WBMS Update: April 10, 2023
West Bloomfield Middle School
Did you see this email?
1. The yearbook order deadline is April 21st. Please see the newsletter for the ordering link.
2. The 2024 8th grade trip to Washington, DC Parent ZOOM meeting will now be April 19th. All 7th grade families should have received an email with details (that info is also in the latest newsletter). The ZOOM link will be sent to all 7th grade families soon.
3. The next PTO fundraiser is Dairy Queen at lunch. The order deadline is April 14th. See the newsletter for the order form. Hard copies are also available at school during lunch.
4. If your 6th/7th grade student requested Musical Theater next year-stay tuned for audition information. We will place ALL students but with so many students requesting the class, we feel auditions will be helpful with placement. There is also a parent permission form to be signed.
5. 8th grade families should get Cedar Point and PSAT information today. (that information will also be in the upcoming newsletter)
6. All 6th and 7th grade families should have received this google form about transportation for next week: https://forms.gle/rUsJFBU2AEeToqTw9
Whats Happening at WBMS: April 10-14 and beyond!
This week: April 10-14th:
April 12th: PSAT: full day for 8th graders, and afternoon half day (start 1:06) for 7th and 6th graders more details below
7th grade students will learn about the 8th grade Washington, DC trip:
Thursday, April 13th- All 7th graders last names A-L to the auditeria at 8:25am, until the end of advisory
Friday, April 14th- All 7th graders last names M-Z to the auditeria at 8:25am, until the end of advisory
Saturday, April 15th: All are invited to the LakerBot Festival, which will be held on April 15 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at WBMS. This festival will showcase the hard work and creativity of our robotics team, and will also provide an opportunity for the community to come together and celebrate our students' accomplishments.
Future Dates:
The April PTO meeting has been re-scheduled for May 3
Monday, April 17th: 8th graders interested in playing high school football--we will have a meeting with coaches during 1st hour advisory--students must register PRIOR to the event--link below
April 19th: DQ Blizzard fundraiser--see order flyer below--last day for orders is Friday, April 14th
Evening ZOOM parent meeting for 7th grade families interested in Washington, DC field trip as an 8th grader spring 2024
April 21st: yearbook order deadline--see below for ordering link
April 22nd: Day of Service Volunteer Activity see flyer below
April 26th at 6:00 P.M: NYC 2023 Parent meeting for all registered families
M-STEP for all grades will be April 25-26th. Please remind your students to bring corded (non-Bluetooth headphones if available)
MSTEP: April 25 and 26th: grade level testing details coming soon with schedule
April 28th: Also, mark your calendars as we are fortunate to have Funding the Future coming to WBMS for 8th graders. More information below
May 2: WBSD Bond Vote: https://www.wbsd.org/about-us/bond2023
May 3: Girls Lacrosse Middle School Night at WBHS more details soon
May 3: PTO Meeting at WBMS
NWEA:
May 9-10-11 ELA in class,
May 16-17-18 math in class
May 29th: Memorial Day, No School
June 1st: Fun Day (all grades) more information to come soon
June 7-9th Middle School Art show (details to come)
June 13th: locker clean out
June 14th Half Day - All Schools
June 15th Half Day - Student's Last Day
More 8th Grade Dates:
May: Field Trip to Holocaust Memorial Center: May 17 and May 19
June 5th: Cedar Point trip (see below for link to details and a permission slip)
June 9th: 8th grade dance (evening event)
June 13th: 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony 6pm at WBMS in the gymnasium
Fall 2023 Dates for rising/continuing middle school students:
August 22
6th grade orientation
students: 9-noon
parent meeting 7-8pm
August 23
7th and 8th grade
last names A-M
students: 9am-12, and 1pm-3
NEW student parent orientation Aug 23, 7-8pm
August 24
7th and 8th grade
last names N-Z
students: 9am-12, and 1-3pm
Athlete Night 7-8pm
Ballots
On May 2, 2023, the West Bloomfield School District will have a bond initiative on the ballot. To read more about the bond, click here.
Parent surveys
We want your feedback!
Helping students do their best in school requires a team effort. Parents, students, and schools all play important roles in this process. To help all of us learn how to make your child's schooling experience as positive and beneficial as possible, please give us your honest, thoughtful responses to the questions below.
Please take the time to complete the survey as your feedback is appreciated.
In the past, we have looked at survey results and made changes including, but not limited to:
-adding passing time between classes (started that now)
-deleting 8th hour/PM Advisory class (Fall 2023)
-keeping recess opportunities for students (will continue Fall 2023)
WBSD Family SURVEY LINK also linked below
If you have children in multiple schools please complete one survey per child.
