

We congratulate Roosevelt Elementary School for their hard work and efforts toward promoting respect for individual differences while challenging bigotry and prejudice
by completing the requirements to become a No Place For Hate School. Principal Dr. Beth Feiten reports that Roosevelt established a No Place for Hate committee, Adopted the Resolution of Respect, and Completed several projects that celebrate diversity and/or address bias, bullying and name-calling. Harry Weaver, Anti-Defamation League Educational Project Director presented an award to Roosevelt with their school banner yesterday.

WEST BLOOMFIELD YOUTH ASSISTANCE YOUTH RECOGNITION AWARDS
West Bloomfield Youth Assistance needs your help in identifying young people in our community who have made positive volunteer contributions this year.  Nominations come from schools, hospitals, religious organizations, fire and police departments, and private citizens who have been helped by our youth.  Local, county, and state dignitaries participate in making these events very special because they believe that positive behaviors are often overlooked.  These young people serve as role models for their peers and reassure the community that the future is in good hands.  The winners are honored at the annual Youth Recognition Awards Ceremony to be held on April 25, 2012 at the West Bloomfield High School - Media Center, 7:00-8:30 P.M.

I encourage you to nominate a student that you feel deserves recognition. A nominator may be any adult or organization that wishes to submit the name of a deserving youth(s) for performing volunteer services, not related to school or court requirements.

Nominees are judged on the basis of Volunteer Service to an individual, organization or the community.  Personal acts of heroism, or Self-improvement through personal or academic achievement.
Nominees must reside within the boundaries of the West Bloomfield School District or be a West Bloomfield School District Student, and all school age youth are eligible.
Nomination forms and eligibility instructions can be found at www.wbyouthassistance.org
Nominations must be received by Thursday, March 22, 2012.

SEAF PROJECT (School Enrollment and Facilities Project)

The West Bloomfield School District will be examining its school enrollment trends and how it utilizes its facilities during the spring of 2012.  Changes in funding and enrollment have continued to force the district to be as efficient as it possibly can in the utilization of its financial resources and facilities.

Western Demographics, Inc. has been hired to assist the district with a careful analysis of enrollment trends and facilities during the spring. We have scheduled our first meeting with Western Demographics to begin our School Enrollment and Facilities Project (SEAF) process. Many school district stakeholders will have the opportunity to be involved in the future of their schools by attending community focus groups, open house meetings and other events. Immediately after our first meeting, we will announce the dates of the scheduled meetings that you may attend to get involved in this process.

Western is a National firm with significant Michigan experience and uses a collaborative approach to engage the public in facility decision-making. Western is working in partnership with TMP and Wakely Architecture and will be conducting a comprehensive evaluation of the condition of district schools as part of the work.

The district’s School Enrollment and Facilities Committee will guide Western’s work and keep the public aware of opportunities to participate. The Board of Education will review the work and potentially take action in late April and early May. As always, the continued excellence of educational programs offered by the district is its paramount concern.

 Have a great weekend!

TALK SUP’T. February 16, 2012 Superintendent’s Weekly Blog

SEAF PROJECT (School Enrollment and Facilities Project)
The West Bloomfield School District will be examining its school enrollment trends and how it utilizes its facilities during the Spring of 2012. Changes in funding and enrollment have continued to force the district to be as efficient as it possibly can in the utilization of its financial resources and facilities. As always, the continued excellence of educational programs offered by the district is its paramount concern. In an effort to protect the level of service that local residents have come to expect, the district has decided to take a careful look at how it uses its facilities with the goal of potential budgetary savings.

Accordingly, Western Demographics, Inc. has been hired to assist the district with a careful analysis of enrollment trends and facilities during the Spring. Western is a National firm with significant Michigan experience and uses a collaborative approach to engage the public in facility decision-making. Many school district stakeholders will have the opportunity to be involved in the future of their schools by attending community focus groups, open house meetings and other events Western is working in partnership with TMP and Wakely Architecture and will be conducting a comprehensive evaluation of the condition of district schools as part of the work.

The district’s School Enrollment and Facilities Committee will guide Western’s work and keep the public aware of opportunities to participate. The Board of Education will review the work and potentially take action in late April and early May. The district hopes that its community will participate in this important process as we work to continue our long term commitment to educational excellence.

