Royal Oak School Kindergarten September Newsletter
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Our year together is the first stepping-stone in your child’s formal schooling.
A positive first experience with the school will set the tone for many happy and productive years
ahead. This magical age is a time of wonder and questions, a time of curiosity, exploration and
discovery. A wonderful journey lies ahead!
A positive first experience with the school will set the tone for many happy and productive years
ahead. This magical age is a time of wonder and questions, a time of curiosity, exploration and
discovery. A wonderful journey lies ahead!
We hope that this letter will explain some procedures that we will use throughout the school year.
Please keep it on hand and refer to the information, as you need it.
Please keep it on hand and refer to the information, as you need it.
Meet our Royal Oak Kindergarten Team
Ms. Courtney Sticksl, Room 53
Ms. Melissa Bernard-Dixon, Room 52
Ms. Kari Sirup, Room 58
Parent-Teacher Relationships
We believe that a good parent-teacher relationship is important for maximum school success.
Throughout the year, we will communicate with you through email, classroom blogs, notes,
telephone calls, newsletters, report cards and parent-teacher conferences.
Please note that we will send the majority of our communication via e-mail and our classroom blogs.
Should you have questions or concerns, we encourage you to contact us by email and we wil
l get back to you as soon as possible.
Please check your child’s backpack every day, your email regularly, and our classroom blog
each week.
Throughout the year, we will communicate with you through email, classroom blogs, notes,
telephone calls, newsletters, report cards and parent-teacher conferences.
Please note that we will send the majority of our communication via e-mail and our classroom blogs.
Should you have questions or concerns, we encourage you to contact us by email and we wil
l get back to you as soon as possible.
Please check your child’s backpack every day, your email regularly, and our classroom blog
each week.
Classroom Blogs
To access the teacher blogs please go to the Royal Oak School website
http://school.cbe.ab.ca/school/RoyalOak/Pages/default.aspx
http://school.cbe.ab.ca/school/RoyalOak/Pages/default.aspx
Click on Teaching & Learning.
Click on Classes and Departments.
Scroll down to Kindergarten and click.
Or access our blog via the URL: https://kindergartenatroyaloak.blogspot.com/
Courtney Sticksl: costicksl@cbe.ab.ca
Melissa Bernard-Dixon: mjbernarddixon@cbe.ab.ca
Kindergarten Hours
Monday – Thursday Morning 9:10 AM - 11:56 AM
Monday – Thursday Afternoon 1:03 PM – 3:50 PM
Early Dismissal Fridays – 9:10 AM – 1:10 PM
(morning and afternoon Kindergarten classes attend on alternating weeks)
(morning and afternoon Kindergarten classes attend on alternating weeks)
Early Dismissal Dates and Times
Friday afternoons are set aside for teachers to engage in professional learning, and the Kindergarten
schedule has been modified to accommodate this. Morning and afternoon classes will alternate
coming to school on Fridays.
schedule has been modified to accommodate this. Morning and afternoon classes will alternate
coming to school on Fridays.
On Friday, September 6th, the AM Kindergarten classes attend school from 9:10 AM – 1:10 PM
and the afternoon classes do not come to school.
and the afternoon classes do not come to school.
The next Friday, September 13th the PM Kindergarten classes attend school from 9:10 AM – 1:10 PM
while the morning classes do not come to school.
while the morning classes do not come to school.
The following week has student-centered conferences scheduled for September 19th and 20th,
and there is no school for both morning and afternoon Kindergarten classes on both of these days.
and there is no school for both morning and afternoon Kindergarten classes on both of these days.
Please note that the early dismissal time has additional implications for bussed students.
All bussed students, whether they are AM or PM students, will have access to the morning bus service
on Fridays. The schedule for those stops is available at the office and will also soon be posted to the
school website. http://schools.cbe.ab.ca/b402/
All bussed students, whether they are AM or PM students, will have access to the morning bus service
on Fridays. The schedule for those stops is available at the office and will also soon be posted to the
school website. http://schools.cbe.ab.ca/b402/
All bussed kindergarten students will also have bus service home on early dismissal days.
On Fridays we would expect that the buses would leave the school approximately 5 minutes after the
1:10 PM whole school dismissal time.
On Fridays we would expect that the buses would leave the school approximately 5 minutes after the
1:10 PM whole school dismissal time.
