Raccoon Review

Hello Rogers Families & Friends,

I hope that the holidays allowed you some time to rest and renew as we begin the second half of our school year. As we returned back to school this week Tuesday, students went on a planned visit around the school. They stopped to discuss what it looks like and sounds like to be a leader at Rogers at various points in the building. Stopping points included: hallway, drinking fountains, cafeteria, bathrooms...and more! Students even took some time to discuss classroom rules and expectations. By revisiting these expectations, we hope that everyone will continue to abide and exhibit these expectations. Indeed, we are better together!

With Raccoon Pride,

Mrs. Hasse

Families,

Pre-ordering for pizza slices will no longer occur on the Friday before pizza day. Additionally, the price for pizza has increased. The state of Michigan is still reimbursing for complete meals at this time therefore any child who receives a slice of Domino's pizza as a complete meal will not have to pay. A second slice of pizza sold separately (a la carte) or as a second complete meal will not be reimbursed by the state and the child/parent/guardian will have to pay with either cash or electronic funds.

The price was previously $2.00 per slice but is increasing to $2.75 per slice to remain compliant with USDA and MDE pricing regulations during this time of increased food costs.

On January 15th, several Rogers staff including specials area teachers, classroom teachers, our counselor, and a few PTA parents are looking forward to visiting a well established Leader in Me School for over 10 years. Hillside Elementary is located in Farmington. On our visit, we will meet with student panel, participate in a student-led tour, and interview a parent group. We are hoping to see expressions of their journey so that we can learn, lead and grow into the future at Rogers!

While it might be hard to believe, it’s time to start thinking about Kindergarten for Fall 2025. In the Berkley School District, Kindergarten and Transitional Kindergarten information nights, enrollment and the Schools of Choice application windows happen in January and February each year. Starting early allows the District to plan staffing, class sizes and support for students before the year ends. If you have an incoming Kindergarten student this is important information to save. If you know someone who has a child who will be five years old by September 1, 2025, please share this information with them!

TK & Kindergarten Information Nights

Learn about the kindergarten curriculum, how to prepare for the big first day, enrollment options, and Kindergarten/Transitional Kindergarten readiness. All TK and Kindergarten students need to be five years old by September 1, 2025.

During the evening, families will be able to ask the Principal questions, learn more about each school and hear about the #BerkleyDifference. You do not have to be a resident to attend the Kindergarten Information Nights, they are open to all who are interested in the Berkley School District. Learn more about Kindergarten enrollment and readiness by visiting our Enrollment webpage.

• Angell Elementary School: Wed, Jan 22, 2025 | 6:30 pm
• Burton Elementary School: Thurs, Jan 16, 2025 | 6:30 pm
• Pattengill Elementary School: Tues, Jan 21, 2025 | 6:30 pm
• Rogers Elementary School: Thurs, Jan 23, 2025 | 6:30 pm
• Norup International School: Wed, Jan 15, 2025 | 6:30 pm

Kindergarten Registration for Berkley School District Residents

Berkley School District resident registration for both Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten begins February 3 and runs through February 14, 2025. Registration takes place entirely online, including the required document uploads. Visit the enrollment webpage to begin your registration, verify your residency through our District boundaries document and see what paperwork you need to upload to complete your registration. We can’t wait to meet our new students!

Schools of Choice Window for TK-Grade 5

The Berkley School District Board of Education has approved limited Schools of Choice (Section 105) openings (up to 150 slots) in Kindergarten through 5th grade for Oakland County residents for the 2025-26 school year. Those who are interested in attending the Berkley School District, but who do not live within District boundaries may apply.

Important Schools of Choice details include:

• Schools of Choice application period is February 10-28, 2025
• Completed applications must be submitted online
• No applications will be accepted after the deadline of 5:00 pm, February 28, 2025
• Applicants will receive email notification of their student's Schools of Choice status mid to late April following the lottery
• On the application, families will select which school they’d prefer to attend: Angell, Burton, Norup, Pattengill or Rogers
• For current Schools of Choice families, if you have an incoming TK or Kindergarten student, please be sure to fill out this year’s application as well. Priority is given to siblings.

Questions?

• If you have any questions regarding the upcoming Kindergarten Information nights, please reach out to school secretaries and/or principals.
• If you have any questions regarding the enrollment process, please contact the Enrollment Office at 248-837-8026 or visit the Enrollment website.
• If you have any questions regarding Schools of Choice, please contact Stephanie Helterbran, Pupil Accounting and Central Enrollment Supervisor, at 248-837-8045 or visit the Schools of Choice website.

