Back To School Update 2023!
Our First Day of School is September 5, 2023 - 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 2023-2024.
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 the Welborne Community, we send out this type of newsletter to families on the first school day of every week.
Below, you will find the current Welborne Staff List. We would like to warmly welcome:
Ms. Pharaoh (Grade 3)
Mme Gilroy (Core French)
Mr. Zahrabelny (District Autism Classroom teacher)
Ms. Faria (EA, District Autism Classroom)
Mr. Paul (Grade 5/6)
We would also like to welcome back:
Ms. Grypma (Grade 1)
Ms. Venditti (Grade 2)
Ms. Godinho-Ferreira (EA, District Autism Classroom)
Ms. Asselstine (Assistant Office Administrator)
Please click here to view our complete Staff List.
Our school organization (the way the classes are organized) remains tentative until approved by a board level committee at the end of the second week of September. If changes are necessary, families will be notified as soon as possible.
Parents, guardians and caregivers play an important role in the educations system. One way for you to be involved and share your ideas is to join the School Advisory Council, also referred to as "School Council". School Council Elections will be held on Monday, September 18th. The first meeting will take place directly after the elections. Recent feedback indicates that the preference is for these meetings to remain virtual, but this will be an agenda item for the first meeting. Stay tuned for more information!
If you have any questions, please email us at welba@limestone.on.ca.
Warm regards,
Ms. Fraser, Mrs. Wellwood, and Ms. Hart
Classroom supplies have been unpacked!
Discovery Centers are being organized!
Books have been chosen!
Classrooms have been organized to maximize learning!
How are you feeling about the First Day of school?
Pencils are provided!
Your 2022-23 Administration Team
From Left to Right:
Mrs. Hart - Office Administrator
Ms. Fraser - Principal
Mrs. Wellwood - Vice Principal
Mr. Taylor
Mr. Al
Mr. Clase
Our Wonderful Welborne Caretakers!
Thank you to Derek Taylor, Al Le Roy, and Josh Clase!
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. Many staff members will be outside to welcome you and answer any questions you may have.
Kindergarten students also have their own area.
Teachers will ensure each student knows where their "area" is on the yard is and where to line up on a daily basis.
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 connect you with the teacher.
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
- For safety reasons, parents/guardians will not be able to drive into the parking lot or park there during drop-off and pick-up times. During these times there is a lot of pedistrian traffic during these times and only buses, those with accessible parking permits and staff vehicles are permitted in the parking area.
- 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).
Nut Free Lunches and Snacks
Please ensure that food sent to school is free of all types of nuts. We have several students with life-threatening allergies.
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
Grade 7 and Grade 8 Lunch Privileges
Historically, the students in grade 7 and 8 have the opportunity to get parent permission to leave the school property during recess/eating break on designated days. For the first few weeks of school, all students will remain at school during recess time as routines and relationships are established. Additional information and a permission form will be sent home to families of students in grade 7 and 8 later this month.
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 available for refilling bottles as needed throughout the day.
- 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.
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:
Junior Kindergarten Schedule:
- Tues. Sept 6 – JK Students with a last name starting with A-F (and all SK students)
- Wed. Sept. 7 - JK Students with a last name starting with G-L (and all SK Students)
- Thurs. Sept. 8 - JK Students with a last name starting with M-Z (and all SK Students)
- Fri. Sept 9 - all JK and SK students
If your Junior Kindergarten student needs a different schedule than what is outlined above, please email or call the school so that we are prepared to welcome them and take attendance accordingly.
School Council Elections will be held on Monday, September 18th. The first meeting will take place directly after the elections. Recent feedback indicates that the preference is for these meetings to remain virtual, but this will be an agenda item for the first meeting. Stay tuned for more information!
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