Royal Oak Schools

SEPTEMBER 2024

A COLLABORATIVE SUCCESS
On August 22, Royal Oak High School buzzed with enthusiasm as our 2nd annual Launch into Learning professional development event brought together educators and staff for a day of collaborative growth and inspiration. This event was more than just an opportunity for professional development; it was a crucial step in aligning our efforts with Royal Oak Schools mission to foster an inclusive, diverse, and growth-minded learning environment.

With approximately 80 professional development sessions offered throughout the morning, an impressive 95% were facilitated by our very own Royal Oak staff. This remarkable participation highlights the strength of our community of learners and underscores the wealth of knowledge and expertise that our teachers, staff, and administrators bring to the table.

‘The energy in the building was palpable,’ said Dr. Joseph Youanes. ‘It’s incredible to see our staff not only engaging with new ideas but also leading the charge in shaping the future of our district.
As we continue our journey into the new school year, the lessons and connections made during Launch into Learning will undoubtedly fuel our collective efforts to create a thriving, dynamic learning community. Events like these are essential in ensuring that Royal Oak Schools remains a community of excellence, where every educator is empowered to contribute to a student-first environment that adapts to the dynamic needs of our world.

AUGUST 2024

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.

JULY 2024

Insight Into Learning: PYP Exhibition

At Keller Elementary, our 5th-grade students recently wrapped up their remarkable 5th-grade exhibition projects, demonstrating the power of inquiry-based learning and their dedication to making a positive impact on the world around them. These projects were not just academic exercises; they were deeply rooted in real-world issues that resonate with our mission to foster growth-minded students ready to adapt to a dynamic world.

A Journey of Discovery and Impact
The 5th-grade exhibition is a culminating experience where students embark on a journey of research and exploration. Each student selected a topic that they are passionate about and that addresses significant global or community issues. From environmental conservation to social justice, our students showcased their commitment to creating a better future.

We are immensely proud of our 5th graders and their outstanding exhibition projects. They have set a high standard for future classes and have proven that they are ready to make meaningful contributions to our community and beyond.

JUNE 2024

We are very excited to welcome our incoming students for the 2024-25 school year! Three events will take place before the start of the next school year. These events include a screening day, a spring social event at the child’s enrolled school, and a teacher meet ‘n’ greet in the fall.

During the month of May, we had kindergarten screening days for our incoming kindergarten/DK students. This was a wonderful opportunity for the students to interact with each other and the elementary staff at each of our schools. It is also an opportunity for Royal Oak Schools staff to learn more about each student individually so everyone can hit the ground running in the first couple of weeks of school.

Students who participated in the Kindergarten screening event with teachers and staff rotated through stations focused on literacy, numeracy, fine motor skills, and speech and language skills.

While the students were engaged in these activities, the families spent some time with the building principal to learn more about Royal Oak Schools and some of the offerings we provide. Families were also encouraged to complete a student questionnaire on their child.

We believe that these Kindergarten screening events really help us better understand some of our incoming Kindergarten students and the needs and supports that they will require to be successful in our schools.

Our teachers, administrators, and staff will gather information during these events to identify specific student support. Having this information early helps our teachers and staff build a Kindergarten program that supports and welcomes all students.

MAY 2024

JUSTICE 101

The Justice 101 Program provides children in elementary schools in Royal Oak with the opportunity to gain knowledge about the court system and experience a tour of the courthouse, including observing open court proceedings.

Throughout the school year, Judge Meinecke engages with elementary school classes to educate them on the various levels and functions of the judiciary, clarify legal terminology, caution against succumbing to peer pressure, and prepare them for their visit to the courthouse the following day.

The next day, students are also given a guided tour of the courthouse, including a visit to the judge's chambers. They have the chance to witness open court proceedings, with select children invited to sit in the jury box to get an up-close look at some of the court proceedings, which really engages the students.

Following the court session, the judge engages in a discussion with the children to reflect on their observations and emphasize the significance of the experience. Subsequently, the children are escorted to the Royal Oak police department for a tour and discussion.

The Justice 101 program provides a valuable opportunity for our students and helps strengthen their understanding of our court and judicial system and process. Judge Meinecke takes the time to get to know all of our students in 5th grade and engages them in some conversations and learning.

CURRICULUM INSIGHTS SPOTLIGHT: DIPLOMA PROGRAMME

Our IB Diploma Programme (DP) offers students at Royal Oak High School an opportunity to take part in a two-year program that allows them to go beyond traditional learning and deepen their understanding. Students engage in six classes as part of our DP program. Classes included are Language Acquisition, Language and Literature, Individual and Societies, Mathematics, Science, and the Arts.

