District Update

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.

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• March 24-28: Spring Break - No School for Students or Staff
• March 31: PTSA Reflections Celebration at WLN
• April 3: Board of Education regular meeting
• April 4-6: WLW presents: "Clue"
• April 10-13: WLC presents: "She Loves Me"

Whether you're enjoying a stay-cation or going on a vacation, we want to know how you are spending your Spring Break!

Share your Spring Break photos with us for a chance to be featured on social media! Email your photos to info@wlcsd.org.

Bonus points if you're representing the district by wearing your school's gear!

Six students, representing all three Walled Lake high schools, will head to Orlando, Florida to compete at the DECA International Career Development Conference on April 26-29.

Four Walled Lake Western students will compete as two teams after being named National Finalists. Matthew Lown and Daniel Morales qualified in Financial Services Team Decision Making, and Varun Tangirala and Nicholas Vo qualified in Hospitality Services Team Decision Making. Four other Warriors also received State Medalist honors this past weekend at the state competition: Aditya Gupta (Restaurant and Food Service Management), Katio Le (Financial Services Team Decision Making), Utkarsh Reddibattini (Automotive Services Marketing Series), and Vidya Vuyyuru (Personal Financial Literacy).

Walled Lake Northern sophomore David Devaney earned his spot at the DECA International Career Development Conference in Accounting Applications after winning a medal for his test score, placing second in roleplay and winning his event. Meredith Weeks also medaled at the state competition in Principles of Finance placing second in roleplay and was named an overall finalist in her event.

The final student headed to Orlando is Walled Lake Central’s Hannah Biel. She qualified in Marketing and Communications.

Walled Lake Western senior Mallory Gamit will take over our Instagram story for Tech Saturday to give you a behind the scenes look at the preparations of the Warriors' play, "Clue", ahead of opening night on April 4.

Make sure to follow us on Instagram so you don't miss out on all the fun!

Show Times

• Friday, April 4 - 7 p.m.
• Saturday, April 5 - 7 p.m.
• Sunday, April 6 - 2 p.m.

Walled Lake Northern’s Blake Bardocz and Truman Columbus have been nominated for the 2025 Sutton Foster Awards for their performances in the Knights’ rendition of Joseph and The Amazing Technicolored Dreamcoat.

Bardocz, who played Pharaoh, and Columbus, who played Joseph, were both recognized for Outstanding Performer in a Leading Role.

“Being nominated for the Sutton Foster Awards is not just a recognition of talent, but a celebration of passion, dedication and the relentless pursuit of excellence in the performing arts at Walled Lake Northern,” said Walled Lake Northern musical director Ashley Ward. “Both Blake and Truman exemplify the heart and soul of theater, and we are very proud of this recognition.”

Bardocz and Columbus will join Walled Lake Western’s Alyssa Vindershain and Michaela Willingham, as well as Michigan’s other nominees, for two weekends at Wharton Center for Performing Arts in East Lansing, where they will continue to develop their theatre skills in workshops led by industry professionals. At the conclusion of the workshops, they will take part in the Sutton Foster Awards Showcase at the Wharton Center in June. During that performance, judges will select Michigan’s two Outstanding Performer in a Leading Role winners. Those two winners will earn a $1,000 cash prize and fly to New York City to compete for the National High School Musical Theatre Awards on June 23 at Broadway’s Minskoff Theatre.

The Walled Lake Northern unified basketball team hit the court at Little Caesars Arena on Thursday, March 13, as part of the Pistons' Unified Showcase.

The Knights lit up the home of the Detroit Pistons with smiles, buckets and plenty of fun in their game against Livonia Churchill.

Walled Lake Central, Northern and Western each hosted Unified basketball games during school this week as part of their Inclusion Week celebrations.

Adult Transitions Program student, Jacob, was dropping buckets and beats on Wednesday at Walled Lake Western’s Unified basketball game against rival Walled Lake Central!

The energy was off the charts as award-winning Detroit beatboxer Stevie Soul joined Jacob at center court for an electrifying halftime performance! Earlier in the week Stevie Soul surprised Jacob to learn more about his love for beatboxing and tell him they'd perform together at the Unified basketball game.

