JULY 2024
In This Issue
- Message From Our Superintendent
- 2024 Retirees
- CCHS Graduation
- ROHS Graduation
- Spring Sports Wrap
- Last Call For Summer Camps
- Students Continuing Excellence
- Staff Committed To Excellence
- Oak Ridge Rocks
- Oakland 100 Years
- Around the District
- Curriculum Insights
- DEI: The Deeper Dive
- Did You See It On Social?
- July Calendar
- 2024-25 School Calendar
- Job Postings In The District
CELEBRATIONS AND MORE
Summer is here, and the district is fully committed to our students and their families! Hundreds of students are participating in summer camps and summer school opportunities. Bond work is being completed at two schools in the Addams and Keller Elementary kitchens, and our crews across the district are tackling many other summer maintenance projects. While July is quieter now that school is out, our work continues on plans for the 2024-25 school year.
We are preparing for the opening weeks of school, and here are a few things we are working on:
- The First Day of School is Monday, August 26, full day. We are making unique plans for the opening days of school for our incoming Kindergarten students, so those families should watch for additional details from their principal.
- Family Welcome Back Night is Thursday, August 29. Our first home football game of the season starts at 7:00 PM. Before the match, tables from all schools and key groups will be available as the Ravens compete on the field that evening—more information to come.
- I will also deliver my 2024-25 State of the School Address in September, including an update to the strategic plan, Continuing Excellence, and other highlights for the school year.
The school year was full of award-winning student art, music, essays, scholarships, podcasts, videos, service awards, and honors earned by many of our staff. The District Dispatch is the home of all news for Royal Oak Schools, as is our social media. I am very proud of all the honorees and want to thank Amy Murphy, Communications Specialist, and Jaret Grisamer, WOAK Station Manager, for their recent awards representing Royal Oak Schools. NSPRA (National School Public Relations Association) Publications and Digital Media Excellence Awards have recently recognized many pieces of their work. Use the links below to check it out.
- Marketing Material: Free and Reduced Meals Promo
- Newsletter: The District Dispatch
- Video (Singular): Windows and Mirrors
- Mary Beth Fitzpatrick, Superintendent Royal Oak Schools
RETIREMENT WISHES
This year, we bid farewell to some truly remarkable members of our Royal Oak Schools family. Their dedication, hard work, and passion have shaped our community and inspired countless students. Thank you for your many years of service and commitment to excellence. We wish you all a happy and fulfilling retirement. You will be missed!
- Joanne Baker, Paraprofessional at Keller - 1 year
- Suzanne Redmond, Paraprofessional at ROMS - 32 years
- Jane Walbridge, Attendance Clerk at ROHS - 17 years
CHURCHILL GRADUATION
The 64th annual commencement ceremony of Churchill Community High School and Adult Education took place on June 5 inside the Churchill Community Education building. Supervisor Karen Powell kicked off the ceremony with success stories written by students themselves. These personal tales laid the groundwork for a beautiful ceremony full of joy, happiness, laughter, and tears. You can watch the ceremony using this link.
Joy Zug, Adult Education Coordinator, summed it up perfectly in her speech to the English as a Second Language and high school completion graduates. She said, "All of you have overcome many obstacles to get to this point. Everyone in the continuing education groups had doubts at one time or another about whether or not they would be sitting here tonight. They all have different stories but are here for the same reason." There were 18 adult education grads and ten for high school equivalency completion.
Congratulations to all of the graduates!
CONGRATS RAVENS GRADUATES
Hundreds of parents, family, and friends were seated at the Royal Oak Ravens Stadium to watch the Class of 2024 cross the stage for graduation on May 30. Senior Class Advisor Ray McMann said the following in his speech to the Royal Oak High School graduates on the beautiful night:
“I would like to begin by looking back at your last 13 years through the lens of numbers.
2,418: The number of days most of you spent in school from Kindergarten through your Senior Year, including some time spent virtually.
1,015,560: The number of minutes spent before a teacher learning about something new or reviewing old material.”
