Mark Your Calendars:
· Apr. 14, 2025: Subway Fun Lunch & 6:30pm School Council Meeting Join the meeting
· Apr. 15, 2025: Group Class Picture Day – send your best smiles
· Apr. 16, 2025: PM Kindergarten Classes Celebration of Learning 2:15-3:15pm
· Apr. 17, 2025: AM Kindergarten Classes Celebration of Learning 10:15 – 11:30am
· Apr. 18, 2025: No School – Good Friday
· Apr. 21, 2025: No School for Students – System Professional Learning Day
· Apr. 22, 2025: Earth Day – dress up in honor of our Earth (read more below)
· Apr. 24, 2025: International Design Day
· Apr. 24, 2025: School Council Family Dance 5:30-8:30
· May 1, 2025: Grade 4 tour to WD Pratt School (am) and Open House (evening)
· May 1, 2025: School Council Family Dance 5:30-8:30
· May 5-9, 2025: Mental Health Week & Teacher Appreciation Week
· May 7, 2025: Hats on for Mental Health Day & Water Bottle Wednesday Challenge
· May 8, 2025: Wear Active or Sportswear Day
· May 9, 2025: School Council Fresh Fruit Friday
Dear Royal Oak School Families,
April School Council Meeting: Join us for our upcoming School Council meeting in our school staff room on Monday, April 12 from 6:30 –8:30pm. CBE School Board Trustee Charlene May and our Area 1 Director, Kevin Howell, will be joining us for this meeting. Our grade 3 team of teachers will also be in attendance providing insights into what is happening in their classrooms. All parents are welcome to attend. If you are unable to join us in person, you may connect via Teams using the following link. Join the meeting
April is Autism Awareness Month: April is World Autism Month, an annual opportunity for a dedicated conversation about autism spectrum disorder. Autism touches more than 70 million people globally. Approximately 1 in 50 children and youth are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Canada and this number continues to grow. Did you know that in 2008, The United Nations General Assembly unanimously declared April 2nd as World Autism Awareness Day? Now many countries around the world light up their landmarks blue to help increase understanding and acceptance of people with Autism.
Earth Day Spirit Day, Tuesday, April 22: Celebrate your appreciation for our home and beautiful planet Earth by dressing in nature-themed clothing. This might be simply wearing the colours blue and green or perhaps you might like to dress up like your favorite animal. You might choose to wear animal prints or floral patterns. You might want to wear a shirt with a picture of the mountains on it. Maybe you'd like to put flowers in your hair? Really, the options are almost endless.
International Design Day at Royal Oak School: On Thursday, April 24, 2025: Royal Oak School will participate in our first International Day of Design. You might ask, what is this all about? On this day, students are encouraged to make, build, and tinker. We will also focus on using the Design Thinking process in all classrooms in our school. The goal for the International Design Day is to inspire a transformation in schools around the world to incorporate design thinking into everyday practice with our students from all levels, ages, and subjects. We will spend the entire morning of Thursday, April 24th designing and building with buddy classes. In the afternoon, students will have an opportunity to visit other classrooms to see their creations. We are looking forward to an exciting, creative, and engaging day. Depending on the age group and project, teachers may be reaching out for parent volunteers to lend a helping hand on this day.
Grade 4’s Tour to WD Pratt School: On Friday, May 1, our Grade 4 students attended a tour at WD Pratt School. They are also hosting an Open House that same evening, inviting families to the school to help with the transition to middle school. Please note that if your grade 4 child will be automatically designated and registered at WD Pratt School, unless you have notified the school that your child will be attending a different school for the 2025-26 school year.
Wishing you a great week ahead!
Sincerely,
Michelle Ryskamp,
Principal, Royal Oak School
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SCHOOL COUNCIL & FUNDRAISING SOCIETY NEWS – EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
· Spring Plant Fundraiser – Spring 2025 Fundraising Form - Royal Oak School – ORDER NOW! Support our school and brighten up your garden with our Spring Plant Fundraiser! Orders are open until April 18, with beautiful plants supplied by Bluegrass Nursery in Calgary. Pick-up will be on May 22 at ROS. All proceeds go to the Royal Oak School Fundraising Society, helping to fund materials, resources, and programs for our students. Thank you for your support!
· Don’t miss out on this fabulous Pedalheads offer for ROS families – use code ROYOAK25 for $25 off Spring and Summer bike lessons AND Pedalheads will donate $25 back to ROS. Click here to sign up: Summer Camp Calgary, Edmonton, & Alberta | Pedalheads Bike Camp
· Literacy Month and Read-a-Thon a HUGE success! Thank you to all the students and their families who made Literacy Month a great success. Our students read 185,466 minutes which is equivalent to 129 days of reading! We raised $2700 from the Read-a-Thon which will be used toward council initiatives for the school and students. Congratulations to all our prize winners and to the classes who read the most and raised the most money. And a big thank you to all the sponsors and donors who contributed prizes to our school.
· Book Sale rescheduled for April 24 and May 1! Due to the recent strike, we had to reschedule our Book Sale. The Book Salewill now take place at the school dance on April 24 and May 1. All books are only $1 and puzzles are $3! Cash or card accepted. We will still be accepting used children’s books at the school up until April 23. If you have questions, please email roschoolcouncil@gmail.com.
· Spring Dance - April 24 and May 1: The School’s Spring Dance is on April 24 and May 1. Tickets are $3 per person and available to buy on www.Healthyhunger.ca starting April 14 at 5:30pm. This event sells out fast so do not delay! Pre-order pizza and wear your dancing shoes! We encourage grade 4 students to consider attending the April 24 dance as William D Pratt has an open house for incoming grade 5 students on May 1. The dance relies on volunteer support - please sign here: ROS Volunteers: Spring Dance 2025!
Mark Your Calendars!
1. April 14: School Council & Fundraising Society Meeting @ 6.30pm. Click over to the School Council - Royal Oak School page to check out past minutes and future agendas (when posted).
2. April 14: Subway Fun Lunch (12-1.15pm)! Join the fun and come sort lunch orders into classroom bins, plus be part of the excitement handing them out to students. 4 more volunteer spots available. ROS Volunteers: Spring 2025 Fun Lunch & Snack
3. April 15: Class Photo Day! Throughout the school day, volunteers are needed to bring classrooms down to the gym and assist students with lining up according to height. Sign up here: ROS Volunteers: Class Photo Day 2025
4. 2025/2026: IMMEDIATE NEED
· Volunteer Coordinator: Alison leaves ROS at the end of the current school year and is looking to train someone new. The core responsibilities are to create Sign Ups, liaise with ROS for events (as well as School Council and Fundraising Society) to recruit volunteers, and enhance school community. This is a CRITICAL role – ongoing support will be provided. Email: ROSVolunteers@gmail.com
· Fundraising Society Chair: Miranda is needing to step back from the role as soon as possible. Work alongside a team to facilitate fundraisers that enhance our students learning experience, oversee use of the Casino funds, and make a difference for ROS families! Email: ROSFundraisingSociety@gmail.com