Wildcat Word - Back to School Information 2026/27

Welcome Back to Our New and Returning Students and Families

As we prepare for the first day, Wednesday, September 2nd, our excitement continues to grow for the start of a brand‑new school year. We’ve truly missed the joyful energy our students bring each day, and we can’t wait to reunite, learn, and grow together as a vibrant Welborne community. Please join us in welcoming Liv Rondeau as our new Vice-Principal. A proud educator of mixed Kanyen’kehá:ka, Irish, and French-Canadian heritage, Ms. Rondeau brings a commitment to culturally grounded, equitable education, with a particular focus on land-based learning, and community-led cultural programming. She believes that meaningful education begins with relationships and is committed to getting to know our students, staff, and families, building trust, listening and learning from their experiences, and working together to create a welcoming, inclusive, and connected school community.

We know you are anxious to get started! Classroom placements will be sent out via email by September 1st.

There’s a wonderful sense of hope and anticipation in the air as we look ahead to everything the 2026–2027 school year will bring. Inside this newsletter, you’ll find key information to help ensure a smooth and successful start to the year—and to keep you connected throughout it.

To those joining the Welborne family for the first time, welcome. Each week, we send out a newsletter on the first school day to keep families informed, engaged, and supported.

If you have any questions, please reach out to us at welba@limestone.on.ca.

Ms. Fraser, Ms. Rondeau, and Ms. Hart

School Organization Information

Our school organization (the way the classes are organized) remains tentative until approved by a board level committee at the end of the second week of September. If changes are necessary, families will be notified as soon as possible.

Daily Schedule

It is very important that children arrive on time for school and gather with their class cohort in their designated zone. Lateness causes disruptions to the classroom routines, particularly as children are learning the flow of entry and opening routines.

Morning Supervision & First Day Procedures

• Supervision on the school yard begins daily at 8:50 AM.
• On the First Day of School, pylons with teacher names will be placed around the yard.
• Please locate your child’s teacher’s name—this is where they will line up to enter the school.
• If you arrive and are unsure where to go, please approach a staff member. Many staff will be outside to welcome families and provide support.

School Yard Areas

• We will begin the year using our traditional Primary, Junior, and Intermediate yard areas.
• Kindergarten students have their own designated area.
• Teachers will ensure every student knows:
  • Their daily yard area
  • Where to line up each morning

ARRIVAL, DISMISSAL & TRANSPORTATION

Drop-Off & Morning Routine

• Yard supervision begins at 8:50 AM.
• Parents/guardians may walk students to the yard until supervision begins.
• Please drop students at the foot of the path; they can walk to their zone independently.
• Kindergarten drop-off is at the Kindergarten yard gate.
  • A quick, confident goodbye and prompt departure helps our youngest learners transition smoothly.
  • Kindergarten students will be greeted by familiar staff who support them throughout the day.
• On the first day, look for pylons with teacher names—students line up there.
• Staff will be outside to assist, especially during the first few days.

Yard Areas

• Students will use the traditional Primary, Junior, Intermediate, and Kindergarten yard areas.
• Teachers will show students where their area and daily line-up spot are.

End-of-Day Pick-Up

• Meet your child in the same spot each day.
• If meeting siblings or older students, establish a consistent meeting location.
• Older students exit through their own doors and walk around the school to meet younger siblings.
• Teachers cannot meet during drop-off/pick-up—please email welba@limestone.on.ca or call the office.

Active Transportation

• Families are encouraged to walk or bike when possible.
• Bike racks are located at the front of the school.

Bus Transportation

• Eligible families should have received Tri‑Board bus details.
• The 2026–2027 Tri‑Board portal is open for stop locations and times.
• Applications that were submitted by August 6 are processed for the first day; later applications may take until week two or beyond.
• Sign up for Tri‑Board alerts or download the app for delay/cancellation updates: https://triboard.ca/alerts/

Driving to School

• The parking lot is closed to parent/guardian vehicles during drop-off and pick-up for safety.
• Only buses, staff vehicles, and vehicles with Accessible Parking Passes may enter.
• Please follow city parking signs and consider using neighbourhood pathways from: Bicknell Crescent, Glen Castle Road, or Nordic Avenue.

What to Bring on the First Day of School

• Indoor shoes – to be left at school for daily use.
• Lunch bag – packed with items your child can open independently.
  • For our newest learners, please practice opening containers and snack packaging at home.
• Water bottle – clearly labelled with your child’s name; refill stations are available throughout the day.
• Backpack – large enough to hold lunch, water bottle, and any communication items.
• Hat or sun protection – for outdoor play.
• All students are encouraged to have a change of clothes

Please ensure all items are labelled with your child’s name.

Report a Student Absence

One of our greatest priorities is ensuring that all students arrive safely to school every day. To improve our safe arrival process, Limestone District School Board has made some changes to our SafeArrival absence reporting management system. All parents/guardians are asked to report their student’s absence regardless of the reason.

