·         Dec. 18, 2025: Carol Singing @ 2:30-3:00pm

·         Dec. 19, 2025: Pajama Day and Carol Singing @ 9:00-9:30am

·         Dec. 20 –Jan. 4, 2026: Winter Break

·         Jan. 5, 2026: Classes Resume

·         Jan. 8, 2026: School Council Meeting 6:30pm

·         Jan. 9, 2026: Fun Snack- Cobs Bread

·         Jan. 12-23, 2026: Gymnastics Weeks in PE

·         Jan. 23, 2026: Wonder Hour #2, 11:15-12:15

·         Jan. 29, 2026: School Council’s Family Board Game Night

·         Jan. 30, 2026: Non-instructional Day, No School for Students

·         Feb. 24, 2026: Updated Semester 1 report card date

Dear Royal Oak School Families,

Spirit Days: During the month of December, we would like to have some fun in building a sense of school community. Friday, December 19 - Pajama Day  (For hygiene purposes, please ensure these are clean pajamas.)

Dressing for the Weather: This last Thursday, we had our first “Blue Day”. This is when temperatures fall below –20 degrees Celsius (with the windchill) and we bring students inside in the morning starting at 8:31am and keep students inside for recess and/ or lunch break.  Please ensure that your child is dressed appropriately and prepared to be outside for recess and lunch break when temperatures are above this –20 degree CBE guideline. Students should be wearing boots, a winter jacket, snowpants, a toque/ hat, gloves, and scarf or neck warmer.

Student Drop off and Pick-up: With colder weather, we continue to encourage all parents and guardians to choose safety over convenience during drop off and pick up of students. A reminder that there is signage indicating that picking up and dropping off students in the parking lot is prohibited. Also, please find a safe place to park before dropping off students. We also encourage you to set a good example and use the crosswalk when crossing the road with your children. Please adhere to these rules for the safety of all students at Royal Oak School.

School Messenger and Text Messages – Opting in: Did you know that parents and guardians must opt-in to receive text/SMS messages, including emergency text messages, such as bus delays, through School Messenger.

·         To opt-in parents must use their cell phone to text YES (or Y) to 978338. (The cell number must be one of the numbers in PowerSchool.)

·         Instructions are included on cbe.ab.ca/ subscribe.

·         If parents have multiple cell numbers in PowerSchool, texts will go to whichever number(s) they opt in from.

·         Parents can opt in or out any time.

·         Opting-in is optional.

·         Texts are always sent from 978338. Recipients may want to save the number in their contact list.

·         Recipients cannot reply to texts.

Kindergarten Registration: Kindergarten Registration for the 2026-27 school year begins January 12, 2026. For children to be eligible to register and attend kindergarten in September 2026 year, they must turn five years old on or before Dec. 31, 2026. When registering your child for school, there are several things you should consider. Our CBE Kindergarten Registration Guide can help answer many of your questions. Please be aware that registration is not first-come, first-served.

Lost and Found: There is a lot of lost and found clothing and other items accumulating at school. Parents are welcome to come to school and check out the lost and found.  Any items remaining after the Winter Break will be donated to charity in the new year.

Education Matters: Our Royal Oak School Council and Parent Fundraising Society do an amazing job of fundraising to support great learning opportunities at our school. Their efforts help to provide reduced fees for field trips, learning residencies, and help in replacing aging technology at the school. It also provides many extra learning resources in the learning commons and in the classrooms that help our teachers to offer improved learning opportunities. If your family would like to support these efforts but prefer the option of doing a one-time donation over taking part in campaigns such as apple sales, monthly fun lunches or other fundraisers, you are able to donate through Education Matters. You are able to receive a tax receipt for any donation above $20, and the funds will be used directly towards learning enhancements, new technology, learning commons resources and other learning resources. Please visit https://www.educationmatters.ca/schools/royal-oak-school

Sincerely,

Michelle Ryskamp & Nadine Duque

Principal & Assistant Principal, Royal Oak School

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SCHOOL COUNCIL & FUNDRAISING SOCIETY NEWS – EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

1.    THANK YOU’S

·         VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH: Our most recent draw included all events from Oct. 1 up to the Staff Appreciation Potluck and the winner is Katie C.! Katie has a grade one student at the school, and she appreciates all the work that the teachers and staff do at our school. She brought two items to the potluck and has volunteered at other events as well. Thank you, Katie!

2.   FUN LUNCHES

·         Subway Fun lunch is on December 16, 2025. Please email rosfunlunch@gmail.com to arrange alternate order pick up if your child will be absent that day.

·         January dates to be posted soon.

3.    SAVE THE DATE

·         FAMILY BOARD GAME NIGHT – January 29

Mark your calendars for our upcoming Family Board Game Night on January 29, 2026. Bring the whole family and your favorite board game or puzzle and join your friends from ROS. Lots of prizes to be won.