February has been an incredible month at BSS, filled with learning, celebration, and plenty of snow. (-: We have continued to recognize Black History Month, taking time to reflect, learn, and celebrate the contributions and achievements of Black individuals and communities. From classroom initiatives and the work of our Equity Reconcili‑Action group, to the heartfelt words shared by Kelsy Muigai at yesterday’s assembly, meaningful learning and reflection have been at the forefront.
Yesterday's Winter Recognition Assembly highlighted the many amazing events and activities happening across our school. We were excited to recognize our January and February ROCK stars, Rachel Caird and Beni Blatchford Selva, for their outstanding contributions to our school community.
The fun continued Friday evening at our Games and Karaoke night!
Our Staff had fun surprising our students with 'Dress like a student day' on Friday.
BSCP News
Congratulations to all students who competed in the Canadian Computing Challenge. This annual coding competition, run by the University of Waterloo, challenges even the most talented computer programmer. This year, Bayridge had its highest number of participants with 43 students! Most chose to attempt the junior competition while a few brave souls dared to try the very challenging senior competition. Special recognition to our top 10 finishers:
1. Olivia Ellerton and Paul Wilson
3. Wylder Ballantyne
4. Eli Parker
5. Dylan Downie
6. Milo Zelmanovits
7. Graeme Campbell, Clarke Delaney & Ben Saulnier
10. Gabriel Bergeron, Cole Bishop and Josh Miles
The Beaver Computer Challenge is an introductory computer science challenge written by grade 9 and 10 students. BSS had 55 students participate and here are our top 10 results:
And a special shout-out to Jiyeon Park who won the silver medal at the Limestone Skills Competition for coding!
LDSB Skills Competition
This week, LDSB students represented their schools at the LDSB Skills Competition. Their professionalism, preparation, engagement and willingness to challenge themselves in a competitive environment truly reflected the strength of our programs and the dedication of staff. Participating in the Skills Competition requires courage, commitment, and countless hours of practice. Whether students earned medals or simply gained valuable experience, their efforts deserve recognition and celebration. They have showcased not only their technical skills, but also their confidence, resilience, and school pride.
https://globalnews.ca/news/11709845/kingston-students-compete-ldsb-skills-trades-competition/
https://globalnews.ca/video/11709836/skills-competition-returns-to-ldsb/
Looking Ahead
March 2
Virtual Presentation from Holocaust Survivor Elly Gotz: “From Dachau and Back to Life”
March 3
Girls' Blackout Hockey game at the Invista centre 1:30 pm
Week of March 9
Early progress information comes home
March 10
School Day opens for Parent/Guardian Night appointment bookings
March 16-20
March Break
March 24
Last photo opportunity for Grad and School photos
March 25
Parent/Guardian Night 6-8 pm
March 26
Wear Purple for World Epilepsy Day
March 31
Transgender Day of Visibility
Reminders
Winter Safety
Please take extra precautions during these wintery months if you choose to drive your child to/from school. We’ve had reports of some fast-driving in our roundabout, and concerns in the Bayridge Public School parking lot, so we kindly ask families to use our school’s parking lot instead and help keep everyone safe during busy pick‑up and drop‑off times. If our roundabout is busy, please avoid blocking the road and park in our parking lot to wait.
Cooperative Education
Bayridge is always looking for new placement opportunities. Please don’t hesitate to contact the school if your business or organization is interested in hosting a student placement.
Limestone International Education
Limestone is proud of our long tradition of hosting students from other countries. The demand for Kingston, and Canada, as a learning destination is rapidly growing. Students from over 15 different countries are here now staying with great homestay families in Limestone. Our International Education team is looking for more families to become homestay hosts to great international students.
We currently have 19 students on our waiting list that have applied to Limestone for 2026-2027 and need a home. They range from one semester to one year stays and are from Germany, Spain, Japan, Brazil, Slovakia, Czechia, Italy and Denmark.
Host families will be paid a tax-free monthly stipend to host students. All students in the program attend local intermediate or secondary schools and range in age from 12 to 17 years old. Our International Education team works hard to make a great match for your family, that can last a lifetime.