How to report an absence

In some instances, students may need to be away from school for illness, appointments or other events. Parents/caregivers can use the SafeArrival system to report a full day absence, an extended student absence and also a late arrival to school. When reporting an absence for a secondary student parents/caregivers will also be able to select an early departure. To report an absence, use one the following methods:

School Messenger application

1. Use the email address you provided to the school.
2. Use your mobile device to download and install the free SchoolMessenger blue app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store, the SchoolMessenger website portal, or from within the LDSB mobile app.
3. Tap Sign Up to create your account. Please ensure you use the same email address your student’s school has on file. If you do not use that same email address, you will not be able to create an account, or may not be able to see the "Attendance" option. You may have already created an account when we introduced the Communicate broadcast system.
4. Select Attendance from the menu, then select Report an Absence and follow the prompts.

SchoolMessenger SafeArrival website portal

1. Use the e-mail address you provided to the school.
2. Go to the website SchoolMessenger website portal.
3. Click Sign Up to create your account. Please ensure you use the same email address your student’s school has on file. If you do not use that same email address, you will not be able to create an account, or may not be able to see the "Attendance" option. You may have already created an account when we introduced the Communicate broadcast system.
4. Select Attendance from the menu, then select Report an Absence.

Interactive toll-free telephone

1. Call 1-855-257-9349 toll-free to report an absence using the automated phone system.
2. Follow the instructions to report an absence.

These options are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For any school day in the school term up to the cut-off time on the day of the absence. Future absences can be reported at any time using any one of these methods.

Please do not call the school directly to report your student's absence.

Reporting late arrivals

Parents/caregivers are instructed to report late arrivals using the new Late Arrival option, including the expected arrival time to school. When a student arrives, they are expected to sign in at office and staff make the amendment in our student information system. When a student leaves early, again they are expected to sign out (with parental permission) and again the amendment is made in our system. This method allows us to best track student attendance to ensure safety.
The SafeArrival system makes it easier for you to report your student’s absence, reduces the time it takes for our school staff to verify student attendance, and responds to unexpected or unplanned student absences. This time savings makes it faster and more efficient to account for all students and their safety.

Additional resources

• Frequently Asked Questions  (FAQs)
• Using the SchoolMessenger App for Safe Arrival
• Setting Preferences in SchoolMessenger/SafeArrival
• Watch the video tutorial on how to create a SchoolMessenger account
• Watch the video tutorial on how to report absences in SchoolMessenger

A Warm Welcome to New Staff!

Welcome to the new members of the Welborne Team: Ms. Liv Rondeau (VP/SST), Mr. Carswell (EA) and Mr. Griffiths (EA). The entire staff list is here: https://welborne.limestone.on.ca/our_staff

Important School Advisory Information

Parents, guardians and caregivers play an important role in the educations system. One way for you to be involved and share your ideas is to join the School Advisory Council, also referred to as "School Council". School Council Elections will be held on Monday, September 28th. The first meeting will take place directly after the elections. More information about the positions and meeting will be shared in upcoming newsletters.

Celebrating Our Incredible Welborne Caretakers!

A huge thank-you to our amazing caretaking team for their dedication and hard work throughout the summer—and every single day. Thanks to their efforts, the floors shine, every corner is spotless, and our classrooms are gleaming with readiness.

We’re all set to welcome students back, and it wouldn’t be possible without the care and commitment of Derek Taylor, Al Le Roy, and Brian Hart.

You make Welborne sparkle—literally!

Peak at the Week

Tuesday, September 1

• PA DAY - only staff are at the school

Wednesday, September 2

• First day of school for students

Looking Ahead

Monday, September 7

• Labour Day - Schools are closed

Wednesday, September 9

• Welborne Wednesday - wear your Welborne spirit wear or colours! Our school colours are blue and yellow.

Wednesday, September 16

• Welborne Wednesday - wear your Welborne spirit wear or colours!

Wednesday, September 23

• Welborne Wednesday - wear your Welborne spirit wear or colours!

Monday, September 28

• Grade 7 & 8 Immunization Clinic - Information to follow

2026-2027 LDSB School Year Calendar

A printable version is available here.

Allergen Awareness - Nut Free & Scent Free School

Prevalent Medical Conditions

Welborne Avenue PS plays an important role in supporting students with prevalent medical conditions to fully access school in a safe, accepting, and healthy learning environment that supports well-being.

Parents should be aware that:

• common over-the-counter pain relievers such as Aspirin are not supplied to students by the school.
• all medication must be kept at the office (with the exception of EpiPens and asthma inhalers for emergency use).
• if, in the opinion of your doctor, your child may require medication during the school day, a prescription label or note from the doctor will be required.
• a permission form for the dispensing of medication, signed by the parents, is to be kept on file in the school office.
• a small amount of prescribed medication will be kept at the school; and
• a record of administration shall be maintained in the school office.

Should a student require medication during school hours, parents/guardians are required to fill out the appropriate authorizations' forms.

The authorization forms can be found here: https://www.limestone.on.ca/medical-procedures

Grade 7 and Grade 8 Lunch Privileges

Historically, the students in grades 7 and 8 have the opportunity to get parent permission to leave the school property during recess/eating break on designated days. For the first few weeks of school, all students will remain at school during recess time as routines and relationships are established. Additional information and a permission form will be sent home to families of students in grade 7 and 8 later this month.

Hot Lunch

We will resume hot lunch in October. You will be able to order selections through your school-day account.