Turning the Page: October to November
As October draws to a close and November begins, our school community is buzzing with energy and gratitude. From the excitement of fall festivities to the cozy rhythm of classroom routines, this time of year brings both celebration and reflection. We’re proud of all that our students have accomplished so far and look forward to the meaningful moments ahead—whether it’s cheering on our teams, sharing in acts of kindness, or preparing for upcoming learning adventures. Let’s keep the momentum going as we step into a new month together!
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at welba@limestone.on.ca
Warmly,
Ms. Fraser, Mrs. Swan-Pressnell, and Ms. Hart
Good times, great company.
Remembrance Day Assembly – Tuesday, November 11
On Tuesday, November 11, Welborne Avenue PS will gather in the gymnasium to honour and remember the brave members of the military—past and present—who have protected the freedoms we enjoy in Canada. This solemn occasion brings our school community together in reflection and gratitude.
We are honoured to welcome Welborne parent Captain James Dockrill, who will speak to students during the assembly.
Assembly Details
- Start Time: 10:40 AM
- Location: Welborne Avenue PS Gymnasium
- Family Attendance: A limited number of spaces are available for family members who wish to join us. Families are kindly asked to wait outside until 10:30 AM, while final preparations take place during recess.
Modified Schedule for November 11
- 9:05–9:55 – Period 1
- 9:55–10:25 – Outdoor Recess
- 10:40 – Remembrance Day Assembly
- Following Assembly – 15-minute snack break
Sweet Treats for a Sweet Cause! 🍫
It’s that delicious time of year again! Stock up on beautiful gift boxes, fun chocolate lollies, sticky toffees, peppermint bark, and so much more — all while supporting our school! (And let’s be honest... calories don’t count when it’s for a good cause!)
🗓 Order Deadline: November 23, 2025
Here’s what you need to know:
• Campaign Number: 60323
• Order Online: https://fundraising.purdys.com/1569218-133378
• Catalogue: Check your student’s backpack for your copy!
Every purchase helps our school reach its fundraising goals — thank you for your incredible support and community spirit! 💙
See Yourself in Limestone – Student Census Survey
Limestone is committed to creating safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environments for all students. To help us better understand how students’ identities and experiences relate to their achievement and well-being, we are launching our second See Yourself in Limestone Student Census Survey this fall.
The census is a voluntary and confidential survey for students in Grades 4 to 12, running from November 24 to 28, 2025. It gathers information about students’ identities and their experiences at school. This data is then paired with academic information to help us understand what school is like for different groups of students.
Important information for families:
- The survey is optional.
- Responses are confidential and students can skip any questions they do not wish to answer.
- Students will complete the survey during class time.
- Students who do not participate will be provided with an alternative activity.
Families who do not want their student(s) to complete the survey must contact their school principal by Friday, November 14, 2025. Opting out means the student will not receive the survey in their e-mail inbox.
By better understanding students’ identities and experiences, we can remove barriers and better support students in accessing what they need to succeed.
Learn more about the Student Census and how it supports equity in Limestone: limestone.on.ca/student_census
Welborne Food Share Program
We’ve recently seen a noticeable increase in the number of students accessing our Food Share program, with many seeking additional support throughout the day. While we’re grateful to be able to offer this resource, we want to ensure it remains available for those who truly need it. We kindly ask parents and guardians to check in with their student to see if they are relying on the Food Share at school. If your family is in a position to send extra snacks for your student, we would greatly appreciate it—this action helps us preserve this vital program for students facing food insecurity. Thank you for your continued support and care.
This initiative is an extension of The Food Sharing Project, which is funded entirely through community fundraising. If you would like to support these efforts and help provide nutritious food to students across all schools in the greater Kingston area, you can contribute by selecting 2025-2026 Food Sharing Project Support from the products listing in your School-Day account.
Staying Connected with Our School Community
We’re always happy to hear from families! If you call and we’re unable to answer, please leave a short voicemail. There are times during the day when staff are away from the office or actively supporting students, and your message ensures we can follow up as soon as we’re available.
For any changes to your child’s dismissal plans, we kindly ask that you contact the school before 3:00 PM. These updates are best shared by phone or voicemail so we can receive them in time and direct them appropriately.
