Together in Education Family Update
Week of November 2-6
Lancaster Drive Public School and Parent Council
Email: lancd@limestone.on.ca
Website: http://lancaster.limestone.on.ca
Location: 1020 Lancaster Drive, Kingston, ON, Canada
Phone: (613)634-0470
Twitter: @LancasterPSLDSB
A Conversation Starter: If you could have an afternoon to sit on this bench with anyone (alive or not, near or far, real or fiction), who would it be?
Lancaster Families
Our Orange and Black Day and Pumpkin Carving Contest were great ways to build community and share in some fun this past week at school. We will share category winners once votes are tallied this week. Staff have been engaging students in learning tasks and taking time to build in feedback through conferencing and work on self-assessments with students. Making connections and really getting to know our students gives everyone the best opportunities for growth. This newsletter is packed with information on our upcoming Scholastic Book Fair, Indigenous Education Month, Treaties Awareness Week and many opportunities for both parent and student engagement within our community. We are also looking for parent volunteers to read virtually with students and will be looking for community outreach opportunities for our students. Please note the information on the upcoming Coat Drive with local drop off locations.
We're looking forward to having LifeTouch with us this year to do school photos. They have booked in November 23rd for photo days at Lancaster. LifeTouch has a strict safety protocol to follow in order for them to provide the service of individual student photos. They let us know that there will not be a class composite at this time.
Due to current COVID protocols, we will be having virtual Remembrance Day recognition in classrooms this year. We will take time to set the tone for the reflection and remind us all of the significance of the day. The school will be distributing poppies, and will be making a donation on behalf of all of the students. If you wish to send in a poppy donation, you can send if with your child November 11th. If families wish to make an online donation, you may do so using the following link: https://www.legion.ca/remembrance/the-poppy-campaign/donate-to-the-poppy-fund
Upcoming Dates:
Nov 5-12 - SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR!
Nov 10 - Parent Council Meeting - Virtual 6:00
Nov 11 - Remembrance Day - virtual Assembly
Nov 20 - Progress Reports Go Home
Nov 23 - SCHOOL PICTURE DAY
LIFE and Learning AT LANCASTER
Artasitic Creation!
The Falcon 9 - complete with launch rocket
Intermediate Chess Challenge
SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR!
Wellness Wednesday -Taking Care of our Educator Heroes
Making playing cards for my little sister
Socially distanced trick-or-treating devices
Preparing for badminton!
Virtual Book Fair Countdown!
Dear families,
Our school’s Scholastic Virtual Book Fair starts next week! It will be open from
Thursday, November 5 through Thursday, November 12, 2020. We are excited to provide this opportunity for families to shop together, from the comfort of home.
Your investment in your reader also helps our whole school. All purchases earn Rewards that can be redeemed for books and Education Resources for our school’s classrooms and library.
When it’s time to shop, visit our school’s Virtual Book Fair site using the link below:
https://bookfairs-canada.myshopify.com/pages/5151790
Before our Fair begins, click the link to:
• SAVE it to your browser
• WATCH videos of popular new titles
• PREVIEW our Featured Books
For further details and updates please follow Twitter (@BookDps) and Facebook (LDPS Parent Council).
Happy reading!
Virtual Reading and Literacy Volunteers -Looking for Lancaster Parents/Guardians
Parent, guardian and community volunteers play an essential role in our school communities. We have always welcomed the participation of volunteers who bring a wide range of talents and skills to school life that enrich and support both students and staff. This year we are not able to welcome volunteers into the physical space of our school BUT are now looking for ‘Virtual Reading/Literacy Volunteers.’
W are currently looking for members of our school community to volunteer virtually to support our youngest learners. This opportunity may entail reading a book to a student, listening to a student read or practicing beginning phonics skills. If you are interested in this opportunity, please email Ms. O’Hearn at ohearns@limestone.on.ca. People wishing to volunteer are required to complete a mandatory screening process that includes a police criminal record check, sometimes better known as a CPIC.
NOVEMBER IS INDIGENOUS EDUCATION MONTH
TREATIES RECOGNITION WEEK
This annual event honours the importance of treaties and helps students learn more about treaty rights and relationships. By learning more about our collective treaty rights and obligations, we can create greater understanding and nurture these relationships. https://www.ontario.ca/page/treaties Below is a list of resources and lesson ideas to help support teaching and learning about Treaty Recognition Week for students in grades K-12.
