May at Welborne: Prepared, Engaged, and Ready for the Spotlight

May is in full swing at Welborne, bringing that familiar mix of sunshine, busy hallways, and the exciting final stretch of the school year. This month, students will take part in our remaining Fire and Lockdown safety drills, with staff guiding them through each step in a calm, age‑appropriate way. We’re also looking forward to welcoming families to our Parent Engagement Evening with Make Way For Me—a wonderful opportunity to learn, connect, and grow together. And of course, the spotlight is shining brightly on our student performers as Matilda the Musical Jr. takes the stage May 20–22, with a special evening performance on May 21 at 7:00 p.m. It’s shaping up to be a vibrant and memorable month for our whole school community.

Excitement is building for our SAC BBQ on June 5th! Preparations are officially underway, and each class has been given a fun raffle basket theme to bring to life. Families are invited to contribute an item—big or small—to help fill their class basket and make this year’s raffle our best one yet. It’s a simple way to add a little extra sparkle to a favourite Welborne tradition.

A reminder to all families that Monday, May 18 is a holiday and the school will be closed. There is no school for students or staff. The next edition of The Word will be published on Tuesday next week.

As gear up for an amazing SAC BBQ on June 5th, and we need a team of superstar volunteers to help make the night shine! If you can spare an hour or two, your support will help keep the grills sizzling, the lines moving, and the fun flowing for all our families. No experience is needed—just bring your energy and community spirit. Sign up here and be part of the magic that makes this event unforgettable for our school.

Warmly,
Ms. Fraser, Mrs. Swan-Pressnell, and Ms. Hart

Supporting Student Safety Through Practice and Care

Safety is a shared priority in our school community, and we want families to know that we continue to practice emergency procedures with care and intention. Each fall and spring, we complete three fire drills and one lockdown drill.

Timing of the fire drills and lockdown drill will be shared with students in the Daily Announcements.
Teachers guide students through these routines thoughtfully, ensuring expectations are clear and questions are addressed in a supportive, age-appropriate way.

Final call for Yearbook Orders!

Your child will not be attending Welborne in September? please let us know

We are beginning to organize classes for the upcoming school year, and having accurate enrolment information helps us build balanced classroom rosters.

If you already know that your student will be moving or not returning to Welborne Avenue PS, please complete this form: Students Who Will Be Moving Away from Welborne Avenue PS by September – Fill Out Form.

Thank you for helping us plan effectively for September.

LDSB Family Engagement and Climate Survey

The Limestone District School Board’s Family Engagement and Climate Survey is now live and we invite families to share their experiences with their student’s school and with the school board.

Your feedback helps Limestone understand what is working well and where we can improve, and supports welcoming, safe, and supportive school communities.

 The survey is open from April 30 to May 11 and is available online. Paper copies are also available at your school’s administrative office.

                Access the Family Engagement and Climate Survey online.

Participation is voluntary and anonymous. You may skip any questions you choose, and no identifying information is collected.

Thank you for sharing your voice and helping strengthen Limestone schools and school communities.

School Advisory Council News

Join the fun • Support the school • Make a difference

The School Advisory Council (SAC) is looking for new volunteers to help with Charity BINGO—our school’s largest fundraising source. These funds directly support student activities, events, programs, and enhancements throughout the school.

Purchase your Welborne Avenue PS BBQ tickets in School-Day!

Thank you for supporting our school community!

Your time helps create opportunities and experiences for every student.

As gear up for an amazing SAC BBQ on June 5th, and we need a team of superstar volunteers to help make the night shine! If you can spare an hour or two, your support will help keep the grills sizzling, the lines moving, and the fun flowing for all our families. No experience is needed—just bring your energy and community spirit. Sign up here and be part of the magic that makes this event unforgettable for our school.

VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS — QUICK GUIDE

General School Related Information

Kindergarten Registration is Now Open

https://www.limestone.on.ca/news/kindergarten-registration-is-now-open-2026

🚸 Safety First: Protect Our Students!

As we continue to prioritize the safety of all students, staff, and families, we kindly remind drivers to avoid entering the school parking lot during posted drop-off and pick-up times. This area becomes especially busy with pedestrian traffic, and vehicle entry during these windows poses serious safety risks.

Additionally, please remember that buses have the right of way in the designated bus lane, and vehicles may not pass buses in this area. Respecting this rule helps keep our students safe as they arrive and depart each day.

Your cooperation helps ensure a safer environment for everyone—thank you for doing your part!

Please help us to spread the word by sharing this information with any caregivers or family members who help your family with drop-off/pick-up.

Supporting Smooth Morning Transitions

Timely arrival plays a key role in helping students begin their day with confidence and ease. We ask that all children arrive on time and join their class cohort in their designated zone. Late arrivals can disrupt classroom routines—especially as students are still learning the flow of morning entry and settling in.

If your child does arrive late, please ensure they sign in at the office and proceed promptly to class. To support a calm and focused transition, we kindly encourage parents and guardians to keep drop-offs brief. A quick goodbye helps us guide students directly to their classrooms and maintain a consistent start to the day.

If you remain in the front lobby with your child, we assume you are actively engaged with them. In these moments, staff may step away to assist other students who are already in the process of transitioning to class. This helps us ensure that all children receive timely support and direction.

For our Kindergarten families, please make sure a staff member is present with your child before leaving the building.

Thank you for your cooperation and continued support in helping all students start their day successfully!

Report An Absence

Reporting your child’s absence through School Messenger is an essential part of our daily attendance process and helps us ensure the safety and well-being of all 370 students. Whether your child is away due to illness, a family commitment, or participating in a school activity such as a sports tournament, it’s important that their absence is recorded. For students attending school-sponsored events, coaches or supervising teachers will update attendance records so these absences do not count against them. However, we still ask families to report these absences through School Messenger to help us maintain accurate records and confirm each student’s whereabouts. Your cooperation supports a safe and organized school environment.

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.

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.

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. Additional information and a permission form has been sent home to families of students in grade 7 and 8. Students must return these forms to their homeroom teacher.

What’s Happening in Our Community

Kaleidoscope is an exhibition dedicated to uplifting and celebrating the voices, experiences, and creativity of queer youth. The show aims to provide an inclusive and affirming platform where young artists can explore identity, community, and self-expression through visual storytelling. 

Kaleidoscope is now accepting 2D and New Media submissions (meaning anything that can be hung on a wall or displayed on a TV/monitor),

 via this submission form: https://forms.gle/NoZfTqop3VoDT7pu7

Are you 18 or under and based in the Kingston/Katarokwi area? We’re inviting young queer artists of all backgrounds and experience levels to submit work for an upcoming exhibition.

 Submissions open: April 26, 2026

 Deadline to apply: May 14, 2026

No prior experience is needed - whether you’re just starting out or already creating regularly, we’d love to see your work.

Exhibition dates: May 24 – June 27, 2026

Opening reception: May 17, 2026

Submit your work, share your perspective, and be part of a supportive and inclusive show. Special interest will be given to family made artwork, and for artists in the 11-18 age range.