Please see news below from our school and across the Limestone District School Board:
Skills Ontario Awards 2024
<figure class="image image-style-side"><img src="/images/4404f904-f625-5628-b479-f037226c1116?fingerprint=ppb20251217013634" alt=""></figure><p>Limestone’s Board of Trustees had the honour of having the Skills Ontario Competition Awards at the Education, Policy, and Operations Committee meeting on June 5, 2024. The Expanded Opportunities Team lead by Melissa Baker-Cox, Geoff Petznick, Paul Allinson, and Courtney Soucy, presented banners to the students involved in the Skills Ontario Competition, as well as Skills Canada.</p><p>On behalf of the Board of Trustees and entire Limestone District School Board, congratulations to all the students on their participation and amazing success! </p><p><strong>Grade 7/8 Construction</strong></p><p>Individual teams were asked to construct a scale model of a modest and affordable house for a well deserving family based on the design they arrived with. Team construction projects will be judged on several criteria including creativity, quality, teamwork, and demonstration of basic practical and theoretical knowledge of Residential House Design and Construction.</p><p><strong>3rd Place at Skills Ontario: A.J. Farley, Aiden Lollar, Baurer Desveaux, and Keegan Gardiner</strong></p><p><strong>Auto Paint – Secondary</strong></p><p>Competitors had the opportunity to demonstrate, through practical and theoretical application, their skills and task knowledge in the industry relevant to:</p><ul><li>Basic skills relevant to surface preparation, colour matching, painting, and polishing.</li><li>Knowledge of an application of applicable health and safety regulations.</li><li>Adjusting and checking of safety/operating equipment.</li><li>Problem solving in relation to painting.</li></ul><p><strong>1st Place at Skills Ontario: Alisha Haaksman</strong></p><p><strong>3rd Place at Skills Ontario: Joe Yeomans</strong></p><p><strong>Outdoor Power Equipment – Secondary</strong></p><p>Tested the skills and knowledge of each student in the air and liquid cooled engine field and to prepare each student for employment in the Marine, Powersports, and Small Engine industries. Criteria included: two-stroke engine mechanical operation, all-terrain vehicle braking systems, fuel system and carburetor repair, electrical wiring and troubleshooting, four-cycle engine shooting, and theory.</p><p> <strong>1st Place at Skills Ontario: Jeremy Gardiner</strong></p><p><strong>Auto Collison – Post Secondary</strong></p><p>Competitions were judged on their general knowledge of auto body repair process with particular attention paid to:</p><ul><li>Knowledge of safe working practices through the body repair process.</li><li>Proper application of I-Car procedures for the structural sectioning project.</li><li>Performance of an aluminum welding task.</li><li>Accurate use of Tram-bar and Unibody measurement charges for measuring a Unibody.</li></ul><p><strong>1st Place at Skills Ontario and 2nd Place at Skills Canada: Liam Alford</strong></p><p><strong>Arborist – Post Secondary</strong></p><p>Competitors were judged on:</p><ul><li>Tailboard Safety </li><li> <ul><li>Assessment of the hazards for the tasks being performed below. </li></ul></li><li>Knot Tying </li><li> <ul><li>Performing and completing knots as described in the Arborist Industry Safe Work Practices book by WSPS – Spar Pole Rescue </li><li>While maintaining 100% tie off work positioning, ascend the tree (powerline pole for use of competition), assess patient, secure patient, and lower ground. </li></ul></li><li>Limbing Challenge </li><li> <ul><li>Assemble a chain saw (will be disassembled), properly start reassembled chainsaw. </li><li>Using the same chainsaw, remove identified limbs (obstacle) of a downed tree (powerline pole with large dowels) using proper cutting and safe chainsaw techniques. </li></ul></li><li>Throw Ball Challenge </li><li> <ul><li>With in the allotted time, utilize provided throw ball lines, to make as many attempts as possible to hit targets to score points. This is an accuracy challenge. </li></ul></li><li>Mechanical Advantage Challenge </li><li> <ul><li>All competitors were provided with the same set equipment (pulleys, trusses, etc.), where they will develop the most efficient mechanical advantage system within the time allotted.</li></ul></li></ul><p><strong>2nd Place at Skills Ontario: Owen Chapman</strong></p><p>Congratulations to all the Limestone District School Board Skills Ontario Competitors:</p><figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Contest</strong></td><td><strong>Name</strong></td><td><strong>Rank</strong></td></tr><tr><td>Auto Collision Repair</td><td>Shayla G</td><td>4</td></tr><tr><td>Auto Collision Repair</td><td>Tate D</td><td>5</td></tr><tr><td>Auto Paint</td><td>Alisha H</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Auto Paint</td><td>Joe Y</td><td>3</td></tr><tr><td>Auto Service Technology</td><td>Blake D</td><td>34</td></tr><tr><td>Auto Service Technology</td><td>Nathan P</td><td>44</td></tr><tr><td>Baking</td><td>Joanna N</td><td>14</td></tr><tr><td>Brick Masonry</td><td>Zach R</td><td>9</td></tr><tr><td>Cabinetmaking</td><td>Isabelle M</td><td>17</td></tr><tr><td>Carpentry –Individual</td><td>Austin M</td><td>5</td></tr><tr><td>Carpentry – Team of two</td><td>Hunter M, Jude N</td><td>9</td></tr><tr><td>Coding</td><td>Kai M</td><td>9</td></tr><tr><td>Computer Aided Manufacturing</td><td>Dominic A</td><td>8</td></tr><tr><td>Computer Aided Manufacturing</td><td>Hailey O</td><td>9</td></tr><tr><td>Construction 7-8</td><td>Bauer D, AJ F, Keegan G, Aiden L</td><td>3</td></tr><tr><td>Culinary Arts</td><td>Iain S</td><td>22</td></tr><tr><td>Electrical Installations</td><td>Nolan S</td><td>14</td></tr><tr><td>Floristry</td><td>Sunnai P</td><td>9</td></tr><tr><td>Graphic Design – Presentation</td><td>Grace L</td><td>11</td></tr><tr><td>Graphic Design – Studio Production</td><td>Dominique S</td><td>27</td></tr><tr><td>Green Energy 7-8</td><td>Eirnan