Sheiko's Family Update

Hello Sheiko Families,

Wow! What a great first week! We appreciate all of the support you have given your student(s) and our staff. It does not go unnoticed, and we appreciate you so much! We loved seeing so many families at "Popsicles with the Principal", "Chalk the Walk" and our back-to-school storytime. We did have some zoom issues, so here are the recorded stories: https://youtu.be/RSWTiKkF6pE

We hope to see you tonight at Family Fun Night at WBHS! Come and check out our PTO table!

This week's "Big Announcement" is about Curriculum Night on September 4th. Here is everything you need to know:

• Kindergarten & 1st Grade - 6-6:30
• 2nd & 3rd Grade - 6:45-7:15
• 4th & 5th Grade - 7:30-8:00
• Teachers will be doing presentations, so please do your best to be in the classroom by this time.
• Curriculum night is for parents/guardians.

Thank you for all of your support! Goooooooooooooooo Lakers!

Blaine McDowell, Principal

• Thursday, August 28th, 5 p.m. - Family Fun Night, WBHS (Tonight!)
• Friday, August 29th & Monday, Sept. 1st - No School
• Thursday, September 4, 6-8 p.m. - Curriculum Night ( K & 1 - 6:00-6:30, 2nd & 3rd - 6:45-7:15, 4th & 5th - 7:30-8:00)
• Tuesday, September 16h - 7 p.m. in the iCenter. Childcare provided. This meeting will be "in person" only. Future meetings will be in person and on zoom.
• Friday, September 26th - PTO FunD Run - Schedule to Come, Parents/Guardians Invited!

For the first time, Sheiko Elementary students will have the chance to join the competitive Academic Games team to represent their school in games of mathematics, language arts, history, argument, and logic!

If you are looking for a way for your scholar to take part in an advanced learning opportunity after school, have them try out for the Academic Games team! Tryouts will be from 3:12-5:30 on Tues., Sept. 2 - Friday Sept. 5th, in the Sheiko Cafeteria, and they MUST return a tryout permission slip (attached) to participate. Students are expected to attend all 4 days of tryouts if they are interested in the team.

Spots are limited, and not every student who tries out is guaranteed a seat on the team! Please email hamilton.wilson@wbsd.org with any questions

We’re excited to announce the Fund Run happening Friday September 26th during the school day! Parents are welcome to come cheer on their students-specific run times will be shared soon.

Fundraising Opens Now!

Students can start collecting donations early, and we’ve lined up fun incentives and prizes to keep them motivated! Every dollar raised goes directly back to our school to support:

School events & celebrations
Literacy initiatives
Social-emotional learning programs
Memorable field trips for every grade

This is our primary fundraiser and we need your help to reach our goal of $25,000. Together, we can make this year unforgettable for our Sheiko!

Here is the link to set up your account: https://www.getmovinfundhub.com/register?school_uuid=610d7724b9cd7

School identifier: 610d7724b9cd7

Want an easy way to connect with other Sheiko families for playdates, homework help, and birthday parties? Be sure to sign up for the Sheiko School Directory! The directory is a great resource to build community and stay in touch. Only families who sign up will be included, so don’t miss out.

Google Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeHiwYJNaV_uZl31lqikfupM4RiBQ-q7cGO4iw1J9lCxQpjbg/viewform

1) Back to School Central

For all returning families, new families do not need to complete this, you must go into PowerSchool with a parent account and complete the back to school process. Please click here to go to the WBSD Back to School page. Click on "forms" and "general forms" to get to the right place.

2) Ichat Volunteer Form

Do you love to volunteer in the classroom, for parties, PTO events, and field trips? Please be sure to fill out this iChat form and a copy of the front of your driver's license. You can turn this in any time to heather.ritter@wbsd.org or the main office, and we will get it turned in for you. Please allow 5 days for approval.

3) To ensure your child’s access to meals is not interrupted and to help West Bloomfield School District secure critical state and federal funding, we need ALL families to complete the Education & Nutrition Benefits Application (formerly known as the Free & Reduced Meals Application).

Complete the application today at: https://westbloomfield.familyportal.cloud/

• If you need assistance or have questions about completing the form, please contact Andrea Grobe at andrea.grobe@wbsd.org.

• When you call in an absence, Power School will say "excused". This lets us know that you called in the absence, which is super important.
• Vacations can be marked "excused", but they are not excused from truancy.
• Excused absences are NOT excused from truancy. When you turn in a doctor's note or a pamphlet from a funeral, for example, you will see "DA" in Power School. This is a "Documented Absence", and this is the only way that an absence does NOT count towards truancy.

• Doors open at 7:55
• Students exit car line on the driver's side of the car.
• All students enter the building on the "playground side" of the building from the bus or car line.
• Students may eat their free breakfast when they come in.
• They eat in the cafeteria until 8:10 and then it is "grab and go", and students take the breakfast to their classroom.
• NEW THIS YEAR: If students are not eating breakfast, they will go to the gym until 8:10 to chat with friends. They will go to their class at 8:10.
• Car line closes at 8:18.
• Students must be brought to the front of the building and signed in after 8:18. They are marked tardy at this point.
• School starts at 8:20 - Students must be in their seat ready to learn at this time.
• Dismissal is at 3:12
• Check out my "car line" video!

Why Being On Time Matters

1. Academic Performance & Learning Momentum
   Arriving on time allows students to participate fully in lessons, engage with discussions, and avoid missing crucial instruction—factors closely tied to stronger academic success.

2. Reduced Stress & Anxiety
   Tardiness can cause students to enter class feeling rushed, anxious, or embarrassed. Starting the day punctually fosters a sense of calm and belonging.
   

3. Better Social and Emotional Start
   Students who arrive on time benefit from morning social interactions—small but meaningful routines that help build peer and teacher relationships.
   

4. Long-Term Habit Formation
   Punctuality cultivates discipline, reliability, and respect—career-ready traits that serve students well beyond the classroom.
   

We would love for our students to design a logo on a 8 1/2" X 11 piece of computer paper with these requirements:

1 - Use the words "Let's Grow Together" on the logo.

2 - Outline the drawing part of the design with a black marker.

3 - The theme colors are hot pink, neon blue, neon green, and yellow.

4 - We are focusing on a growth mindset and resiliency.

5 - Turn in your entry to Mrs. McDowell's office by Friday, September 5th.

6 - Every entry wins a prize from Mrs. McDowell's "Basket of Happiness"!

7 - The design winner will have their logo printed on our banners, flyers, and newsletters!

Thank you to our very own West Bloomfield Coalition and LaFontaine for sponsoring this anti-bullying assembly for our students on September 10th. Mr. Peace is a tradition at Sheiko, and we can't wait to hear his message again this year!