[WHMS-Parents] WHMS Update 1-13-12

[WHMS Parents Information Email List]

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Dear Parents:

Special thanks to all the parents, grandparents and family members who were able to visit with us today for 6th – 8th grade Bring Your Loved One to School Day. It was wonderful to visit with all of you. We hope you enjoyed your day as much as we did.


The West Hills Newspaper Club has received a grant of $375 from Dow Jones & Company Inc., publisher of The Wall Street Journal, to support production of The WHMS Press, the school's award-winning newspaper. The grant, which will cover the cost of printing one 12-page issue with color, was awarded under a Dow Jones program that recognizes employees who volunteer in their communities. The club's co-adviser, Krishnan Anantharaman, is a 20-year employee of Dow Jones.



The club has produced three issues so far this school year, including two 12-page editions, and plans four more. The club welcomes contributions from the community to support scholastic journalism at West Hills.



Krishnan M. Anantharaman

The Wall Street Journal Classroom Edition kris...@wsj.com<mailto:kris...@wsj.com>

BOXTOPS CONTEST IN FULL SWING

The Dec/Jan. boxtops contest is still going strong. Be sure to pick up your collections sheets in the office. Glue or tape (do not staple) the boxtops to the sheets. Make sure to put your name on each paper so you can get entered into the contest. Boxtops can also be submitted without the collection sheet. Place them in a sealed bag (like a ziploc), or an envelope with your name on it. Place all boxtops in the box in the office. Happy clipping! The boxtops box in the cafeteria is missing. If you placed boxtops in there, contact Faye Wolf at ya...@comcast.net<mailto:ya...@comcast.net> so your name can be entered into the contest. Have fun and thanks for supporting your PTO with Boxtops 4 education.
Faye Wolf & Barb Gudeman
Boxtops Coordinators

Yearbook orders are due on January 15, 2011. Please do not miss the deadline to order your child’s yearbook. If you wish to receive a yearbook in June you must place your order now. We do not order extra yearbooks. Don’t miss out on getting your yearbook this year.


Lost Dog Near Wabeek: The dog (Rae) below was last spotted approximately a week ago near Kirk in the Hills walking west.
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$300 REWARD: LOST DOG

Call 248-613-6911

Last Seen: Kirkway Rd (N of Long Lake, W of Franklin)

When: Wed Jan 4

Name: Rae

Breed: Vizsla

Age: 15

Sex: Female

Color: Reddish Brown, Grey Face

Coat Length: Short

She has arthritis and takes medications. Her eyesight and hearing are limited.

Andover MYP Personal Project/Gleaners Food Bank
My name is Samana Sheikh and I am a WHMS alum and current student at Andover High School. For my MYP personal project, I am working with Gleaners Food Bank to help provide food for the homeless. I am running a can drive with West Hills Middle School to help feed as many people in need of food. This can drive will last until February 9, 2012. You can donate to any of the Gleaners food drive boxes located in the main lobby and 4/5 pit area. Thank you, in advance, for helping to make this project a success!


WHMS 4th & 5th Graders Save the Date!
4th & 5th Grade Movie Afternoon @ WHMS Cafetorium!
Friday, January 27th, 11:30 am- 1:30pm
(prompt pick up is appreciated!)
$5 provides the “Karate Kid,” pizza lunch, snacks and a craft!
Flyers will be sent home in back packs!
Volunteers Needed! Please contact either:
Paula Lynn @ paul...@comcast.net<mailto:paul...@comcast.net> or Julie Hirsch @ juliem...@comcast.net<mailto:juliem...@comcast.net>
*WHMS PTO sponsored event

America's favorite red-headed orphan is here! On Friday, January 20th, at 7:00 pm in the West Hills Cafeteria, the 8th Grade Musical Drama class will be putting on "Annie." Come watch as the cutest kids EVER act, sing, and dance their way into your hearts! According to their director, they are eleven kinds of precious! We know you'll agree! See you next Friday!

