September 2019

IMPORTANT DATES
PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE “Your voice can inspire, heal, and change
the world.”
September 20 ~Peter H. Reynolds
Dear Families,
Terry Fox Run
September 23
PD Day – NO SCHOOL Welcome to a new school year at RMA! Our staff came together on our opening day to share
September 24
our talents, unique ideas and dreams with one another. We have an amazing group of
School Council &RMA
Fundraising Association AGM professionals who look forward to inspiring your children as we travel through the year with
6:30 in staffroom one another. We took time to reflect on the powerful messaging in the book, Say Something
September 25
School Photo Day by Peter H. Reynolds. This author helped us to be thoughtful about how we can invite all
September 26 children to “say something” through their words, art, music, poetry, courage and presence.
Family BBQ and Meet Our Staff
5 to 7 pm Similar to other books we have explored, this story reminded us of the tremendous
September 30 importance of creating safe spaces for children to risk and to use their voices to “change the
Orange Shirt Day
September 1 to October 4
world”.
Read In Week & Book Fair
October 5
World Teachers’ Day
We hope you will take a moment to read the words our staff have given voice to in our main
October 14 hallway as we look ahead to a new school year with our RMA community. We are grateful to
Thanksgiving – NO SCHOOL
our artist, Laurel Hawkswell who captured each of us so well through her artwork! It is our
October 25
PD Day – NO SCHOOL intent to “inspire, heal, and transform” and to create “voiceful” learning communities where
October 31 children can contribute and make a difference. We look forward to the 2019-20 school year
Halloween Parade
with anticipation and renewed hope for the possibilities that lay ahead.
Principal
Karen Keats Whelan “The world needs your voice.”
Assistant Principal
Jennifer Kennedy We are so excited about the many new families we are welcoming this year. Thank you for
Administrative Assistant supporting us in these opening, early weeks with your children! This first newsletter provides
Nikki Lonsbury
our RMA families with details about practices and procedures at our school that welcome
Christine Van Oene
our children and keep them safe. You will see our “parent parking” support out each morning
Assistant Superintendent
Mike Suderman assisting us with the flow of traffic and helping children travel to the playground and tarmac
Superintendent of Schools at the back of our school. Supervisors are out at RMA at 8:30 each morning to welcome your
Darrel Robertson children to enjoy some fresh air and friendship prior to school start-up.
Ward H Trustee
Nathan Ip Please join us for our annual family BBQ and meet the staff evening next Thursday,
September 26 from 5-7 pm. Our visual calendars will come out every two months to help
you with keeping track of these special events across the school year.

Imagining Possibilities Together,

Karen Keats Whelan

Kindergarten Teacher Keri Devlin Rm 158
Teacher Donna Brown Rm 161
Forest School Practitioner Amry Gavin Rm 158, 161
Educational Assistant Kerralea Portuondo Rm 158, 161
Educational Assistant Ruth Gelvezon Rm 158, 161
Educational Assistant Nzingha McNeil Rm 158, 161

Grade 1 Teacher Alyssa Mayer Rm 119

Teacher Tricia Campbell Rm 123
Teacher Kiran Gill Rm 124
Educational Assistant Madelaine Brown Rm 123
Educational Assistant Whitney Erickson Rm 124
Educational Assistant TBA Rm 119

Grade 2 Teacher Lenny Mullin Rm 001

Teacher Erin Radloff Rm 122
Teacher Jennifer Radtke Rm 008
Educational Assistant Katrina Pickett Rm 122
Educational Assistant Jamie Whalen Rm 001

Grade 3 Teacher Vanessa McLeod Rm 002

Teacher Julie Dobson Rm 006
Teacher Ashley Elford Rm 007
Educational Assistant Ravi Lakkad Rm 002, 006
Educational Assistant Tyler Dyck Rm 002, 006

Grade 4 Teacher Joni Rieckmann Rm 148

Teacher Vanessa Nielsen Rm 149
Teacher Andrea Garcia Rm 150
Educational Assistant Tyler Dyck Rm 150
Educational Assistant Donna Davidson Rm 150
Educational Assistant Saffana Erfan Rm 148

