Welcome Back Royal Oak School Students & Families!

The staff at Royal Oak School are very excited to welcome you and your children to a new school year! The beginning of a school year is always a time of new beginnings, fresh starts, and new possibilities. We recognize that transitions and changes can bring a mix of excitement and uncertainty, so we hope the information we are sharing will help you and your child feel prepared and confident as the year begins.

Our staff is committed to creating a safe, welcoming, caring, and joyful learning community where every student feels known, valued, and supported. We want our students to have many opportunities to grow and learn, while developing a sense of wonder, curiosity, confidence, and a genuine love of learning.

This year, we will continue to focus on knowing each student as both a learner and a person. Our teachers will take the time to understand where each student is in relation to the grade-level curriculum, recognize their strengths and areas for growth, and build from where they are. We believe every student has the capacity to learn and grow, and our role is to create the conditions that help them do so.

Please note that our school office is already open from 8:30am – 3:00pm, however teachers do not return to work until Wednesday, August 26, 2026.

 Class Placement

Teachers will be emailing families by Thursday, August 27 at noon to introduce themselves and provide first day of school information to their students and families. Additionally, we have assigned entry doors for all grades.

 School Organization:

We look forward to welcoming back students and meeting and welcoming many new students this year. We are hoping that all registered students will return to school by the first week and that we will not need to make any changes to class configurations or school organization.

 Please be aware that student enrollment continues to be dynamic throughout September. If there are significant changes in class sizes at a particular grade level, we may need to adjust class configurations, which could result in the addition or reduction of classes and impact classroom placements. We recognize that changes to a child’s teacher, classroom, or group of peers can bring feelings of uncertainty or disappointment, especially once students have begun to settle into new routines and relationships. Any decisions will be made thoughtfully, with student learning and well-being at the forefront, and we will work closely with students and families to support them through any necessary transitions.

 Start of Day is 8:46 am!

Supervision will be provided starting at 8:31am each morning. Students are asked to line up at their entry doors. The entry bell will ring at 8:43am and students will be welcomed into their classrooms. Classroom instruction begins at 8:46am. Any student arriving after 8:46am are considered late and must check in at the main office.

Supervision:

School staff will be on supervision every school day beginning at 8:31am and will be visible in their yellow vests. We encourage as many parents as possible to drop their students at the edge of the school grounds (once they become familiar with their entry doors) each day. Similarly, at the end of the day, we recommend families create a meeting spot to receive their child after school.

Entry and Exit Doors:

Front (Office) Doors– Kindergarten

West Compound Doors (by bike racks) - Grade 1

East Front Doors – Grade 2

West Doors (stairs) - Grade 3

East Compound Doors – Grade 4

 School Hours:

 Student School Supplies:

Students will be provided with basic school supplies. These may either be individual or shared supplies. Students are asked to bring a pair of non-marking athletic shoes that can be left at school and that are appropriate to wear for Phys. Ed. Students will also need to bring a snack, a water bottle and a lunch (if staying at school during the lunch break).

 The Learning Commons/ Library is in our Gathering Space. Students are able to sign out books Monday to Friday each week. We ask that you help your children care for and return these items to the school in a timely manner.

Parking and Traffic:

At this time of year, we want to be mindful of our driving and parking habits to ensure all of our students arrive safely and depart safely from school each day. Please honor the 'Hug and Go' drop-off area in front of the school spanning from the crosswalk to the staff parking lot, as this area is designated for a quick student drop-off. Please note that there is no student drop-off or pick-up in the staff parking lot and families are asked not to park along the road by the staff parking lot, as this is a bus zone. We understand that many parents want to ensure their child knows where to go in the first few days of school, and we expect increased traffic flow around the school this coming week. We suggest that you plan to walk or bike, if possible, to help with congestion. Please pack your patience!

There will be so much more to share in the coming days and weeks. Individual teacher communication as well as communications from the school will come via School Messenger, so please ensure you are signed up to receive school emails (including those with commercial content) and are checking your email regularly.

For any further information, we invite you to browse our school website at https://royaloak.cbe.ab.ca/

We wish everyone a restful last few days of summer holidays and look forward to seeing you Monday, August 31, 2026, beginning at 8:31am! 

 Sincerely,

Michelle Ryskamp, Principal

Nadine Duque, Assistant Principal