Thank you!
Student Council at the High School
Dear Future Lakers, (current 8th graders)
Applications are now being accepted to serve on Student Government for the 2023-2024 school year. Please review the STUDENT GOVERNMENT APPLICATION and submit your information by Friday, May 5 by 11:59 pm. Interviews will be held the week of May 15-19 on Zoom after school.
Student government is a group of students that are charged with managing a wide range of events, activities, programs, policies, and initiatives around the school. Although tasked with many important duties, there's always time for fun and exciting activities. Student government does not take place during school hours, meetings are held before/after school.
Requirements:
3.5+ GPA
No disciplinary referrals
Availability before school for meetings
Maintained attendance
Willingness to plan and participate in STUGO ran activities
Lakers of the Week
Regan Tremblay, nominated by Mrs. McCormick - Regan has been a great addition to the West Bloomfield Middle School family. He takes school seriously; focusing on doing his best every day. He is involved in sports outside of school, so his schedule can be very hectic, but he finds a way to balance it all out. Besides being a strong student athlete, Regan is a good human. He is kind to others, works well in a group, and is always encouraging. Keep being you, Regan, because you are awesome!
Jayden Blaine, nominated by Mrs. Jabiro - Jayden is very kind and helpful to his fellow classmates and to me. He balances getting his work done and having fun at the same time. He is funny and friendly, and he is an all-around nice guy!
Time between classes
We have also added music that lasts for one minute indicating that students have less than one minute left of passing time. We are hopeful that will help with students being on time to class.
Update to Detention Procedure
We are jumping right back into school and making a few adjustments to our procedures. You will see them outlined in the weekly newsletter however, since your student is impacted by these changes we are letting you know early.
One of the changes is the elimination of lunch detentions as the data we have collected shows that they are not working to encourage better behavior (including on time behavior to class).
Most lunch detentions are assigned for arriving late to class; however, if you have questions about why your student was assigned a lunch detention, please start by asking your student. Students are also getting this email if you have more than one student at WBMS. If your student is unsure, please email Mrs. McDowell and she can share the reason.
Finally, we are starting over in calculating tardies to class. That means starting Monday EVERY student starts the rest of the school year with ZERO tardies. For the first 3 late arrivals to class, students and parents will be given warnings with emails from the HERO system. The 4th and all subsequent tardies will be assigned after school detentions.
See below to upcoming school travel opportunities
Washington, DC Spring 2024
7th Grade WBMS Families,
We are very excited to offer your student the opportunity to participate in a field trip to the nation's capital. During the 2023-2024 academic year, WBMS 8th graders will be learning about U.S. History in their Social Studies classes. This trip will be a great opportunity for students to make connections to what they have learned in class and deepen their understanding of our countries’ history.
When: Wednesday, May 1st - Wednesday, May 3rd
*These will be 3 full days of touring! We will be flying to D.C. to maximize our time spent sightseeing and minimize our travel time. We will depart on the morning of the 1st and return in the evening of the 3rd.
Cost: $1295/student
*This price includes all food, transportation, accommodations, touring and activities. $1188 of the cost is fully refundable until the day of departure. Payments can be made on a monthly schedule (the full price is NOT due up front). There are also scholarship and financial assistance options available.
There will be an ZOOM informational meeting for families on Thursday, April 19th at 6:30pm. The meeting will be via Zoom; the link will be shared closer to the date. The representative from the tour company will have a plethora of information to share with you and will be able to answer any questions you may have.
PSAT impact on the daily schedule on April 12th
6th and 7th graders will have a half day so we can use all available staff for test administration.
6th and 7th graders will only attend school for 6th-7th and 8th hours arriving around 1pm in the afternoon (after lunches). 6th and 7th grade PARENTS should complete the google form below so we can plan for buses (transportation) if necessary.
PSAT and M-STEP
As we plan for PSAT and MSTEP it is important that parents and students understand these rules for testing so certain devices can remain at home during these testing events
Prohibited Practices
-
If a student has a cell phone or other non-test electronic device out at any point during a test session, that student’s test has been compromised and is to be invalidated due to prohibited behavior, even if the student did not use the cell phone or device.
-
Students are not allowed to wear or access “wearable” technology (such as smartwatches, fitness trackers, Bluetooth headphones) during testing. If a student is wearing such a device during testing, that student’s test must be invalidated because the student has access to the device regardless of whether it was used or not.
-
Even if a student has exited or submitted their test, they cannot use cell phones or other electronic devices in the testing room. If the student has exited/submitted the test and then accesses a cell phone/electronic device (including wearable technology), this constitutes prohibited behavior and the student’s test will be invalidated.
