September MIdweek UPdate

Today we pause to remember the lives lost and the extraordinary acts of courage shown on September 11, 2001. This summer, I had the opportunity to visit the Flight 93 Memorial in Pennsylvania–a powerful reminder of the bravery of ordinary people who stood together in the face of tragedy.

As we mark this day in 2025, I’m reminded not to take any day for granted and to cherish the strength of community. Seeing the giant flag our Northfield Township Fire Department hung over Main Street his morning was a simple but profound reminder that even in difficult times, unity and resilience carry us forward.

As we reflect and remember the past, we also look ahead to what is coming up here at WLPS.

Homecoming, the week of September 22, is coming up fast. On Friday, September 26, we will dismiss students early so buses can complete their routes before the roads are closed for the parade.

Dismissal will be as follows:

WLMS & HS will be dismissed at 1:35 PM.
WLES will be dismissed at 2:35 PM.

Kids Club will be available.

ECC programs will be dismissed as follows:

Ms. Shannon’s (Enrichment) and Ms. Hillary’s (GSRP) class at 1:45 p.m.
Ms. Kirstyn’s (GSRP) and Ms. Abbey’s (Head Start) class at 2:00 p.m.

GLTW programs will be dismissed at 2:35 PM

EduCare will be available. Main Street will be closed from 3:30-5:00 p.m., and you will not have access to the Main Street Campus during that time, so please plan pick-up accordingly. EduCare will be available until 6 p.m. as normal.

The Homecoming parade begins at 4 PM at Living Water Church (200 Barker) and will travel northeast on Barker before turning south on Main Street to conclude at the Northfield Township Public Safety Building. Main Street will be closed from 3:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m.

Thank you in advance to our Student Council and Northfield Twp. Public Safety, who always help make Homecoming a great time to be a Trojan.

We are proud to announce this year’s Homecoming Grand Marshal: Bill Wagner, WLHS Class of 1981 and long-time public servant. Bill’s story is closely tied to Whitmore Lake. A three-sport athlete who met his wife, Angie, at WLHS, Bill went on to raise three Trojan graduates of his own.

Over his 38 years of public service, including roles as both Fire and Police Chief, Bill helped keep our community safe and helped make sure Homecoming traditions carred on year after year. One of my favorite memories was the Fall of 2020 when we were the only school in our county to return to full in-person learning. As expected, Bill was a unifying force in that time of uncertainty. He joined forces with the Whitmore Lake Education Foundation for Educational Excellence and pledged to spend a night in jail if the community raised a $6,000 bounty that would be used to make back-to-school wishes come true for our staff and students in need. Our community ended up donating over $8,000, and I was able to read Bill a bedtime story before he curled up for his night in jail.

I had the privilege of working with Bill in both my roles as principal and superintendent. I always knew that when safety mattered most, he and his team would be there to support us. Honoring him as Grand Marshal is one small way to recognize all he and his family have given to Whitmore Lake. Please enjoy the interview with Bill below and give him a two-clap as he leads the parade on Friday, September 26.

Q: As a WLHS graduate, what stands out to you most about your time as a student here? All of your kids graduated from WLHS, too. What has it meant to you to see your family go through the same halls you once did?

As a WLHS graduate, the small school community stands out most - everyone knew everyone and supported each other. The small school gave opportunities to play sports and be involved in anything you wanted to. I have great memories of WLHS, playing football, basketball, and baseball. I also met my wife, Angie, at WLHS.

Having my 3 kids - Kathryn ‘10, William ‘12, and Karolyn ‘18 graduate from WLHS was really great! They all were prepared well for college, and having them in a small community helped us know what was going on, and we always knew how they were doing. They didn’t get lost in the shuffle. There was a lot of care that went beyond the classroom, and we knew the teachers.

Q: You’ve served as both Police and Fire Chief—roles that carry a lot of responsibility. What inspired you to pursue a career in public service?
Public service was just a good fit for me. When I began, it just felt natural, and I loved helping the community and making a difference. I started my career in the Fire Service in 1984 in Pittsfield Township as a paid-on-call firefighter. I went on to full-time fire service in 1988 at Ypsilanti City, where I progressed to Fire Marshall, Lieutenant, and retired from there as a Captain in 2008. I was offered the Fire Chief position in Northfield Township in 2007. In 2010, I was promoted to Public Safety Director - adding the Police Chief position to my Fire Chief Position, and for a short time, I filled in as the Township Manager; I retired from Northfield Township in 2022. I had 38 years of public service.

