Week Preview - September 21

Updates for WMAES Secondary Families

Our Mission-

West Michigan Academy of Environmental Science strives to provide an environment that will foster creativity, promote academic achievement and develop sound character and citizenship principles emphasizing responsibility to the environment and society while maintaining and improving each child’s self-esteem and self-concept.

WMAES Families,

It has been a wonderful week at WMAES! Our 8th grade students had an unforgettable experience on their Beaver Island trip, taking their learning beyond the classroom and building memories that will last well beyond middle school. Meanwhile, our high school students traveled to Central Michigan University, where they participated in a hands-on simulation alongside students in CMU's College of Business—a fantastic opportunity to experience college-level learning and explore future career pathways. Finally, our 9th graders took part in a panel discussion, engaging with big ideas and practicing the kind of respectful dialogue we strive to cultivate in all of our students.

Looking ahead, next week continues our fall NWEA testing window for students in grades 6 through 10. Middle school students will take the reading test on Tuesday morning, and high school students will take the reading test on Wednesday morning. Please help your student be ready to do their best by ensuring they get a good night's rest, eat a healthy breakfast, and arrive at school on time on their testing day. As always, thank you for your continued partnership and support—it makes all the difference for our students.

Thank you again for being such an essential part of our school family. We wish you a safe, restful, and enjoyable weekend!

Kevin

Cell Phones

We would like to remind you of our school policy regarding student phone use during the school day. To ensure a focused learning environment, students are not permitted to use their phones during class hours. If a student needs to contact a parent, they are welcome to visit the office to make a call or send a text.

Students who choose to carry their phones during the school day will be required to store them in a secure area within the classroom while class is in session. Alternatively, students who prefer not to store their phones in the classroom should plan to keep their phones in their lockers.

Thank you for your cooperation and support in helping us maintain an optimal educational environment for all students.

Dress Code Reminder

We’re pleased to share that our uniform provider has all WMAES uniform apparel available for online ordering—with free shipping to your home!

Just click the link below and click “Shop Now”—then navigate to the Uniform category to explore all that’s available. We’re especially excited to let you know that several new, lower-cost uniform t-shirt options have been added for your convenience.

Shop Now: https://wmaesapparel.secure-decoration.com/

As a reminder, here are our uniform policy guidelines:

Uniform requirements include:

All students are expected to wear the approved uniform shirt and pants.
All clothing must be free of writing, adornments, rips, tears, or holes.

Appropriate School Uniform Includes:

WMAES Polo, Sweatshirt, Zip Up, or T-shirt: These must be worn as the outermost layer.
Bottoms: Solid color pants/shorts or WMAES uniform bottoms are acceptable.
Footwear: Closed-toe shoes are mandatory.

We appreciate your cooperation in ensuring that all students adhere to these guidelines. If you have any questions or need further clarification, please feel free to contact the school office.

Parent Team Fundraiser

Join us at Uccello’s of Standale on Thursday, October 1, from 4–8 p.m.! During this time, 15% of participating dine-in or takeout food purchases will support WMAES.

Uccello’s of Standale
4787 Lake Michigan Drive
(616) 735-5520

Please bring a printed flyer or show it on your device to participate. Fundraiser participation cannot be combined with specials, discounts, or promotions.

Thank you for supporting our school!

10-1 fundraiser.pdf

October 2026 Breakfast Menu.pdf

October 2026 Lunch Menu.pdf

Exciting Changes Coming to Our School Grounds!

We are excited to share that you will soon notice some changes taking place along the front of both our elementary and secondary buildings. As part of our ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship and creating welcoming spaces, we will be reimagining these areas for the benefit of our students, staff, and community.

We will begin removing non-native plants from these spaces and transforming them with beautiful native plantings. Native plants not only support our local ecosystem but also provide valuable learning opportunities for students. In addition, we will be adding new seating areas and flower planters, creating usable areas for our staff and students.

Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences

We look forward to connecting with you to discuss your child’s progress and how we can work together to support a successful school year! Families may choose from the following conference options:

Virtual conferences: Wednesday, October 7, from 5:00–7:00 PM via Google Meet.
In-person conferences: Thursday, October 8, from 5:00–7:00 PM at school.

Information about reserving your conference time through My Conference Time will be shared the week of September 28.

Please also mark your calendar: there will be no school for students on Friday, October 9.

Thank you for your continued partnership!

Order School Pictures Online

Picture Day is Wednesday, October 7! Families can order school pictures through GPI using the link below.

Click here to order school pictures

Online order code: 3780LDPJYQAXCM

The ordering link opens two weeks before Picture Day and remains available for 24 hours afterward.

