Royal Oak Schools

🌟 Staff Spotlight Time!🌟

Meet Blair Merzin, a 6th grade Special Education teacher at ROMS! 🎉
Blair says her favorite part about working in Royal Oak Schools is the amazing staff and administrators that she gets to work with every day. 💙💚 “They inspire me to be the best educator for my students. I've never felt more supported and appreciated in a district than I do at ROMS.”

For fun Blair enjoys:
📺 Watching reality TV
👶 Playing with her 18-month-old son
❄️ Enjoying cozy winter days with family, friends, and a good binge-watch session under a warm blanket!

Thank you, Ms. Merzin, for your dedication to our students and for making ROMS a great place to learn! 🏫

🎭✨ Calling all mystery lovers! ✨🎭

Join us as some of our talented Royal Oak Schools students take the stage in an exciting youth theatre production of Sherlock Holmes at Stagecrafters! 🔎🕵️‍♂️

📅 Show Dates: February 27 – March 2, 2025
🎭 Genre: Youth Mystery
📍 Location: Stagecrafters Baldwin Theatre, Royal Oak
🎫 Tickets: stagecrafters.org

Get ready for an evening of intrigue, brilliant deductions, and fantastic performances from our local young actors. Let’s show our support for these rising stars! 🌟

🌟 Celebrating Black History Month: Honoring Michigan’s Own Terry Crews! 🌟

Today, we’re shining a spotlight on Michigan native Terry Crews—an actor 🎭, former NFL player 🏈, artist 🎨, and advocate 💪 who has inspired many with his perseverance and creativity.

Born in Flint, Crews has worn many hats throughout his career, from the football field to Hollywood, all while using his platform to uplift and empower others. 💪🎬

His journey reminds us of the importance of resilience, hard work, and staying true to oneself. Join us in celebrating his contributions and the incredible impact of Black leaders, innovators, and changemakers throughout history! 🖤💛❤️

🌟 Staff Shout-Out Time! 🌟

A big shout-out to Ali Linderman, 5th grade teacher at Addams Elementary School, for being an incredible educator and colleague! 🏫

An anonymous nominator shared: “I have always admired Ali’s ability to connect with her students. Her students are so loved, and they never doubt it for a moment. She is patient, caring, and so kind to not only her students but her colleagues as well. She’s always there for anyone with a listening ear, hugs, a laugh, or even a surprise breakfast after a bad day. She’s an incredible educator and person! ROS is lucky to have her!!”

Thank you, Ali, for embodying the values of kindness, connection, and community that make Royal Oak Schools such a special place. 💙💚

📣 Join Us for the Community Resource Fair! 🌟

The Community Engagement Advisory Board, in collaboration with the Royal Oak Farmers Market and the Royal Oak Inter-Club Council, is excited to present the Community Resource Fair on Thursday, February 27, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Royal Oak Farmers Market!

This event is a fantastic opportunity for families to:
🔎 Explore Interests – Discover a wealth of community resources, opportunities, and volunteer initiatives.
💬 Find Answers – Connect with local organizations and experts to address your questions and concerns.
🤝 Foster Connections – Build meaningful relationships with fellow community members in a relaxed and enjoyable setting.

We hope to see you there as we come together to strengthen our vibrant, inclusive ! 🌱💙💚

HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND:

Join us for an afternoon of history, creativity, and community at the Royal Oak Historical Society Museum on Sunday, February 23, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Experience the powerful story of the Hamer Family’s journey on the Underground Railroad, explore the Tangled Web exhibit, and meet Shaelyn Simms, author of Journey to Freedom: The Hamer Family Story. Shaelyn will share the creative process behind her graphic novel at 3:00 p.m.

Activities include:
Storytelling by the Royal Oak High School Diversity Club
Art projects hosted by the ROHS National Art Honor Society
Light refreshments

Copies of Journey to Freedom will be available for purchase ($5 – cash or Venmo). Please bring a new pair of socks to donate to Outreach on Seventh.

📍 Royal Oak Historical Museum
1411 W Webster Rd, Royal Oak, MI 48073
Learn more: Journey to Freedom: The Hamer Family Legacy Graphic Novel

🌟 Celebrating Black History: Honoring Royal Oak Pioneer Edna Hamer Finch 🌟

Today we pay tribute to Edna Hamer Finch ✨— a remarkable figure whose legacy continues to inspire our community. As a descendant of Henry and Elizabeth Hamer, one of the first Black families to settle in Royal Oak, Edna's life exemplifies resilience 💪, dedication ❤️, and a profound commitment to progress. ✨

In honor of the Hamer, Finch, and Wilkins families, the city unveiled the Hamer Finch Wilkins Park 🌳, featuring a statue of Elizabeth Hamer, Edna's grandmother. This park stands as a testament to their enduring legacy and the indelible mark they've left on our community. Her family's journey from seeking freedom to establishing deep roots in our city serves as a powerful reminder of the enduring spirit that propels us forward. 🖤💛❤️

