WBHS Update
09/08/2023
Principal's Message
Hello Laker Nation,
As we move into our 3rd week of school, WBHS students are settling into their routines, navigating to their classes easier, and showing amazing eagerness toward learning in our classrooms. Although it may seem like we just got back to school, we are already on the cusp of some of our major events at WBHS. Our fall play, homecoming, and Family Fun Night are right around the corner!
COMING SOON - Look in future issues for curricular highlights from instructional departments, student showcases, and staff recognition.
IMPORTANT - As students return to school there are a couple of areas of note that we are looking to improve upon.
It is essential that students are on time. Please encourage students to move to each class in a timely manner, and to be in class by the time the bell rings. Parents can excuse up to 3 tardies when students arrive to school, but any other tardies will count toward consequences. Parents may not excuse tardies between classes.
Students are not allowed to wear hoods in the building at any time. It is imperative that we can identify students on camera and in person at all times. Hoods make that very challenging. Ski-Mask style face masks with hoods are NOT PERMITTED. Also, clothing that exposes midriffs, has logos of alcohol or drug related business or products, or expose undergarments are NOT PERMITTED. Students were asked, without penalty, for the first two weeks of school to remove hoods or change clothing listed above if wearing them. Additionally, each student heard me speak directly on this issue at our class meetings, or will hear it this week. Students will receive one more reminder, penalty free, and then each occurrence afterward will result in an after school detention. Please remind your students of these expectations.
School dismisses at 2:23 PM. ALL STUDENTS need to be in a supervised activity or out of the building by 2:45 PM. We do not have the ability to safely supervise students after this time. There will be a late stay location for students who are in athletics or activities that begin AFTER 2:45. This supervised location will be in Laker Commons, across from the cafeteria. This supervision is ONLY for students who are in an activity. Students who are staying later than 2:45 who are not in a sport/activity must exit the building at or before this time. Students will be required to sign in with their ID and the activity they belong to.
WBHS is a closed campus for lunch. Students may not leave campus for lunch and return. This presents safety and learning issues when students leave campus. Students found to be getting out passes or leaving without permission will be considered skipping in an unauthorized area.
Proud to be a Laker,
Eric Pace - Principal
12th Annual WBSD Family Fun Night - TONIGHT - Friday, September 8
The West Bloomfield School District has moved to an all-online enrollment process. Starting July 19 families need to login to PowerSchool and complete the Back to School Update Packet. This process needs to be completed ASAP. Please click here.
Families are required to do this for each child enrolled with WBSD. If you do not know your login and/or password for PowerSchool, please contact your school for assistance, or visit https://www.wbsd.org/parents/powerschool for more information.
Important Updates and Information
ALLERGIES/ASTHMA/MEDICAL CONDITIONS – Students are not allowed to carry medication. The office must have a complete, signed West Bloomfield School District Medical Action Plan to be able to carry out any medication distribution. Each medication requires a separate form. Each year we need an updated plan for students needing medication. If your child requires medication the first day of school you must contact the office before school to verify paperwork and deliver the medication to the office. Further questions, please contact the school office at 248-865-6720.
ATTENDANCE – West Bloomfield School District expects students to be in school and on time for school on a daily basis. Absent and tardy students will be recorded daily and parents will be notified.
If your child will not be in school or will be late to school, you must call the 24-hour answering machine at 248-865-6522. Leave your student’s name, teacher’s name and reason for absence. For the safety of our students, please do your best to remember to call before the start of school (even if you are only going to be “a little” late).
- PROMPT 1 - Excuse an Absence - Absences must be called in within 24 hours of the student missing school, or the absence will be marked as unexcused.
- PROMPT 2 - Excuse a Tardy (only if a student is late to school, not to a class after they've arrived)
- PROMPT 3 - Early Dismissal (Outpass) - These must be submitted prior to the dismissal time if possible. Those trying for an early dismissal at the time that it is needed may experience a delay while the information is processed and the student is retrieved from class.
In an effort to support student safety and proper accountability, all absences should be excused by a parent. If the absent in unexcused, this tells us that the school and the family do not know where the student is, if not in school. Please make sure to excuse all absences. Teachers may not accept work for unexcused absences in an effort to discourage skipping.
Students who accumulate too many tardies may be subject to disciplinary actions such as after school detentions or suspension of school parking.
Students who accumulate too many absences will be referred to Oakland County Youth Assistance for support and may be referred to Oakland County Truancy is absences become excessive.
BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS - Students are expected to be safe, respectful, and responsible at all times. Specific expectations can be found in the student handbook or the student code of conduct, and key items are listed below.
- Closed campus for lunch - Students MAY NOT receive an outpass to go to lunch or to pick up food for any reason.
- No food deliveries during school hours. This includes Door Dash, Grubhub, etc.
- No inappropriate or revealing clothing for any students
- No clothing with alcohol, drug, sexual, or inappropriate language or images
- No inappropriate language or gestures to be used by students at any time
- No hoods to be worn in school at any time
- No ski masks to be worn in school at any time
- No sunglasses to be worn in school at any time
- Phone use should only occur during passing time or during lunch. During class, it is up to the teacher's discretion as to how students may or may not use phones. If a student violates a teacher's phone policy/expectations, the teacher may confiscate the phone and return it to the student at the end of the period, or turn it in to the Student Relations office.
- Students must be in the cafeteria, Laker Commons, or the courtyard during lunch times. Students may not wander the halls or be in any unauthorized areas during lunches.
AFTER SCHOOL EXPECTATIONS - School dismisses at 2:23 PM. ALL STUDENTS need to be in a supervised activity or out of the building by 2:45 PM. We do not have the ability to safely supervise students after this time. There will be a late stay location for students who are in athletics or activities that begin AFTER 2:45. This supervised location will be in Laker Commons, across from the cafeteria. This supervision is ONLY for students who are in an activity. Students who are staying later than 2:45 who are not in a sport/activity must exit the building at or before this time. Students will be required to sign in with their ID and the activity they belong to.
LATE STARTS – throughout the school year we will participate in professional development that delays the start of the school day. On these days, school will start at 8:30 a.m., and the doors will be open for students beginning at 8:00 a.m.
IMMUNIZATIONS – All students that attend West Bloomfield School District must have accurate shot record information on file. Please be sure records are up to date. New students that do not have a shot record or a waiver on file are not allowed to attend school.
Homecoming Guide - 2023
Law & Politics Club AND Teen Court
Intro Meeting to the Law & Politics Club/Teen Court
Thursday, Sept. 21st Rm. 206 2:30-3:30pm
Everyone is welcome! Come find out what this club and program are all about to see if it is the right fit for your interests. We will also be discussing leadership roles at this meeting.
Teen Court Training
Thursday, Sept. 28th Rm. 206 2:30-3:30pm
This one time mandatory training prepares you to be a real juror or attorney for real juvenile misdemeanor cases in Oakland County. Don't miss this opportunity to get trained and find out more. Join us even if you are not sure. It's an awesome opportunity!
Girls Swim - First division meet ends with Tie against Troy High School
Lions, Colts and Alligators? As the Detroit Lions kick off their first game so did West Bloomfield with its first division home meet against Troy High School.
Both Teams swam great going point for point in every event. West bloomfield would win an event and then Troy would come right back winning the next event. The meet was very exciting with many best times by the girls from both teams.
In the end both competitors came out victorious in a tying score of 93-93!
Blessings in a Backpack
If your child is a student (3 to 26 years of age) in the West Bloomfield Schools, s/he can also participate in the 2023-24 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.
To enroll in this program, please fill out this form and return it to your school office or email it to katherinesheiko@hotmail.com. This registers your child/ren in the Blessings program and alerts us to any allergies they might have. The first backpack of food will be distributed to your child at his/her local school the first week of October.
World Celebrations
September is Hispanic Heritage Month
September 4: Labor Day
September 6: Arbaeen
September 11: National Day of Service and Remembrance
September 15 – 17: Rosh Hashanah
September 16: Mexican Independence Day
September 17: Constitution Day
September 22: American Indian Day
September 24 – 25: Yom Kippur
September 26 – 27: Mawlid al-Nabi
September 29 – October 6: Sukkot
September 29 – October 14: Pitru Paksha
WBSD is Hiring
Social Skills for Kids
Attendance Tips
- Talk with your child about the importance of showing up to school every day, on time.
- Help your child maintain daily routines, such as finishing homework and getting a good night’s sleep.
- Try not to schedule dental and medical appointments during the school day.
- If your child attends an unavoidable appointment during the school day, please ask the dentist, doctor, etc. for a note to excuse them from school. This should be turned in to the main office.
- Communicate with us if your child is sick. Please always call the SAFELINE if your child will be absent.
- Help your child stay engaged--remind them that you are excited to hear about their day when they come home.
- Ask for help from us if you’re having trouble getting your child to school. We are here to partner with you for your child's success!
Mental Health Resources
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.