Wednesday is Official Count Day in Royal Oak Schools

Royal Oak Superintendent of Schools Shawn Lewis-Lakin (Patch file photo)

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Official Count Day! This Wednesday, October 1, 2014, is our official fall student count day. This is an important day for our schools, as our state revenue is based on our Wednesday, October 1, 2014, enrollment number. While there are procedures we can follow that allow us to count students who must be absent on Wednesday, we encourage families to make every effort for students to be present in school this Wednesday, October 1, 2014.

2014-2015 District Calendar: If you have not yet done so, I encourage you to view and print the complete Royal Oak Schools 2014-2015 School Year Calendar. District calendar information is available in different formats, either a calendar format or table format. Additional calendars, including information specific to individual school buildings and programs (for example, athletics) can be found by clicking on the calendar tab available at the district website, www.royaloakschools.org.

Prescription Drug Abuse: The Oakland County Health Department, The Alliance of Coalitions for Healthy Communities, and the Oakland County Community Mental Health Authority, worked together to produce a Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Toolkit for parents, grandparents, and caregivers. For a digital copy of the toolkit, click here. This handbook contains information regarding warning signs and the steps everyone can take to help prevent the abuse of prescription drugs. On Tuesday evening, October 28, the Oakland County Health Department and other community organizations are sponsoring an event at Oakland Community College in Royal Oak. The title of the event is “Who’s Shopping in your Medicine Cabinet.” For more information and to reserve your free ticket, click here.

Free Parenting Workshop: Royal Oak Middle School, with the gracious support of the Royal Oak PTA Council, is proud to host a Parent Workshop series. Join us at each of the events below in the Royal Oak Middle Schools Media Center from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Each evening will include dinner and guidance that will help you embrace the rewards and handle the difficulties that come with parenting.

• October 2, 2014: Homework Issues - Encourage Student Responsibility
• December 4, 2014: Promoting Teen Resilience and Raising Your Child’s Self-Esteem
• January 8, 2015: Cyber Safety and Social Media
• February 5, 2015: Positive Discipline During the Teen Years

Child care will be provided for younger children. Please RSVP for October 2, 2014, by contacting Kathy Knapp at Knappk@royaloakschools.org

Family Information Updates: Are you changing your e-mail address? Do you have a new phone number? School Messenger e-mails and phone calls use information extracted from the MISTAR Parent Portal, so it is critically important that such information is accurate. You can edit your contact information or change your password to something you’ll remember at the MISTAR Parent Portal. For assistance with this, contact the main office of your child’s school building. All address changes must be made with the district Central Enrollment Office, which is located at 1123 Lexington Blvd, Royal Oak, MI 48073.

November Election: November 4, 2014, is a General Election date. If you are not currently registered to vote, you must do so at least 30 days before the election. The Michigan Voter Information Center can help you determine whether you are registered to vote; it also provides directions on how to register. In addition to state-wide races, the ballot this November will include the election of candidates to the Royal Oak Schools Board of Education. The Oakland County Elections Division has a complete list of candidates and proposals that will be on the ballot in Oakland County communities.

Parent U: Our Royal Oak Council PTA Parenting Fair – Parent U - offers a keynote speaker, plus a variety of helpful workshops and relevant services for parents of all aged children. From early brain development to college preparation, parenting is a life-long learning process. Our speakers & vendors will provide valuable resources for parents, families, and caregivers. Mark your calendars for Saturday, November 8, 2014; for more information, click here.