The holiday season will be different for Michiganders this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To ensure families do not miss out on being together during the holidays, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has issued guidance on how to travel and gather safely during the holidays.

“Celebrating the holiday season with family and friends is one of our most cherished traditions,” said Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive and chief deputy for health.

“Even though the way we celebrate may have to be different, the guidance issued today shows there are still many ways to spend quality time with family and friends safely during this festive season.”

Traveling and in-person gatherings increase the chances of getting and spreading COVID-19. Staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others. However, if you decide to travel for the holidays, follow these safety measures to protect yourself and others from COVID-19:

• Wear a mask and keep your nose and mouth covered when in public places.
• Avoid close contact by staying at least 6 feet apart from anyone who is not from your household.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer (with at least 60% alcohol).
• Avoid contact with anyone who is sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

In addition to the MDHHS guidance, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has the following resources to help determine if you should travel during the holidays:

• Travel During the COVID-19 Pandemic
• Know Your Travel Risk
• Know When to Delay Your Travel to Avoid Spreading COVID-19
• CDC COVID-19 Travel Advisories

Individuals who should avoid attending or hosting in-person holiday celebrations with people who do not live in their household, include those who:

• Have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and have not met the criteria for when it is safe to be around others.
• Have symptoms of COVID-19 or are waiting for COVID-19 viral test results.
• May have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 in the last 14 days.
• Are at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19, or live or work with someone at increased risk of severe illness.

The new guidance also urges Michiganders to consider hosting virtual festivities instead of in-person holiday gatherings if there is a risk of community spread based on the risk identified in the MI Safe Start map. If an in-person gathering is hosted, it should be held outdoors if possible. Indoor festivities should avoid crowded, poorly ventilated or fully enclosed indoor spaces, and should be limited to 10 people or less per MDHHS Oct. 9 Emergency Epidemic Order. In addition, attendees of indoor or outdoor festivities should:

• Social distance.
• Wear cloth masks.
• Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Keep safe around food drinks, including following good hygiene and limiting the amount of people in areas where food is prepared.
• Bring food and drinks for themselves and members of their household. Avoid potluck gatherings.
• Have one person serve all shareable food and consider using single-use items for condiments, plates and utensils.

Read the full “Celebrating the Holidays During COVID-19” guidance for additional tips to consider before, during and after a gathering to stay safe this holiday season.

Information around this outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.

All aboard! The train for Spartanville will be leaving the station in Oak Park soon and the more the merrier. Blue-chip Oak Park senior lineman Rayshaun Benny is ready to roll to East Lansing, committing to Michigan State this week after choosing the Spartans over Michigan, Kentucky and Penn State.

Benny also had football scholarship offers from Ohio State, LSU, Georgia, Auburn, Florida State, USC, Oregon, Miami (FL), Tennessee and Texas A&M and is the second Knights senior to commit to the Spartans in the past six months.

Benny (6-5, 275) is projected as a defensive lineman in college. He plays with tenacity on both sides of the line for Oak Park and was originally tagged a 4-star recruit by scouting services two years ago as an offensive tackle.

“Rayshaun is a very talented young man and it was his work ethic and positive attitude that turned him into the player he is right now and the reason so many schools wanted him,” Oak Park head coach Greg Carter said. “He transformed his body, improved his technique over these last two years and that only made him more valuable and sought after in recruiting circles.”

Because of a knee tweak, Benny missed most of the 2020 regular season and saw his Knights struggle mightily. With both Benny and senior linebacker Marlon Dawson Miami (OH) back in the lineup for the playoffs and the aid of the COVID-19-related “everyone-qualifies-for-the-postseason” ruling, Oak Park is playing sleeper in the playoffs.

The suddenly surging Knights sprung upsets in the opening two rounds of districts (knocking off Grosse Pointe South 35-27 and then popping Detroit U-D Jesuit 27-21 last week) and face Wyandotte Roosevelt (6-1) Friday in a Division 2 district final.

Benny joins Oak Park teammate Davion Primm (running back) in head coach Mel Tucker’s inaugural recruiting class at Michigan State. Primm is one of the best ball carriers in the state and made his pledge to Tucker back in the spring.

