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

In This Issue

  • May Update
  • Summer Learning
  • Website Makeover
  • Partnership With Oakland County Football Club
  • Around The District Snapshots
  • Senior Projects
  • ROMS Legacy Day
  • Dr. Kim's Corner
  • Welcome New Hires
  • School Calendar: May Dates
  • Open Positions In The District
  • Did You See It On Social?
Hello May!

MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT

Summer is around the corner and our students and staff are preparing for the end of the 2021-22 school year. Throughout this year, we have remained committed to the needs of our students and families and approached our work with renewed optimism. As the Superintendent I am very proud of our district staff, and our volunteers and community groups who support us all year, regardless of the tough conditions we have all faced.

This is the final year of construction from the 2017 Bond that was passed by our community in November 2017. Churchill, Royal Oak Middle School, Northwood Elementary and our Maintenance & Transportation buildings will all see improvements this summer. Some work has already started on weekends and after-school hours. We are hopeful that we can plan community events for the fall so that the updates and improvements can be witnessed by all of you.

Our school district will also host summer school classes free of charge again this summer as we take advantage of the relief money awarded to schools. Those details are available on our website and registration is taking place now.

May is a great time for recognizing the accomplishments of our staff and students. Staff Appreciation is celebrated next week. Take a moment to drop a message to any and all staff who have supported you and your children this year. It is always nice to hear the good news stories of our wonderful community. I would like to extend my thanks and appreciation for all of the hard-working and caring staff we have in our district. I'm so fortunate to be surrounded by such talented individuals!

Engage In Learning This Summer

SUMMER LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUR CHILD

2022 Summer Sports Camps

Check out the offerings for the summer in the Royal Oak Schools Summer Sports Camp brochure. Sign-up is now open for a variety of activities like basketball, soccer, tennis, softball, cheerleading volleyball, t-ball, football, and baseball.

Registrations will be accepted up to two business days before the start of the camp. Please register as early as possible since the number of children registered determines whether we can run a particular camp. Go to our Summer Sports Camp 2022 webpage for more details.

You must send your registration form to Royal Oak High School, 1500 Lexington Blvd., Royal Oak 48073, Attention Athletic Department, or email the registration form to pam.moore@royaloakschools.org to be registered.

2022 Summer School

Students can take part in engaging experiences while learning during Royal Oak Schools summer learning programs! Subjects include English language arts, mathematics, social studies, science, and other innovative opportunities for free!

High School students can sign up for a credit recovery course or a PSAT/SAT Readiness Program. (The PSAT/SAT Readiness Program is the only option offered virtual/remote.)

Some opportunities are subject to staffing availability. All classes will be held in person. Certified teachers will be leading the learning activities. Registration begins this month.

For more details head over to royaloakschools.org.

Ready For A Makeover?

WEBSITE MAKEOVER HAPPENING THIS SUMMER

We are in the process of a website makeover for Royal Oak Schools. Families, staff, and community members can give input on what they think is the most important part of a website by taking our website survey. The survey can be found at this link.

Some areas to consider on the website are where to find information on each school, lunch menus, or activities. What areas do you want to see on the front page? We want to know if quick links to information are more important to our stakeholders or more photos or videos of our students. Be sure to leave your feedback or email us at communications@royaloakschools.org, subject line: Website Makeover, and help us build a better website that suits everyone in our district.

OCFC To Play Home Games At ROHS Stadium

ROYAL OAK SCHOOLS ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP WITH FOOTBALL CLUB

Royal Oak Schools is incredibly excited to announce that the Oakland County Football Club will be playing its seven home matches at the Royal Oak High School stadium starting May 21, 2022.

“Oakland County FC is moving its roots back to where they called home in 2017: Royal Oak Stadium,” said Nick Morana, Co-Owner of the team. “The pre-professional soccer club, playing in the highest level of amateur soccer in the United States, USL League Two, embarks on a new journey in 2022 as their newly renovated home field will provide OCFC friends, fans, and families, an enhanced game-day experience unlike anything else in the club's six-year history.”

The season kicks off on May 21 at ROHS with a game geared toward families and students of Royal Oak.

“This year, OCFC will be partnering up with Royal Oak Schools as we look to deepen our ties with the city and surrounding areas,” said Morana. “For each Royal Oak school family member or student that purchases a ticket to the match for the home opener on May 21, a contribution will be made to Royal Oak Schools.”

A promo code will be posted on both the Royal Oak Schools and OCFC’s websites. The code will generate monies back to Royal Oak Schools when used to purchase tickets to the home-opener. A check will be presented to Royal Oak Schools during the game. The ticket must be purchased online with this promo code: ROSCHOOLS.

To read the full article - use this link.

Snapshots Around The District

AROUND THE DISTRICT

Students at Addams Elementary help to plant trees on Arbor Day.