The Mobile Dentist is coming to WMAES!

The Mobile Dentist will be on campus Monday, October 20 – Wednesday, October 22 to provide convenient, in-school dental care for students.

Registration forms were sent home with students, and families may also sign up online at www.MySchoolDentist.com.

This is a great opportunity to ensure your student receives important dental care.

An unforgettable adventure awaits your child in Berlin, Prague, Krakow, and Budapest!

Dear families,

We’re thrilled to announce our upcoming trip to Berlin, Prague, Krakow, and Budapest

in Summer 2028, and your student is invited! This life-changing experience will help students build confidence, independence, and global perspective.

We’re holding an informational meeting to share everything you need to know:

Find meeting info and RSVP here: https://rsvp.eftours.com/jm3c2u7

Why attend?

- Learn how to save $250 with early enrollment.

- Get first access to limited spots.

- Learn about what we’ll see and do, academic opportunities, trip cost, and more.

In the meantime, please visit EF’s website to get answers to common parent questions. EF Tours is our trusted travel partner, and they have 60 years of experience helping students explore the world safely and affordably.

I hope to see you there and look forward to sharing how this trip can be a powerful and unforgettable chapter in your child’s life!

Best,

Nicole Newton

English - Full page.pdf

Spanish - Full page.pdf

WMAES Parking Lot Reminders

WMAES strives to provide a parking lot environment that is as safe, courteous, and orderly as possible during student drop-off and pick-up. Your adherence to the following guidelines is greatly appreciated and serves as an important example of cooperation, patience, and respect for our students.

Parking Lot Guidelines

Enter only through the east drive.
Exit only through the west drive.
When exiting campus, vehicles must turn left or right onto Leonard Street. Do not proceed straight across Leonard Street or use Leonard Gardens as a turnaround. Walker Police Department monitors this area and will enforce traffic regulations.
Drive slowly and stay alert. Watch carefully for children who may emerge between parked vehicles.
If you plan to leave your vehicle for any reason, please park in a designated parking space.
During morning drop-off, the inside lane closest to the school is for vehicles actively dropping off students.
Drivers using the drop-off lane must remain in their vehicles and merge carefully into the outside lane after students have exited.
Students should exit the vehicle on the passenger/school side and as close to the sidewalk as possible.
The outside lane is for continuous traffic flow. Please do not stop or leave your vehicle in this lane.
Pets must remain inside vehicles at all times. Pets are not permitted on campus.
Carpool whenever possible to help reduce traffic volume.
Please be patient. Our parking lot serves a large number of families in a short period of time, and traffic may move slowly at times. Patience, attentiveness, and cooperation from everyone help keep arrival and dismissal safe and efficient.

Thank you for helping us provide a safe and positive arrival and dismissal experience for all WMAES students and families!

Fall Sports Update

Welcome to an exciting season of fall athletics at WMAES! Below you'll find important dates and details for our upcoming sports. Please read carefully and reach out to the listed coaches if you have any questions. For complete schedules, visit the WMAES Athletics Page.

⚽ 6th–12th Grade Soccer

Coach: Colton Fischer coltonfischer@choiceschools.com

Upcoming Games: September 18 at Fellowship Baptist, September 22 Against Algoma Christian, September 25 at Barry County Christian

🏐 High School Volleyball

Coach: Makaela Thornton thornmak@mail.gvsu.edu
Upcoming Games: September 18 at Fellowship Baptist, September 22 Against Algoma Christian, September 25 at Barry County Christian

🏐 Middle School Volleyball

Coach: Sara Ludtke saraludtke@choiceschools.com
- Upcoming Games: September 18 at Fellowship Baptist, September 22 Against Algoma Christian, September 25 at Barry County Christian

Calendar

🏃 6th–12th Grade Cross Country

Coach: Hudson Wardin hudsonwardin@choiceschool.com
- Upcoming Meets: September 18 Unity Christian Invite, September 26 Chargers Autumn Sunrise Invite

📅 Complete Schedules & Updates

For full team schedules, please visit the WMAES Athletics Page.

High School Boys Basketball

UNDERSTANDING STANDARD RESPONSE PROTOCOL

At WMAES, safety is strengthened through preparation, clear communication, and a shared understanding of what to do in different situations. We want students, staff, and families to be familiar with the common language used in our Standard Response Protocol, or SRP.

The five SRP actions are:

HOLD — Remain in your classroom or area while hallways are kept clear.

SECURE — Bring everyone inside and lock exterior doors. Activities may continue inside the building.

