We hope you'll review this week's District Update filled with news and notes from across the Walled Lake Consolidated School District. Stay up to date with the district by visiting www.wlcsd.org and connecting with the district on social media - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn

• March 7: Board of Education meeting, 7 p.m.
  
• March 11: Irene Daniels PTSA Council Scholarship Application Deadline
• March 11: 5th Grade Parent Night at all four middle schools
• March 12: Half Day for Students | Professional Development for Staff
• March 13: Kindergarten Orientation, 6 p.m. at all 12 elementary schools
• March 18-22: WLCSD Inclusion Week
• March 18: PTSA Council Meeting 5:30 p.m. WL Western High School
• March 18: PTSA Reflections Celebration, 7 p.m. at WL Western High School
• March 20: Rescheduled WLC 8th Grade Parent Night at WL Central High School

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

Elementary staff from across the District are excited the host the next class of kindergartens and their families at Kindergarten Orientation on Wednesday, March 13 at 6pm at each of the District's 12 elementary schools. More information can be found at www.wlcsd.org/ko and by watching the video below.

Five elementary and two middle school students competed in the Oakland Schools Scripps Regional Spelling Bee on Saturday, March 2, at Oakland University.

Among the seven that represented Walled Lake Consolidated Schools was a sibling duo of James R. Geisler Middle School’s Yasmine Hamad and her younger brother Yazan, who’s a fifth grader at Hickory Woods Elementary. Sarah G. Banks eighth grader Tara Matti was the only other district middle schooler in field. The four others students that competed were all in fifth grade; Elyse Coppernoll (Keith), Avery Goldsby (Oakley Park), Landon Hosey (Meadowbrook), and Emilie Thieleman (Mary Helen Guest).

All three high schools will be represented this weekend at the MHSAA State Swimming and Diving Championships.

Walled Lake Central sophomore Diego Baca and Walled Lake Western senior Sean Gretzinger qualified for the Division 1 meet at Oakland University on Friday and Saturday. Baca qualified in the 100 yard backstroke and Gretzinger will swim the 50 yard freestyle.

Five Walled Lake Northern swimmers are headed to Eastern Michigan University for the Division 2 meet on Friday and Saturday. Senior Matthew Morris qualified in the 100 yard breaststroke after swimming a lifetime best and was able to avenge a disappointing end to his season a year ago after just missing the cut. The LVC Championship meet was a big one for the Knights, where Aidan Keffaber, Ian Kaiser and the Northern Medley Relay team qualified for the state meet. Kaiser was the conference champion in the 500 yard freestyle, and the senior is trying to follow that up with a state title. Keffaber qualified in the 100 yard backstroke and will join Morris, Chris Cahill and Kyle Hulliberger in the Medley Relay at the state meet.

Walled Lake Central juniors Shaylee McCain and Mariam Pellerito are headed to Grand Rapids this weekend to compete in the MHSAA state meet at Kenowa Hills High School.

McCain is hoping her 3rd-straight trip to the state finals is a charm. McCain will be competing in the All-Around in the Division 1 state meet. She qualified with Top 10 finishes in all her events at regionals this past weekend; 3rd on Bars (8.3), 4th on Floor (8.95), 5th on Vault (8.85), 7th on Beam (8.25), and 6th All-Around (34.35).

Pellerito will make her first state finals appearance on Saturday. She’ll compete on the Floor in Division 2 as she finished as the regional runner-up (8.85).

The Walled Lake Wild had four players recognized by the Michigan Girls High School Hockey League (MGHSHL) this week when it released its All-State teams for the 2023-24 season.

Walled Lake Northern senior Lauren Fox was named First Team All-State in Division 2 for the third straight year. The Wild captain tallied 53 points this season on 38 goals and 15 assists. Fox ranked seventh in the state in points and was the top scoring defenseman in Division 2. She also led the Wild with five power play goals on the year.

Walled Lake Northern sophomore Mikayla Ratliff, and Walled Lake Western sophomore Arianna O’Donnell and freshman Ania Greco were all recognized as Division 2 All-State Honorable Mentions.

O’Connell finished the year as the second-ranked goalie in Division two with an 0.888 save percentage. She allowed just 19 goals in 12 games with 169 saves and three shutouts.

Ratliff and Greco rounded out the Top 3 in goal scoring with Fox for the Wild. Ratliff netted 18 goals with 9 assists and Greco added 5 goals with 5 assists on the year.

