4-17-2025 - Dr. A's Wyandotte Weekly Update

Hello Community Members of Wyandotte Public Schools, As this short week draws to a close, the weekly note today will also serve as a reminder that there is no school tomorrow.  When we return on Monday, we will have just over seven weeks remaining in the school year.  Time is flying by! I would like to take a moment to recognize our high school students, especially our Juniors, who recently completed their spring testing.  Having been a high school principal, I understand the significance of these tests for our students.  I spoke with some of them this week and know they are relieved to have these challenging exams finished.  While I have my own personal feelings about these types of assessments, they are a reality for students seeking opportunities after graduation.  I'm proud of all our students for their hard work in demonstrating their learning, including our Sophomores and Freshmen who took the PSAT recently as well! In other news, I am excited to share the latest Superintendent Spotlight.  This series of student produced videos helps me highlight some of the staff working behind the scenes to support the district.  You can check out the latest video here: Superintendent Spotlight - Director of Human Resources  With that, I hope you enjoy the arrival of spring, Easter if you celebrate, and the bonus of a longer weekend! I hope you have a safe and enjoyable weekend! Sincerely, James Anderson Superintendent Wyandotte Public Schools If you have a positive to share about a staff member or group of staff members, please let me know by filling out the quick form at the following link: Wyandotte Public Schools - Staff Recognition Form   Follow me on Facebook at the page entitled “Dr. Anderson Wandering Wyandotte” Follow me on Instagram at “dr._anderson_wps” Community Coffee Days and Times: Tuesday, May 6th - 5:00-6:00pm Thursday, June 12th - 10:00-11:00am (Year end wrap up)

Thursday, Apr 17 2025

4-11-2025 - Dr. A's Wyandotte Weekly Update

Hello Community Members of Wyandotte Public Schools, With another week behind us, we share the hope that the last of the snow has fallen.  The changing weather also brings an increase in items in our lost and found.  Jackets and hoodies sent to school often don't return home as the afternoon temperatures rise.  Please keep an eye out for your child's garments and remind them to bring these items home.  If an item is lost, there is a good chance it is in our lost and found.  While our students are extremely stylish, we don’t need extra items! When our website was rebuilt, the staff directory was removed due to increased cybersecurity risks.  However, our families need to be able to reach staff.  Our Director of Technology, Mr. Ellsworth, and his team have worked diligently to find a solution.  By visiting our website and clicking the “DISTRICT” link, you will find the “STAFF DIRECTORY”.  It requires some identifying information to access, which will then allow you to email any staff member within the district.  The information is required to deter individuals or bots who seek to infiltrate our systems.  I appreciate the Technology Team's efforts in finding a solution to this issue..  You can check it out  here . This week, I want to address the important topic of bullying.  I have been reviewing all the free-form responses shared by parents in our MiVoice survey.  A recurring theme in the responses is the issue of bullying.  While the term “bullying” has a specific definition involving repeated acts, we understand that any student conflict can negatively impact feelings and hinder achievement.  Prior to the break, I shared this feedback with our staff, and we are beginning the formal process of adopting a district-wide bullying prevention plan this fall.  A district-wide program will educate students on what constitutes bullying and provide students, staff, and families with practical tools to address unkind behavior.  We will need everyone’s support with this work.  Our children's exposure to unkind behaviors in television and media can make this feel like a challenging endeavor.  However, consistent reminders and positive modeling will be beneficial.  Sharing the district's goal to develop a unified program is not intended to suggest that we are not currently addressing these issues, which was a sentiment expressed in some of the comments.  Every student situation is unique, and while not every conflict may result in a long-term suspension, we are committed to helping all involved parties resolve conflicts when we are aware of them.  Our primary request is that you inform us when issues arise and remain open to our findings during our investigation.  Our collective goal is for every student to enjoy school and feel physically and emotionally safe in order to achieve. While the year is coming closer to the end, the work does not stop.  I am proud of our staff for their hard work and dedication, and I am honored to serve this community as your superintendent.  Wyandotte is a special place, and together we can make our schools even better.  Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your family’s lives! Have a safe and enjoyable weekend! Sincerely, James Anderson Superintendent Wyandotte Public Schools If you have a positive to share about a staff member or group of staff members, please let me know by filling out the quick form at the following link: Wyandotte Public Schools - Staff Recognition Form   Follow me on Facebook at the page entitled “Dr. Anderson Wandering Wyandotte” Follow me on Instagram at “dr._anderson_wps” Community Coffee Days and Times: Tuesday, May 6th - 5:00-6:00pm Thursday, June 12th - 10:00-11:00am (Year end wrap up)

