Residence Connection

November 2025

Issue 4

A newsletter for parents & supporters of students living in Residence at Queen's University.

Students walk past campus building with fall foliage

Key Dates

October 28 – November 29

On-campus flu and COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics

November 30

Get It Done! – SASS Study and Writing Support, 12–7 pm, Mitchell Hall 215

December 2

Fall Term classes end

December 5–20

Fall Term final exams

December 11

Winter Term Residence fees posted to SOLUS

December 20

Last dining hall meal served in Leonard and Jean Royce dining halls

January 4

Leonard and Jean Royce dining halls reopen for dinner

January 5

Winter Term classes begin

January 10

Winter Term Residence fees due

Supporting your student as they near the end of term

November can be a challenging time for first-year university students. Many are navigating their first set of midterms, wrapping up term assignments and labs, and already looking ahead to December exams and final papers.

In this month’s Residence Connection, discover how your student can stay balanced and thrive through campus study groups, social activities, and resources to support their physical and mental wellbeing.

You will also find details about the annual Winter Break closure.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to Residence Life and Services at reslife@queensu.ca.

We're here to help your student thrive at every step.

Residence Academic Initiatives Coordinator - Mikayla Sebesta

Academic Support in Residence

Does your student want to strengthen their academic skills and feel more confident heading into exams?

Encourage them to connect with Mikayla Sebesta, our Residence Academic Initiatives Coordinator (AIC) for personalized guidance and resources to help them succeed.

They can email Mikayla at m.sebesta@queensu.ca to ask a question or book a time to chat.

Exam-time Academic Support

Student Academic Success Services (SASS) can help your student prep for exams!
Encourage your student to book a writing or academic skills appointment, attend a workshop or event (including course-specific “how to study” sessions), or access online learning modules.
SASS will host pop-up booths on campus over the next few weeks where students can ask questions and get study tips.
Sunday, November 30: At Get It Done, your student can spend the day studying with peer and professional staff on hand to help complete assignments, write papers, and for exams.
Faculty-based Academic Advising is also available to help your student work through general academic inquiries, set goals, and feel confident with, and excited about their academic choices throughout their studies at Queen’s.

Planning for Winter Break

Fall Term exam schedules have been posted on your student’s SOLUS account.
Students are required to leave Residence by 3 pm on the day following their last exam to promote a quiet environment for students still studying.
If your student plans to stay in Residence at any point between December 20 – January 3, they will need to register with us. All students have been provided with relevant information about how to do this.

Residence closes at noon on Saturday, December 20, 2025.

During the Winter Break, campus services are very limited.

Campus Security and Emergency Services will be available 24/7. Your student can contact them at 613-533-6111.
There will be a limited Residence Don on-call structure. More information will be provided in mid-December to students approved to stay in Residence.
The Athletics & Recreation Centre (ARC) will be open on a holiday schedule.
Campus offices, dining halls and Residence front desks will not be open.
The Front Desk will close on December 24, 2025 at noon and reopen on January 3, 2026 at 7 am. There will be no mail or parcel service during the Winter Break. For guaranteed delivery prior to the break, please encourage your student to place any orders by December 8.

Winter term classes start Monday, January 5, 2026.

December dining hours

Dining locations will operate on adjusted hours in December. Key closure dates are listed in the table below for quick reference.

View the full holiday schedule

Dates	Ban Righ dining hall	Leonard dining hall	Jean Royce dining hall
December 13 –January 4	CLOSED
December 20		Breakfast: 9:30 am – 1 pm	Breakfast: 9:30 am – 1 pm
December 21 – January 3		CLOSED	CLOSED
January 4		Dinner: 4:30 – 9 pm	Dinner: 4:30 – 9 pm; Barista: 9 pm – midnight
January 5	Regular Hours of Operation	Regular Hours of Operation	Regular Hours of Operation

Sustainability Tip: Help Your Student Prepare for Winter Break!

Please remind your student to close their Residence room windows, turn off lights, and unplug any appliances (being mindful of fridge thawing) to save energy while they're away.

Before they leave, they may want to explore local stores for gifts, supporting the local community and reducing the need for shipping and packaging. Browse Kingston's guide to unique stores for ideas!

Celebrate your student with Campus Gifts!

Is your student celebrating a birthday soon? Do they need a pick-me-up in the lead up to exams?

Send a birthday cake, an Exam-Time Care Package, or another surprise through Campus Gifts. There are lots of options to choose from!

Order Now

Bottomless Beverages are back!

Throughout December, treat your student to unlimited tea and drip coffee refills at participating campus dining locations with a $25 Bottomless Beverages sticker on a reusable mug.

Starting November 24, you can purchase a sticker through Campus Gifts, and your student can pick it up at the Hospitality Services office in Victoria Hall.

Gael's Gifts

Gael’s Gifts is coming on December 8!

Gael’s Gifts is a one-day campus event where Queen’s Hospitality Services, in partnership with Coke Canada, cheers students on during exams. Volunteers will be across campus handing out snacks, drinks, and fun prizes—just one of the many ways Hospitality Services shows commitment to student success.

Second-year Housing

It’s a great idea for your student to begin looking for off-campus housing, as many rental listings in Kingston become available between January and March for lease terms starting in May 2025.

Students can start exploring options and find helpful resources by visiting the Off-Campus Living Advisor website and downloading the Off-Campus Housing Resource Package.

Catch up on Previous Issues

If you missed last month's newsletter for parents and supporters, you can catch up on previous issues of Residence Connection here.

You can also subscribe to The Pulse, Student Affairs’ monthly newsletter for parents and families. Stay in the know about upcoming dates and deadlines, events, services, resources, and more!