McMann included the following points of pride regarding the numbers that show just how much the Class of 2024 impacted Royal Oak High School and the community:
- Nearly 500 senior service hours as a class and over 2,000 donations.
- Senior service projects and charity week fundraising raised over $25,000 to help others in need.
- Royal Oak High School again being recognized as one of the top high schools in Michigan, according to US News and World Reports.
- 82 Summa Cum Laude Graduates
- 26 Magna Cum Laude Graduates
- 19 Cum Laude Graduates
- 42 Graduating with Distinction Graduates
- 90 National Honor Society Members
- Awarded just shy of $1 million in scholarships this year.
“In addition,” he added, “the Class of 2024 excelled on the court, in the pool, in the lab, on the stage, and on the field.”
TV and Film students won multiple awards for their work at WOAK, created an award-winning podcast, "The Raven Roundup," created multiple visual memories with their work in the BLOCK, debated and won honors in Model UN, performed and won honors on the stage in choir, band, orchestra and drama club.
Robotics rocked their tournaments, concluding their season by receiving the Gracious Professionalism Award for their team's culture of helping others.
In athletics, 2024 grads won 8 OAA Titles this year, including Girls' Golf, Boys' Soccer, Boys' Cross Country, Girls' Swim/Dive, Boys' Swim/Dive, Girls' Tennis, Girls' Bowling, and most recently, Girls' Softball. The winter kicked off with an amazing run for the Girls' Basketball Team, which won its first District Title in school history and its first Regional Game victory. (See next article for the spring sports wrap-up.)
Congratulations on all of these accomplishments, Class of 2024! We can’t wait to see what you do next.
LINKS:
SPRING SPORTS WRAP
As the 2024 spring sports season is over, we at Royal Oak Schools have much to celebrate. Our student-athletes have demonstrated exceptional talent, dedication, and sportsmanship across various sports, bringing home numerous accolades and setting new records. From the triumphant championship victories in softball and impressive performances in track and field to the commendable efforts in lacrosse, soccer, tennis, baseball, and golf, our teams have made their mark both on the field and in the classroom. Join us in celebrating the remarkable successes of our student-athletes.
Girls Track & Field Team Shines in 2024 Season
The Royal Oak High School Girls Track and Field team has wrapped up a remarkable 2024 season marked by outstanding achievements. They tied for 3rd in the OAA White Division with a solid 2-3 record, showcased their strength and coordination as Team Champions at the 2024 Royal Oak Relays, secured 4th place at the MHSAA Region 8-1 competition, and tied for 16th in all of Oakland County, demonstrating their competitive edge across a broad field.
Exceptional individual performances include 12 All OAA Red/White Division Raven Student-Athletes, 12 All-Region Raven Student-Athletes, and 2 All Oakland County Raven Student-Athletes. A special highlight is Brooklyn Cotton's school record performance in the 200m, a testament to her speed and hard work.
Regarding academic excellence, 53 ROHS Academic Scholar Athletes exemplify the perfect blend of athletics and academics, along with 22 All-OAA Scholar Athletes who excel both on the field and in the classroom. State-level honors include Jada Ewell, an MHSAA D1 All-State Athlete, who secured 5th place in Discus.
Boys Track & Field Team Makes Strong Strides in 2024 Season
The Boys Track & Field team at Royal Oak High School has concluded an eventful 2024 season marked by significant achievements and standout performances. Notable team accomplishments include securing 4th place in the OAA White Division with a 1-4 record, demonstrating resilience and competitive spirit, and achieving 5th place at the Regional Competition, showcasing their collective strength and determination.
All-OAA Honors were awarded to several outstanding athletes: Julien Burns, Lucas Danaher, Nathan Guthrie, Javien Johnson, Steven Johnson, Sebastian Ramirez (league champion and new OAA White record holder in the 1600m run), Braxton Sipes, and Jack Winterburn. Additionally, Sebastian Ramirez earned All-State Honors with remarkable placements of 5th place in the 1600m and 8th place in the 3200m.