Grade 5 Teacher Maria Lui-Brown Rm 010

Teacher Cherilyn Maluga Rm 144
Educational Assistant Miranda Aumuller Rm 010
Educational Assistant Caitlin Richardson Rm 144

Grade 6 Teacher Ash Robinson Rm 011

Teacher Marjorie Foth Rm 012

Music Teacher Amanda Baril Rm 141

Library Learning Commons (LLC)
Teacher Julia Sowinski Rm 165
Success Coach Amanda Woudstra Wrap Around Room

Custodial Staff Rod Nool Head Custodian Rm 152

Analiza Aguila Custodian Rm 152
Clemencia Sumibcay Custodial Assistant Rm 152

School Office Principal Karen Keats Whelan Rm 104

Assistant Principal Jennifer Kennedy Rm 106
Administrative Assistant Nikki Lonsbury Front Office
Administrative Assistant Christine Van Oene Front Office & LLC

HOURS OF OPERATION

Roberta MacAdams School

2019– 20

8:15 a.m. Main Door Open

8:30 a.m. Outdoor Supervision Begins
8:45 a.m. Morning Bell
10:20-10:35 a.m. Morning Recess
11:41 a.m. Morning Kindergarten Dismissal

12:05-12:50 p.m. Lunch-time Supervision Service

12:31 p.m. Afternoon Kindergarten Begins
12:50 p.m. Afternoon Bell (Grades 1 to 6)
2:05-2:20 p.m. Afternoon Recess
3:35 Dismissal
THURSDAY EARLY DISMISSAL
2:15 p.m. all classes
ENROLMENT AND ORGANIZATION
Our enrolment in planned classrooms at Roberta MacAdams School is currently at 475 from
kindergarten to grade six; an increase of over 80 students. Each class grouping is comprised of
beautiful children with various strengths, interests, and learning needs. This rich diversity of children
fosters an inclusive and supportive learning environment and creates an atmosphere
that nurtures the development of all children. Please take time to read your child’s
ongoing classroom communications to gain insight into the engaging, challenging and
creative learning experiences your child will be exploring in the days, weeks and
months ahead!

FIELD EXPERIENCES
A number of additional educational experiences are planned and provided to children across the
school year to deepen their understanding of concepts and provide rich and engaging hands-on
exploration and investigation of a variety of topics. These opportunities enable children to explore
curriculum and deepen their understanding of the world around them beyond the walls of the
classroom. Families are provided written notification in advance of all field experiences.
A completed permission slip signed by the parent or guardian must be returned to the school prior to
a child’s participation in a field experience.

Costs of field experiences will not exceed $100 per child across the school year. In
addition, no child will be denied participation in field experiences due to lack of
funds. Please bring any financial concerns forward in confidence to the school
principal prior to the scheduled event.

SCHOOL SECURITY
To ensure the safety of students and staff, all exterior doors, with the exception of the front doors
during peak hours of operation, will remain locked throughout the day. We ask that all visitors and
volunteers sign-in at our main office. During recess breaks, school staff are equipped with school keys
to allow children safe access to washrooms. Thank you for supporting us in keeping our school safe!

DROP OFF and PICK UP

As we continue to grow, it is critical for all families to follow safe drop off and pick up procedures at
our school. There is no parking available in our staff parking lot on the west side of our school except
for families with approved placards for designated stalls for children with physical needs. Children can
be safely dropped off and picked up in the designated area directly out front of our school. There is
absolutely no parking in this zone during peak hours, and vehicles leaving the lot at the start and end
of day must turn right only. This ensures a safe crossing for our students at the marked crosswalk.

