District Update

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 the District by visiting www.wlcsd.org and connecting with the district on social media.

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• February 5: Board of Education regular meeting; 7pm at the ESC
• February 12: Name of Love Tour at all three middle schools
• February 13: Schools of Choice Applications Deadline
• February 16-20: Mid-Winter Break | No School for Students or Staff
• February 23: PTSA Council meeting; 7pm at Sarah Banks MS
• March 5: Board of Education regular meeting; 7pm at the ESC
• March 9: 2026-27 Enrollment Opens for Grades 1-12

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, it’s a great time to show your favorite WLCSD staff member how much you appreciate them with a Super Star Staff award. Pick any staff member you want – teacher, administrator, guest teacher, paraprofessional, bus driver, custodian… they all deserve recognition!

Your $10 award comes with a laminated certificate that is personalized with your message and sent to your nominee, as well as an entry for your nominee into a drawing for one of two $500 prizes from the Walled Lake Schools Federal Credit Union. The two Super Star Staff winners will be drawn and announced during Staff Appreciation Week in May.

The $10 cost goes to support the Foundation For Excellence’s mission of supporting our teachers and students through classroom grants. In December, the FFE gave back $60,000 to classrooms across the district and it’s funds like these that help make that happen.

You can order your Super Star Staff Award here: Super Star Staff Award Order Form

The Walled Lake United boys’ ski team brought the heat to the slopes at Alpine Valley on Monday claiming the Lakes Valley Conference Championship.

The boys packed the top of the leaderboard with five skiers placing in the Top 10 in the Slalom and six skiers finishing in the Top 10 in the Giant Slalom earning 11 total All-Conference medals.

Bennett Memelli paced Walled Lake in Slalom taking second overall. Owen Bender (3rd), Mateo Dudt (5th), James Howard (6th), and Simon Strickland (9th) rounded out the Top 10 earning All-Conference honors as well.

Dudt lead the way in the Giant Slalom for Walled Lake finishing second overall. Ed Dell (3rd), Tuur Devits (5th), Howard (6th), Jacob Biediger (9th), and Ethan Mann (10th) rounded out the team’s All-Conference skiers.

The Walled Lake United girls’ ski team also earned a spot on the podium taking third place. Peyton Allio earned All-Conference honors in both the Slalom (5th) and Giant Slalom (8th). Rylee Singleton took ninth overall in the Giant Slalom to earn an All-Conference medal as well.

Mr. Kade's visual arts students turned the hallway into a masterpiece designing, scaling and painting 4-foot tall letters to spell out WESTERN making every walk to the athletic wing filled with school spirit!

7th grade science class is electrifying at Sarah G. Banks Middle Schools! The Bulldogs explored energy and electricity with guest speaker, Mr. Harding, then drove right in by building their own electromagnets and electric motors.

The Shining Stars Award recognizes outstanding individuals and student peers who have supported the special needs community within Walled Lake Schools.

• Love your child's bus driver? Nominate them.
• Love your child's Unified coach or buddy? Nominate them!

Nominees can be anyone associated with the special needs community: teacher (including case manager or resource teacher), paraeducator, social worker, physical therapist, speech and language pathologist, bus driver, aide, buddy, parent, coach, volunteer, etc. Some of the qualities of the nominee might include: a positive attitude, dedication, dependability, self-motivation, helpfulness and more.

Nominate a Shining Star! | Questions? Contact us at: WalledLakePAC@gmail.com

In an effort to find additional ways to celebrate our staff, the WLCSD Community Relations department requests that families fill out the information below for staff who are rock stars in their classrooms and school communities.

A sample of what these shout outs will look like on social media and in our district newsletters is on the right.

Please complete the following form in order to be considered for the Graduate Spotlight section of the WLCSD quarterly Learning newsletter. The nominated student needs to be a 2016 graduate or before.

Please contact pamelacole@wlcsd.org with any questions.

• Where: Pita Way, 8400 Richardson Road, Commerce Twp
• When: Wednesday, February 11th from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Taste, toast and take action to eliminate hunger!

• Wednesday, March 11
• 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
• Hosted by the Sheraton Detroit Novi (211 Haggerty Road, Novi)
• Tickets: $75 per person | $700 for a table of ten
• Ticket includes appetizers, dinner, dessert, beer and wine
• Get your tickets now!

The Special Services Parent Advisory Committee is sponsoring an Inclusion event in an effort to increase awareness of Unified Sports & Unified Champion Schools, further promote inclusion throughout the District, and celebrate Walled Lake Staff.

The highlight of the Inclusion event is a Unified basketball game featuring school administration and school board members supporting our Unified athletes. The event also includes appreciation stations for staff and educational sessions to inform and inspire the school community about the values and impact of Unified Sports.

During the 2025-26 school year, all Michigan public school students in grades Pre-K through 12 will have access to free breakfast and free lunch every day through the "Healthy School Meals for All" program. This includes a meat/meat alternative, grain, fruit/vegetable and milk. A la carte items will be available for purchase.

Families are still encouraged to complete the free/reduced meal form on Skyward Family Access help secure additional funding for the District including Title I funding. By completing the form, eligible families may also receive access to other free and reduced programs within the District including SAT testing, pay to participate and more.

The Hospitality House Food Pantry is looking for volunteers to help:

• Shopping with clients in the pantry
• Sorting goods
• Providing warehouse support

Learn more by visiting www.hhfp.org/volunteer.

Call (248) 858-1306 to schedule your appointment.

Team Walled Lake (Area 15) Special Olympics Michigan provides year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults (8 years and older) with intellectual disabilities. We are looking for new athletes this season and participating in Unified Sports alongside Team Walled Lake is possible.

Days: Monday & Friday

Time: 6:30-8:00pm

Location: Sarah Banks Middle School

Address: 1760 Charms Rd, Wixom, MI 48393

There is no cost for athletes to participate.

Please complete sign up form, if interested. This will be used as the registration for the season.

This year, athletes will be split into two separate groups:

• Athletes that want to compete at tournaments and scrimmages, committing to the entire season.

• Athletes that do not want to participate in tournaments, cannot guarantee attendance, and just want to have fun with their friends.

Both groups are wonderful! The only difference will be is that athletes not competing will not be placed on teams - they will attend practices, but will not 'officially' be on a roster.

Help make a difference by volunteering at the Making Spirits Bright community book bank!

We're located at 28580 Orchard Lake Road, Suite 210, Farmington Hills, MI 483414.

Learn more by visiting www.MakingSpiritsBright.org.

Need a place you can trust to do your banking? Give Walled Lake Schools Federal Credit Union a try!

We serve students and staff of Walled Lake Consolidated Schools, as well as their families.

Learn more at www.wlsfcu.com.

No matter where you live in the United States, you can easily access 24/7 emotional support.

Call or text 988 or visit www.988lifeline.org/chat to chat with a caring counselor. We are here for you!

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