C.H.S CHRONICLES

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Thank you to those that were able to join us for Curriculum Night! It was wonderful to see so many of you engaging with our teachers and learning more about your child’s school experience. We’ve had a great start to the school year, and we’re grateful for your partnership and support.

As we move forward into the year, we know that questions and concerns may arise—this is a natural part of the school journey. Please remember to always assume the best of your child’s teachers. They care deeply about your children and are committed to helping them learn and grow. That said, don’t hesitate to reach out with questions or to seek clarity when needed. Open communication is key to a strong home-school connection.

We are proud of the community we’ve built here, and that strength comes from the people in it—our students, staff, and families.

Thank you for all you do to make our school such a supportive and positive place.

Respectfully,

Nayal Maktari

Dear CHS Middle School Parents and Families,

We’re thrilled to launch our Next Level Fundraiser to support CHS Middle School! Your participation will directly help raise funds for student activities, teacher and staff wish lists, and supporting our students.

Here’s how you can help, it will take you less than 10 minutes.

Click this link: https://app.pop4kids.org/reg/code/EKJB8

1. Register - Create your student’s personal donation page. Don’t forget to personalize your student's dashboard by uploading a photo (Please enter your child’s 6th Hour Teacher Name)
2. Share - Enter 10 or more cell phone numbers and email addresses of friends and family. Then use the one-click share icons to share directly via email, text, or social media.
3. Win - When you enter 10 or more contacts by midnight tonight, your student earns exciting Golden Ticket prizes! Plus, during each step of the registration process, your student will be earning tokens on their student dashboard. Redeem these tokens in the Spin to Win Game to unlock your chances at over $100,000 in prizes awarded nationally.

We need your help. Please make every effort to avoid picking up your child during their lunch hours. It often takes quite a bit of time to locate a student during lunch/recess and pulls staff from their lunchroom supervisory responsibilities.

Excluding emergencies, please avoid picking up your child at the times below for any prescheduled appointments and plans.

6th Grade Lunch 11:18 a.m.-11:48 a.m.

7th Grade Lunch 12: 25 p.m.-12:55 p.m.

8th Grade Lunch 11:53 a.m.-12:23 p.m.

Thank you for your support and help!

Please note that we recently updated our calendar. Be sure to revisit the building calendar of events that can be found near the bottom of every newsletter. The calendar will be updated throughout the school year whenever we change event and performance times and days.

Bus stop drop off times are earlier by the following on half days of school:

High School: 3 hours and 28 minutes

Middle School: 3 hours and 20 minutes

Elementary School: 3 hours and 25 minutes

Please consider donating tissue boxes to our main office. Thank you so much for your support!

We have a parent meeting Tuesday, Oct. 7th at 6:30pm in the CHS Cafeteria. Please plan to attend if you are interested in learning more about our team!

The season will run mid-October through mid-March, and all 6th, 7th, and 8th grade Girls and Boys are welcome to join us! No experience needed. We practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays and compete on the weekends.

Please email michellebrandon@wlcsd.org with any questions.

If your child will be absent, please call the CHS Middle School Attendance Hotline (248) 956-3510 as soon as possible. If you know of a vacation or pre planned days off, you can leave those dates on the hotline as well.

If you have not called your child in by 9:30 a.m., you will be receiving an automated call in the afternoon notifying you that your child was marked absent. Thank you for partnering with us in keeping your children safe and accounted for.

Please note that this notification system will take effect next week.

Starting Monday, September 22nd we will have a grab and go breakfast station set up outside of the the Media Center/Learning Commons to help students, who choose to get breakfast, get to class on time.

Students are expected to be in line for breakfast by 8:08 a.m. and reminded to get breakfast before going to their locker.

Process for requesting service for district issued chromebooks if needed:

1. If a student needs support, he/she should fill out a Student Chromebook Support Form linked on all of the Google Classrooms and on the school website under Students. Being logged on to the school google account is required to access the form.
2. The information in the form will be sent to Mrs. Stasak, our Middle School Computer Resource Teacher. She will reply to the student at his/her school gmail account. She will offer suggestions to fix the issue or, if it needs service, she will tell the student to take the chromebook to the office and give it to Mrs. Wilseck in the main office.
3. The chromebook in the case will be sent through inner office and the student will be allowed to use a loaner chromebook AT SCHOOL. It will be the student’s responsibility to pick it up each morning from the office and return it at the end of the day.
4. When the chromebook has been repaired, it will be delivered back to the school for the student to pick up.
5. If the family purchased insurance, the first repair is free and all additional repairs carry a deductible. Deductible invoices or repair invoices, for those that did not choose insurance, must be paid before the repaired chromebook is returned.

