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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• November 21-24: WLW Presents "The Addams Family"
• November 25: PTSA Council Meeting, Walled Lake El, 7 p.m.
• November 27: Half Day for Students and Staff
• November 28-29: Thanksgiving Break - No School for Students or Staff
• December 5: Board of Education regular meeting

The recommendation from the Facilities Study Committee was to repurpose Geisler Middle School. The original plan involved a feeder pattern with no elementary to middle school to high school splits. The revised plan (below graphic) was developed based on feedback that we received from the community and a majority of the committee.

The advantages of the revised plan are:

• Students will be on the bus for a shorter period of time.
• It will reduce transportation costs.

• It maintains the current middle school feeder pattern for Loon Lake Elementary.

• It maintains current bussing runs for Loon Lake Elementary.

• It maintains the current high school, elementary school feeder pattern.

• It will be easier for families to attend events.

• It reduces the number of elementary to middle school to high school splits.

• It impacts the least number of students.

On December 5th, the Board will vote on the entire recommendation, which is the repurposing of Geisler Middle School and the feeder patterns listed below.

For additional background information on the Facility Utilization Study, see the page on the District website.

Walled Lake Western sophomore Angie Hami gave us a behind the scenes look at the preparations ahead of opening night with an Instagram takeover. You can watch it by clicking on the “The Addams Family” highlight on our Instagram page.

Show Times

• Thursday, November 21 - 7 p.m.
• Friday, November 22 - 7 p.m.
• Saturday, November 23 - 7 p.m.
• Sunday, November 24 - 2 p.m.

The Walled Lake Competitive Marching Band shined on the biggest stage at the 2024 Bands of America Grand National Championships in Indianapolis over the weekend.

The combined band from Walled Lake Central and Walled Lake Western hit all the high notes on Thursday leaving the judges in awe with their performance of Enchanted in the preliminary round, earning them a spot in Saturday’s semifinals.

The Walled Lake Competitive Marching Band then left it all on the field on Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium earning a score of 80.550, finishing 29th overall out of 114 bands that competed at the Grand National Championships.

"I could not be prouder of the Walled Lake Competitive Marching Band on an incredible showing at nationals and how they carried themselves this season,” said co-director Grant Prater. “Placing in the Top 30 in the country is a big deal, and I can attest that our students got there because they sought to get better every day.”

"Advancing to semifinals at the Bands of America Grand Nationals is an incredible accomplishment, but our success this season is far greater than the competitive results,” added co-director Patrick Dudzinski. “This band truly embraced a growth mindset through the very last rehearsal. I am so proud of the entire WLMB team of students, parents, and coaches who worked so hard this season!"

Earlier this month, the Walled Lake Competitive Marching Band claimed the MCBA Flight 1 State Championship at Ford Field beating out 6-time defending champion Rockford, as well as took home four of five caption awards in General Effect, Visual, Auxiliary and Percussion.

Walled Lake Western and Mason battled in another instant classic in a Regional Finals rematch from a year ago with a trip to the MHSAA Division 3 State Semifinals on the line.

The Warriors and Bulldogs went punch for punch through the first two quarters heading into halftime tied at 10. After the break, Mason hit a pair of explosive plays that gave the Bulldogs a 22-10 lead after three.

Walled Lake Western, though, wouldn’t back down. Donovan Triplett rumbled into the endzone for his second touchdown of the night with under three minutes to play to get the Warriors within five, but they couldn’t recover the onside kick they needed. Mason would hold on to win its fourth-straight regional title, 22-17.

“We told our kids that it was going to be a war, and they were better than us tonight,” said head coach Kory Cioroch. “This was one of the better teams that have ever come out of here, we came up a little short, but accomplished a tremendous amount going undefeated in the regular season, winning a district championship, and set the points per game record with our defense. This is just going to help us continue to claw to get back here and win next time.”

“It’s something we (had) been planning on the entire off season, every day talking about it, to get back to this game,” said Triplett. “We fell short, but to be able to (go undefeated) up until this point is so special. We got to become close knit brothers and this bond, even though football ends, is never going to end.”

Continue reading on the district website.

The White Lake Township Police Department, St. Patrick’s White Lake Knights of Columbus, and Kroger partnered with Keith Elementary to help provide warm clothes and full bellies to Dragons in need.

The White Lake Township Police Department and St. Patrick’s White Lake Knights of Columbus teamed up to help 17 students and their families stay warm this winter by donating winter coats, hats, waterproof gloves, snow pants and boots.

Kroger also left Dragon families with plenty to be thankful for during Thanksgiving break. The company donated $200 to help provide a Thanksgiving meal kit to Keith families that could use a little extra help during the holiday season.

“We have had an amazing outpour of support within our Keith community, as well as some amazing partnerships with charitable organizations,” said PTA parent Lauren June, who organized the donations. “This is a great start to a lasting legacy of warm bodies and full bellies.”

Things got competitive on Wednesday at Sarah G. Banks Middle School as the Bulldogs held their first ever Turkey Trot.

Students tried to beat the clock in a wacky obstacle course that featured tires, potato sacks, and squash hockey among other fun challenges. Each grade raced for the ultimate turkey crown, while 2nd and 3rd place winners trotted off with pies.

Click here to see this year's Turkey Trot winners.

Former Clifford H. Smart Middle Schooler and Walled Lake Northern graduate Jane Fox returned to her old stomping ground on Wednesday to share her journey of becoming a published author.

Fox, who goes by the pen name Freya Finch, had her debut book published by Disney over the summer. Fox spent the day with the Trojans in Mrs. Stahl’s class sharing her journey and her young adult novel, Rise.

For Fox, it was more than just a homecoming as she was once a 7th grader in Mrs. Stahl’s class. Talk about inspiration coming full circle!

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