The school year is divided into 2 semesters and the second half of the year will begin on Monday. For some students, electives will stay the same and for others they will change.

Classes like band, orchestra and Spanish 1 are 'full year' courses and will not change.

Classes like gym, art, computers, steam are only one semester and therefore, will change on Monday.

We do not print schedules for all students on Monday. Students should check Power School for the new classes (including room numbers) and make a note of where to go on Monday.

We are NOT changing lunch assignments so only those students with semester class changes for 5th hour MAY have a lunch change. Teachers will remind students tomorrow in class.

This week:

Monday, Jan 23rd :

Volleyball tryouts: Jan 23-24-25 for eligible students (Final Forms info sent)

RAP Marking period 3 kickoff: see list of books below

January 23rd: new semester begins, check Power School for new class schedule

Wrestling begins Monday, Jan 23--see flyer below

Tuesday, Jan 24th:

NWEA testing in ELA classes: Jan 24-25-26

Wednesday, Jan 25th:

CASA meeting 3:15-4pm room N229

Gun Safety Forum (see below for details)

Thursday, Jan 26th:

Hot chocolate fundraiser before school $1

Friday, Jan 27th:

PTO Bagel fundraiser before school**to volunteer at this event see link below

Upcoming:

February 1st: No School for Students

February 6th: look for letters emailed home regarding advanced math testing for current 6th and 7th grade students

February 10th: NJHS applications due (see below for details)

Our next reward will be our school dance on February 10th from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Students with five or less tardies and no office referrals from January 10th-February 3rd will be eligible to buy a ticket. Please encourage your student to get to class on time and to be kind and respectful at all times.

More information will be shared shortly. Ticket sales will take place: February 2-February 10

Mark your calendars: Frozen Jr is our BIG musical for the year. Our 6th graders will travel to the high school on March 3rd at 10am to watch a preview.

Tickets will be on sale soon for March 3rd and 4th performances.

March 22nd: National Junior Honor Society Induction (more info to come shortly)

June 2nd: Fun day (all grades) more information to come soon

Also, mark your calendars as we are fortunate to have Funding the Future coming to WBMS on April 28th for 8th graders. More information soon!

8th Grade Dates:

March: Field Trip to Holocaust Memorial Center

March 16th: 9th grade parent night at WBHS

March 16th: WBHS counselors visit with 8th graders

March 20-21 WBHS counselors pick up schedule requests

June 5th: Cedar Point trip (more information about costs and times coming soon)

June 9th: 8th grade dance (evening event)

June 13th: 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony details coming soon

PBIS Incentives (Positive Behavior Intervention Strategies)

Last Friday, students that had five or less tardies for the month of December AND no office referrals participated in a virtual escape room during 7th hour. Students who did not earn the reward attended a study hall session that hour. Be sure to ask your student about it!

Our next reward will be our school dance on February 10th from 6-8 p.m. Students with five or less tardies from January 10th-February 3rd will be eligible to buy a ticket. Please encourage your student to get to class on time and to be kind and respectful at all times.

We will also be handing out raffle tickets for students walking in the hallway. At every lunch, we will be raffling off some really cool WBMS swag. We love catching kids doing the right thing!

For students interested in WBMS National Junior Honor Society:

The National Junior Honor Society is an international student organization that consists of chapters in middle schools across the country, other US territories and around the world. The National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) elevates a school's commitment to the values of scholarship, service, leadership, character, and citizenship and helps middle-level students develop the knowledge and skills to become well-rounded student leaders in their school, community, and beyond.

We invite our current 7th and 8th students with a 3.6 cumulative grade point average (all of your middle school grades), excellent citizenship/behavior and a desire to give back through community service, to apply to WBMS NJHS. If you applied and were accepted last year, you do not need to apply again.

Please use this link to apply: WBMS NJHS Application 2023 by Friday, February 10, 2023. If you have any questions, please reach out to Mrs. McCormick (patricia.mccormick@wbsd.org) or Mrs. Scheloske (joanne.scheloske@wbsd.org) for assistance.

The STEAM and Schools of Choice application window opens this Monday, January 23rd at 8am!

Currently enrolled students who would like to take STEAM electives classes must have the STEAM 'tag' to pursue those classes. (see below for information about those middle school classes)

Click on the link below to learn more information about the application process.

If you are unsure whether your currently enrolled student has been 'tagged' for STEAM you can contact our main office or email your student's counselor for confirmation. Once a student has the STEAM "tag' designation, there is no need/requirement to test again.

