Dear Royal Oak Families,
Friday, December 17 will be our last day of school for staff and students before the winter break. This year, it will be a very welcome break for all of us. We continue to battle the COVID-19 virus and have been forever impacted by the recent violence against children in Oxford.
The district has created a folder on the website that provides resources for parents when talking with their children about traumatic events, safety, and self-care. Some local agencies are offering assistance such as MDHHS, Oakland County Health Division, and Judson Center. As we receive information, we will continue to post and share those with you.
While students are in our buildings, we utilize layered mitigation strategies to keep everyone as safe as possible from illnesses including COVID-19. We have a universal mask policy, practice social distancing, suggest frequent hand washing, and contact-trace known exposures while isolating positive cases.
Across the district, in all buildings, the installation of our UVC air purification systems is now 100% complete for Phase I, including all classrooms, large group areas such as cafeterias, auditoriums, and gymnasiums. See this link for more information on our UVC systems.
As your family gathers or travels throughout the holidays, it is imperative that you protect yourself from the virus. While we are in school, our strategies make a difference. We need everyone to be as diligent about levels of protection when away from school because we will all return to in-person instruction on January 3, 2022.
We are looking forward to bringing back a collaborative event with Berkley Schools, celebrating and honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on January 17, 2022. Watch our social media for more details coming soon!
I want to wish you and your family a safe and enjoyable break. We look forward to 2022 with optimism for peace in our community, for your family, and for all students and staff in Royal Oak Schools. Take care of yourself and one another.
Mary Beth