August 24, 2023
Greetings from Kingston Secondary School!
On behalf of the entire KSS staff, we are so pleased to welcome you and your family to our school community for the upcoming school year! We are committed to welcoming and supporting your child through this important transition to high school. Our aim is to make sure every student starts the school year feeling comfortable and ready for the days ahead.
This year, we are excited to once again host our grade 9 orientation program for all incoming students called “Get Your BEARings”. “Get Your BEARings” will take place at K.S.S. on August 30, 2023 from 8:30-2:30pm. Staff will be available to welcome students beginning at 8:30 a.m. in the courtyard at the back of the school. At Get Your BEARings, students will receive their timetables, lockers and walk through a typical day at K.S.S. Students will also meet other grade 9 students, participate in our Link Crew program, meet classmates, teachers and other staff who are here to support them at school. The focus of this orientation program is to help students feel more comfortable in our building by participating in activities that are designed to help students feel welcome and focus on how to be successful in school. It is our hope that all incoming grade 9 students will attend. This program will truly set the stage for our entire grade 9 school year. Lunch and snacks will be provided for all students, but please pack a water bottle.
For parents and guardians, we will be hosting a grade 9 information session on the same day (August 30) from 8:45 am to 9:45 am in the school library. We look forward to welcoming you to K.S.S. and answering any questions you may have about your child’s transition to high school.
All students who attend Get Your BEARings will receive a KSS Grade 9 Package that includes a Student Activity Card (required to participate in any extra-curricular clubs or teams) t-shirt, lock and lunch. To help cover the costs of these items, we are asking grade 9 students to contribute $30.00 if they are able. If this contribution is a challenge for your family, please be assured that your child will still receive their Grade 9 Package at Get your BEARings.
Payments can be made using School-Day (will be live on Monday August 28th) or students can bring $30.00 cash for the BEARings package or cheque on August 30th. If you have a School-Day Account from your elementary school, it should follow you and you will not need a new one.
To create a new School-Day account for your student because they don’t have one, please complete the following:
- Go to the School-Day website - http://www.school-day.com
- Click on Register
- Complete the registration form and be sure to include a valid email address
- Click on the Create Account button
- Click on “Add a Student to Your Account”
- Enter the 10-digit Secure Match Key from your introduction letter
- After connecting your student, you must click on AGREE to confirm you are the Parent/Guardian of this student
- You should see the Grade 9 Fee and Locks on your School-Day dashboard
Below you’ll find a list of frequently asked questions. Our priority is to ensure a supportive and caring transition for all of our students into high school. We look forward to welcoming the students, and you, to our school community.
Our office resumes regular hours on August 28 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. If you have any questions, please contact us at: (613) 544-4811. You can also check our school website at http://kss.limestone.on.ca and follow us on Twitter @kss_ldsb.
Warm regards,
Darren Seymour Tamiko Ferguson
Principal Head of Student Engagement
GRADE 8 FAMILIES F.A.Q.
When will timetables for grade 9s students be distributed?
Grade 9 timetables will be handed out at our August orientation day August 30, 2023. We are continuing to balance classes and work through finalizing schedules. Student Services staff will be available to answer any questions and help students with understanding their timetables on Get Your BEARings Day.
What if my child has an IEP?
This spring, our 8-9 Transition Team met with each grade 8 teacher about the educational needs for every incoming grade 9 student, including accommodations & support for students with IEPs. From here, our Learning Program Support teachers (LPS) take this information, and will review timetables for students with IEPs and help coordinate a smooth transition for these students into high school. The IEPs are automatically transferred to us, and will be shared with all teachers who teach your child next year. The LPS teacher assigned to grade 9 students is Lauren Anderson. Ms. Anderson can be reached at [email protected].
How do I know if my child will qualify for a school bus in September?
Please visit https://triboard.ca/ to determine your eligibility and apply for bussing for September. Many of our students also walk, bike or take Kingston Transit.
Our family has moved but my child still plans to attend KSS. Who should we contact?
Please update your personal and contact information with KSS as soon as possible. We will rely on this information to send further communication between now and September
My child is no longer planning to attend KSS this fall. Who should we contact?
Please contact us at KSS as soon as possible if your child has moved away or will no longer be attending KSS.