I am pleased to share with you that there are many opportunities for you to get involved in the Superintendent Search and the School Enrollment and Facilities Study.
Mark your calendar and join others in the community in these two initiatives.
Dates that you may lend your voice to the discussions are:
SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH - FOCUS GROUP SCHEDULE
Administrative and Community Services Building (ACS)5810 Commerce Road, West Bloomfield
Wednesday, March 7
8:00 a.m. Business Leaders 9:00 a.m. Open Forum - ALL WELCOME
10:00 a.m. Parent Leaders
1:00 p.m. Clergy
2:30 p.m. High School Teachers and Paraeducators
3:30 p.m. Middle School Teachers and Paraeducators
4:30 p.m. Elementary Teachers and Paraeducators
7:00 p.m. Community Forum – ALL WELCOME
Thursday, March 8
8:00 a.m. Board Meeting – Open Session 9:30 a.m. Bus Drivers
11:00 a.m. Civic Leaders
1:00 p.m. Administrators
3:00 p.m. Cafeteria / Custodians / Maintenance / Technicians
4:30 p.m. Secretaries
7:00 p.m. Community Forum – ALL WELCOME
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 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. These dates will be coming shortly.
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.
EXAMS
Teachers will participate in professional development sessions on March 6. High school Juniors and Seniors who need to retake will be taking the ACT exam and the Michigan Merit Exam this week. Teachers will also be in Professional Development this week. Grades 1-5 teachers will be in SITTON Vocabulary and Grammar, while all others will be in Quality Teaching Integrating Instructional Technology, learning iPad apps and Promethean Board applications. Kindergarten teachers will also be in their specific professional development.
We wish all of our students who are testing the very best!BOARD MEETING
At last Monday’s board meeting the Ealy Elementary Students welcomed us “aboard the S.S. Ealy” for an ‘excursion’ as we were entertained with songs, videos and skits from their PBS Production, learning about Positive Behavior Support. Videos capsulized their Writer’s Reader’s and Math Workshops. Students from all grades wore sailor’s hats and taught us about cooperating at home, in school and in the community while embracing our unique, diverse differences. It was such an inspiring and encouraging production choreographed by Marla Gartner and Susan Englehart. Thank you to Rod MacNeal and the entire staff!
At the meeting, the board voted 7-0 to pursue a resolution to seek proposals for custodial and transportation services. In its resolution, the board cited “recognition that it recognizes non-instructional support services staff as providing highly effective and important School district functions, and that it feels that it is both prudent sand fiscally responsible to investigate the school district’s costs associated with non-instructional support services, and investigate financial data on potential cost savings from outsourcing certain non-instructional support services.” Tom Goulding describes this as a “board directive that is focused on cost containment and funding what our options are. We are looking at ways district wide to save money because of our future projections.”
CONGRATULATIONS!
I want to applaud our West Bloomfield athletes who have excelled in the following:
State Wrestlers:1. Ross Bahro-All StateI want to applaud our West Bloomfield athletes who have excelled in the following:
2. Daniel Davidson
State Swimmers:John Yurich - 200 Medley Relay, 100 Fly, 200 Free Relay
Grant Yarber - 200 Medley Relay, 200 Free Relay
Andrew Jacob - 200 Medley Relay, 50 Free, 100 Free, 200 Free Relay
Nick Simon - 200 Medley Relay, 200 Free Relay
MUSIC
In addition, Sheryl Hauk has reported that Ameerah Shakoor won Outstanding Soloist at the Disney Jazz Celebration! And the West Bloomfield High School Concert Choir A sang at the Detroit Opera House yesterday with Alma College. Kudos to all! We are so proud of you!
WIN $10,000!
Join the hundreds of people who have already purchased a $10 ticket supporting the West Bloomfield Educational Foundation, in an effort to win $10,000 in their fundraising raffle! Tickets can be purchased by calling Community Edducation at 248-865-6463, and you must be 18 to purchase one. The drawing will be held Monday, March 26 at 7:00 pm at Ealy School. I wish you all much luck, and thank you for supporting the West Bloomfield Educational Foundation!JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT
I went to the production of Joseph last week at Abbott and was totally ‘amazed’ at the talent of our middle school kids. It is not only the students talents, but the direction of our staff John Deierlein and Ryan Moore who encourage these students to put on a professional level production. However, I also want to remind everyone that it is a caring community and creative parents who all contribute to making great productions like these!PETER PAN
On that note, I want to remind you that you will have another opportunity to see our creative and talented kids from Orchard Lake Middle School as their Musical Theater Department presents Peter Pan, on Friday, March 23 at 7:00 pm and Saturday, March 24 at 2:00 pm at the West Bloomfield High School Auditorium. The play, directed by Janey Compton, and Musical Direction by April Tini, with choreography by Valerie Mould, is NOT TO BE MISSED. Tickets are available by mail, during school office and lunch room hours, by phone 248.865.4480 and at the door if seats are available.
Mail by March 15th to Orchard Lake Middle School, 6000 Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48322 ATTN: April Tini
Checks payable to: Orchard Lake Middle School –
For information please email olmsmusictheater@aol.com.
Senior citizens may also use their Gold Card for complimentary tickets. They are available at all building offices.
HIGH SCHOOL AUTHOR
I am so proud of our student, Kristan Victoria Maxie, who is an honors freshman at West Bloomfield High School, and has published her first book, A Prison Diary. The book is fiction, with a spiritual twist and an inspirational message. It is reviewed as a very powerful and very moving book. Kristan is planning to become an author reaching out to readers who truly enjoy being a part of what they're reading. The book is highly recommended for all ages. She is now considering a sequel since she has received such positive reviews from her first novel. She is one of four siblings and strives for greatness in whatever God leads her to do. Congratulations, Kristan!
TALK SUP’T. LIVE!I am so proud of our student, Kristan Victoria Maxie, who is an honors freshman at West Bloomfield High School, and has published her first book, A Prison Diary. The book is fiction, with a spiritual twist and an inspirational message. It is reviewed as a very powerful and very moving book. Kristan is planning to become an author reaching out to readers who truly enjoy being a part of what they're reading. The book is highly recommended for all ages. She is now considering a sequel since she has received such positive reviews from her first novel. She is one of four siblings and strives for greatness in whatever God leads her to do. Congratulations, Kristan!
We have been creating a monthly video version of our Talk Sup’t. newsletter, with the help and talent of Kevin Walsh’s students in his Advanced Video classes. Our first episode focused on West Bloomfield High School, and we interviewed Principal Tom Shelton, and Assistant Principals Mara Hoffert, Art Ebert and Pat Watson. You can catch our latest episode highlighting our middle schools, where we invited principals Amy Hughes and Sonja James to join us and talk about the differences and similarities between our two schools. These have become very informative shows, and I encourage you to catch them on Channel 19, our school district channel at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and on Saturdays and Sundays, they are re-aired at 10:00 am, 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm. We have just taped our most recent one featuring Oakland Early College with Head of School Jen Newman, and three of our students, Jewell Bell, Christopher Breedlove and Shelby Maurice who all shared their experiences and feelings about attending OEC. Tune in Channel 19 and see what we have to offer!
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.
Please 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. This includes 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
and must be received by Thursday, March 22, 2012.
