May Newsletter
- Royal Oak School Niagara-on-the-Lake
- May 29
- 13 min read
Camp, Week Without Walls, Grad and more!
We've condensed important highlights for your convenience
We leave for Camp Wenonah on Monday! Details below.
Week Without Walls begins on Monday! Click HERE for details.
Less than 3 Weeks Until Graduation! Details below.
Topics covered in this post.
Click to go directly to the section.
Graduation Details - don't forget to RSVP
Wilderness Event - our last field trip for the year, celebrating NOTL's first community garden
Fun in our classrooms - catch up on what's been happening inside (and outside) our classrooms
Live Calendar - Stay up to date on upcoming events, all in one place
Message from Ms Julia
Dear Royal Oak Families,
As we arrive near the end of another remarkable school year at Royal Oak Community School, I find myself reflecting not only on how much our students have learned, but on how deeply they have grown as people.
From the youngest learners in our classrooms to our graduating students preparing for new adventures ahead, our children have shown us what it means to approach the world with open hearts, thoughtful minds, and determination. There is something incredibly special about watching children discover their own capabilities over the course of a year, and it has been a privilege for our staff to walk alongside them in that journey.
One of the many highlights of this spring was watching our students approach end of year projects, tests, culminating assessments and the Canadian normed testing each student Grade 3-8 completes, CAT5 testing, with such focus, maturity, and resilience. While no single assessment can ever capture the fullness of a child, it was wonderful to see students challenge themselves, remain committed through moments of difficulty, and take pride in their own growth. More importantly, these weeks reminded us that confidence, perseverance, and a willingness to try hard things are skills just as important as academic achievement itself. Our students demonstrated all of these qualities in abundance, and we could not be more proud of the effort, determination, and positive spirit they brought to the experience.
This year also reminded us again and again that some of the most meaningful learning happens beyond the walls of a classroom. Our students explored forests, museums, theatres, gardens, rivers, historic sites, and community spaces across Niagara, building connections not only to curriculum, but to the people and places around them. These experiences teach children not only knowledge, but responsibility, stewardship, empathy, and the understanding that communities flourish when people care for one another.
As with every year, this one also brought moments of change and challenge. Growth always asks something of us. There were times when students had to navigate uncertainty, say goodbye, adapt to new routines, solve problems, and stretch beyond what felt comfortable. Yet through all of it, what stood out most profoundly was the closeness of this community. Time and again, I watched students care for one another, parents support one another, and staff show extraordinary dedication to the wellbeing of every child entrusted to us. In a world that can often feel hurried and disconnected, Royal Oak continues to be a place where children are deeply known, where kindness matters, and where relationships remain at the centre of learning.
Luckily, with three more action packed weeks left of the school year, we are far from finished! Our students are buzzing with excitement about “Week without Walls” and Camp Wenonah. The itineraries for both groups are beyond engaging, and frankly, exhausting in all the best ways! Children at camp will be rock climbing, paddle boarding, kayaking, fire building and participating in all camp games from sunrise to sunset. At Week without Walls, students will traverse across Niagara, spending a whole day engaging with the best Niagara Parks has to offer, including a hike through the beautiful Niagara Glen, a visit to the Butterfly Conservatory, and a guided tour of the Power Station. And we cannot forget of course, our annual and most popular WWW activity, COWS icecream! These planned activities help our students to make memories they will remember long past the end of the school year, and we look forward to sharing them with you in Toddle updates, and our final shortened newsletter of the year that will go out in June.
Until then, enjoy the sunshine that has finally arrived, and our many important updates about events, schedule changes, and celebrations in June.
With warmest wishes,
Julia Murray, Head of School
Important Updates for the final weeks of school
Camp Wenonah Trip is finally here! - June 1st
The school is buzzing with excitement for our biggest trip of the year. The bus leaves for camp at early Monday morning and returns on Thursday. Students must be here by 6:45am sharp! Return is approximately 4:30pm on Thursday, June 4th. Parents will receive communication of exact return time based on traffic on Thursday afternoon. Click this link for the details, including packing list and the schedule.
