Welcome back to another school year! We have high expectations for a great year for everyone.
All staff were welcomed back on August 23 at Royal Oak Middle School for a morning of camaraderie and professional growth. Staff was treated to a hot breakfast in the cafeteria provided by our district’s food service provider Chartwells. Staff were able to visit our Tools For Schools marketplace filled with community partners who had giveaways, raffles and more. We are fortunate to have many organizations and businesses supporting our district’s work.
Thank you to the following groups that participated:
Be SMART
Blessings in a Backpack
M3 Investment Services
MSGCU
MECU
OUR Credit Union
ROEA
Royal Oak Public Library
Royal Oak Youth Assistance
Royal Oak Schools Foundation
TAG Multi Media
Teen Clean Closet
VanEvery Chiropractic
Our professional development was kicked off by keynote speaker Shenandoah Chefalo, a consultant assisting the district with understanding the impact of trauma on school-aged children, families, and staff. The morning ended with safety training from our School Liaison Officer, Officer Joe Yerke. Officer Yerke will return to police duties in the community this fall, and we welcome our new SLO, Antonio Lipscomb, to Royal Oak Schools. Watch for a feature story from the district soon to introduce Officer Lipscomb to our community. He is already off to a good start at Royal Oak High School.
The Launch into Learning Professional Development Day on August 24 was a proud moment for us as over 90 staff members offered to facilitate and present their knowledge and experience with their peers. We are very proud of our staff's leadership initiative to educate themselves on best practices to support our students.
Again this year, I will present a State of the Schools address on September 28 at 6:30 PM at the Administrative Offices. The State of the Schools Address is a significant occasion where we reflect on the accomplishments and milestones of the past year and discuss the exciting initiatives and plans that lie ahead, including our district’s newly developed strategic plan, Continuing Excellence. We believe that when parents, teachers, and the community come together, we create a more enriching and supportive environment for our students to thrive. Thank you for your ongoing support, and I hope to see you there! If you cannot join us, we will stream and record the event for future viewing.
- Mary Beth Fitzpatrick, Superintendent Royal Oak Schools