M, James S, Chelsea H, Kemsley B</td><td>5</td></tr><tr><td>Hairstyling</td><td>Sierra W</td><td>13</td></tr><tr><td>Hairstyling</td><td>Delvin D-C</td><td>14</td></tr><tr><td>Heavy Equipment Service</td><td>Fletcher M</td><td>7</td></tr><tr><td>Horticulture & Landscaping</td><td>Patrick C, Kaleb W</td><td>6</td></tr><tr><td>LEGO Mechanical Engineering 7-8</td><td>Sohoh M, Lonin W, Easton S, Hudson H</td><td>14</td></tr><tr><td>Outdoor Power Equipment</td><td>Jeremy G</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Photography</td><td>Brooke M</td><td>49</td></tr><tr><td>Photography</td><td>Dante M</td><td>55</td></tr><tr><td>Plumbing</td><td>Vann T</td><td>8</td></tr><tr><td>Precision Machining</td><td>Reid A</td><td>13</td></tr><tr><td>Prepared Speech</td><td>Aurora</td><td>4</td></tr><tr><td>VEX Robotics – Team of four</td><td>Bradley B, Deven G, Maneesha D. Allen G</td><td>14</td></tr><tr><td>Welding</td><td>Riley H</td><td>15</td></tr><tr><td>Welding</td><td>Luke P</td><td>21</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p> </p><p>Limestone would like to thank all the Skills Competition Coaches and Chairs, the entire Expanded Opportunities team members, St. Lawrence College, Skills Ontario, and Skills Canada.</p><p> </p><p> </p>
2024-06-06 00:00:00 +0000 UTC
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National Indigenous History Month 2024
<img src="/images/de06adf7-cd27-549d-b705-91421f9a569f?fingerprint=ppb20251217015036" alt="" width="inherit" height="inherit" style="float:right"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">June is National Indigenous History Month. This month is an opportunity to learn about the diverse cultures, traditions, and experiences of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples. It’s a time to honour and give voice to the stories, achievements, and resilience of Indigenous peoples across Canada, who have lived and cared for this land since time immemorial and who continue to make significant impacts, today.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">During this month, we also celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21</span><sup style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span>st</span></sup><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">. This day is an opportunity to honour the histories and diversity of Indigenous peoples in Canada. This day is important as it gives us an opportunity to acknowledge the Indigenous peoples whose histories and cultures are rooted in this land, and whose historical impact and presence have long been ignored by Canadian society. We are now in a place where we are beginning to recognize the importance of Indigenous peoples and their contributions to what we now know as Canada. In the Limestone District School Board, it is critical that we continue to teach the truth and to make a commitment to life-long reconcili-ACTION and living in right relations with the Indigenous community whose traditional territory we are fortunate to teach and learn on.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Working in partnership with the Kingston Friendship Centre and several community organizations, the Limestone District School Board’s, Indigenous Education Team is proud to offer several opportunities for staff, students, caregivers, and the community to engage in throughout this month.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">June 6</strong></b><b><sup style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong class="editor-text-bold">th</strong></sup></b><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">– Self-identified Indigenous students and students enrolled in NAC10 are invited to participate in a fish scale art workshop with Cree-Métis artist, Jamie Morse. This opportunity is being funded generously by the Kingston Native Centre and Language Nest through the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centre's.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">June 11</strong></b><b><sup style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong class="editor-text-bold">th</strong></sup></b><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">– Storytelling session by Bomgiizhik (Isaac Murdoch): “Stories of the Summer Solstice”. All classes are invited to participate in a virtual session through Zoom on June 11</span><sup style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span>th</span></sup><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> to learn about the Summer Solstice.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">June 19</strong></b><b><sup style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong class="editor-text-bold">th</strong></sup></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> – Caregivers, students, and the community are invited to attend a Public Virtual Hodinohsho:ni Governance Workshop hosted by the Woodland Cultural Centre. This workshop will be on June 19</span><sup style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span>th</span></sup><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> at 6:00 PM. The donation for this workshop helps to support the education department in creating and delivering virtual programming at the Woodland Cultural Centre. Topics covered include Hodinohsho:ni system of governance, use of Wampum, the Royal Proclamation, the Haldimand Proclamation, the Indian Act, and how these conflicted with the traditional Hodinohsho:ni Governance structure.