AUGUST 2024
In This Issue
- Message From Our Superintendent
- Back To School Information
- Continuing Your Education
- Bulldog Bound
- New Employees
- Family Welcome Back Fair
- School Supplies Drive
- Ways To Be Involved
- Be An Influencer
- Oakland 100 Year Celebration
- Around the District
- Curriculum Insights
- Building Green Teams
- Did You See It On Social?
- August Calendar
- Job Postings In The District
WELCOME TO THE 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR!
As we gear up for another exciting and productive school year, I am happy to remind families that the first official school day for students is Monday, August 26, 2024. We eagerly anticipate our students' return and the start of new academic adventures. Our staff will come together to kick off the new school year in the week leading up to the students' arrival. This time is crucial as we unite to welcome new staff members, share our goals for the year, and renew our commitment to safety training. Our district will also engage in meaningful professional learning opportunities, ensuring we are well-prepared to deliver another successful year of education.
We want to congratulate all our staff members and administrators who have retired or moved on to new adventures. Your contributions to the students and families of Royal Oak Schools have been invaluable, and we are deeply grateful for all you have done. A new school year also brings the joy of welcoming new teachers, secretaries, custodians, paraprofessionals, and other dedicated individuals to our team. We are excited to see the fresh perspectives and enthusiasm that these new team members will bring to our community. To stay informed about crucial district happenings, please follow us on social media and use our district website to subscribe to our monthly newsletter, The District Dispatch. This will ensure you are always up-to-date with our school's latest news and events.
Let's make this school year one of growth, achievement, and excellence.
- Mary Beth Fitzpatrick, Superintendent Royal Oak Schools
BACK TO SCHOOL TIME
As summer draws to a close, educators eagerly anticipate the new school year. The joys of back-to-school include welcoming students, creating an inclusive and engaging learning environment, and the opportunity to inspire young minds again. At Royal Oak Schools, we embrace this time of year with enthusiasm, knowing that together, we teach growth-minded students who are eager to learn and thrive in a dynamic world.
With August comes many dates to keep track of and important back-to-school events to be aware of. We've developed a short list here of some key events. Detailed information regarding your child's schedule will be provided by your school principal.
REGISTRATION: Annual registration opens at noon on Monday, August 5. This mandatory process applies to all Royal Oak Schools families and is necessary to register your child for the 2024-25 school year. Once open, parents and guardians can go to their Parent Connection account in MIStar to complete the process. Use this link for more information.
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL: August 26 is the first day of school. Students in grades 1-12 should report to school on Monday, August 26. Parents/Guardians of DK/K students and anyone attending Addams Early Childhood should receive information from their school principal regarding their schedule.
ENROLLMENT: For new families who have not yet enrolled, don't hesitate to contact the Central Enrollment Office at (248) 435-8400, ext. 1260. If you have any questions about enrollment or recently changed your address, they're here to assist you with all the necessary information. Or you can start here for those answers.
CLASS LISTS AND SCHEDULES:
- Elementary school class information should be available on August 16.
- Middle School: Bulldog Bound - incoming 6th graders: August 15. Schedule pick-up for 7th and 8th grade students will be on Wednesday, August 21st (for 7th graders) from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM and from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM (for 8th graders).
- Royal Oak High School: August 14—seniors, August 15—sophomores and Juniors, August 16—Freshmen, and August 19—any who missed their specific dates.
- (Dates are subject to change.)
STUDENT HANDBOOKS: Student Handbooks and other additional forms and information can be found here.
BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL CARE: Find information on child care, preschool, or Latchkey here.
FREE & REDUCED LUNCH PROGRAM: It is still essential that families who qualify fill out a free and reduced meal application. A school’s eligibility for federal Child Nutrition Programs such as the Summer Food Service Program and others is based on free and reduced-price eligibility. Students and families may qualify for other program fee reductions based on their eligibility for free or reduced-price meals. Use this link to complete the 2024-2025 online application. Paper applications will be sent out in August and available at the district office and all schools.
SPORTS: Sports schedules, including volleyball, soccer, and football, can be found here.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Check out announcements, local events, and activities for your child with Peachjar. Flyers are sent directly to your email inbox and posted to the school's website. To view current flyers, click the Peachjar button on each school's webpage.
