WBSD Weekly Update
WBSD Redistricting Town Hall Thursday, November 30
Thank you to the families and staff that have shared their redistricting questions ahead of the Town Hall this Thursday, November 30, at 7 p.m. in the WB High School iCenter. We cannot answer placement questions at this time as the board has not yet voted on redistricting or School of Choice (SoC), but there are several items that can be shared now including when we anticipate answers.
If the board approves the redistricting and SoC plan in December, here is the proposed timeline of key events for our current families:
Current Residents will be notified mid-January of K-5 redistricting placement
Current School of Choice families will be notified mid-January of K-5 redistricting and will receive notification of placement early February. Once a student is accepted into WBSD, they are our student and there will be a place for them here
Change of placement request forms for current resident and SoC families will be due March 8. Please note these requests cannot be guaranteed but will be considered
March 15, families who requested change of placement will be notified
For future School of Choice students (if approved by the board in December):
The application window will be January 22-February 20
The testing window will be late February-Mid March
Notification for new SoC students will be based on the number of spaces the Board approves, students meeting criteria, and a lottery for position
Future SoC students that meet criteria and have siblings currently in the district get preference in the lottery. If they meet criteria, the district’s intent is to place the student at his/her sibling’s school placement if there is space
Most of the questions we have received are from our SoC families. School of Choice students will be placed in schools in the following fashion:
Siblings will be grouped together and placed at the same school.
The intent is to group siblings where the oldest sibling is currently attending.
As much as possible, siblings will be placed at a school that is geographically closer to their home. For example, a Waterford SoC student will likely be placed at Gretchko or Scotch.
Placement at which North (Gretchko/Scotch) or South (Sheiko/Doherty) school will be based on a random lottery system.
When a North/South geographic placement is not possible due to space constraints, SoC student(s) will be placed in the school that has space available.
Here are a few questions we can answer now and we will continue adding these to the K-5 Redistricting FAQ:
Where will preschool go? ACS and Doherty
Will there be SoC shuttles? Yes. More on that when busing info is available mid-March
Where will Magnet be? Scotch
Can families request a transfer if they have a child in a special program (magnet, level). Yes, but there is no guarantee as that will depend upon space (see above)
There are several questions we are aware of but will not have an answer Thursday for the Town Hall. Please know we are working to get these as soon as possible and have included when we anticipate having that answer below.
What will the start time be? This depends on many factors including running bus routes based on actual enrollment. We anticipate an answer on this by March. Here is a flow chart of the process.
How will advanced math work if all buildings are K-5? Advanced Math testing currently takes place in grades 3-7 in mid/late February. Students are notified of acceptance in April. Transportation to the middle school is available for 5th graders taking Advanced Math at the middle school.
Where will the ASD and Level Rooms be? We are working on a plan and will have this information shortly.
How will you help my child transition? Academic and social activities are already being planned to coordinate between elementary buildings. This will help students get to know students and staff from the other schools before the redistricting. PTOs have been very supportive in this, already planning events together to cultivate that sense of belonging for students, staff and families. We welcome your ideas. These activities will continue through the spring, summer and fall.
We appreciate your patience as we work through this process together, and we encourage you to continue sending your questions to james.stottlemyer@wbsd.org or rebecca.fannon@wbsd.org.
WBSD Robotics Teams hosted a "Byte of Robotics" event to collect new Lego sets for Oakland County Foster Closet.
The West Bloomfield girls did outstanding at the Division 1 State Meet taking 13th overall. They trained hard and dedicated hours to practicing. We are so proud of the West Bloomfield girls swim and dive team. Well done!
For more information, visit https://westbloomfieldathletics.com/
K-5 Button Contest
Use this link to Encourage Your K-5 Students to Enter the Button Design Contest by 12/8. Click images to enlarge.
Grade 6-12 speech contest
Submit an MP4 video to Jennifer.Graham@wbsd.org by 12/8.
The Laker Opportunity Center is our New Alternative High School Program
The Laker Opportunity Center offers an alternative learning experience for those that have struggled in the traditional learning environment and need credit recovery. The Laker Opportunity Center offers students the opportunity to complete high school and graduate with a diploma. Our school leaders help select the right learning mode for each student. The program is open to all students in the State of Michigan who are 16-22 years old. Learn more on their facebook page or https://www.wbsd.org/lakeroppcenter.
In-Person Cohorts
Students may join an in-person cohort, meeting 2-3 times weekly. Monday & Thursday OR Tuesday & Friday are available, with a Wednesday rotation.
Drop-In
Qualifying students completing coursework from home may qualify for opt-in meet-ups only.
All Online
Qualifying students can learn entirely from home 24/7, communicating with school staff via email and video only. All students must make weekly contact with staff.
For more information please contact Morrison Borders, Principal at morrison.borders@wbsd.org
Haley Barnes, Dean of Students at WBMS, formerly the physical education teacher at Roosevelt Elementary received the Susan J. Kolp Young Professional of the Year award through the Society for Health and Physical Education of Michigan (SHAPE Michigan).
This award is given to individuals with at least 5 years of professional experience in a school district, who go above and beyond the job description to provide high quality physical education opportunities for students. The president of SHAPE Michigan, Katie Goetz, highlighted her work with Girls on the Run at Roosevelt, my experience as a PLC leader and mentor teacher, my leadership as acting administrator and co-chair of the DEI committee at Roosevelt, and my expertise as a presenter at SHAPE Michigan conferences and workshops.
Library partnership
Book Lists
· Native American Heritage (Kids)
· Native American Heritage (Teen)
Sensory Storytime - Elementary
Tuesday, December 5 from 6-6:40 p.m.
Main Library Youth Activity Center
This interactive storytime uses visuals and stories to provide a sensory experience for neurodivergent children and their caregivers. All children are welcome to this inclusive storytime. For grades 3-5. No registration required.
Graham Cracker House Build-Off
Saturday, December 9 from 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Main Library Meeting Room
Move over, gingerbread-we're constructing houses out of graham crackers! Build and decorate your grahamtastic structure using the provided supplies. Awards will be issued based on a number of categories. For grades 6-12. Registration required.
