WBHS Update

Hello Laker Nation,

We are thrilled to bring you this Guide to Homecoming

2025. Our theme this year is Wild West B!

There are many events and activities throughout Homecoming Week for you to get involved in and show your school spirit. We hope you are able to create some lasting memories and have an amazing time at WBHS.

Please review the events, so you don’t miss any of the deadlines. If you have questions, feel free to contact Miss Strobridge at taylor.strobridge@wbsd.org or Mr. Reed at kevin.reed@wbsd.org or stop by room 300. We are looking forward to celebrating with you!

Fundraisers

Monday- Tom’s Traveling Drink Truck after school, stop by and buy some coffee, refreshers,

matcha, boba, and more! Make sure to bring money.

Tuesday- Lyle Grams. Purchase a Lyle Gram during lunch and get you or your friends a surprise

visit + Polaroid picture from Lyle during fourth hour or advisory!

Wednesday- Stuck for a Buck. During lunches, leadership students will be selling an arms-length

long piece of tape for $2, or a “wrap around” for $3 to tape a teacher to the wall!

Thursday- Lasso Competition. During lunches, students will have the opportunity to participate in a

lasso competition! The student with the most points during their lunch will win a prize

All Week- Raise the Roof for Reed and Pace fundraiser!! Throughout the week, students can donate any amount of cash to help raise $ 1,000 for Mr. Reed and Mr. Pace to sleep on the roof if we

meet our goal.

Homecoming Week: October 6 - October 10

Monday, October 6

● Dress Up Day: Adam Sandler Day - dress up like Adam Sandler is baggy comfy clothes or

from one of his movies

Tuesday, October 7

● Dress Up Day: Jersey vs Jersey Shore - Wear your favorite jersey or your beach gear or

Jersey Shore (like the TV show).

Wednesday, October 8

● Dress Up Day: Wild West B - Wear your best rodeo/country outfit.

● Special Event: PowderPuff Football Game - This is a flag football game between the junior

and senior girls with junior and senior male cheerleaders. The event starts at 6:30 pm on the

WBHS football field. The admission is $5.00.

Thursday, October 9

● Dress Up Day: Babies vs Senior Citizens - Upperclassmen (seniors and juniors), dress up

as old people, and underclassmen (sophomores and freshmen), dress up as babies! Staff -

choose your own adventure.

● Mr. WB- This is a pageant for senior boys! It includes the following categories: formalwear,

future occupation, question and answer session, and dance battle. The event runs from

6:30-8:30 pm in the WBHS auditorium. The admission is $5.00.

Friday, October 10

● Dress Up Day: Class Color Day

o 9th grade: Wear yellow

o 10th grade: Wear red

o 11th grade: Wear blue

o 12th grade: Wear black

o Staff: Wear your provided shirt

● Special Event: Pep Assembly is at 12:30 pm in the gym

● Special Event: The Homecoming Parade starts at Prince of Peace Church at 5:30 pm and

travels along Green Road to WBHS. If you are walking in the parade, please check with your

club, sport, or class sponsor because you will need to arrive early!

● Special Event: Football Game starts at 7:00 pm. Make sure to wear your Homecoming

game-day shirt for free admission into the game. SWAMP THEME IS BLACK OUT!

Saturday, October 11

● Special Event: Homecoming Dance is from 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm. The doors close promptly

at 8:30 pm.

● This year in addition to the dance we will have games, a photo booth, a movie, food trucks,

and more! Bring extra money for food trucks!

● Tickets are on sale in the ticket box office (next to the auditorium) during all lunches.

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!

Proud to be a Laker,

Eric Pace
Principal, WBHS

There will be a PEP ASSEMBLY on Friday, 10/10/25 for WBHS Homecoming! The assembly will begin after lunches/5th hour at approximately 1:00 and will last until the end of the day at 2:23. There will be NO OUTPASSES granted without prior administrative approval for a pre-scheduled appointment. Any and all outpasses must be submitted and processed prior to 12:00 PM (noon).

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!

FOLLOW ALONG ON THIS DOCUMENT FOR SENIOR ACTIVITIES UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR

Class of 2026,

Welcome to your senior year of high school! This communication will give you the timeline and details of Senior activities for the duration of the school year. This document will continue to update throughout the course of the year. Please review the information below:

Order Yard Signs and/or Banners using the link below:

Signsunleashed.com/collections/west-bloomfield-high-school-graduation

AP Exams:

• May 4th-15th, 2026

• Late Testing TBD

Senior exams:

• The final exam schedule and details will be released nearer the end of semester two.

Last Day for Seniors:

• Tuesday, May 29th, 2026

Senior Breakfast:

• Date: Tuesday, May 19th, 2026

• Time: Immediately following exams

• Location: WBHS

• Seniors will receive their Cap and Gown at Senior Breakfast

Honors Convocation:

• Date: Thursday, May 21st, 2026

• Time: 7:00 pm (Seniors arrive by 6:30p)

• Location: WBHS Auditorium

• Organizer: Noelle Essig noelle.essig@wbsd.org

While all seniors are welcome to attend, individual invitations will be emailed the week prior to the event to those who will be recognized by departments and who have completed the scholarship survey that will be sent out second semester.

Prom:

• Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2026

• Time: 7:00 - 11:00 PM (No entry after 8:30 PM and all attendees must have an ID and ticket to enter).

• Location: Masonic Temple

• Address: 500 Temple Street, Detroit, MI

• **Guests who are not WBHS students MUST COMPLETE A GUEST FORM BEFORE PURCHASING A TICKET. Guest forms will be available in the main office and Counseling office.

• Ticket Sales/Costs: Tickets will be sold in the cafeteria during all lunches in the weeks prior to the event.

• Sponsors: Mr. Woodberg and Ms. Strobridge

Graduation Rehearsal

• Date: Tuesday, May 26th, 2026 *Tentative*

• Time: 8:00 a.m. (expect the rehearsal to run about 90 minutes)

• Location: WBHS Auditorium

• Attendance is mandatory to participate in graduation ceremony

Graduation

• Date: Wednesday, May 27th, 2026 *Date is Tentative - Thursday, May 28th is the backup date*

• Time: 6:00 p.m.

• Graduates should report no later than 5:00p.m.

• Location: Pine Knob

• Address: 33 Bob Seger Dr, Village of Clarkston, MI 48348

• Tickets: Each student is allowed a total of 10 guests. Pine Knob is NOT requiring physical tickets. As such, you and your guests will have first come, first served seating upon arrival.

Graduation Flowers and Gifts

• As the graduation date approaches, stay tuned for pre-ordering information

Senior All Night Party (SANP)

• Who: WBHS Class of 2026

• When: Wednesday, May 27th, 2026 *Date is Tentative - Thursday, May 28th is the backup date*

• Time: 9:30p-2:00a

• Contact: WBSANP2026@gmail.com

• Cost: $100 until the end of October. $125 after November 1st.

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.

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.

Please see the attachment below for the Winter Sports Tryout/First Practice Schedule. All students hoping to participate in a Winter Sport must have completed FinalForms registration, with a current physical (dated after April 15th, 2025) on file. Those participating in sports with a tryout (Ice Hockey, Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball, Competitive Cheer, Poms) should wait until teams are selected to pay their pay to participate.

Self-Funded Sports (Figure Skating, Bowling, Snowboarding, Gymnastics) will pay the fees for the team directly to the Coach of the team. Self-funded sports should not pay their pay to participate online through FinalForms.

Please contact the coach of the team or the Athletic Office 248.865.6743 with any questions.

Winter Sports Tryout First Practice Schedule 2025-2026.pdf

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.