 |
The following Celebration of Excellence Awards were given at our March 21, 2013 WSD Board Meeting:
"Steve Bartels receives a Celebration of Excellence Award from Western school board president John Sheets for his outstanding service as the district Energy Manager. Under his leadership, the Western School District has avoided over $1,000,000 in additional energy costs in the past seven years."
"Ethan Trader, Bean Elementary fourth grader receives a Celebration of Excellence Award from Western school board president John Sheets in recognition of placing first in the countywide I Create poetry contest sponsored by John Voelz, music pastor at Westwinds Community Church. Elementary students had poems that they created and entered in the contest put to music by Mr. Voelz who then performed them in a concert held at the church."
"Elementary carnival volunteers Marty Tyler, Jessica Valentine, Christina Osborne, Maria Wilson and Shirley Campbell receive a Celebration of Excellence Award from Western school board president John Sheets for their outstanding leadership in organizing the Western Elementary Carnival on the evening of March 1st. This annual event draws hundreds of families to the high school and middle school for a fun evening that raises much needed funding of the elementary schools' parent volunteer organizations."
More detailed schedules, pictures and information can be found on our Construction Page. Time-lines are subject to change.
From one member of the educational family to another, Sandy Hook Elementary School and Newtown, CT, may you find peace in the shadow of this tragedy. You are in our thoughts and we mourn with you.
On behalf of the Western School District, we would like to share with our parents and community members that we are committed to the education and safety of the children entrusted to us daily. We don’t take that responsibility lightly, and will do our best to ensure your children receive a quality education in a safe environment.
Over the coming days and weeks, each of our schools are taking the necessary steps to ensure our safety procedures are in place and communicated clearly with staff members. To that end, it is essential that we all remain vigilant and keep the safety of our children at the forefront of our thoughts.
Michael Smajda, Superintendent
westernschools.schoolfusion.us/overview/alumni.phtml
Due to construction currently taking place in the high school, the Community Fitness Room is closed to the public until further notice. Visit our Construction Page - see link at the top of this page - for the latest construction updates!
Please visit the Bond Proposal page for information on the upcoming bond issue for Western Schools. Click HERE to access this page.
We'd like to invite you to a community forum on Monday evening, September 12, at 6 p.m. in the Western Community Arts Center. For months now the Western School District has been considering putting a bond proposal before our voters. The needs of the district have been extensively scrutinized by a group of parents, community leaders, school employees, architects and engineers and we are prepared to share their findings with you.Please join us on Monday, September 12, at 6 p.m. in the Western Community Arts Center to hear the presentation and the explanation as to how this will affect you, our families and our taxpayers, both financially and educationally, in our efforts to provide the best and most economical updates to the district, benefiting Western families and our students for years to come.
Where: Michigan Center High School
When: Thursday, April 28th at 7pm
AND
Where: Jackson High School Library
When: Wednesday, May 4th at 6pm
Informational meetings on the problems facing public school funding are being held throughout Jackson County. The purpose of these meetings is to provide accurate, factual information about proposed budget cuts by the Governor and legislature, and explain how these cuts will negatively impact our school districts and educational opportunities for our children. If you missed the meeting held at Western on Monday, April 25th, please plan on attending one of the other meetings taking place in the county to get the facts and find out what you can do to help ensure the continued success of our public schools.
WHS presents Rodgers & Hammerstein's *South Pacific*
When: November 18, 19, 20 and 21. The curtain opens at 7pm on the 18-20th and at 3pm for a matinee finale on the 21st.
Where: Western Community Arts Center, 1400 S. Dearing Rd., Parma.
Cost: Tickets at the door, $7 for adults and $5 for students.
Leading roles/performers:
Emile de Becque: Austin Lyon
Nellie Forbush: Caila Conklin
Lt. Joe Cable: John Grannan
Bloody Mary: Emma Shafer
Luther Billis: Ben Cooley
Lt. Genevieve Marshall: Grace Patton
Capt. Brackett: Harold Devine
Liat: Haley Glinz
IMPORTANT CHANGE this year. All students K-12 will be released one hour early every Wednesday beginning September 15 through the end of May.
Speak Up, a national online research project facilitated by Project Tomorrow®, gives individuals the opportunity to share their viewpoints about key educational issues. Each year, findings are summarized and shared with national and state policy makers. The Parent survey requires no password to participate.
Click here to learn more about Project Tomorrow®.
Click here to take the Survey
With the July 1st deadline for adopting a 2010-2011 school budget nearing, the Western Board of Education needs to be planning to balance revenues and expenditures for next school year. The Board was presented a list of budget reductions and revenue enhancements that will be included in the budget being considered for adoption on June 28th. This list totals $1,310,000 towards the Board's original target of $1,700,000. Details of this list can be viewed in the included presentation.
June 17th Budget Reduction Presentation
Video #1: U.S. Unemployment by County
Video #2: School Funding Crisis in Michigan
For questions or comments, please contact Mr. Smajda at 517-841-8100 or smajda@westernschools.org.
Handout #1: May 4th Community Meeting Presentation
Handout #2: Community Feedback List
Video #1: U.S. Unemployment by County
Video #2: School Funding Crisis in Michigan
If you have any questions about the information contained in the presentation or suggestions that may assist administration in the budget development process, please contact Michael Smajda at smajda@westernschools.org or 517-841-8100.
Over the next several weeks, a variety of informational meetings will be held to share the Western budget picture and seek input from parents, community members and staff on how to solve this problem for our district. The following meetings have already been scheduled:
Western Community Arts Center, Wednesday, February 24, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.
Please take this opportunity to become involved in helping Western find solutions to keep our school district financially sound, while maintaining a quality education for our children.
