Today concluded our Safety Week in Bloomfield Hills Schools. I'm very proud of our staff and students for their focus, discussions, and engagement in the multiple conversations and activities related to staying safe. At West Hills, we reviewed the ALICE protocol: Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate. During the week, we emphasized to students that they need to do their best to stay calm, listen, and follow adult directions in any emergency. If you haven't had a chance to touch base with your child about Safety Week, I would encourage you to do so. Reinforce that staff and police will know what to do in any emergency. They are trained and prepared and will do everything in their power to keep students safe. I also want to give recognition to the West Bloomfield and Bloomfield Township Police Departments, who have been providing outstanding outreach to us this fall and over the years. Our police continue to invest time in getting to know our students, staff, facilities, and procedures. We appreciate the great support we receive from our police partners!
Congratulations to our 5th-8th grade band students and Mrs. Lucas on an incredibly powerful, first-ever, Band-O-Rama at the high school this past Wednesday evening. It is a thrill to see the high level of participation in the performing arts.
I want to thank everyone for their participation in our Make a Difference Day efforts to benefit Micah 6. Over the course of the three spirit days, we raised over $1,000. Tomorrow is Make a Difference Day and you can still see the detailed information in the article below on how to volunteer or donate.
While the temperatures will be over 70 degrees this weekend, we have experienced some chilly days and even a few snow flurries. Please make sure that your child has the proper gear to go outside for recess. We hold outdoor recess if it is not raining and above 10 degrees.
"Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree." - Emily Brontë
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. 24 - A Day
Tues., Oct. 25 - B Day
Wed., Oct. 26 - A Day
Thurs., Oct. 27 - B Day
Fri., Oct. 28 - A Day
KEY DATES Tues. Oct. 25 8th-Grade Orchestra Performs with BHHS Symphony @ BHHS 6:30 p.m Fri. Oct. 28 Lone Pine Halloween Bash (4th and 5th grade families invited - see below) 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) Fri. Nov. 4 End of 1st Quarter (6th/7th/8th) Tues. Nov. 8 No School - PD for Teachers Wed. Nov. 9 Picture Retake and Make-up Day Wed. Nov. 9 3:45-6:45 p.m. In-Person 4th-8th Grade Conferences (Sign-Ups to be sent this coming week) Mon. Nov. 14 3:45-6:45 p.m. Virtual 4th-8th Grade Conferences (Sign-Ups to be sent this coming week) Wed. Nov. 16 Evening - Virtual 6th-8th Grade Conferences (Sign-Ups to be sent this coming week)
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 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.
LONE PINE PTO PRESENTS
HALLOWEEN BASH
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28
5:30 - 8:30PM
WEST HILLS MIDDLE SCHOOL
Trick-or-Treat: 5:30 - 6:00pm
Dinner, Photos, DJ/Dancing, Games,
And More! 6:00 - 8:30pm
COST: $35/family by 10/25 | $40 at the door (cash/check only) OR FREE if you decorate a Treat Station and bring/hand-out candy during Trick-or-Treating.
REGISTER: Online through Community Pass (or see this attacher flyer) for credit card payment. Use the attached Registration Form for cash/check payments or to sign up for a treat station. Advance registration due by 10/25.
Below is a summary of the activities this past week to prepare for emergency situations.
Previously Shared: 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.
Do you have any new or gently used board games taking up space in your home or basement? Please consider donating them!
The students of WHMS will use gaming to continue to build community, foster communication, engage in teamwork, and create space for positive social interactions.
Games that we could use include:
Chess
Battleship
Jenga
Checkers
Monopoly
Sorry!
Connect 4
Clue
Trouble
Hedbanz
Candyland
Exploding Kittens
Life
Uno
Monopoly Deal
Playing cards
Donations can be dropped off at the school starting on Monday, October 24 through Friday, November 4. There will be a table near the main office to place them. Please help us give the students at WHMS another outlet to learn and grow together. Thank you for your support!
Thank you so much for taking an interest in our West Hills clubs. Many families were able to sign up their student by the West Hills Club Sign-Up Deadline (Closed Oct. 10). If you were unable to sign-up your student and are interested in clubs, please reach out directly to the club advisors to see if there is still space available. Club advisor information can be found in the club summary document below. Clubs at West Hills are intended to meet a wide range of interests. Listed below is a brief description of the clubs that are being offered this school year.
On this Club Summary you will find a listing of the clubs being offered this year. They are sorted by day of the week to help assist you in choosing and planning. The summary includes a description of each club, as well as the grades eligible, the day and time each club meets, the frequency (e.g. weekly or every other week), the date of the first club meeting, and also the name and email address for the club sponsor(s).
Finally, the District Pay to Participate (P2P) fee for clubs does apply, and must be paid on behalf of a student who wishes to participate in any club. The P2P form, with a link to the online payment option, can be found by clicking here. If you paid a sports & club or clubs only P2P at registration, you do not have to pay again. We don't want the fee alone to keep students from participating in a club, so please contact Principal Andy Gignac directly if the cost of the P2P fee presents a financial hardship. He can be reached by e-mail at agi...@bloomfield.org, or by phone at 248-341-6105.
Interested in finding out more about Bloomfield Hills High School? Want to know how learning communities work, find out about athletics and the 60-plus clubs, plus see the amazing visual and performing arts areas? Families of middle schoolers, especially those in 8th grade, are invited to sign up for a small-group walking tour of BHHS led by our BHS Family Ambassadors. The event will be held on Friday, October 28, and will include a welcome by Principal Stroughter and a question and answer session with a BHHS counselor or administrator.
The tours will take place at 8:15 a.m., 12 p.m., and 4:30 p.m. and last for approximately 2 hours. Each prospective student must have an adult present for the tour, and up to five people can attend per family as needed. Registration is limited and is open through October 27 using this link.
Looking ahead, there will be a Virtual BHHS Information Night on Monday, December 5, at 7 p.m., as well as another opportunity for in-person small group tours on Friday, December 16. Watch for details on these additional events. In 2023, there will be in-person meetings with the BHHS Counselors for students and their families to discuss scheduling and another opportunity for building tours. Confirmed incoming 9th grade students will have Move Up Day in May where they will experience a half-day at BHHS. We can’t wait to welcome our future Black Hawks!
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.
“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.
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.
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.