Please mark the following dates on your calendar:
AM Kindergarten attends from 9:10 AM – 1:10 PM on:
September 6
September 27
October 18
November 15
December 6
January 10
January 24
February 21
March 6
April 3
April 24
May 8
June 5
June 19
PM Kindergarten attends from 9:10 AM – 1:10 PM on:
September 13
October 4
October 25
November 29
December 13
January 17
February 7
February 28
March 13
April 17
May 1
May 29
June 12
Coming and Going
Upon arrival at the school, please line up with your child outside the Kindergarten entrance along
Royal Birch Blvd. These doors will be your child’s entry and exit doors. Kindergarten teachers will bring
all students inside at 9:10 AM and 1:03 PM. Afternoon bus students will be escorted from the bus to
their entry doors upon arrival and, at the end of the day, they will be escorted to the gathering space for
bus attendance and taken to their bus. All walking students will be dismissed from their exit doors and
parents are asked to wait outside the doors, on the sidewalk, to pick up your child. Please ensure that
your child is dressed appropriately for the weather, as we may go outside throughout the day, and also
so they are comfortable while waiting outside before class.
Royal Birch Blvd. These doors will be your child’s entry and exit doors. Kindergarten teachers will bring
all students inside at 9:10 AM and 1:03 PM. Afternoon bus students will be escorted from the bus to
their entry doors upon arrival and, at the end of the day, they will be escorted to the gathering space for
bus attendance and taken to their bus. All walking students will be dismissed from their exit doors and
parents are asked to wait outside the doors, on the sidewalk, to pick up your child. Please ensure that
your child is dressed appropriately for the weather, as we may go outside throughout the day, and also
so they are comfortable while waiting outside before class.
Attendance
When children enter the kindergarten program, they have started school. It is important that attendance
be regular and that children arrive at school on time and stay for the whole time. If your child is not able
to attend on a particular day, due to illness, an appointment or another reason, please contact the
attendance line (403-777-6279) to inform us of your child’s absence.
be regular and that children arrive at school on time and stay for the whole time. If your child is not able
to attend on a particular day, due to illness, an appointment or another reason, please contact the
attendance line (403-777-6279) to inform us of your child’s absence.
Fees
The CBE has moved to collecting fees online only. Please pay any school or field trip fees using your
MyCBE/PowerSchool Portal.
MyCBE/PowerSchool Portal.
Changes in transportation
If you plan to pick up a child who normally rides the bus, or if your child is going home with someone
they do not usually go home with, you must send a note – written or email. If we do not receive
this note, then we must send your child home by his/her usual mode of transportation.
We may also ask for identification from people who have not picked up your children before.
Your child's safety is our first priority.
they do not usually go home with, you must send a note – written or email. If we do not receive
this note, then we must send your child home by his/her usual mode of transportation.
We may also ask for identification from people who have not picked up your children before.
Your child's safety is our first priority.
Backpacks
Kindergarten children should bring a backpack to school every day. This is necessary to ensure that all
notes, schoolwork, library books and projects arrive home without getting wet, dirty, or lost. Backpacks
should be large enough to accommodate the bigger projects and papers.
notes, schoolwork, library books and projects arrive home without getting wet, dirty, or lost. Backpacks
should be large enough to accommodate the bigger projects and papers.
Labeling
All of your child’s belongings should be labeled clearly.
Clothing and Indoor Shoes
All students at Royal Oak School need to have “indoor” shoes (suitable for gym activities) that will be
kept in the classroom. These should be shoes the students can put on independently (no shoelaces
please). When deciding on what clothing your child should wear, please keep in mind we often engage
in messy art projects. We certainly need your help and support as we move our Kindergarten students
towards being able to independently dress themselves.
kept in the classroom. These should be shoes the students can put on independently (no shoelaces
please). When deciding on what clothing your child should wear, please keep in mind we often engage
in messy art projects. We certainly need your help and support as we move our Kindergarten students
towards being able to independently dress themselves.
Snacks
Children are encouraged to bring a small, nutritious snack to school each day. Some suggested snacks
include: fresh fruits and vegetables, crackers, cheese, breadsticks or half-sandwich. We are
encouraging students to practice independence. Containers that are easy to open or packages that are
pre-snipped allow children to be successful in opening their own snack. We encourage you to please
send water only to drink. Yogurt drinks and juice boxes often end up spilled on the floor, or in a child’s
backpack, resulting in a sticky mess.
include: fresh fruits and vegetables, crackers, cheese, breadsticks or half-sandwich. We are
encouraging students to practice independence. Containers that are easy to open or packages that are
pre-snipped allow children to be successful in opening their own snack. We encourage you to please
send water only to drink. Yogurt drinks and juice boxes often end up spilled on the floor, or in a child’s
backpack, resulting in a sticky mess.
Please keep in mind that Royal Oak School is an ‘allergy-aware’ school. If your child has an allergy,
it is important that you let your child’s classroom teacher know immediately as well as completing the
CBE medical form and returning it to the office. For this reason, we also ask that children tell their
teacher when they have nuts in their snack. In an effort to reduce our environmental footprint we will be
sending all snack trash home with students. Please remember that this is just a snack and children
should be provided small portions so that they are not feeling rushed to finish during our 15 minute
snack time.
it is important that you let your child’s classroom teacher know immediately as well as completing the
CBE medical form and returning it to the office. For this reason, we also ask that children tell their
teacher when they have nuts in their snack. In an effort to reduce our environmental footprint we will be
sending all snack trash home with students. Please remember that this is just a snack and children
should be provided small portions so that they are not feeling rushed to finish during our 15 minute
snack time.
