SUMMER HAS ARRIVED AT ROCS

Happy Summer!

Friday June 13, 2025

Dear Royal Oak Families

As we reach the close of another incredible school year, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to each of you for your unwavering support, partnership, and belief in our shared mission. This year has been filled with meaningful learning, joyful exploration, and the deepening of connections that make our school community truly special. From outdoor adventures to classroom breakthroughs, performances, projects, and the quiet moments of growth in between—it has been a year to remember.

I want to also congratulate one last time, our Grade 8 Graduates- Silas, Masha and Wes. Our graduation ceremony yesterday was one to remember, and thank you to so many of our families for taking the time to come together and appreciate the accomplishments of our nine SK and three Grade 8 students!

Though this afternoon we celebrate the last day of school for students filled with pizza, waterplay, team building and goodbyes, the teachers and team will be hard at work next week engaging in meaningful Professional Development. We step into work learning about Executive Functioning in children and the classroom strategies to help support this, as well as a full 16 hour first aid Mental Health training with Mental Health Canada. Each of our teachers will walk away from these two days fully trained to support children, young adults and members of our community who require social-emotional support and understanding. We also welcome our newest teacher, Upper School teacher, Melissa Smith to our staff, and say goodbye to Ms. Castelli. As you can see, it will be busy!

Though Royal Oak is officially closed in summer, our Summer Academy will be running from June 30-August 15, every day for eight weeks. There are still some open spots if you wish to take advantage of summer learning and support from the amazing teaching team at ROCS: Sign up for ROCS Summer Academy

You will also hear from your child’s teacher in the second week of August with a “welcome note”, school supply list and any information you need to help prepare your child for the school year ahead.

As we head into summer, I hope your days are filled with laughter, nature, rest, and adventure. Whether you’re traveling afar or staying close to home, may the weeks ahead be a time to reconnect, recharge, and create lasting memories together. We look forward to welcoming you back in the fall with renewed energy and excitement for another wonderful year at Royal Oak. Until then—stay safe, stay curious, and have a beautiful summer!

Warmly,

Julia Murray

Head of School

CAMP WENONAH FUN!

WEEK WITHOUT WALLS

To say Week Without Walls was a success this year would be an understatement! Students had an absolute BLAST engaging with community members, participating in hands-on activities, and soaking up the (mostly) beautiful weather! We welcomed back some fan-favourites, including Cows Ice Cream, Mad Science, Reptile Kingdom, and the Virgil Splashpad. We also added in some new experiences including art at the Pumphouse, yoga in the park, a music and movement lesson, Happy Rolph's, and lunch at Bricks and Barley! This was possibly the smoothest Week Without Walls yet, so a HUGE thank you to all of the staff for making it run so well! We hope the entire group enjoyed the week as much as we did. The countdown is on... only 361 days until Week Without Walls 2026!

The Royal Oak “Tennis Team”

Royal Oak’s 28 students had an incredible season sharpening their skills at the Niagara on the Lake Tennis Club this year. Coach Shawna’s letter below, says it all! Stay tuned for fall lessons starting September 10!

If you have been on the Royal Oak website recently, you might have noticed a new tab called “The Uniform Shop”: https://www.royaloakschool.ca/the-uniform-shop

This addition is to streamline uniform purchase for families who require new quick dry Phys. Ed shirts, or would like to purchase our limited edition “Ten Year Anniversary” Swag! You may place your order any time throughout the summer until August 18, and uniforms will be delivered to the school for September 2.

CLASSROOM UPDATES

EARLY YEARS

It’s hard to believe the school year is already coming to an end! What an amazing journey it’s been watching your kids learn, grow, and have so much fun along the way. From mastering letters and numbers to making new friends and tackling challenges with big smiles, these little learners have done so much this year—and we couldn’t be prouder of them.

Thank you for all the support, encouragement, and love you’ve shared throughout the year. It truly makes a difference, and we’ve loved being a part of your child’s kindergarten adventure. We’ll miss our time together, but we hope your summer is full of sunshine, playtime, and lots of laughter. We can't wait to welcome our PK and JK friends back next year, and wish the SK grads all the best as they head off to Primary!