Keller Elementary 4th graders started their own Keller Clean Up Crew after a student noticed trash on the playground. A formal proposal for the group was approved and they work together to clean up the playground once a week!

Northwood 2nd graders in Ms. Burton's class made fleece throws for Beaumont Hospital Hospice. The students were learning about community and civic responsibilities.

Oak Ridge kindergarten students observing and interacting with baby chicks in Miss Lauinger, Mrs. Mann, and Ms. Mecano's classes !

Families with students in Royal Oak's English Language Development program met for a family field trip at the DIA! The group saw art from all around the world and made connections to their own backgrounds and cultures. Isabella and Andre, siblings from Keller Elementary, pose with a car in the "Detroit Style: Car Design in the Motor City" exhibit at the DIA and show off their scavenger hunt.

Thursday is the new favorite day of the week because Upton Elementary is hosting a Chess Club for 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders on Thursdays. This after-school club is a hit with the 30+ members using donated chess sets from the Upton community. Students of all skill levels have joined the 6-week club and will soon be visited by the ROHS Chess Club!

Royal Oak Middle School students worked hard cleaning up the ROMS Patio. It was their idea to spruce it up and add some flowers and mulch. There was also a parent donation. Watch for updates on our social media. Pictured: Aidan Hall (7th), Kendall Frentz (7th), Damien Gilbert (7th), Samantha English (7th), Maddie Tschirhart (7th), Haley Pattison (7th), Gwen McInerney (8th) and Vivian Mulally (8th)

Royal Oak High School 10th, 11th, and 12th-grade German students participated in the University of Michigan's annual German Day competition. This year's theme was Erzählkunst or Storytelling and Royal Oak German students created original comics, skits, cooking shows, music, and much more around this theme. Their creations were submitted to German Day and judged by University of Michigan professors and German students. Our students did very well and were awarded prizes in many categories. See the list of winners with this link.

Program Spotlight

SERVICE LEARNING PROJECTS

Students in ROHS teacher Leah Barnett's English language art (ELA12) class prepared senior service projects that involved making connections with literature, researching social issues, and designing and carrying out projects that make a difference for people, animals, and/or the environment. Barnett says she designed this project six years ago and is now joined by colleague Lindsay Cole in facilitating these senior projects that allow students to become civically engaged.

Each semester students in ELA 12 prepare senior projects that involve a thoughtful process, reflection on a goal, and a presentation to the class.

"My primary objective for the class is that students leave the class, viewing themselves as change agents who have the tools, skills, and confidence to make their voices heard." - Leah Barnett

This year Barnett, and two of her students, presented the program at the April Board of Ed meeting.

Senior Noah Alnakash presented his campaign to end bullying. He choose Stomp Out Bullying as his cause. Senior Dakari Thomas presented on NORD, National Organization for Rare Disorders.

Leah Barnett with Noah Alnakash and Dakari Thomas.

Through this project, students have created fundraisers and donated over 20,000 items to charity. They have given over 2,800 hours of volunteering and raised over $191,894.

Use this link to watch their presentation (it starts about 10 minutes in).

ROMS LEGACY DAY

Tuesday, April 19th, marked the culmination of the Middle Years Programme (MYP) Community project aka Legacy Day. Over the last two and a half months, the entire ROMS 8th grade class has engaged in the project at Royal Oak Middle School through their flex classes. Students worked in small group trios, as outlined in the guidelines set forth by the International Baccalaureate's MYP, on projects that they were passionate about and with the aim of conducting an activity or advocating for a community group in service of others.

Students came ready to present their projects throughout the day to their sixth and seventh grade peers. The work ROMS students completed was impressive with topics ranging from saving animals who are abused by neglect and fighting, random acts of kindness campaigns, advocacy for recycling and veterans awareness. Students also engaged in advocacy for women’s rights and LBGTQIA rights, city and school beautification, pollution awareness, advocacy for female products in school restrooms, and advocacy for charitable organizations. One group even made a short film!

The 8th grade students at ROMS have left their marks on the community with great and impactful ideas and actions that support the tenets of the MYP which is at the forefront of what we do here at ROMS. Onward! Written by Deniescha Malone, MYP Coordinator

See the highlights with this link.

#drkimscorner

THIS MONTH IN THE CORNER

Happy May everyone! Hopefully, it won’t snow this month! LOL!

May marks the start of Asian American/Pacific Islander month.

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPI Heritage Month) is an annual celebration that recognizes the historical and cultural contributions of individuals and groups of Asian and Pacific Islander descent to the United States. The AAPI umbrella term includes cultures from the entire Asian continent—including East, Southeast, and South Asia—and the Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. As of 2019, there were about 22.9 million people of Asian or Pacific Islander descent in the United States, according to the Pew Research Center.