Scott Burnstein via The Oakland Press

Fresh Perspectives Seminars is so excited to announce the 2020 7th Annual Black Friday Scholarship Bootcamp to be held all day virtually on Friday, Nov. 27th. While we will not be gathering in person this year, our goal remains the same - to help college-bound students & parents learn the critical skills & strategies needed for a successful academic journey!

The Black Friday Scholarship Bootcamp is a unique experience for students and parents and, during these challenging times, we are committed now more than ever to helping you navigate the college preparation process. Join us and hear from higher education professionals on academic preparation strategies, the financial aid process, global education opportunities, and career development. Now that we're going virtual, we are excited to help even more students from across the country reach their academic goals!

Do you know of a 11th or 12th grade male or female student that can use some help with applying for scholarships, FASFA applications, college applications, finance management, ACT/SAT information etc. for FREE?!?

Have them join our Virtual Zoom on Sunday, November 15 at 4pm.

Meeting ID: 616 412 2896

Passcode: 7PJeMX

Email CAPprogramNovi@gmail.com with any questions

The Zonta Club of District 15 is looking for a talented young lady to award a $1500 Young Women in Public Affairs scholarship! Make sure you tell your high school seniors about this opportunity TODAY!!! Share with any educators and college-bound female students you know!!!

Office of Teaching and Learning

District Wide Updates

w/o November 9, 2020

• All Conference PD videos from August/October have been compiled and uploaded for your learning pleasure! If you are interested in additional learning from our Return To Schools Conference or our October PD Conference, please click the links below! CASSANDRA BAPTISTE

• The uploads can also be found under “Staff Links” on our district website!
  

• PD Video Links for August Return To Schools PD

• PD Video Links for October PD Conference

• All Conference videos from our Election Day PD will be uploaded shortly! Stay tuned for more learning to come!

• ​​Shout-Outs!

• A Special Message From Asst. Superintendent Cassandra Baptiste: I would like to take a moment and highlight the instructional best practices that are taking place in our classrooms from grades Prek-Grade 12. Over the course of 6 weeks, it has been an absolute joy to visit students engaged in live instruction. From viewing teachers providing opportunities for middle school students to engage in science demo lessons, to first graders increasing phonemic awareness, Kindergartners developing math sentences using virtual number cubes, second graders making the distinction between scale and proportion when analyzing Surrealist Art, to 4th grade students leading writing discussions in break out rooms to high school students engaging in critical conversations about Voting Rights AND so much more! While virtual teaching and learning is certainly challenging, it has been a humbling experience to witness countless students, educators and families doing their very best to support one another in this time.​ Kudos to the entire Teaching & Learning Community (students, teachers, admin, support staff, and parents) of Oak Park Schools. --CB.

• UPDATES:

• See the “Instructional Insights” weekly newsletter developed by our very own secondary instructional coaches Emily De La Cruz (OPHS) and Megan Mitchell (OPPA). Great work, team!

• Social Emotional Learning: See below for access to resources for you and your students:

• Virtual Office:

• https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jIZHNLjHGcy8pEEdXAy3Zw5_yV6XPXmS/view​

• Social Work: https://opsdsocialwork.weebly.com/

• Counseling: https://ophscounselingteam.weebly.com/

• ​​​Article of the Week:

• Interested in building literacy skills in your students? Check out the article “Supporting Middle School Readers Tackling More Complex Texts.”

• Professional Learning Opportunities:

• Oakland Schools is offering free 1 hour professional development sessions for all math teachers. All participants will receive 1 SCHECH hour for every session they attend. Check out the calendar of events for the school year and register if you’re interested.

• School Psychologists, Counselors, Social Workers, and other interested staff: In order to ensure we are responsive to every need of our Oak Park family, we have reached out to Oakland Schools for Suicide Prevention support and training. See the information below about upcoming opportunities:

• Suicide Overview - (virtual) - Date: November 19, 2020 (1pm-3pm)

• Safe Talk - (in person) - Date: TBA

• A.S.S.T. - Applied Suicide Skills Training (in person) - Date: TBA

Mental health conditions and suicide are present in every population. It is essential that we have a basic understanding of suicide and some of the facts and myths associated. The Suicide Overview session will provide an introduction to suicide and we will discuss some of the potential risk factors as well as protective factors that can help prevent thoughts of suicide among youth. Additionally we will have the opportunity to dig deeper into what your district (or specific building) is doing to increase and strengthen protective factors.

