What is Rooms?
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Last week, I shared the importance of helping students establish strong routines. This week, I want to take the next step and focus on helping students take greater ownership of their education.
Taking ownership does not mean students must handle everything perfectly or independently. It means gradually learning to keep track of assignments, meet deadlines, ask questions, communicate with teachers, and seek help when needed. These habits take time to develop, and support from both home and school makes a tremendous difference.
One way families can stay informed is through Rooms, available within the Rudyard Area Schools app. Rooms allows teachers (and coaches) to share classroom announcements, reminders, updates, and messages with students and families. I encourage parents and guardians to make sure they have downloaded the school app, connected to Rooms, and enabled notifications.
Rooms is most effective when families use the information to begin conversations with their students. Instead of immediately solving a problem for them, consider asking:
What is your plan for completing this assignment?
Have you talked with your teacher?
What help do you need?
What can you do differently next time?
Our goal is to support students while gradually helping them become more responsible, confident, and capable of managing their own success.
Thank you for staying connected and working alongside us. When students, families, and staff communicate and share responsibility, we create the strongest possible support system for every student.
Set the example. Raise the expectation. Be the Standard,
Chad Folkersma Ed.S.
Principal, Rudyard Jr/Sr High School
Continuing to Build Strong Routines and Independence
The beginning of a school year requires every student to adjust to new classes, expectations, responsibilities, and schedules. Establishing consistent routines at home and school helps students manage these changes and approach each day with greater confidence.
As parents, we naturally want to step in when our children feel overwhelmed or encounter challenges. However, a little manageable adversity can be an important part of growing up. When students are given the opportunity to solve small problems, organize their responsibilities, communicate with teachers, and learn from mistakes, they develop independence and confidence.
Our role is not to remove every obstacle, but to make sure students have the routines, encouragement, and support necessary to work through them. A consistent bedtime, regular attendance, arriving on time, preparing materials the night before, and checking assignments are simple habits that create a strong foundation for success.
Strong routines do more than keep students organized. They help young people become responsible, capable, and prepared to handle increasingly greater challenges.
Upcoming Dates
(Subject to Change)
September
September 30: No Sault CTE
October
October 5: Progress Reports Sent
October 6: Dig Pink Volleyball — 6:00 PM
October 12:
PD Day (No Students)
Float Building
XC Home Conference Meet — 4:00 PM
October 12 – October 16: Homecoming Week
October 13:
School Picture Day
JV/Varsity Volleyball vs. St. Ignace — 6:00 PM
October 15:
PSAT NMSQT (11th Grade)
Parent University — 6:30 PM
October 16 (Homecoming Friday):
Pep Assembly — 1:40 PM
Parade — 5:30 PM
JV Football — 4:30 PM
Varsity Football — 7:00 PM
October 17:
XC Autumn Classic — 9:00 AM
JV/Varsity Volleyball vs. Newberry — 6:00 PM (Note: Visual list lists date as 10/17)
High School Dance — 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM
October 19: Blood Drive — 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM (Open to the Public)
October 28: CTE Advisory Board — 6:00 PM (Parents Welcome)
October 30: End of Marking Period
Additional Links & Visual Information
Full Events Calendar: Access the complete Rudyard High School Events Calendar.
QR Code Alternative: Scan the image QR code in the original document or download the Rudyard Area Schools App from your device's app store to access Rooms.