As mentioned in last week's WHMS Weekly, our Make a Difference Day partner, Micah 6, visited the building this past Tuesday. At each grade-level presentation, the executive director of Micah 6 shared stories of the work this organization is doing in their neighborhood to provide healthy food options and employment opportunities. A huge thank you to our families for their generous donations during Friday's hat day. Friday, October 21, we will have a pajama day with a suggested donation of $1 to continue our fundraising for Make a Difference Day.
Last week, during the half day on October 4, our staff received the initial ALICE training. This coming week is Safety Week in Bloomfield Hills Schools. You received a message on Thursday describing the activities planned throughout this coming week. Please see the article below where we share details of discussions that will be happening in our classrooms on Monday.
"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower." -Albert Camus
Enjoy the fall colors this weekend!
Andy
Andy Gignac
Principal
West Hills Middle School
Bloomfield Hills Schools
Twitter: @AndyGignac
A/B Schedule: Click HERE for the A/B Calendar
Mon., Oct. 17 - B Day
Tues., Oct. 18 - A Day
Wed., Oct. 19 - B Day
Thurs., Oct. 20 - A Day
Fri., Oct. 21 - B Day
KEY DATES Mon.-Wed. Oct. 17-21 BHS Safety Week (See article below) Wed. Oct. 19 Band-O-Rama (ALL WH Bands 5th-8th Gr.) @ BHHS 7:00 p.m. Thurs. Oct. 20 9:30-10:30 a.m. PTO Meeting Tues. Oct. 25 8th-Grade Orchestra Performs with BHHS Symphony @ BHHS 6:30 p.m Mon. Oct. 31 Half Day of School B-Day a.m. Schedule (Dismissal at 11:40 a.m.) Mon. Oct. 31 4th and 5th Grade Halloween Parties (Time Communicated by Classroom) Wed. Nov. 9 Picture Retake and Make-up Day
Safety Week will be taking place next week, October 17 to 21. In addition to the important learning that will take place next week, we also have a few safety highlights that students, staff, and community members can participate in.
Students will be learning about ALICE on Monday, October 17 and it is our hope that learning about ALICE will be an empowering experience for students.
Elementary Students (4th & 5th Grades)
Elementary students will listen to the short ALICE instructional read-aloud, “I’m Not Scared…I’m Prepared!” by Julia Cook. There will also be an assembly with our local police partners. Between both the book and assembly, our elementary students will learn the basics of an ALICE response. If you want to read this book in your home as well, the Bloomfield Township Public Library has purchased several copies that will be available for families to check out. Please also know that the West Hills staff has been trained in ALICE procedures.
Middle School Students (6th/7th/8th Grades)
Students will watch a middle school video put together with our police partners. We are sharing this video with you in advance of the training on Monday. Through conversations with the classroom teachers and this video, middle school students will learn the basics of an ALICE response. Please also know that the West Hills staff has been trained in ALICE procedures.
ALICE is an acronym used to help staff recall the important elements of an emergency/lockdown drill.
A - ALERT
L – LOCKDOWN
I – INFORM
C – COUNTER
E – EVACUATE
You are also invited to a community conversation on student mental health and school safety on October 18 at 6 p.m. in the Cynthia von Oeyen Center for Performing Arts located in Bloomfield Hills High School. Content area experts will share information about student mental health and school safety. Please register prior to the event.
West Hills Middle School
Make a Difference Day-Saturday, October 22, 2022
To benefit: Micah 6 Community
32 Newberry St., Pontiac, MI
8:30-11:30AM
This year we are excited to partner with Micah 6 Community for our Make a Difference Day project! Please help us support Micah 6 by donating time, gardening supplies, or money.
How West Hills is helping support Micah 6:
October 7: West Hills School Spirit Day - donate $1.00 and wear your favorite WH colors or gear!
October 14: Hat Day - donate $1.00 and wear a hat to school!
October 21: PJ/Cozy Day - donate $1.00 and wear your pjs to school!
October 22: Make a Difference Day -BHS students of all ages and their families will come together at Micah 6 Community in Pontiac. Pre-K-5th grade students may volunteer with parent/guardian supervision. For our middle school and high school students that are earning community service, bus transportation will be provided. Students taking the bus will meet at West Hills MS at 7:45AM with a departure from WH at 8:00AM. The students will return to WHMS at approximately 12:00PM.