Watch Jacob and Stevie Soul's performance on our Instagram page.

Michigan State Representative Noah Arbit stopped by Keith Elementary on Friday to read to 3rd and 4th graders in Mrs. Spencer and Mrs. Wendyker's classes.

Along with reading the story, Buzzy The Bumblebee, he also shared his journey to becoming a state rep, answered students questions, and bought everyone in the class a Michigan-themed coloring book and a book mark.

State Senator Rosemary Bayer stopped by Walled Lake Elementary on Monday morning to celebrate March Is Reading Month with Mrs. Leslie's 3rd graders!

She read "The Legend of Michigan", shared what it’s like to be a state senator, and even brought Michigan-themed coloring books and DIY bookmarks.

Assistant Superintendent of Learning Services, Cathy Kochanski, popped into Mrs. Raymond's junior kindergarten class at Pleasant Lake Elementary on Thursday, March 13.

Mrs. Kochanski read Buzzy The Bumblebee and had fun learning from our junior kindergarteners about what they have been up to for March is Reading Month.

The Cat in the Hat gave our preschoolers a week to remember at the Walled Lake Early Childhood Center. Tracy Shore dressed up and had story time with all of the buildings students throughout the week introducing them to wonders of Dr. Seuss!

Director of Community Relation, Dan Durkin, stopped by Mrs. Phillips-Weckstein's kindergarten class at Dublin Elementary on Tuesday, March 18.

Mr. Durkin read Mako & Tiger: Two Not-So-Friendly Sharks and We Will Rock Our Classmates while answering the student's serious questions including what was his favorite color, favorite animal and favorite game.

Author Jonathan Rand brought the fun to Keith Elementary on Friday morning. He shared his journey to becoming an author, as well as plenty of laughs along the way!

Loon Lake Elementary 3rd grade teacher, Melissa Sinclair, and Walled Lake Early Childhood Center special education teacher, Kristine Szemyak, are in the running for America’s Favorite Teacher presented by Reader’s Digest.

A public vote will determine the Top 10 in the group stage, which closes today at 10 p.m.

“I became a teacher to help children learn and grow; especially those who struggle in school,” said Sinclair. “I try and make sure all children learn and have fun! School should be a safe, welcoming environment all students love to go each day.”

“I became a special education teacher because my heart is not only for young children, but for those that need extra help,” said Szemyak. “Autism is sometimes a thief of those moments that parents look forward to when having children, I want to help make those moments happen.”

The winner of America’s Favorite Teacher will be featured in Reader’s Digest, win a trip to Hawaii, and take home a $25,000 grand prize.

Click here to vote for Mrs. Sinclair and click here to vote for Mrs. Szemyak.

The Walled Lake Consolidated Schools administration appointed Kristin Froning as Wixom Elementary’s interim principal.

Froning retired at the end of the 2023-24 school year after 31 years working within Walled Lake Consolidated Schools. She most recently served as the principal at Oakley Park Elementary for the past 14 years. In the fall, she also stepped in as interim principal at Dublin Elementary for a month before Patricia Karban started her new position in mid-January.

“I know Wixom is a strong school community with an excellent staff, supportive families, and amazing students, and I look forward to working together,” said Froning. “I committed to providing the support to ensure Wixom continues to be a nurturing place for students while promoting academic excellence.”

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.

Their 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.

Includes:

Staff awards:

• Teacher of the year
• Golden Apple
• Meritorious Budget Award
• Best in Class Teacher
• Alec Bender Friend of Diversity award

Student awards:

• National Championship dance finishers
• Art awards
• Alec Bender Friend of Diversity awards
• Athletes join 1,000 point club
• Western cheer state finishers
• Northern bowling wins regionals
• Michigan Music Conference awards
• Sutton Foster award nomination

Graduate Spotlights:

• Courtney Taylor and Chelsea Gheesling, owners of local fulfillment company

We would like to inform you about the required spring testing for all students in grades 9 through 11. This includes the PSAT 9, PSAT 10, and SAT with Essay exams. All of these exams have moved to a digital format and will be administered on school issued Chromebooks. Paper-and-pencil versions of the exams are no longer available. In addition, 11th-grade students will take the WorkKeys assessment of workplace skills, as well as the Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress (M-STEP) in Social Studies and Science.