• If interested, please contact your building leader for more information

• MASSP is providing a free, asynchronous, learning opportunity to help teachers familiarize themselves with CEL's 5D instructional framework and 5D+ evaluation tool. In this session participants will gain both an understanding of the background and purpose for using the 5 Dimensions of Teaching and Learning (5D™) instructional framework, the 5D+™ Rubric for Instructional Growth & Teacher Evaluation and their roles and responsibilities within cycles of inquiry. The course is offered through Michigan Virtual and is completely self-paced. Upon completion of the online course you will receive 3 SCHECHs applied to your recertification license. The course is open to all educators, whether you are new to the district and have never used the 5D framework, or simply want a refresher on the dimensions and how to use the tool to increase your instructional effectiveness. ​ If you are interested in learning more click here to register.

The Wade McCree Incentive Scholarship Program is open to students who have been continuously enrolled in, as well as graduate from Chandler Park Academy, Hazel Park H.S., International Technology Academy, Oak Park H.S., Pontiac High School, with:

• a 3.0 GPA college preparatory curriculum
• at least a 1060 SAT composite score
• a US Citizen or Permanent Resident

Students will receive a four-year scholarship to Oakland University covering tuition. This scholarship is renewable for up to four years if they meet the scholarship criteria.

The Hoffman Planetarium is an engaging, interactive full dome classroom. It is powered by advanced programs including, Starry Night, The Layered Earth and Zygote Body. The SciDome IQ2400 brings real-time space and earth science into a unique, innovative teaching environment.

We immerse students in the planetarium’s interactive visual macrocosm, explored Earth’s 3D topography and layers in spectacular detail. Each individual high school Science course and grade level courses in kindergarten through eighth grade participate in a developmentally appropriate interactive presentations tailored to the curriculum and/or Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) disciplinary core ideas while providing a connection to the astronomical 'big picture' - the Universe.

At the Hoffman Planetarium, we believe that 'your journey into the mysteries of space begins here...

Planetarium Offerings

• Upon arrival into the Planetarium, students view a presentation specifically designed for their current science unit. For example, the 5th grade Earth Science show is entitled “Our Place in the Solar System” and explores most of the Next Generation Earth Science Standards (NGSS) for the 5th-grade level.
• Students are also provided with an opportunity, during their Science Lab experience, to complete a hands-on activity related to their current unit. For 5th grade students, the activity allows students to construct a model of the solar system. Additionally, students also access the Virtual Labs available through the FOSS Science Curriculum and/or online Virtual Labs related to the unit material.

We have accommodations for both wheel-chair bound and students with disabilities, including devices for the hearing impaired. Our goal is to ensure that all students have access to the unique, interactive learning experience that the Planetarium offers!

Preparing Students for a Lifetime of Success: Next Generation Science Standards Alignment

Within the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), there are three distinct and equally important dimensions to learning science-core ideas, practice and cross-cutting. The implementation of new science standards with the support of Planetarium programs provides an opportunity to advance science education for all students. To learn more information, please review the NGSS Parent Guides below

Elementary School (Einstein, Key & Pepper)

Grades K- 2: Download the Grades K-2 Parent Guide

Grades 3- 5: Download the Grades 3-5 Parent Guide

Middle School (Oak Park Preparatory Academy)

Grades 6-8: Download the Grades 6-8 Parent Guide

High School (Oak Park High School)

Grades 9-12: Download the Grades 9-12 Parent Guide

Planetarium Coordinator

To learn additional information about the Hoffman Planetarium or schedule a visit, please contact Mr. Grayling Mercer at gmercer@oakparkschools.org or 248.336.7620

Click on your child's school for the (Zoom Link/Google Classroom Code)

Oak Park High School

Oak Park Preparatory Academy

NOVA Academy

Einstein Elementary

Key Elementary

Pepper Elementary

If you are utilizing an Oak Park Schools Chromebook, please follow the steps below:

• Plug the Chromebook (laptop device) into a electric outlet & press the power button to turn it on.
• Click on the (Wi-Fi symbol) next to the clock. In the box that pops up, choose your Wi-Fi service or hotspot, and enter the password.
• On the login screen, you will see a blank space followed by "@students.oakparkschools.org"
• Enter your Oak Park Schools student email address, and click "Next".
• Students should enter their password.
• If students experience an issue with usernames, passwords, or other problems, please call 248-336-7667 between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Tech Help?
If you experience problems with the Chromebook, please make sure it is plugged into an electrical outlet, and that the cords are tight. Hold the power button down for 30 seconds, release it, and then try again. If the Chromebook still does not turn on, please contact the Help Desk at the email address or phone number below.