Families can learn more by visiting Limestone’s International Education website or phoning the International Education offices at 613-544-7745 ext. 288.
Spirit T-Shirt
Upcoming Events
Blackout Girls Hockey Game
Our Blackout Girls' Hockey team is made up of players from BSS, Marie Rivier, Ernestown and LCVI. The girls finished a good regular season and competed in the consolation semifinals against REGI. The team played their most complete game of the year and came away with a convincing 5-2 win! They move onto the consolation finals against Lasalle at 1:30 pm on Tuesday, March 3rd at the Invista Centre. The game will be live-streamed and commented on. To support the team, BSS is sponsoring a fan bus to go cheer on BSS players Natalie Farrington, Jamie Held, Lyla Murphy, Jill Pearson, Sophie Sponholz-Ruskin, Olivia Spada and Addy Swaine.
In order to go on the fan bus, permission forms and $2 ticket fee must be completed on School Day. Participating students will leave the school at 1:15 pm to head over to the Invista Centre!
We thank on our ongoing partnership with Charity Gaming, which helps funds important initiatives like this in our School Community.
Early Reports
During the week of March 9th, parents/guardians of students in grades 9 and 10, as well as students in grades 11 and 12 who are experiencing difficulties, will hear from teachers about how their students are progressing.
Parent/Guardian Night
Parent/Guardian Night is taking place on Wednesday, March 25th, from 6-8 pm. Sign up for appointments will begin the afternoon of March 10th, on School Day.
Junior Blazers Volleyball for Grade 7 & 8 students
BSS 3 vs 3 Basketball Tournament
Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults
Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults: A Community Evening with Author Monique Gray Smith, is a community event taking place on March 12, 2026, at Queen’s University. This special evening is led by the Limestone District School Board Indigenous Education Team in partnership with the Limestone Learning Foundation and Queen’s University’s Faculty of Education.
We are pleased to welcome Monique Gray Smith, who will provide an in-person public talk inspired by her book, Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults, an adaptation of Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer.
This gathering will bring together educators, families, students, Indigenous partners, teacher candidates, and community members to reflect on care, reciprocity, and connection to land and one another.
2026 02 12 Monique Gray Smith Poster
OSSLT Spring write
We will be having a Spring session of the OSSLT in early April. This will be for students choosing to rewrite, or students who did not have the opportunity to write in the Fall. Stay tuned for more details.
EQAO Webinars for Parents and Guardians
EQAO Literacy Session for Families: Focus on Reading
(March 4, 2026, 12:00 PM)
Join us for a free live webinar about how EQAO assesses students’ reading skills at key stages of their education. EQAO staff will discuss reading samples and questions from the primary and junior assessments and the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test. Participants will hear how these reading passages and questions help assess the skills students are learning in class. Staff will also highlight valuable insights and resources that can help parents and guardians support their child’s learning.
What to Expect on the OSSLT
(March 12, 2026, 6:00 PM)
Register for this free live webinar and learn about the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test. Participants will learn about the purpose of Ontario’s large-scale assessments. EQAO staff will explain the assessment format, highlight resources to support students and answer questions from participants. The session will be approximately 45 minutes, followed by a live Q&A with EQAO staff.
Focus on Writing
(March 25, 2026, 12:00 PM)
Join us for a free live webinar about how EQAO assesses students’ writing skills at key stages of their education. EQAO staff will discuss writing prompts and questions from the reading components of the primary- and junior-division assessments and from the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test. Participants will hear how these prompts and questions help assess the skills students are learning in class. Staff will also highlight valuable insights and resources that can help parents and guardians support their child’s learning.
March 24 Photo Opportunity
Edge Imaging will be back one more time on for any student who still needs their Grad photo taken, wants retakes, is new to the school, or missed semester 1 for whatever reason. Students wanting Grad photos need to book using the following link: https://booking.edgeimaging.ca/
Transgender Day of Visibility
March 31st is Transgender Day of Visibility! Gender identity is each person’s
For 2SLGBTQIA Students
Join us Tuesday, March 31, 2026 for the 2026 International Day of Pink! This year’s campaign honours two landmark anniversaries in 2SLGBTQIA+ history:
25th anniversary of Little Sisters Book and Art Emporium v. Canada
A pivotal Supreme Court decision affirming freedom of expression and equality.
