This is the week that we recognize all staff in our school district, paying tribute to our public school employees and taking the time to recognize and acknowledge the impact of our staff on our lives.
On May 10, Oakland Schools will host the 25th Annual Outstanding Teacher of the Year Awards, celebrating teachers that are setting students on a course of discovery. This year, outstanding teachers from 22 local school districts will be recognized for their great accomplishments in their classrooms. Two of our teachers, Patti McCormick from Abbott Middle School and Shari Pawlus from Scotch Elementary were nominated by colleagues, principals, students, parents and others for this prestigious award. The award is given for engaging students, meeting individual needs of students, demonstrating knowledge of subject area, demonstrating classroom management, relating to parents and colleagues, demonstrating citizenship and leadership in the school community. I want to thank all of our staff on behalf of all the children in our district - we are blessed to have ALL of you working for us!
SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH
By now, you all have received the message that our Board of Education has unanimously selected Dr. Gerald D. Hill as my successor. I spoke with Dr. Hill yesterday and we are just waiting for his contract to be finalized.
We are looking forward to next week when he joins us to meet with staff, students, parents and members of the community! Everyone is invited to our Open House on Friday, May 18 from 4:00 – 6:00 pm at West Bloomfield High School Media Center, so please join us to welcome Dr. Hill!By now, you all have received the message that our Board of Education has unanimously selected Dr. Gerald D. Hill as my successor. I spoke with Dr. Hill yesterday and we are just waiting for his contract to be finalized.
Dr. Hill sounds very excited to have the opportunity to come to our district as there are many similarities between our district and his current district. The board and staff are looking forward to working with him as well.
SEAF OPEN HOUSES
I want to thank all of the community who came and offered their input and took the time to complete surveys at our Open Houses. You all have responded so positively in an attempt to make our district a better place for all.
The next process involves a Board Workshop on Monday, May 14 at 6:00 pm in the WBHS Media Center. At this workshop, the Board will discuss the five scenarios associated with the SEAF Project in a First Reading presentation for the SEAF Plan.
On June 25 at 7:00 pm in the WBHS Media Center, there will be a WBSD Board of Education Meeting where it is expected that the SEAF Plan will be adopted.
SAVE THE DATE!
The West Bloomfield Educational Foundation (WBEF) will bring our Second Annual Comedy Slam! event to the high school auditorium on Friday, June 8. This is a great fundraiser and for our foundation and Comedian Joe Nipote has assembled a roster of VERY funny comics that you won’t want to miss this year. More info to come on the evening’s activities, but be sure to put it on your calendar, as we will all be ready for some comic relief as the hectic school year comes to a close.
The West Bloomfield Educational Foundation (WBEF) will bring our Second Annual Comedy Slam! event to the high school auditorium on Friday, June 8. This is a great fundraiser and for our foundation and Comedian Joe Nipote has assembled a roster of VERY funny comics that you won’t want to miss this year. More info to come on the evening’s activities, but be sure to put it on your calendar, as we will all be ready for some comic relief as the hectic school year comes to a close.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR BEAUTIFUL VOICE!
I want to commend WBHS junior Jocelyn Kirsch on her beautiful singing voice as she performed at the annual honorary dinner for the WB Optimist Club, recognizing Wesley Berry last week. I also want to thank Sheri Hauk, Vocal Music Director at West Bloomfield High School, for always graciously accommodating our community by providing musical entertainment for our events.
CONGRATULATIONS!
VIKING VOICES!Congratulations to the Orchard Lake Middle School VIKING VOICES, who received the high honors of Excellent Ratings at MSVMA District Choral Festival and as a result, qualified to sing at the State Level of Choral Festival. Best wishes to them as they travel with Mrs. Tini to Jackson Community College on May 17, where they will perform at the MSVMA Junior High State Choral Festival. The OLMS choirs are directed by Mrs. April Tini and accompanied by Mrs. Marjorie Haber.
ROOSEVELT STUDENTS
I am so proud of our fifth grade Roosevelt students; Jewel Evans, Aria Gettel, Shannon Osborne and Lindsey Vassalo, whose team came home with three medals in “A World in Motion” International Fuel Cell Competition hosted by SAE International and sponsored by the General Motors Foundation. The all girl team was facilitated by Magnet Teacher Dennis Rapal, who commended the students for taking the challenge on their own. Competing against middle school students, this team won by constructing fuel cell-powered model cars that compete in speed and accuracy and weighted endurance, winning a Gold Medal for the Endurance Event with Weight. GRIFFIN MILLER
We wish the best to Doherty student Griffin Miller, who is going to compete in the National Braille Challenge Competition in Los Angeles. This is the Braille Institute's national reading and writing contest in braille, a way to motivate blind and visually impaired students to practice their literacy skills. Contests include reading comprehension, braille speed and accuracy, proofreading, spelling and reading tactile charts and graphs. Congratulations go to Griffin for being among just 60 Challengers out of more than 900 first through twelfth grade preliminary round contestants from 42 states and two Canadian provinces that were selected. He will compete in the Braille Challenge® Finals in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 23, 2012. Best of luck, Griffin!