Together in Education:Family Update
April 11-14
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:
APRIL
RUNNING CLUB: Practices will be Tuesday and Thursdays after school 3:00-4:00, Fridays at Lunch for the remainder of the season
April 1st - Sikh Heritage Month
April 1st - 1st Day of Ramadan (April 1-May 1st)
April 11th - Jump Robe for Heart - Campaign Kick-Off, Candy Jar Weight Guessing
April 12th: Hot Lunch: PIZZA
April 14th: International Day of Pink
April 14th: Intermediate Bunny Hop (Dance)
April 14th: Ultimate Frisbee Practice at the Dome 3:30-4:30
April 15th - Good Friday (no school)
April 18th - Easter Monday (no school)
April 19th - Hot Lunch: PASTA
April 22nd - Earth Day Spirit Day: Blue and Green Day, Student Recycling Creations Due
April 26th - Hot Lunch: PANZAROTTI
April 27th - Bayridge Road Race at BSS
April 29th - PA DAY
MAY
May 4th - LCVI Road Race
May 4th - Spirit Day "May the 4th be With You"
May 13th – Immunization Clinic – Gr. 7 & 8
June 28th - Grade 8 Graduation and Boat Cruise
School Update
Dear Families,
We have been enjoying some warmer weather and have slowly seen the snow hills shrink - it is safe to say that spring has arrived! Running club, junior basketball, ultimate frisbees and Ministry of Caring and Spirit Ministry meetings have been highlights for many students. On Monday May 2nd we will have our pavement games repainted. Our students have been actively using our four squares at every recess and it will be nice to see things spruced up after a delay due to our roofing project last summer. We continue to tend to our seedlings in the great hall and students have been keen to observe the growth over the last few weeks. Classes have been engaging in learning opportunities including guest speakers, hands-on exploration of concepts, and student presentations of their creative inquiry and research projects. Student voice is alive in our building which we celebrate as we co-create the learning environment and school climate that we share each day. Thank you to our staff for providing students with chances to shine and demonstrate their learning!
Our Jump Rope for Heart campaign kicks off this week and students have been starting to work on their skills and endurance in preparation for our event on April 28th. Families will have received a letter last week that indicates how you can donate and pledge to directly support your child in their efforts for Jump Rope for Heart.
Although masks are no longer required for students, staff, and visitors in schools and on school transportation, masking continues to be encouraged with higher numbers in the KFL&A area. If schools cross the threshold of 30% absences due to COVID-related reasons, KFL&A Public Health will issue a letter indicating that masking is recommended due to the presence of COVID in the school and community. Lancaster has not yet met that threshold but does have a fair number of student and staff absences.
Many students and staff are choosing to continue to wear masks at times, or consistently, and we support their decision around masking. As a reminder, there are times when masking is required by KFL&A Public Health, including the following:
- Under federal travel requirements, upon return from international travel, individuals must always wear a mask when in public spaces (including schools and childcare) for 14 days.
- Individuals who are age 11 or younger or fully vaccinated, who tested positive or had symptoms of COVID-19, can return to school or work after their 5 days of isolation if symptoms are improving. They must, however, wear a well-fitted mask in all public settings (including schools and childcare) and avoid activities where they would need to take off their mask (for example, playing a wind instrument or removing their mask for sports) until 10 days after their symptoms started or from their positive test date.
- Individuals who are a close contact of a case of COVID-19 or a symptomatic individual who are not required to isolate, must wear a well-fitted mask in all public settings (including schools and childcare) for 10 days from their last exposure to the person with COVID-19 symptoms or positive test result (or from when the symptomatic or positive person finishes their isolation).
- Please note that exposures within the school setting are no longer included in the definition of a close contact.
