Upton Update

We have some wonderful events coming up in the district that we don’t want you to miss.

This Friday, September 20, join us as we celebrate the anniversary of Oakland Elementary, which first opened its doors to students in 1924. The celebration begins at 6 PM at Oakland Elementary, 2415 Brockton Avenue. Bring the whole family for engaging and interactive displays, performances, proclamations, tours, and more.

On Wednesday, September 25, we are hosting Soup and Salad With the Super at 11:30 AM at the Royal Oak Senior Community Center (3500 Marais Avenue). This event invites senior citizens in our community to enjoy lunch with Superintendent Fitzpatrick and seniors from Royal Oak High School. Please call the Senior Center to register at 248-246-3900.

Later that evening, join us for the Annual State of the Schools Address at 6 PM at Royal Oak Middle School. Superintendent Fitzpatrick will share important information on the district’s academic performance, financial health, ongoing initiatives, and upcoming projects. It’s a valuable opportunity for our community to come together, stay informed, and engage in our ongoing journey toward making Royal Oak Schools a community of excellence.

Following the presentation, stay for an engaging session with celebrated journalists Nolan Finley and Stephen Henderson with The Civility Project. You'll hear personal and professional stories, learn about the Four Pillars of Civility, and participate in an interactive, 2-question engagement with the audience.

All of these events are free and open to the public. For more information, visit royaloakschools.org.

We hope to see you there.

Our professional learning morning for staff will take place again this Wednesday, September 25. This means that it is a late start for students. The first bell will ring at 9:20 a.m. with classes starting at 9:25 a.m.

We will again be offering Homework Club on Wednesday, September 25. It runs from 8:20-9:20 a.m. If you would like your child to participate, please click on the following link to register:

Homework Club

We will be having our first family Bingo night of the school year on Friday, September 27, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Join us for a fun evening of Bingo! There are some very cool prizes that you can win!

Please click the link for an update on our Media Center! Mrs. Savona will be updating this each week with new information.

Media Center News

Please click here for Mrs. Elliott's newsletter.

It is important that we are driving carefully in and around our school. Please be aware of the posted stop signs for ALL directions prior to entering our school's circle drive and back parking lot. Students and parents are using the crosswalks. Come to a complete stop, watch for people crossing, and then complete your turn. I am getting reports that parents are just going through the stop signs and not being aware of people crossing.

Also, if you are using the back parking lot, you need to park in designated parking spots. In the past, parents have been parking in the fire lanes which are marked with yellow lines. This is safety concern for our students as it is very difficult to see them when they are exiting the building.

Thank you for your cooperation!

Students should be in their classrooms by the second bell at 8:25 a.m. Any student arriving after the second bell is tardy. All late students must be signed in at the main office before going to class. Tardiness disrupts the classroom and students coming in late miss directions for the day. All absences should be called in to the Safety Check number. Absences that are not reported are considered unexcused.

Safety Check number 248-549-4968 option #1

I am also noticing a great deal of students are being picked up from school prior to the end of the day. Please try to schedule appointments for after school or as few as possible during the school day. When students leave school early, they are missing out on instruction. This also causes a disruption to the learning environment for other students as their class is interrupted when a student is called down to the office.

If you have not yet joined the Upton PTA, now is the time to do so! Click on the link below to sign up:

https://upton.memberhub.store/

Thanks to the Michigan School Meals Program, a state-funded program that allows all students to receive meals at no cost for the 2024-2025 school year, breakfast and lunch will be free to all students.

Although all students can receive meals at no cost, it is still very important that you fill out a free/reduced meal application: A school’s eligibility for federal Child Nutrition Programs such as Summer Food Service Program and others is based on free and reduced-price eligibility. Students and families may qualify for other program fee reductions based on their eligibility for free or reduced-price meals. Federal and state education finding uses free and reduced-price eligibility.

Free and Reduced Meal Application

Breakfast is served before school in our cafeteria from 7:55-8:20 a.m. Breakfast is available to all students at no cost.

Please note, on Late Start Wednesdays, breakfast will be served from 8:55-9:20 a.m. Children who attend Homework Club on Wednesdays will be escorted down to breakfast by a staff member.

Lunch is available to all students at no cost.

"Blessings in a Backpack” is a program designed to provide students on the free and reduced lunch program with enough food for three meals a day during the weekends. This program is active in Royal Oak Schools. If you agree to take part in this program during the school year, your child will receive a bag filled with food for the weekend. A bag of food will be put in your child's locker for take home on Fridays. The simple meals may include food like macaroni and cheese, beef ravioli, canned fruit, granola bars, soups, juice and other items. Students will receive a bag every week.

If you would like to have your child participate in this program, fill out the form below and mail it to the board office at 800 Devillen, Royal Oak, MI 48073, or just hit submit on this form. Please be sure to indicate on the form if you child has any food allergies. If your child has a food allergy, you as the parent are responsible for checking all food labels when the food arrives home. Royal Oak Schools, as well as Blessings in a Backpack, will not be held responsible for any accidental food allergen exposure.

Blessings in a Backpack Form

2024-2025 Calendar: A calendar for the 2024-2025 school year is now available! Building and program specific calendars, as well as a complete calendar for our current school year, are all available from the calendar page of our district website.

Tuesday

Lockdown Drill

Wednesday

Late Start for students. School begins at 9:25 a.m.

Dentists R Us at Upton 9:00-3:00 p.m.

State of the Schools Superintendent Address 6:30-7:00 p.m. at Royal Oak Middle School

Friday

PTA Bingo Night 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Mr. John Grzywack

john.grzywack@royaloakschools.org

4400 Mandalay Avenue, Royal Oak, MI, United States

(248) 549-4968

royaloakschools.org/elementary/upton

The vision of Upton Elementary School is to inspire students to become lifelong learners.