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have contributed significantly to many facets of American culture and society, including science and medicine, literature and art, sports and recreation, government and politics, and activism and law. In 2021, Kamala Harris became the first Asian American Vice President of the United States. In film history, AAPI people, stories, and traditions have become more visible with South Korean director Bong Joon Ho’s "Parasite" winning the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2019 and the release of "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings" in 2021, debuting Marvel’s first Asian superhero.

AAPI month is celebrated in May because it commemorates the immigration of the first Japanese people to the United States on May 7, 1843.

AAPI month originated with Congress in 1978. Then-president Jimmy Carter started a week-long celebration in the first week of May, and over the next decade, presidents passed annual proclamations sort of renewing the idea that we need to celebrate Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders for this week-long period.

Today, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are the fastest-growing racial group in the United States. AAPI Heritage Month celebrates the unique journey of all AAPI immigrants and citizens in the United States and their unique life experiences, traditions, and cultures.

Follow this link for resources regarding AAPI month, including an extensive book list that features AAPI authors and characters.

Check out more in Dr. Kim's Corner.

Welcome!

WELCOME TO ROS

Please welcome the following educators who were recently hired at Royal Oak Schools. We are so happy you are here.

Top Row: Alia Aglan, Elizabeth Williams-Pittman, Lisa Owens Second Row: Andrea Grove, Heather Frye
Top Row: Alia Aglan, Elizabeth Williams-Pittman, Lisa Owens Second Row: Andrea Grove, Heather Frye
  • Alia Aglan, Psychologist - ROMS/ROHS
  • Mitchell Berkley, Paraprofessional - Addams Elementary
  • Heather Frye, Adult Education Teacher - Churchill Community Ed
  • Andrea Grove, Counselor - Royal Oak High School
  • Lisa Owens, Speech/Language Pathologist - Addams ECC
  • Elizabeth Williams-Pittman, Teacher - Addams Elementary
Join Us June 27

ANNUAL FOUNDATION GOLF OUTING IN JUNE

It's time to register for the Royal Oak Schools Foundation 28th Annual Golf Outing and BBQ! This annual fundraiser is scheduled for Monday, June 27, at the beautiful Metamora Golf and Country Club. Along with 18 holes of golf, there will be a delicious barbecue created by the club’s own BBQ Pitmaster.

For those who don’t golf but would like to join in the fun, tickets are available for only the barbecue. Prizes for on-course contests and raffles will add to the day’s activities.

The Foundation’s mission is to “enrich lives through educational opportunity” and provides substantial support each year to projects that benefit students in Royal Oak Schools. This year, the Foundation will financially support programs and activities related to social-emotional learning and well-being, which has become one of the most vital student needs during the unprecedented events of the past two years. Funds will be used to support professional development, including conferences and in-district training for staff. In addition, the funds will be used to explore and acquire programming and materials to be used in the classrooms and student groups across the district.

For more information and to register for the 2022 ROSF Golf Outing, visit royaloakschoolsfoundation.org.

Important Dates for May

MAY DATES TO REMEMBER

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

May is Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

May 1 School Principals Day

May 2-6 Teacher Appreciation Week

May 6 School Lunch Hero Day

May 11, 18, 25 Late Start Wednesdays

May 12 Board of Education Meeting

May 30 Memorial Day Holiday - No School

MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR THESE JUNE DATES

June 2: Churchill Community High School Graduation

June 6: ROHS Commencement

June 17: Last day of school - half day

June 27 - ROSF Golf Outing

Did you see it on social?

Click on the provided links to see more!

On Facebook: Congratulations to the ROHS Ravens Robotics team - made it to the State Championship and was invited to the World Championship in Houston!
On InstagramStudents from Northwood Elementary making blankets for Beaumont Hospice.
On Twitter: Senator McMorrow shares the book she read to 5th graders at Addams Elementary.
On YouTube: You don't want to miss watching these performances from students and teachers at ROJAM! Watch more with this link.

Follow us on:

JOB OPENINGS AT ROYAL OAK SCHOOLS

JOB OPENINGS

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: https://bit.ly/2PrEckt.

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.

Maintenance Team: These are full-time positions, hired through ABM. Apply online at: https://tinyurl.com/3d5ae9rs.

Foodservice workers and cashiers: Chartwells Food Service is hiring food prep workers, service station set up, serving meals to students, and running the register. This position is Monday through Friday from approximately 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Uniforms will be provided, along with a free lunch.

Bus Drivers: Durham School Services is hiring for our transportation department. A minimum of 20 hours is guaranteed with options for more. Contact James Holls at Durham to apply: jholls@durhamschoolservices.com.

Instructional and administrative positions: Check the Oakland Schools Consortium portal at http://bit.ly/ROSJobs. Employment opportunities with Royal Oak Schools can be found on our website under Employment/HR. If you have further questions, feel free to 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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The District Dispatch Mission: To inform all with an interest 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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