Volunteers Needed for CHS PTSA Activity Night Thursday, April 3rd
Hello Smart families,
Our CHS PTSA Activity Night will take place on Thursday, April 3rd, from 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm. We are seeking volunteers to help with ticket sales during lunch that day and during the event. Your support is greatly appreciated in making this event a success!
Thank you,
Clifford Smart PTSA
8TH GRADE SCHEDULES FOR 2025-2026
Dear 7th grade families,
This week all 7th graders were given the opportunity to attend a course registration meeting through their social studies classes. They received an overview of the google form, course descriptions, and had a chance to ask scheduling related questions.
Below you will find a link to the Google form that will be used to collect your child’s encore requests. Please take the time to carefully read and answer the questions in the form related to 8th grade encore choices. This is an integral part of scheduling and must be completed. Please submit the scheduling Google form by Wednesday, March 19th.
Link to 8th grade encore Google form: https://forms.gle/FG4dc7ykNLhnH1L57.
As a reminder, we have implemented the "middle school experience" scheduling model. Our goal is for middle school students to have a well-rounded experience and the opportunity to try new things and explore new content. While we ask for student preferences (rankings), in regard to encore class choices, their top choices are not guaranteed. Please know that the expectation will be for students to try to engage with different curriculum to gain new skills.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Mrs. Braley at JulieBraley@wlcsd.org.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Julie Braley
Walled Lake Community Wide Make a Blanket Day
Dear Clifford H. Smart Community,
The Giving Tree Club and National Honor Society at Walled Lake Central are excited to share with you that our Walled Lake Community Wide Make a Blanket Day is officially set for April 12, from 10am-2pm. You can come and join us anytime between then. Our goal this year is 1,000 blankets! We are partnering with Fleece and Thank You to ensure that every child facing an extended stay at the hospital not only receives a comforting fleece blanket, but also receives a personalized message from the person who made the blanket. The patient can also choose to send a video back! This day has historically been a huge and fun event for the whole family, and we would love to have you join us! Purchasing a blanket is not necessary to join the event. We just ask that everyone completes the free registration. Food trucks will be available to purchase food, and we are working on several special guests!
Here is a video that helps show just how special this organization is (https://youtu.be/61fJZDjVOIU).
Your school page can be found here:
https://charity.pledgeit.org/walledlake25/teams/@CHSMS
If you have any questions, or ideas, please don’t hesitate to contact Nancy Kattoula (NancyKattoula@wlcsd.org) or Amanda Swanson (AmandaSwanson@wlcsd.org).
Thank you so much for your support!
Music Appreciation Club March Update
Thanks to all the families who came out for the Broadway Love Songs concert. Our next Club meet is Sunday, March 16, 2024 at 2:30pm followed by the 3pm La Vida Loca concert.
Tickets are currently available. For those students who usually reserve their free ticket online, please note the DSO has transitioned to only booking Student Soundcard tickets through visiting or calling the box office 313.576.5111.
Upcoming concerts where we plan to meet as a group:
· Sunday, March 16, 2025, 2:30 Club meet, 3pm La Vida Loca
· Sunday, April 27 2025, 2:30 Club meet, 3pm Women Rock!
· Saturday, May 24 2025, 2:30 Club meet, 3pm Ben Folds
***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 other concerts at DSO.org***
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!
We will be learning more about the music, the performances, the artists and attend concerts with:
Oldies Music by The Drifters, Roy Orbison, Nat King Cole, The Beach Boys, and The Beatles; Ray Chen; Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker; Broadway Love Songs; Music of Enrique Iglesias, Gloria Estefan, Santana, & Ricky Martin; Women Rock! (Music by Carole King, Janis Joplin, Aretha Franklin, Pat Benatar, Tina Turner), Ben Folds and many more!