Websites:
- Canadas History.ca: Treaties and the Treaty Relationship Educational Package (Grades 2-12) En Francais a) Wampum Belts, Commemorating Treaty Relationships, Finding Del's Truck, Unceded Land , We Are All Treaty People, Relationships Making Treaties, Classroom Treaty (aussi disponible en français)
- Ontario.ca Treaties: treaty relationships and treaty rights that shape Ontario (K-12) En Francais a) First Nations and Treaties Maps-Ontario En Francais b) Treaties in Ontario Infographic (Grade 4-12) En Francais c) Learn about the treaties that cover where go to school and find reserves in Ontario (K-12) En Francais d)Videos of Indigenous speakers who share their knowledge about the importance of treaties, treaty relationships and rights in Ontario (Grade 3-12) En Francais e) Participate in the virtual Living Library event We are all Treaty People on November 6, 2020 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m
- Whoseland.ca (Grade K-12) Whose Land is a web-based app that uses GIS technology to assist users in identifying Indigenous Nations, territories, and Indigenous communities across Canada.
- ETFO: An Introduction to Treaties (Teacher Reference)
- Treaties Education Guide: Discussion topics, including Indigenous oral traditions, a historical timeline of treaties and case studies (Grades 4-12) En Francais
- Anishinabek.ca Education Resources and Lesson Plans-English and French (Grades 9-12)
- LDSB Minds Online-Why do we have treaties? (Grades 1-8) En Francais Books and videos: 1) The word Indigenous - explained l CBC Kids News (Grades K-2) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CISeEFTsgDA 2) Dakota Talks About Treaties and Alex Shares his Wampum Belt (Grades K-3) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSf1OVUKnDY , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2YVx6JSZBg 3) Heritage Minutes: Treaty 9 (Grades 3-12) En Francais 4) We are all treaty People Book (Grades 3-8) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jb4JesjE1A&t=346s 5) Read aloud: Hiawatha and the Peacemaker (Grades 4-10) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmjCbLM8oi4 6) The Peacemaker & the Tadadaho (Grades 4-12) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iVziGHPhVw 7) Canadians have been breaking their promises to Indigenous people-CBC Doc (Grades 7-12) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUHnKUaDYjs : Filmmaker Tasha Hubbard narrates a history of Indigenous peoples in the prairies and their relationship with the government.
- Trick or Treaty (Grades 8-12) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAGHDrSRd4k: Covering a vast swath of northern Ontario, Treaty No. 9 reflects the often contradictory interpretations of treaties between First Nations and the Crown. Directed by Alanis Obomsawin
- Charlie Angus on Treaties (Grades 9-12)
- Voices From Here: Richard Hill (Grades 7-12) In this interview, Richard Hill shares about the complexities of Haudenosaunee territory, wampum belt teachings, and his work to repatriate material culture to his community
BLACK YOUTH IN STEM: FREE LEARNIING OPPORTUNITY
Here is information on a wonderful opportunity to explore Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math through fun hands-on activities in a Black-positive space!
This virtual club is open to Black youth from K-8, residing in the Kingston area. Black Youth in STEM is free of charge, and all materials are supplied. Please share widely, as this program is open to students of all achievement levels, with the overall purpose of availing opportunities and increase Black representation in STEM fields/engineering.
Spaces are limited. Spaces are limited. Here is the link to register:
youth rebound program
COAT DRIVE
Human Development and Sexual Health Exemptions
Moving forward, at the beginning of every school year, parents/guardians will be informed that they can choose to have their child or children exempted from instruction related to Human Development and Sexual Health expectations by completing and returning an exemption form for each child.
Parents/guardians can access a list of all Human Development and Sexual Health expectations by grade for Grades 1 to 8 from the Ministry Health and Physical Education curriculum on the LDSB website. Prior to classroom instruction, teachers will inform parents/guardians that the expectations related to the Human Development and Sexual Health expectations will be covered. The deadline for the exemption request will be five school days before the start of instruction.
Lancaster Parent Council Update
We are still waiting for a few key roles to be filled within parent council. If you are interested, please reach out to Kory Slovitt – kory@slovitt.ca to discuss a role you may be willing to fill. Everyone is welcome at the meetings and we encourage you to come out to lend your voice and your support to this dynamic group of Council Executives. Our next virtual meeting will be on Tuesday, November 3rd at 6:00pm. If you are interested in receiving the meeting link please email kory@slovitt.ca.
SCREENING STUDENTS AT HOME AND AT SCHOOL - Covid-19 Screening Tool & Return to School Information
Please review the screening tool and the KFL&A Public Health return to school flow chart that will assist families with determining their next steps. These helpful documents are shared on the LDSB Website and images are below.
- Screening Tool
- My student did not pass COVID-19 screening
- Return to school protocols for students and staff with COVID-19 symptoms
Thank you for your continued support as we refine our routines and processes going forward. The sheet below will be sent home with students if they are demonstrating symptoms of COVID-19 and helps to explain next steps for students and families.