Students who take part in our IB Diploma Programme will gain increased confidence, stronger communication and reasoning skills within specific content areas, and the ability to make specific connections between multiple content areas.

We are proud of the work that our teachers have done to provide these IB Diploma Programme opportunities for our students at Royal Oak High School. Our students benefit from the IB Diploma Programme and are progressing greatly!

APRIL 2024

IB DP ROHS EVALUATION VISIT

During the week of February 26-March 1, the IB Diploma Programme at Royal Oak High School hosted its program evaluation visit. The visitation was virtual and included interviews with the DP Coordinator (Leah Barnett), DP teachers, Board members, students, and administrators.

At the conclusion of the visit, the evaluators gave a verbal report praising our teachers, students, and program design. Of course, they were impressed by Barnett's hard work during the visit and her coordination of the program.

As with all IB visits, we are awaiting the written report that will reiterate the accolades and identify opportunities for growth. We’re excited about the opportunity that our students in Royal Oak have to engage in the IB experience and look forward to supporting them as they learn and grow.

MARCH 2024

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMMING
This month’s Insight Into Curriculum video series focuses on our after school programming. Beyond the Bell was created to provide students at all levels with opportunities to participate in some after school learning experiences. Some of the opportunities focus on online math tutoring for students in grades K-12. Students participating in these online math tutoring sessions will receive targeted instructional support based on their academic needs.

Also included in our Beyond the Bell programming offerings are Cranbrook Science experiences and our Pretty Brown Girls program, which focuses on positively impacting, promoting, and empowering black and brown girls. Self-care, goal setting, building relationships, and being the best you can be are the focal points of this program for students in grades 6-12.

February 2024

In case you missed it, we released a video created for Insights Into Curriculum on Windows and Mirrors at our February board meeting. This video focuses on the concept of "windows and mirrors" for our students in Royal Oak Schools. This concept and philosophy focus on ensuring that our students have opportunities to see themselves (mirrors) and others' perspectives (windows) in the classroom, curriculum, and our instructional approach.

Our goal is to provide a framework for inclusive classroom practices that provide students with these opportunities to grow, learn, and see themselves and others in our schools and classrooms. Students will be more successful in our schools when we can increase these “window” opportunities so that they can learn more about life from a different perspective. Also, it’s equally important to provide students with “mirror” experiences that help them feel more connected to their classroom and school community by seeing a part of themselves reflected in it.

January 2024

ROBOTICS GRANT OPPORTUNITY
As part of the 2023-2024 State School Aid Act, Section 99h appropriated $6,573,200 for the 23-24 school year for competitive grants to districts that provide students in grades pre through K-12 with increased opportunities to improve math, science, and technology skills by participating in events hosted by science and technology development programs.

We have recently completed this annual Robotics grant application that includes seventeen teams of Royal Oak Students! The student robotics teams come from Keller Elementary, ROMS, and ROHS. These students will compete in specific robotics competitions across the state of Michigan.

Each team has a sponsor and coach who works with the students at all levels to help them prepare for the robotics competition and also helps develop their math, science, and technology skills. One of the coaches is a teacher at Keller, Jeanette McLoud; the other coaches work in engineering and technology. Some sponsors include DTE, Lawrence Tech University, and Qualcomm Wireless Technology.

December 2023

TRAUMA-INFORMED UPDATE

As of November, we are proud to report that over ninety teachers and staff were trained in Trauma-Informed leadership practices! As a reminder, during the 2022-2023 school year, two cohort groups of administrators and teacher leaders completed three full-day sessions with a Trauma-Informed consultant and the ten modules in the trauma-informed curriculum. There were a total of sixty-two participants in both cohort groups.

In August, we offered another three-day session for teachers and staff interested in completing the trauma-informed leadership training. A total of 30 teachers and staff members participated in the training in August.

Also, in August, there was a two-day training for anyone who had been trauma-informed trained and wanted to become a qualified trainer for trauma-informed leadership work. We were fortunate enough to have twenty-two teachers, admins, and staff eager to complete the training and become trauma-informed trainers for our school district.

The district team of trainers has been meeting, planning, and getting ready to begin their training and are very excited to do so. We have 105 staff members who have shown an interest in getting trained, and our next cohort group will begin in December.

This will also be the first time our Royal Oak teachers, staff, and administrators will provide the training. What a wonderful place to be regarding increasing our understanding of trauma and how it impacts our students and staff!

TRAILS Program- Insight Into Curriculum Video

This month’s Insight Into Curriculum video series focuses on our TRAILS program. The TRAILS program aims to provide students between the ages of 18-26 with an opportunity to focus on functional academics in reading, math, and daily living experiences with an emphasis on applying these skills in the community and into adulthood. Also, a part of the TRAILS program is work cite-based learning. Students have the opportunity to engage in year-long placements within local businesses, fostering genuine real-world experiences in the community. You can watch the video below.

