Walnut Creek Middle School
Principal Newsletter - 1/24/20
Our Mission
We believe in the value of a diverse educational community; in a safe and caring environment where all children can learn.
Staff Highlight - Distinguish Service Awards
Tamera Ovall - 25 Years!
Nida Del Pup - 20 Years!
Scott MacIssac - 20 Years!
Brandon Malik - 20 Years!
Susan Rhode - 20 Years!
Kimberly Sprague - 20 Years!
Hillory Dever - 10 Years!
Laurel Rachiele - 10 Years!
Deidre Brown - 5 Years!
Deanna Miller - 5 Years!
Minecraft Education Edition Story Build Challenge - Top Entries Announced!
Before winter break, several students in Ms. Sartor’s Design Tech classes submitted entries into a Minecraft Build Challenge for Michigan Minecraft. Walnut Creek submitted some great builds and we have received the results.
Top Entries will be receiving a novel from the Minecraft series and all participants will receive Michigan Minecraft swag stickers!
Winning Entry in the team build category was Connie Gorelik and Amelia Vong for their recreation of Cinderella’s Castle.
Honorable Mention was awarded to the following teams:
- Harry Potter Quidditch Field: Carson Beattie, Emmanuel Ita, Christian Hood, Nathan Ciamitaro
- Anne Frank: Connor Adams and Connor Doughty
- Star Wars: Evan Ross and Luke Fenberg
- Jack and the Beanstalk: Cole Hardy and Aamir Hussain
Reminder: 1/29 Half Day - 11:40 AM Dismissal
Reminder: 1/28 - WLSEFCU Bank Day
Parents are welcome to open a new account for their student as well!
Careers in Healthcare Field Trip at Oakland Schools
Ms. Lentz and Mrs. Burdgick will be speaking to 8th grade Science classes and passing out permission slips for this wonderful opportunity on Monday, January 27th.
What will happen at this event?
The Careers in Healthcare event will provide middle school students an opportunity to interact with healthcare professionals through a variety of hands-on activities covering areas such as:
- Food and Nutrition
- Infection Control/Epidemiology
- Nursing/Family Medicine
- Pharmacy or
- Radiology.
Students will rotate through four activity stations developed and delivered by industry partner Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital in a morning (8:45 - 11:00) session. Each rotation allows students 25 minutes in each activity area.
The deadline for field trip applications to be turned in to the Counseling Office is Friday, January 31st by 8:15 AM. There will be NO EXCEPTIONS to this deadline. Space is limited to 35 students. If we receive more than 35 permission forms, students will be chosen to attend by random lottery selection.
If your student attends the field trip, it is your student’s responsibility to speak to his/her teachers regarding missing work. Students will miss 1st – 4th hour the day of the field trip.
Please note Monday, February 24th is the Monday we return from mid-winter break. The bus will leave promptly at 8:10 AM to leave for the event. We will not wait for tardy students as we must arrive on time to the event at Oakland Schools.
Walnut Creek P.A.L.S Program
All Creek students are encouraged to participate in the PALS program during the 3rd marking period. PALS stands for Purpose, Achievement, Leadership and Service. To qualify for the PALS celebration students must meet 3 goals:
- Grade point average for the 3rd marking period must be 3.0 or higher, OR you can improve your grade point average by at least .5 from the 2nd marking period OR you can improve your grade in a chosen focus core class by one full letter grade
- You must receive all 1s and 2s in citizenship on your 3rd marking period report card
- Service Hours: 6th graders must complete 6 hours, 7th graders must complete 7 hours, and 8th graders must complete 8 hours. Community service must be done outside of school and you cannot get paid for the work. All service hours must be recorded on the PALS record log, which can be found on the Creek Counseling Website or in the attendance office.
Any student who accomplishes all three goals and turns in their service log by Friday, April 3, will be invited to our PALS celebration in May. This year we are planning a surprise field trip that will be announced at a later date. If you have any questions about PALS, please contact your counselor.
Cupcake & Cookie Club Info
Cupcake & Cookie Club January Dates At LAST!
This month we are making Winter/Characters creations and costs $8 to participate.
There are just 2 sessions to choose from:
Thursday, January 30
Tuesday, February 4
No you cannot go to more than one per theme--we repeat the same cupcakes on both of these dates, so you have to wait until next theme/month for more fun.
There will be more dates later in February with a new theme—I bet you will LOVE it!
See details and online sign-up at https://sites.google.com/a/teachers.wlcsd.org/debjess/cupcake-club
Oakland Schools Career Readiness Presents: Dream Big, Dream Together!
