Rocket News
February 2023
A letter from your Principal
Happy February Royal Oaks Parents and Caregivers!
I hope this newsletter finds you healthy and well....despite Jimmy the Groundhogs six more weeks of winter prediction. (;
February is another action packed month here at Royal Oaks...the learning and fun continue! There is a lot going on this month so please take some time to read through this newsletter and keep asking your Rocket(s) what's been going on at school?
February is Black History Month. Below this article is a piece where we have included information on many of the events going on this month for Black History Month. Please take some time and look it over. One specific event we are very excited for is our First Annual Read Your Heart Out (RYHO) event. This event is also explained below in much greater detail. In a nutshell, RYHO is an opportunity for our Black Families to come into school and read a book to two of our classes. If you are a Black family or bi-racial family, WE NEED YOU. In the RYHO information below there is a Google Form for interested Black family members. February 24th from 8:00-11:30 is the RYHO event, which is part of National African American Parent Involvement Day!
Parent/Teacher/Caregiver Conferences are happening this month during the week of Feb.13th. If you haven't received a Sign Up Genius from your child's teacher(s) please reach out and find a time that works to discuss your Rocket's year. This is a great time of the school year to discuss academic, behavioral, and emotional progress/growth. Please bring any questions you may have with you to conferences.
Have a great February!
Love,
Mr. Ackley
Black History Month
February is Black History Month. The theme this year is Black Renaissance. Throughout the month, Royal Oaks will spotlight and celebrate the achievements of African Americans and the important role they’ve played in shaping American history, arts, culture, science and more. This is a perfect time also for families to start a tradition of learning that will help you and your kids recognize and celebrate the achievements of African Americans throughout the entire year.
Please click on the button below to access Black History Month Resources for Families.
Read Your Heart Out!
We are very excited to announce that Royal Oaks will be participating in the Read Your Heart Out event in celebration of National African American Parent Involvement Day! The event will take place on February 24, 2023 from 8:00 am until 11:30 am. This will be our first annual Read Your Heart Out event at Royal Oaks, and we are excited!
The purpose of Read Your Heart Out is for family members, community members and volunteers who identify as African American/Black read books, recite poetry and connect with students in the classrooms. All books read this day will feature African American and Black protagonists, authors and/or illustrators.
In order to make this event a success, we need African American/Black family and community members to volunteer to be readers. We will have a variety of books for you to choose from, and we are hopeful that you will be willing to read in at least two classrooms on the morning of February 24. If you have a child attending Royal Oaks, we want you to be able to read to their class.
We need you! Please fill out the Google Form linked HERE.
We want this to be a day of celebration. We will have a hospitality room available for you to connect with other readers and to enjoy some refreshments. This event, toward the end of Black History Month, will be a celebration of Black culture through the love of reading! Please mark the date on your calendar, join us to read with a class, and be a part of making this a beautiful experience for our school community!
Fun Fact of the Month
On average, February is the United States’ snowiest month, according to data from the National Weather Service. What weather’s in store in your region? See your long-range weather forecasts for the month of February!
National School Counseling Week
National School Counseling Week is Feb. 6th-10th. Please take some time this week to celebrate the amazing contributions of our school counselors. Their impact and commitment to helping students achieve school success is much appreciated! Happy National School Counseling Week to all school counselors, especially Mrs. Morriss. Thanks for all you do to support all Rockets!!
Students Having Fun on Pajama Day!
Report Cards
Dear Families,
Report Cards for the previous semester are now available in the Infinite Campus Parent Portal. Please contact your student's teacher if you would like to discuss their report card further, and look for information from your child's teacher to sign up for a Parent/Caregiver/Teacher conference on February 16th or 17th.
If you need help accessing your Parent Portal please contact either Kris Wendorf at kkwendo@sunprairieschools.org or 608-834-6546; or Caprise Waak at crwaak@sunprairieschools.org or 608-834-6571.
Thank you!
SEL Spotlight
In February, we enter Unit 3 of our Second Step curriculum which focuses on Empathy and Kindness. We'll practice showing we care for others in our community and learn what it means to meet someone else's feelings and needs with compassion. We will also be celebrating Random Acts of Kindness Week Feb. 20 to Feb. 24, which will give us a chance to act on the lessons we're learning.
This month we will be focusing on Problem Solving during our Life Skills lessons. We'll learn to identify problems, think about the size of the problem and use the Problem Solving Wheel to choose an option (or two or three) to solve a problem. Check out the link below to explore the options on the wheel!
We are making plans for staffing classrooms next year. If you have a neighbor/friend, or if you know of a family who has moved to Sun Prairie recently, please encourage them to register their child(ren) as soon as possible for the 2023-2024 school year. You can learn more about the enrollment process by clicking on the ENROLLMENT icon on the District homepage
New Club Alert
Kindness Club -- 1st and 2nd Graders
Mondays from 2:45 to 3:30
This club allows students to help plan and organize kind activities for the Royal Oaks community, participate in service projects and learn about ways to be kind to themselves and others. Students will focus on doing kind acts, creating a welcoming community and taking care of themselves, others and the world around them.
American Heart Month
February is American Heart Month. February is a great time to talk to your children about healthy habits and the importance of heart health. Here is a list of heart healthy activities to do with your child along with some of our staffs favorite ways to keep our hearts healthy.
Nurse Lori: "I make a Healthy Smoothie every morning."