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84279518633?pwd=ckUxb3VLT0J0NnBTMCtONlZnc2xudz09" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Join the Public Virtual Hodinohsho:ni Governance Workshop on ZOOM</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">June 21</strong></b><b><sup style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><strong class="editor-text-bold">st</strong></sup></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> – National Indigenous Peoples Day at City Park in Kingston. On June 21</span><sup style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span>st</span></sup><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">, staff and students are invited to attend the National Indigenous Peoples Day event in City Park from 11:00 – 4:00 PM. On this day there will be market vendors, a community services fair, food vendors, activities for children and youth, and an evening event starting at 7:00 PM in Springer Market Square featuring a concert by 2</span><sup style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span>nd</span></sup><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> Line Bluegrass. The LDSB Indigenous Education Team will be working in collaboration with the Kingston Frontenac Public Library to create buttons, play large outdoor games such as cornhole and Jenga, and other fun activities! We are thankful for the continued collaboration with the Kingston Native Centre and Language Nest to help make this event possible for staff, students, and the community.</span><br><br></p>
2024-06-03 00:00:00 +0000 UTC
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Join LDSB's Technical Advisory Group
<img src="/images/e61a0df0-e3a8-5259-9b1d-90b8936eb8fb?fingerprint=ppb20251217015125" alt="" width="inherit" height="inherit" style="float:right"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The Limestone District School Board is seeking new members for the Technical Advisory Group for the next phase of Student Census data collection. The purpose of the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) is to give advice, opinions, and make recommendations in the design of methods for data collection, analysis, and the representation of results. Most importantly, TAG ensures that multiple and diverse perspectives are applied to the analysis of Student Census data to minimize the risk of bias.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Recruitment:</strong></b></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The committee will be formed by seeking expressions of continued interest from current members and new expressions of interest from individuals who possess the required lived experience and research skill set. Limestone staff will be notified by email of the opportunity to join TAG. The opportunity will also be posted to the LDSB website and advertised on LDSB’s social media channels New interested parties can express their interest using the </span><a href="https://ldsb.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2aXfk1Af78UcseO" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">TAG Expression of Interest Form</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">. Printable copies of the form are also available </span><a href="https://limestoneschools-my.sharepoint.com/:w:/g/personal/clostlamberte_limestone_on_ca/EUjk3z0ydglFjxSb2QBRtREBeMUgAtZZe3fZhGEnW2vjUA?e=DlGsax" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">here</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">. All submissions must be received by 4:00 p.m. on June 3, 2024.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">It is important to read the </strong></b><a href="/documents/3b3da70a-68e5-55e0-b8ec-80d58d9bbb44?fingerprint=ppb20251217013540" target="_blank" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> TAG Terms of Reference </span></a><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> before you apply.</strong></b></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Selection:</strong></b></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Expressions of interest will be reviewed by the core Census Team (Limestone Research Team, Equity Consultant, Superintendent); the Vice Principal of Indigenous Education; and the Human Rights and</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Equity Officer. The goal is to create a committee that is as equitable and intersectional as possible from the applications received. Interested parties are invited to share the ways in which they are willing and able to share their lived experiences alongside their research and/or data experience.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">TAG Membership Drive: Proposed Timeline</strong></b></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Please note, the timeline subject to change</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Spring 2024</strong></b></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Recruitment of new TAG Members May 6 to June 3, 2024</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Early June: Review applications</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Mid- to Late-June: Confirm members</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p>
2024-05-06 00:00:00 +0000 UTC
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Communication Tools for Families
<img src="/images/6ea5c8b9-65b1-57d1-8997-b1b907a45e54?fingerprint=ppb20251217014029" alt="" width="inherit" height="inherit" style="width: inherit; height: inherit;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Our school has introduced several new electronic tools to help communicate need-to-know information to families in a timely and efficient way.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The tools are part of the SchoolMessenger app which allows schools to share important school information with families via text, phone or email message. Our school will use this tool for urgent items like event cancellations or school emergencies but we may also use it for sharing information such as upcoming progress reports, school council meetings or special events.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Registered parents/guardians will receive these messages through contact information that is collected in our student information system. This information is exchanged via a secure connection between the school board and SchoolMessenger. This is the same system that also allows parents/guardians to report their student’s absence in advance, or report back to the school regarding an unexplained absence.