Raccoon Tracks

Dear Rogers Families,

ORDERED PICTURES, BUT WANT RETAKES? Just have your student bring their photo package to the photographer on Retake Day (Friday November 6). We’ll snap a new pic and reprint your order!

As we continue exploring the 7 Habits together, our next focus is Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood.

For kids, we can make Habit 5 a little simpler:

Listen to understand, not just to respond.

We all know how easy it is to begin thinking about what we want to say while someone else is still talking. Children are learning this skill, too! When there is a disagreement, especially, their first instinct is often to make sure their side of the story is heard.

Habit 5 asks us to do something different: get curious about someone else’s perspective before explaining our own.

At school, that might look like listening to a classmate explain why they are upset, asking a question before making an assumption, noticing someone else’s feelings, or being willing to hear another version of a situation—even when we’re pretty sure we already know what happened.

At home, you can help your child practice Habit 5 by asking:

“What do you think the other person was feeling?”
“What did you hear them say?”
“Is there anything you might not know yet?”
“What question could you ask before deciding what happened?”

“Now that you understand their perspective, what would you like them to understand about yours?”

And that last question is important! Habit 5 doesn’t teach children that their own voice matters less. Understanding someone else doesn’t mean agreeing with them. It means making the effort to truly hear another person before asking them to hear us.

This is one of those habits that can transform relationships: not only for children, but for adults, too. When we approach one another with curiosity instead of assumptions, we create more room for empathy, problem-solving, and connection.

At Rogers, we want our students to grow into people who know that being a leader isn’t always about having something to say. Sometimes, leadership begins with being willing to listen.

Good things grow here, and understanding one another helps our relationships grow, too. 🌱

Warmly,

Katie

Coming Up:

October 30: Halloween Parade

November 2 & 3: No Student - Staff Professional Development

November 5: Grades 2, 3, and 4 Music Concert

November 6: Picture Retake Day

November 9-13: Book Fair

November 10: PTA Meeting, 7 p.m.

November 12: Seminar: Helping Children Manage Anxiety, 6-7 on Google Meet - Details Below

November 13: PTA STEM Night, 6-7 p.m.

November 23: Fall evening conferences, 5-8 p.m.

November 24: Fall conferences, 8am-4pm

November 25-29: District Closed - Thanksgiving Recess

Virtual parent presentation opportunities in partnership with Lyon Counseling:

November 12: Helping Children Manage Anxiety (6-7 p.m. on Google Meet)

January 21: Anger & Emotional Regulation Skills

March 18: Guiding Children Toward Independence

April 29: Behavioral Management

Submit questions here in advance!

Join the Google Meet with this link!

Fall Scholastic Book Fair – November 9-12

Our Fall Book Fair is almost here! Here’s how your student can take part:

• Preview Days:
  Monday, November 9 & Tuesday, November 10
  During school hours they will have the opportunity to preview the fair with their class and make a "wish list" during designated times
• Student Shopping Days:
  Wednesday, November 11 & Thursday, November 12
  During school hours they will have the opportunity to shop with their class during designated times
• After School Shopping:
  Wednesday, November 12 | 3:15-5:00pm

Visit the Rogers Fall Book Fair Homepage for full details.

Volunteers Needed – Help Make the Book Fair a Success!

We need volunteers for:

• Set-Up: Friday, November 6, 8am
• Preview & Shopping Days: November 9-12 (multiple shifts available)

Click here to sign up to volunteer at the Book Fair

Reminder: All volunteers must have a Volunteer Release Form and an approved background check on file.

Create Your Child’s eWallet for the Book Fair

Set up a Scholastic eWallet for easy, contactless shopping at the Book Fair. Funds are immediately available and it's a convenient way for your child to buy books. You can also shop the fair online.

Click here to set up your eWallet

Cash and checks are also accepted. Please make checks payable to “Berkley School District.”