Friday, October 7, marked the halfway point of the first quarter. During the week of October 10, teachers will complete progress reports for sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade students. Once the reports are complete (usually around mid-week), you will be able to review the progress report in MiStar. As a reminder, progress reports and report cards are paperless and can be accessed online in your Parent Portal. To login, visit https://www.bloomfield.org/my-bloomfield and enter your username and password. Progress Report 1 can be found under the "Marks" category.
If you don't remember your login information, use the "forgot username and password" link, enter your email address on file, and the system will email it to you. If the email is incorrect or you are still unable to access the portal, please contact Mrs. Jones in the WHMS office for assistance. Instructions for how to view and/or print your student's progress report (which is the same as viewing a report card) after you have logged in to your Parent Portal are available HERE.
Be sure to order by 10/28/22 to get the best price for your yearbook this year. Order your 2023 yearbook by clicking HERE or call 1-877-767-5217. See the yearbook flyer by clicking HERE.
We are so excited to have our 1st Annual Band-O-Rama Concert. This district-wide concert will feature students from all three middle schools grades 5-8, BHHS marching band, and BHHS Jazz Band.
Arrival Time:
6-8th Grade Students should arrive by 6:15pm.
5th Grade Students should arrive by 6:30pm.
Uniform:
6-8th Grade: Black pants/slacks with black socks, or black skirt (knee length or longer) with black tights or black leggings, black dress shoes, and their royal blue WHMS music T- shirt or music polo or a solid royal blue shirt.
5th Grade students should dress nicely.
Please CLICK HERE for more detailed information about the event and email Mrs. Lucas at Rlu...@bloomfield.org with any additional questions you may have.
“Our reflection and action as individuals—and as part of the IB continuum of international education—can make the world a better place.”
“I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.”
-Albert Einstein
The IB Learner Profile trait for the month of October is Inquirer. Students who are INQUIRERS are curious about the world. They can conduct research independently. They love learning and discovering new things and will carry this love of learning with them throughout life. They have acquired the skills necessary to conduct purposeful, constructive research. They actively enjoy learning, and their love of learning will be sustained throughout their lives. We show students the skills necessary to conduct inquiry and research, while students show independence in learning.
Here are two great articles with tips to promote inquiry at home:
Curiosity: The Force Within a Hungry Mind by Marilyn Price Mitchell. Mitchell wrote this article for educators, however, so many of the pathways, like modeling curiosity and discussing current events could be practiced at home. The practice of inquiry leads to developing critical thinkers, which is so important as students begin to independently navigate information shared with them through various media sources.
Spotlight on Student Learning: 8th grade Science
8th grade students in Mr. Harrington’s science classes are learning and inquiring about gene make up and genetic code mutations through a simulation using dice. They are investigaing the question: Is there a mutation in our code?
If you have any questions regarding our IB Learner Profile, or the Middle Years Program, please feel free to contact me.
This past week, every student who was not registered for the D.C. Trip was given a note to ensure all eighth-grade students have the opportunity to be a part of the trip if desired. I am proud to share that as of Friday evening, over 85% of them are registered. The deadline to register is Friday, 10/14/22.
Previous Communication:
On Tuesday, September 13, we held an information meeting regarding the 8th grade Washington, D.C. trip for this year. The links below will provide all the information you need to get registered for the trip that is scheduled for March 15-18, 2023. Please note, parents/guardians interested in chaperoning will be waitlisted until we determine how many spaces are available. Questions? Email Mr. Andy Gignac at agi...@bloomfield.org.
All information can be accessed by clicking on the PRESENTATION.
PTO MEMBERSHIP
For just $40 per family you can become a member of and support the WHMS PTO through your annual dues. This money funds important and fun activities throughout the year, some of which include staff appreciation, welcome back activities, year end grade parties, clubs, and field trip buses. Without your donations, these activities wouldn’t be possible. Click HERE to join and pay dues if you didn't through registration. You will also be given the option to make a much appreciated additional donation to help PTO with the many ways that they support WHMS.
PTO INFO: It’s easy to get and stay in the loop all year around by...
The school attendance phone number is 248-341-6110. When you call that number you will receive a recorded message, and you will be leaving a recorded message. The line is checked frequently, so you do not need to call back to confirm that your message was received. Likewise, we do not call you to confirm receipt of your message.
