Dates this week:

We are collecting for Lighthouse (details below)

Student Spectators are welcome to stay for games at 4pm or earlier.

Games that are after 4 require students to go home and come back to be a spectator.

Athletes, including cheerleaders do not have to go home regardless of game start time

Dec 12-16th

Our Scholastic Book Fair will be open 12/12-12/22 in the iCenter 8-3:15.

Tuesday, Dec. 13th 5-7 is Family Shopping Night.

Students will preview the book fair with their ELA Class on an assigned day 12/13, 12/14, 12/15 and 12/16

Monday, Dec 12th:

Boys basketball (white) plays away at Powers game time 4:00

Boys basketball (green) plays home vs Bloomfield Hills at 4:30 (student spectators must go home before game)

Swim is home vs Shrine at 5:00 pm

School Board meeting at WBHS 7pm, the Board will honor Mrs Boyer with a STAR certificate

Tuesday, Dec 13th:

Boys basketball (green) was cancelled

Band Concert 7pm

Wednesday, Dec 14th:

Boys basketball (white) vs Derby white away at 4

Boys Basketball (green) vs Derby Red at home at 4 (student spectators may stay for the game)

Swim is away at Royal Oak at 5pm

Thursday, Dec 15th:

Swim team photos--see coaches for order forms and details

Boys basketball (white) at home vs Detroit Country Day at 4:30 (student spectators must go home and come back for the game)

Next week is Winter Spirit week:

Monday Dec. 19 - Long Winter's Night (PJ Day),

Tuesday Dec. 20- Character Day (Dress Like Your Favorite Holiday Character),

Wednesday Dec. 21 Holiday Family Pictures (Wear Plaid),

Thursday Dec 22 (Holiday Color Day - Wear Red, Green, White, Blue or a combination of all colors! Also, staff if you would like to be a lump of coal wear all black!)

Friday Dec 23 - Ugly Sweater Day

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.

Next Positive Behavior Treat: January 13th

Volleyball tryouts will begin Monday, January 23

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

8th Grade Dates:

June 5th: Cedar Point trip

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

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

We strongly encourage students to wear their lanyards and IDs to help the check out in the lunch lines go faster.

We have made some changes: Those students wearing a teal lanyard may exit to class through doors closer to the teal pod to encourage on time arrival

Our district nutrition office has created a separate "snack line" to ensure that every student who wants to purchase a lunch can do so and have plenty of time to eat. This has been a HUGE success however, many students prefer to purchase snacks in addition and sometimes in lieu of a lunch so the snack line has become very long and sometimes there is not enough time for students to purchase snacks.

Beginning, Monday, De 12th it is our hope to offer some of the most popular snacks in the main lunch lines so students who are purchasing a complete lunch only have to stand in line one time during lunch time.

We appreciate the patience of all of our students as we continually try to improve the lunch experience for each one of them

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

All stakeholders are encouraged to complete the survey below (students, parents, staff)

We are seeking your feedback about the current schedule. Please complete this survey and let your voice be heard!

Grades 6-8 Robotics

WBMS headed to Kettering University in Flint on Saturday, December 10 to compete at the Michigan FIRST Kettering Qualifier.

Our Anchorbots won the Connect Award, and qualified for the MI State Championship next Friday and Saturday in Grand Rapids!

Connect Award

Connecting the dots between community, FIRST, and the diversity of the engineering world.
This judged award is given to the team that most connects with their local science, technology, engineering,
and math (STEM) community. A true FIRST team is more than a sum of its parts and recognizes that engaging
their local STEM community plays an essential part in their success. The recipient of this award is recognized
for helping the community understand FIRST, the FIRST Tech Challenge, and the team itself.

The team that wins the Connect Award actively seeks and recruits engineers and explores the opportunities
available in the world of engineering, science, and technology. This team has a clear team plan and has
identified steps to achieve their goals.

Spelling Bee Champion

Third year in a row as the WBMS Champion - CONGRATS to Adeline Dagg! Adeline will represent WBMS at the Oakland County Regional Bee. Best of luck!

Congratulations!

We're sooo excited about our first book fair at the new WBMS!!!

