Oak Ridge Connection

The Oak Ridge community commits to every student's academic achievement, personal development, and social responsibility.

Dear Parents,

We had a great opening week of school! Our students began to get to know their teacher, classmates, routines, and procedures. I had a chance to be in all of their classrooms multiple times and was impressed with what I saw. Please talk to them about their High Five behaviors and how they will help to ensure a successful year. I can't wait to watch them all grow this year!

Sincerely,

Dr. Jason Parrott

Each week we are going to focus on a High Five Behavior of the Week. This weeks behavior is:

Be Kind in the Hallway: Smile

If you would like to view our High Five PBIS Matrix please look below...

August 28: Family Welcome Back Night at Royal Oak High School 4:30-6:45 p.m.

Friday, August 29th & Monday, September 1st: No School

Thursday, September 4th: Curriculum Night

Grades 1-3: 6:00-6:46pm

Grades 4-5: 7:00-7:45pm

Wednesday, September 10th: Late Start

Thursday, September 11th: PTA Welcome Back Picnic 5:30-7:00 p.m.

Curriculum Night will take place on Thursday, September 4th. Parents of students in grades 1-3 will have Curriculum Night from 6:00-6:45 p.m. Parents of students in grades 4 & 5 will have Curriculum Night from 7:00-7:45 p.m. This event is for adults only.

This is one of our most important nights of the year. You will have an opportunity to meet your child's teachers, learn about the Royal Oak Curriculum for your child's grade level, hear about classroom specific expectations, and have an opportunity to sign up for Parent-Teacher Conferences. Please plan on attending!

Our district uses the iReady program to assess students’ progress in math and ELA. To learn more about this program, please click on the following link:

iReady Parent Letter

Oak Ridge is a Peanut Restricted school. Classrooms are Tree Nut and Peanut Restricted. Our goal is to ensure that students with food allergies have a safe and welcoming learning environment. Children with food allergies face life-threatening reactions when these allergens are ingested or in some cases, inhaled.

All classrooms including the media center, music room, art room and gym have been designated as "NUT FREE." This means that no snacks containing any kind of peanuts or tree nuts will be allowed. There are no peanuts allowed anywhere in the school or on school grounds. Posters are posted throughout the school as reminders.

Oak Ridge has a school-wide policy that does not allow the use of personal electronic devices—including cell phones, smartwatches (e.g., Apple Watches), tablets, and any device used for texting, messaging, or social media—during the school day.

Our goal is to help students remain fully present, engaged, and connected to their learning and peers during school hours. Removing access to non-essential communication tools during class reduces distractions, promotes academic focus, and encourages face-to-face social interaction.

Restrictions During the School Day:

• Personal devices including cell phones, smartwatches, tablets, and similar devices may not be used during class, lunch, recess, in the hallway, or in the restrooms. (Anytime between the hours of 8:25am-3:30pm)
  

• Devices must remain out of sight and silenced (stored in lockers) from the first bell to dismissal.

• Smartwatches used for communication (e.g., texting, calling, notifications) fall under the same restriction as phones and must also remain out of use during the school day.

Communication in Emergencies:

In the case of an emergency, our school will support communication between students and parents/guardians using school telephones. All classrooms are equipped with landlines to ensure timely and effective contact when needed.

Responsibility:

Oak Ridge is not responsible for any lost, stolen, or damaged personal devices. Students bring these items to school at their own risk.

Attendance at school every day is very important to a child's education. Students are let in the building at 8:20 a.m. This is when the first bell rings. Students should be in their classrooms by 8:25 a.m. Any student arriving after this time is considered tardy. Tardiness disrupts the classroom and students coming in late miss directions for the day. All absences should be called in to the Safety Check number. Absences that are not reported are considered unexcused.

Safety Check number 248-549-4968 option #1

As a reminder, the classroom teacher takes lunch orders one day in advance. If a child is absent, a lunch choice must be left on the Safety Check line by 9:00 a.m.

2025-2026 Calendar: A calendar for the 2025-2026 school year is now available! Building and program specific calendars, as well as a complete calendar for our current school year, are all available from the calendar page of our district website.

Please do not use 13 Mile road or entrance. It will cause a traffic gridlock and cost you time and inconvenience. Use either the Lawrence or Alexander parking lots, or the Bloomfield entrance.

The city is resurfacing 13 Mile Road between Rochester Road and Campbell Road. The work is expected to be completed by the end of September. One lane of traffic will be open in each direction along 13 Mile Road, but left turns will be prohibited as follows:

• No left turns onto side streets from 13 Mile Road during construction
• No left turn at Campbell Road for eastbound drivers
• No left turn at Rochester Road for westbound drivers

Parents should allow a few extra minutes for drop-off and pick-up. You can contact the Engineering Division with any questions at engineering@romi.gov or 248.246.3266.

We have taken positive steps toward improving the traffic flow at Oak Ridge Elementary. Please help support us by following these guidelines:

● Front Circle Drive is for drivers of students in Room 103, 105, 107, 109, and 111 only.