The 4x400m relay team, consisting of Jack Winterburn, Steven Johnson, Julien Burns, and Nathan Guthrie, set a new ROHS record with a time of 3:25.90, surpassing the previous record set in 2017. This incredible feat highlights their speed, teamwork, and relentless pursuit of excellence.
2024 Varsity Baseball Team Delivers Impressive Season
The 2024 Varsity Baseball team at Royal Oak High School has wrapped up a successful and commendable season. With an overall record of 18-11-1, the team showcased their talent, resilience, and sportsmanship throughout the year. They demonstrated their competitive strength in the league by achieving 4th place in the OAA Blue Division with a record of 12-8-1. Senior Nate Willms and Senior Connor Stoyanof were recognized with All-League honors for their outstanding contributions and exceptional performance on the field. Both athletes also earned All-District accolades, highlighting their consistent excellence. Additionally, Senior Matt Bigley was celebrated for his academic achievements, earning All-Region Academic honors for balancing excellence in both athletics and academics.
2024 Varsity Softball Team Celebrates Championship Season
The Royal Oak High School Varsity Softball team has capped off an extraordinary 2024 season with a series of impressive accomplishments. With a record of 20-16, the team displayed exceptional athletic skills. They dominated the OAA Blue Division to secure the championship title, a testament to their hard work and strategic play. OAA Blue All-League honors were awarded to Miya O'Branovic, Mackenzee Childress, Lilliana Heline, Danica Schmitt, Sarah Menzo, and Katelyn Eyster. All District accolades went to Miya O'Branovic, Mackenzee Childress, and Lilliana Heline. The team also received the District Team Sportsmanship Award, reflecting their respect and integrity on and off the field. Individual highlights include Miya O'Branovic setting a new school record with 23 stolen bases in a single season and Mackenzee Childress achieving three no-hitters in a single season, also a new school record. The team was recognized as an Academic All-State Team, showcasing their perfect balance of athletics and academics, with Academic All-State Players including Lilliana Heline, Danica Schmitt, Riley Maizy, Rylee Koch, and Brie Emery.
Boys Lacrosse Team Achieves Strong Finish in 2024 Season
The Royal Oak High School Boys Lacrosse team has completed a competitive and dynamic 2024 season, demonstrating growth and determination with a final record of 7-9. Their season of hard-fought games and notable performances culminated in securing 2nd place in the OAA White Division, underscoring their competitive spirit and teamwork. Several athletes were recognized for their exceptional contributions: Ethan Couzens, Langdon Hurst, Theodore “Bear” Gardner, and Jack Thornton all received OAA White All-League honors, celebrating their outstanding performance, leadership, skill, and dedication throughout the season.
Girls Lacrosse Team Shows Determination in 2024 Season
The Royal Oak High School Girls Lacrosse team has concluded a spirited 2024 season, demonstrating resilience and competitive drive. With an overall record of 7-10, the team’s perseverance and effort in every game were evident. They secured 6th place in the highly competitive OAA White Division with a record of 4-5. Standout players Sinead Oster and Cynthia Guest received OAA All-League honors for their exceptional performance and contributions on the field, showcasing their outstanding skills and leadership during the season.
Girls Tennis Achieves Outstanding Success in 2024 Season
The Royal Oak High School Girls Tennis team has wrapped up a remarkable 2024 season, showcasing exceptional skill, dedication, and sportsmanship. The team’s achievements on the court and in the classroom have made the Royal Oak Schools community extremely proud. All League honors were awarded to Ava Weiss, Audrey Stocker, Izzy Richter, Penny Fessler, Abbey Bloomfield, and Hannah Saunders. These athletes also earned the prestigious title of League Flight Champions, highlighting their dominance in the league.