Friday, Apr 11 2025

4-4-2025 - Dr. A's Wyandotte Weekly Update

Hello Community Members of Wyandotte Public Schools, I hope that everyone was able to enjoy the well deserved spring break. With a full week under our belts I hope that you and your children are ready to tackle the last stretch of the school year.  There is a lot to get done in the next 9 weeks of school. Soon a series of events will take place to celebrate the accomplishments of the Class of 2025.  We are proud of our seniors who are in the final stretch.  I also know they will make us proud by working hard and finishing their WPS careers on a high note!   At the same time, we are getting ready to welcome in our newest students who will start in Young 5’s or Kindergarten this fall.  While some families might not get my Friday notes just yet, I wanted to boost the signal on some changes to Kindergarten Round Up.  Please sign up your student(s) to participate in Young Fives and Kindergarten screening May 5-8, 2025. Screening takes approximately 30 minutes. Students will engage in a screening assessment led by a Wyandotte teacher that assesses fine motor, gross motor, speech, letter identification, counting, and other readiness skills. Parents will have the opportunity meet the principals, learn more about our programs, and to enroll their student during screening so we are asking families to bring:  Student Birth Certificate  Student Immunization Record  Physical/Health Assessment Individualized Education Plan (IEP) - if applicable 3 Proofs of Residency  Complete a sign-up for each child enrolling in Young Fives or Kindergarten. Please review the available screening and orientation slots below:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805044CA8A82DA1FC1-55818965-wpsround Screening will take place at Roosevelt High School in the Media Center.  We will have people at the door to greet our newest Bears! The address is 540 Eureka Road in Wyandotte. If you have any questions or concerns, email Jessica Shipman, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, at  shipmaj@wy.k12.mi.us  or call (734) 759-6021. For the rest of our students, I just want to add a reminder that spring can be a challenging time.  The weather gets nicer, the temptation to break routines can grow, and students sometimes fall behind.  While it is good and encouraged to get out and enjoy the changing weather, please help us remind students of our collective expectations around academic achievement.  We want every student to be academically successful!  Together we can ensure that everyone finishes the year on a positive note! With that, I will wrap up this week’s note.  A quick reminder that we will have Community Coffee this coming Thursday, April 10th at 9:00am.  I hope you will be able to join me.  Enjoy the weekend and we will see you back next week! Sincerely, James Anderson Superintendent Wyandotte Public Schools If you have a positive to share about a staff member or group of staff members, please let me know by filling out the quick form at the following link: Wyandotte Public Schools - Staff Recognition Form   Follow me on Facebook at the page entitled “Dr. Anderson Wandering Wyandotte” Follow me on Instagram at “dr._anderson_wps” Community Coffee Days and Times: Thursday, April 10th - 9:00-10:00am Tuesday, May 6th - 5:00-6:00pm Thursday, June 12th - 10:00-11:00am (Year end wrap up)