Our Scholastic Book Fair will be open 12/12-12/22 in the iCenter 8-3:15.

Tuesday, Dec. 13th 5-7 is Family Shopping Night.

Students will preview the book fair with their ELA Class on an assigned day 12/13, 12/14, 12/15 and 12/16

Parents are able to send in cash, checks payable to : West Bloomfield Middle School

or set up an eWallet:

Students may come to the book fair between 7:55-8:15, prior to the start of advisory, if they have money to purchase.

The book fair will be open from 5-7 PM on Tuesday, December 13th.

There are 50 cent "games" that the students may be interested in participating in. These games might provide the student with a prize, such as candy or a poster that will need to be stored away until after lunch or after school. Students should NOT be eating candy during their classes or in the hallway.

Although we have alloted time for students to complete XELLO during the school day, many students have yet to complete the process.

Starting this week we will pull kids at recess who have not completed the process to allow them to do so.

ASK YOUR STUDENT ABOUT XELLO

All middle school students in attendance logged into XELLO on Friday, November 18th.

XELLO is a program that assists students in discovering relevant college, university, trade, and career options based on their personality, skills, and knowledge. XELLO is a great tool to explore career options.

Students will use XELLO each year through twelfth grade by logging into their student PowerSchool account. Students have access to XELLO at home please ask your student about his/her XELLO plan and progress.

Students can complete XELLO at home or at school. Links to the directions can be found below

Over the past decade the middle school has collected and fundraised monies to give gifts at the holiday time to our families who are in need. If you have any gift cards you would like to donate you can have your students bring them to school and drop them in counseling (Mrs Peguese) or to Mrs Graff at breakfast or lunch. We will also be doing some additional events to support some of our families during this holiday season.

Our WBMS Student Council is asking families to donate the items below through December 21.

There will be donation boxes in the front of the school, outside the icenter doors daily.

Our goal is to collect 800 items.

If we reach our school goal, no teacher will give homework over Christmas break (thank you teachers!)! Items will be delivered on December 21.

Through the month of January, the 6th graders will begin their Kids In Charge 6th grade education. A kid in charge is someone who makes safe decisions for themself. They will cover alcohol prevention education, tobacco and vaping prevention education, marijuana prevention education, making good choices, refusal skills, safe and trusted adults and coping skills. This is a great opportunity to discuss what they learned on these topics and the rules and expectations you follow in your home on them as well. This program is sponsored by the Greater West Bloomfield Community Coalition. To learn more about these topics visit www.gwbcoalition.org.

Abraham Al Bazi, nominated by Mrs. Birmelin - Abraham has made huge strides in math since last year. He is a more focused and determined mathematician. He recently earned one of the top scores on last week's math test. Keep up the great work, Abraham!

Mikayla Yatooma, nominated by Mrs. Birmelin - Mikayla is a focused leader in our classroom. She excels in communication, collaboration, and contribution. She is a role model to follow and an excellent mathematician.

Vanessa Husband, nominated by Mr. Weingarden - Vanessa is an outstanding math student and does a great job participating in class.

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.

Please check out the latest 2 interviews of 2 school board members by our student, Max Columbus! Links below

As you know we have very limited medical treatment that we can give students. Students cannot bring over the counter or prescription medication to school without proper documentation (see form below)

We as school staff are allowed to give ice as part of standard first aid care in a school setting without parental consent, in addition to bandaids and soap and water.

If it's deemed a minor injury the student can be treated and return to class.

For a head injury or more serious injury the parent will be notified in addition to ice or bandages.

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.

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.

Students approached our staff and asked that we host a GSA youth club. This is a student led organization and does have a staff sponsor.

Weekly meetings--all students are welcome to attend!

See information below for details:

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.

The current season has our students playing boys basketball and co-ed swim.

The next season, which begins January 23rd is for Volleyball and Wrestling.

Volleyball will most likely have 2 7th grade girls teams and 2 8th grade girls teams and try outs will start Jan 23rd.

Wrestling is co-ed and all grade levels are invited to participate in this no cut sport.

If your student is interested in either of these activities please make sure your Final Forms account is updated, complete and current. Contact Lisa Graff if you have questions:

Lisa.Graff@wbsd.org

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.