Email Support
studenthelp@oakparkschools.org

Phone Support (8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.)
248-336-7667

Getting a flu vaccine is more important than ever during 2020-2021 to protect yourself, your family and your community from flu. A flu vaccine this season can also help reduce the burden on our healthcare systems responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and save medical resources for care of COVID-19 patients. September and October are good times to get a flu vaccine.​

The more people vaccinated; the more people protected. Do your part. Get a flu vaccine this fall.

The Oakland County Health Division offers drive-thru testing on:

Mondays and Wednesdays at the South Oakland Health Center at 27725 Greenfield Road in Southfield.

Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Oakland County government campus, 1200 N. Telegraph Road in Pontiac.

Fridays at Oakland Community College, Orchard Ridge Campus at 28696 Oakland, Farmington Hills.

General COVID-19 resources can be found on the Health Division’s website at www.oakgov.com/covid or by contacting Nurse on Call at 800-848-5533 or noc@oakgov.com.

Nurse on Call is available 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Saturday.

For up-to-date public health information, follow @publichealthOC on Facebook and Twitter.

Beginning October 12 through December 30, 2020, Oakland County is offering a telephone screening resource to assist parents/guardians through the pre-screening process and to help identify potential illness in children prior to entering school. All screenings are conducted by healthcare professionals.

Hotline staff can help answer questions about COVID-19 symptoms, the need for testing, and what is considered high-risk.

• Cost: No cost for parents/guardians of Oakland County school-aged children
• Days: Monday through Friday
• Times: 5 a.m. to 8 a.m.
• Number: 248-551-4242

We are proud to support Michigan's OK 2 SAY initiative to replace the culture of silence among students with a culture of collective responsibility. Students can make tips 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through multiple means:

• CALL 1-855-565-2729
• TEXT 652729
• E-MAIL ok2say@mi.gov
• Get the APP Android iPhone
• FROM THE WEBSITE www.mi.gov/ok2say

Statistics from the U.S. Secret Service show that in 81% of the violent incidents that happen in schools nationwide, someone else other than the attacker knew about a threat but didn't report it. With these new confidential tools, we are empowering our students to help us keep our schools, our students and our community safer.

Kids Kicking Cancer has partnered with Pepper Elementary School for the past two years bringing the Hero’s Circle to second and third graders. The program consisted of professional development for teachers, daily instruction by teachers, videos, and weekly instruction from sensei masters.

The program centers on learning to control your brain so that you can reach your goal. The Hero's Circle recognizes that it takes hard work, dedication, and perseverance to reach one’s goals. The Hero’s Circle is a tool to help one reach their goals.

Kids Kicking Cancer now offers help and services to not only cancer patients, but any child in pain from a serious illness.

Using martial arts therapy, Kids Kicking Cancer staff teaches ill children and their siblings to:

• Regain a sense of control over the chaos of their lives.
• Become empowered partners in their own healing.
• Push away the messages of pain, fear, and anger.
• Provide inspiration and light to others facing life-challenges.
• Teach other children, and even adults, how to take control.
• See themselves as victors, not victims.

Martial arts techniques unlock the student’s Power, and the focused breathing and relaxation work brings them Peace. While teaching Kids Kicking Cancer’s Breath Brake to others, they find great Purpose in their young lives.

History

Kids Kicking Cancer was created in 1999 by Rabbi Elimelech Goldberg, a black belt rabbi and clinical assistant professor of pediatrics. Rabbi G lost his first child to leukemia at the age of two and brings a wealth of personal experience and sensitivity to dealing with children and families facing life-threatening illness.

This program, which began with a handful of children at Children’s Hospital of Michigan, now teaches over 7,000 children in 90 hospitals and program locations in 7 countries.