Ava Weiss represented the team at the state level as a State Qualifier, demonstrating her exceptional talent and competitive spirit. Audrey Stocker was celebrated as the MVP for her outstanding performance throughout the season and also received the Sportsmanship Award for her exemplary conduct on and off the court. Izzy Richter was recognized as the Most Dedicated player for her unwavering commitment and hard work, while Penny Fessler was honored as the Most Improved for her significant progress and development. Ana Ladzinski was acknowledged as the Rookie of the Year for her impressive debut season. Coach Kevin Friesen was honored as the Regional Coach of the Year for his exceptional leadership and guidance, reaching an impressive milestone with 402 victories, a testament to his dedication and success over the years.
In addition to their athletic prowess, the team also excelled academically. Audrey Stocker achieved a remarkable GPA of 4.24, and Tessa Abrutyn attained an outstanding GPA of 4.14, earning Senior All-State Academic honors.
These academic accolades highlight the perfect balance of athletic and academic excellence embodied by our student-athletes.
Girls Soccer Team Shows Resilience in 2024 Season
The Royal Oak High School Girls Soccer team displayed determination and skill throughout their challenging 2024 season, finishing with a record of 5-11-1. Despite tough competition, the team’s effort and commitment earned them recognition in the league and district. OAA White All-League honors were awarded to Ceci Irwin, Anna Waterstredt, and Jordan Hills, who were also recognized with All-District accolades. Additionally, Hannah Spring received an Honorable Mention for her contributions.
Boys Golf Team Achieves Impressive Milestones in 2024 Season
The Royal Oak High School Boys Golf team has had an outstanding 2024 season, marked by significant achievements and accolades. With a team OAA record of 5-1, they showcased consistent excellence throughout the season. As the OAA Blue League Overall Runner-Up, they demonstrated a competitive edge in the league and secured a major victory as the OAA Blue Final League Tournament Champions. The team achieved the lowest tournament score in 20 years, scoring 324, setting a new milestone. OAA Blue All-League honors were awarded to Owen Soper, Lucas Scharf, Simon Soper, and Antonio Serraiocco. Additionally, Antonio Serraiocco was recognized for his excellence on the course and in academics, earning Academic All-State honors.
RAVENS UNITE
We would be remiss if we didn't share the following documentary on another successful sports program at Royal Oak Schools - Unified Sports. Ravens Unite - A Unified Sports Documentary was produced by Sam Klonke, who is now a graduate.
The video follows the inspiring journey of the Royal Oak Unified Basketball team and the transformative impact of Unified Sports at Royal Oak High School. Watch as athletes of all abilities come together to compete, forge lasting friendships, and celebrate inclusivity. “Ravens Unite” captures the true essence of unity in sports and the strength of community.
SUMMER CAMPS: Join The Fun
Royal Oak Schools is hosting a variety of sports camps for students ages 4-17 this summer. It's not too late to join, and we've made some changes, so be sure to check them out!
Camps run throughout July and early August, with half-day or evening sessions to fit your schedule.
Don't miss this opportunity for your child to have fun, stay active, and improve their skills with Royal Oak Schools this summer! Registration requires completing a form and paying online in advance.Costs range from $35 to $110 per camp.
STUDENTS CONTINUING EXCELLENCE
STUDENT FILM FESTIVAL WINNERS
Royal Oak Schools is proud to announce that the film "Blinding The Youth: One Page At A Time," created by students Angie Johnson, Wyatt Martin, Amanda Orlando, and Nathaniel Tyler, has been awarded Best of Show and Best News/Sports Report at the Digital Arts, Film & Television (DAFT) 56th Michigan Student Film Festival. This recognition highlights their exceptional talent and dedication, showcasing the creativity and skill of our students.
Adriana Alexander, a student at Keller, has received the Best of Show award in the K-8 grouping at the DAFT Student Film Festival for her film "King Kong: The Lego Version." This recognition celebrates Adriana's creativity and hard work and highlights the impressive talent within our school community. This is Adriana's second win at the festival.
STAFF COMMITTED TO EXCELLENCE
LOCAL HONOR FOR ROMS TEACHER
Amanda Michewicz, a Royal Oak Middle School Language and Literature teacher was named a finalist in the Hour Detroit Magazine, Best of Detroit Teacher edition! Amanda had no idea she was a winner, let alone nominated, making this recognition even more special. Her dedication and passion for teaching have clearly made a significant impact. Congratulations, Amanda, on this well-deserved honor!