FROM THE BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP PUBLIC LIBRARY
Michigan author and illustrator Wong Herbert Yee, Theodor Geisel Honor Award winner, will be demonstrating his process for writing and illustrating books at the Bloomfield Township Public Library on Wednesday, January 25 at 6:30 p.m. Yee is both author and illustrator of the popular Mouse and Mole series of early reader books, in addition to several other children’s titles including Fireman Small, Big Black Bear, and Tracks in the Snow.
His presentation, called The Picture Book: From Concept to Creation, is recommended for kids in grades K-3, however all ages are welcome to attend. His books will be available for purchase and signing after the presentation.
Everyone is welcome to attend and no registration is required.

Reminder: WHMS School Store is open next Wednesday during all lunches.

Attn: 8th Grade Graduation Party Meeting
Please join us to help plan for the 8th grade party! Our first meeting will be on Monday February 6, 2012 in the West Hills Media Center from 7:30 pm--8:30 pm. You will find out some of the many ways to help either before or during the party. If you can't come to this meeting but you would like to help please e-mail us.

Thank you so much for your help during this exciting time for the Class of 2012!!


Julie Raider Julie...@comcast.net<mailto:Julie...@comcast.net>
Missy Farnen Thefarn...@att.net<mailto:Thefarn...@att.net>
Barbara Gudeman Thegu...@msn.com<mailto:Thegu...@msn.com>




IB UPDATE: (written by our ESL teachers)
Felices fiestas! Frohe Feiertage! 幸せな休日! 행복한 휴일!


Happy holidays from the ESL department! We celebrated Thanksgiving together at our annual ESL Family Thanksgiving dinner. Students presented their Thanksgiving projects and a fun time was had by all.

We wrapped up 2011 by studying holidays around the world. The students excitedly prepared for winter break by creating fabulous holiday-themed projects. Check them out in the hallways of West Hills.

As we move into 2012 we are busy learning academic English and studying the following units across the grade levels: ecosystems, colonization of America, American Civil War, human body, space, survival stories, fiction and non-fiction reading and writing.

We would like to thank our wonderful ESL families for being risk takers and joining in the West Hills community. We also want to thank our school leaders for their support and encouragement.

Sincerely, Mrs. Weeks & Mrs. Toohey



BHS High School Update
Town Hall meetings begin January 17: BHS is holding a series of town hall meetings to succinctly explain planning done to date to unify our high schools and to gather your feedback. The meetings (see below) will run for about two hours; the first 45 minutes will be an overview of our proposed scenarios for unifying our high schools, leaving about an hour and 15 minutes for small and large group discussions. We will end with an audience survey of goals and concerns that we believe will give us a good idea of how you would like us to proceed. Hopefully we have scheduled at least one meeting that will be convenient for you to attend.

Day/Date

Time

Facility

Location

Tuesday, Jan. 17

1:30-3:30 PM

Doyle Center

Rooms B/C

Tuesday, Jan. 24

7-9 PM

Way Elementary

Fine Arts Rooms

Thursday, Jan. 26

7-9 PM

East Hills MS

Media Center

Monday, Jan. 30

7-9 PM

West Hills MS

Cafeteria

Tuesday, Jan. 31

1:30-3:30 PM

Bloomfield Township Library

Meeting Room 1

Tuesday, Jan. 31

7-9 PM

Conant Elementary

Media Center

Wednesday, Feb. 1

9:30-11:30 AM

City of Bloomfield Hills

Commissioners Auditorium

Monday, Feb. 6

10 AM-12 Noon

Bloomfield Township Library

Meeting Room 1

Tuesday, Feb. 7

7-9 PM

Lone Pine Elementary

Media Center

Wednesday, Feb. 8

10 AM-12 Noon

Bowers Farm

Farm Schoolhouse

Wednesday, Feb. 8

7-9 PM

Bloomfield Hills Middle School

Cafeteria

Wednesday, Feb. 15

7-9 PM

Eastover Elementary

Fine Arts Rooms


If you are unable to join us, there will be other opportunities for you to stay informed. We are regularly updating our website – just visit www.bloomfield.org<http://www.bloomfield.org> and click on “BHS Unified High School” toward the top center of the home page to keep up with the latest news. You are welcome to attend BHS Board of Education meetings, tune into them on cable (Comcast Cable: Bloomfield Hills - Ch. 7 & 16; Troy Area - Ch. 56) as they take place, or watch an archived board meeting online at http://bhstv.bloomfield.org/category/bd-of-ed .

