WBHS Update

Hello Laker Nation,

Fall has officially started and we are in full swing at WBHS. Please note, there is NO SCHOOL on Tuesday, 9/23 in observance of Rosh Hashana and NO SCHOOL on Thursday, 10/2 in observance of Yom Kippur. Please see the full calendar for the block day schedule for both weeks as you scroll down in this newsletter.

Wednesday, 10/1 is COUNT DAY! It is essential that all students are in school, on time, all day as student funding is tied to attendance on this day. If a student must be absent due to illness, please be sure to call the safeline and excuse the absence beforehand, or within 24 hours.

A major focus area for us this year is student attendance. Right now, we are working hard on making sure our students are in class, on time, every class period, every day. The past couple of weeks we have conducted several hall sweeps, where we close all doors when the class period begins, and send all tardy students to the iCenter. We will continue these hall sweeps periodically to make sure we are staying on track. The first time a student is caught is just a warning/reminder. If they're caught again, however, a detention will be issued. Keep up the good work, Lakers!

Daily, on time student attendance is ESSENTIAL for student success! If a student is just 10 minutes late to school every day, they will have missed 30 hours of learning in just one school year! Additionally, if a student misses just two days per month, it equates to 10% of the entire school year! There is a direct correlation between regular attendance and student success and achievement. We have a goal of 95% average daily attendance for our students. Please help us reach that goal and help make sure your child(ren) have the best chance at reaching their incredible potential!

Please take a look at a few tips for success in the first few weeks of school.

1. School begins at 7:30 AM. Please plan to arrive in the parking lot by 7:10 AM as new student drivers, increased traffic, and local construction may delay arrivals.
2. Schedules are available on PowerSchool. If students need assistance, they can stop by any office or see any administrator or security staff member for help.
3. Students should bring their Chromebooks every day. If a student doesn't have a Chromebook, they will need to submit a Tech Ticket HERE or visit the iCenter for help submitting the ticket.
4. School ends at 2:23 PM. Students must be in their after school activity or out of the school building by 2:45 PM every day! Please follow the traffic map below for arrivals and departures. Students cannot be picked up in the traffic loops closest to the building. They are reserved for bus traffic and additional vehicles will block traffic flow. Parents must pick up in the main lot. Utilize the paths indicated by red arrows. The only spot for pickup is in the circle indicated below. If your child is not ready, please park in a spot and wait so that traffic can continue to move. PLEASE BE PATIENT, as it always takes a week or two for it to sort itself out.

Proud to be a Laker,

Eric Pace
Principal, WBHS

September 23 - No School
October 1 - Count Day
October 2 - No School
October 15 - Late Start (TWO hours after regular start time)

Full Calendar Here

New for the 25-26 School Year!

WBHS Personal Communication Device(s) Expectations:

At West Bloomfield High School, we are committed to fostering an environment that prioritizes student learning, engagement, and personal growth. ALL students are expected to use the district provided Chromebooks as their primary instructional tool in the classrooms. We believe that focused, active participation in the classroom is essential for academic success and the development of critical thinking skills. Personal communication devices, such as cell phones, can be a significant distraction and take away from these core values. Therefore, our expectation is that student personal communication devices are not seen, heard, or used during instructional time, allowing all students to remain fully present and engaged in their learning.

WBHS Administration

• Personal communication devices are not seen, heard, or used during instruction. This includes, but is not limited to AI/Meta Glasses, phones, tablets, personal computers, smart watches, airpods, headphones, etc.

• Teachers may ask students to place phones or other devices in numbered pouches on the walls or in bins on student tables during instruction. If a student does not put their phone in the designated area, it is assumed that the student does not have a device on them. If a student then engages in usage of a device, the student may be subject to disciplinary action.

• Student personal communication devices should be in the room and accessible to the student at all times if needed.

• Failure to comply with these expectations may result in disciplinary action

This does not mean that personal devices are banned, however all school work that is done in school will be done on district-issued Chromebooks. We do expect that ALL personal devices are put away and silenced during instruction. We are looking forward to a great school year and will see you all soon!

Laker Nation,

Fall testing season is approaching. Please keep in mind that all 11th grade students will be participating in the School Day Administration of the PSAT/NMSQT test. Please click the PSAT/NMSQT informational Letter for more information about this testing cycle. Here is a quick synopsis of information from that letter:

PSAT/NMSQT Test Day:

• Date: Thursday, October 23, 2025
• Location: WBHS Gym Aux Gym
• Arrival Time: 7:30 a.m.
• Test Start Time: 8:00 a.m.

***Once the test concludes, students will be dismissed to return to class. This will be a FULL day of school. Students will be excused from classes that are missed due to testing.

***Please note, students with testing accommodations will have a different testing location. Our SSD Coordinator, Renee Samuels, will send that information individually via email.

Additionally, in preparation for the PSAT/NMSQT test, we have included a PSAT/NMSQT Student Guide for your scholar. This is a tool that can help your scholar prepare for the PSAT/NMSQT test administration. Please review this communication with your scholar.

Sinking Fund Goals

• Keep dollars in the classroom by using Sinking Fund proceeds for building upkeep and technology
• Continue to provide safe, secure, and healthy school environments for our children
• Protect the community’s investment in the School District’s buildings and sites
• Provide consistent funding source for instructional technology across all buildings
• Keep West Bloomfield’s taxpayer dollars in West Bloomfield

Vote on OR BEFORE November 4th, 2025

On November 4, 2025 voters will be asked to consider replacing the current Sinking Fund millage, which is estimated to remain at the current 1.1552 mill levy, and extend the levy from 2027 to 2036. This levy provides approximately $3.2 million annually to fund:

• Facility and infrastructure improvements
• Safety and security measures
• Technology devices and infrastructure

For more information and answers to Frequently Asked Questions, click here.