See Music Appreciation Club Details Document for more information and link to Google form for registration https://forms.gle/3eAmCFB4Vf9FCP626
Gladiators Lacrosse League
Gladiators Lacrosse is perfect for young athletes looking for an introduction to lacrosse. Teams available for students in 1st through 8th Grade. No experience required. Practice held in the evening at Clifford Smart Middle School. Registration Closes on March 5th!
Click Here for more information.
CHS TRACK TEAM INFORMATION
Our 2025 spring track season will be staring mid March weather permitting. The coaches are meeting on March 4th to discuss specific start times.
If you are playing a second sport and would still like to join track, I encourage you too. I will work with any sports schedules to get your child on the team.
Track is a Pay to Participate sport, and requires a completed MHSAA athletics physical on file a school to participate.
There are many different events from short distances (70, 100, 55 hurdles, etc.), to long distances (1 Mile, 2 Mile) and field events (Shot put, high jump, long jump) that your child can choose from..
The schedule is linked here:
https://smart-ms.bigteams.com/main/teamschedule/id/3666809/seasonid/4884393 (There will be more dates added as we get closer to the season)
Interested students should sign up using the following link: https://forms.gle/xuCNQM9L6SPY61iL8 Once students are signed up, You will receive an email as soon as we get the dates put together.
Please contact coaches Steve Spickard, Dean of Students, or Kathleen Hoover, 8th grade counselor, as you have specific questions.
Thank you and we look forward to an exciting track season.
Dan Holland.
June 9-CHS 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony at Walled Lake Northern H.S. Football Field (students and families arrive at 6:40 p.m.). Ceremony begins at 7:00 p.m.
June 10-CHS 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony Makeup Date
June 11-½ day of school for students-Last day of school
June 11- CHS 8th Grade Clap Out beginning at 11:30 a.m.
PLEASE CLICK ON THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY CALENDAR FURTHER DOWN THIS NEWSLETTER FOR ADDITIONAL DATES AND EVENTS
What is Unified?
● Unified Sports, in partnership with the Special Olympics, promotes meaningful inclusion for students with and without disabilities
● Unified has a specific focus on ensuring that students with disabilities have opportunities to play competitive team sports with their peers
● On our team, we welcome athletes and partner-athletes of all abilities who want to participate in basketball to seek new and unique friendships and have fun.
When:
3 Saturdays from 9:00 a.m.-10:30 a.m. at Giesler Middle School
6720 W Pontiac Trail, Commerce Township, MI 48390
March 15th, April 5th, and April 12th
Who Should Participate:
● Students of all abilities
● Students who want to be part of a team
● Student-leaders who want to make a positive impact
Interested? Complete this Google Form or scan the QR code: https://forms.gle/YMw11E1BJ4jZHUuC7
Contact GMS Physical Education Teacher and Coach with questions: erinsowa-greaves@wlcsd.org
8TH GRADE PSAT TESTING ON TUESDAY, APRIL 15TH
Please note that all Walled Lake 8th graders will be here for a full day and 6th and 7th graders will have a late start on April 15th.
Morning Schedule
- 8:00 a.m.-8:05 a.m.-8th Graders arrive
- 8:20 a.m.-11:25 a.m.-Administer the 8th Grade PSAT
- 11:25 a.m.-11:58 a.m.-8th Grade Lunch
- 6th and 7th graders arrive at approximately 11:45 a.m.
Afternoon 1/2 Day Schedule
- 1st Hour 12:05 p.m.-12:30 p.m.
- 2nd Hour 12:35 p.m.-1:00 p.m.
- 3rd Hour 1:05 p.m.-1:30 p.m.
- 4th Hour 1:35 p.m.-2:00 p.m.
- 5th Hour 2:05 p.m.-2:30 p.m.
- 6th Hour 2:35 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
Please click on the attachment below to view late start bus pick up times for 6th and 7th graders on April 15th.
Imagine receiving thousands of dollars to help with your student’s college tuition—just by purchasing a raffle ticket! With the FFE 50/50 Tuition Expedition Raffle, you have the chance to win big while supporting Walled Lake Schools.
