THE DISTRICT DISPATCH Royal Oak Schools news, straight to your inbox

DECEMBER 2024

In This Issue

• Message From Our Superintendent
• New Employees
• Update Your Family Information
• Developmental Kindergarten/Kindergarten Information Night
• Royal Oak Schools Free Skate Nights
• MiHEART Safe Schools
• Green Teams Update
• Around The District
• Curriculum Insights: Student Broadcasting
• The Deeper Dive
• Fall Sports Wrap
• Robotics Grant
• Chromebook Accessibility
• MLK Jr. Day - Save The Date
• Did You See It On Social?
• December Calendar
• Job Postings In The District

LOOKING AHEAD

Dear Royal Oak Schools Families,

Seasons Greetings!

The next three weeks of learning in our district will be meaningful and eventful. This is also a good time to remind families of our protocols for inclement weather. In the event that we need to cancel school, the district evaluates several conditions, including the impact of the weather in our local area. We use various tools to notify our community, so please ensure that your family’s contact information in MISTAR, including emergency contacts, is up to date. (See article below.)

Our return to school date after the winter recess will be Monday, January 6, 2025.

On Monday, January 20, Royal Oak Schools will collaborate with Berkley Schools and the Clawson School District to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This event will include educational and volunteer opportunities, such as a walk within the Berkley community, which is hosting this year's celebration. The event is open to all students, staff, and families. More information will be shared soon.

On Wednesday evening, January 30, 2025, each elementary school will host its Kindergarten Information Night. Parents will have the opportunity to learn valuable information about our Kindergarten and Developmental Kindergarten (DK) programs and curriculum, including details about the 2025-26 enrollment process. Additional information can be found on our website and later in this edition of the Dispatch.

As the year comes to a close, may this holiday season bring you peace, joy, and cherished moments with family and friends. Wishing you a happy and healthy 2025!

- Mary Beth Fitzpatrick, Superintendent Royal Oak Schools

KEEPING INFORMATION CURRENT

As the inclement weather approaches, we may need to get in touch with families in an emergency or provide important updates, so please ensure your contact information is up to date in MISTAR, including your child's emergency contact. The district uses several ways to communicate with families to ensure that our stakeholders promptly receive the news they need. Changing your email address? New telephone number? Check your information in MISTAR and take a moment to update it. Families can edit their contact information, add ways they would like to receive communications, or change their password to something easily remembered in the MISTAR Parent Portal.

Did you know you can receive text messages and emails from the district? You need to opt-in to receive texts in MISTAR. If you want to receive communication in your preferred language, you must also enter that in MISTAR. Effective communication lies at the heart of our diverse community. By ensuring our communications are accessible to all, we create a space where every family feels valued.

You can use this link to get started: https://mistar.oakland.k12.mi.us/royaloak/ParentPortal/.

Address changes cannot be updated using the Parent Portal. All address changes must be made with the District Central Enrollment Office at 800 DeVillen, Royal Oak, MI 48073.

KINDERGARTEN NIGHT

We are excited to welcome our future kindergarteners and their families to Kindergarten Information Night on Thursday, January 30, 2025! This special evening is an opportunity to meet our dedicated staff, learn about our kindergarten and developmental kindergarten programs, and explore Royal Oak Schools. Families will gain valuable information about the enrollment process and the exciting journey that awaits their children.

DK/Kindergarten Enrollment for Royal Oak Schools Residents for the 2025-2026 school year begins Monday, February 3, 2025.

What is Developmental Kindergarten?

Developmental Kindergarten (DK) allows students to spend additional time physically and emotionally developing in a safe and secure environment before Kindergarten. Students in DK experience similar opportunities as other Kindergarten students but are taught at a pace and intensity dependent on individual readiness.

• Developmental Kindergarten follows the same laws and enrollment requirements as traditional kindergarten.

Age Requirements for Enrollment

• Standard Kindergarten Eligibility: Children must be five (5) years old on or before September 1, 2025, to enroll in kindergarten.
• Kindergarten Age Waiver Option: If your child turns five (5) between September 2 and December 1, 2025, they may still be enrolled. Parents/guardians must notify the district in writing at the time of enrollment by completing a Kindergarten Age Waiver form.

We look forward to welcoming our youngest learners to our Community Of Excellence! For questions or additional information, visit our website or contact your local school.

