C.H.S CHRONICLES

ELA iReady Testing on Wednesday, December 10th

• Students will report to 1st hour and remain there until 11:18 a.m.
• They will be allowed to step out during the normal 5 minute passing time in between classes to use the restroom and walk around.
• Students are encouraged to a book to read and/or work to complete in case they finish early.
• Students will report to their 4th, 5th, and 6th hour following testing.

Math iReady Testing on Thursday, December 11th

• Students will report to their 4th hour first thing in the morning and remain there until 11:18 a.m.
• They will be allowed to step out during the normal 5 minute passing time in between classes to use the restroom and walk around.
• Students are encouraged to bring a book to read and/or work to complete with them in case they finish early.
• Students will have their 1st, 2nd, and 3rd hour following testing.

Please remind your children to try their absolute best on all testing dates. Thank you!

As winter has officially arrived, I want to send a friendly reminder about the importance of students arriving to school on time each day. I understand that weather and road conditions can create additional challenges, so please consider having your child take the bus if they are eligible, or plan to leave the house a few minutes earlier if you drive.

For families who drop off or pick up, please remember that you may use any point along the front sidewalk; you do not need to wait until your child is directly in front of the main doors. Using the full length of the sidewalk helps keep traffic flowing and makes the process faster and safer for everyone.

Thank you for partnering with us to ensure a smooth and timely start to each school day. Your support makes a big difference!

Nayal Maktari

Dear CHS Middle School Parents,

Please click on the link below to order your Trojan Spirit Wear. There is adult and youth apparel available for purchase.

https://smartspirit2025.itemorder.com/shop/home/

The spirit wear order deadline is Sunday, December 14th at 11:59 p.m.

Dear 7th and 8th grade families,

This week your child worked on his or her Educational Development Plan (EDP) through Xello. Xello is an online program designed to help students begin thinking about life after high school and to start mapping out a meaningful plan for their future.

Students explored career suggestions that align with their interests, skills, and personality traits. Beginning this exploration early provides students with the opportunity to consider a wide range of career options available to them. Please ask your child about their career exploration.

Thank you,

Mrs. Bratke (7th grade Counselor)

Mrs. Braley (8th grade Counselor)

Dear CHS Middle School Families,

I’m reaching out with a reminder about the importance of monitoring your child’s social media and cell phone use. While we continuously talk with students about digital etiquette, and the potential consequences of misusing these tools, we know that our efforts are most effective when paired with your support at home.

Please take the time to regularly check in on what your child is doing online and who they are interacting with. Your efforts help reinforce what we've shared at school and ensure that students understand how to use technology responsibly and respectfully.

Thank you for your partnership and support.

Sincerely,
Nayal Maktari
Principal

Thanks to all the families who came out for The Three Mexican Tenors concert. They lit up the DSO stage last month with high-energy performances, powerhouse vocals that had students and families alike singing along. An impromptu afterglow meet-and-greet made the night even more special, giving everyone unforgettable photo moments with the artists.

To sign up for Music Appreciation Club, sign up here (https://forms.gle/3eAmCFB4Vf9FCP626)

Our next Club meet is:

Total Eclipse of the Chart: '80s Chart Toppers Concert and Club Meet, Sat, Jan 10 at Orchestra Hall, Concert at 8pm

Club Meet will be held 30 mins prior to Saturday’s performance at 7:30pm

Tickets will be available to book starting December 29th up until the concert date. Students Soundcard tickets can be booked through visiting or calling the box office 313.576.5111. Do reserve your tickets when they become available as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. We are expecting a full house for this concert.

Upcoming concerts where we plan to meet as a group:

· Total Eclipse of the Chart: '80s Chart Toppers, Sat, Jan 10 at Orchestra Hall, 8pm

· The Sounds of Laurel Canyon: '60s and '70s, Sat, Mar 14 at Orchestra Hall, 8pm

· Songs of America, Sat, May 30 at Orchestra Hall, 8pm

***Your student soundcard membership allows you to attend many more concerts in addition to the ones listed above. Please consider making the most of your membership and check out all the concerts available to you here: https://www.dso.org/events-and-tickets/calendar?Special+Offers=Soundcard ***

It is not too late to join now! After attending only 1 concert, your student membership will have paid for itself.

Cost: $25 per student membership unlocks one free ticket to almost every Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) 2024-2025 concert series, including the concerts outside of those we plan to meet at, and up to two companion tickets (bring or invite your parents/sibling/friend/teacher) for $5 each, access to the best seats, access to DSO Replay and online Live streaming performances. Carpooling opportunities are available!

Music Appreciation Club Info and registration link (https://forms.gle/3eAmCFB4Vf9FCP626)

Our Music Appreciation Club is back. Please click on the PDF and link below for more information!

You can also click on the QR code to register your child.

This year’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration theme is “Service”.

"Everybody can be great…because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love."

Alec Bender Friend of Diversity Award

Walled Lake Schools has created an award to honor individuals who are true friends of diversity. We hope you will join us in an effort that will result in the selection of a Friend of Diversity. This honor will be bestowed on the recipient(s) at the 27th annual district-wide Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration on Monday, January 19th, 2026.

You are encouraged to nominate a staff member, student, parent, or community member for the Alec Bender Friend of Diversity Award. Nominations will be submitted to the Walled Lake School Central Office Administration for final selection. Nomination forms must be completed no later than Friday, December 12th, 2025. Please click on the form below and nominate someone you believe is deserving of the Friend of Diversity Award.

Alec Bender Friend of Diversity Award

Express Yourself Contest

Walled Lake Students are invited to submit an entry that expresses the theme of “Service” in your own unique way. There are lots of possibilities for creating a project. It can be a piece of writing, music, art, or other visual that shows what unity means to you. Click on the contest form below and submit your entry to your school’s main office by Friday, December 12th.

Express Yourself Contest

Thank you for your continued support!

The 2025-2026 CHS Yearbook is in the works! Make sure to order your copy at https://yearbookforever.com/. Enter our school's name as CH Smart. Yearbooks will be distributed during grade level lunches in June 2026.

For specific information, please contact our yearbook advisor, Katie Kalinowski, at katiekalinowski@wlcsd.org.

This is an Early Sign-Up for the upcoming season open to all grades and all genders. Everyone is welcome, with no tryouts and no experience necessary. Wrestling is a great way to build strength, confidence, and teamwork while having fun.

A parent handout with more information about the team and season is available, along with a sign-up for the parent WhatsApp group chat to stay connected and informed. Sign up today to secure your spot for an exciting season on the mat!

CHS Wrestling Team Interest Form

CHS Wrestling Parent Handout

CHS Wrestling Whatsapp Group Chat

If you haven't already, we encourage you to join the Clifford H. Smart PTSA for the 2025-26 school year!

Simply scan the QR code below to visit our website, discover some ways our PTSA enriches our school community, and sign up.

As an added perk, members will receive a digital copy of the school directory.

Thank you for your support!

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!

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.

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