APPLY HERE - Applications are accepted online,
January 23-February 21, 2023

STEAM (must have the tag or designation)

ALL STEAM STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE STEAM: Design and Modeling

PRIOR TO CHOOSING OTHER STEAM CLASSES

The STEAM electives are for students who have met the STEAM program requirements. If you would like to have your student tested for STEAM, please register here: click here for links to STEAM testing

STEAM 1: Designing and Modeling - Semester Course

Students discover the design process and develop an understanding of the influence of creativity and innovation in their lives. They are then challenged and empowered to use and apply what they’ve learned throughout the unit to design a therapeutic toy for a child who has cerebral palsy. Required to take this STEAM class prior to going on to all other STEAM classes.

Computer Science for Innovators and Maker (CSIM) - Semester Course: This course will allow students to discover computer science concepts and skills by creating personally relevant, tangible, and shareable projects. Throughout the unit, students will learn about programming for the physical world by blending hardware design and software development. They will design and develop a physical computing device, interactive art installation, or wearable, and plan and develop code for microcontrollers that bring their physical designs to life. Prerequisite in order to take STEAM App Creator.

STEAM 2: App Creator -Semester Course: This unit will expose students to computer science by computationally analyzing and developing solutions to authentic problems through mobile app development, and will convey the positive impact of the application of computer science to other disciplines and to society. Students will customize their experience by choosing a problem that interests them from the areas of health, environment, emergency preparedness, education, community service, and school culture. Because problems in the real world involve more than one discipline, the unit will introduce students to biomedical science concepts as they work on solutions for the specific problems they choose to tackle. Must take STEAM: Design and Modeling and Computer Science for Innovators and Maker (CSIM) prior to taking this class

STEAM 3: Medical Detectives - Semester Course: In the Medical Detectives unit, students play the role of real-life medical detectives as they collect and analyze medical data to diagnose disease. They solve medical mysteries through projects and lab scenarios, measure and interpret vital signs, analyze a sheep brain, investigate disease outbreaks, and explore how a breakdown within the human body can lead to dysfunction. Must take STEAM: Design and Modeling as a prerequisite.

"WBSD has partnered with Parent Guidance.org to give parents free access to resources and helpful information. We have shared this information with our families. We hope that it will be useful for some of you as well!

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.

As we near winter break, the WBMS staff wants to make sure all of our families have access to the resources they may need. This is the Oakland County Community Resource Guide, which includes resources about topics including Abuse & Protective Services; Food Pantries, Clothing & Household; Healthcare Services; Housing Assistance; and Parenting & Pregnancy Resources.

211 (United Way) offers resources/connections for family support as well. Parents/adults can call, text, or email. Here is the link to the 211 website, which is searchable by topic. Additionally, see these 211 flyers in English, Spanish, and Arabic.

Finally, here are some resources for Food Pantry/Supplies near WB/Oakland County.

We understand that during this time, some of our students cannot eat before noon. We are making adjustments to the lunch/recess schedule for students observing this holiday. If your student has any questions or concerns, please have them see Mrs. McDowell or Mrs. Graff in the auditeria at lunch.

Here is the link for Volleyball Spirit wear. Tryouts are January 23rd-25th and our first match is 2/7/23. Hopefully orders placed by 1/30/23 will be here for the first match.

https://parrotwear.com/wbms_volleyball/shop/home

Nutrition Services serves nutritious meals to students daily in all buildings. A school lunch includes an entrée, grain, fruit, vegetable, and milk. A la carte milk prices are $0.50 for students and adults.

Middle School Breakfast: $1.50 Middle School Lunch: $2.95

See below for a list of prices for all alacarte (snack) items

We love our parent volunteers and would like to extend that invitation again to any parent interested:

If you are interested in coming into the building to volunteer, we have a variety of areas to offer you the opportunity to participate in.

If you would like to begin the process of volunteering at the middle school please click on this link and complete the google form.

Once you have completed the form, you will be emailed the required forms to complete. Once those forms are completed and processed you will be contacted to arrange the date(s) and times to volunteer.

We look forward to having parents, and guardians in the building to support the educational process.

Link to google form: Click to begin the volunteer process

REGISTER TODAY!

Attention all parents - have you created your PowerSchool Parent Portal Account? If not, please create a parent portal account today. This allows the District the ability to communicate with you about your child's progress. Additional information can be found here

Mrs. Morton can also help--she is in the main office

Teachers can assign lunch detentions for disrupting class, but most lunch detentions are for tardiness to class.

Here is how they are assigned: the first 3 tardies = warnings, the 4th tardy is a lunch detention, the 5th tardy is a warning, the 5th and 6th tardies are after school detentions.

The pattern then repeats. Consequences reset on the first Monday of each month.

Parents can keep track of your student's tardiness on Power School. If your child is assigned an after school detention, you will receive an automated message from our HERO system as long as your email contact information is updated and accurate.

Additionally, we have updated the HERO system to send email notices when students are late to classes. The email will be sent from HERO notifications.