Call the attendance line for these reasons:
Report an absence (before 9:00 a.m. please)
Report a late arrival
Leave an emergency message for your child.
Request to pick up your child during school hours.
Please call early in the day to allow time to retrieve the message and then locate and get the message to your child.
If you qualify for free or reduced lunch, your pay to participate fee may be waived. We do not want any student to miss the opportunity to participate in athletics or clubs due to financial hardship. Please contact Mr. Gignac, West Hills Principal, at agig...@bloomfield.org
BHS would like to recognize and appreciate the valuable contributions our students, staff, and volunteers have provided to make our district great.
Do you know someone who has gone above and beyond to provide service to the BHS community?
Is there a team or group of students that has achieved a regional championship or higher?
Is there a student who has been awarded an academic achievement at the state or national level?
Nominations are open now and ongoing for district recognition to shine a light on the talent, commitment, and compassion demonstrated in our community. Eligible honorees will be invited to an upcoming Board of Education meeting to receive an award and congratulations from the superintendent and trustees.
October 15 & 16, 2022 at 10am - 4pm
1219 E Square Lake Rd, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304
Join us for a fun-filled weekend of farm activities, food, live music, pumpkins, and much more!
Bowers School Farm offers a unique opportunity with its Fall Festival to increase community engagement and celebrate the best our Michigan fall season has to offer. The Fall Festival brings together the most cherished farm activities such as pumpkin picking, wagon rides, animal visits, live music performances, food, straw tower, crafts, games and much more to provide a great opportunity for community engagement and relationship building within a family friendly atmosphere.
Welcoming all middle and high school students interested in fishing this fall!
Enjoy a relaxing session of all things fishing! Participants have the option of bringing their own equipment or borrowing from what the Nature Center has to offer.
Calling all Newly Enrolled and International Families of BHS!
Family Connections is a district-wide initiative, coordinated by BHS Family Ambassadors, to provide opportunities for newly enrolled and international families to come together, meet new friends, and ask questions about the schools and area. These gatherings are open to any parent/guardian interested in learning more about our schools, or interested in making connections with other families. For questions about these gatherings, or if you cannot make it and have questions about the schools or the area, contact any of the BHS Family Ambassadors: Leah Abel at la...@bloomfield.org, Beth Kalusniak at bkalu...@bloomfield.org, Meg Spence at msp...@bloomfield.org, and Jenny Zussman at jzus...@bloomfield.org.
All of the below gatherings will take place from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the school location noted.
Please note: Some school communities are having combined meetings to share with families the new spaces for merging schools in the 2023-24 school year.
West Hills Middle/Bloomfield Hills Middle Schools:
Wednesday, September 28 at Bloomfield Hills Middle School in the Media Center
4200 West Quarton Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302
Lone Pine/Conant Elementary Schools:
Monday, October 10 at Bloomfield Hills Middle School in the Media Center
4200 West Quarton Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302
Bloomfield Hills High School:
Thursday, October 13 at Bloomfield Hills High School in the Media Center
4200 Andover Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302
Eastover Elementary/East Hills Middle School:
Tuesday, October 18 at East Hills Middle School in the Media Center
2800 Kensington Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304
Way Elementary School:
Thursday, October 20 at Way Elementary School in the Media Center
765 West Long Lake Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302
As part of the district’s mission to prepare all students to be lifelong learners and engaged citizens in a safe and supportive environment, we understand the great importance of creating a safe and supportive learning space. We know that students learn best when they feel safe, feel a sense of belonging, and understand their important role in the learning process. While our district has had safety programs for years, these programs need conscientious, creative application to continuously improve their effectiveness.
On October 18 at 6 p.m. the community is invited to an event where content area experts will share information about student mental health and school safety. This event will take place during America's Safe Schools Week (October 16-22) which is sponsored by the National School Safety Center, state governors, and state school superintendents.
October 18, 2022
6 to 8 p.m.
In the Cynthia von Oeyen Center for Performing Arts located in Bloomfield Hills High School
4200 Andover Road in Bloomfield Hills RSVP today
This event meets the requirement of Public Act 144, sections 31 and 97 (approved July, 2022) to host a community conversation about student mental health and school safety.
