We've had a lot going on in our Social Sciences department! The Grade 10 Civics and Grade 12 World Issues classes were excited to get the opportunity to meet and have a question/answer session with MP Mark Gerretsen on Wednesday, March 4th. An engaging discussion ensued from the varied questions asked. Some surrounding such local issues of the ALTO High Speed train, LaSalle Causeway and Kingston Transit to the national issue of Clean Water for Indigenous Communities. MP Gerretsen also took the time to discuss the current turmoil in the middle east. Students and staff appreciate MP Gerretsen for taking the time to visit Bayridge S.S. and discuss the issues of today.
On Wednesday, March 11th, Jerri Jerreat - Director for Youth Imagine the Future - visited the Grade 12 World Issues class to hold a workshop entitled: How to save a very nice planet! Students were introduced to all the creative solutions humans are implementing to live more sustainably. Students worked through several creative exercises including redesigning a busy street. They produced some of their own inspiring solutions to bring more hope in the world. A well-received workshop for the class!
Student Council ran a 'Dress like a Teacher' Spirit Day today, featuring some really creative takes on some of our teachers!
Our Girls' Blackout Hockey team won Gold at the Consolation Finals against Lasalle SS! Way to go to BSS players Natalie Farrington, Jamie Held, Lyla Murphy, Jill Pearson, Sophie Sponholz-Ruskin, Olivia Spada and Addy Swaine, and many thanks to all the fans who came along to cheer the team on!
Looking Ahead
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 27
Earth Hour at Lunch
March 31
Wear Pink, Blue and White for Transgender Day of Visibility
March 31
Euclid Mathematics Competition
April 3
Good Friday Holiday
April 6
Easter Monday Holiday
Reminders
Volunteer Hours for Graduating Students
We still have potential graduates who have not submitted their mandatory 40 community service hours. You cannot graduate without these. Grade 12s - don't leave this too late!
Limestone International Education
Hosting an international student is a meaningful way to bring the world into your home while making a real difference in a young person’s life. Limestone homestay families are carefully matched with students, supported by dedicated Limestone staff, and guided throughout the placement so families are never on their own. Hosting offers cultural exchange, meaningful relationships, and a monthly stipend to help offset costs. Currently we have several students from Germany and Mexico that are looking to attend Bayridge SS and need a family to stay with. Learn more about how hosting works, the supports in place, and why many local families choose to open their homes by visiting: https://internationaled.limestone.on.ca/homestay_program
Winter and Road Safety
Unfortunately, we are still dealing with winter weather. Please take extra precautions 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.
For our student pedestrians, please ensure you adhere to traffic rules and common sense, by crossing roads at lights and avoid cutting in front of vehicles.
Code of Conduct
Please see attached for LDSB's Code of Conduct:
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.
Spirit T-Shirt
Upcoming Events
March 24 Photo Opportunity
Edge Imaging will be back one more time 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/
Parent/Guardian Night
Parent/Guardian Night is taking place on Wednesday, March 25th, from 6-8 pm. Sign up for appointments on School Day.
IEPs
Second Semester IEPs will be available for pick-up at Parent/Guardian Night, or sent home with students on Thursday, March 26th.
Junior Blazers Volleyball for Grade 7 & 8 students
Junior Blazers is still accepting students. There are spots left on both nights, however Wednesday nights are almost full. Act quickly to secure your spot!
BSS 3 vs 3 Basketball Tournament
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.
25th anniversary of the Modernization of Benefits and Obligations Act
Landmark legislation extending legal benefits and protections to same-sex couples.
Through ECHO, we spotlight voices and stories that would have been silenced 25 years ago—now amplified, celebrated, and shared.
Speakers and Presentations:
Speaker 1: AJ Dolman
Award-winning bi+ activist, poet, writer, and founder of Bi+ Canada.
AJ will share poetry and personal stories exploring how hope, community, and past triumphs continue to inspire meaningful and lasting change.