Upcoming Events: 1/27 - 1/31
- Wrestling Home vs. White Lake Middle School @ 4 PM
- Basketball Away vs White Lake Middle School @ 4PM
Tuesday, January 28th
- WLSEFCU Student Banking Day - Students with accounts can Deposit money, Students and Parents can open new accounts!
Wednesday, January 29th
- Half Day For Students - Dismissal 11:40 AM
Thursday, January 30th
- Wrestling Away vs. Geisler @ 4 PM
- Basketball Home vs. Geisler @ 4 PM
2020 Career Night - Oakland Schools Technical Campus
Chess Club - Next date 2/6 - 3:00 - 4:00 PM
Our next Chess Club meeting date will be 2/6.
Future dates will be: 2/27, 3/12 and 3/26.
All are welcome and there is no fee to participate. Chess club meets in the commons after school, hope to see you there!
Alternate Realities Gaming Club
Students will play strategy board games, trading card games, and fantasy role playing games.
All students are welcome to participate at no cost. Students are encouraged to bring their own games to play!
In previous years, we have had over 40 students participate in this club weekly, and we hope to have a great turn out again this year.
2020 Tuition Expedition Information
Chance to win BIG & support WL classrooms!
15th Annual Tuition Expedition 50/50 Scholarship Raffle
Purchase your Tuition Expedition 50/50 Scholarship Raffle tickets today! Raffle's proceeds are channeled into Walled Lake Schools' classrooms through Foundation’s annual mini-grant program (see list of grant awards per school). Tickets are $50 each or 3 for $100 (plus $2 convenience fee per $50). Only a 1,000 tickets are available for sale. Great Odds! Grand prize winner will receive scholarship funds for postsecondary education (40% lump sum option available). Plus, ticket purchasers have the chance to win a FREE raffle ticket courtesy of the WL School Emp. Fed. Credit Union and opportunity to win secondary prize; HP Sprocket 200 Bundle Media printer donated by the FFE. Grand Prize drawing is March 30, 2020 at District’s Reflections Celebration; need not be present to win. Visit the FFE’s TE raffle website for details or contact the Foundation for more info. and to purchase tickets with check or credit card: phone ext. 62116 or email michellebianco@wlcsd.org. MI Raffle License# R55190
Ski and Snowboarding club
Come have a blast on the slopes! Alpine has a great discounted after school program for skiing and snowboarding. It’s a perfect start for beginner kids too. Our group runs on Wednesday’s from 6pm to close, with payment due by Tuesday morning. It doesn’t have to be just kids and families from this school, all are welcome! Go any week you want or all the weeks until the snow melts. Break the winter blahs and spread the word! See attachments for details. Carrie Murphy carrielm123@gmail.com
Hawk Nest for Home Games - PRE-ORDER PIZZA
All students are still welcome to attend Hawks Nest for FREE for all home athletic events. This opportunity provides students time to complete their homework prior to attending home athletic events. Moving forward, we will sell tickets to students that would like to purchase pizza and pop as a snack during Hawks Nest. Students will purchase tickets for $5 which will buy 2 slices of pizza and a pop. Tickets will be sold at lunch on home game days. Pizza and pop will not be sold during Hawks Nest. We are implementing this change so that we can ensure that we purchase enough/not too much pizza for our students that are attending Hawks Nest.
Students that do not attend the Hawk Nest will not be permitted into an athletic contest unless they are accompanied by their parent/guardian. Parents/Guardians will be required to stay at the event with their child if they did not attend Hawk Nest. Thank you for your cooperation.
PTSA - Volunteers Needed
Our PTSA is still looking for two new parent volunteers to lead the committees for Spirit Wear and Fundraising.
We are also looking for a new volunteer to help co-chair the Reflections group for next school year.
If you are interested in helping, please contact the PTSA at walnutcreekptsaWB@gmail.com
Academic Interventions
Free Math Tutoring:
6th Grade Students are invited to attend free math tutoring on Wednesdays from 3:00 - 3:30 each week in room 117.
7th Grade Students are invited to attend free math tutoring on Thursdays from 3:00 - 3:30 each week in room 117. Occasionally, the 7th grade will meet in the morning due to conflicts with the staff meeting calendar. I will communicate changes to dates/times.
8th Grade Students are invited to attend free math tutoring on Tuesdays from 3:00 - 3:30 each week in room 117.
Peer Tutoring:
Peer Tutoring is an academic intervention which provides students the opportunity to receive academic help from their peers. Peer tutoring will meet each Tuesday in the media center from 3:00 - 4:00.
Walnut Creek Middle School
Email: sethtaboh@wlcsd.org
Website: https://wlcsd.org/schools/middle-school-/walnut-creek/
Location: 7601 Walnut Lake Road, West Bloomfield Township, MI, USA
Phone: 248-956-2400
Twitter: @tabohs