Toys
Please do not send toys or other “special treasures” to school with your child. These items can become
lost, broken or misplaced and may result in an unhappy child. If we need your child to bring items to
share as an extension of our class activities, you will receive a notice.
lost, broken or misplaced and may result in an unhappy child. If we need your child to bring items to
share as an extension of our class activities, you will receive a notice.
Book Exchange Day
Beginning in late September we will visit the Learning Commons (Library) once a week. The children
may choose one book, which they may keep at home for one week. We ask that the book be returned
the following week. The book needs to be returned before a new one may be chosen.
may choose one book, which they may keep at home for one week. We ask that the book be returned
the following week. The book needs to be returned before a new one may be chosen.
Physical Education
The kindergarten children will participate in Physical Education activities. We recommend you send
running shoes for your child’s “indoor” shoes and your child dress in comfortable clothing for physical
activities. We will also be having outdoor Physical Education classes throughout the year, please dress
your child appropriately for all weather conditions.
running shoes for your child’s “indoor” shoes and your child dress in comfortable clothing for physical
activities. We will also be having outdoor Physical Education classes throughout the year, please dress
your child appropriately for all weather conditions.
Parent Teacher Conferences
There are 3 times throughout the school year set aside for conferences between parents, students, and
teachers. In order to accommodate the large number of families in our school there will be
NO SCHOOL for Kindergarten students on the following dates:
teachers. In order to accommodate the large number of families in our school there will be
NO SCHOOL for Kindergarten students on the following dates:
Thursday, September 19th& Friday, September 20th
Thursday, November 21st & Friday, November 22nd
Thursday, March 19th & Friday, March 20th
Blue Days
A blue day is defined by any time the temperature (with wind chill) is below -20. On these days a blue
sign will be hung in the door indicating your child can come inside as soon as they get to school rather
than lining up outside. The weather in Calgary can change quickly so please send your child to school
with boots, snow pants, mittens, and a toque during the winter.
sign will be hung in the door indicating your child can come inside as soon as they get to school rather
than lining up outside. The weather in Calgary can change quickly so please send your child to school
with boots, snow pants, mittens, and a toque during the winter.
Birthdays
Please do not send treats into the classroom for the children to share for birthdays or holiday
celebrations. If you have birthday invitations to hand out, please send them to school in your child's
plastic communication folder. Your child’s teacher will discretely make sure each child receives their
invitation to avoid any hurt feelings.
celebrations. If you have birthday invitations to hand out, please send them to school in your child's
plastic communication folder. Your child’s teacher will discretely make sure each child receives their
invitation to avoid any hurt feelings.
Volunteers
We welcome our classroom volunteers and appreciate your support. At Royal Oak School we strongly
believe in the important role that volunteers have in the lives of our students. We understand that not
everyone is able to help in the classroom but we value your help in other ways. Please note that all
volunteers working in the Calgary Board of Education schools require a police security check. If you
have not yet completed the security check, please contact the office. The beginning of the school year
is an important time for teachers and students to build community, routines and expectations. Later in
September, your teacher will be contacting those parents who have their security clearance to begin a
regular in-class volunteer schedule.
believe in the important role that volunteers have in the lives of our students. We understand that not
everyone is able to help in the classroom but we value your help in other ways. Please note that all
volunteers working in the Calgary Board of Education schools require a police security check. If you
have not yet completed the security check, please contact the office. The beginning of the school year
is an important time for teachers and students to build community, routines and expectations. Later in
September, your teacher will be contacting those parents who have their security clearance to begin a
regular in-class volunteer schedule.
Photos
Throughout the year, we will be taking photos of individual children as well as groups of children at
work and at play in each of the kindergarten classes. Through the use of digital photography, we are
able to collect photos of children at work and as another means to showcase their learning. Please
contact your child’s teacher if this is a concern. Please also watch for paperwork coming home from the
school regarding the use of photos as we will require your signature to display photos and work
completed by your child.
work and at play in each of the kindergarten classes. Through the use of digital photography, we are
able to collect photos of children at work and as another means to showcase their learning. Please
contact your child’s teacher if this is a concern. Please also watch for paperwork coming home from the
school regarding the use of photos as we will require your signature to display photos and work
completed by your child.
We are excited to begin this learning journey with your child.
The Royal Oak Kindergarten Team
Courtney Sticksl
Melissa Bernard-Dixon
Kari Sirup