If you drive your student to school or pick your student up, we ask that you utilize our car line and parking lots. Our neighbors prefer that you not park and wait in their neighborhoods (neighborhoods surrounding WBMS).

Although parking on the neighborhood streets is not illegal and the township cannot restrict people from parking on a public roadway in order to retrieve their children as long as they are parking legally, we would appreciate your assistance in respecting the request of our new neighbors.

Oakland Schools and the Oakland Schools Education Foundation (OSEF) are proud to bring back the Oakland County Game & Invention Challenge to all schools in our county on March 11, 2023! This event is intended to inspire students in grades 1-12 to use their creativity, critical thinking, and STEM skills to develop physical or digital games or inventions that solve problems that children/families face in their daily lives. Students will have a chance to demonstrate their games or inventions to a team of judges.

This year OSEF is offering several virtual workshops to help students prepare for the event. We will cover brainstorming, how to develop a model and presentation skills. These presentations will be recorded and available to watch on demand.

Awards will be given in the following categories:

• Most Marketable Game Concept
• Most Creative Concept (for the younger ages)
• Most Outstanding Presentation
• Best Invention
• Best Solution for a problem that people experience
• Tech Center Challenge Winner

Registration is $25 and will open on December 1, 2022. For more information, including resources to help you get started, please visit our website at www.osedfoundation.org.

Take a couple of minutes to watch this video and learn about the experience Amy Quinn, Math and Science Curriculum Specialist in the West Bloomfield School District, had with the event in 2020.

Please contact Andrea Berry with questions.

Andrea W. Berry, CMP

Executive Director

Oakland Schools Education Foundation

2111 Pontiac Lake Road

Waterford, MI 48328

Ph: 248.209.2434

We are encouraging students to wear their lanyards and school IDs every day. To support these positive behaviors, we will be rewarding those students with a raffle ticket.

If a student needs to purchase a lanyard, they are for sale for 2$ in the office

If a student needs to purchase an ID, they are for sale for $5 in the office

We are drawing a winning ticket every day at every lunch!

Our next PBIS reward will run from Dec. 5-Dec. 23rd and January 9-12th. The criteria will be no office referrals and five or less tardies. We love catching our Lakers doing the right thing!

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.

The event will take place at West Bloomfield MIDDLE School in the Audeteria from 1 - 3 p.m.

1 p.m. - Short program featuring student talents

1:30 p.m. - Walk begins

2:15 p.m. - Refreshments available

We encourage you to participate in a variety of service projects and activities at the event including:

• Blessings in a Backpack – donate small cans of tuna and chicken and Kraft Mac & Cheese

• Lighthouse Pantry – donate Mac & Cheese, canned vegetables, non-perishable items, adult and child diapers, and baby formula

• Open Door Food Pantry – donate non-perishable foods and socks

• Book Donation – donate new or used K - 12 books for West Bloomfield students in need and Lighthouse

• Decorate Bookmarks

• Peace Rocks – decorate rocks with symbols of Peace. Make 2 and 1 will be placed in the terraces of WB Library or around a peace pole yet to be installed on the administrative grounds and 1 may be taken home

• Peace Mobile – submit designs that will be later painted on a “hippie-type” van which may have variety of uses.

• Bone Marrow Registry

Minimum Online Deposit

The minimum Family Portal cafeteria account deposit has increased to $20.00 due to the increased fees the district is paying for each online deposit. Currently, the credit card processing company recognizes each student account as an individual item, thus making it necessary to deposit $20 into each account. You can get around this by making a deposit into one student account and transferring funds between your children at no charge. We are working with the processing company to see if this can be changed to a total family deposit minimum. We felt that raising the minimum deposit was a better option than passing the fees along to families. We will keep you informed of changes as they occur. Please direct all questions to the Nutrition Services Department at 248.865.6732. Thank you for your understanding.

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.

We have students who will be featured in the exhibition, flyer below.

Amy Hughes, Principal

Jermaine Evans, Assistant Principal

Blaine McDowell, Dean of Student Services

Lisa Graff, Assistant Principal