Mark Your Calendars:
· Sept. 29, 2025: Non-Instructional Day – No school for students
· Sept. 30, 2025: National Day of Truth and Reconciliation – No School
· Oct 1, 2025: Nature Play Residency Begins - runs until Nov. 4
· Oct. 1, 2025: School Council meeting in staffroom or online at Join the meeting now
· Oct. 3, 2025: Tentative – Fire Drill #2
· Oct. 3, 2025: Healthy Hunger Fun Snack Day- Cobs Bread
· Oct. 8, 2025: Individual Student Photo Day
· Oct. 13, 2025: Thanksgiving Day– No School
· Oct. 20, 2025: Non-Instructional Day – No school for students
· Oct. 21, 2025: Healthy Hunger Fun Lunch - Subway
· Oct. 23 & 30, 2025: School Council hosted Family Costume Dance – more info to come
· Nov. 8 –12, 2025: Fall Break –No School for students
Dear Royal Oak School Families,
A reminder that there is no school for students on Monday and Tuesday this coming week. On Monday, September 29th, teachers will be involved in professional development with the Nature Play team, as we prepare for our upcoming residency, learning more about the importance of learning on and from the land. As well, teachers will spend time discussing and reflecting on bringing joy and student engagement into learning tasks for our students.
Nature Play – Outdoor Play Residency: We can’t wait to get outside and play with your kids this fall with our Nature Play team starting October 1 and running until November 4th! Nature Play is all about enhancing and promoting healthy child development. During our outdoor play residency, classes will get the opportunity to engage in outdoor play experiences at the school’s nearby natural spaces within walking distance of the school. The sessions are designed to encourage creativity, problem solving, resilience, and teamwork, as well as developmentally appropriate gross motor, fine motor, and social skills. Teachers will have lots of opportunities to learn as well, and our hope is that the ideas and learning experiences can continue to resonate in the school, long after the residency wraps up!
In order to support our teachers and students with this learning experience, we need volunteer help. Please sign-up using the following link. Please try to fill up the earlier dates first to ensure we have the help we need for the first two weeks. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0A4FA9AE2CA5F94-58944320-nature
What to pack: This is an all-weather program (with the exception of poor air quality, storms, and extreme cold (below -15C with windchill). Your child’s teacher will be in touch about their scheduled days with Nature Play. On these days, please send your child with the following to ensure they can have a safe and enjoyable experience with Nature Play!
● Sturdy footwear (no crocs or fashion shoes please!)
● A jacket that is appropriate for the weather
● Light gloves for morning sessions
● You may need to send along an additional insulating layer and warmer gloves for October sessions.
International Walk to School Day October 1 ,2025: International Walk to School Day gives children, parents, teachers and the community an opportunity to be part of a global event as they celebrate the many benefits of walking. In 2011, millions of children, parents, and community leaders from 40 countries around the world joined together in celebration of International Walk to School Day in October. We know that many of our students and families already walk to school on a daily basis already. However, if this is not part of your normal routine, we encourage you to try to fit this into your schedule next Wednesday.
Picture Day: On Wednesday October 8th, Royal Oak School students will have their individual photos taken. For these events to go smoothly, we are asking for volunteer assistance! Picture Retake Day is scheduled for Wednesday, November 5th. ALL VOLUNTEERS MUST HAVE A VALID POLICE CLEARANCE initiated through the CBE/ROS (contact Leah Milne at ljmilne@cbe.ab.ca) and submitted their ANNUAL VOLUNTEER REGISTRATION FORM (confidentiality form) via myCBE/PowerSchool (Student and Parent / Legal Guardian Sign In (cbe.ab.ca)). Volunteers will bring classes to the gym according to the schedule provided by the school, help students form line ups, check hair and wardrobe for anything that might need to be cleaned up before each students picture and help calm student nerves by providing words of encouragement or having them practice their smiles. Please sign-up using this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0A4FA9AE2CA5F94-58909518-picture
Staffing Update: As you know, our assistant principal, Kim Dawson, will be leaving Royal Oak School on Friday October 3rd to join the leadership team at Prince of Wales School. Ms. Dawson has been with ROS since 2021, supporting students and their families through the pandemic, navigating staffing transitions, and helping to build a strong sense of community. On Friday, we will be sending her off with our love and thanks in various ways.
Terry Fox Run & Donations: We had a very successful Terry Fox Run on Friday September 19. Thanks to all of our students and staff who ran and walked with big hearts and enthusiasm and the parents who volunteered to guide and cheer on our runners. It is with gratitude that we also acknowledge the generosity of our school community who have raised over $1900 for the Terry Fox Foundation this year.
Annual CBE Online Forms - NOW OVERDUE! Each year, schools have a variety of forms that parents / legal guardians are required to complete or review and update, some of which are paper and others online. In CBE, the forms that have now shifted to an online format (SchoolEngage) are:
· Demographic Verification 2025-26: This form includes your child’s personal information as well as parent / legal guardian contact information.
· Citizenship Information Update 2025-26: This form becomes available if you change your child’s citizenship information on the Demographic Verification form.
· Annual Authorization 2025-26
SchoolEngage is one of the applications found in your MyCBE account. This is the same account that you use to pay fees, view academic information, book school conferences, etc. If you do not have a MyCBE account, on the MyCBE page click on Create a MyCBE Account. For online help refer, to MyCBE - Creating an Account (includes instructions and a video). These forms are mandatory every year for Alberta Education to confirm student funding.
Steps to help with Completing Online School Forms
1. sign in to your MyCBE account
2. click on the SchoolEngage icon
3. select the form
4. complete or review and update the form
5. click on Submit to send the form electronically to the school
If you do not see any outstanding forms for your child, please ensure that you have added them to your MyCBE account. Once added, you will have access to their outstanding forms.
Sincerely,
Michelle Ryskamp
Principal, Royal Oak School
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SCHOOL COUNCIL & FUNDRAISING SOCIETY NEWS – EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. School Council & Fundraising Society Meeting – Wednesday, October 1 @ 6.30pm
· Please join us in person in the school staffroom or online at Join the meeting now
2. Cobs Bread Fun Snack – October 3
· Place your orders by September 28, 2025, on https://healthyhunger.ca/
· Sign up to volunteer https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0A4FA9AE2CA5F94-58909235-fall
3. Apple Fundraiser
· Support the ROS Fundraising Society's Yumraiser by ordering fresh, delicious apples from Sun-Oka Farm! Place your orders before October 6 and help fundraise for our school while enjoying locally grown produce.
· Follow this Royal Oak link Sun-Oka and select “Buy now”
· Pick up will be October 22 at Royal Oak School
4. Spirit Wear Sale
· Backpack flyers went home earlier this week. Sales open September 18 and will run until October 5.
5. Coming Soon – Subway Fun Lunch (Oct 21) and Fall Family Costume dances (tentative dates October 23 and October 30).