LOCKDOWN — Locks, lights, out of sight. Students and staff remain quiet and follow established safety procedures.

EVACUATE — Move safely to a designated location and follow instructions.

SHELTER — Follow the announced safety strategy for a specific hazard, such as severe weather or a hazardous-materials concern.

Beginning with the 2026–27 school year, Michigan law requires schools to adopt and use standardized response terminology. WMAES has the benefit of having trained our staff in these protocols for years. We will continue reviewing and practicing them with students in calm, age-appropriate ways so the actions become familiar and can be followed confidently when needed.

We are sharing the attached PDF poster so families can also become familiar with this common safety language. We encourage you to review the terms with your child and discuss what each action means. Each term communicates a specific response and does not necessarily represent the same type or level of concern.

Having a shared understanding helps students, staff, and families communicate clearly and respond calmly and confidently when a safety protocol is used. This familiarity is an important part of our continued focus on safety, preparedness, and practice at WMAES.

Standard Response Protocol

WMAES Featured on Maranda

We were thrilled to welcome students and families to campus for a sweet summer afternoon of berry picking, fresh jam making, outdoor learning, and community connection!

This event was a wonderful example of what makes WMAES so special, families learning together through meaningful, hands-on experiences in the natural world. Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the evening so memorable!

We are excited to share that WOOD TV8’s Maranda highlighted the event. Check out the full story below!

🔗 https://www.woodtv.com/abc4/maranda/choice-schools/west-michigan-academy-of-environmental-science-students-and-families-learn-how-to-make-fresh-jam/

We’re pleased to share our 2026-2027 Overview Calendar!

Please see the calendar below for key dates for the upcoming school year, including the first and last days of school, breaks, events, and early dismissal dates. We hope this helps your family begin planning ahead for a successful year.

For Families - WMAES 25/26 Calendar List

Parent Engagement Request.docx

We've partnered with @ClothesBin to bring a clothing recycling bin to WMAES, and it's being installed today!

Got old clothes you no longer wear? Drop them in!
Keep textiles OUT of our landfills
WMAES earns a deposit for every pound donated
The bin is smart! It has a sensor so Clothes Bin knows when it's full and takes care of everything!

It's easy. It's free. It makes a difference. Head out to the parking lot and drop off your used clothing today! The bin will be on campus for the foreseeable future!

#ClothesBin #Recycling #Sustainability #GiveBack #WMAES #TextileRecycling #GoGreen #CommunityImpact

School Assistance Program

We are pleased to continue our efforts in supporting our students through our assistance programs. Our resources have expanded this school year, and we want to ensure you are aware of the benefits available to our entire community.

Our new counseling service, the School Assistance Program (SAP), is offered through Pine Rest, a professional mental health service. This program provides five free, confidential counseling sessions per episode of care and is available 24/7 to anyone in the student’s household.

To access this service, simply call 800.442.0809, press 1, and follow the prompts. Be sure to mention, “I have an SAP with West Michigan Academy of Environmental Science.”

To learn more about all the benefits provided by this program, please watch the introduction video. Click the link below or paste the URL into any browser:

SAP Video – Password: SAPOrientation
URL: https://vimeo.com/video/956870695?share=copy

Please note that all services provided through the SAP are 100% confidential. We hope this resource can support you and your family whenever needed.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

essentials for everyone

Our National Honor Society students have started an initiative called "Essentials for Everyone" with a cabinet at the secondary entrance stocked with household items (cleaning supplies, personal care products...). WMAES students and families in need can come get items like a "little free library." If your family has extra items, please add them to the cabinet or bring them to the secondary office!

GUARANTEED ADMISSION FOR WMAES STUDENTS

The transition from high school to college just got a whole lot easier for charter school students across Michigan.

Central Michigan University and The Governor John Engler Center for Charter Schools have partnered on a new initiative called the Charter to CMU Guarantee, which guarantees admission to CMU for students who meet two simple criteria:

Attend one of the 25 CMU-authorized charter high schools
Have a 2.8 GPA or higher

WMAES Recognized as a U.S. News Best School

We are excited to share that West Michigan Academy of Environmental Science has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a Best Middle and High School for 2026.

This recognition reflects the hard work and care of our students, the partnership and support of our families, and the commitment and dedication of our staff. Thank you for being part of a school community where students learn, grow, and feel supported every day. We appreciate your continued support of WMAES!

Calling All WMAES Alumni!

Are you, or is your student, a proud alumnus of West Michigan Academy of Environmental Science? We would be thrilled to hear about the incredible journeys and achievements of our former students and would love to share your stories with our community!

