Please Read: No School Monday, Dec. 6
Dear Royal Oak Schools Families,
We are continuously learning more as we process the recent tragedy in Oxford, and therefore, are making a change to the schedule for students next week. Classes will be canceled for all students on Monday, December 6, all day. We understand that this impacts all of us differently, but as a district, we have an immediate need to be with our staff members and school leaders.
We are providing an opportunity for all staff to participate in training while providing opportunities for feedback and digging more deeply to find necessary adjustments to our current protocols. The entire day will be used to work on uninterrupted refresher training based on our safety plans already in place.
ROPD School Liaison Officer Joe Yerke will be working directly with our administration, teachers, and all staff on Monday. Officer Yerke is fully trained in the ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) emergency response protocols, which are integrated into our current plans and past training, and he is trained in active shooter response. Staff who specialize in mental health support will be addressing our entire staff, and principals will lead school-specific staff teams as they further consider unique conditions in their buildings.
Our school and central offices will be closed to walk-ins in order to assemble all staff, including support staff. After-school activities may proceed as normally scheduled; these are optional for students. Individual coaches will contact their student-athletes.
The safety of our staff and students is always our priority. We appreciate your flexibility and support as we shift our schedule and take this necessary time to train, reflect, and adjust.
Sincerely,
Mary Beth Fitzpatrick