District Update
A weekly update from Walled Lake Consolidated Schools
Walled Lake Consolidated School District Update: Jan. 20, 2022
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 District updates by visiting www.wlcsd.org and connecting with the District on social media - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube
Photo Caption (Right): Clifford Smart MS's Jennifer Bond cheering on former WL Northern Knight and current Winnipeg Jet, Connor Hellebuyck at Little Caesar's Arena last week.
Reminders for Families:
- PTSA Council Meeting - Jan. 24 via Zoom
- Half Day for Students | Staff Professional Development - Jan. 25
The 23rd annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration was a special virtual event with the this year’s theme “Together We’re Better.” Thank you to featured speaker, Rabbi Yarden Blumstein who spoke on awareness surrounding teen mental health.
There were two recipients of the Alex Bender Friend of Diversity Award. Superintendent Kenneth Gutman presented the first to Mackenzie Carr who is a junior at Walled Lake Western High School. Mackenzie was nominated for the Friend of Diversity Award for her volunteer work in numerous organizations. Her care for others extends well beyond the walls of her high school. Mackenzie participates with local organizations connecting with families and community to bridge cultural gaps with good communication, using good manners, celebrating traditional holidays, festivals, and of course food. Western Counselor Lindsey Aldridge shared that Mackenzie is “one of the kindest and most thoughtful students she has ever worked with. She is intentional, truly sees others that are around her and a blessing to have in school.” Mackenzie has decided to be an upstander in her school community and to take the lead in ensuring that ALL people feel valued and supported.
Christopher Titus, Board president, presented the second award to Geisler Middle School Teacher Nancy Krull. Nancy was nominated for the compassion and dedication she has exhibited towards her children and families. Geisler Middle School Principal Stacey Lown said that “Nancy Krull is a special education teacher, and the special education department chair at Geisler Middle School. Nancy has dedicated her professional career to serving children with disabilities and their families. She treats her students with respect, dignity, and kindness. In turn, Nancy's students love her and keep in touch with her, as she becomes an important part of their lives. She believes in her students, nurtures them, works with them through their challenges, and celebrates their successes. She helps them to be their best selves, and fosters self-acceptance, self-love, and confidence in her students. She encourages her students to be the best human beings they can be.
Commerce El welcomes three new principals (for the day)!
On Friday, January 14, three students took over Commerce Elementary as Principals of the Day! Chloe Sutherby, Sophie Moutafis, and Fitzgerald Sobczyk won this special prize at the Commerce PTA’s Silent Auction. The new principals had a very busy day including: arrival duty, reading books to classrooms, helping students make better choices, a special lunch, a meeting with Superintendent Gutman, visiting classrooms, and dismissal duty.
The principals loved meeting with Mr. Gutman, reading to classrooms, and pranking their friends. Throughout the day, their classmates even tried to convince the principals to give them a longer recess!
It was a great day and the team at Commerce Elementary is grateful to the Sutherby, Moutafis, and Sobczyk families for their support of the school and PTA.
WLCSD Transportation Update - Jan. 24-28
Our partners at Dean Transportation are hard at work recruiting, hiring, and training new drivers for our District. Despite the progress made across all facets of the hiring process, we’ve been informed that our recent bus route cancellations will remain with us as new staff members are hired and trained. While we deeply regret the imposition this creates for our families, we acknowledge these cancellations are necessary to safely provide transportation services to as many of our WLCSD families as possible.
Out of fairness to the families already impacted by previous weeks’ cancellations, we will be cancelling different routes each week throughout the District to help share the burden this unfortunate situation creates.
Starting the week of January 24-28, the following buses/routes will be cancelled:
BUS 135 - WL Western HS, Geisler MS, Hickory Woods El
BUS 142 - WL Northern HS, Clifford Smart MS, Commerce El
BUS 150 - WL Northern HS, Clifford Smart MS, Dublin El
BUS 151 - WL Central HS, Walnut Creek MS, Pleasant Lake El
BUS 152 - WL Central HS, Walnut Creek MS, Oakley Park El
BUS 153 - WL Central HS, Walnut Creek MS, Meadowbrook El
BUS 162 - WL Western HS, Sarah Banks MS, Walled Lake El
BUS 173 - WL Western HS, Sarah Banks MS, Glengary El
Please note, ALL students who have specialized transportation plans that are contained in an IEP will NOT see a disruption in service.
For those families impacted by these temporary cancellations who need childcare assistance, please contact our fee-based Prime Time Care office at 248-956-5110 for more information on availability.
Signing Up for SMS Messages via Skylert
In addition to receiving phone calls and email notifications from the school district in the event of a school closing or emergency, parents can also sign up to receive SMS Text messages.
Please find the helpful step-by-step instructions linked below as well as the video tutorial on signing up for SMS messages.
Purchase your FFE Tuition Expedition Tickets TODAY!
Graduate Spotlight nominations needed!
Childcare Staff Needed!
Transportation Staff Needed!
Substitutes Needed!
Upcoming Events:
In the News:
District Resources:
Golden Apple Award Nominations - 2021-22
Community Resources:
District Links:
2021-22 WLCSD School Year FAQ
WLCSD Learning Newsletter
Walled Lake E-Sports
WLCSD Stormwater Management
FFE News and Notes
Lakes Area Community Coalition
Hospitality House Food Pantry
Tips can be submitted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Connect with Us!
Our mission, in partnership with parents and the community, is to become the best educational system in America so all students demonstrate they are caring, responsible, and knowledgeable citizens.
Email: danieldurkin@wlcsd.org
Website: www.wlcsd.org
Location: 850 Ladd Road, Walled Lake, MI, USA
Phone: (248) 956-2000
Facebook: www.facebook.com/wlcsd/
Twitter: @WalledLkSchools