Welcoming October: A Season of Learning and Change
October has arrived, bringing with it the crisp air of fall and a fresh burst of energy to our school community! Students are settling into routines, and classrooms are buzzing with learning and creativity. With the changing leaves and cooler temperatures, it’s a great time to remind children to dress in layers and bring a cozy sweater to school. As we move through the month, we’re looking forward to seasonal activities, classroom celebrations, and plenty of opportunities to explore autumn themes in our lessons. Let’s make it a joyful and productive October 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
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.
Report An Absence
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.
Great News! School-Day is up and running again. Please be sure to log into your account to ensure you are connected to your student. If you are not connected and require the Secure-Match Key to connect to your student, you can request it here: Secure-Match Key Request
Please note that the key will only be provided to parents/guardians of the student.
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.
Upcoming Events
Every Wednesday!
- Welborne Wednesday - Wear your spirit wear or colours
Wednesday, October 8
- Picture Day
Thursday, October 9
- School-Wide Soccer Fun Day
Wednesday, October 15
- Cross Country Meet
Upcoming School-Wide Soccer Fun Day
Thursday, October 9
Our Student Council—known as the Council of the Houses—held their first meeting of the year and are excited to announce a school-wide “Fun Day” soccer event planned for Thursday, October 9. This initiative is designed to build school spirit, foster teamwork, and celebrate our vibrant house system. In preparation, every student will be assigned to one of our seven Colour Houses (ROYGBIV) before the event. The day will feature friendly soccer tournaments organized by grade divisions, with students playing alongside their housemates.
Tentative Schedule:
- 9:05–10:45 AM – Primary Division (Grades 1–3): Mini-field soccer games on the main field.
- 11:30 AM–1:10 PM – Junior Division (Grades 4–6): House-based soccer tournament.
- 1:55–3:35 PM – Intermediate Division (Grades 7–8): House tournament on the soccer field.
Thank you for your continued support—we’re looking forward to a fun and active day of school spirit!
- Cross Country - Grades 3 to 8 - See Ms. Pharoah
- 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
Cross Country
Cross country tryouts for students in Grades 3–8 have begun. Runners should meet Ms. Pharoah and Mme. Fox on the track, ready to run, at first recess on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Please ensure your child comes prepared with running shoes and weather-appropriate clothing.
To qualify for the race at Fort Henry, students must be able to run the following distances without walking:
Grades 3–4: 2 km
Grades 5–8: 2.5 km
A notice will be sent home during the first week of October with the names of students who make the team. The race will take place at Fort Henry on Wednesday, October 15.
We are excited for a fantastic season ahead and look forward to seeing our runners give their best!
Celebrating a Season of Strength and Sportsmanship
Congratulations to our Senior Girls and Boys Soccer Teams on a fantastic season and a strong showing in tournament play! Your dedication, teamwork, and sportsmanship were evident in every match, and we’re proud of the way you represented our school. Thank you for the energy, effort, and heart you brought to the field—what a season to celebrate!
SAC Snapshot
Thank you to all the parents, guardians, and caregivers who joined us for our School Advisory Council elections and first meeting last Monday. We’re grateful for your engagement and support in shaping our school community.
We’re pleased to share the elected positions for this year:
- Co-Chairs: Sherry McCauley & Maggie Hunter
- Treasurer: Naomi Marrast
- Indigenous Representative: To be filled
- Secretary: Megan Howes
- Fundraising Coordinator (including BINGO): Chelsea Pilgrim
- Parent Involvement Committee Representative: Kristen Minnie
All other attendees have kindly agreed to serve as Members at Large. Please note that anyone who attends a meeting is welcome to contribute to discussions and vote on motions.
Our meetings are held virtually, typically on the last Monday of each month from 6:15–7:00 PM. The next meeting will take place on Monday, October 27th. The meeting link will be shared in The Welborne Word ahead of each session and remains the same throughout the year.
We encourage all families to join us—your voice matters, and your involvement helps strengthen our school community.
Meeting Requests with Educators or Administration
As we ease back into our school routines, we kindly ask families who wish to connect with their child’s classroom educator or a member of the Administration team to arrange a meeting in advance. To do so, please call and leave a message, if you cannot reach Ms. Hart, at 613-389-0188 or email us at Welba@limestone.on.ca.
Scheduling meetings ahead of time helps ensure that staff can remain focused on supporting students throughout the day and creating a positive, productive learning environment.
Thank you for your understanding and continued partnership!
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!
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.
