Rocket News
November 2022
A Letter from your Principal
October always seems to go by so quickly--and what a wonderful October it has been. This first week of November doesn't look too shabby either. One thing we do know about Wisconsin is that winter is coming. There is a lot of important information in this newsletter. When you have some time, please read it through and reach out with any questions you may have.
November for me always brings up thoughts of gratitude and service. There are so many things that I am thankful for, I would need many pages of this newsletter to list them all. However, one of the things I am most grateful for is the opportunity to serve you and your Rocket as the Principal of Royal Oaks. I don't take this responsibility (Rocket Way Word) lightly. There is no more important work than educating children to be productive citizens of the future. "Educating" children is another topic that could fill up pages of this newsletter...academically, socially, behaviorally, and mentally are all part of our focus in educating our Rockets. Please continue to reach out to your child's teacher with questions on how they are progressing. Two Caregiver/Parent Teacher Conferences a year isn't enough. We welcome the dialogue.
The Spirit of Giving holiday assistance program is part of the Sunshine Place here in Sun Prairie and annually offers food and gift support for SPASD families during the holiday season. For decades (I think almost 50 years) before Covid, schools held food drives that supported this work. Over the past two years, local food banks received Federal dollars to supply food for people. Those funds are no longer available and we are EXCITED to have the opportunity to once again serve our community. Please stay tuned to information coming home regarding our food drive.
We continue to see good progress with our Rockets in the classroom--slow and steady wins the race. It is hard to believe that caregiver (parent/teacher) conferences were almost a month ago. What a great time to check in with your Rocket (and possibly their teacher) on how the progress of their goals is coming. That continuous "check-in" does so much for our learners. It shows interest, your support, and our team's effort in moving learning forward. We want to make each student a Highly Engaged Learner who Owns the Learning Process.
Speaking of checking in, we would love your input on a very short survey regarding our communication. The survey is linked directly below this newsletter. Thank you in advance for your feedback.
As always please feel free to reach out with any questions you may have.
Have a great November!
Bundle Up for the Colder Weather
It’s getting cold out there!
Please make sure your child has cold weather gear including:
· Coats, snow pants and hats
· 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 Temperatures
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: Doors do not open until 7:30 AM- There is no staff outside before this time.
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.
The effectiveness of the notification system is dependent on our having the most
current contact information.
If you change your home phone, cell phone, work phone, or email, please update your Infinite Campus in the Parent Portal.
A note from Nurse Lori
Wednesday November 2nd, all students at Royal Oaks in kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grades will have a hearing screening done at school. Later this year we will also do a vision screening for students in kindergarten, 2nd, and 4th grades.
If you have a child in another grade that you would like us to screen, or you do not want your child screened, please call Nurse Lori at (608) 834-7206 or email her at lmcoult@sunprairieschools.org
Ooops Wear Closet Needs:
Girls & Boys sock sizes- Medium & Large
Girls leggings/pants size 4-5
Boys pants size 4-5
National Principal Month
October is National Principals Month, and before the month is over, we want to celebrate all our amazing school principals! James Ackley has been principal at Royal Oaks for 13 years and has been in education for 29 years. He loves supporting staff in their work, building strong relationships that are authentic, and kindergarten lunch!
Thank you for all that you do for our students, staff, parents, caregivers, and community, Principal Ackley!
SEL Spotlight
Our teachers continue to use the Second Step curriculum to teach social emotional skills to students. They’ve completed the first unit, which focuses on goal setting and growth mindset and moved onto the second unit, emotional management. In this unit they’ll learn about handling different feelings by using various regulation skills.. This reinforces the learning we did in Life Skills earlier this year about the Zones of Regulation. The Zones are a way of talking about how our brains and bodies are feeling when we experience different emotions. All zones are okay and we’ll all spend time in every zone. Sometimes it feels uncomfortable to us to be in the blue, yellow or red zones for too long so we can use coping strategies to get back to the green zone. Here are a few videos of our Rockets demonstrating some breathing techniques, grounding exercises and positive self-talk they learned in our lessons.
November is also the time of our Spirit of Giving Food Drive. Each year, schools across the district collect food and other items to be distributed to families in need. Our goal at Royal Oaks is to put together 40 boxes, with each classroom collecting a specific food item. Look for a letter from your child’s teacher later this week with the specific item your class will be collecting and consider donating if you’re able. The food drive will run from Monday, November 7th through Monday, December 5th.
