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Monday, November 28, 2022
Upcoming Events:
- Friday, December 2: School Colours / Bateman Clothing Spirit Day
- Monday, December 5: Photo Orders Due
- Thursday, December 8: RBPS School Council Meeting - 6:30 PM
- Friday, December 9: Sports Jersey Spirit Day
- Wednesday, December 14: Photo Retake Day
- Friday, December 16: Wacky Friday Spirit Day (Colourful.. Unmatched.. Inside out!)
- Friday, December 23: Comfy-Cozy Spirit Day (Pajamas, slippers, etc)
Progress Reports / Parent - Educator Interviews
Thank you to all the parents who attended our Parent - Educator Interviews on Thursday and Friday last week. If you were not able to attend and have questions or concerns about your child(ren)’s progress, please reach out to your child(ren)’s teachers by telephone or email. Also, if you have not been able to access your child(ren)’s Progress Report, please reply to this email, or call the school so we can assist.
RBPS Scholastic Book Fair
Thank you all for your support of the Scholastic Book Fair last week. Thanks to your purchases, over $4,800.00 of books and accessories were purchased, which means that the school library will have an additional $2,500.00 to add to our book collection. Thanks to Ms. Green for your work in organizing this event!
RBPS Spirit Days
Thank you to Mme Boudreau’s Grade 5/6 Class for organizing the upcoming RBPS Spirit Days for December. All students and staff in Kindergarten to Grade 6 are invited to participate in these Spirit Days. The schedule for December is:
- Friday, December 2: School Colours / Bateman Clothing Spirit Day
- Friday, December 9: Sports Jersey Spirit Day
- Friday, December 16: Wacky Friday Spirit Day (Colourful.. Unmatched.. Inside out!)
- Friday, December 23: Comfy-Cozy Spirit Day (Pajamas, slippers, etc)
RBPS School Council: Thursday, December 8
All parents are invited to attend the RBPS School Council meeting on Thursday December 8, 2022 at 6:30 pm in the school library. This meeting will use a hybrid (in-person and virtual) format; any parent who would like to attend virtually is invited to send an email to [email protected] in order to receive the meeting link. An agenda will be shared with parents in the next week.
Supply Teacher Shortages / Class Closures
Like all school boards in Ontario, the OCDSB continues to experience a shortage of replacement teachers, ECEs, and EAs when regular staff are away. Up to this point, we have been able to secure replacements for any absent RBPS staff. However, as we move into the cold and flu season, it is possible that we will need to close classes for the day if we are unable to secure replacement staff. If this occurs, you will be notified by email, with a follow-up by telephone if needed. Hopefully this will not be necessary, and more replacement staff will be hired in the months ahead.
Ottawa School Transportation Authority Updates
School Bus Drivers Wanted (Bus Cancellations Possible)
The Ottawa Student Transportation Authority (OSTA) continues to experience a significant shortage of drivers. We are fortunate that here at RBPS our bus and vans continue to operate uninterrupted, because many schools do not have enough drivers to service their routes. Given this shortage, it is possible that our bus route would be canceled for the day if a driver is ill or absent. Please make sure you are signed up for OSTA’s parent portal for notices and updates.
If you are interested in becoming a bus driver for Roxborough, or learning more about this job, please contact: Sophie Cosstick, Personnel Recruitment Manager ([email protected] 343-575-8722).
Empty-Seat Program On-Hold
The Ottawa Student Transportation Authority (OSTA) has placed the empty-seat program on-hold until further notice. Under this program, students who did not qualify for a seat on the bus could apply for an ‘empty seat’ on an existing bus route, if extra seats were available. This program was suspended during COVID-restrictions, and is currently on hold, in part due to the city-wide shortage of bus and van drivers. OSTA will send an update on this program in the New Year.
Being Prepared for Snow, Freezing Rain, and More
As we experience our first few snowfalls of the season, the Ottawa Student Transportation Authority has shared an overview of how they decide whether or not to cancel school bus and van services during inclement weather. Visit their website to learn more, and make sure you are signed up for OSTA’s parent portal for notices and updates. Please ensure that students are prepared for inclement weather and please take caution on the roads, especially in school zones and bus areas.