Week Without Walls - a week of fun for our younger students - June 1st
While our older students are away at camp, our younger students get to have a week without walls too! From Monday to Thursday next week, we have 4 days of fun, mostly outdoor and off-site activities. Please check the schedule daily, and make sure your child is here by 8:45am each day. Click here for the schedule and information.
Graduation - June 18th
On the last day of school - June 18th - we will be congratulating our Grade 8 and Senior Kindergarten students as they graduate to their next chapter! Royal Oak’s Graduation Ceremonies recognize both our SK’s graduating up to Grade 1, as well as our Grade 8 students making the transition to high school. Family, friends and loved ones are welcome!
Doors open at 2:15pm
Ceremony: 2:30pm SHARP
NOTL Community Centre, 14 Anderson Lane, Niagara-on-the-Lake (click for map)
$5 per ticket (to help cover the cost of the room rental)
The agenda is as follows:
Welcome remarks
Volunteer of the Year
SK graduation
Grade 8 Graduation
Speeches from JM/UM teachers
Valedictorian Speech
Closing Remarks
Refreshments will be served in the gardens behind the centre after the ceremony until 4pm.
Wilderness Event with the Niagara Community Foundation - June 9
So much of our curriculum and many of our field trips this term have focused on the themes of environmental sustainability - taking care of nature and in particular, and stewardship of land that makes life in our community richer and more vibrant. From learning about planting at the Tulip Farm, to artists workshop on butterflies with local artist, Alison Fardoe, to our Friday field trip to assist in the opening of Niagara on the Lake’s first community garden in partnership with United Way - we’ve been busy planting the seeds of knowledge around place-based learning and stewardship.
A final event of the school year celebrating this learning will be on June 9 from 2:00pm-3:15pm at the “Wilderness Property” at Centre St. and Regent St. in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Students will share their butterfly art with the community at the event, who are celebrating the theme of “the Butterfly Effect”. To learn more about The Wilderness, please read here: https://theniagarafoundation.com/the-wilderness/
To learn more about the “Butterfly Effect” event on June 9, read here: https://theniagarafoundation.com/when-a-small-action-makes-a-big-impact-its-called-the-butterfly-effect/
Please feel free to join us at the event from 2:00-3:15 pm to participate in the opening ceremonies for this wonderful community asset.
Parent Feedback and Survey for Future Initiatives
With a new school year just around the corner, Royal Oak always wants to take the time to hear from you about your experience this year, any suggestions or feedback you have, and ways we might be able to improve.
Want to start a new hot lunch program? Tell us here! Have suggestions for new Parent Events or Initiatives, share with us!
Please take five minutes to let us know how this year was for you, and what we can do better!
Schedule Changes in June
With many special events, trips and celebrations, we want to call attention to changes to aftercare scheduling in our last three weeks of school.
WWW students only - No aftercare Thursday, June 4 - PICK UP AT VIRGIL SPLASHPAD
All students - NO SCHOOL- PD day, June 5
June 18 - Graduation- No aftercare, PICK UP AT COMMUNITY CENTRE
NOTL Library Summer Kick-Off Party
We are pleased to share this fun event coming up June 13th.
Spring Highlights
Happy Eid Al-Adha
To all of our families celebrating Eid Al-Adha, we wish you a wonderful festival and celebration with your family and friends!
Camp Wenonah and Week Without Walls Fundraising Successes!
The BIG Bake sale and our Friday Coffee Cafes were a resounding success this year, raising a total of . The BIG Bake sale on Mother’s day weekend raised $4025, an incredible feat!!! The bake sale was sold out by day end, with over 200 customers coming to purchase baked goods, sourdough bread and swag, all donated by our amazing families and community partners. A huge shout out to the Oban Inn, Roxanne Sourdough, and the Northridge Inn for their support and generosity.