It is the mission of the West Bloomfield School District Educational Foundation to generate and distribute financial and other resources to and for the West Bloomfield School District for enrichment programs and other projects aimed at enhancing the quality of learning and educational opportunities for students and teachers in the school district. The foundation will carry out its mission by focusing its support in the following areas:

• Strengthen the curriculum by serving as a catalyst for the development and promotion of innovative programs.
• Support additional training for faculty members and enhance educational resources available to them.
• Encourage school and community partnerships by promoting community awareness about the school district’s programs, provide ways for individuals and organizations to share resources with the school district to enhance learning, and facilitate cooperative ventures among the foundation, community groups and the school district.

The Michigan School Aid Budget for this year has not been finalized, so it’s still uncertain whether the state will provide funding to offer free meals for all students.

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.

• Free breakfast and lunch for all students will continue through September 30, 2025.

Why it matters:

• Your application helps ensure we can continue to provide nutritious meals to all students.
  

• Funding tied to our free/reduced rate supports far more than meals; it impacts academic programs, athletic programs, technology, and student services.
  

• Even if you think you may not qualify, completing the form still helps the district.

2025-2026

Calendar
Bell Times
Marking Periods
Athletic Calendar

In order to update student records and have the most current health information, please fill out the Health Alert form and send with your student to Jumpstart. These forms must be filled out every year.

If your child takes medication during the school day, even if it is over the counter, a Medication Permission form is required to be signed and turned into the Counseling office by the first day of school. We have a med tech on staff to assist your student if needed.

Even if your student self-carries the medication, we require that you please submit the permission form. A link to the form can be accessed here.

The WBHS XC team travelled to Bloomer Park (Rochester Hills, MI.) for the OAA Blue Jamboree #2 meet on Wednesday, September 17th.

The girls varsity team placed 4th overall with 102 points. Rino Takatsu (13th place) was the first finisher for the Lakers. Overall girls highlights: 1, 2 mile goal time!

The boys varsity race was a very tightly contested team race, as just 8 points separated the top 3 teams. Fortunately for the Lakers, they were able to come out on top with the first place finish with 57 points. Leading the way was Musa Kay (2nd place). Others that played a key role in the win were: Josue Martinez (8th place), Michael Williams (9th place), Graham Kubiak (17th place) and Haven William (21st place). Overall boys highlights: 1st place team finish, 1 season pr, 1 career pr & 1, 2 mile goal time!

With the first place finish, the boys are just one point behind Beverly Hills Groves and North Farmington for the league championship. The Lakers can win the league championship with a win in at the OAA Blue Jamboree #3 Championships on Thursday, October, 16th at Memorial Park (Royal Oak, MI.).

Your “Lakers of the Meet” are:

GIRLS

Rino Takatsu: Rino has been the top finisher for the girls the past four meets and ran under 23 minutes for the second time this season.

BOYS

Josue Martinez: Josue finished as the second runner for the Lakers and played a key role for the teams first place finish.

Ryan Burrows: Bryan ran a “NEW” career pr. Beating his previous pr by18 seconds.

RESULTS: https://www.athletic.net/CrossCountry/meet/258257/results/all

Next up for the Lakers: Hanson’s Invitational @ Parkway Christian/Bethesda Campus on Saturday, September 27th.

Go Lakers!!!!

Check out www.westbloomfieldathletics.com for all WBHS Athletics Updates

West Bloomfield High School will continue to offer parking privileges to eligible 11th and 12th-grade students that purchase and properly display a WBHS parking permit. Criteria for obtaining and maintaining a parking permit can be found on the link below. Students may only park in the main and south lots, NOT in the north lot (by the stadium), which is reserved for staff parking.

Seniors and juniors can purchase their parking pass at Jump Start, provided they bring the permit fee- $100 payment (cash or check payable to West Bloomfield Schools), and evidence of a driver's license and vehicle registration. Parking permits are to be fully adhered to the bottom left-hand side of the windshield of the vehicle for which it was purchased. If a family would like to register additional vehicles, they need to complete the application and provide a $5.00 payment for each.

Additional information here

Parking Permit Application

Pre-ordering of your yearbook can be done by:

• visiting yearbookordercenter.com and using code 17673

• OR by printing and completing this order form and mailing a check (made out to WBHS Yearbook) to:

WBHS YEARBOOK, ATTENTION:Tarah Ehlert

4925 Orchard Lake Road, West Bloomfield, MI 48323

Yearbooks will cost $70 through Jumpstart (Wednesday, August 20).

Starting Thursday, August 21st, the price will increase to $80 throughout the remainder of pre-ordering, which will end on March 6, 2026.

Parents of WBSD students can apply to receive six non-perishable meals each Friday of the school year. The goal of Fueling Kids' Futures is to make sure no child goes hungry on the weekend. Run by volunteers, there is NO cost to the families. For the application, click here. Any student enrolled in the program for the 24/25 school year will automatically be enrolled for the 25/26 school year and does not have to fill out an application.

Save the Date: the major fundraiser for Fueling Kids' Futures is Trivia Night Friday, November 7, 2025.

WBSD has partnered with Parent Guidance.org to give parents free access to resources and helpful information. We have shared this information with our families. We hope that it will be useful for some of you as well!

ParentGuidance.org is an online service by licensed therapists that provides trusted and specialized courses, professional support, and a safe community for parents to learn how to support their children and get answers to mental health questions.

For all updates related to college, careers, counseling, scholarships, college rep visits, and more, make sure to check out the Counselor Connection Newsletter.