Safety is our top priority!

Driving through the drop-off lane on Glenn Frey drive is not a two lane drop off. Please make sure to stay in the correct lane and treat other drivers kindly. Patiently wait in line, pull up to the drop off zone, and drop your student off on the SCHOOL SIDE of your car. Not the parking lot side!

ROMS Student Council will be opening the spirit wear webstore again! The store will open Wednesday, November 6th and close Wednesday, November 20th. Orders will arrive the second week of December, just in time for the holidays! Get your ROMS gear here.

ROMS Student Council will be hosting their annual Food & Toiletry Drive Monday, November 11th through Tuesday, November 26th. Student Council is collecting non-perishable food items and toiletries. You can use this Sign-Up Genius to see what specific items and quantities are needed. You can also use the sign-up if you would like to volunteer. Student Council needs help packing and distributing bags to families. Please consider helping ROMS families in need!

Ping pong club is once again looking for any usable ping pong tables that could be donated and brought to ROMS to be used for the ping pong club. If available, please contact Michael Betman at

michael.betman@royaloakschools.org

We will be selling Friendsgiving Candy Grams in the cafeteria during lunch and after school in room 207 for $1 starting Monday November 4 and ending Wednesday November 20. All candy grams will be delivered to 6th hour teachers to hand out on Friday November 22. Students must know their friend's 6th hour teacher!

Royal Oak Parent Advocacy Committee - November Meeting 11/19 @ 6:30 PM

The Royal Oak Parent Advocacy Committee (ROPAC) is our school district's Parent Advisory Committee - a group made up of parents/caregivers of students with IEPs or 504 Plans, those that want to learn more, and those that think their student may benefit from special education services. ROPAC sincerely welcomes any parent or caregiver with a student(s) in Royal Oak schools to join us in our mission to make this district a destination for students receiving special education services. Learn more about the ROPAC here: ROPAC Info Flyer

The PAC's November meeting will be held Tuesday, 11/19 @ 6:30 PM on Zoom (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81883355850?pwd=mlCBiLUzCpdAseU1KE6TKfzjhqHOwL.1). Our special guest is Megan McCoy from Oakland Mediation Center, and she will help us walk through the components of an IEP & 504 plan to help us understand what it all means! To join our mailing list for meeting reminders and other updates, complete this quick form: ROPAC Email List

9/11: The Connector: Sometime this week, introduce one person that you know to another person that they do not know.

9/18: Deep Digging: Have a conversation with a staff member and learn something new about them

9/25: Super Support: Get a friend or a group of friends together to attend a school event. Congratulate or cheer on the students at your school who are competing or participating.

10/2 Break Bread: Challenge yourself to meet 2 people you don't know in the cafeteria this week. It could be a staff member, or student. Learn the name and use it the next day.

10/9 Supportive Space: Talk to someone in the school or write a note to someone who makes you want to show up each day. Tell them specifically what they do that makes you feel that way.

10/16 Tech Timeout Takeover: Pick a specific day(s) this week to focus on being completely present with those around you. Do your best to only use your phone and technology for tasks like coordinating or schoolwork (research, turning in assignments, etc.).

10/23 Break Bread: Challenge yourself to meet 2 people you don’t know in the cafeteria this week. It could be a staff member, or student. Learn the name and use it the next day.

10/30 Supportive Space: Talk to someone in the school or write a note to someone who makes you want to show up each day. Tell them specifically what they do that makes you feel that way.

This month, we are highlighting being an INQUIRER!

Engaging in Inquiry in the MYP Curriculum at ROMS

In the Middle Years Programme (MYP) at Royal Oak Middle School (ROMS), inquiry-based learning is a cornerstone of the curriculum, driving students to actively seek knowledge and explore new ideas. Inquiry involves asking questions, investigating problems, and thinking critically to deepen understanding. This approach fosters curiosity, self-motivation, and a love for learning, all of which align with the MYP’s mission to cultivate independent, reflective learners who can think critically and solve complex problems in a global context.

By engaging in inquiry, students will:

• Build Critical Thinking Skills: Inquiry encourages students to question assumptions, analyze information from multiple perspectives, and make connections between ideas, helping them think deeply about the subject matter.
• Develop Independence: Through inquiry-based tasks, students learn to take charge of their learning, formulating questions, seeking answers, and taking ownership of their academic journey.
• Enhance Creativity: As students investigate open-ended questions and explore new concepts, they are prompted to think creatively, generating unique solutions and insights that go beyond surface-level understanding.
• Increase Engagement: When students have the autonomy to ask questions and direct their learning, they become more invested in the process, finding personal relevance in the topics they explore.

Prompts for Inquiry Focused Read-Alouds

• What does it mean to be an inquirer?
• Did [character] have any good inquiry skills you can use?
• How do you know [character] was being an inquirer?
• How did the inquiry process help [character]?
• How do you know the [character] was going through an inquiry process?
• Were any of the [character’s] curious? How do you know?
• Describe how a character used their curiosity/inquiry process to solve a mystery. Could they have done anything differently?

ROMS is in need of your support to recognize our outstanding students!

Each month teachers nominate one student who exemplifies an IB Character Trait. We then recognize the students with a certificate and a gift card ($5-$10) to a local business or a donated gift from businesses (like smoothies from Smoothie King!). The program has been a big hit with the students and staff, but we are in need of funds to continue it.