The most unique and powerful element of the model is that each child becomes a teacher to others. Kids Kicking Cancer’s mantra is Power Peace Purpose. When asked what is your purpose? The children yell out, “To teach the world.”

Kids Kicking Cancer also has a “black-belt” program for patients who are not responding to treatments. This end of life care program provides ongoing meditation and family focus in a palliative format that culminates in the child receiving a black-belt in a public ceremony, usually a few days before he or she dies. Embroidered on the black-belt are the words “Master Teacher” because that child is truly teaching the world how to use the power of light to break through darkness.

Rabbi Goldberg is an awardee of the Robert Wood Johnson, Community Health Leaders Award in Washington D.C., known as the United States’ highest award in community public health. He has been honored as a Hero in People Magazine, CNN Top Ten Heroes, and the Ford Motor Company’s Heroes Gallery, amongst the many media stories featuring the work of Kids Kicking Cancer.

For further information please visit https://kidskickingcancer.org/

Dear Oak Park Schools Families,

On Monday, August 31, 2020, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) extended the federal waiver allowing for the continuation of free meals through the end of 2020.

Oak Park School District residency and/or enrollment in the school district is not necessary to receive meals. All meal distributions will take place on Wednesday’s from 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. (new).

Our next meal distribution will be Wednesday, September 16, 2020 at Oak Park High School located at 13701 Oak Park Blvd., Oak Park, 48237.

For more information, please visit //www.oakparkschools.org/coronavirus-information/feed-our-kids/ or email Aric Wienclaw, Director of Dining Services at awiencl@oakparkschools.org.

No Kid Hungry Organization runs a summer meal texting service. The service is free and open to anyone. A parent, grandparent, or caregiver can simply text the word “FOOD” to 877-877 and the system prompts them to provide their address or zip code, which is used to provide the location and service times of up to three nearby summer meals sites. For additional information, log onto www.nokidhungry.org.

Our mission is to provide a quality education that promotes respect for the individual and cultural differences of students and provides college and career readiness skills to become lifelong learners and productive citizens.

The Oak Park School District’s nearly 4,500 students are served at Einstein, Key and Pepper elementary schools (grades PreK-5), the Oak Park Preparatory Academy (grades 6-8), , Oak Park High School (grades 9 -12), NOVA (grades 3-12) the Oak Park Alternative Education Center (ages 16-19 years old) and My Virtual Academy of Oak Park (grades 5-12) in Oak Park, MI in Oakland County located in a suburban community near Detroit with approximately 30,000 residents. Our district consists of over 450 staff members, including 250 teachers and 11 building administrators.

Our school district boasts an abundance of educational and co/extra-curricular programs to meet the needs of a vast array of learners from Pre-K through twelfth grade. We encourage students to challenge themselves academically, explore comprehensive course offerings, and take risks to discover their individual gifts. We are dedicated to providing an intellectually challenging educational experience in safe, nurturing school environments that thrive on cultivating and empowering students to be their authentic selves. In addition, our academic and co/extra-curricular opportunities provide agency and shape self-identity, which are critical components to the adolescent development process.

Oak Park Advantage

The Oak Park Advantage is a holistic approach to education that not only prepares students academically, fosters a sense of belonging but creates long-lasting connections to the Oak Park community. While attending Oak Park Schools, students develop a confidence that is woven throughout their post-secondary, professional and social-emotional well-being years after they graduate.

Contact an Oak Park School District principal and take a tour! Get the Oak Park Advantage!

Our 2020 Goals

Maintain dynamic, healthy, and safe learning environments that inspire unlimited equitable opportunities for optimal classroom instruction to increase student achievement.

Implement ongoing transparent best practices to reduce operating costs to create opportunities to invest in human capital and professional learning, sustain quality facilities, establish a healthier organizational culture, and ensure fiscal stability.

Strategically design and implement organizational systems to increase efficiency, boost productivity to allow staff and students to focus entirely on student learning and social-emotional well-being.

Review and refresh curricular needs and resources employing planned adoption schedules based on current research with technology integration for classroom instruction.

Operate collaboratively district-wide and abandon ineffective silos.

Website: www.oakparkschools.org
Location: 13900 Granzon Street, Oak Park, MI, USA
Phone: (248)336-7700
Facebook: facebook.com/oakparkschools
Twitter: @oakparkschools