West Bloomfield School District
Receives $47,984 from Consumers Energy for Providing Energy Efficiency
In September of 2011, the West Bloomfield School District received a check for $36,004 from Consumers Energy Solutions through their 2011 Incentive Program for the installation of 7 high efficiency boilers in the district. Consumers Energy offered a comprehensive set of incentives under the Consumers Energy Business Solutions Program to facilitate the implementation of cost-effective energy efficiency improvements for business customers. On January 30, 2012 the school district once again received an additional check for $47,984 from Consumers Energy Solutions for the installation of 221 Wireless Pneumatic Thermostats (WPT) in instructional classroom spaces district-wide, resulting in an improvement in energy efficiency.

CONGRATULATIONS!!
OLMS students Olivia Bowyer and Lisa Makaj whose artwork has been selected to be sent to Lansing for the Michigan Art Education Association State Exhibits for judging in the   Olivia’s piece is titled Sugar Baby Mola, and Lisa’s piece I Van Goghs’ Postmaster pieces are being sent to Lansing for judging!!!!!!!!!!!!
You all make us so proud!!

IN-DISTRICT TRANSFER OF SCHOOL
Parents requesting an In-District Transfer of School should do so by submitting their request by email to davidson@wbsd.org by February 29, 2012. Please include address and phone number, student’s name, school of attendance, school requested, and reason for the request. For more information you may call 248-865-6453.

Board Meeting February 20
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the West Bloomfield Board of Education will conduct a Special
Board Meeting on Monday, February 20 at 6:00 p.m. in the media center at
West Bloomfield High School located at 4925 Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield, Michigan.
The purpose of the special meeting is for a report from the Superintendent's Search Committee
and possible motion to approve the recommendation of a search firm. That meeting will be
immediately followed by a CLOSED SESSION for the purpose of negotiations.

Board Meeting February 27
There will be a meeting of the Board of Education on Monday, February 27 at 7:00 pm, at Ealy Elementary School in Multi-Purpose Room.  Agendas for board meetings will be available on our website on the Friday before the Monday board meeting after 5:00 pm.  
http://www.westbloomfield.k12.mi.us/wbsd/District/Board-of-Education/Board-Agendas-and-Minutes-197.html

MIFA – DAVID’S MOTHER
WBHS MIFA presented David’s Mother as part of its dinner theater on Thursday, February 9, 2012. Our talented award-winning MIFA students performed locally, at WBHS, this season. The full line-up of the evening began with a buffet dinner and silent auction, followed by the performance, and concluded with a dessert reception.
This was one of my favorite productions, as it was a very moving story. Student directed with original music composed and performed by students from WBHS the one act performance this year.
Under the leadership of Mark Johnson, each year these productions just get better and better. MIFA provides a unique opportunity for students to get involved behind as well as on the stage.
We celebrate the great work of Mark and all the MIFA students who entertain us each and every year. This year’s story was such a moving performance that there was not a dry eye in the house as the stage was cleared.

Mark Johnson reported  on the regional festival which was held afterwards, and said “we were very proud of our show. We got good scores and were honored with many awards. This show, was one of the most well received shows we have done in years, and our performances were punctuated each and every time from a responsive crowd with the much coveted standing ovation.” Congratulations and thank you from the community and all that attended!

MEAP
This week our MEAP results were released and there has been much discussion throughout communities around the state as a result of the new cut scores. I am proud of how our students performed. While the score itself may be lower than what we have seen in the past, we have seen growth in almost every area over last year.
That is the intent of this assessment.  We continue to trend with the district that we have always identified with. In order for this to happen, instruction must be strong and curriculum must be rigorous. We are cognizant that we will always have work to do and that there is always room for improvement. We accept that challenge as we disaggregate our data and begin planning for next year.
Be reminded that just one year ago we were awarded the Advanced Placement Achievement Award as a result of the work that was done in a very rigorous K-12 curriculum.
This continues to be a good year, and I thank all of our staff and students for their hard work and the supportive parents and community for helping to make this possible.

HELP WBHS WIN!
The Spacesaver Company will award a storage system worth $30,000 to the participating school that acquires the most votes!
Please go to www.rockurstorage.com, click on the K-12 edition button, click on the Facebook Log-in button. Once you are logged in through Facebook, click on West Bloomfield High School, and you will see pictures and information about the storage problem at WBHS. Scroll down to the button that says "Vote for this school". Make sure West Bloomfield is listed above the voting box.
You can vote 10 times a day until May 1, 2012. Please vote often!!
Thank you for taking the time to help us with this!

Have a great weekend!