Friday, Apr 04 2025

3-20-2025 - Dr. A's Wyandotte Weekly Update

Hello Community Members of Wyandotte Public Schools, As we begin spring break, I wanted to wish everyone a safe, relaxing, and enjoyable time away from our school buildings.  When we return I will be addressing some important topics, but for now I am going to say “we made it”! This has been a busy and productive stretch since mid winter break and I know our students, staff, and families have worked hard. Spring break provides a valuable opportunity to recharge and spend time with loved ones.. Whether you're planning a trip, staying close to home, or simply enjoying some well-deserved downtime, I hope you return refreshed and ready for the final stretch of the school year. Please remember to prioritize safety during your break, whether it's on the road, at home, or enjoying outdoor activities. We look forward to welcoming everyone back on Monday, March 31st! Sincerely, James Anderson Superintendent Wyandotte Public Schools If you have a positive to share about a staff member or group of staff members, please let me know by filling out the quick form at the following link: Wyandotte Public Schools - Staff Recognition Form   Follow me on Facebook at the page entitled “Dr. Anderson Wandering Wyandotte” Follow me on Instagram at “dr._anderson_wps” Community Coffee Days and Times: Thursday, April 10th - 9:00-10:00am Tuesday, May 6th - 5:00-6:00pm Thursday, June 12th - 10:00-11:00am (Year end wrap up)

Thursday, Mar 20 2025

3-14-2025 - Dr. A's Wyandotte Weekly Update

Hello Community Members of Wyandotte Public Schools, As this note hits your inbox, we are less than one week away from a well deserved spring break!  A reminder that the break begins a day early, so Thursday will be our last day of school next week!  Let’s finish strong with our school work and attendance! For this week’s note, I want to shine a light on one of the many programs here in the district that helps to support students.  At Wilson Middle School, there is a program called the Warrior Closet.   The Warrior Closet is a space at Wilson Middle School that combines their PBIS program with a club and social aspect for students. The club side of the closet provides skill training for students and an opportunity to work in a store setting. The Warrior Closet is a place where middle school students can cash in their Warrior Points (earned for following the four main expectations: responsible, respectful, safe, and kind). The Warrior Closet is set up like a thrift store minus the household large items. There are clothing sections, shoes, belts, coats, snacks, games, stuffed animals, etc.  Gently used items are donated to Wilson by staff and the community.  They are in need of regular donations to allow the program to thrive.  Items needed include but are not limited to: Athletic brand name shoes  Middle school aged boys clothing  Middle school aged girls clothing  Stuffed animals  Jewelry  Fidgets  Board games  Perfumes  Lotions  Pretty much anything new or gently used that you think a middle schooler might like. They also constantly need to restock their snacks: Cases of propel water  Cases of assorted chips  Beef jerky  Fruit snacks  Cases of sunny delight  These are the most sold items and costly to replace. The Warrior Closet thrives on community support and involvement. I am sharing this in my note this week to boost the signal, because I know this community is strong and every one of our students has gone to, or will go to Wilson at some point in their educational career!  If you would like to donate, please feel free to drop off at the school during school hours. Before I close, I also want to send a reminder about communication.  If you need to reach me, please email me directly at  andersja@wy.k12.mi.us  or reply using parent square.  I am working on shutting down the Facebook messenger system on “Dr. Anderson Wandering Wyandotte”. The reason for this is that it is not reliable. I have found messages that are days old and I believe it has something to do with my personal account and toggling between the two platforms.  I do not want families reaching out with no answer, so please do not use that feature.  Again, I will work to get it shut down if I can. Have a wonderful weekend and we will see you back on Monday!  FOUR days till break Wyandotte, we’ve got this! Sincerely, James Anderson Superintendent Wyandotte Public Schools If you have a positive to share about a staff member or group of staff members, please let me know by filling out the quick form at the following link: Wyandotte Public Schools - Staff Recognition Form   Follow me on Facebook at the page entitled “Dr. Anderson Wandering Wyandotte” Follow me on Instagram at “dr._anderson_wps” Community Coffee Days and Times: Thursday, April 10th - 9:00-10:00am Tuesday, May 6th - 5:00-6:00pm Thursday, June 12th - 10:00-11:00am (Year end wrap up)