OAK RIDGE WELLNESS ROCKS
A multi-generational collaboration to bring joy to all who see it was brought to fruition at Oak Ridge Elementary. Students from Oak Ridge and residents from the Waltonwood Royal Oak community painted 100's of colorful rocks which were unveiled at a ribbon-cutting ceremony in June.
“We are thrilled that our Oak Ridge students have the wonderful opportunity of partnering with our friends and neighbors at Waltonwood to create this beautiful rock garden,” said Oak Ridge teacher Ali Bodle during the ceremony.
Teachers Mary Kosnik and Ali Bodle worked with District Communications Specialist Amy Murphy and Waltonwood Life Enrichment Coordinator Donyel Snead to make this happen.
"Last year, every Oak Ridge student painted a rock, and this year residents at Waltonwood added their own creations to the garden," said Kosnik. “Together we painted over 450 rocks, and we hope this inspires everyone who walks by and gives them a reason to smile,” she added.
The garden will continue to grow with painted rocks from both students and Waltonwood residents in the coming years. “I hope that these rocks become an inspiration for all of you and that when you walk by in years to come, you will look back and say, ‘I was a part of that and will still keep it going,’” said Superintendent Mary Beth Fitzpatrick. The district hopes to create wellness rock gardens at other schools as well.
100 YEARS FOR OAKLAND
Oakland Elementary School opened in 1924 on 4 acres of a former corn field purchased for $20,000. It was initially part of the Madison School District. According to records, the original building had four classrooms and a library and was designed to resemble the Toonerville Trolley.
Enrollment grew rapidly over the next few years, and more classrooms were added. Moving ahead, Oakland Elementary underwent extensive renovations and additions starting in the spring of 2020. The multi-year renovations modernized instructional technology and infrastructure while adding new spaces to support students and staff better. Since the first addition in 1928, the school has continued to grow, and it now teaches 258 students up to grade five.
Oakland turned 100 in April of 2024. Join us on September 20 for a celebration of 100 years of excellence at Oakland. The event starts at 6pm with food, engaging demonstrations through the decades, school tours, performances, alumni meet ups, proclamations, and more.
In preparation for the Oakland 100 event, we are looking for alumni and other key people to be interviewed for a documentary on the school. Please use this link if you or someone you know is interested in participating.
STUDENT SCRAPBOOK
PRIMARY YEARS PROGRAMME
Our 5th-grade students at Keller Elementary recently completed their 5th-grade exhibition projects during the month of June. These 5th graders at Keller have been working hard during their elementary years to gain a better understanding and knowledge base of the important components that make up a successful 5th-grade Exhibition project and experience.
One of the most important and impressive things about the 5th grade Exhibition project is that the Keller students have an opportunity to chose a project topic that is important to them and then puts a plan in place to take action on their project and plan.
These 5th graders research based projects also have a strong connection to topics that impact and improve the world around them. Topics can include the following: Human rights, technology, environmental care, financial literacy, mental health care, and other worldly topics.
We are so proud of our students at Keller as they use their knowledge and understanding of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Learner Profile traits to identify an issue, research important facts and statistics, plan projects, present, and eventually take action on their 5th-grade Exhibition projects.
THE DEEPER DIVE
Greetings from the Deeper Dive!
I hope that everyone had a Joyful June! Even though the 2023-2024 school year came to an end, the fun and learning continued for our community well into Summer Break! On June 19, 2024, hundreds gathered at the Royal Oak Farmers Market and Centennial Commons in Downtown Royal Oak to celebrate Juneteenth.
Juneteenth celebrates the ending of slavery in the United States. While the Emancipation Proclamation was actually enacted in 1863, news of the proclamation did not reach Galveston, Texas until 2 years later in 1865 on June 19th. The following year, 1866, Juneteenth became an annual celebration in Galveston to celebrate the abolition of slavery. Over time, this holiday has been recognized and celebrated throughout the U.S., bringing together facts, food, fun, family, fine arts, and much more. In 2021, Juneteenth was declared a federal holiday after the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act s.475, was signed into law.