FREE SKATE DAYS

We are excited to announce the return of Royal Oak Schools Free Skate Days, sponsored by M3 Investment Services! These fun-filled evenings offer students an opportunity to enjoy ice skating while connecting with friends and classmates in downtown Royal Oak.

Mark your calendars for the following dates:

• Wednesday, December 11
• Wednesday, January 8
• Wednesday, January 22
• Wednesday, February 5

Students at Royal Oak Middle School and Royal Oak High School skate for free on these dates with a valid school ID. Elementary students and their parents/guardians can mention their school for free entry (a parent or guardian must be present to confirm).

Join us for these exciting events as we celebrate community and fun on the ice!

MI HEARTSAFE SCHOOLS

Royal Oak Schools is honored to share that multiple schools in our district have earned recognition as MI HEARTSafe Schools by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

Here’s how our schools shine:

• First-Time Recognition: Oak Ridge Elementary and Oakland Elementary have joined the MI HEARTSafe family for the first time!
• Continuing Excellence: Royal Oak High School maintains its status as a MI HEARTSafe School, demonstrating ongoing commitment.
• Renewed Recognition: Keller Elementary successfully renewed its MI HEARTSafe designation, ensuring continued focus on safety.

This achievement underscores our district’s dedication to creating a safe environment for all students and staff. Congratulations to the teams who made this recognition possible! Use this link to read all about it.

GOING GREEN

Our Green Teams are making great strides in sustainability, and we need your help! We're looking for volunteers to assist students with composting during lunchtime in our school cafeterias. Short shifts are available, and all volunteers must complete a background check. To sign up, simply contact the school of your choice.

What’s New in Our Green Efforts?

• The high school now uses compostable boats. Compostable boats are food containers made from materials that can break down and be returned to the soil, such as paper, bamboo, or pinewood.
• All schools have transitioned to compostable trays.
• Oakland and Oak Ridge have introduced compostable cups.

Compostable products are made from organic elements or plants that break down over time and produce humus, which is a rich part of soil.

Stay tuned for more exciting updates as we continue to expand our sustainability program through recycling and creating our own compost!

STUDENT BROADCASTING

SPOTLIGHT ON CREATIVITY IN ACTION

Welcome to this month’s episode of Insight Into Learning! We’re excited to spotlight a unique and creative side of Royal Oak Schools, our student broadcasting programs. From elementary to middle school, students learn how to tell stories, share news, and connect with their communities through the art of broadcasting. Watch the video below and explore with us their incredible work and the skills they’re developing along the way. And don’t forget to check back for Part 2, where we’ll dive into the high school broadcasting program at ROHS!

THE LATEST IN DEI

Greetings from the Deeper Dive!

As the school year seems to be flying along so quickly, I invite everyone to take a moment to pause and reflect on positive moments that have taken place thus far. November was National Gratitude Month, and it offered many opportunities to express gratitude. Royal Oak Schools is grateful for all of our students, caregivers, staff, and community members. We exude excellence because of your input, support, and, most importantly–your existence! Thank you for all that you do! The upcoming December break may offer additional time to gather with loved ones to express gratitude.

Together with family, friends, coworkers, or even as a personal journal–I invite you to join in on our ABCs of Gratitude Challenge. Use this link to access a chart that can be displayed on your refrigerator, bulletin board, or common workspace.

In our schools, presentations to students continued throughout the last few months, with emphasis on diversity, equity, inclusion, and neurodiversity. Neurodiversity is a term that describes the natural variety of ways that people's brains work and process information. For our DEI presentations, we have continued to celebrate differences and talk about the importance of being upstanders.

One of our amazing Teacher Consultants, Melissa Walega, has partnered with administrators, social workers, and teachers to share information, presentations, and resources on neurodiversity. Students have been excited to ask questions and also share what they know about neurodiversity, accommodations, accessibility, and much more.

Many of our staff members have also been participating in the Oakland Schools “Neurodiversity in Education Series: Building Understanding, Fostering Affirming Support” series. During this series, we have learned more about neurodiversity-affirming practices and the best ways to offer support in education.

As continual learners, it is always great to seek opportunities to learn more about the world around us and all of the people in it. Please use this link to find out more about embracing differences, and to start or continue the conversation about neurodiversity together with family and friends.