Speaker 2: Ryan Thomas Woods
Creator of Out With Ryan, a travel blog and YouTube channel exploring the world through a queer lens. Ryan shares stories of travel, identity, and belonging—creating safe, joyful space for LGBTQ+ voices and allies alike.
Egale Presentation: Student Change Agents: The Power of Youth Action
In this interactive workshop, participants will learn how to become active change agents in their school community and beyond. Participants will be guided through a “choose your own adventure” activity in which they will need to collectively apply strategic steps to address a social injustice situation, overcome unexpected challenges, and ultimately reach their goal. Participants will leave feeling empowered to take on individual and collective approaches to social action that help foster safer and more inclusive environments for everyone.
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
Followed by the movie: "Bottoms" with popcorn.
Lunch and snacks will be provided throughout the day.
Please register here and Sign up through SchoolDay.
OSSLT Spring write
Bayridge will host the spring edition of the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test on Thursday, April 16th 2026! This opportunity is for any students who were absent for the fall session or students looking to rewrite the test.
Students who are invited to write should have received a letter outlining the details of the test, how to prepare and where to access additional support.
For additional information about the framework of the test, please visit this link.
Students are encouraged to prepare by spending time on the online practice test to familiarize themselves with the accessibility features and structure of the online platform.
Additional support for test preparation or for additional questions, please contact our Lead Student Success Teacher Ms. McConnell mcconnellv@limestone.on.ca.
EQAO Webinars for Parents and Guardians
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.
Coffeehouse
Music students will be hosting a cozy campfire themed coffee house Thursday April 16. Auditions for unplugged and acoustic performers will take place after the March Break. Students should visit the music bulletin board for more information and to sign up.
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
Blood Donor Clinic
We are hosting an in-school mobile blood drive on Friday, May 1st from 11:30am-3:30 pm. Interested donors can book their appointment time at Bayridge Secondary School on Friday May 1st, starting today. A Canadian Blood services representation will attend our Parent-Guardian night to promote the event. Please see important information attached:
10732 6 Heightand Weight Chart EN
BSS Charity Golf Tournament
Community Connections
Community Supports
As we approach March Break, we remind everyone about the importance of caring for their mental health and well-being. Time away from school can provide an opportunity to rest, recharge, and connect with supportive people and activities. We also recognize that it can be challenging for some.
Support is available in the community and reaching out to a trusted adult, family member, friend, or support professional can make a meaningful difference when someone is struggling.
The following resources are available during the break:
- Kids Help Phone – Call or text 988 for 24/7 support across Canada
- Kids Help Phone – Text CONNECT to 686868 or access live chat at kidshelpphone.ca
- Maltby Centre (March 17 Kingston Walk-in Clinic; March 18 Sydenham Walk-in Clinic)
- One Stop Talk – Call 1-855-416-8255 or connect online
- Resolve Counselling Services in Kingston and Napanee
- One Roof Kingston (ages 12 to 25)
- Lennox and Addington Youth Hub (ages 10 to 24)
- In an emergency, call 911 or visit the nearest emergency department
SouthEast Public Health
We have students still needing their immunizations. There are many appointments available at the Southeast Public Health Kingston office over the March Break. Vaccine Clinic March Break March 19 EN
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.
Dress for Success
DFS Glam for grad Event details poster
DFS Glam for grad donation poster
Ramadan Give 30 Campaign
Eastern Ontario Chess Challenge
The 2026 Eastern Ontario All Schools Chess Challenge by the Ontario Chess'n Math Association is coming up! This tournament acts as a qualifier for the Ontario Chess Challenge.
For: Students in Kindergarten to Grade 12
When: Saturday, March 28, 2026
Registration: 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Players' Briefing: 11:00 a.m.
Where: Bayridge Secondary School, 1059 Taylor Kidd Blvd., Kingston
For more information, please visit Chess'n Math Association website.
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.