A message from Nutritional Services
Free or Reduced Meal Information: If your family received the Infinite Campus Student Information System message below last week, on Monday, October 17th your children’s eligibility for Free or Reduced meals will be discontinued as the Nutrition Program has not received either a Free/Reduced Application from you or your children have not been directly certified by the State of Wisconsin for this school year. If you received the message below click the HERE link below for an printable form to fill out and turn in at your school or in theNutrition Office. The Free and Reduced Application can also be found in each school office and at the District Service Center at 501 S. Bird St. in Sun Prairie. Please call or email the Nutrition Office for any questions about this (phone number and email listed in parent message below).
Dear Parent or Guardian,
Your students eligibility for free or reduced meals is expiring on 10/14/2022.
You may fill out a free and reduced application and turn it into our office for processing. Please click HERE for a link to the form.
If you have any questions you may contact the Nutrition Office at 608-834-6544 or email nutritiondepartment@sunprairieschools.org
Thank You
Kathy Walker, Nutrition Director
Bully Prevention Week
The National Bullying Prevention Center website has more information https://www.pacer.org/bullying/nbpm/. Please enjoy the pictures below!
Medication Policy
Sometimes it is necessary for children to take medication during the school day.
Due to Wisconsin State Law:
· All prescription medication must have a prescription medication administration form signed by a parent/guardian and a doctor on file.
· Non-prescription medication must a have a nonprescription medication administration form signed by a parent/guardian. COUGH DROPS/THROAT LOZENGES are included. These medication forms may be picked from Nurse Lori.
· No medication will be sent home with a child. Parents/guardians should send only the correct amount required.
· All medication must be kept in the Nurse’s office and administered by Nurse Lori, Janet Stevens ( School Secretary) or Ms. Colón (Welcome Desk Secretary).
· Please refer to the District website under Health Services for forms, policies and further information or see the link below.
https://www.sunprairieschools.org/departments/health-services
Clothing and Holiday Assistance
Homelessness Awareness Month
Today we kick off November, which is nationally recognized as Homelessness Awareness Month. Each year, we identify more than 150 students in Sun Prairie schools without stable housing.
How can I get involved?
If folks would like to take action, we are asking that they donate winter clothing (i.e. snow pants, waterproof gloves, winter coats, snow boots) to Cards Closet. Their donation box is open daily from 8am-4pm and located at 1632 W Main St.
Ribbon Display
In order to bring attention to 4K-12 student homelessness, there will be a banner posted on Highway C in front of Meadow View Elementary School along with 176 ribbons. Each ribbon represents a student who experienced homelessness in the 2021-22 school year.
Bus Reminders
Bus Tags
Bus drivers will do periodic checks to make sure students are eligible riders so it is important that your child can prove they are a rider. Students must have their bus tag, a photo of their bus tag, or the ability to show the driver their transportation information in Infinite Campus.
National School Bus Safety Week
October 17-21, 2022 is National School Bus Safety Week. This is the ideal time to reinforce bus safety rules among students, express gratitude to your bus drivers for their hard work, and thank them for transporting your child to and from school safely everyday. For more school bus and student transportation safety tips, click here.
Bus Evacuation Drills
Per state law, the district is required to practice bus evacuation drills twice a year. The bus evacuations will be held the last week of October. Buses may be delayed on these days, so please be patient. An email will be sent to parents once the dates are set.
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Etiquetas de autobús
Los conductores de autobús realizarán controles periódicos para asegurarse de que los estudiantes sean pasajeros elegibles, por lo que es importante que su hijo pueda demostrar que es un pasajero. Los estudiantes deben tener su etiqueta de autobús, una foto de su etiqueta de autobús o la capacidad de mostrarle al conductor su información de transporte en Infinite Campus.
Semana Nacional de la Seguridad en los Autobuses Escolares
El 17 al 21 de Octubre de 2022 es la Semana Nacional de la Seguridad en los Autobuses Escolares. Este es el momento ideal para reforzar las reglas de seguridad del autobús entre los estudiantes, expresar gratitud a los conductores de su autobús por su arduo trabajo y agradecerles por transportar a su hijo hacia y desde la escuela de manera segura todos los días. Para obtener más consejos de seguridad en el autobús escolar y el transporte de estudiantes, haga clic en aquí
Simulacros de evacuación del autobús
Según la ley estatal, el distrito debe practicar simulacros de evacuación del autobús dos veces al año. Las evacuaciones de autobuses se llevarán a cabo la última semana de octubre. Los autobuses pueden sufrir retrasos en estos días, así que tenga paciencia. Se enviará un correo electrónico a los padres una vez que se establezcan las fechas.