My name is Stephanie Kregear, and I am excited to be a 3rd grade, as a first-year teacher at Rogers. Previously, I worked as a building sub and former substitute teacher in the Berkley School District for about the past 10 years. My husband Mike and I, along with our children Fritz (20), Zoe (14) and Klaus (6) moved into the district from the Ferndale School district and we are extremely proud to be part of this great community. I am a former automotive engineer who decided to stay home and raise a family after over 15 years in that field. I feel strongly about education, and I care about the children. I desire to connect with students and aid in their learning process to help them thrive. I am kind, compassionate, and flexible. I look forward to being a part of the Rogers School community for a long time to come.

Hello! I am Stacey Bronoel and I’m one of the 3rd grade teachers. This is my 23rd year at Rogers where I've taught 3rd and 4th grade. I went to the University of Michigan for an undergraduate degree in anthropology and women’s studies and later for a Masters in elementary education. My goal as a teacher is to nurture children’s strengths and encourage them to be curious, compassionate, critical thinkers.

Hello! I am Suzanne Rubis and I am a proud Rogers Raccoon. I have been teaching at Rogers for....let's just say a long time! My career began teaching first grade for 16 years and then I transitioned to third grade when I did a job share with Mrs. McNamara while my boys were babies. I have two sons. Josh, 26, is a project engineer and Jacob, 22, recently graduated from MSU (my alma mater) and works in tech sales in San Diego. I really enjoy helping students become more independent learners transitioning between lower and upper elementary. Each day I strive to create a welcoming, safe and caring environment where students feel safe and ready to learn. I want my students to push themselves to become better humans by using their words and actions to promote kindness and positivity. My favorite subjects to teach are math and writing. In my free time I enjoy golfing with my husband Keith, gardening, hiking, cooking, and hanging with my dog Cooper.

CHECK OUT our PTA Events and Volunteer Opportunities below!

The Rogers PTA is excited to announce a Dine to Donate event at Panera Bread on January 17, 2025, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM. It's a delicious way to support our school!

During this event, 25% of sales will be donated back to Rogers Elementary to help fund various programs and activities for our students. All you have to do is enjoy a meal at Panera Bread – and make sure to mention that you’re there for Rogers Elementary or provide the promo code FUND4U when ordering online!

Here are the details:

• When: Friday, January 17, 2025, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM
• Where: Panera Bread (location details [insert address or link if necessary])
• What: 25% of your purchase will be donated to Rogers Elementary when you mention our school.

Feel free to invite friends and family to join in the fun and help us raise money for our school while enjoying a great meal! Thank you for your continued support!

Skate Night Registration is open from now until January 17th. The skate party will be held at Skate World of Troy on Saturday, January 25th from 5:15 to 7:15pm. Admission for skaters is free, if you register at the GiveBacks Store BEFORE January 17th. The door charge will be $4.00 a person. Skate rental is $3.00 for regular skates and $5.00 for blades. You may provide your own skates free of charge. The skates will be checked at the door.

You can pre-register and/or purchase rentals HERE at the Givebacks Store! Only family members who are skating need to purchase tickets/register.

When: Now until January 28th

Where: Berkley Fit Body Boot Camp on Coolidge

Cost: $100 all proceeds go to the Rogers PTA

What is included: An unlimited month of classes (in the morning or evening), coaching support, and an amazing community!

Please feel free to share this on your socials with friends and family!

Register HERE at the Givebacks Store!

Attention! The PTA needs volunteers for next year's board. Positions: President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Reflections, DEI and Communications! Positions in which there are currently no candidates running are Treasurer, Communications, DEI, and Reflections. Please contact the PTA via Facebook or email @ rogerselementarypta@gmail.com, if you are interested or would like more information!

Founders' Day is a national PTA tradition that celebrates the individuals who advocate for all children, families and communities in public education. As a district, it is a time we honor some of the hardworking teachers, support staff and PTA members at Rogers Elementary School. Please vote for the candidates you think make the most impact at Rogers. Vote here: https://forms.gle/pL9ZiXypLBgM66ao9

Follow the PTA on Social Media for more up to date information:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Rogers.Elementary.PTA/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rogers_elementary_pta/

Check out how we did, Berkley Community, in the stats for this years Caring & Sharing program:

• As a community we collected $26,500 for 130 families (528 family members)!
• We collected over 500 gloves and hats for those same families.
• Over 200 Holiday and Thank You cards were made for our first responders (they were so cute!).
• We were also able to donate just about $1000 to The American Legion and Berkley Cares Food Pantry (these funds were the overage that couldn't be distributed evenly as well as a few gift cards given to Berkley Cares Food Pantry that were not collected from families that are no longer part of our district). Those dollars that were given were used to help local families and veterans with holiday meals.

