WBSD Update
A weekly update from the West Bloomfield School District
WBSD Weekly Update - September 17
We hope you'll review this week's Weekly Update filled with news and notes from across the West Bloomfield School District. Stay up to date with District updates by visiting www.wbsd.org and connecting with the District on social media - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Have a great weekend!
JOIN US TONIGHT FOR FAMILY FUN NIGHT!
The West Bloomfield School District is excited to announce the 10th Annual Family Fun Night will be held on Sept. 17 at 5 p.m. at West Bloomfield High School. The entire West Bloomfield community is invited to attend this free event filled with activities, prizes and more! Attendees are encouraged to come for the fun and then stay to cheer on the 2020 State Champion, West Bloomfield High School Laker football team as they take on Stoney Creek High School at 7 p.m. following Family Fun Night. All elementary and middle school students wearing spirit wear items are admitted into the game for free!
Community organizations across West Bloomfield will be present with special activities and giveaways for those in attendance. There will be exhibitions, demonstrations including a magician, rock climbing wall and more. Tours of military and first responder vehicles will also be available to attendees. Members of the West Bloomfield Police and Fire Departments will also be playing in a charity softball game starting at 3:30 p.m. as part of the evening’s festivities.
Dunk Tank Schedule:
5:15 PM: Mr. Scrivo
5:35 PM: Ms. Larkin
5:55 PM: Mr. Spitzley
6:15 PM: Mr. Long
COVID-19/Flu Vaccine Clinic at FFN
BMC Pharmacy West Bloomfield has been in the Beaumont Medical Center since 2008.
COVID-19 Travel Reminders for Families
The CDC recommends that unvaccinated individuals should refrain from traveling internationally. If you are not fully vaccinated and must travel, it is important to follow the CDC's recommendations. Students that travel internationally must do the following upon return if they are not fully vaccinated:
- Get tested with a viral test 3-5 days after travel AND stay home and self-quarantine for a full 7 days after travel. Even if you test negative, stay home and self-quarantine for the full 7 days. If your test is positive, isolate yourself to protect others from getting infected.
- If you don’t get tested, stay home and self-quarantine for 10 days after travel.
- Avoid being around people who are at increased risk for severe illness for 14 days, whether you get tested or not.
- Self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms; isolate and get tested if you develop symptoms.
- Follow all state and local recommendations or requirements.
Fully vaccinated individuals must get tested with a viral test 3-5 days after travel, but do not need to quarantine. These individuals should self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms and isolate if symptoms do develop. These individuals should also follow all state and local recommendations or requirements.
WBSD embarks on Strategic Planning Process
We are working with the Michigan Association of School Boards to develop a shared 3-5 year Strategic Plan so that we can develop a clear road map that will guide our future. A key element of this process is to collect feedback from staff, students, parents, and community members in order to create this shared road map. As a result, the Michigan Association of School Boards will be leading focus groups with various stakeholders in order to collect this valuable feedback. These focus groups will be a mix of in-person and virtual sessions and should include about 20 people per focus session.
The purpose of this communication is to determine which parents from across the district are interested in participating in the parent focus groups. Please complete the survey that is linked here by Monday, September 20th if you are interested in participating in one of the focus group sessions. We will then confirm your participation prior to the focus group session. When we send confirmation, we will also be sure to include the location and other logistical details so that you have everything you need to participate. We hope to have 20 parents in each of the focus group sessions. Your input and participation is important to us; we know that the success of this Strategic Planning work is directly dependent on the level of input we have from you.
Focus group sessions for staff will take place on the following dates:
Wednesday, September 29th (in-person): 3:30-4:30 PM
Thursday, September 30th (via Zoom): 4:30-5:30 PM
If you are unable to attend one of these group sessions, we still welcome and invite your feedback using the survey link below:
Thank you for considering this important opportunity and thank you for your continued support of the work that we do.
Throwback Thursday Submissions
Bus Tracker App Reminder
As a reminder, Durham Transportation, our district’s transportation partner, offers a helpful bus tracking app for West Bloomfield families. The Bus Tracker app is available for iOS, Android and web and allows families to track their student(s) bus along its route, to and from school.
Families will need to have their student(s) ID number(s) which are available in PowerSchool in order to log into the app and create an account. As a safety protocol, the Bus Tracker app will only allow families to see their student(s) bus route(s) only.
If you have any questions, please consult the Bus Tracker instructions and visit the Bus Tracker webpage on the Durham Transportation website for more information and to download the app.
We hope the use of the Durham Transportation Bus Tracker app will help better inform our families of slow downs and delays in the bus pick up and drop off times. We appreciate your patience, understanding, and flexibility as we navigate the first days of this new school year. We value the importance of consistency and safety in our transportation offering to families.