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Parents/guardians may choose how to receive these alerts by text message, email or phone call with the exception of emergency events or attendance calls which will always be communicated via all contact methods on file with the school. It is important that parents/guardians ensure schools have the most up-to-date contact information at the beginning of the school year. If your contact information changes during the school year, parents/guardians are asked to contact the school with the updated information.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Our new system also allows teachers to communicate directly with families via a group message option. Teachers who choose to use this tool will provide families with a code so they can sign up for these messages, all available within the SchoolMessenger app or website.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The easiest way to have access to all these tools is to set up a SchoolMessenger account. We encourage you to create a SchoolMessenger account on your desktop, laptop, tablet and/or download the SchoolMessenger app. While an account is not required to use these new tools, it will allow you to review your contact information and communication preferences, and it stores all of your messages in one place.</span><br><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Learn how to:</span></p><ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem"><a href="/documents/07694697-349d-51ff-a42c-a05550bd4f28?fingerprint=ppb20251217013050" target="_blank" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Set up </span></a><a href="/documents/07694697-349d-51ff-a42c-a05550bd4f28?fingerprint=ppb20251217013050" target="_blank" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">a SchoolMessenger App account </span></a><a href="/documents/07694697-349d-51ff-a42c-a05550bd4f28?fingerprint=ppb20251217013050" target="_blank" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">: </span></a><a href="/documents/07694697-349d-51ff-a42c-a05550bd4f28?fingerprint=ppb20251217013050" target="_blank" class="editor-link"></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">set up your account, review your contact information and communication preferences, join teacher-instant messaging groups, and view all your alerts and messages in one place. </span><a href="https://youtu.be/TSCIybbq3xc" target="_blank" title="Watch the video tutorial" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Watch the video tutorial</span></a><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">.</strong></b></li><li value="2" class="editor-listitem"><a href="/documents/2bd745c8-1a32-525b-80cd-cd974c6f6058?fingerprint=ppb20251217013419" target="_blank" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Report a student absence: </span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> set up your account, report and explain student absences in advance. </span><a href="https://youtu.be/IW205rwkYsc" target="_blank" title="Watch the video tutorial." class="editor-link"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Watch the video tutorial.</strong></b></a></li><li value="3" class="editor-listitem"><a href="/documents/48bbc50b-373e-5019-ae1d-7a37c047b5a4?fingerprint=ppb20251217013700" target="_blank" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Use the Communicate broadcast tool </span></a><a href="/documents/48bbc50b-373e-5019-ae1d-7a37c047b5a4?fingerprint=ppb20251217013700" target="_blank" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">: </span></a><a href="/documents/48bbc50b-373e-5019-ae1d-7a37c047b5a4?fingerprint=ppb20251217013700" target="_blank" class="editor-link"></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">choose how you will receive alerts including how to opt-in for text messaging. </span><a href="https://youtu.be/IW205rwkYsc" target="_blank" title="Watch the video tutorial." class="editor-link"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Watch the video tutorial.</strong></b></a></li><li value="4" class="editor-listitem"><a href="/documents/56167561-f5db-5914-b801-10584900d3ea?fingerprint=20260607T2245Z" target="_blank" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Use the Board mobile app </span></a><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">: </strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">how to choose your schools, see your messages and report and review student absences. </span><a href="https://youtu.be/X3TdwREzHqk" target="_blank" title="Watch the video tutorial." class="editor-link"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Watch the video tutorial.</strong></b></a></li><li value="5" class="editor-listitem"><a href="/documents/35b87cc9-eeb1-5d77-8c6f-1530c5148e64?fingerprint=ppb20251217013513" target="_blank" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Subscribe to school calendars </span></a><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">:</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> receive email alerts or download calendars or individual events to your personal calendar</span></li></ul><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The Board mobile app is the best way for families to stay connected to what’s going on. The free LDSB mobile app, which can be </span><a href="https://launch.customschoolapp.net/limestone-dist-school-board/" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">downloaded</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> in the App Store or Google Play Store. The new app allows users to subscribe to their schools of choice and will provide families with instant access to school calendars and news items as well as links to sports schedules, busing information and social media accounts. Be sure to select “push notifications” when you download the app to receive the latest news from our school and the Board.</span></p>
2019-09-17 00:00:00 +0000 UTC
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