Back To School Update 2022!
Our First Day of School is September 6, 2022 - Welcome Back!
We Can't Wait to Welcome You!
Dear Families,
September is almost here and we are so excited about the upcoming school year! We have missed seeing all of the smiling faces of our students and cannot be more excited to be back learning together in our school.
Optimism is in the air as we look to what lies ahead towards new adventures in 2022-23.
Last year, as many of you know, Vice-Principal Scott McFarlane took on a more significant role in running board sports leagues and events with the Limestone Elementary School Athletic Association (LESSA). This coming year, Mr. McFarlane will continue to work with and expand his role with LESSA, as well as providing administrative support to the school board as needed. Mr. McFarlane has been with the Welborne family for many years and during that time was an incredible support to everyone in the school community; students, families and staff. His kind, positive and enthusiastic presence will be greatly missed in the halls of Welborne. We wish Mr. McFarlane all the best in his new role and are thrilled that his skills and talent will benefit students across the Limestone District School Board.
Over the summer, Mme Leroux moved to a teaching position within the Elementary Virtual School for the 2022-2023 school year. This week, we are conducting interviews for a long-term occasional teacher who will teach core French to some of the classes until a permanent teacher can be assigned to the role.
There are a number of important and helpful information items in this newsletter. This information will help you prepare for the first day of school and beyond! If you are new to our Welborne Community, we send out this type of newsletter to families on the first school day of every week.
Class placements will be shared via email on Friday, September 2. We know many families are looking forward to this information!
If you have any questions, please email us at welba@limestone.on.ca.
Warm regards,
Ms. Fraser, Mrs. Wellwood, and Mrs. Hart
Your 2022-23 Administration Team
Mrs. Hart - Office Administrator
Ms. Fraser - Principal
Mrs. Wellwood - Vice Principal
Our Wonderful Welborne Caretakers!
Thank you to Derek Taylor, Al Le Roy, and Hannah Silver!
Mandatory Daily Self-Screener
All families are required to screen their child(ren) for COVID-19 symptoms before each day.
The Ministry of Education Screening Tool and can be found by clicking:
Electronic COVID-19 Screening Tool
Navigate to a hard copy of the Screening Tool by clicking:
PDF Version COVID-19 Screening Tool
If your child is exhibiting any symptoms on the daily screener or other symptoms of illness, do not send your child on the school bus or to school.
Sneeze into Your Elbow
Wash Your Hands Often
Masks Are Optional
Director's Message
Our Yard and Where To Line Up on The First Day!
On the First Day of School, you will see pylons around the yard with teacher names on them. 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 of where to go, please find a staff member to support you.
Drop-off and Pick-up Routines
- Parents/Guardians may escort students to the yard until they are under the supervision of school staff beginning at 8:50 a.m.
- We ask that parents drop their children off at the foot of the path and then students can make their way to their zone.
- For the first few days, staff will endeavour to be flexible, especially for students new to Welborne who are just learning the routines.
Pick Up at the End of the Day
- Please arrange to meet your child in the same place every day. For our K through Grade 3 friends, parents must maintain a safe distance and quickly vacate the property after pick-up/drop off.
If you need to speak to your child's class teacher, please understand that this cannot happen during drop-off or pick-up time, as teachers must remain vigilant when on duty. Please email welba@limestone.on.ca or call the office and we will help to direct your comment/concern.
Active Transportation
- Where possible, families will be encouraged to make use of active forms of travel (walking, biking). Bike racks are located at the front of the school.
Transportation by Bus
- If eligible, families should have received bussing information from Tri-Board detailing pick up and drop off locations and times.
- If you have not received this information, please visit the tri-board website , email them at info@triboard.ca or call them at 613-354-1981.
Driving Students to School
- Kindly be reminded that parents/guardians will not be able to drive into the parking lot or park there during drop-off and pick-up times.
- If you are dropping off your child by vehicle, please observe the city parking signs and try to use one of our many entrances, including the pathways in the neighbourhood located on Bicknell Crescent, Glen Castle Road, or Nordic Avenue (see below).
Prevalent Medical Conditions
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.
The authorization forms can be found here: Medical Procedures Forms
Getting Ready: Backpacks, Indoor Shoes and More...
What You Need to Bring on The First Day of School
- Indoor shoes - to be left at school.
- Lunch bag - students should bring a lunch that they can open themselves. For our newest learners, please start practicing opening containers and snack items to ensure your child can open all packaging independently.
- Water bottle - labelled with their name. Fountains are only for refilling bottles again this year
- Backpack
- Hat or other form of sun protection
All items must be labelled with your child's name.
*For our Primary students (Kindergarten to Grade 3), in addition to the above items, children should bring a change of clothes (underwear and two pairs of socks included) in a large ziplock bag labelled clearly with their name. This change of clothes will stay at school in case of emergencies.
**Masks are optional though KFL&A Public Health continues to encourage the wearing of masks in indoor, congregate settings, such as schools and school buses.
Daily Schedule
Kindergarten Classes
Staggered Entry - Kindergarten Only
The opportunity to have a Staggered Entry at the beginning of the school year is designed to make the transition from home to school easier for our youngest learners.
The junior kindergarten students have been divided into two groupings, to facilitate smaller numbers of kindergarten students attending during the first three days.
The staggered start for kindergarten students in these classes will follow the schedule below:
• Tuesday, September 6th – Senior Kindergarten Students Only
• Wednesday, September 7th -Junior Kindergarten students with a last name that begins with the letters A-L will attend school (and all senior kindergarten students)
• Thursday, September 8th – Junior Kindergarten students with a last name that begins with the letters M-Z will attend school (and all senior kindergarten students).
• Friday, September 9th – All junior and senior kindergarten students will attend school.
On your child’s first day of school, they will be met at the bus by an educator and walked to their yard. If you bring your child to school, you will be greeted on the yard by the teacher at arrival time (9:05).
School Council Elections will be held on Monday September 19th. Stay tuned for more information!
LDSB 2022-2023 School Year Calendar
Contact us!
Email: welba@limestone.on.ca
Website: welborne.limestone.on.ca
Location: 190 Welborne Avenue, Kingston, ON, Canada
Phone: 613-389-0188
Twitter: @Welborne_LDSB