Mr. Ackley: "I like going on walks with my wife and my dog."
Mrs. Bartel: "I like to exercise and eat healthy."
Valentines Day
Our Rockets really enjoy sending valentines to their classmates. It's another way to spread kindness and love. Please keep your eyes open for specific directions from your child's teacher or your child (in upper grades).
--Please do not send any food or candy with valentines this year. The valentine, with a positive message, will certainly be enough.
1st Grade Business Education Partnership (BEP) Program
Students playing games for Culture Week
Student with a homemade flag for Culture Week
Nurse Lori is in Need of the Following Items
Boys Sweatpants - Sizes 5, 6,7
Girls leggings - Sizes 4,5,6
Girls sweatpants - Sizes 4,5,6
Waterproof Gloves and Mittens - All Sizes
Advanced Learner Program - February Update
Greater Dane Anthology Project
The Greater Dane Writing Anthology Project judging has been completed at the district level. The judges were very impressed with the hard work and dedication shown by our students. Congratulations to the following students whose writing is moving on to the Greater Dane Judging: Ella Voss, Zane Carolino, Hrishan Patil and Rhea Vaidya. All writing pieces that are moving on to Greater Dane Judging will be published in the Sun Prairie Writing Anthology. Mythri Sathish’s, Isabelle Thao's, & Kenedie McCarthy’s creative writing were chosen for the Sun Prairie Writing Anthology book. In addition, Advika Bansal’s artwork. We are so proud of our 5th grade writers and artists! Congratulations to everyone who participated and submitted entries.
Math 24
4th and 5th graders have been meeting on Tuesdays and Wednesdays during lunch/recess to sharpen their Math 24 skills and gear up for the local competition. Thank you to Mr. Thao for running Math 24 during recess! We recently had our Local Math 24 meet and have several 4th and 5th graders moving on to the regional meet at the end of the month. Congratulations to everyone who participated!
Haiku Writing Project
Fourth grade students were introduced to a Japanese form of poetry called Haiku. They had an opportunity to write a few poems during class. Students had an opportunity to enter 1-3 Haikus to be published in a Sun Prairie Haiku Anthology. We look forward to seeing the book come together later this year!
Culture Week
In January we celebrated the diversity of our Royal Oaks community during Culture Week. We had a wonderful time learning about and experiencing different cultures through presentations, performances, games, outfits, food and more. Please enjoy this slide deck of pictures from the week.
Meet Our Student Teachers!
Jessica
Fun Fact: I play violin in a community orchestra.
College Degree: Social work
Favorite subject in school: Science
Where are you working at Royal Oaks: Occupational Therapy with Mrs. Gadsby
Favorite Color: Purple
Favorite Candy: Twix
Lucy
Fun Fact: I love to Water-ski!
College Degree: Early Childhood Education
Favorite subject in school: Reading
Where are you working at Royal Oaks: Kindergarten with Mrs. Ziegler
Favorite Color: Blue
Favorite Candy: White Chocolate Reese's
Haley
Fun Fact: I am a Sun Prairie Alumni
College Degree: Elementary Education
Favorite subject in school: Math
Where are you working at Royal Oaks: Second Grade with Mrs. Reindl
Favorite Color: Purple
Favorite Candy: Sour Patch Kids
Ground Hog Day Poll
Rockets voted on if the groundhog would see his shadow or not! 141 Students Voted Yes, he would see his shadow and 140 voted No, he would not see his shadow.
Watch D.O.G.S. Opening
District Employee Spotlight
We are proud to feature some of our rock-star staff! MeetMr. Whelan, Physical Education Teacher at Royal Oaks Elementary.
I grew up in Sun Prairie and went to Royal Oaks, where I teach now. I coach baseball and football for Sun Prairie East. I love hunting and being outdoors with my family. I also love to chill out with my wife and dogs and watch movies. I was recently told by a teacher in my school that a student said to the class during a guidance/ life skills time that I was a safe person to talk to. That made me feel like I’m doing a good job connecting with these kids! #spunited
ROSCO Winter Fest
Our Winter festival on January 20th was a huge success. We had over 400 people in attendance. Thank you to our volunteer parents for organizing a fun night of dancing, crafts, bingo, plinko and dinner. Thank you to Chick fil a, Madison Mallards, Sugar river pizza, and focus church. please reach our to ROSCO at roscorocket@gmail.com if you are interested in helping with future events.
Royal Oaks Staff Shout Out
Please help us recognize our amazing staff by taking a moment to celebrate a staff member that has had a positive impact you or your child so far this year! This may be someone that you have connected well with, you have seen working hard, has tried something new or you just want to pause and recognize for all of their work. You can fill out the form as many times as you would like to recognize different staff. They will receive an email with your note.
Virtual Art Fair
Reminder: School Hours
Arrive NO earlier than 7:30 AM
School begins at 7:40 AM- Attendance is taken
School day ends at 2:40 PM
Early Release every Thursday at 1:30 PM
Attendance Line
Parents/caregivers please use the Royal Oaks Attendance Line to report your student absent. Simply call, 608-834-7200, press 1 to report a student absence.
Please leave a short message with the following information:
· Child’s name
· Teacher’s Name or Grade
· Reason for Absence
· Who is calling
Please do NOT call your child’s teacher.
Thank you for your help!
Lunch & Breakfast
Menus can be found on the School District Web Site or simply click the link below.