This day will feature speakers and presentations, followed by the movie "Bottoms". Lunch and snacks will be provided throughout the day. By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Discover how to use student voice to make change.
- Follow a strategic approach to creating community change by identifying beginning/end goals, determining audience and strategy, gathering resources and support, and sustaining the change long-term
- Demonstrate resiliency during unforeseen set-backs.
LDSB GSA DAY INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PINK
Please register here.
Summer 2026 Travel for Credit: Grade 10 Civics and Careers in the Canadian Maritimes
Summer School Dates: Monday, June 29 to Friday, July 24, 2026
Travel Dates: Wednesday, July 8 to Tuesday, July 14, 2026
Visit the Canadian Maritimes Trip website for additional information.
Ask Questions: If you have questions, contact Kate Myers by e-mail.
Life Beyond School Event
All are welcome! Targeting students diagnosed as having an intellectual disability or autism spectrum disorder as well as parents, caregivers, community service providers and school personnel. No registration required
Life Beyond School Event 2026 Flyer
BSS Charity Golf Tournament
Community Connections
Black History Month Special Exhibit, City of Kingston
January 20th - May 22, 2026
Market Wing Cultural Space at City Hall, 216 Ontario St.
Tuesday- Friday: Noon to 4 p.m.
Admission is free!
Please note: The exhibition contains images and text describing violence endured by enslaved peoples and includes documents with racist and colonialist language. This content may challenge and disturb visitors.
Adults with young children may wish to preview the exhibition beforehand.
Day in the Life - Women in STEM
Day in the Life Poster (March 2026)
Free Personal Safety and Self-defense Workshop!
On Wednesday, March 18, 2026, girls+ in grades 11, 12 and post-secondary can join us from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM for a full day of personal safety education and hands-on self-defence skills. Lunch will be provided.
This single-day workshop will be located at 1200 Princess Street in Kingston in the Girls Inc. classroom, located near the West Entrance of the building.
Click the QR code in the attached flyer or this link to book your spot no later than March 6!
For more information, contact Program Lead Quinlan Smith at quinlansmith@girlsinclimestone.ca.
Rotary Club of Kingston-Frontenac
There are two outstanding Rotary Youth development opportunities for students now accepting applications. Both experiences are open to high school students who will be sponsored by the Rotary Club of Kingston-Frontenac and there is no cost for participants. Interested students should apply by March 13, 2026 by contacting: Don Polk at the Rotary Club of Kingston-Frontenac, at polkdj@hotmail.com
RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Academy)
Date: May 22-24, 2026
Location: RKY Camp, Eagle Lake, Parham, ON
Rotary Youth Leadership Academy (RYLA) is an intensive leadership experience organized by Rotary clubs and districts around the world. It is entirely volunteer-run with many organizers and counselors being past RYLA delegates themselves. Participants (aged 15-17 years old) attend RYLA with the financial support of a local Rotary club who “award” youth with a chance to participate in this once in a lifetime experience. Youth are selected based on the demonstration of leadership potential and a desire to be of service to their local and global communities. For more information, please see the poster above or click on the link below: RYLA | District 7040 RYLA 2026 Poster
Adventure in (Indigenous) Understanding
Date: August 30 - September 4, 2026
Location: Trent-Severn Waterway, Peterborough
The "Adventure in Understanding" program is an annual 6-day (5-night) cultural canoe experience for young First Nation and non-native youth ages 16-18 years old. It is a co-ed canoe voyage along the Trent-Severn Waterway from the Canadian Canoe Museum waterfront in Peterborough to Curve Lake First Nation. No camping or canoeing experience is necessary. The program was developed by the Rotary Club of Peterborough Kawartha with the assistance of the Curve Lake First Nation Youth Committee and is offered with the co-operation of Camp Kawartha and the Canadian Canoe Museum.