● Drivers of students in rooms 104, 106, and 108 drop off in front of classrooms in the back parking lot.

● Drivers of third graders are to drop off in the back lot at the pick-up/drop-off zone (blue line in front of east doors).

● Drivers of fourth-graders are to drop off on Bloomfield (street just south of parking lot) and students enter the building at the east doors (outside of Media Center)

● Drivers of fifth-graders drop off on Alexander (street east of upper-grade playground)

● In our back lot, follow in single file to the pick-up/drop-off zone. As you pull up to the BLUE LINE, stop and drop off/pick up your child. Do NOT create a second line. All students should exit/enter the car door on the curbside ONLY.

● STAY IN SINGLE FILE IN THE BACK LOT.

● Do NOT park along the curb next to the building.

● Give yourself extra time and adhere to traffic safety.

Suggested Options

● Consider coming a few minutes early for drop off/pick up.

● Consider walking to school with your students and neighbors.

● Consider riding your bikes as a family to school.

● Carpooling reduces congestion and helps the environment.

If everyone helps support our efforts, it will be a safe place for students and families! Thank you in advance for your help!

Hello Oak Ridge!

I hope you're enjoying these beautiful summer weeks with your families. I wanted to reach out in hopes that we can revive our composting and recycling program for the upcoming 2025-26 school year. If we haven't met, my name is Molly Mangum, 2nd grade teacher and the teacher representative for the Oak Ridge Green Team. Unfortunately last year, a lot of the hard work we put into the composting and recycling program during our student lunchtime dwindled. We are in desperate need of volunteers! If you are interested in volunteering during our student lunch time, please email me this summer! My email address is molly.mangum@royaloakschools.org.

At the beginning of the school year, we will be hosting an information night to give you more details. Thank you in advance, and feel free to reach out if you have any questions!

Homework Club is available for students on all Late Start Wednesdays from 8:20-9:20 a.m. Please click on the following link to register for Homework Club:

Homework Club 25-26

Royal Oak Schools is excited to welcome families to the Second Annual Family Welcome Back Night on Thursday, August 28, 2025, from 4:30 to 6:45 p.m. Held just before the first home football game of the season, this event is a celebration of community, partnership, and the excitement of a new school year.

Taking place on the Royal Oak High School campus, the evening will bring together students, families, school staff, and community organizations in a relaxed and welcoming environment.

Guests will have the opportunity to:

• Connect with Board of Education members, district leaders, and building principals

• Learn more about school PTAs and PTSAs

• Discover local community partners and resources

• Get information about district programs, volunteer opportunities, and student services

More than 20 local organizations will be on hand, offering resources in areas such as health and wellness, youth enrichment, family support, and more. Mascots, giveaways, and a festive atmosphere will help make the evening fun for all ages.

Superintendent Dr. John Tafelski shared, “Family Welcome Back Night is all about building connections—with our families, our schools, and the community partners who help support the success of every Royal Oak student. We’re proud to continue this new tradition and grateful for everyone who joins us.”

After the event, families are invited to stay and cheer on the Ravens at the first home football game of the season—an energizing way to close out an evening dedicated to community and connection.

We hope to see you there!

Please take time to view the September Library Newsletter.

Library Media Introduction Newsletter

Please take time to view the September PE Newsletter.

Please click here for Royal Oak Schools Performing Arts newsletter.

Please remember to join the PTA - we are working hard to keep our community strong! The PTA welcomes every student & their family from Oak Ridge. We want to make sure we are inclusive of all families and everyone has the opportunity to be a member. If there are financial limitations preventing you from joining the PTA please contact us so we can remove that barrier. It takes all of us working together to make our children reach their true potential.

Join online at: https://oakridge.memberhub.store/

Individual memberships are $10/year.

Please make sure you turn in all of your information for background checks two weeks prior to your event. This will allow us plenty of time to process your request. We often use parent drivers for many of our fieldtrips. Unfortunately we can not allow parents/guardians to drive their own child and drop them off. Volunteers and drivers are not permitted to bring a younger sibling along with them on the event. We want to make sure all students are accounted for and safety is a priority. If you are interested in volunteering please fill out our volunteer background form.

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

For updates on events or a better insight on you child's school day. Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter: Facebook @ParrottJason

SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS

At Oak Ridge we take pride in making sure we have a kind, caring, environment. Our parents play a large role in helping us to achieve this goal. Before posting to social media or any other venue, please consider the feelings of all our community members . Before you post, remember to T.H.I.N.K...

MIssion: We commit to every students academic achievement, personal development and social responsibility.

Email: parrottj@royaloakschools.org
Website: http://www.royaloakschools.org/elementary/oakridge/
Location: 506 E 13 Mile Rd, Royal Oak, MI, United States
Phone: (248) 588-8353
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OakRidgeElementarySchool
Twitter: @ParrottJason