November 2023

English Language Arts Update

This fall, our English Language Arts (ELA) Leadership Team has begun engaging in professional learning, curriculum review, and piloting to identify the best program to meet the needs of Royal Oak students. As a reminder, the ELA Leadership Team comprises of 19 elementary teachers, general and special education as well as instructional coaches representing grades DK - 5, and all six elementary schools. There will also be an opportunity for ancillary staff, Speech Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, and School Psychologists, to join the team.

As part of the ELA curriculum review, the team has entered the Research phase of the curriculum review cycle. The research phase will take place from September 2023 to March 2024.

In the research phase, the team will spend some time reviewing our district data to gain a better understanding of where our students are struggling and excelling. This information will help guide some of our next steps and inform our team about past performance. The leadership team will also identify research-based instructional strategies and practices that will help increase student achievement.

The ELA team will also use the strategic plan to review our district goals and values and then make intentional connections to our ELA pilot; in our research phase, we will use specific strategies that support our district goals and values outlined in the strategic plan. A needs analysis is also being conducted so that we can get a better idea of what our teachers need regarding the type of ELA resources that are necessary to support our students best.

The next phase for our ELA leadership team will start in March 2024. The resource phase is the next phase and will allow teachers on the committee to begin the process of analyzing and identifying what components of specific ELA resources are best to adopt and take to our next phase in this process.

MENTOR-MENTEE

This month’s Insight Into Curriculum video focuses on our mentor-mentee program. Our mentor-mentee program aims to provide new teachers to Royal Oak Schools an opportunity to connect with and learn from a current teacher in Royal Oak. The mentor teacher becomes a bridge to learning for our new teachers, creating a foundation that supports new teachers and helps them feel confident, successful, and included in our school community. Watch this month's "Insight Into Learning" edition with this link.

October 2023

ENCOURAGEMENT AND EXCITEMENT THIS YEAR

In our first month of the 2023-2024 school year, we have witnessed tremendous encouragement and excitement among our students and families as they embark on this new academic journey. Alongside the start of the school year, we are also engaged in the submission of our Consolidated Application grant work for the upcoming year. This grant plays a vital role in providing support in the following areas:

• Title 1, Part A: Improving Basic Programs
• Title 2, Part A: Supporting Effective Instruction
• Title 3, Part A: Language Instruction for English Learners
• Title 3, Part A: Language Instruction for Immigrant Students
• Title 4, Part A: Student Support and Academic Enrichment

These grants, funded by the state, are instrumental in enabling our school district to establish and maintain programs in schools that require additional support and funding. They contribute to enhancing instruction, professional development, technological advancements, and supporting our English Language Learners. Additionally, we serve as the fiscal agent for local non-public schools and smaller public school districts, assisting them in successful planning within these focus areas.

This month's "Insight Into Learning" Curriculum video series spotlights our student-athletes. At Royal Oak Schools, we recognize that our student-athletes prioritize their roles as students and excel both in the classroom and on the playing field. This video offers insights into the diverse involvements of our student-athletes. It sheds light on the dedication it takes to be a successful student-athlete. We hope you enjoy gaining a deeper understanding of the student-athlete experience within the Royal Oak Schools community.

Watch this month's "Insight Into Learning" edition with this link.

Professional Development For Staff

Professional development is significant in what we do in Royal Oak Schools. Teachers have monthly opportunities to participate and engage with meaningful opportunities to collaborate with other educators and learn more about how to improve their instructional practice.

Late Start Wednesdays provide the framework and dedicated space for 90 minutes of deep learning to improve instructional practices at all levels. Our teachers have been engaged in the following professional development opportunities during our late start Wednesdays.

Elementary:

Instructional Coaches: Focusing on Essential Practice 3- Differentiating Small Group Instruction
Identifying a student's stage on the reading continuum
Selecting a reading skills from the reading continuum that needs to be learned
Identifying one or two next targeted teaching points (what) and a instructional strategy (how) to teach them.
Review Bridges Math Unit Assessment Rubrics
What's been completed and yet to come.
Complete the "Report Card Standard" and "Problems" Columns
Toolbox for Small Group Instruction
Management
Implementation
Assess and Plan
Differentiation Resources
STEMscopes inquiry based science program

Secondary:

IB: DP/MYP- Continued alignment with program and school. Assessment, data, and improving instructional practices and routines.
MYP Evaluation and Implementation Targets
Special Ed: Behavior Intervention Plans (BIP) Debriefing and planning
Anti-Bias Training and Practice
MTSS information and Updates/Process
Professional Learning Community (PLC) and 6-12 Vertical alignment (MYP Languages and Arts)