Book Fair Schedule at a Glance

• Set-Up:
  Friday, November 6– 8:00-10:00
• Preview Days:
  Monday, November 9– 8:20-11:00, 1:00-3:00
  Tuesday, November 10– 8:20-11:00
• Shopping Days:
  Wednesday, November 11– 8:20-11:00, 1:00-3:00, 3:15-5:00 after school
  Thursday, November 12– 8:20-11:00

Announcements:

We are still looking for a few parents to chair some of our upcoming school events. We currently need chairs for:

• Holiday Craft Night - December
• Family Skate Night - January
• Monthly Dine to Donates
• Trunk or Treat — we could use a few more volunteers!

If you’re interested in helping with any of these events, please email us at rogerselementarypta@gmail.com.

To stay up to date on the Rogers Dads Club, please follow our Facebook page!

November 12: Helping Children Manage Anxiety (6-7 p.m. on Google Meet) - Details to come

January 21: Anger & Emotional Regulation Skills

March 18: Guiding Children Toward Independence

April 29: Behavioral Management

Submit questions here in advance!

Join the Google Meet with this link!

Please remember to fill out your volunteer/chaperone application as soon as possible! 2025-2026 applications expire at the end of September and new checks take into effect October 1st. Please see the information below from the website:

Any volunteer who works with or has access to students shall be screened through the Internet sites for the Sex Offenders Registry (SOR) list and the Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT) criminal history records prior to being allowed to participate in any activity or program. The Berkley School District reserves the right to approve or deny any volunteer service upon review of the background check. Providing false information, or information contradicting the background check information, is grounds for immediate volunteer denial. Applicants with a felony conviction are not eligible to serve as a volunteer. Applicants with a misdemeanor conviction may not be eligible to serve as a volunteer.

Application Process

All parents/family members volunteering in the classroom or during school-sponsored functions or field trips must complete the Volunteer Release form prior to any activities.

Please keep in mind that the Volunteer Release Form is sent to the Berkley School District Administrative Offices and may take up to three weeks to process so we recommend you submit the required forms well in advance of your planned activity.

You will need to upload an image of your valid driver's license or state-issued ID when completing the Volunteer Release Form.

Breakfast Procedures

Free breakfast will be served each morning from 7:40 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. The main door will be opened from 7:40 a.m. to 7:50 a.m. The door will not open sooner as no supervision is available before that time.

When coming in for breakfast, please enter through the new multipurpose room doors where breakfast will be served!

Filling out a free/reduced meal form is very important to families who are eligible and for the district to receive funding. When families qualify for free/reduced price meals, they are also eligible for the following benefits:

• Reduced Summer School fees
• Reduced Athletics Resource Fees for students grades 6-12
• Reduced field trip fees
• Reduced AP testing fees
• Potential additional benefits for Bridge Cards/P-EBT
• Potential support for household cable/internet
• Potential programs that provide holiday support

Visit the Berkley School District’s Food Service webpage for more information, and apply for free/reduced meals through the MISTAR Parent Portal.

The lunch menu can be found here.

In February 2026, Senate Bill 495 and House Bill 4141 were signed into law stating that Michigan school districts must create action plans that keep devices away during class, with exceptions for emergencies and academic use. Our administrative team has reviewed the law and will be implementing the following parameters:

Elementary: All personal electronic communication devices must be away for the entire day, including smart watches and glasses. All devices must be stored in backpacks or a phone caddy in the classroom.

Please visit the Rogers website for important information about traffic patterns and guidelines. Watch this video for more information about School Safety Zones.

• We respectfully ask that you save spots in our parking lot for staff use only.
• Curbside drop-off & pickup will take place opposite school grounds on the resident/house side of the street.
• Drop-off, pickup, parking, stopping, and standing around the perimeter of Rogers is not permitted to allow public safety quick access to buildings in case of emergency.
• Students will cross at the designated crosswalks at the corner of Oxford & Hamilton and Hamilton & Harvard.
• Students should exit cars on the resident/house side of Hamilton & Oxford, walk to the corner, and cross with a crossing guard. Students should exit onto the curb, not into the street.
• Caregivers are encouraged to park and walk with their child to school.
• Parking is allowed opposite school grounds any time of day.
• Rogers staff parking lot has a designated drop-off/pick up zone only.
• Berkley Public Safety will be enforcing traffic rules.