Together in Education Family Update
Week of November 16-20
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
Upcoming Dates:
Nov 16-20 ~ Anti-Bullying Awareness Week
Nov 17 ~ Parent Event: Navigating Special Education (see link in newsletter)
Nov 18 ~ Intermediates participate in Waterloo Computing Challenge
Nov 19 ~ LDSB Pink Shirt Day - Anti-bullying awareness
Nov 20 ~ SPIRIT DAY: Plaid it Up!
Nov 20 ~ Progress Reports Go Home
Nov 23 ~ SCHOOL PICTURE DAY
ANTI-BULLYING AWARENESS AND PREVENTION WEEK
LIFE AND LEARNING AT LANCASTER
Nov 14th - World Diabetes Day
We learned more about Diabetes and how to support our classmate!
Kinders bundle up outside!
YOUNG WRITERS CELEBRATED
Working on expressing our ideas through writing
Publishing Party in Grade 1: We wrote our first books!
Different ways to create focus and create work spaces
EXPERIENTIAL TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS WITH MS. CANCIAN
Sanding for a smooth finish!
Using a jig-saw to create the rounded edge
Designing and measuring for accuracy
REMEMBRANCE DAY ASSEMBLY
On November 11th the school paused for a virtual Remembrance Day Service
Student leaders used an equity lens to help us reflect on the many contributions that were made and the work that continues in our Canadian Military today
We highlighted student reflections, student art and paused for a moment of silence
JUNIOR STUDENTS DIG INTO DYSLEXIA
We explored dyslexia and the looked people we knew who had it
We shared our learning out to others to build understanding
Students are stopping in the hall and reading while they wait for their water bottles to fill up
Happy Diwali to our Families Celebrating
Book Fair Success: Thank You!
Our Scholastic Virtual Book Fair was a success! Thank you to all families, teachers, and students who participated, supporting our school while enhancing home libraries. Our next Book Fair will be held in February during Literacy Week.
Your investment in your reader helped our school to earn valuable Rewards that can be redeemed for new books for our school and classroom libraries, as well as supplies and Education Resources to benefit our students.
We can’t wait to hear all about the new stories you have added to your home libraries.
Thank you for participating in our Scholastic Virtual Book Fair!
Happy reading
Krista Downie, Parent Volunteer
SEE YOURSELF IN LIMESTONE: STUDENT CENSUS
School boards across the province are asking students to complete a student census to identify and eliminate discrimination and bias from schools and classrooms.
In Limestone, the See Yourself in Limestone Student Census will take place the week of November 23, 2020. The data collected through the census will help us learn more about Limestone students – their backgrounds, experiences and needs.
The importance and value of obtaining equity-based data and student voice through the student census is shared in this video featuring an impactful poem by LDSB graduate Britta B and several Limestone students Please take a few moments to watch.
The census is now available for families to preview on the Board website along with other resources and frequently asked questions. There are three versions of the census: one for Kindergarten to Grade 3 students, which will be completed by families at home, a census for students in Grades 4 to 6 and a census for students in Grades 7 to 12. Students in Grades 4 to 12 will complete the survey during class time.
Families with students in Kindergarten to Grade 3 will soon receive (via progress report packages) a letter and resource package to help them complete the survey with their student. The survey is confidential and completely voluntary; however, the data will only be as helpful as we have healthy participation rates. A family can request that their student not participate by letting their school administration or classroom teacher know. A student can also refuse to participate.
Once the survey is completed, staff will analyze the data and report high-level findings in the spring of 2021.
Virtual Literacy Support
Thank you to our parent volunteers that have expressed interest in supporting our learners virtually with their literacy skills! We are grateful to have this added support for our students.
We are excited to share that Mr. Bruder and Ms. Jarbeau’s classes will be partnering with Mrs. Brennan’s Grade 11 and 12 students at Bayridge Secondary School who are enrolled in “Living and Working with Infants, Children and Adolescents.” This partnership will foster and develop early reading and phonological awareness skills as well as creating a sense of community.
We are also in the beginning stages of organizing a virtual partnership with Helen Henderson Care Centre. Stay tuned for more details!
NOVEMBER IS INDIGENOUS EDUCATION MONTH
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
CHOICES AT GRADE 9
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.
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.