Just ask Wendi Corteville, WLN parent and last year’s lucky winner, who took home over $11,000 to help with college expenses! Will you be next?
🎟 Tickets: $50 each or 3 for $100
🏆 Grand Prize: 50% of net proceeds for tuition OR a 40% lump sum payout
🥈 Second Prize: $1,000
Why Buy a Ticket?
✅ Tuition or Cash? – Choose between 50% toward tuition (paid directly to the university, tax-free!) or a 40% lump sum (taxable).
✅ No Rush! – Funds are available for up to 20 years, so your student doesn’t have to be a senior to benefit.
✅ Flexible Payouts – Split winnings between years, semesters, and even multiple students (within four years of the first payout).
📅 Drawing Date: March 31, 2025, at the district PTA Reflections Celebration (attendance not required to win!).
Even if you don’t win, your ticket supports the Foundation For Excellence (FFE), a 501(c)(3) organization that has donated over $1 million to Walled Lake Schools.
Don’t miss your chance—request your ticket today!
🔗 For more information go to: www.wlcsd.org/TuitionExpedition
CHS Student Google Classroom (shared with students)
Hello CHS students,
If you haven't already received an invitation to join the "C.H.S. : Info for Students" Google Classroom, please use the join link or class code below to join.
https://classroom.google.com/c/MTQ5MDkyNzA0NDVa?cjc=nuahofd
Class code : nuahofd
This "classroom" will be used to post announcements from CHS Staff and much more! Be sure to join this class to get all the latest and greatest information on everything Smart!
Thanks,
Mr. Holland
CHS Goals Achievement Program (GAP)
Our Goal Achievement Program (GAP) is sponsored by our PTSA and asks students to achieve one goal per marking period. The information below was shared with students during morning announcements.
MP1: Citizenship: You’re already in for this goal. There’s nothing to turn in, just keep working on those 1’s and 2’s!
MP2: Grade Point Average: Your GPA is automatically calculated and based off of your report card grade. Your goal is a 3.0 GPA or higher.
MP3: Reading: Read at least 400 pages during MP 3 and you’ve achieved the goal! Turn in the log to the counseling office no later than March 21, 2025.
MP4: Community Service: Complete at least 10 hours of community service to achieve the goal. Volunteering your time to help others is community service. For ideas, please ask your parents, teachers, or counselor. This form is due by May 23, 2025.
Rewards are given for the goals you achieve. Special recognition is given for 8th graders that achieve goals for all 3 years at CHS.
Student Chromebook Support Request Form
- If a student needs support, he/she should fill out the link below. The link can also be found on all Google Classrooms and on the school website under Students. Being logged on to the school google account is required to access the form.
- 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 building admin secretary (enter the name for your building).
- The chromebook in the case will be sent through interoffice 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.
- When the chromebook has been repaired, it will be delivered back to the school for the student to pick up.
- 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.
As we prepare for the start of the school year, we wanted to touch base with you regarding the process of administering medications to students at school.
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. Tonya Gray, directly at 248-956-3512.
As you have questions about this process please give Mrs. Gray a call.
FROM THE ATTENDANCE DESK
If your child will be absent, please call the Smart 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 receive a call from Mrs Gray to verify that your student is not at school for the day. Thank you for partnering with us in keeping your children safe and accounted for.
Smart Administrative Team
Dan Holland, 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
MAIN OFFICE CONTACT INFORMATION
Please feel free to call our main office with any questions at 248.956.3500. You can also email us.
Principal's Secretary: MelissaWilseck@wlcsd.org
Building/Attendance Secretary: TonyaGray@wlcsd.org
6th Grade Counselor: MaureenBratke@wlcsd.org
7th Grade Counselor: JulieBraley@wlcsd.org
8th Grade Counselor: KathleenHoover@wlcsd.org