THANK YOU to all of you and your school communities for making this year such a huge success. Also, a big thank you to Mr. Ross & Abby Wattney for all of your hard work!

The cities and school districts of Berkley, Clawson and Royal Oak announce their joint MLK Day event for the entire community to remember, participate, and honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

On Monday, January 20th, 2025, the community is invited to celebrate A Day On, Not a Day Off, with the three school districts and municipalities. Attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy breakfast together, participate in a Freedom Walk, complete volunteer activities such as donation sorting and blanket making.

This year’s event takes place at Berkley High School, (2325 Catalpa, Berkley MI 48072) and begins at 9 am.

The event committee will also be collecting donations to support the following groups:

• Redford Brightmoor Initiative

• Cass Community Social Services

• Judson Center

• Royal Oak First United Methodist Church

• Welcome Inn

Guests are encouraged to bring donations with them to the event or order donations on the event’s Amazon Wishlist. Requested Donations:

• Non-perishable food: Canned goods, pasta, peanut butter, jelly, granola bars, boxed food items

• Home items: Toilet paper, dish soap, paper towels, laundry detergent

• Toiletries: Shampoo/conditioner (including the following brands: Shea moisture, As I Am, Curls, Aunt Jackie's), deodorant, shaving cream, feminine products

• Diapers and pull-ups: All sizes, no opened packages

• New children's books: Infant through middle school age

• Clothing: Socks (all sizes), underwear (men and children), winter hats (adult)

See a list of requested donations and additional event information on the City of Royal Oak website.

The Berkley African American Parent Network (BAAPN) is a parent run organization that works in partnership with the Berkley School District and Oakland County Schools. The BAAPN network is a way for parents with African American children in Berkley Schools to connect with each other. BAAPN is committed to supporting student engagement, high academic achievement, and increased parental involvement. For more information, please visit the BAAPN Facebook Page. Click to access the BAAPN membership form.

Below are the remaining meeting dates for the 2024-25 school year with meetings taking place in the Norup Media Center at 7:00 pm:

February 27

March 13

May 15

Berkley Schools has partnered with Varsity Tutors for Schools, an online platform with access to free learning tools.

The Varsity Tutors Platform gives students more opportunities to learn at their own pace, to get support on subjects they might be struggling with, to explore subjects they are learning in class and to support their curiosities. The platform includes the following:

• 24/7 on-demand chat tutoring and on-demand essay review to help students with any questions about homework, classwork or test prep.

• Live group classes, recorded classes and celebrity-led StarCourses allow students to learn more about the subjects they’re interested in and add a touch of fun.

• Assessments and self study practice problems provide opportunities to drill skills towards mastery.

• College prep & admissions resources ensure that students have the best resources available.

How to Access Varsity Tutors

Sign into the Varsity Tutors platform through the student Clever portal. To learn how to log into Clever with your child’s Berkley Schools Google account, follow these directions.

Learn More & Get Started!

• Varsity Tutors Berkley Schools Launchpad

• Frequently Asked Questions

• Varsity Tutors video overview

For the 2024-25 school year, school breakfast and lunch will be free for ALL students. The main office door #1 will be open from 7:40-7:50 a.m. for breakfast. We made this switch for safety reasons so that students do not slip on the snow covered ground.

To view nutritional and food ingredient information for school breakfast and lunches served at Rogers, please click on the Nutrislice Informational Page

January 17th - End of trimester; Records Day (half day of school), Dine to Donate @ Panera Bread 4-8 pm.

January 20th - MLK Day; no school

January 23rd - Rogers Kindergarten Informational Night @6:30 pm

January 25th - Skating Party @ 5:15-7:15 pm

Now - January 28th - Fit Body Boot Camp Fundraiser

February 3rd - 14th - resident registration for both Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten

February 10th - 28th - School of Choice registration

Email: andrea.hasse@berkleyschools.org
Website: https://www.berkleyschools.org/schools/rogers/
Location: Rogers Elementary School, Hamilton, Berkley, MI, USA
Phone: (248) 837-8800