Growing, Learning and Achieving Together
Hello Lynx Families!
We are only five instructional days from the beginning of the March Break but before that happens, we have a jam packed week ahead. Before we get into that, we would like to offer a huge thank you and congratulations to our French Language teaching team for the wonderful Carnaval celebration they ran on February 26th, 2026. This event takes an enormous amount of preparation, including teaching about Carnaval and French culture in the classrooms, writing grant proposals, purchasing food and prizes, organizing all of the events, advertising and generating excitement regarding the festival and preparing the gym on celebration day! Every student in the school got involved in the games and activities over the course of the day. A highlight of the entire event had to be watching our three Grade 8 and Grade 7/8 classes take charge and run the event for our younger people under the supervision of the French team. What an opportunity for our most senior students to work on developing their executive functioning skills and show terrific role modelling and leadership. Thank you to all and well done!
On the 9th and 10th of March (and then again on March 23rd and 24th), our Grade 3 students are travelling to the Queen's University Pool to participate in the Livesaving Societies' survival training program called "Swim to Survive". The Society defines the minimum skills needed to survive an unexpected fall into deep water. These are expressed in a skill sequence in the Canadian Swim to Survive standard:
- ROLL into deep water
- TREAD water for one minute
- SWIM 50 metres
These skills are the focus of the Swim to Survive program which is aimed primarily at Grade 3 children within the Limestone District School Board. We are very grateful for the funding available to run the Swim to Survive program free of charge for our students.
On March 11th, Ms. Chapman and Ms. Brown will be taking their classes to the Gould Lake Conservation are for the Winter Program. Both classes will be spending the day outdoors, participating in many Winter activites which culminate in a Cook Out that includes the preparation of hotdogs and smores!
The Running Club has started their Spring training schedule. The Running Club provides an opportunity for those students who are keen to get an early start in their preparation for the Road Race, and Track and Field Season. Our students are dedicating much of their break time to getting into top physical condition in order to compete in our Spring sport lineup. Thank you to our coaches and well done to our athletes.
As mentioned in our previous newsletter, coaches are also spending their lunch offering skill and training sessions in the gym for our athletes hoping to join the Junior Basketball or one of the other many sports on offer in the next few months. Thank you to all of our coaches and athletes for their dedication to physical wellness and healthy competition!
Special Event Happening this Week!
You Are Invited: Community Event: An Evening with Monique Gray Smith, Author of Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults – March 12, 2026
Students, families, staff, and community members are invited to a free in-person evening with author Monique Gray Smith. This special event will bring our community together to learn about care, reciprocity, connection to the land, and connection to one another.
Date: March 12, 2026
Time: 6:30 p.m. - Vendors and refreshments
6:45 p.m. - Doors open
7:00 p.m. - Speaker begins
Location: Queen's University, Duncan McArthur Hall, 511 Union St., Kingston
Light refreshments will be provided, and the first 50 attendees will receive a free copy of her book. Registration is required. Please register online in advance — we look forward to seeing you there! (Please see the info poster below)
This event has been made possible with the support of the Limestone Learning Foundation, Queen’s University Faculty of Education, and the Limestone District School Board.
The school is hosting a PJ Spirit Day on Friday March 13th, 2026 to kick off the March Break! Please help your young people show their Southview PS Spirit by coming to school in their favorite comfy clothes or pyjamas!
All of the staff at Southview PS, would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our students and their families a very happy and productive March Break. We hope that you have a wonderful week and can find some time to enjoy having your young people at home! Be safe, be healthy and see you back at Southview PS on Monday March 23rd, 2026!
Please note the announcements in the sections below regarding the following topics/events/opportunities:
- The new Hot Lunch Schedule is ready and contains the dates for the rest of the school year.
- Kindergarten Registration is now open within the Limestone District School Board and at Southview PS. See the announcement below and in the news links on the right hand side.
- School Mental Health Ontario is holding four very important FREE webinars for parents which will feature subject matter experts hosting conversations regarding critical topics related to children and youth.
- Skyhawks Football Tryouts (U12 & U14) are happening beginning February 14, 2026. Please see ad below for more information and a link to the Skyhawks site!
- The Public Health Department has provided guidance for prevention and care with respect to respiratory infections.
- The Maltby Centre has provided a wealth of information regarding their family and child support services, programs and workshops.
- Grade 8 Transition to Secondary School. Information regarding the process our Grade 8 students will follow to ensure a successful transtion to high school can be found below!
- Free Eye Exams (Free Glasses for Students in Kindergarten). For more information, visit the Kingston, Lennox and Addington Public Health website at the URL indicated in the graphic below.