We only assign after school detentions on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Students will need picked up at 4:00. You do not need to come in the building. Mrs. Henry or Mrs. Berryman (our after school detention teachers) will walk them out to the carline. Mrs. McDowell will also send your student home with a reminder note.

Please help your child and encourage him/her to be on time to class.

WE encourage parents to create a HERO account using the link below

On March 3rd, all 6th graders will take a school bus to West Bloomfield High School at 10am

to view part of the middle school musical "Frozen Jr"

This is what we call a reverse field trip, meaning, all students will attend (no fees, no permission slips). If parents do not want their 6th graders to attend there will be an opt out process in February.

If your student tests positive for CoVID 19 please keep your student at home and email Mrs Graff: Lisa.Graff@wbsd.org with the onset date of symptoms and the test date so she can calculate the days your student must stay home and wear a mask in school. These days are excused.

Route 3 cannot host any extra riders at this time.

If your student needs to ride a different bus home (or to a friend's house) a note must be dropped off in the main office before 1st hour, with a parent's signature. The note will be processed and can be picked up by the student during the day. The notes, authorized with a staff signature must be handed to the driver of the route. Students who do not have signed notes will not be allowed to ride a different bus.

Please mark your calendars! We will take professional photos of every house (pan to wear your house shirt) in the morning of Feb. 6th

Photos will be available for purchase/order soon.

Alexa Olmos Garcia, nominated by Mrs. Kreger - Alexa is such a caring, kind and helpful person. I am so lucky to have Alexa at the beginning and end of my day as well as in social studies. She comes in with a smile and helps to plug in chromebooks at the end of the day. On top of that she is a great student too!

Carson Acree, nominated by Mrs. Kreger - Carson has made tremendous progress since the beginning of 6th grade! It is awesome to see his academic growth, especially his quality of work and leadership skills that I am seeing now that I have him as an 8th grader. I am really proud of the student Carson has become!

Marisa Mihos, nominated by Mrs. Lijewski - Marisa is a wonderful artist and a great help in class. She will often help her peers who need it as she always gets her work completed. She has next level work with great detail and care. Love having her in class!

We have a wonderful in school support team to assist students. Counselors, assigned by last name, are the best place to start. We also suggest reviewing with your students:

• 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.

As the weather is getting colder, parents are asking about our procedures for coats, and snow boots.

Coats that fit in a student's locker should stay there for the day (unless it is needed for recess). If a coat does not fit in the locker, students may hang coats on hooks in the Advisory classes during the school day.

Snow boots will be the house collaboration areas (we ordered plastic trays for the boots to be placed on).

We will continue to have an opportunity for students to go outside for recess as long as the students want to go out and the weather cooperates (for example, we will not offer the outside option during an ice storm)

If your student is waiting to be picked up in the car line please make sure they are appropriately dressed for the weather. We are asking that parents pick up those waiting in the car line ASAP due to the changing conditions of MIchigan's cold weather and no after school supervision for students waiting to be picked up.

Every month the Superintendent and the Board of Education will recognize one WBSD student for academic excellence. In addition, the student must be dedicated to their studies, clubs and organizations, and exhibit qualities of a role model. They will be presented with the Superintendent's Excellence Award at the regular board meeting for that month. The Superintendent's Excellence Award is meant to promote success in and out of the classroom. The student must be able to handle many different aspects of student life while maintaining excellence in the classroom. The student must be diligent and complete their assignments on time; show a strong effort to learn subjects to the best of their ability; prepare for class; and have good classroom participation. The student must demonstrate excellent behavior in and out of the classroom, is well mannered, and is respectful to both peers and teachers. This award is designed to nominate and select students who promote and take pride in WBSD and in themselves.

Students will be nominated by WBSD staff and administration each month. Each month the staff will be reminded of the nominations and sent a link to complete the nomination application. Each staff member can only nominate one (1) student per month.

A student cannot receive the award more than once within a year.

If your student will be ABSENT or LATE to school please call the Safeline at

248-865-4482

The line is open 24/7

Absences must be excused within 24 hours of the date

If your student must have access to, carry or take ANY prescribed OR over the counter medication while at school, a form attached below, completed and signed by a doctor, must be on file in the main office.

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.

Nominate an 'Exceptional Educator'

WXYZ (Channel 7) seeks your help in recognizing some of the exceptional educators within WBSD. Nominate a difference-maker today! A winner will be chosen monthly and will receive a $1,000 donation for their respective school or program, along with a $100 gift card to Happy's Pizza. Discover more and nominate a teacher or administrator as an exceptional educator.

Upcoming: an in person interview with Meteorologist Paul Gross onsite at WBMS!

Amy Hughes, Principal

Jermaine Evans, Assistant Principal

Blaine McDowell, Dean of Student Services

Lisa Graff, Assistant Principal