March 31st, 2026

Dear Blair Rd Families:

As we move through the spring months, there is a great deal happening at our school! Thank you, as always, for your continued partnership and support. Below are some important reminders and exciting updates to keep you informed.

Reminder: Personal Communication Devices at School

We would like to remind families that personal communication devices are not permitted at school. This includes any device capable of texting, calling, or messaging, such as smartphones, smartwatches, tablets, and walkie‑talkies. As of September 1, 2024, Ontario implemented province‑wide restrictions on personal mobile devices in schools. These rules support an “out of sight, out of mind” approach during instructional time to reduce distractions and enhance learning. Please note that social media platforms are also blocked on school networks.

You can learn more here:
👉 https://www.ontario.ca/page/cellphones-and-other-mobile-devices-schools
We appreciate your support in reinforcing these expectations with your children.

Earth Week Celebration – Microforest Planting (April 25)

We are thrilled to share that on Saturday, April 25, our school will be closing out Earth Week by planting a microforest on our school grounds! This exciting project is a board‑approved initiative, supported by a grant and delivered in partnership with Sustainable Waterloo Region. A microforest promotes biodiversity, environmental learning, and climate resilience. Parents and guardians will be invited to volunteer and participate in the planting, and staff will be joining as well. More information about the day will be shared shortly for those interested in coming out on Saturday morning.
Learn more about microforests here:
👉 https://www.sustainablewaterlooregion.ca/microforest/

Eco‑Team Highlights

Our Eco‑Team continues to lead incredible sustainability initiatives across the school!
Recent highlights include (you can see some of it on our Instagram account):

  • Student participation in the Great Gulp
  • Earth Week activities such as yard clean‑ups and more
  • A successful Water Bottle Challenge
  • An impressive Bird House Competition, with many creative submissions

Members of the Eco‑Team will be voting to determine which students will take home a bird house prize — wonderful work by all involved!

Parking Lot Update

Our parking lot continues to turn heads! If you’re able to catch the board meeting, we encourage you to watch the WRDSB video featuring a great shot of our new front façade — highlighting just how fantastic this new addition has been for our school community. To see this highlight, take a look at the link below (at 33”)

👉https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5p-BWJ0YJTY

Kindergarten Play Structures

Our Kindergarten students are enjoying new play structures that support gross motor development, including activities that promote balancing and jumping. Additional equipment will be arriving soon.
To see photos and updates, be sure to follow us on Instagram:
👉 https://www.instagram.com/blairrdps/

Dance‑A‑Thon Fundraiser – April 2

Our School Council Dance‑A‑Thon is happening on Thursday, April 2! We are incredibly grateful for all the donations received so far. Your generosity supports so many important experiences for our students, including field trips, guest speakers, and classroom enhancements. We know our students will have a blast while helping raise funds for even more “awesomeness” next year!

Safe, Caring & Inclusive School Survey

The Safe, Caring, and Inclusive School Survey is currently available. Last year’s results showed that some students have concerns around health and nutrition.
You can view our school’s survey results here:
👉 https://schools.wrdsb.ca/wp-content/uploads/scis-reports/blr-2024.pdf
In response, I will be including a brief article about sleep and nutrition in each monthly newsletter to support families with routines and healthy habits at home.
Here is an excellent article I recently enjoyed:
👉 https://health.choc.org/how-nutrition-affects-kids-sleep/

WRDSB 2026 Student Census (March 25 – April 24)

The Waterloo Region District School Board is launching its 2026 Student Census from March 25 to April 24, 2026. This important census helps us better understand our school communities and supports informed decision‑making across the board. We strongly encourage families to complete the K–3 census at home, as it provides valuable socio‑demographic data that helps us better understand and support our school population. For Grades 4–6, students will complete the census at school between April 20–23. To say thank you, I’m excited to offer a small treat to junior classes who complete the census during this time!

EQAO Dates

EQAO testing dates have been confirmed:

  • Grade 3: May 25 – May 28
  • Grade 6: June 1 – June 5

More information will be shared closer to the assessment windows.

As we look ahead to warmer days and the final stretch of the school year, we are excited for a strong finish together. Wishing all families who celebrate a very happy Easter, and to everyone, a wonderful and well‑deserved long weekend.
Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership!
Warm regards,
Carolina Miranda, Principal