WELCOME TO THE WEEK OF:
January 10-14, 2022
From the Admin Team
Dear Parents/Guardians,
Happy New Year! We are looking forward to welcoming all of our Eagles back on Mon, Jan 10th. Below are some important updates for you to read before we head into next week and the return to regular classes. The safety of our students is our highest priority and we wanted to share the strategies we have utilized all year and also familiarize our families with some new changes. On Monday we will be having an extended home room to share this new information with students.
Continued Focus:
- Mask use while inside the building at all times (except when eating, doing vigorous exercise in PE or playing a band instrument)
- Using our outside hallway doors to enter and exit the building
- Daily health checks - It is very important that students do not come to school if they are experiencing symptoms K to 12 Health Check
- Regular hand washing throughout the school day
- Regular cleaning/sanitizing and increased ventilation of the school
Temporary Changes:
We hope that these changes will be short term and we can revert back to our regular procedures when it is safe to do so:
- Limiting visitors to the school - please phone the office before entering the building (similar to last year)
- Parent/teacher meetings will be virtual in most situations
- Sports will continue but we will not be able to have spectators or tournaments
- No lockers for Gr 6, 7 and Multi classes
- Minimal use of lockers for Gr 8 classes
- Students will enter and exit the building at staggered times/via different doors (see below for specific times)
- We will push pause on assemblies, pizza days and most clubs for the short term
A Few Other Important Items
Plan for Monday Jan 10 - Students will meet their teacher outside on Monday morning in the following locations:
6-1 to 6-4 and 7-1 to 7-4 - Meet outside the MPR/Home Ec room
Multi divisions - Meet on the Upper Basketball Courts
Gr 8 Divisions - Meet on the Lower Basketball Courts
Teachers will meet their class outside (at a cone with their div # on it) and walk them into the school. Block 1 will be a homeroom-based block to go over the temporary changes to our school routines and procedures. We want to make sure students are aware of the changes and how their routines will change.
ROMS Bell Schedule - our school day will remain largely the same, the only temporary change will be:
6-1 to 6-4 and 7-1 to 7-4 will come in at 8:57am and be dismissed at 3:05pm
Everyone else will begin and end at the same time. This temporary change is to lessen the congestion in the hallways at the beginning and end of day.
Absences and Homework - If you are making a family decision to keep your child at home (not due to illness) please do not request daily homework from your child’s teacher. In-person instruction is the only option at this time; remote learning will only be offered if we move to a functional or health closure in the future. In extenuating circumstances, please contact your child’s teacher for further clarification.
Weather - please send your child to school with the gear they need to be outside at recess/lunch and PE times. This includes bringing coats, umbrellas, raincoats, boots, etc. This is more important right now as we will not have the ability with these temporary changes to allow students to be inside in the MPR/Gym in large groups.
Absences/Signing
In/Out - It is very helpful if parents send an email
to our attendance email address
Message from Superintendent - Important info was shared with all families recently outlining our process for any potential closures and steps the school would take in these scenarios. Please follow the link to the Saanich Schools webpage where the information has been posted and review it if you have not received the email. You will also find the Updated Communicable Disease Plan on the district site as well.
We have worked hard this week to ensure our staff are ready to pivot and support our students no matter what the coming weeks hold for us. We are committed to ensuring students and families' feel safe and supported here at Royal Oak. If you have any further questions please feel free to reach out.
Karen and Sara
<span><b>kmacewan@saanichschools.ca</b></span>
<span>spostlethwaite@saanichschools.ca</b></span>
From the PAC
Bottle Drive and Christmas Tree Chipping
This Saturday, January 8th, please bring your refundable cans/bottles to the lower parking lot at ROMS between 9am and 2pm. The Grade 8 planning committee is fundraising for Gr 8 farewell events in June. We are also taking your Christmas trees for chipping by donation, with thanks to New Growth Tree Services.