Rocket News
December 2019
A Letter from Your Principal
Happy December Rocket Parents & Guardians,
I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving and find yourself excited about the upcoming holiday season. December is a very exciting time in an elementary school.
I am so PROUD of your Rocket! I know that I have mentioned the generosity of our Rockets in past years, but it deserves repeating. I have always been impressed with the empathy and compassion our Rockets have for others. Empathy is one of our Rocket Way themes and a characteristic that our students live out. Currently we are in the middle of our annual Spirit of Giving Food Drive where we and all the other elementary schools provide food boxes and gifts for families in need that live in our community. The kids are excited to help others and make this community better. In addition to helping others, your child does a nice job showing empathy to other students. Often I will see our “Big Rockets” (our 3-5 grade students) helping our “Little Rockets” (K-2 grade). I say this intentionally in that we are proud of our Rockets and I just wanted to share that with all of you as parents and guardians. You’ve done a nice job raising compassionate children. Thanks for ALL you do.
On behalf of the staff here at Royal Oaks, I wish you all the very best for the Holiday Season.
Your Principal,
Mr. Ackley
School Hours
7:45 am Supervision begins on the playground/Breakfast is available
8:12 am Recess Bell / Students come into the building
8:20 am School Begins / Attendance is taken by the classroom teacher
1:55 pm Dismissal on Thursdays (Early Release)
3:10 pm Dismissal on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays
The front doors will remained locked until dismissal. Parents and siblings are to remain outside until the doors unlock.
It's Getting Cold Out There!
Please make sure your child has cold weather gear including:
· Coat, snow pants and hat
· Waterproof gloves or mittens (knit mittens get wet easily)
· Waterproof boots (fashion boots are best for indoors)
Indoor Recess Due to Extreme Cold Temperatures or Wind Chill Temps
The school district provides recess to give students time to play and exercise. All students are expected to go outside during recess. It’s important that parents/guardians assist their children with dressing appropriately for the day’s weather. If a student needs to remain indoors when coming back to school after an illness or injury, please provide written verification from your child’s healthcare provider.
Students will stay indoors during inclement weather or when the air or wind chill temperature reaches 5 below zero degrees Fahrenheit. Mr. Ackley will check local weather websites for temperature and wind chill factors.
NOTE: School supervision starts at 7:45 am
Emergency School Closing
The Sun Prairie Area School District uses an electronic notification system to communicate with parents and guardians in a more timely and efficient manner. In the event of weather-related school closing or other emergency, the system allows the district to contact the guardian of each student.
Lunch Schedules
Lunch Schedules
(Recess is 25 minutes BEFORE lunch)
1st Grade 11:30 am -11:50 am
2nd Grade 11:45 am - 12:05 pm
3rd Grade 12:00 pm - 12:20 pm
5th Grade 12:15 pm - 12:35 pm
Kindergarten 12:30 pm - 12:50 pm
4th Grade 12:45 pm - 1:05 pm
Menus can be found on the School District Web Site or simply click the link below.
https://sunprairie.nutrislice.com/menu/royal-oaks?mode=browse
A Letter from Nurse Lori
January Save the Dates
Jan. 6 First day back from Winter Break
Jan 14 ROSCO Meeting, 6:30 pm
Jan. 20 No School (Martin Luther Kings Jr. Day)
Jan. 23 End of 2nd Quarter
Jan 24 No School
Jan. 29 Kindness Retreat, 4th grade
Rocket Kids and Food Drive
A Letter from Kobussen
Stopping for Flashing Red Lights
Please remember, drivers must stop on the street or highway 20 feet or more from any school bus that has stopped and is flashing red warning lights.
This applies both to vehicles approaching from the rear and from the opposing lanes.
All lanes of traffic must stop for the school bus, except in opposing lanes if the highway is divided with a center median.
No vehicle may proceed until the bus resumes motion and has turned off the red warning lights.
The stop arm on the bus is an added communication to other drivers, but the lack of an extended stop arm is not reason to pass a bus whose red lights are flashing.
For more school bus and student transportation safety tips, click here.
Lost and Found
Kobussen has a lost and found for all items left on the bus. The driver will keep the lost item on the bus for a few days, then turn it in at the terminal. If your child has a lost item don’t forget to check with Kobussen. Feel free stop by the terminal at 1500 Forward Drive, Sun Prairie to check the lost and found.
News from Advanced Learner Program
Yahara
The Yahara River Writers Contest opportunity is available through the Greater Dane County Advanced Learner network that was introduced to students in October. Students who have chosen to participate should ideally have a rough draft turned in by December 6th and a final draft is due January 10th. All writing should be submitted through google docs. More information is available at: http://www.gdcaln.org/yahara .
District’s STEAM Fair
The STEAM Fair was a hit. The students from Token Springs, Northside, C.H.Bird and Eastside did a great job! Be on the lookout next year for amazing projects from the students at Horizon, Meadow View, Westside, Creekside and Royal oaks.
Math 24
Math 24 club has been meeting for the past 6 weeks. Soon we will be learning practicing the official tournament rules in preparation for our local Math 24 competition in February. Tournaments are for students in 4th and 5th grade. Our club meets on Thursdays at 7:30am.
If you have questions or concerns regarding any of the above or about the Advanced Learner Program (ALP) in general, please email me at klplesa@sunprairieschools.org
Grandfather Provision Policy Change & Voluntary Placement Process
“Grandfather” Provision Policy Change
When the School Board has approved boundary changes in the past, Grandfathering has historically been a practice as a part of Procedure JC-R. Grandfathering will now be reviewed each time there is a boundary adjustment.
Grandfathering related to a family move during the school year is addressed in Policy JC, allowing for the option that students finish the current school year in their current school without an educational disruption. Grandfathering beyond the current year will not be allowed.
Voluntary Placement Process for Siblings Only
Families with students who have received Voluntary Placement approval will be allowed to apply for younger siblings to attend the same school. No new applications will be accepted for voluntary placement.