Our alumni have always been a testament to the hard work and dedication fostered within our halls. Whether you've pursued higher education, embarked on exciting career paths, or achieved personal milestones, we want to celebrate you!

Here's How You Can Get Involved:

Share Your Story: Let us know what you've been up to since leaving WMAES. We are eager to highlight your achievements and inspire current students.
Connect with Us: Reach out and reconnect. Your experiences can provide valuable insights and encouragement to our current students.

If you or someone you know is a WMAES alumnus, please contact us to be featured in our upcoming newsletters. Let's continue to build a strong and supportive WMAES community by sharing the amazing accomplishments of our graduates.

Thank you for being an essential part of our story!

WMAES Text Updates Opt-In

Please refer to the information below for everything you need to know to sign up for text updates from WMAES. We look forward to being able to utilize texting as a convenient means of providing links to our newsletters, reminders about upcoming dates, weather-related closing notifications, and more. As shown in the flyer below, simply text Y or Yes to 67587 from a number you have on file with the office to get signed up. Coming soon, we will also be sending a one time opt-in message to all numbers on file who have not opted in to provide the option of doing so at that time.

SMS Text Opt-In Flyer 67587 Eng and Esp.pdf

Attention Student Drivers!

If you drive to campus, please remember to register your vehicle with the school office. Once registered, students will be assigned a designated parking space in the lot. This process helps us ensure a safe and organized parking area for everyone.

Each student who drives will be given

Parking Procedure Contract (this will need to be signed by the student and a parent/guardian)

Please call 616-791-7454 or email wmaesoffice@choiceschools.com with any questions

Important ATTENDANCE Reminders

We would like to remind everyone of the importance of regular attendance and punctuality in setting students up for success.

The school day begins promptly at 8:00 AM, and students may enter as early as 7:45 AM. Arriving on time ensures a smooth start to the day, helps establish a strong routine, and maximizes essential instructional time—setting a positive tone for learning. Every moment in the classroom is an opportunity to grow, connect, and build essential skills.

We understand that occasional absences or tardiness may happen due to illness or unforeseen circumstances, but making consistent attendance a priority helps students stay engaged and confident in their learning. Regular attendance fosters a sense of belonging, builds positive habits, and ensures students don’t miss valuable instruction.

We appreciate your partnership in making daily attendance a priority! If you have any concerns or need assistance, please reach out—we are here to help.

Click Subscribe below at add our WMAES Family Calendar to any calendar app on the device of your choice. You can also click here to visit the calendar page and view information about subscribing.

Stay Connected with WMAES!

Please take a moment to add our school’s phone number to your contact list: 616-791-7454. This helps ensure that you recognize calls coming from West Michigan Academy of Environmental Science.

We also kindly ask that you make sure your phone is set to allow calls from the school. It’s important that we’re able to reach an adult family member during the school day if needed.

To make it even easier, you can use the QR code below to quickly add our contact info to your phone:

Join the WMAES Corkboard Facebook Group!

We are excited to invite all WMAES families to join our Facebook Group - WMAES Corkboard!

What is WMAES Corkboard? WMAES Corkboard was established by our fantastic Parent Team and is designed to be a productive place for WMAES families to share helpful information and updates.

Stay Informed, Connect with Other Parents, Share Resources

Click here to join the WMAES Corkboard Facebook Group!

Looking forward to seeing you there and working together to support our amazing school community!

Uniform Apparel Online Store and Uniform Policy

We’re pleased to share that our uniform provider has all WMAES uniform apparel available for online ordering—with free shipping to your home!

Shop Now: https://wmaesapparel.secure-decoration.com/

As a reminder, here are our uniform policy guidelines:

Uniform requirements include:

A WMAES uniform top
Solid color pants or shorts, or solid jeans or jean shorts
Closed-toe shoes

Please note:

The WMAES top must be the outermost layer
All clothing must be free of writing, adornments, and rips/tears/holes
Uniforms with the old logo will be fully grandfathered in. Students may continue wearing their previous uniform items.

Thank you for partnering with us and for your continued support of our uniform policy!

Join Our Amazing WMAES Team

We have a few remaining open positions at WMAES, and we would love to share information about these opportunities with our WMAES family members. If you or someone you know are interested in joining our amazing team and collaborative environment, more information about available positions can be found at the link provided below.

Click here to explore employment opportunities with WMAES

Stay Connected

Email: Teacher/Staff/Admin emails can be found on our website

Website: wma-es.com

Facebook: West Michigan Academy of Environmental Science

Instagram: @westmichiganacademyofenvirosci

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