Big hugs and happy summer wishes,

The Early Years Team

PRIMARY

It is hard to believe that the end of the school year is already upon us! I clearly remember the first day of school this year - measuring the heights of the students and getting our hands messy making playdough. The learning, exploration and creativity has not stopped all year long. May was, as always in Primary, a busy month! Outdoor discovery was one of the highlights of this spring-time month. As part of our Air and Water Inquiry Unit, Primary students walked to the local beach and were allowed to freely explore this environment. While there, boys and girls recorded observations and wonders, and even discovered a frog in its natural habitat. Learning about the Local Community was another reason to be outdoors. Students were given the task of finding natural and man-made structures within our community. It was during this walk that students discovered the In Bloom Festival and had the opportunity to see the floral structures up close. In Literacy, students have been busy writing fiction stories, using our newly-hatched chicks as their inspiration and characters. The boys and girls will publish their stories and take home their ‘book’ to share with their families. Fractions, multiplication and division, and probability have been the focus of math this month. Students learned the importance of sharing fairly and how this is possible in all situations. The end of the year is a focus on personal safety. The students have been getting ready for the summer break by learning about swimming/pool safety, bike safety and sun protection. Looks like Primary is ready for summer fun!! Have a safe and adventurous summer!

PRIMARY JUNIOR

May has been a wonderful month filled with accomplishments, creativity, and special moments.

We began the month with our CAT 5 assessments, and I am proud to share that everything went very smoothly. The students approached the assessments with focus and determination, and they should feel proud of their efforts.

In Art, we completed our canvas project for the school auction. The students showed incredible creativity and care in their work. Thank you to everyone who supported our class during the bake sale. The Creative Club also contributed some lovely artistic touches that helped make the event extra special.

Academically, we wrapped up several key units. In Math, we finished our unit on fractions. In Science, we concluded our exploration of forces and motion. In Health, we completed all of our units, including healthy eating, personal safety, mental health, and substance use. It has been rewarding to see students make connections across subjects and apply their learning in thoughtful ways.

We also celebrated the end of the month with our class breakfast. It was a lovely way to enjoy time together as a class and reflect on all we have accomplished.

As we come to the end of the school year, I want to take a moment to thank you for your ongoing support. Your involvement and encouragement have made a real difference in your children’s success this year.

It has been a true joy to teach this group of students. They have grown in so many ways academically, socially, and emotionally, and I am incredibly proud of their progress.

I hope your family enjoys a restful and joyful summer filled with sunshine, adventure, and special memories.

Thank you for a fantastic year.

JUNIOR MIDDLE

Wrapping Up a Fantastic School Year!

It has been a wild ride in the Junior Middle classroom as we wrap up the end of the school year. This year has been a memorable one, from the fantastic field trips to exciting experiments! I have been so proud of how the class has grown in confidence, resilience, independence, and maturity over this year.

As the school year comes to a close, we’re celebrating the incredible accomplishments in the Junior Middle Class! From designing creative and challenging probability-based video games to crafting compelling mystery narratives that will be published this fall, the class has shown outstanding imagination and dedication. They also journeyed through time, bringing ancient civilizations to life through vibrant and thoughtful artwork. In this unit, the class explored the ancient civilizations of China, Egypt, Greece, and Rome. We explored the similarities and differences between the periods through the mediums of clay sculptures, pottery, and painting.

I couldn’t be prouder of the class's growth, curiosity, and creativity. Here’s to a well-deserved summer break—rest, relax, and get ready for more adventures in the fall!

Have a safe and joyful summer!

UPPER MIDDLE

Happy June! Wow! The end of the school year has come too soon. It is hard to believe our Upper Middle students are moving on to their next grade. We say goodbye to our three Grads, and wish them the best of luck in Grade 9 in September.

As we wrap up our school year it has been quite busy in the Upper Middle classroom. From exploring algebraic expressions to exploring the great outdoors at Camp Wenonah there hasn't been a dull moment! Students practiced independent study practices through independent novel studies over the month of May that reflected a culmination of their learning this year in Language Arts. Students got to explore sustainability and design inventions to help increase sustainable practice and even learned about plant and animal cells. Students traveled through time to explore different art movements to end the year on a creative note!

Our class had an amazing time at Camp Wenonah! Despite the mosquitos, there were so many fun memories made. We explored the water on paddle boards, kayaks and canoes, learned how to build fires and even conquered the rock wall. There were so many laughs and smiles throughout the week. It will be a trip our students will never forget!

Thank you Upper Middle for a fantastic 2024/2025 school year! I wish it didn't have to come to an end. I wish all the students good luck next year and have a great summer!