In an effort to celebrate our staff, the WLCSD Community Relations department requests that families fill out the form below to nominate staff who are rock stars in their classrooms and school communities.

A sample of what these shout outs will look like on social media and in our district newsletters is on the right.

The Pleasant Lake staff and PTA will award $1500 in scholarship monies to the applicants who best suits these qualifications:

• Pleasant Lake Elementary graduate who attended PLE for a minimum of three years
• Walled Lake Central or Northern Graduate
• Actively involved in school or community activities
• Demonstrates leadership qualities
• 3.0 minimum GPA
• Accepted to college
• Be willing to accept your award at PLE’s fifth grade graduation in June
• Submit application to counseling office by Monday, April 15

If the committee does not feel any candidates are worthy then it is up to the discretion of the committee to not award a scholarship in any given year. If you have any questions about this scholarship or need assistance please reach out to Brendaraymond@wlcsd.org

During the February 2 Board of Education meeting, the Board of Education voted unanimously to move forward with a $250 million bond election on May 7, 2024.

The 2024 bond proposal is focused on student safety, educational opportunities, technology, and facilities; the millage rates associated with this proposal will provide a tax decrease for residents. Over the past two decades, our community has supported bond proposals in 2019, 2013, and 2004. As a result of this past investment, the school district and our students have been able to thrive.

A list of the 2024 bond projects, by school, will be published on the District’s website, as well as the bond language, frequently asked questions, videos, and other information. To help inform our community, the District will host a series of informational bond meetings over the next several months. Meeting dates, locations, and times will also be on the bond webpage. I encourage you to attend one or more of these important information sessions.

Information regarding spring testing for the secondary level is listed below. Schools will be following up directly with families regarding any adjusted time schedules as part of these testing days:

High School

• 9th Grade PSAT - April 9
• 11th Grade SAT - April 10
• 11th Grade Workkeys - April 11
• 10th Grade PSAT - April 11
• M-Step - April 16-17
• PSAT Makeup - April 23
• SAT Makeup - April 24
• Workkeys Makeup - April 25
• PSAT Makeup - April 25

Middle School

• 8th Grade PSAT - April 17
• M-Step - April 22-25 | GMS, SMBS, WCMS
• M-Step - April 30 - May 3 | Clifford Smart

Are you or someone you know interested in our preschool for the 2024-2025 school year? We encourage you to fill out our preschool interest form. We invite your child to come grow with us!

Year-end presents a great opportunity to celebrate our top senior student athletes and their opportunity to continue their athletic careers in college.

Please provide the following information on SENIOR athletes that have either:

- received a scholarship to play college athletics

- have a spot guaranteed to them on a college roster as a "preferred walk-on."

The information will be used by each school to plan their signing days and will also be printed in the LEARNING newsletter (if approved.)

The Shining Stars Award recognizes outstanding individuals and student peers who have supported the special needs community within Walled Lake Schools.

Love your child's bus driver? Nominate them.

Love your child's Unified coach or buddy? Nominate them!

Some of the qualities of the nominee might include: a positive attitude, dedication, dependability, self-motivation, helpfulness and more.

Nominees can be anyone associated with the special needs community: teacher, para, bus driver, aide, buddy, parent, coach, volunteer, etc. Nominations accepted via the link below.

Every nominee will be recognized and receive a Shining Stars Award at the ceremony on April 30th at Walled Lake Central High School. You don't want to miss this special event!

All nominations must be received on or before April 5, 2024. Questions? Contact WalledLakePAC@gmail.com

Please complete the following form in order to be considered for the Graduate Spotlight section of the WLCSD quarterly Learning newsletter. The nominated student needs to be a 2016 graduate or before. Please contact pamelacole@wlcsd.org with any questions.

The Maintenance Department is seeking State of Michigan licensed individuals in the following trades: HVAC, Plumbing or Electrical. The Building Engineer position is tasked with maintaining district mechanical systems, and is full time, full year employment. Contact Dave Watkins, Maintenance Supervisor for additional job details at (248) 956-3074.

Our mission, in partnership with parents and the community, is to become the best educational system in America so all students demonstrate they are caring, responsible, and knowledgeable citizens.

Email: danieldurkin@wlcsd.org
Website: www.wlcsd.org
Location: 850 Ladd Road, Walled Lake, MI, USA
Phone: (248) 956-2000
Facebook: www.facebook.com/wlcsd/
Twitter: @WalledLkSchools