Royal Oak’s 4th Annual Juneteenth Celebration featured educational speeches and artifacts, a 1,865-step Freedom Strive Walk, fine arts performances, food trucks, horse rides, rock-climbing, and community vendors. I was so happy to see so many students, families, and community members come together to celebrate this amazing day as we learned and fellowshipped together. 4 years ago, siblings and Royal Oak Schools alumni Carvell Wilkins and LaKeesha Morrison (descendants of Royal Oak’s Black Pioneer Hamer family), began this annual celebration. Each year, the event has continued to grow bigger and better.
Check out these photos from the 2024 Royal Oak Juneteenth Celebration:
Follow this link to find out more about Juneteenth and its history.
~Ashley Phillips, DEI Coordinator
DID YOU SEE IT ON SOCIAL?
Follow us on:
- Instagram @roschools
- Facebook @RoyalOakSchools
- LinkedIn @Royal-Oak
- X @RoyalOakSchools
- YouTube Royal Oak Schools
Add The App
Enhance your communication and stay up-to-date by downloading our custom mobile app onto your mobile device with this link. Opting in to receive push notifications ensures you'll be promptly informed about the most recent news and updates from the District and your child's school.
DATES FOR JULY
July is National Make A Difference To Children month
July 4 - Independence Day
July 7 - Thank You Day
July 10 - Don't Step On A Bee Day
July 11 - Board of Education Regular Meeting 6:30 PM
2024-25 Save The Dates
August 15 - Bulldog Bound for new students to ROMS
August 26 - First Day of School
August 29 - Family Welcome Back Night 5:30 PM/First Home Football Game
September 20 - Oakland Through The Years: 100 Years Of Excellence Celebration
Use this link to review the calendar, which is located on our website under District/Calendars.
JOB OPENINGS
We would love to invite you to join our team. You can use this link to apply for most jobs with Royal Oak Schools: https://bit.ly/3rO26d1workforros.
Food service workers and cashiers: Chartwells Food Service hires substitute food service workers. The cashier position is from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and pays $14/hr. The cook position is at the elementary schools from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and pays $16.15/hr. After training, you would be "as needed" fill-in for sick calls, working on average 1-2 days per week. It could also become regular part-time when openings exist. Includes free lunch.
Substitute teachers: EDUStaff is our partner for substitute teachers. Please apply through their website at: edustaff.org.
Paraprofessionals: A paraprofessional works with a team of teachers to help qualified students be successful at school. These patient and caring individuals may implement academic, physical, behavioral, and self-care supports that empower students to engage with their education as independently as possible. All applicants should apply through the Oakland Schools Human Resources Consortium website at: bit.ly/3rO26d1workforros.
Individuals interested in working with and caring for school-age children before and after school for our Young Oaks (Latchkey) Program should contact the Addams Early Childhood Center at (248) 288-3220.
Bus Drivers: Durham School Services is hiring for our transportation department. A minimum of 20 hours is guaranteed, with options for more. Contact James Hollis at Durham to apply: jholls@durhamschoolservices.com.
Instructional and administrative positions: Check the Oakland Schools Consortium portal at bit.ly/3rO26d1workforros. Employment opportunities with Royal Oak Schools are on our website under Employment/HR. If you have any more questions, please contact Beth Caverly at the District Offices: elizabeth.caverly@royaloakschools.org or (248) 435-8400 x1210.
COMMENTS? STORY IDEAS?
Send them to: communications@royaloakschools.org
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2024 NSPRA Award of Excellence
NSPRA’s Publications and Digital Media Excellence Awards recognize outstanding education publications, e-newsletters, digital media programs, radio/TV/video programs, social media, infographics, blogs and websites.
The District Dispatch Mission: To inform all interested in the Royal Oak Schools community and deliver information straight to them through stories of our people, our successes, and our future.
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