Application forms and further information are available here
https://pkaiu.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/aiu-handout-colour-26-01-31.jpg
Dress for Success
DFS Glam for grad Event details poster
DFS Glam for grad donation poster
SouthEast Public Health
Ramadan Give 30 Campaign
Lake Effects Robotics Update
Our team is very excited to be nearing our first competition of the season. We are two weeks away from heading to Durham College, and we think the robot is coming along well.
Recently, we have mounted our triple shooter onto the robot after some testing, and we will soon be ready to pass it off to the software team for calibration and debugging. They will also be trying out some code for the autonomous period, and eventually, our drive team will begin their practice.
Here is a photo of our current progress. As you can see, our imagery team has also started working on the bumpers to fit this year’s theme: Rebuilt.
Lake Effect Robotics appreciates all the support we receive!
School Mental Health Ontario Free Webinar
We are excited to share a valuable opportunity to support your child’s well-being. School Mental Health Ontario is offering a free webinar series as part of the By Your Side Learning Hub, designed to help parents and caregivers navigate important topics to support their children’s mental health.
This expert-led series will provide insights and practical strategies on:
✅ balanced device use
✅ vaping
✅ body image
✅ anxiety
The webinars will also include answers to questions that parents/caregivers can provide ahead of the webinar, giving you the chance to ask questions and gain practical guidance.
📅 Sessions run March to June
We encourage all parents and caregivers to participate in this informative series. Together, we can support the well-being of our children and communities. By Your Side webinar series spring 2026 Flyer
KEYS SWIS program
Having SWIS in the school provides several benefits, including smoother school integration for newcomer families, improved communication between home and school, increased access to community and settlement resources, and additional support for students’ academic and social success. We also work closely with school staff to promote cultural understanding and help create a more inclusive and welcoming environment. Please note that our services are available to all newcomer families regardless of their immigration status.
Families in TRANSition
Community partners at Trellis and FACSFLA have been working on developing a group for parents and caregivers of Trans and gender exploring youth. This 10 week program launches in March and will run on Monday evenings.
Maltby Resources
Mental Health Services Winter 2026
Winter Workshops At A Glance 2026
HYPE Tutoring
HYPE Tutoring is a Queen’s student-run club offering free tutoring services to families who are interested. We are reopening our Tutor Request Form (linked below) for the second high school semester.
Spelling Bee Volunteer Opportunity
Science Fair
LGBT YouthLine
YouthLine's Resource Library is an amazing tool for both students and educators. It's a great place to learn about 2SLGBTQ+ identities, coming out, self-care, Trans resources, wellness, and more. You can find links to a wide variety of articles, podcasts, and other amazing resources. Our resource library also has a referral database to help connect 2SLGBTQ+ youth with local services. This referral database is for in-person and location-based services, organizations, and collectives across Ontario.
Peer Support HelpLine
Our HelpLine is available for 2SLGBTQ+ youth under 30. It's staffed by peer support volunteers. These volunteers are all 2SLGBTQ+ youth aged 16-29, living across Ontario. They're trained in active listening, anti-racism, harm reduction, and topics related to gender and sexuality. Some common things people call, text, or chat to talk about include:
- Questioning gender identity and/or sexual orientation
- Coming out
- Mental health
- Relationships with friends, partners, and family
- Feeling socially isolated
- Seeking referrals to resources and supports online and in your community
- ...or just to chat!
You can access it by text at (647) 694 4275, or chat online at youthline.ca. The HelpLine is open from Sunday to Friday, 4:00PM to 9:30PM EST.
Sustainable Kingston
ADHD Survey
Students aged 16-18 with ADHD are invited to participate in a research study. The purpose of this study is to further understand how student’s understanding of ADHD stigma impacts their self-determination and overall well-being.
SLAP!
SLAP! Student Laptop Access Program is raising funds to offer free premium laptops to all students who need them. If you’d like to be added to the waitlist to receive a free laptop, please complete the application form at www.slap-kingston.ca right away.