On a final note, please save and share the date: Monday, January 20, 2025. On this day, we will come together again with the Berkley and Clawson communities to celebrate unity and the impact of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. If you have joined us for this annual event in the past, you know that it always offers a great opportunity to celebrate Dr. King’s legacy– while also engaging in service projects and giving back to the community. Please stay tuned to our district, city, and school communications for further details on this amazing event. Until then, stay warm, stay safe, and stay connected to one another as we head into a brand new year!

~Ashley Phillips, DEI Coordinator

GRANT EXTENDS OPPORTUNITY TO ALL STUDENTS

This year, we’re excited to share that Royal Oak Schools is once again participating in the annual 99h MDE (Michigan Department of Education) grant, which focuses on providing robotics and engineering opportunities for students in grades K-12. Thanks to this support, students across all grade levels can join a robotics team and experience the excitement of hands-on STEM learning!

Currently, Royal Oak Schools hosts robotics teams at all six elementary schools, as well as at the middle and high schools. Across these teams:

• 40 elementary students participate in robotics programs.
• 12 students are part of the middle school team.
• 30 students are active on the high school team.

These teams meet weekly, working together to design, build, and program robots in preparation for upcoming competitions. By joining a robotics team, students not only learn about robotics but also develop essential skills that will benefit them throughout their lives.

Here’s how our robotics programs positively impact our students:

• Mentorship: Students receive guidance from mentors, who may include teachers, parents, engineers, or other professionals with expertise in robotics, engineering, or programming.
• Teamwork: Robotics fosters collaboration, helping students build communication, problem-solving, and conflict-resolution skills.
• STEM Skills: Hands-on activities in robotics introduce students to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) concepts, including mechanics, electronics, programming, and design.
• Project-Based Learning: Students apply their knowledge to real-world challenges, developing critical thinking, creativity, and innovative problem-solving skills.
• Competition: Participating in robotics competitions motivates students and gives them a platform to showcase their abilities by completing specific challenges.
• Community Outreach: Robotics teams often engage with the community through STEM workshops, demonstrations, and presentations, inspiring others and spreading awareness of STEM education.

We’re proud of the incredible work our robotics teams are doing and look forward to seeing their continued growth and success!

UNLOCK FEATURES FOR ACCESSIBILITY

Did you know all Chromebooks come equipped with built-in accessibility tools to support students? Two standout features, Select-to-Speak and Dictation, make learning and communication even more accessible!

Select-to-Speak: This tool reads text aloud from any page. Students can highlight the desired text, press Search key + S, and hear it read back. To enable, visit the Accessibility settings on the Chromebook.

Dictation: Typing by voice is easy with this feature. After enabling Dictation in Accessibility settings, students can press Search key+ D and speak into the Chromebook, which converts their words into text in any field.

These tools can empower students to engage with their learning in new ways! For more details, visit: Chromebook Accessibility Support.

SAVE THE DATE

Royal Oak Schools, Berkley Schools, and Clawson Schools are proud to partner once again for the annual MLK Jr. Day of Service, a day dedicated to honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through community service, reflection, and unity. This year’s event will be held at Berkley High School on Monday, January 20, 2025.

Join us for a meaningful day filled with opportunities to make a difference:

• Enjoy a light breakfast starting at 9:00 AM, followed by inspiring speakers, choir performances, and opportunities to connect with others.
• Honor Dr. King: Walk together to celebrate Dr. King’s vision of equality and justice.
• Hands-On Activities: Participate in blanket-making, donation sorting, and card-making projects.

This annual event is a powerful reminder of the strength in unity and the importance of giving back. Stay tuned for more details about the full schedule and additional activities. Let’s come together to honor Dr. King’s legacy by making this "A Day On, Not a Day Off"!

DID YOU SEE IT ON SOCIAL?

ICYMI: Here's the link to watch the All-City Vocal Concert.

Follow us on:

• Instagram @roschools
• Facebook @RoyalOakSchools
• LinkedIn @Royal-Oak
• TikTok @royal.oak.schools
• X @RoyalOakSchools
• YouTube Royal Oak Schools

DATES FOR DECEMBER

December 2 - Special Education Day

December 9-15 - Computer Science Education Week

December 11 & 18 - Late Start

December 12 - Board of Education Meeting

December 23 - January 3 - No School/Holiday Break

📅 Use this link to review the calendar on our website under District/Calendars.

🎶 For more event details, click here to go to our District-Wide Performing Arts Calendar!

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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