UPDATED: My apologies that the first email had last year's Exhibition link. The correct one can now be found in the article.
May 13, 2023
Dear West Hills School Community:
It's hard to believe that this coming week is the start of our fifth to last week of school...and West Hills. Many, many thanks to our families who helped create a wonderful staff appreciation week here at West Hills! Every day it was a delight to see what surprise awaited us in the staff lounge. From the snacks, to the desserts, to the delicious lunches, all staff went home each day with a full belly and heart. Special thanks to Megan Johnston, Stephanie Norsted, and Angie Hockey for their multiple daily trips to the staff lounge, making sure that it was stocked with food or fun or both! On behalf of the entire WHMS staff, please know that we appreciate you, too!
Please take some time to review the article about MATH PLACEMENT for the 23-24 school year and our KEY DATES section below. Current Math 7 families need to respond by Wednesday. Other families looking to have their child attempt to test out of a grade level math should follow directions found in the article below by Wednesday.
A couple highlights not to miss below...
1. Our forensics teams had an amazing weekend...read all about it!
2. The video production of the May 3 Exhibition is linked in the article. Please take a look.
Have a great weekend and...
"Try to be a rainbow in someone else's cloud." - Maya Angelou
Andy Gignac
Principal
West Hills Middle School
Bloomfield Hills Schools
Twitter: @AndyGignac
A/B Schedule: Click HERE for the A/B Calendar from Feb.-June!
Mon., May 15 - A Day
Tues., May 16 - B Day
Wed., May 17 - A Day
Thurs., May 18 - B Day
Fri., May 19 - A Day
KEY DATES
Friday, May 12 Progress Report 4 (Grades 6-8); Look for marks to be posted mid-week.
Monday, May 15 6-8th Grade Band/Orchestra Concert 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, May 24 8th Grade NJHS Induction Ceremony 6:30 p.m.
Friday, May 26 1/2 Day of School; 8th Gr @ BHHS (Dismissal at 11:40 a.m. for WHMS)
Monday, May 29 No School
Wednesday, June 7 5th Grade Band/Orchestra Concert 7:00 p.m.
Monday, June 12 6th-8th Grade Choir Concert 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, June 13 8th-Grade Party @ Paradise Park (See article-RSVP by 5/15/23)
Wednesday, June 14 8th-Grade Musical Performances 6:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Thursday, June 15 5th-Grade Recognition Ceremony 2:00 p.m.
Friday, June 16 8th-Grade Recognition Ceremony 9:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. (8th-Grade students dismissed to families at conclusion)
2022-23 BHS Calendar At-A-Glance (updated 4/5/23)
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Our media center needs help with taking inventory of all of our educational materials. After we inventory the collection digitally we will be boxing each section. Please review the available slots below and click on the button to sign up. Thank you!
ALL volunteers at BHS need to have an annual background check completed prior to volunteering. Forms must be completed and submitted at least one week before volunteering. Please email completed forms to our Human Resources department, attn. Debbie Steaban at dste...@bloomfield.org. A link to the background check form can be found in this broadcast's article.
Thank you! Mrs. Laura Amatulli
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This past weekend, Saturday, May 6 at Covington MS, the MIFA (Michigan Interscholastic Forensics Association) hosted the State Middle-Level Forensics Tournament. Over 21 schools from Michigan came together to compete for the first time since pre-Covid November 2019.
Our West Hills Middle School Forensics team had a successful tournament. Please see the attached document for our award-winners, finalists(top 6 in the state) and semi-finalists(places 7-12 in the state). Thank you to Coach Pierre and Coach Mullin for their support and coaching over the past 10 weeks. Thank you Forensics Families and former WHMS Forensics students (current BHHS & IA students: Paul Abdelnour, Rachel Berris, Devi Chandran, Elle Pierre, & Brady Wilson) and BHHS Forensics student Charlie Welham for your help with our Forensics Family Night. Coach Mullin and Coach Pierre are looking forward to the next season of Forensics in the Fall at South Hills. Audition information will be released the first week of school next Fall.
