We hope you'll review this week's District Update filled with news and notes from across the Walled Lake Consolidated School District. Stay up to date with the district by visiting www.wlcsd.org and connecting with the district on social media - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

• August 17-18: High School Registration
• August 18: Board of Education Meeting
• August 22-23: Middle School Registration
• August 23: High School Registration - Make Up Day
• August 23: Board of Education Superintendent Interviews
• August 24: Board of Education Superintendent Interviews
• August 25: Elementary School Meet & Greets
• August 29: First Day of School

Visit our Back to School Hub for all information related to the start of the 2022-23 school year!

The District will not be requiring universal masking in our school buildings and offices. Individual decisions related to continued masking in our school buildings and offices will be left to the discretion of students, families, and staff members. It should be noted that any bullying, harassment, or discrimination related to a student’s masking choices will not be tolerated. Any individuals engaging in such acts will be subject to the Code of Conduct.

Following guidance from the Oakland County Health Division, individuals that test positive for COVID-19 are required to stay home and isolate a minimum of 5 full days, with symptom onset date or test date, if asymptomatic, being Day 0. If, after 5 full days have passed, the individual has been fever free for over 24 hours and any other symptoms they have had are improving, the individual can resume normal activities provided a mask is worn through Day 10.

Personal or household contacts are not required to quarantine, however it is recommended and encouraged, regardless of vaccination status, to wear a mask and monitor for symptoms for 10 days. Test 3-7 days after exposure or if symptoms develop, and avoid unmasked activities or activities with higher risk of exposing vulnerable individuals.

All other contacts are not required to quarantine, however it is recommended and encouraged to monitor for symptoms for 10 days, test if symptoms develop, and consider wearing a mask around others for 10 days after exposure. At a minimum, wear a mask in settings with higher risk of exposing vulnerable individuals.

Symptomatic students/staff will continue to be required to meet one of the following prior to returning to school/work:

• Provide proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test.
• Provide documentation from a physician indicating a clear alternative diagnosis.
• Exclude from school for minimum of 5 days, mask for 10 days – must be fever free for over 24 hours, with other symptoms improving, prior to returning.

Please help us spread the word to those students and their families to ensure a smooth enrollment process for all of our Walled Lake Schools students. The following information is for enrolling NEW students:

1. Please visit the District's website at www.wlcsd.org, click on "Enrollment" to access the District's EZ Registration site.
2. Watch the video tutorial to guide you through the process and review the Criteria for Enrollment.
3. Complete the online pre-enrollment process, including uploading all required documents to the secured site. Pre-enrollment can be completed on any electronic device including smart phones.
4. Contact the Student Services Office (studentenrollment@wlcsd.org) or call 248-956-2086 if you have questions or do not have all the required documentation. Additional contact information is listed on the Enrollment webpage.
5. After completing your pre-enrollment, please watch your email for communication from the Student Services Department regarding additional documents that may be needed to complete the enrollment. It is essential that we receive ALL documents in a timely manner so your child can start school on August 29th.

Prime Time Care is accepting on line registrations for before and after school child care.

Please visit us at https://wlcsd.org/programs/prime-time-care/ to register.

When the 2021-2022 school year ended, so did free meals for every student. While the federal government funded a program that allowed all students access to free meals during the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress recently declined to continue funding this program.

We understand this change may cause you to worry. However, there are important steps you can take NOW to be sure your student receives the meals they need this school year.

If your student qualifies for free or reduced meals, they can still receive them this fall, but you must take action to make it happen. Please complete the 2022-2023 online application, which will be available on our district’s website through family access after July 1, 2022.

If you do not qualify for free or reduced meals, you may begin depositing money into student accounts at any time to prepare for the cost of school lunches next year. Information on meal prices for the 2022-2023 school year are listed below

Breakfast costs

• $1.50 for Elementary
• $1.75 for Middle/High School

Lunch costs

• $3.00 for Elementary
• $3.25 for Middle/High School

If your student has a negative lunch account balance, we encourage you to pay it off as soon as possible and then begin depositing money into the account to prepare for the 2022-2023 school year.

Your family may qualify for free meals or for reduced-price meals. Reduced-price is $.30 for breakfast and $.40 for lunch. Completing an application is the only way to be considered for free or reduced meals next school year. Please take action now. You can complete the online free and reduced meal application located in Family Access once registration is open.

This free and reduced meal application information is critical in determining the amount of money that the District receives from a variety of State and Federal supplemental programs like Title I A, At-risk (31a), Title II A, E-Rate, etc.

These supplemental programs have the potential to offer supports and services for our students including, but not limited to:

• Instructional supports (staff, supplies & materials, etc.)
• Non-instructional services (counseling, social work, health services, etc.)
• Professional Learning for staff
• Parent and Community engagement supplies and activities
• Technology
• Pandemic-EBT

Our food service department is asking families to complete and submit the free and reduced meal application as soon as possible to ensure that additional funding for our school is available to meet the needs of our students. All information on the application submitted is confidential.

Please contact Anne Merchant at 248-956-3081 or at annemerchant@wlcsd.org with questions.

Anyone working in educational support staff roles, including but not limited to transportation workers, cafeteria workers, custodial staff, skilled trades staff, maintenance, secretarial and administrative assistants, security guards, and paraprofessionals, are eligible to be considered for the award.

Nominations can be made using the online nomination form between now and Monday, September 12, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. eastern standard time (EST). The Michigan Department of Education is seeking local school district support in sharing the nomination form so that school and community members can nominate outstanding staff professionals. Reviewers will evaluate each recommendation received.

The awardee will be announced in October 2022. For more information about the Education Support Staff Professional of the Year program, please visit the program website. For any questions, please contact Jennifer Robel at RobelJ@Michigan.gov or 517-241-7054.

The school AERs can also be accessed via that link or you can find them posted on the school's site in the "OUR SCHOOL" tab on the home page. They will also have a hard copy in the office for those that don't have internet access.