Friday, Mar 14 2025

3-7-2025 - Dr. A's Wyandotte Weekly Update

Hello Community Members of Wyandotte Public Schools, I hope this email finds our families already enjoying a long weekend.  Our staff spent the day in professional learning to make your child's educational experience even better.  I am proud of how hard our staff works to improve their craft and I am honored to work beside them.  Recently you received a survey request from Jessica Shipman, our Director of Curriculum.  For the second year in a row, we are administering the MiVoice survey to get feedback to improve our district.  This past fall I summarized the results from last school year's survey.  I want you to know that what you share will be read and considered in our plans to improve.  I do hope you will take the time to complete this survey.  You can either go back to the full message from Ms. Shipman or you can complete the survey using the following link: https://kentisd.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5z4iAhLEuKWTRAO?D_Code=82170&ParentGuardianSurvey When we develop a calendar for a school year, we do so collaboratively with our Teachers’ Union.  I am happy to report that we were able to meet recently and agree on dates for next year.  While we cannot guarantee it will be released this early every year, I am happy to present this to the community now for future planning.  I am including the entire calendar as an attachment to this message, so please take a look. Notable items on this year’s calendar include: Students start Tuesday September 2nd, 2025, after Labor Day.  Teachers will have two days of professional development the week before. We will have a staggered start for our kindergartener and young 5 students. (We will communicate details with those families directly when we get closer to next year) Like this year, full day professional development for staff instead of half days.  We heard parents when they said it was more difficult to schedule child care on half days. (There are a few half days for conferences, end of marking periods, and one at the high school tied to homecoming weekend) We were able to add a new long weekend in the middle of October.  Four days for students and three days for staff.  We recognize that Labor Day to Thanksgiving is the longest stretch of the year and we hope this break will help. Three days off the week of Thanksgiving as we have in the past. Winter Break in February is the same as in the past. Four days for students and three days for staff. An extra day added to spring break for families to travel like we have this year. A four day weekend for Memorial Day Weekend. The last day of school will be Wednesday June 10th, 2025. With that, it is time to enjoy the calendar as it exists now, and it is Friday!  I know I have a weekend I am really looking forward to and I hope you do as well.  Don’t forget to spring forward on Sunday! Sincerely, James Anderson Superintendent Wyandotte Public Schools If you have a positive to share about a staff member or group of staff members, please let me know by filling out the quick form at the following link: Wyandotte Public Schools - Staff Recognition Form   Follow me on Facebook at the page entitled “Dr. Anderson Wandering Wyandotte” Follow me on Instagram at “dr._anderson_wps” Community Coffee Days and Times: Thursday, April 10th - 9:00-10:00am Tuesday, May 6th - 5:00-6:00pm Thursday, June 12th - 10:00-11:00am (Year end wrap up)

Friday, Mar 07 2025

2-28-2025 - Dr. A's Wyandotte Weekly Update

Hello Community Members of Wyandotte Public Schools, It is the last day of February, the snow is gone, and we might be turning the corner towards spring.  Besides the muddy season with a very messy dog, I know I am ready to move on from winter!   This week I will keep it short.  I want to share how I make it through a school year in hopes that it can benefit families and students. We still have a long way to go until summer and there is still a lot to learn.   Years ago I discovered that I found the year to be more manageable if I broke it up into smaller goals.  The scheduled breaks are good markers to set as short term goals.  Labor Day to Thanksgiving is the longest, but after that there are a series of shorter stretches of school. Our next big break is spring break, and you may not realize this but it is less than three weeks away.  For our staff that means 14 work days, but for our students there are only 13 school days due to a professional development day next Friday and the break starting the following Friday!  When you talk to your kids, consider encouraging them to break it down.  Can you keep up with your homework and other school tasks for 13 days?  Can you set a goal for no absences for the next three weeks, unless you get really sick?  Sure you can!   Small attainable goals build on each other to result in long term success.  This small thing has helped me navigate for years and if you don’t already do this, I hope it will help you too.   Let’s give it our all for the next three weeks and then enjoy a well deserved break! Sincerely, James Anderson Superintendent Wyandotte Public Schools If you have a positive to share about a staff member or group of staff members, please let me know by filling out the quick form at the following link: Wyandotte Public Schools - Staff Recognition Form   Follow me on Facebook at the page entitled “Dr. Anderson Wandering Wyandotte” Follow me on Instagram at “dr._anderson_wps” Community Coffee Days and Times: Tuesday, March 4th - 4:00-5:00pm Thursday, April 10th - 9:00-10:00am Tuesday, May 6th - 5:00-6:00pm Thursday, June 12th - 10:00-11:00am (Year end wrap up)

