November MIdweek UPdate

If you haven’t heard, our Girls’ Cross Country team won its third straight state title. Led by Kaylie Livingston’s repeat as the D4 winner, the Trojans XC girls did it again. The boys finished with another top 10 for the second consecutive year. Landen Livingston’s 7th-place finish was the capstone for the boys’ team which earned league honors and is also building a quiet legacy of state dominance. Coach Livingston and Coach LaMont are dedicated to high standards of sportsmanship, hard work, and keeping our student athletes in good health. Their program and commitment the girls and the boys make to it are the reasons WLHS produced these champions.

Schools spend a lot of time and energy planning and training to be a safe environment for all. Safety doesn’t stop at the school building doors, though. This month, we’re also sharing information about Michigan’s new Safe Storage Law for firearms. This law requires secure storage of all firearms when minors are present or likely to be present, whether at home or in vehicles. We encourage all families to review the notice linked below, which includes resources for free or low-cost firearm locks and guidance on keeping children safe.

Together, as a district and as a community, we can ensure our students have a safe place to learn and grow–both at school and at home.

• New law requires secure storage of all firearms when minors are present or likely to be present.

• Applies to both loaded and unloaded firearms, and extends to vehicles.

• Penalties for noncompliance can be severe.

• Resources for free/low-cost locks are available (Project ChildSafe, local law enforcement, health departments, Be SMART).

Read the full notice HERE.

Together as a district and community, we can help ensure our students have a safe place to learn and grow–both at school and at home.

To maintain secure learning environments, we’ve updated our procedures for admitting visitors during the school day.

Here’s what you can expect:

• Intercom check-in: All visitors will be greeted through the intercom. Please be ready to state your name and purpose for visiting.

• Appointments: If you’d like to meet with a staff member or administrator, please schedule an appointment in advance by phone or email.

• Student pickups: If you’re here to pick up your child, our staff will bring them to you or send them out—no need to enter the building.

• Forgotten items: Each building has a designated drop-off area for things like lunches, homework, or sports gear.

We know these steps can sometimes feel like an extra layer, but they play a critical role in keeping our schools safe and secure. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we work together to protect our students and staff.

I’m sure your kids were as excited as I was to see the first snow this past weekend, even if it is early November. It was a good reminder to review our Snow Day procedures as we enter my favorite season.

Here’s what you can expect when we need to close school due to weather:

1. Automated Call & Email: You’ll receive a phone call and email from me at the alert contacts you provided when enrolling your child.

2. Website Update: Visit wlps.net under Featured Info & Events.

3. Social Media Announcement: Check our social channels. We try to post “the scoop” a few minutes before the calls and emails go out.

4. Media Listings: Look for WLPS closures on WXYZ and WHMI.

We aim to inform you as early as possible:

• If we make the call the night before, you’ll hear from us by 10:00 p.m.

• If it’s a morning-of decision, expect an update by 6:30 a.m.

We know road conditions can improve quickly, so just because school is canceled doesn’t mean all after-school activities are. We work with our athletic, community recreation and school groups throughout the day to make a decision, and a separate email will go out to those involved letting them know the status.