Save the Date

Below are the important testing dates for your family calendar. Please make every effort to avoid scheduling appointments or planned absences on these days. All spring testing activities are graduation requirements for Walled Lake students. Students should bring fully charged Chromebooks for the dates below.

April 8

• 9th Grade — 7:15 a.m. PSAT 9 Exam (only 9th graders in the morning)
• Grades 10, 11, 12 - 11:15 a.m. Delayed start of school day.

April 9

• 11th Grade — 7:15 a.m. SAT Exam (only 11th graders in the morning)
• Grades 9, 10, 12 - 12:00 p.m. Delayed start of school day.

April 10

• 10th Grade — 7:15 a.m. PSAT 10 Exam
• 11th Grade — 7:15 a.m. WorkKeys Exam (paper & pencil)
• Grades 9, 12 - 11:30 a.m. Delayed start of school day.

Additional Things to Know about the online PSAT and SAT Exams

The SAT and PSAT exams have now gone fully digital, and are in their second year. Students will test on school issued Chromebooks and submit their test answers online at the end of testing.

Adaptive Testing in Two Modules

Both the PSAT and SAT exams are now adaptive, meaning the difficulty of questions changes based on the student's performance. The test is divided into two sections: Reading & Writing and Math. To help prepare, you can read more about the Digital SAT Adaptive Testing on the College Board website.

For Michigan students, the SAT with Essay includes a third written essay section. The SAT with Essay lasts about 3 ½ hours, while the PSAT-9 and PSAT-10 exams take about 2 ½ hours.

Changes to the Math Section

Calculator use is now permitted throughout the Math section of these exams. Students can bring their own approved handheld calculator or use the virtual graphing calculator integrated into the testing software.

Practice

We encourage students to take at least one full-length practice test at home to become familiar with the SAT/PSAT format and timing. During the Digital Readiness Check in March, students will receive a sign-in ticket with a code to access Bluebook, an app that allows students to take up to three full-length practice exams online. For more information, follow this link Full Length Practice Tests.

Parents Guide to the SAT

To learn more about what is tested on the SAT, how to register for additional SAT test dates, and how to send score reports to colleges, please visit the Parents Guide to the SAT on the College Board website.

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:

• 8th Grade PSAT - April 15 | Delay start for 6th & 7th graders
• M-Step - April 21-24 | SMBS, WCMS
• M-Step - April 29 - May 2 | CHS
• M-Step - May 6-9 | GMS
• iReady - May 12-15 | GMS

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 Walled Lake Consolidated School District is committed to supporting the health and well-being of our students and families. To help address concerns about vaping, we are sharing valuable resources that provide information on the risks of vaping and strategies for prevention. These tools are designed to empower families with knowledge and support meaningful conversations at home. Together, we can help every child make healthy choices every day.

• E-cigarettes and Vaping: What Parents Should Know - American Lung Association
• E-cigarettes and Youth: What Parents Need to Know - Centers for Disease Control

• E-cigarettes/Vaping Facts - Oakland County Health Department

The Shining Stars Award recognizes outstanding individuals 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. Nominate someone today using the button below.

Every nominee will be recognized and receive a Shining Stars Award at the ceremony on

May 22, 2025 at Walled Lake Central High School. There will be special performances during the ceremony that you won't want to miss! Community agencies will also be available to share their services and resources. Mark your calendar!

All nominations must be received on or before May 1, 2025.

Questions? Contact WalledLakePAC@gmail.com

In an effort to find additional ways to celebrate our staff, the WLCSD Community Relations department requests that families fill out the information below for 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.

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.

During the 2024-25 school year, all Michigan public school students in grades Pre-K through 12 will have access to free breakfast and free lunch everyday through the "Healthy School Meals for All" program. This includes a meat/meat alternative, grain, fruit/vegetable and milk. A la carte items will be available for purchase.

Families are still encouraged to complete the Child Nutrition and Education Benefits Application in Skyward to help secure additional funding for the District including Title I funding. By completing the form, eligible families may also receive access to other benefit programs including reduced registration fees for standardized testing, discounted college application fees, pay to participate, discounted home internet access, and more.

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