If you have any questions or would like more information, call our Transportation Offices at (248) 865-3680.
Help Wanted - Lunchroom & Playground Monitors
- $15/hour
- 3 hours/day (working hours during the school day only)
- School Days Only
Apply by visiting www.EDUStaff.org and fill out an application today!
IRS Advance Child Tax Credit Materials To Share With Michigan Families
As you might be aware, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 was recently signed into law and it contains numerous relief provisions for individual taxpayers, including some significant changes to the Child Tax Credit.
As for background regarding this Advance Child Tax Credit, please look at the attached Publications 5534B and 5534C.
The Advance Child Tax Credit is not just available to taxpayers with children that file tax returns, but also to people with children who have low or no income. Which could help many children escape poverty in America.
To qualify for Advance Child Tax Credit payments, individuals must:
· Have a main home in the United States for more than half the year (the 50 states and the District of Columbia) or file a joint return with a spouse who has a main home in the United States for more than half the year; and
· Have a qualifying child who is under age 18 at the end of 2021 and who has a valid Social Security number; and
· If have earned income, made less than Modified Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of:
- $75,000 or less for singles,
- $112,500 or less for heads of household and
- $150,000 or less for married couples filing a joint return and qualified widows and widowers
Advanced Child Tax Credit payments are not considered income and will not affect your access to government benefits like SSI, SNAP, TANF or WIC. See #IRS info at https://go.usa.gov/x6fyE
WBHS FIELD HOCKEY MUMS SALE
The WBHS Girls Field Hockey Team and coaches are reaching out to you to inform you of the WBHS Annual Fall Mums Sale. The mums are big and beautiful this year! We are taking pre-orders until September 17, 2021. The mums arrive Friday, September 24, 2021 and can be picked up from 2:00pm - 7:00pm. We will have a limited supply of cash and carry that we will sell on Saturday, September 25 from 9am - 1pm or while supplies last.
The order forms can be returned to Maggie in the Athletic Office by September 17, 2021. For questions please contact Emily Roland at wbfieldhockey@gmail.com; Cindy Chen at 248-470-6650; or text Katrina Crane at 248-255-1130.
The WBHS Girls Field Hockey Team and coaches would like to Thank You for your support!
Blessings in a Backpack Application - 2021-22
If your child qualified for the Free and Reduced Meal Program last year or this year, s/he can also participate in the Blessings in a Backpack program. This program sends six non-perishable meals home each Friday of the school year. Its goal is to make sure that no child goes hungry on the weekend. Run by volunteers, there is NO cost to you.
If your child is going to school Face to Face, s/he will get his/her bag of food at his/her local school. If your child is enrolled in Lakers on Line, please indicate that on the form and we will contact you on food pickup arrangements.
WBSD STAR CERTIFICATE NOMINATION FORM
The purpose of the West Bloomfield School District Board of Education Star Certificate award is to recognize outstanding achievements by the students, staff and community members of the West Bloomfield School District. Honorees are also recognized for service to the district above and beyond the call of duty.
In order to be recognized, nominees must be a member of the district as a student, staff member or community member in West Bloomfield. Student groups and teams are also eligible for nomination.
Community Resources
Open Hands Food Pantry
Saturdays from 9:00am - 11:00am at St. John's Episcopal Church, 26998 WoodwardAve. (Royal Oak, corner of 11 Mile and Woodward - enter at 11 Mile)
For the safety of the mobile pantry guests and our volunteers, food will be placed in the trunk / back hatch of a vehicle.
Visit openhandspantry.org for more information
WB Township Library Information
Book Lists
100 Picture Books to Read in Kindergarten
Families and educators find reading and learning made fun through the library’s 100 Picture Books to Read in Kindergarten program! Read librarian-recommended picture books that reinforce what kindergartners already know and lay the groundwork for the year ahead. Children who bring completed lists to the library will receive a certificate and book for their achievement. Learn more about the Grow Up Reading™ initiative at growupreading.org.
Friends of the Library Merchandise Sale
Saturday, Sept 25 from 8 AM – 2 PM
Shop at the Friends of the Library’s Community Garage Sale table to support the Library. The Community Garage Sale is hosted by the West Bloomfield Parks and Recreation Commission.
Renew or request a library card.
Ask at the Main Library Reception desk or the Westacres Branch Circulation desk. You can also continue to renew or request a library card on the Library’s website.
Connect with Us!
Email: daniel.durkin@wbsd.org
Website: www.wbsd.org
Location: 5810 Commerce Road, West Bloomfield Township, MI, USA
Phone: (248) 865-6420
Facebook: facebook.com/WestBloomfieldSchools/
Twitter: @wbloomfieldschl