Click HERE to see the list of winners.
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On Wednesday, May 3, our fifth-grade students put their hard work and collaboration on display during the PYP Exhibition. Congratulations and sincere thanks to our students, staff, families, and volunteers who made this incredible event happen! Click HERE to view the video, the schedule for cable TV, and the evening's brochure.
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Grade-Up Math Placement testing at WHMS will occur on Tuesday, May 23, 8:30-10:30 a.m., with decisions and family notification occurring in June. If you want your child to be considered for Grade-Up Math placement, please contact your child's classroom teacher/guidance counselor by Wednesday, May 17. Additional information can be found here on our district website.
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This school year is beginning to come to an end. Your child’s Math 7 teacher has or will be reviewing this information with your child. Next year, Math 7 students will be enrolled in either Math 8 or Algebra. Both options offer rigor and challenge for students. In recent years, we updated our Grade Up Process for students who are completing Math 7. A summary of the changes can be found here. Ultimately, it is up to the family to determine which course (Math 8 or Algebra) is appropriate for their child. To assist in the decision-making process, an optional assessment can be given the morning of May 23 to help students and caregivers understand student mastery of the 7th and 8th grade Common Core State Standards. We ask that a caregiver complete this Math Course Selection Survey for Current Math 7 Students by Wednesday, May 17 to give teachers and building leaders an idea of what course you think your child will take next school year and if you would like to participate in the Algebra Readiness test to help make your decision.
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Friday, May 12, marked the halfway point of the fourth quarter. During the week of May 15, 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 4 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.
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Please share your thoughts and experiences about your child's school to help us make improvements.
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8th Grade Party: It's Time to Celebrate the End of Middle School!
8th Grade Party: RSVPs Needed!
8th Graders! It's time to celebrate the end of middle school!
When: June 13, 5:30-8:00 pm (rain date is June 15)
Where: Paradise Park in Novi
What: Dinner, go karts, mini golf, trampolines & more!
Cost: $40
RSVP by: May 15
Send Venmo to @Jaime-Ben with 8th Grade Party noted, or you can send cash in to the office with 8th Grade Party noted and your child's name on the envelope. We welcome any additional monetary donations to help make this party a blast for the kids. Thanks in advance! The goal is for all students to be able to attend. Contact Principal Andy Gignac if school sponsorship is requested. Contact Karen Kaplan with questions regarding the party at karend...@gmail.com.
NJHS Induction Ceremony
May 24 - 6:30 p.m. Ms. Schlenker recently emailed families of students who achieved NJHS status more details.
Move-Up Day for 8th graders at BH High School
May 26, 2023, from 7:55 to 10:30 a.m.
See the article with details.
8th-Grade Musical
There are two casts for the musical performances.
June 14: In-School Performances at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
June 14: Evening Performances at 6:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
8th-Grade Recognition Ceremony
Save the Date/Time - Friday, June 16 at 9:15 a.m. in the WHMS Cafeteria. This event is approximately an hour to an hour and fifteen minutes. 8th-Grade students are dismissed to their families at the conclusion of the event. Students do typically dress up for this event. We have a practice of not pulling younger siblings from class for this event.
BHHS Broadcast Messages and Updates
Please make sure to read the District News below for any BH High School related items that may affect your current 8th grader. You can also update your weekly newsletter subscriptions in your Parent Portal to include the BH High School weekly update, so you don't miss out on information for incoming 9th grade families such as orientation, fine arts night, sports try-outs, club information and much more.
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Grade 8 Move Up Day will take place on Friday, May 26, 2023, from 7:55 to 10:30 a.m. at BH High School, 4200 Andover Road.
Upon arrival, students will be directed to the auditorium where their orientation activities will begin.
