September 21st, 2022

Good afternoon Oak Creek families,

Our school student population continues to grow quite quickly and we are now in a position where we need to reorganize some of our classes to ensure that we are following Ministry Class Size Guidelines.

The reorganization process is common and occurs in most schools in the fall. For newer schools, student enrolment is often unpredictable and we are more likely to experience reorganization in our first few years as a school (as many new construction projects are still in progress).

At Oak Creek, we have gained a Grade 1 class (formerly 1/2A), a new Primary Class (2/3A), and have also added a Grade 3/4 Class (previously 3B).

The addition of our new classes provides us with the opportunity to lower class sizes and adjust our class profiles as we consider the learners in each classroom.

It is important to note that the Ministry Class Cap/Class Size Average Guidelines, include Primary classes being built to 20, and Junior/Intermediate classes reflecting an average class size of 24.5 across the system.

We have also had the chance to verify our overall school enrolment and may need to balance the number of students in various classes in addition to the three class changes mentioned above (e.g., with comparable class sizes being reflected across each grade level and division).

Families whose child will be switching classes will receive a phone call from the school and be notified prior to the end of the school day on Friday, September 23, 2022.

New classes and changes to homeroom teachers will take effect on Monday, September 26th. A link to our Arrival and Dismissal Zones can be found here.

A note about Split-Grade Classes:

These classes must follow divisional Class Size Guidelines. Students will still be taught the appropriate grade-level curriculum, and it provides an opportunity for students to review big ideas while also being challenged. In a split class (not unlike a straight grade class), students will engage in small group learning, regular conferencing with the teacher, collaborative group work and will engage in inquiry-based learning and hands-on learning tasks. We will continue to utilize evidence-based instruction (e.g., literacy instruction, assessment practices) and tailor learning to meet the needs of each student. The educator will continue to differentiate instruction to ensure that all students’ needs are being met (this does not mean that students will be learning at a level too low or too high). Student learning needs are varied in every class, and we will continue to personalize the experience so that each and every student can be successful.

Thank you for your support and understanding,

Jeff Johnson

Principal, Oak Creek