Q: For so many years, you’ve helped make the Homecoming parade possible and kept the community safe during it. Do you have a favorite Homecoming memory from those days?
It was always fun to be part of the parade - it reminded me of my days in high school, but I think the memories that stand out the most were when my kids were in school and they were in the parade either for sports, band, or homecoming court. I also remember the homecoming game in the rain against Britton my senior year. We won 8-6!

Q: How has Whitmore Lake changed since you were a student? What’s stayed the same?
It is different in that the schools are not all in the same location, so it seems larger and spread out. The school environment is very different today from a safety standpoint, which is sad. But Whitmore Lake schools still have the small-town atmosphere and caring that I remember as a student. You still know most of your classmates, and the community is there for you.

Q: What does it mean to you personally to be named this year’s Homecoming Parade Grand Marshal?

It is very honorable to be named the Grand Marshal. I was asked the year I retired, but was unable to make it; I have always loved this community and appreciate the opportunities I’ve had to serve here. It is my hometown and always will be. It is very nice to be remembered, too. I had a great career here.

Q: The community knows you as someone who’s always been there to serve. What lessons from your career do you hope students today can take with them?
Serving others gives you a sense of pride and fulfillment that goes beyond the paycheck. You feel good at the end of the day when you come home knowing you are helping others, especially at times of crisis. It can be difficult at times - and heartbreaking, but overall it is a good feeling.

Q: Looking back, who were the teachers, coaches, or mentors at WLHS that made the biggest impact on your life?
There were so many, but I would have to say Mr. Davidson, Mr. Steeb, Mrs. Klump, Vernie Newton, and Mr. Messmore.

Q: When you think about Whitmore Lake, what makes this community special to you?
The community has so many great people who truly care. It is where I grew up and raised my family, and I wouldn’t change that. It will always be my hometown.

Q: What advice would you give to current WLHS students as they prepare to graduate and step into their own futures?

There are teachers and staff at the school who are there for you to help you succeed and plan for your future. Use that as an opportunity. It can be scary to move on after high school, but these people are there to support you, and you don’t always find that at a large school. It is a real advantage.

I’m appreciative of the support I have always received from WLPS and, specifically, Tom DeKeyser. As a student, a parent, and also as the Public Safety Director. WLPS partnered with me and the Township to help keep this community safe. And thank you for asking me to be the Grand Marshal of the Parade - it is very heartwarming.

On November 4, 2025, voters residing within the Washtenaw Intermediate School District’s (WISD) service area will be asked to consider a 1 mill tax that would support the expansion of Career Technical Education (CTE) learning experiences from preschool through high school graduation.

CTE helps students understand why they learn what they learn from PreK-12. It opens doors to college, careers, and beyond. By engaging students through hands-on, applied, and experiential learning, they can explore who they are and what brings them joy, all while earning indtury recognized certifications and college credits in high school as they prepare for fulfilling college and career pathways. You may know some of our district’s CTE programs, such as Business Management, Careers in Education, Computer Programing, and Theater Management.

If a CTE millage is approved by voters, students in preschool, elementary, middle and high school would benefit from new programs and expansion of existing programs. Washtenaw County’s CTE framework would be from PreK-12, with age-appropriate experiences that build on each other as students grow and learn:

PreK: Wonder – Children utilize play and imagination, sparking curiosity about how the world works.
Grades K-5: Awareness – Students discover personal interests and a sense of self, expanding their view of what is possible.
Grades 6-8: Exploration – Students explore their interests and skills, and match them to potential career pathways.
Grades 9-12: Preparation – Students connect academic content to careers through real-world, applied, and experiential learning and plan for their future.

Curious to learn more about the Career Technical Education millage proposal? The Washtenaw Intermediate School District is hosting three upcoming community sessions for voters to learn more about CTE and the proposal:

✅ Tuesday, September 16 at 5:30 pm online via Zoom Webinar

✅ Wednesday, September 24 at 5:30 pm at the WISD (1819 S. Wagner Rd., Ann Arbor)

✅ Thursday, October 9 at 5:30 pm at the WISD (1819 S. Wagner Rd., Ann Arbor)

We will be sharing more information about the CTE millage proposal across the district over the coming weeks, but I encourage you to take some time to learn more at www.washtenawisd.org/ctemillage.

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out.