Eighth graders will have the opportunity to learn more about academics, athletics, and all that Bloomfield Hills High School has to offer. They will also engage in a variety of team-building activities throughout the morning.
Transportation:
- District bus transportation is provided for all BHS eighth graders to Bloomfield Hills High School for a 7:55 a.m. arrival during the regular high school pick-up schedule.
- There is no bus transportation after the orientation. Parents are responsible for student pick up from Bloomfield Hills High School at 10:30 a.m.
- Carpooling is strongly encouraged as there will be approximately 400 eighth grade students on site, all being picked up at the same time.
- If you have specific transportation related questions, please call the BHS Transportation Department at 248.341.6290.
Please note that BHS eighth grade students may not remain at the high school, nor may they return to their middle school on this day. Students not currently enrolled in Bloomfield Hills Schools should check with their current school as to whether they should return to their respective schools at the conclusion of the orientation session.
We look forward to having your child attend Bloomfield Hills High School and hope their next four years will be filled with great joy, wonderful memories, and unlimited success!
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The IB Learner Profile Trait for May: COMMUNICATOR
The IB Learner Profile trait for May is “Communicator.” Students who are communicators are able to think and communicate in more than one language. They can express their ideas by speaking, drawing, and writing. They can also communicate using mathematical language and symbols. Ultimately, we strive for our students to work effectively and willingly in collaboration with others.
How can parents help to develop students who are Communicators at home?
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Encourage your child to stay in touch with relatives and friends who live in other states or countries by writing letters, using the phone or sending an email.
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When working on mathematics homework, encourage your child to explain his/her answer to you orally or by drawing a picture.
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Work with your child to improve his/her listening skills. Being a good listener is an important part of communicating effectively with others.
Communication resources for parents:
Kristen Vigier
IB Teacher Leader and k-12 Social Studies Teacher Leader
kvi...@bloomfield.org
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Our WHMS Dress Code was adjusted to its current form several years ago by a committee of teachers, administrators, and parents. The intent of the dress code is to provide much room for individuality, personal expression, and promotion of an inclusive environment while maintaining a standard for students' "place of business." We acknowledge that shorts may not meet the fingertip standard found in the dress code. The expectation is that shorts should be long enough to continuously cover the bottom when reaching down to pick something up. All undergarments should not be visible at any time.
Click HERE for a copy of the WHMS Dress Code.
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Please be advised that effective immediately, ALL volunteers, including parents assisting with events and/or attending field trips, need to have a background check completed prior to volunteering. Click HERE for the Bloomfield Hills Schools Volunteer Background Check form. Forms need to be completed and submitted at least one week prior to volunteering. Please email completed forms to our Human Resources department, attn. Debbie Steaban at dste...@bloomfield.org.
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If you paid a pay to participate fee for your student(s) for the 2021/2022 school year and the student did not participate in a sport or club, or if you paid a sports fee and your student only participated in a club, you may be entitled to a refund.
Please note, if your student attended a club meeting at least three times, the club fee is applicable. For sports, if they attended at least three meetings (intramural) or one game (travel), the sport fee is applicable and no refund will be issued.
Refund Request Form
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Please click HERE for the latest information about West Hills spring sports for students in grades 6, 7 & 8. This season includes Girls Soccer, Girls Lacrosse, 7/8 Baseball, Softball, Boys Tennis, and Track & Field. Please refer questions directly to the respective team coach. Work continued this past week to secure a tennis coach and we hope to have more communication regarding the tennis season early this coming week.
You can find the schedule for games and meets HERE. You can even sign up to receive a reminder about your student's sports competition.
Please watch for additional information from the District with updates about middle school spring sports, provided by Athletic Director Avis Najor (avn...@bloomfield.org)
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May 15, 2023 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM |
May 17, 2023 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM |
May 18, 2023 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM |
May 23, 2023 3:30 PM - 8:00 PM |
May 24, 2023 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM |
What's Happening at Other Schools
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