STUDENT ACCIDENT INSURANCE: Use this link for the optional student accident insurance forms.
CONTINUING YOUR EDUCATION
Does someone you know need to learn English? Or get their high school credentials? Royal Oak Schools Continuing Education can help!
They offer:
- Three levels of English for non-native speakers
- Individualized plans to complete your high school credentials and you don't have to live in Royal Oak!
Registration for Continuing Education is open now. Use this link to make an appointment!
Joy Zug, Adult Education Coordinator, shared this sentiment during graduation this past spring. 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.
For more information, go to: ccec.royaloakschools.org
BULLDOG BOUND AT ROMS
Attention all incoming 6th-grade students at Royal Oak Middle School (ROMS): Bulldog Bound is scheduled for August 15th, and we are excited to welcome you to our community. This event is designed to help new students transition smoothly into middle school.
Session Details:
- Session #1: 8:15 AM - 10:55 AM for students with last names A-K.
- Session #2: 12:25 PM - 2:40 PM for students with last names L-Z.
Can't attend your assigned session? No problem! Feel free to attend the other session; we will make it work.
Drop-off and Pick-up Instructions:
- Parents should drop off and pick up students at the gym doors at the back of the school near the football field.
Parent Social Gathering:
- While the students are getting acquainted with their new school, parents are invited to a social gathering hosted by the PTSA and PAC in the cafeteria. This is a great opportunity to meet other parents and learn more about the school community.
We look forward to seeing you at Bulldog Bound and starting the school year together.
WELCOME NEW HIRES
We are excited to welcome nearly 40 new staff members to our team, including math teachers, science teachers, secretaries, an occupational therapist, a psychologist, counselors, and more. Their expertise and dedication will help to enrich our students' educational experience.
Please visit our Facebook page to learn more about these new hires.
Additionally, we have strengthened our administrative staff and hired a third assistant principal at Royal Oak Middle School. We also welcomed a new Principal to Royal Oak High School. Our Communications Department Summer Intern, Sam Klonke, sat down with Principal Loomis to learn more about him. Use this link to watch.
FAMILY FAIR FOR ALL
Mark your calendar for a family fun night at Royal Oak High School. On August 29, over 20 groups and organizations will attend the Family Welcome Back Fair before the first home football game. This fair is for all new and old families at Royal Oak Schools. This is a chance for families to connect to groups and organizations that work with and provide services for our students. Attendees can also talk to staff and learn about programs provided by the district that can help their children succeed at Royal Oak Schools.
You can expect to see engaging booths with games and giveaways from the city of Royal Oak, SMART Bus, Teen Clean Closet, Royal Oak Youth Assistance, all of the school PTAs, ROPAC, Royal Oak Schools JEDI, Special Ed, before and after school programs, Blessings In A Backpack, and more. There will be meal deals, ice cream, and other items. The fair opens at 5:30 pm and runs until 6:45 pm. Everyone who attends will receive a wristband to get into the football game. This event will happen rain or shine - if raining, the event will take place in the ROHS cafeteria. This is not a drop-off event.
FOOD AND SUPPLIES DRIVES
Dynamic Life Chiropractic is hosting a back-to-school supplies drive at its office in Royal Oak. The company is new to the area and hopes to reach more families who might need its services by partnering with the schools.
We will soon be hosting a food drive for Blessings In A Backpack with the Royal Oak Cheer program. Blessings in a Backpack is a non-profit organization that provides hunger-free weekends to Royal Oak students who are food insecure. Look for more details next month.
WAYS TO BE INVOLVED
Join a PTA
Back to school is the perfect time to join a PTA/PTSA. A PTA Council is a coordinating body that promotes communication and cooperation among specific units and increases the capacity for service because of their unified strength. We are grateful to have parents and students (PTSA) who lead these organizations at each of our schools. Just click here for more on what the PTAs have done for the families and students at Royal Oak Schools. It's a fantastic list!
For information on joining one of our school PTAs, click here.
Join a Board of Education Committee
The School Board actively seeks the advice of community members through a wide range of advisory committees and councils. Citizens interested in serving on a Board Committee should complete an application form. There is a separate application form for students.
Applications are now being accepted for the Royal Oak Schools 2024-2025 committees, such as Arts & Preservation, Communications, and Wellness.