The weather is really up and down right now, so please ensure that your children come to school with attire that is suitable for the weather. Many of our students choose not to wear a coat at recess time despite temperatures that are well below freezing. Please have a chat with your children regarding your expectations and feel free to reach out to the school if you have concerns. Snowpants are highly recommended for students who want to play in the snow. It might even be a good idea to send extra mitts/gloves or socks as these are the items that tend to get wet and can become very uncomfortable during the recess breaks. Also, many our young people leave clothes behind in many different places! In order to prevent loss, labelling your children's clothing is highly recommended!
Just a reminder to all families that Southview PS is a scent-free site. Some of our students and staff are very sensitive to strong scents which can affect their health and well-being. Please help us to ensure that all members of our community are avoiding strongly scented products when attending Southview PS. Thank you!
John Ricci, Allison Gladu and the Southview Learning Team!
What's Ahead...
March 2026
- March 9 & 23 Swim to Survive (Grade 3 ONLY - Zweirs/Chapman/Gillam)
- March 10 & 24 Swim to Survive (Grade 3 ONLY - Brown/Collins)
- March 10 YMCA Presentation for Grade 7/8 (Game-Bling)
- March 16-20 March Break
- March 23 I.E.P.s Distributed to relevant families
April 2026
- April 3-6 Easter Break
- April 17 Professional Activity Day (No Classes for Students)
May 2026
- May 8 Careers Fair at TPCS for Grade 8
Hot Lunch Schedule
Thank you to the School Advisory Committee and our parent volunteers for organizing the Hot Lunch Program! Here is the schedule for the rest of the year:
Kindergarten Registration
School Mental Health Ontario
You are invited... Braiding Sweetgrass
Healthy Eating - Public Health
The Grade 8 Transition to Secondary School
Dear Families and Students,
The move from Grade 8 to Grade 9 is an exciting milestone in a student’s educational journey. To help students transition smoothly to secondary school, an extensive planning process takes place between December and August.
December - February | March - June | July - August |
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Students will be automatically transferred to their home secondary school based on their current elementary school. You can find your child’s designated secondary school by visiting the Tri-Board Eligibility Lookup triboard.mybusplanner.ca/Eligibility and entering your home address.
Students who wish to attend a Limestone secondary school outside their designated home school area must first complete registration and course selection at their designated school.
Families should then contact the requested secondary school directly to apply. If the application is accepted, your student’s course selections will transfer to the new school. Students applying will be placed on a waitlist and may be admitted before the start of Grade 9 if space becomes available. Transportation is not provided for students not attending their designated school.
Families of students with exceptional learning needs are encouraged to connect with their elementary school team to discuss programming options and supports for the transition to high school.
The Limestone District School Board offers Choices at 9 programs including Academic Arts Enriched Program (AAEP), Advanced Placement Preparatory Program, International Baccalaureate, and Bayridge Computer Science Program (BCSP). If you have any questions about this process, please contact your student’s elementary school or the school location of the Choices at 9 program. See key application dates below:
Applications due | Accepted students will be notified | Students to confirm acceptances |
January 23, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. | February 13, 2026 | February 20, 2026 |
Secondary school guidance counsellors are a helpful resource for learning about programs, course pathways, and available supports and are available to families with students entering Grade 9.
Students and families are also encouraged to use myBlueprint to:
- Plan and select courses
- Explore occupations and post-secondary options
- Record important information and reflections
Students and families should feel comfortable asking questions and seeking assistance whenever needed.
Football Tryouts
Key Details for Families:
· Divisions: U12 (2014–2015) and U14 (2012–2013)
· Focus: Player safety, certified coaching, and skill development.
· Registration: Now open at www.skyhawksfootball.ca
Walking Safety
Family Day - Have Fun, Stay Safe
Vaccination Clinics
Public Health Info Graphics - Cold and Flu Season
Maltby Centre Support for Students and Families
Maltby Resources:
- Maltby Workshops at a Glance 2026
- Maltby Mental Health Services Winter 2026
- Maltby Foundational Services Winter 2026
Eyeglasses for Children
Reporting Absences
All student absences should be reported through the SafeArrival system. Please do not call the school directly to report an absence. You can use the SchoolMessenger app, the Safe Arrival website, or the toll free number (1-855-257-9349) to record an absence.
You can find more information by clicking on the following link: Reporting Absences
Southview Swag
If you want to start the year showing off your school colours, checkout what's available at:https://specialtytrophies.ca/4g/SouthviewPSApparel/
If you have any questions, contributions or suggestions for our School Advisory Committe, they can be contacted at the following e-mail address: sviewsac@gmail.com
Our next meeting will take place on Thursday February 19 at 6:00 p.m. Please consider coming out and making your voice heard!
KFL&A Public Health
The KLF&A Public Health website is an invaluable source for parent/guardians and families with respect to family health and welfare. Please use the link provided below to explore the topics and resources available through KFL&A.
School Mental Health Ontario
Check out some of the Mental Health and Wellness Resources for Families