Friday, Feb 28 2025

2-21-2025 - Dr. A's Wyandotte Weekly Update

Hello Community Members of Wyandotte Public Schools, I made a point to visit schools yesterday because I wanted to make sure everyone was ok.  You never know since we haven’t had school on a Thursday in a few weeks.  I am crossing my fingers that we are turning the corner on weather, but we all know that Michigan is capable of anything.   This past Tuesday while our students were enjoying a four day weekend, our staff gathered for professional development.  During the day I was invited to meet with our Wyandotte Music Department.  We had a great meeting where we discussed a number of topics.  Did you know that Wyandotte is one of only a few districts in the area to offer dedicated orchestra classes?  Something to be proud of for sure!  Our music educators work across all grade levels to provide the best experiences and learning opportunities for our students. A topic we discussed  at length was social media and ways to get the news to the community.  Historically our music department has used a number of different Facebook pages specific to the level and school.  Going forward, the department made the decision to consolidate into one “Wyandotte Music Department” page.  This will allow families of our younger students to see all the exciting opportunities that lie ahead and for the families of our older students to reminisce about the path already traveled.   If you have not already, please follow the “Wyandotte Music Department” page on Facebook!  Growing up in another community, I will tell you that one of my biggest regrets is that I did not take music classes beyond elementary school!  I hope no one makes the same mistake I did.  I also want to bring attention to our winter athletic teams who are either in or beginning their state tournament bids.  Congrats to Wrestling and Cheer for winning their districts and to our other teams who begin in the next few weeks!  All of our athletes have worked very hard over the course of the winter season and we wish them the very best!  Go Bears! In other news, we took a little break with the holidays and semester change, but Seniors Justin and Seth helped me create another issue of the Superintendent Spotlight. In this video, I sat down with Cindy Taylor and we talked about Special Education and Student Services.  If you have a minute, check it out!  They did a great job on the production and the editing! Superintendent Spotlight - Director of Student Services With that, I wish you all a wonderful and safe weekend!  We will see you back on Monday! Get ready for a FULL week, it has been a while since that happened! Sincerely, James Anderson Superintendent Wyandotte Public Schools If you have a positive to share about a staff member or group of staff members, please let me know by filling out the quick form at the following link: Wyandotte Public Schools - Staff Recognition Form   Follow me on Facebook at the page entitled “Dr. Anderson Wandering Wyandotte” Follow me on Instagram at “dr._anderson_wps” Community Coffee Days and Times: Tuesday, March 4th - 4:00-5:00pm Thursday, April 10th - 9:00-10:00am Tuesday, May 6th - 5:00-6:00pm Thursday, June 12th - 10:00-11:00am (Year end wrap up)