ALLERGY ALERT
To accommodate the medical needs of children with severe and life-threatening allergies at Roberta
MacAdams School, we promote allergy awareness and safe practices across our school. We request
that families do not bring nuts or nut products into our school. In addition, we ask that you
communicate directly with your child’s teacher when bringing in items for birthdays and other
celebrations across the year. The safety of all children is our first priority. Thank you for supporting
District policy and school practice in the best interest of our children with severe and life-threatening
allergies.
ILLNESS and MEDICATION
Please assist us with promoting the health and well-being of our school population, including children
who are medically fragile, by keeping sick children at home. Should your child become ill while at
school, parents and guardians will be notified.

Authorization forms for the administration of medication (both prescription and non-prescription) are
available at the school office. Parents are required to complete and sign this request. No medication
can be administered to students without proper documentation.

LUNCH PROGRAM
Lunch-time supervision service is provided to all children in grades 1 through 6 who remain at school
for lunch. This service is a shared cost between parents and the school and provides safe supervision of
children, both indoor and outdoor, over the lunch-break from 12:05-12:50 p.m. To minimize
movement throughout the school and ensure that students have enough time to enjoy their lunch with
classmates and spend time in outdoor play, students will be eating in their own classrooms. Each
classroom will have an assigned supervisor on a regular basis. Information about fees for lunch-time
supervision service is available on SchoolZone or at the school office.

ABSENTEE CHECK/ATTENDANCE
Regular attendance is directly related to success in school. Please ensure that your child arrives on time
so that they can be welcomed into the classroom learning experiences taking place each day. Children
who arrive late are asked to report directly to the school office to check-in and receive a late slip.

Parents and guardians are required to contact the school office if a child will be late or absent. Please
phone 587-489-4700 and leave a message between 4:00 p.m. and 8:15 a.m. If we have not heard from
home when a student is marked absent, parents or guardians will be contacted through “synrevoice”.
Please ensure that any changes to personal contact information are reported to the office in order to
keep our records up-to-date. In addition, please contact the school office and your school bus
provider if your child will not be riding the bus to or from school on any given day.

Students who have appointments and must leave the school prior to dismissal are asked to sign out at
the office.

SCHOOL ASSEMBLIES
School-wide assemblies will take place at various times across the school year. These whole school
gatherings are intended to bring our community together in celebration of the learning taking place
across our school. Children and staff will have the opportunity to present and share at these
assemblies in the presence of their peers. Parents and guardians, along with other family members, are
a welcome addition to these gatherings. Please refer to calendars provided for the dates of future
school-wide assemblies.
SAFE AND CARING SCHOOLS
Shaping communities of belonging that are inclusive, supportive and enabling for all requires a shared
commitment on the part of families, schools and communities. The staff of Roberta MacAdams School
will work collectively to help our students understand core values embodied by our namesake, Roberta
MacAdams. Building common language, values and practices will be vital to growing our community
across the school year. Children will be encouraged to make thoughtful choices and take responsibility
for their actions. At all times, through our words and actions, it will be our intention to maintain the
dignity of every child, every day.

We recognize that we have a tremendous community of children at Roberta MacAdams School. We

want you to be assured that we have a plan in place to ensure the safety and vitality of our teaching
and learning community. We acknowledge that children make mistakes and that each day is a new
day. Restorative environments are those that support and nurture children in getting “back on track”
so that they can contribute positively to “growing” a community. Please refer to our Student Rights
and Responsibilities document posted on SchoolZone and the RMA Website for detailed information.

SCHOOL COUNCIL and RMA FUNDRAISING ASSOCIATION

We would like to welcome parents and guardians to attend our monthly
meetings to bring your voice and ideas to the table as we continue to build
the very best opportunities for our children, families and community. The dates
for the 2019-20 school year will be posted on both SchoolZone and our RMA
Website.

VOLUNTEERS
Our parents and guardians are a vital part of our team at Roberta MacAdams School and contribute
significantly to building a strong school community. Please stop in at our school office or your child’s
classroom to express interest in volunteering at the school. Your gifts, talents and expertise are
invaluable and will always be welcome!

IMPORTANT DATES
Please take a look at the attached calendars for September and October to note important school
events. We hope to see all of you out for our Family Fall BBQ and Meet Our Staff Evening on Thursday,
September 26th!