STUDENT CONSEQUENCES FOR VIOLATING GUIDELINE
Students violating this guideline may be subject to discipline as outlined in the student handbook, Administrative Regulations and/or Board Policy.
Safeline--call for absence and/or tardy
248-865-4482
The line is open 24/7
Absences must be excused within 24 hours of the date
Please remind your students.....
1. be wearing their lanyard
2. have the agenda signed by the teacher with date and time (parents and teachers can easily see when and how often a student is leaving class)
Students must wear their lanyards to gain access to specific assemblies and programs coming up like Fun Day
Lanyards are 2$ in the office (we have given students 1-2 lanyards)
IDs are available in the office for $5 (we have given every student 2 at no cost)
Backpacks are not permitted to be carried unless the locker is broken or there are extenuating circumstances. Broken lockers should be reported to Mrs. Paige in the main office: jazmine.paige@wbsd.org
ONLY students with an assigned GYM class should be using a GYM locker. We will be cleaning out all other materials and placing it in lost and found
Age range is middle school students and older. Purchase tickets here.
Order your 2022-23 School Yearbook Today! last day to preorder is April 21
https://ybpay.lifetouch.com/order/lookupjob?jobNumber=12959223
Yearbooks are not automatically included in school picture orders like elementary school.
Our yearbook is a hard cover book.
Students--how to sign up to see your counselor
The links are set up on the WBMS website.
Go to "Student Life"
Counseling
and click on the proper link to request an appointment.
If a parent needs to see a counselor, please make an appointment by emailing or calling the counselor first. They are not available for drop in meetings.
Gun Safety Forum
Volunteer opportunities
From the I-Center
Quarter 4 RAP runs April 3 - May 26th
Students are required to read 1 book and complete a Google Book Review form on the RAP Canvas Site.
This assignment will be graded by your student's ELA teacher.
Books are available to check out at the West Bloomfield Township Public Library locations & our WBMS iCenter.
Students also have access to select titles through the SORA website.
Please reach out to Mrs. Carson (cindy.carson@wbsd.org) or your student's ELA teacher with any questions.
This is the launch video:
WBMS Student Interviews Scott Long, Assistant Superintendent for Learning Services
Max caught up with Scott Long to discuss what is was like to see all of the smiles during the Teacher of the Year and Support Person of the Year awards, successes of teamwork, his family, and much more. Click below to watch the interview.
Max Cool Gamer Columbus is a WBMS student and is part of the FIRST Robotics Middle School team. Max has interviewed local tv and radio personalities. Be sure to check out his YouTube channel.
My student needs help--what should I do?
Trusted Adults - Please encourage your students to utilize trusted adults in their schools. When we focus on relationship building, the culture of the school becomes one of inclusion and support where students feel comfortable confiding in trusted adults.
OK2Say - Michigan Student Safety Program - Report anonymous tips on criminal activity, potential harm, or threats using OK2Say. Call 855-565-2729.
Talk to Us - On our district website. This is a safe place to ask questions and report problems anonymously.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline - Provides 24/7 confidential support for those in distress and suicide prevention.
Mental Health Resources
WBSD has partnered with Parent Guidance.org to give parents free access to resources and helpful information. ParentGuidance.org is an online service by licensed therapists that provides trusted and specialized courses, professional support, and a safe community for parents to learn how to support their children and get answers to mental health questions.
If you know of someone experiencing grief or stress this season, please click here for tips and strategies.
Medication at school
This includes, but is not limited to Tylenol, Tums, prescriptions, and Advil. Under no circumstances can a student be in possession of medication without the proper forms on file. Students possessing medication without the forms on file or distributing medication to other students will be subject to discipline following the district's Code of Conduct.
Interdisciplinary Artificial Intelligence Summer Program Taught by Stanford Alumni
Inspirit AI is a 25-hour project-based AI program that introduces middle and high school students to fundamental AI concepts to build impactful projects across disciplines. This year, due to the advances in Generative AI, we are excited to announce new projects such as Dall-E: AI and Generative Art, as well as Tiktok Recommendation systems. The program is taught by Stanford, MIT mentors and no CS experience is necessary. Applications for Summer are due April 30th.
Your Middle School Administration Team
Jermaine Evans, Assistant Principal
Blaine McDowell, Dean of Student Culture
Lisa Graff, Assistant Principal
West Bloomfield Middle School
Email: Lisa.Graff@wbsd.org
Website: https://www.wbsd.org/west-bloomfield-middle-school
Location: 6000 Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield Township, MI, USA
Phone: 248-865-4480
Twitter: @WBMSAPGraff