Friday, Feb 21 2025

2-14-2025 - Dr. A's Wyandotte Weekly Update

Hello Community Members of Wyandotte Public Schools, Happy Valentine's Day! I think I am going to stop mentioning snow days in hopes we don’t go over for the year, not that my comments have anything to do with what Mother Nature decides to do.  We only have one left, and this winter has really done a number on school districts across the state.  If we exhaust our 6th day, we will need to move to virtual days if further weather days are needed.  I won’t go into details now, but be prepared to hear from me if #6 is used.  This week I want to circle back on a few topics that I haven’t addressed in a while. The first is the cell phone tower.  I had a parent reach out and ask for an update on the issue and to remind me that people are still not happy that it is there.  First and foremost, I know that one thing the entire community can agree on is that the tower should not be there.  Unfortunately, I do not have any further updates after conversations stalled last year.  My attempts to put pressure on them were met with a high priced lawyer reaching out to our attorney and attempting to bury the issue in cumbersome details.  After sending our responses, communication stalled.  I still check with our attorney to see if there have been any new developments, but there has not been anything.  We have left them an offer on our side, but they have not committed to it and I am doubtful that they will.  An additional question was asked about the funding and where that is going.  Recognizing that the Washington community has been impacted the most, we are looking for ways to use the funds from the agreement to better the school.  For now, it continues to sit to the side and grow until a solid plan can be developed.  It will take some time before the funds reach a level to match a significant project’s costs. Another topic I want to circle back on is attendance.  We are halfway through the year, and I know some families have received letters due to the attendance of their children.  I watch social media and I see the topic become very heated and people get upset that they get any type of letter.  I want to remind families of a few things.  The first letter is for information only.  It is sent after 5 days and a part of the protocol.  Yes, it speaks to potential consequences but for most families, they will never come close to those being enacted.  If you get a second letter, it is again a reminder without any consequence but also includes a request to meet so that the school can support.  It is only after 15 days (3 weeks of instruction missed) that it is handed over to the Wyandotte Police Department.  There has been a local ordinance on the books for years and it supports the state law that says kids need to be in school.  I realize some families do not like this aspect of my leadership, but the state will label a child who is absent more than 10% of the year, and I do not want our children labeled in such a way.  I want all of our children to be successful, but it is hard to do that when they are not here.  I also want to address doctors' notes.  We are not saying that you need to go to the doctor every time your child is sick, but if you hit 10 days for the year, then yes it is a good idea.  All absences count unless they are accompanied by a doctor’s note.  But if you have less than 10 absences for the year we can work with that.  A good goal is to try to shoot for no more than an average of one absence a month (9 total).  If we could all do that we would have no state labeling, no involvement with the courts, and kids would be in great shape to be academically successful! Again, I know addressing some issues does not make me the most popular person in the community, but I am resigned to the fact that I cannot be focused on improvement without tackling difficult situations.  What is solid is my commitment to this community, even when it is not what families want to hear.  My responsibility is to make sure that our school system is the best that it can be, and I appreciate your support and cooperation as we work together to achieve that.  Our staff will be back on Tuesday getting stronger with new learning to serve all of our families.  Please enjoy the long weekend and we will see our students back on WEDNESDAY! Sincerely, James Anderson Superintendent Wyandotte Public Schools If you have a positive to share about a staff member or group of staff members, please let me know by filling out the quick form at the following link: Wyandotte Public Schools - Staff Recognition Form   Follow me on Facebook at the page entitled “Dr. Anderson Wandering Wyandotte” Follow me on Instagram at “dr._anderson_wps” Community Coffee Days and Times: Tuesday, March 4th - 4:00-5:00pm Thursday, April 10th - 9:00-10:00am Tuesday, May 6th - 5:00-6:00pm Thursday, June 12th - 10:00-11:00am (Year end wrap up)

Friday, Feb 14 2025

2-13-2025 - School Closed February 13th, 2025

Hello Community Members of Wyandotte Public Schools, Looking at forecasted weather conditions, Wyandotte Public Schools will be closed on Thursday, February 13th 2025.  I am making the call now out of an abundance of caution and to allow families as much time as possible to plan.  If you need to travel tonight or tomorrow morning, please be safe on the roads. Additionally, since my note earlier today, Wrestling Regionals has been postponed so there are no district activities tonight. Tomorrow morning we will further assess the situation for HS after school activities and communicate to relevant groups. All evening activities at the elementary schools, middle school, and center programs will be canceled on Wednesday and Thursday due to building closures and maintenance staffing.  Sincerely, James Anderson Superintendent Wyandotte Public Schools

Wednesday, Feb 12 2025