Join us in celebrating Edna Hamer Finch and her family's remarkable journey. 📜

Congratulations to Royal Oak Middle School! 🎉

UMatter Week, their student mental health initiative was named one of 10 winners statewide by the SET SEG Foundation & Michigan Association of School Boards! 😊🤗

This award includes a $2,500 grant, a trophy, and a roadside sign recognizing their commitment to self-care, empathy, kindness, mindfulness, and gratitude. 🏆🏫

👏 Huge thanks to our students, staff, and community partners for making this program a success! 👏

🌟 Welcome to Royal Oak Schools, Rachel Kamischke! 🌟

We’re excited to welcome Mrs. K. to the Royal Oak High School mathematics team! 🎉 With 13 years of teaching experience, Rachel brings a passion for helping students grow in their understanding of 📐 Geometry, ➗ Algebra 2, and 🔢 Calculus.

Originally from Northern Michigan 🌲, Rachel has a deep love for nature 🌿, especially spring flowers blooming 🌸 and a perfect time to celebrate another favorite: Pi Day 🥧 with her students!

Rachel is thrilled to join the amazing staff and students at ROHS 💙🖤. Outside the classroom, she enjoys 🏃‍♀️ running, 🍪 baking, ✈️ traveling, and 🧵 sewing.

Join us in giving Rachel a warm welcome! 🎊👏

📚 A Truckload of Books and a Day Full of Fun! 🚚
Mrs. Karczewski’s class at Oak Ridge had an unforgettable day thanks to G2 Consulting GROUP, LLC! 👷‍♀️👷‍♂️

They surprised our students with a truckload of books 📦, shared a bit about their engineering work, showed off some dirt samples from their soil testing projects, and even read a construction-themed book to the class! 👷‍♂️📖

To top it off, our students teamed up with their 3rd-grade buddies for a fun game of Addition War using playing cards ♠️♥️—combining learning and friendship! 💙💚

A huge thank you to G2 Consulting Group, LLC for inspiring our students and fueling their love of reading and STEM. 🔬🦽🏗🩺 Oak Ridge Elementary School

🤖 Coding Buddies in Action!

🏫 Mrs. Kosnik’s 3rd-grade class and Mrs. Mann’s Kindergarten class at Oak Ridge Elementary School teamed up for some tech-tastic fun! 🎉

🤖 Together, they explored coding and programming with Ozobots, learning how to bring these tiny robots to life through creativity and collaboration. 🧠💡 Ozobots are little "robots" that kids program to follow different patterns of color lines to tell these mini robots to turn or go straight. 🏎🌈

🚸It’s amazing to see our older students mentoring their kindergarten buddies while both groups dive into the world of STEM! 🚀✨

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📢 You Are Not Alone – Help Is Just a Call Away

Mental health matters and support is always available. If you or someone you know is struggling, dial 988 to reach the Su***de & Crisis Lifeline—a free, confidential resource offering 24/7 support.

The is here to support you. No matter what‘s on your mind or when you want to reach out. Connect with someone who is ready to listen and support you. Call or text 988 or chat at 988Lifeline.org.
💙 Save the number. Share the message. 💚

🥊 Today, we’re proud to celebrate Michigan native and two-time Olympic gold medalist Claressa Shields! Born and raised in Flint, Shields made history as the first American boxer, male or female, to win back-to-back gold medals in the Olympics (2012 and 2016). 🥇🥇

Known as the “GWOAT” (Greatest Woman of All Time), Shields has broken barriers in the world of boxing, becoming an undisputed world champion in multiple weight classes. Beyond the ring, she’s an advocate for youth empowerment and a role model for resilience and determination.

Her story is a powerful reminder that with hard work and perseverance, greatness is within reach. 🌟

🩺 February is CTE Month, and we’re celebrating our incredible Medical Skills students! 🎉

These future healthcare professionals are gaining hands-on experience in the classroom and the field.

From career-based field trips to real-world practice, they’re sharpening their skills across many areas of medicine. 🏥👩‍⚕️👨‍⚕️

Through work-based learning opportunities at places like Addams Early Childhood Center, Health Quest Physical Therapy, Michigan Orthopedics, veterinary offices, pediatricians' offices, Corewell Health, and more, our students get invaluable, first-hand experience in the healthcare world. 💉🩻🐾

Here’s to the next generation of medical professionals making an impact! 🙌✨
Royal Oak High School

🎉 100 Days Smarter! 🎉

Mrs. Melissa Wienclaw's class at Upton Elementary had a blast celebrating the 100th Day of School! 🥳📚

The students marked this special milestone with fun activities, creative projects, and lots of smiles. From counting to crafts, they showed just how much they've learned and grown in 100 days! 💯✏️🎨

Here’s to the next 100 days of learning, laughter, and success! 🎓🌟
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