Our Coffee Cafes, run almost every Friday from late fall to late March, were a consistent effort by the UM/JM students, Ms. Dennis and our AMAZING duo, Stephane and David, who brought the cafe’s goods and style to the next level. This year-long effort helps to teach financial literacy, business basics, and importantly - the value in working hard to save money for future experiences - our WWW and Camp Wenonah trip which take place next week.
Again, these major efforts could not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of Ms. Dennis, David & Stephane, and our JM/UM students and families who supported it with their time and baked goods. Thank you!
Royal Oak Character Award Winners for May
Congratulations to our May winners:
This month's character theme was "perseverence". Perseverance is the ability to keep trying, even when something feels difficult or challenging. Our character award winners have shown determination, resilience, and a positive attitude as they worked toward their goals. We are proud to recognize these students for demonstrating the power of perseverance in their learning and daily actions. Here they are:
EY: All Pre-K’s (Emma, Julian, Kitchener, Mariana, and Taron)
P1: Eli & Reuben
P2: Ben
JM: Xavier
UM: Olive
Celebrating Running Club and Student Success’ at the Independent Schools Cross Country Meet- May 12
Our Running Club Crew had their most successful season yet, proving that hard work and practice make progress! With personal bests for each one of our competitors, our team did Royal Oak proud at the six school meet for Independent Schools, held each fall and spring at Wheatley.
Congratulations to Lias B., Jack F., Evan K. and Robert M., who competed at the race and to Seren K., for training with the team.
Ribbons and Popsicles for all!
Fun Inside Our Classrooms
Early Years
May has been a busy and exciting month in Early Years! Students have enjoyed several fun and engaging experiences, including field trips to the TASC Tulip Farm and the Brock PALS Program, as well as connecting with families and our school community during the Spring Class Breakfast.
Learning has also been in full swing throughout the month. In Literacy, students have been practicing tricky letter sounds and digraphs through Heggerty, UFLI, and hands-on Literacy Centre activities, helping to strengthen their reading and decoding skills. In Math, we have explored 3D shapes, measurement, and comparing similarities and differences between objects through interactive learning opportunities. Our Inquiry learning has focused on nature-related topics, including caring for the environment and learning about different animal classifications and characteristics.
As we head into the final weeks of the school year, there is still lots of excitement ahead! Students are looking forward to events such as Week Without Walls, our trip to Safety Village, and, of course, Senior Kindergarten Graduation. We can’t wait to celebrate all of the learning, growth, and memories made this year!
Primary 1
It is hard to believe that this is the last post from the Primary1 classroom for the 2025-2026 school year. The last 10 months have just flown by!! Even though we are only weeks away from the last day of school, students in Primary 1 are still busy learning, creating and exploring. There is never a dull moment in our classroom and the month of May is no different.
Our month began with a school-wide trip to a local tulip farm, where the students were able to pick tulips for their families. We used this experience as an opportunity to complete a mini research project about the lifecycle of tulip plants and as a visual arts activity for our parents using mixed media, including nature materials. Literacy activities have also involved students adding to their portfolio by writing about how they spent the Victoria Day weekend. The year will end with the students completing their animal research project using tablets and books as sources of information.
In math, students have been busy measuring real-life objects in our classroom using a variety of nonstandard units of measurement. Students used paperclips, Lego, coins and toothpicks to estimate and measure the length of various objects in our classroom. Measurement with centimetres and metres completed the unit, with students looking forward to the much anticipated topics of multiplication, division and fractions to end the year.
Inquiry has been a continuation of our Energy in our Lives unit. Students have been learning about different types of energy, the importance of the sun as a source of energy and how food provides energy for our bodies. Students used their science journals to record their observations and hypotheses during our science experiment to test the importance of the sun’s energy in plant germination and growth. During our morning messages, students are learning about the globe and mapping skills.
Throughout May in Physical Education, the Primary 1 students completed a unit focused on the sport of Volleyball. Throughout this unit, students learned fundamental skills such as serving, bumping, setting, and spiking, as well as the basic rules of the game.
As you can see, so much learning is happening in Primary! We are making memories and looking forward to what June has to offer!