BHS will continue to do all we can to provide you with clear information about the unified high school and answer any questions you may have.


MEAP/MME cut scores are changing: Superintendent Rob Glass mailed a letter to district parents to inform them of the new higher standards set by the state for student proficiency on the MEAP and MME tests. These new standards will result in lower test scores for most students across the state. A link to the letter is posted on the Curriculum section of our website at http://www.bloomfield.org/parents-topmenu-28/curriculum-topmenu-161 under “MEAP/MME Cut Scores are Changing.” To learn more about this subject, you may also want to view a video produced by Wayne RESA, Understanding the New Michigan Cut Scores at http://www.mistreamnet.com/vidflv.php?who=resa121611 .

Sport Season 3

Students must have a physical on file with the West Hills’ office and they must have their pay to participate fee paid to be eligible to play ($100).

Please contact Mr. Grippo with any questions sgr...@bloomfield.org<mailto:sgr...@bloomfield.org> 341-6113

5 grade Girls’ Volleyball starts Wednesday, Feb. 1 at 7:00am in the gym. The $100 pay to participate fee is not required for this team. Contact coach Purcell for the team handout bpur...@bloomfield.org<mailto:bpur...@bloomfield.org>

6 grade Girls’ Volleyball starts Wednesday, Feb. 1 at 7:00am in the gym. Coach Parcell lpar...@bloomfield.org<mailto:lpar...@bloomfield.org> , Coach Ayers pay...@bloomfield.org<mailto:pay...@bloomfield.org>

7 grade Girls’ Travel Volleyball tryouts start Wednesday, January 25 from 3:00 – 4:30. Coach Cox rcox1...@wowway.com<mailto:rcox1...@wowway.com>

8 grade Girls’ Travel Volleyball tryouts start Wednesday, January 25 from 3:00 – 4:30. Coach Carey kac...@bloomfield.org<mailto:kac...@bloomfield.org>

7,8 grade Girls’ Intramural Volleyball starts Tuesday, February 7 from 3:00 – 4:30. Coach Castellani acast...@bloomfield.org<mailto:acast...@bloomfield.org>

6,7,8 grade Boys’ Swimming starts Monday, January 30 from 5:00-6:00pm at the Andover pool. There is a parent meeting immediately following practice until 6:15 near the pool area. Coach Gale tg...@bloomfield.org<mailto:tg...@bloomfield.org>

6,7,8 grade Boys’ Diving start date and parent meeting will be announced soon. Approximately will start late January.

6,7,8 grade Wrestling starts Monday, January 30 from 3:00 – 4:30. Coach Delfin kurtd...@aol.com<mailto:kurtd...@aol.com>

Upcoming Sporting Events

Tuesday, Jan. 17
7/8 grade boys' travel basketball @ EH
girls' swimming meet @ Derby (bus after school)

Wednesday, Jan. 18
7/8 grade intramural basketball game vs Cranbrook @ WH (teams 3&4)

Thursday, Jan. 19
7/8 grade boys' travel basketball @ Cranbrook

Friday, Jan. 20
girls' swimming league meet @ Groves HS (7/8 gr only)

Monday, Jan. 23
7/8 grade boys' travel basketball @ Ferndale

Important dates to keep in mind:

o Monday, Jan. 16: No School

o Friday, Jan. 20: 8th grade musical Annie, 7:30 p.m.
o Wednesday, Jan. 25: 5th grade field trip, Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History

o Friday, Jan. 27: ½ day of instruction & end of 1st semester

o Monday, Jan. 30: Town Hall Meeting, 7:00 p.m., WHMS Cafeteria

o Monday, Jan. 30: 8th grade Honors Choir, LHS, 7:00 p.m.

o Tuesday, Jan. 31: Music Information Night, AHS 7:00 p.m.

o Wednesday, Feb. 1: 4th – 8th grade report cards carried home with students

o Wednesday, Feb. 1: 4th & 5th grade Popcorn Day

o Wednesday, Feb. 1: Preview Tours, 10:00-2:00 p.m.


I wish everyone a wonderful weekend,


Heidi S. Kattula
Principal
West Hills Middle School
Bloomfield Hills Schools
248-341-6105
http://westhills.bloomfield.org<http://westhills.bloomfield.org/>
"Comprehensive Education at its Finest"

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