Applications are available on the district website, www.royaloakschools.org, Board of Education page under the “District” tab. Application forms should be returned to the Superintendent's Office, Royal Oak Schools, 800 DeVillen, Royal Oak, MI 48073, or e-mailed to Paula Sutterfield at Paula.Sutterfield@royaloakschools.org. For more information, contact Paula Sutterfield, Executive Assistant to the Board of Education and Superintendent, at 248-435-8400, ext. 1228. The deadline for submitting applications is Friday, September 15, 2024.
Volunteer
As a volunteer in Royal Oak Schools, you are a welcome addition to our school community! Volunteers are essential to the success and well-being of our students, programs, and schools. Prospective volunteers in Royal Oak Schools should first talk to the building principal about the specific needs for volunteering there.
The building principal will provide building-specific information about volunteering for occasional volunteers working in the building once or twice per year under the direct supervision of building faculty or staff members.
Ready to volunteer or need more information? Click here!
BE AN INFLUENCER
We are enhancing our profile on Niche and would love your help! Niche is offering all alums, parents, and school community members an opportunity to leave feedback about our outstanding schools. What is Niche? Niche is an online search platform connecting people to their future schools with in-depth profiles of schools, robust data, and school reviews and ratings. We value your feedback! Please help us share stories of your success at Royal Oak Schools by writing a review and assisting future students in finding their place in our district. We appreciate your support! Use this link to begin.
100 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE
Oakland Elementary School is planning a celebration for its 100th anniversary. Oakland Elementary opened in 1924 and has since undergone extensive renovations and additions, modernizing the technology and infrastructure while adding new spaces to better support students and staff.
Join us on September 20 for a celebration of 100 years of excellence at Oakland. The event starts at 6 p.m. and will include 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 alums and other key people to be interviewed for a documentary on the school's history. Please use this link if you or someone you know is interested in participating.
SUMMER SCRAPBOOK
Police Youth Academy
ROHS Student Trip to Europe
Staff Success
SUMMER SCHOOL RULES
Our summer school sessions have been in full swing, and our elementary students have been engaged in meaningful STEM opportunities throughout the summer session. The focus for our elementary summer learning program has been on math, reading, and some Lego-based, hands-on learning opportunities that provide students with making connections with math and science.
The two elementary summer learning sessions ran from June 24 to August 1, with a short break in between. One hundred fifty-six students were enrolled in our elementary summer learning program.
We also had our credit recovery summer program at the high school, and students could take advantage of the summer months to recapture credits needed towards their graduation. We’re thankful that the students and families are taking advantage of this opportunity to get back on track and move successfully forward to their graduation.
GREEN TEAM BUILDING
As Royal Oak Schools moves towards a greener future, we are excited to announce the formation of Green Teams at our schools. These teams will play a crucial role in our new composting and zero-waste initiatives, set to begin this fall and roll out throughout the year.
To help identify potential Green Team members, in partnership with the City of Royal Oak Sustainability department, we are hosting an informational session to gauge interest and provide a high-level overview of what these teams could look like. We aim to have enthusiastic volunteers identified for each school, ensuring our environmental programs' smooth and successful implementation.
Additionally, we encourage everyone to take advantage of volunteer opportunities at the Royal Oak Farmer’s Market composting and zero-waste education events. These events are an excellent way to learn about composting firsthand and gain insights into what to expect when our schools start their composting programs this school year.
We believe that through community involvement and education, we can foster a culture of sustainability and environmental stewardship within our schools.
The next meeting, which is open to anyone, is August 6 from 4 - 5:30 pm at the Administrative Offices.
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. 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.
Apple - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/royal-oak-schools/id6459477667
Google - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.relianceco.cma.RoyalOakSchools
DATES FOR AUGUST
August is National Back To School month
August 1 - Finance and Facilities Committee Meeting 6:00 PM
August 4 - Green Schools Team Meeting
August 7 - Oakland 100 Planning Meeting
August 8 - Board of Education Regular Meeting 6:30 PM
August 12 - International Youth Day
August 15 - Bulldog Bound at ROMS
August 26 - First Day of School
August 29 - Family Welcome Back Night 5:30 PM/First Home Football Game
September 2 - Labor Day/No School
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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