Hello Welborne Families,

Welcome to the final stretch of April—truly, how did we get here so quickly? As we wrap up the month, our school community has a full and exciting week ahead.

On Tuesday, April 28, our amazing Welborne Road Runners will be representing us at the Bayridge Road Race. We’re sending them all our Wildcat pride and best wishes for a fantastic run.

That same evening, families are invited to join Make Way For Me: Parent Engagement Series – Part One at 6:00 p.m., a great opportunity to learn and connect.

And don’t forget—our SAC meeting takes place tonight at 6:15 p.m. We’d love to see you there. Join here to take part.

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

School Advisory Council News

Families, you're warmly invited to join us at the next School Advisory Council Meeting - Monday, April 27th at 6:15pm. All of the meetings take place virtually. 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 the meeting here

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.

Mental Health Week - May 4 - 10

Mental Health Week, led by the Canadian Mental Health Association, will be recognized from May 4-10, with this year’s national theme being “Come together, Canada – Stronger Connections. Better Mental Health.” 

This theme highlights the importance of meaningful social connection as a protective factor for mental well‑being. Research consistently shows that fostering a sense of belonging can enhance resilience, reduce stress, and support overall health across all age groups. 

Throughout the week, our school will be engaging students in activities that promote inclusion, positive relationships, and supportive school environments. These daily initiatives are designed to strengthen classroom and schoolwide connections, encourage empathy and kindness, and reinforce that every member of our community is valued. 

We invite families to join us in recognizing Mental Health Week by taking moments at home to connect, whether through conversation, shared activities, or simply checking in with one another. Together, we can help create a community where all students feel safe, supported, and connected.  

Here are some related resources from School Mental Health Ontario that you may find useful: 

• https://smho-smso.ca/parents-and-caregivers/ 
• https://smho-smso.ca/online-resources/info-sheet-helping-your-child-manage-digital-technology/ 
• https://smho-smso.ca/online-resources/easy-and-fun-mental-health-activities-for-home/ 

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

🌿 Community Invitation: Family Bird Festival at Lakeside Community Garden

Our friends at Lakeside Community Garden and Little Forests Kingston are inviting Welborne families to a fun and educational community event on Saturday, May 9th from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the corner of Days Road and Front Road.

To celebrate World Migratory Bird Day—and Kingston’s designation as a Bird Friendly City—families are invited to learn more about the birds that share our neighbourhoods. The event includes hands‑on activities, learning stations, and opportunities to explore how we can support local bird habitats.

📣 Event details & RSVP:
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/the-birds-are-back-a-family-bird-festival-at-lakeside-tickets-1986277829457?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true#organizer-card

Highlights include:

• Family‑friendly bird‑themed activities
• Learning opportunities led by Little Forests Kingston
• A chance to take home a free tree or shrub to plant and support local bird species
• A welcoming community atmosphere—free for all participants