MIdweek UPdate
August 31, 2023
In the business of education, week one is the most exciting, by far. Whether it is a kindergartener riding a school bus for the first time or a senior experiencing their last first day of school, the excitement is palpable. The magic is about to happen, and we know the possibilities for how much our students will grow personally and academically are endless. It is good stuff. We are very happy you all are here.
You might think we lock the doors at the end of the school year and unlock them on the first day, and it is as simple as that. But it is not. So much happens during the summer months to make sure everything is in place to set our students and staff up for a successful school year.
If you come across one of our custodians, maintenance workers or district administrators, give them a two-clap for all the work they did during the summer so we could start this school year off right. I’d encourage you to also extend that to our early childhood staff who continued to provide high-quality care for close to 100 families during summer break.
Our Board of Education has been busy too. We use the summer to reflect on what was accomplished the previous year and set goals for what we want to make happen to continue to move our district forward. There are four areas of focus driving our discussions and decisions. They are, in no particular order, budget stability, programs, safety, and academics. Below is a brief update on one focus area - Academics.
WLPS is proud of the performance of our high school students and staff. This year, Whitmore Lake High School was again recognized by US News & World Reports as one of the top high schools in the state. This year our ranking improved to 9th in the region ahead of Brighton (19), South Lyon (30), Pinckney (83), and Howell (84)!
This honor is not random. WLPS has invested heavily in curriculum. We’ve integrated social emotional learning into K-12 instruction, implemented a new math curriculum K-8, expanded our science and social studies curriculum to 5-8 (previously 6-8), added STEM instruction K-6, added arts and theater courses 7-12, and updated wireless technology in all classrooms to better manage the demands on our bandwidth associated with our 1:1 student device plan.
In recent years, WLPS has introduced curriculum coaching. Jennifer Petzke, a former English language arts teacher, and Carolyn Otterman, a former 3rd-grade teacher and math specialist, have been charged with the tasks of supporting our K-8 teachers as they stay aligned with curriculum standards, maintain monthly pacing, and prepare students for state testing. With a host of new teachers, new curricula, and new technology, these positions are crucial to academic success.
We look forward to watching our investments pay off as your children reach their academic potential this year.
Honoring Nora Livingston and Barb Camp
If you have visited our Main Street Campus recently you’ll notice the addition of a beautiful tree outside the entrance of our administrative offices. This was planted by our Transportation department in honor of two beloved retired bus drivers we lost this summer, Nora Livingston and Barb Camp. Nora was a special education driver and bus monitor for WLPS during the 25+ years she served our community. Barb drove for WLPS for over 20 years as well and even came back for a few years after retiring. They both were constant and caring presences in the daily lives of our district community, and we extend our sincere condolences to their families for their loss.