If a student with a personal chromebook has a network issue, the same form can be used. We are not able to fix physical problems with personal devices and loaner chromebooks will not be provided.

PROGRAM: Coming this September is an opportunity for 7th grade students to apply to attend the Religious Diversity Journeys Program.

WHAT IS IT? Students and chaperones travel through the tri-county area to learn about the world cultures they study in 7th grade Social Studies this school year. The Journeys are 6 field trips over several months for first-person learning of different cultures and faith traditions.

WHAT DO YOU DO IN THIS PROGRAM? We travel for six field trips during the school day to 5 places of worship and the Holocaust Memorial to explore Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Sikhism and Hinduism. This Program offers a chance to meet people and learn about the values and traditions we all share, regardless of different faiths or cultural traditions.

WHAT WILL I SEE ON A FIELD TRIP? This exploration includes experiencing culture, food, music, writing, service projects and meeting other students from multiple districts to discuss, learn and grow together.

WHO CAN APPLY? All 7th grade students are welcome to apply for one of the 25 spots available in the Program. So you and your friends can apply and travel to learn together.

HOW DO I APPLY? Applications and more information will be available in September.

Click on the video below to see some highlights of the Journeys and hear about the experience.

Contact Mrs. Tina Tranchida-- C.H. Smart Sponsor—with any questions. TinaTranchida@wlcsd.org

Dear Walled Lake Families,

We want to provide you with an important update regarding school meals and the State School Aid budget.

While the 2025-26 State School Aid budget has not yet been finalized by the Michigan Legislature, we do know that the current 2024-25 budget remains in effect through September 30, 2025. This means the Michigan School Meals program will continue to provide free breakfast and lunch for all students through the month of September.

However, there is still uncertainty beyond that date. One of the key differences between the House and Senate versions of the proposed budget is funding for the Michigan Free School Meals program. If state funding is not extended, families who do not qualify for free or reduced-price meals under federal guidelines may be required to pay for meals again starting October 1, 2025.

What families can do now:

To help us prepare and support all students regardless of funding outcomes, we strongly encourage families to complete the Child Nutrition and Education Benefits Application in Skyward Family Access during online registration. This form:

• Helps secure important state and federal funding for our schools
• Supports educational programs
• Ensures meal benefits continue for eligible families
• May provide access to additional benefits like reduced testing and college application fees, discounted internet, and more

We are closely monitoring developments and will keep you informed as updates become available.

Thank you for your continued support of Walled Lake Schools.

—

Walled Lake Schools Food Service Department

Please click on the above tab and join our CHS Middle School Remind 101 text group. You will receive helpful reminders, time sensitive information along with other pertinent texts.

*Reply @LEAVE to the number you are receiving messages from if you'd like to leave the text group at anytime.

Medications are administered at school under the supervision of our office staff. This includes BOTH prescription medications AND over the counter (ibuprofen, pain relievers, etc.) medications. BOTH types of medication require a completed and signed WLCSD medication authorization form by BOTH the parent/ guardian AND the child’s doctor.

For safety and confidentiality reasons, we will not be accepting medications at Smart Start. If you would like to drop off medications and the required documentation prior to the start of the school year, please contact our office secretary, Mrs. Jen Schloegl , directly at 248-956-3512.

As you have questions about this process please contact our main office at 248.956.3500.

Please remember to please call 248.956.3090 for ALL bussing questions. Please click on the link below to visit our transportation website for more information. A reminder that bus passes are not allowed.

Please feel free to call our main office with any questions at 248.956.3500. You can also email us.

Counseling Secretary: JulieSmith@wlcsd.org

Principal's Secretary: MelissaWilseck@wlcsd.org

Building/Attendance Secretary: JenniferSchloegl@wlcsd.org

6th Grade Counselor: KathleenHoover@wlcsd.org

7th Grade Counselor: MaureenBratke@wlcsd.org

8th Grade Counselor: JulieBraley@wlcsd.org

DROP OFF 8:00 A.M.

SCHOOL STARTS 8:10 A.M.

DISMISSAL 3:00 P.M.

1/2 DAY DISMISSAL 11:40 A.M.

Nayal Maktari, Principal

Jake Hess, Assistant Principal

Steve Spickard, Dean of Students

Please contact us with positive or constructive feedback, questions, and/or concerns.

Website: www.wlcsd.org/smart
Location: 8500 Commerce Road, Commerce Charter Township, MI, United States
Phone: 248-956-3500
Twitter: @CliffordSmart