To help maintain a focused and supportive learning environment, we ask that families schedule meetings in advance if they’d like to connect with their child’s classroom educator or a member of the Administration team. You can arrange a meeting by calling 613-389-0188 (please leave a message if Ms. Hart is unavailable) or by emailing us at Welba@limestone.on.ca.
Thank you for helping us keep communication smooth and students safe—we truly value your ongoing support and partnership!
Hot Lunch Ordering
We’re excited to share that hot lunch orders are now open through School-Day! Please note that, due to the holiday weekend, this week’s ordering window is shorter than usual. Orders for Edo Japan and Sub Day will close at midnight this Thursday.
Hot lunch schedule:
- Tuesdays – Sub Day from Tony’s Pizza (order by the Thursday prior)
- Wednesdays – Edo Japan (order by the Thursday prior)
- Fridays – Tony’s Pizza or Chicken Fingers & Fries (order by the Sunday prior)
Please note: Due to storage constraints, we’re unable to hold meals for students who are absent, unless they are returning later the same day.
Help Shape Our Accessibility Plan
The Limestone District School Board is committed to fostering accessibility and inclusion for all. We are currently developing our next Multi-Year Accessibility Plan and invite feedback from students, staff, families, and community members.
Your input will help ensure our goals reflect the diverse needs and lived experiences across our school communities. Please visit bit.ly/LDSB2025-2029AccessibilityPlan to provide input. The survey is open until November 10, 2025
Every Wednesday |
Welborne Wednesday - Wear your Welborne Spirit Wear or Colours |
November 11th |
Remembrance Day |
November 13th |
Progress Reports distributed |
November 14th |
PA Day - no school for students |
November 17th - 21st |
Scholastic Book Fair - more info coming |
November 26th |
Photo Re-takes beginning at 9am |
Lego Robotics Club |
See Mr. Large |
Rocket League - Grades 5-8 |
See Mr. McDonough |
Musical Theatre - Grades 2 to 6 |
See Mr. Large |
Senior Girls Volleyball |
See Mrs. Frenette |
Grade 8 Boys Volleyball |
See Mr. McDonough |
Grade 7 Boys Volleyball |
See Ms. Hart |
SAC Snapshot
📣 School Advisory Council Meeting Tonight!
Families, you're warmly invited to join us this evening—Monday, November 24th from 6:15pm to 7:00pm—for our School Advisory Council meeting. This is a wonderful chance to stay informed, share your ideas, and help shape the direction of our school community. Whether you're a regular attendee or joining for the first time, your presence makes a difference.
💻 Join us via Zoom: Click here to attend
Let’s come together to celebrate progress, discuss upcoming initiatives, and keep building a school environment where every voice is valued. We hope to see you there!
General School Related Information
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
- Use the email address you provided to the school.
- 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.
- 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.
- Select Attendance from the menu, then select Report an Absence and follow the prompts.
Interactive toll-free telephone
- Call 1-855-257-9349 toll-free to report an absence using the automated phone system.
- 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.
Visitors to Welborne Avenue Public School
We welcome visitors to our school. We do ask that all visitors, parents/guardians included, sign in with the main office and remain in the front lobby until directed/escorted by a staff member.
All LDSB elementary schools are equipped with a Safe Welcome system which requires all external doors be locked during the school day. All visitors are required to report to the school’s main entrance and request access using an intercom and buzzer system.
When it is necessary for a student to leave school during the day, a note is required from a parent or guardian. The note must be given to the homeroom teacher or the office. If parents/guardians of students are coming to pick up/drop off your child, you are asked to wait at the main office. If necessary, office staff will alert your child’s classroom. These measures are in place to help keep all students safe and minimize disruptions to learning.
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.
Community Information
Kingston Music Office's Youth Open Mic series offers young performers the chance to share their music, poetry, or spoken word in a fun, supportive, and inclusive space, all for free!
Upcoming Dates:
Sunday, November 9 at 1:00 PM – Broom Factory (305 Rideau St.) Hosted by local youth artist Kyra Daniel, with free pre-show mentorship from Kingston singer-songwriter Savannah Shea.
Sunday, December 7 at 1:00 PM – Le Sésame Theatre (1290 Wheathill St.) Hosted by Franco-Ontarian artist Véloce André, presented in partnership with Centre Culturel Frontenac
“Each session includes a free mentorship opportunity, and we’ll be continuing our guitar raffle with great prizes from Long & McQuade Kingston — including free music lessons for one lucky participant!”