This year we will be selling concessions at all home sporting events to raise the needed funds. Your support is greatly appreciated. All donations can be dropped off in the main office or room 207. Even if a slot is full, you can still donate that item. We need funds for all 10 months of school. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094BADA92AA5FDC07-51205420-student

We are also tracking which students are recognized to make sure we reach as many of our amazing ROMS students AS POSSIBLE!

1. Check out this ROMS Reflection opportunity for all students interested.

2. Oakland Community Health Network (OCHN) leads a provider service network with public mental health services for those who have an intellectual or developmental disability, mental health challenge, or substance use disorder. For more information about OCHN and the services they offer, click HERE.

Additionally OCHN offers a reimbursement program, allowing families to be reimbursed up to $4,000 per household for services and resources such as individual counseling/psychotherapy, group therapy, family therapy, psychiatry, psychological testing, psychotropic medication, day-programs/partial hospitalization programs, and emergency room visits when associated with mental health. Anyone can apply and there is no income cap to receive reimbursement. The only qualifier is that the student both resides in Oakland County and is enrolled in an Oakland county school (kindergarten - adult transition). Families simply need to complete the School Mental Health Funding Assistance Form. Note: If you applied for the $2,000 reimbursement that was available during the 23/24 school year, you are eligible to receive an additional $2,000 during the 24/25 school year.

Oakland Community Health Network (OCHN) leads a provider service network with public mental health services for those who have an intellectual or developmental disability, mental health challenge, or substance use disorder. For more information about OCHN and the services they offer, click HERE.

Additionally OCHN offers a reimbursement program, allowing families to be reimbursed up to $4,000 per household for services and resources such as individual counseling/psychotherapy, group therapy, family therapy, psychiatry, psychological testing, psychotropic medication, day-programs/partial hospitalization programs, and emergency room visits when associated with mental health. Anyone can apply and there is no income cap to receive reimbursement. The only qualifier is that the student both resides in Oakland County and is enrolled in an Oakland county school (kindergarten - adult transition). Families simply need to complete the School Mental Health Funding Assistance Form. Note: If you applied for the $2,000 reimbursement that was available during the 23/24 school year, you are eligible to receive an additional $2,000 during the 24/25 school year.

How to keep up with grades and assignments at ROMS:

We use Canvas and MISTAR to communicate assignments and grades with families. Use the Royal Oak Schools Technology guides to sign up for both. We recommend that parents check student grades weekly.

• Canvas: This platform contains the presentations and assignments created by ROMS teachers. Some student assignments will be submitted via Canvas. At curriculum night, teachers will share their organizational methods for the platform.

• MISTAR: This expresses the grades that will go on report cards. It updates each night with information from Canvas.

Any questions you have regarding a grade or an assignment should go to the classroom teacher. Teachers can be contacted via email through Canvas, MISTAR, or the Staff Directory on the ROMS website.

Meet your counseling team:

Samantha Ellis and Jim Bowker- 6th grade counselors

samantha.ellis@royaloakschools.org

jim.bowker@royaloakschools.org

Carrie Laurence- 7th grade counselor

carrie.laurence@royaloakschools.org

Michael Betman- 8th grade counselor

michael.betman@royaloakschools.org

Students can sign up to meet with their counselor by signing up through CANVAS or stopping by the grade level counseling office and signing up through the office chromebook.

Thanks to the Michigan School Meals Program, a state-funded program that allows all students to receive meals at no cost for the 2023-2024 school year, breakfast and lunch will be free to all students. Second meals are not free and will be considered ala carte. High school and middle school second lunches will be charged $3.00; elementary school second lunches will be charged $2.60. Adult meals are not covered under the Michigan School Meals Program.

Although all students can receive meals at no cost, it is still vital that eligible families 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.

If/when your school begins offering ala carte items, please note that they will not be free and must be paid for with cash or through your student’s pre-paid food service account. Ala carte examples are bottled water, chips, cookies, and milk. Unfortunately, milk by itself is not free. To get milk, a complete meal must be received or can be paid for separately. Elementary students must continue to pre-order lunch one day ahead. Last-minute decisions to eat an elementary school lunch can result in shortages for other students that did order in advance.

This page contains important information regarding district technology. Please click the links below to learn more.

Canvas

The distinct uses Canvas as its Learning Management Platform. Learn how to download the app, create an Observer account, and more.

MISTAR

MISTAR is the district’s Student Information System. Learn how to log into and navigate the Parent Portal.

District Chromebooks

All students in 6-12th in Royal Oak Schools have the option of receiving a district-issued Chromebook to use for their time in the district. Learn more about requesting a Chromebook, troubleshooting common issues, and more.

Self-Service Password Manager

Learn more about signing up for Self-Service Password Manager (recommended for 6-12 students) and recovering forgotten Network passwords.

The Service Desk

If you are having technical issues with equipment or devices, a parent or guardian may contact the Oakland Schools’ Service Desk.

OK2SAY Reporting

>>Call 8-555-OK2SAY (855-565-2729)

>>Text to 652729 (OK2SAY)

>>Email OK2SAY (OK2SAY@mi.gov)

>>Visit the website (https://www.michigan.gov/ok2say)

Email: kristin.meldrum@royaloakschools.org
Website: https://www.royaloakschools.org/our-schools/royal-oak-middle-school/
Location: 709 North Washington Avenue, Royal Oak, MI, USA
Phone: (248) 541-7100
Twitter: @krimeldrum