Primary 2
The school year is wrapping up fast, but Primary 2 isn’t letting that stop the incredible learning that has been happening in our classroom. May has been filled with many fun and engaging events and learning opportunities. Some highlights include our trip to Brock for the PALS program, visiting the Tulip Farm, and planting our donated seedlings at the United Way Community Garden. Primary 2 has not taken the hands-on learning opportunities for granted and has been making every moment of our time left together count!
In Language, we have been focusing on opinion based writing! Students have written reviews about various topics including, the new Simcoe Park, the PALs program, and all their favourite things. Each review has been written with a critical eye, sharing their strong opinions about their own experiences and beliefs. Additionally, we have wrapped up Heggerty for the year with a final review of prefixes, suffixes, and how to read and spell bigger words.
In Math, Primary 2 has been working very hard on our last two units! Earlier in the month we spent some time learning about fractions. Students used math manipulatives such as magnets, snap cubes, and playdoh to build fractions, demonstrate fair-sharing, as well as equivalent fractions. Later in the month we switched gears to perimeter and area. Students have been measuring the area and perimeter of various objects using non-standard and standard units of measurement. We were even able to apply this to a real world application in measuring the area and perimeter of our own classroom!
After finishing our big unit on plants, students are working hard to germinate and grow plants to donate to the United Way Community Garden to provide fresh produce for those in need. Additionally, we have been learning about force and motion. Students have been engaging in meaningful discussions about what is force and motion and how we measure these. Students are excited to explore this further in our final weeks together with a hands-on application.
Overall, May has been a month filled with amazing learning and community opportunities. Although the end of the year is near, there are still many great learning experiences and knowledge growing. May in Primary 2 is a testament to this.
Middle School
Happy May! The Middle school has been wrapping up all our final units before heading away for a week of fun at Camp! Once we return in June, students will complete various project-based learning activities to solidify and deepen their understanding of the concepts taught this year. Some highlights of May include our trip to Brock PALS program for a day of sports, and to the TASC Tulip Farm in NOTL.
In Junior Middle Math and Science, the students have explored multiple different topics! In Science, the students have been learning about the mystical ways solids, liquids, and gases can change from one state to another. They have been looking at the real-world effects that these changing states have on the environment, such as through processes like paper making, recycling, and the production of oil-based products. When students return in June, they will apply this knowledge in a cross-curricular connection to their “Harry Potter” unit, as they enter Ms.N’s magical potions class. In this class, students will explore the different states by mixing chemicals to create potions like in Harry Potter!
In Math, the class wrapped up their measurement unit and moved on to Patterning. In this unit, the class explored all the ways to represent and identify growing, shrinking, and repeating patterns in shapes and numbers. Students have been loving reading Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, and recounting what happened. In Social Studies, the class has been using their knowledge of trade, import, and export in connection with their imaginary countries. We will continue this when we get back from camp.
In Upper Middle, the students went on a journey in Pure Substances and Mixtures. The class completed various experiments to explore how pure substances and mixtures interact. They were able to apply this knowledge to real-world scenarios, such as how oil spills impact the environment. In Math, the class wrapped up the year with a unit of Probability, which tied in their numbersense skills from the beginning of the year. The class looked at different theoretical and experimental probability scenarios by creating their own probability experiments. They wrapped up this unit by creating their own probability board games. The games ranged from themes like Alice in Wonderland to Godzilla! The students have also completed their persuasive essay writing unit and are eagerly awaiting news of who will be the valedictorian of the Grade 8 class this year. It is exciting to see how much these students have grown both academically and socially throughout the year. Knowing that we are so close to the end is a bittersweet finale to this very interesting year.
Upcoming Important Dates
June 1-4th: Camp Wenonah and Week Without Walls
June 5th: PD day, no school. PD Camp is offered.
June 18th: Last day of school. Senior Kindergarten and Grade 8 graduation. Congratulations graduates!
Live Calendar
You can add this calendar to your own, so you have all the updates in one place. Click the link at the bottom of the calendar "Add to Google Calendar".
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