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Walled Lake Schools is a leader in academic excellence, with exemplary schools and programs that support student achievement. We recruit, develop, and support a culturally diverse workforce dedicated to the highest standards of equity and achievement for our students, employees, and the communities we serve.

Walled Lake Consolidated Schools is focused on building on its successes over the past decade and set a new course for our district based on the context of the current academic, social, emotional, and economic environment of the community we serve.

Share your voice by completing a short survey that will assist in creating our next strategic plan. The survey will close on Wednesday, September 25.

In an effort to find additional ways to celebrate our students, the WLCSD Community Relations department requests that staff members fill out the information below for students who are all-stars within their classrooms, schools and/or communities. We hope to highlight students who are good classmates and friends, as well as those who have continue to grow and develop as learners.

Students across the district celebrated Constitution Day on Tuesday with curious minds and big smiles.

Our country’s future leaders dove into history and learned about the rights and freedoms that shape our country.

Some activities students participated in included creating class constitutions, participating in a Preamble scramble, and comparing the Michigan constitution to the American constitution.

ALL NEW STAFF need to take 3 minutes to complete the staff profile form. Existing staff with new positions should create a new profile. We will delete the previous profile.

This new Staff Profile link will lead you to a simple google form. Please complete the couple required fields and any optional fields. Community Relations will use the information to populate your profile on the new website. For revisions to your profile* or any questions, contact pamelacole@wlcsd.org

* We want you to be pleased with your profile so don't hesitate to email Pam with changes.

Application for a grant supporting early career educators with 1-4 years of teaching experience in memory of Beth Martinez. Beth was an active DKG member and on the committee for grants to early career educators. She was a member of the Meadowbrook staff serving as its counselor until she retired in 2005. She taught elementary school and middle school biology during her career. Beth loved to read, play piano and to sing.

Beth passed in late December 2023 and this grant is a memorial donation on her behalf. It will be a one time grant of $800 to 1 teacher.

Use the QR code to apply for the Beth Martinez Memorial Grant by September 27.

$250 grants for classroom materials for new educators with no prior experience. 8 grants will be awarded.

Qualifications

• Open to any new JK - 12 grade educator including special education that has 0 -1 year experience
• Write a short response explaining how the funds would be utilized and how they could assist you as a new educator and/or impact your students.
• if selected, attend our DKG meeting on 10/22 at 5 p.m. to accept our award.
• Complete the grant application by September 27.
• Grant winners will be notified via email in early October

The Walled Lake Consolidated Schools’ Board of Education approved seeking a replacement of the district’s operating millage in the upcoming November election during its August 8, 2024 special meeting.

Walled Lake Consolidated Schools is asking the community to replace its current operating millage with an 18 mill non-homestead millage that represents roughly $31 million and a 3.6297 mill hold harmless that represents approximately $2 million of the district’s budget. The total of $33 million accounts for 18 percent of the district’s $187 million revenue budget.

Every District in the state is expected to levy, with voter approval, 18 mills on all non-homestead properties in order to receive full state funding under Proposal A. The 3 mill "Headlee cushion" will allow the district to collect the full 18 mills over the duration of the operating millage. The proposal will not increase property taxes on any primary residence property that is within Walled Lake Consolidated Schools boundaries. Since the approval of Proposal A in 1994, the Walled Lake Consolidated Schools’ community has overwhelmingly supported the operating millage, most recently in 2014.

“Our community has always been incredibly supportive of our schools, and the upcoming operating millage replacement is critical to maintaining the high-quality education that Walled Lake Consolidated Schools is known for,” said Dr. Michael Lonze, Superintendent of Schools. “Approval of this proposal ensures that we can continue to provide our students with the resources and support they need to succeed."

If the November 5, 2024 proposal is not approved, the school district will lose more than $33 million in operating revenue every year and the state will not make up the shortfall.

The three primary uses for revenue collected through the operating millage are operating expenses, facility maintenance and staff compensation.

For more information about the 2024 Operating Millage Replace can be found at www.wlcsd.org/elections.

Keep an eye out for the following:

September WLCSD Retiree Reception, hosted by Michelle Tomei from M3 Investments

November Mini-Grant Applications open (due by January 6)

December Tuition Expedition Raffle ticket sales begin

January Kindergarten Welcome Kits go on sale for Fall of 2025 K/JK students

Golf Scramble registration opens

February Shuman Performing Arts Grant applications open (due by March 24)

March Mini Grant winners are notified

April Super Star Staff Award nominations open

May Super Star Staff winners are notified during Staff Appreciation Week

June FFE 16th Annual Golf Scramble

In addition to receiving phone calls and email notifications from the school district in the event of a school closing or emergency, parents can also sign up to receive SMS Text messages.

Please find the helpful step-by-step instructions linked below as well as the video tutorial on signing up for SMS messages.

• Signing Up for SMS Messages via Skylert

Maria Kuzmich, Meadowbrook, on the loss of her mother, Diane Natsis, on August 29, 2024.

• September 23: PTSA Council meeting, Keith Elementary, 7 p.m.
  
• September 24: Grand Re-opening event at WL Wester, 5 p.m.
• September 27: WLC Homecoming game v. South Lyon HS, 7 p.m.
• October 3: No school for students or staff
• October 4: WLW Homecoming game, 7 p.m.
• October 9: PSAT/NMSQT (juniors)
• October 10: SAT (seniors only)
• October 16-17: Make-up test days

Visit www.wlcsd.org/calendar for a complete list of events with details.

MICHIGAN SCHOOLS AND GOVERNMENT CREDIT UNION

Founded by teachers 70 years ago, our goal is to help you achieve yours.

• Grants up to $750 for teachers to fund innovative classroom projects through our Classroom Cash Grants program
• Financial resources and guest speakers
• 0% loans to enrich the classroom experience
• Scholarships for accomplishing high school seniors and educators returning to school

MSGCU was founded by educators 70 years ago and we are grateful for the important work teachers do each day. To help them achieve their goals in the classroom, we offer Classroom Cash Grants worth up to $750 to fund innovative projects that otherwise wouldn’t be covered by school budgets. Educators use the grants to enhance their curriculum in science, math, literacy, and more, bringing fun and engaging lesson plans to life for their students.

Help spread the word
Share this email with teachers you know and encourage them to apply now through Friday, October 4, at 5 PM. After they submit their ideas, the public will vote for their favorite projects and those with the most votes will win a grant.

Produced and distributed via e-mail weekly to employees of Walled Lake Consolidated Schools. Send news items, comments, and ads via e-mail to PamelaCole@wlcsd.org, or DanielDurkin@wlcsd.org, editor in the Community Relations department.

Email: pamelacole@wlcsd.org
Website: www.wlcsd.org
Location: 850 Ladd Road, Walled Lake, MI, USA
Phone: (248) 956-2018
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wlcsd
Twitter: @WalledLkSchools

Notice of Nondiscrimination: The Walled Lake Consolidated School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, religion, height, weight, marital status, or genetic information in its programs and activities. Direct inquiries related to discrimination on the basis of Section 504 disability, or other inquiries related to discrimination, to: The Assistant Superintendent of Labor and Employee Services and Section 504 Coordinator, 850 Ladd Road, Bldg. D, Walled Lake, MI 48390, (248) 956-2022.