As planting season is fast approaching it is time to schedule your "Plantables" delivery! This fundraiser was a success last year, the plants were healthy and hearty, and the online system made it very easy for families to order. Funds raised by this initiative will support a variety of school projects including purchasing "consumables" for outdoor play (balls, sand toys, sleds, etc...), and materials for experiential learning in classrooms. Order plants for yourself, or gift them to family, friends or neighbours - what a kind gesture towards someone you care about. Simply visit the site and use our school code (LDPSGROWS) at checkout.
Please continue to send your child/ren with extra socks & clothes, waterproof boots and splash pants if possible: our yard continues to be quite muddy. Have a great weekend,
Your leaders in learning,
Lani Fox and Sara O'Hearn
PARENT REMINDERS:
- Please do not use the staff parking lot for the purpose of dropping off or picking up your child - additional vehicles at these times is counterintuitive to preserving a safe space for all students. Students can be dropped off using the laybys on Lancaster Drive or drive-thru zone, and then use the walkways on either side of the school to walk to the playground at the back of the school.
- We continue to require families to remain off the main pavement area during drop-off and pick-up times. This practice has had a positive impact on student safety as we are more clearly able to see students connecting with families as they wait at the path or make their way to their meeting spot at the beginning of the day.
Your leaders in learning,
Lani Fox and Sara O'Hearn
Kindergarten Registration has begun! If you have a child who will turn 4 or 5 by the end of December, you will find information about online registration for 2022-23 using the following link: https://www.limestone.on.ca/news/what_s_new/kindergarten_registration_for_september_2022 We look forward to planning some events to welcome our littlest learners later in the spring!
VOLUNTEERS IN SCHOOL & ON FIELD TRIPS
Parent, guardian and community volunteers play an essential role in our school communities. We welcome the participation of volunteers who bring a wide range of talents and skills to school life that enrich and support both students and staff.
Board policy states that 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. This excludes guest speakers or presenters but does include parents/guardians attending school field trips who will be assuming supervision responsibilities for students. Where, at the request of the principal, a parent/guardian is participating on a field to attend to the needs of their child, a CPIC may not be required (a condition of this situation must be that this parent is never alone with children other than their own). In this case, an offense declaration would be acceptable. These situations must be discussed in advance with the school principal.
CPICs must be updated and approved every three years. During interim years, volunteers must complete the annual Offence Declaration Form. Volunteers are encouraged to complete their CPIC application forms early in the school year, as there may be a waiting period involved with the processing and approval. Currently, there is variability on whether or not school volunteers are charged for the police criminal record check.
Kingston Police offers an automated online system for submitting your CPIC for approval.
Ontario Provincial Police requires you to download the form and then take it to your nearest OPP Detachment for approval.
You may also obtain copies of the applications from your school.
For the 2021-2022 school year, all volunteers are required to follow the LDSB Mandatory Vaccination Disclosure Protocol.
All volunteers are required to sign in and out of the office as do all school visitors. You may be asked to wear a visitor pass while in the school.
LIFE AND LEARNING MOMENTS AT LANCASTER:
HOT LUNCH DATES
April 12 - Pizza
April 19 - Pasta
April 26 - Panzarotti
May 3 - Pizza
May 10 - Pasta
May 17 - Panzarotti
May 24 - Pizza
May 31 - Pasta
June 7 - Panzarotti
June 14 - Pizza
June 21 - Pasta
SCHOOL CROSSING GUARD POSITION
CROSSING GUARD POSITION AT LANCASTER/LIMESTONE
Thank you to members of our School Council for your shared advocacy on this new addition to our before and after school routines. This is position has been staffed and is scheduled to begin at the corner of Limestone and Lancaster on Monday, March 28th with the following times:
AM: 8:00am - 9:10am
PM: 2:55pm - 4:05pm
The Crossing Guard positions exist in two forms – Regular and Relief. The Relief Crossing Guard role allows the flexibility for an individual to cover a single shift (AM, PM, or both) at a crossing guard location in need of coverage on a given day. Applications for relief positions are still welcome, individuals interested can connect using this link (mmajeed@cityofkingston.ca) with their availability / locational preference.
GRADE 8 GRADUATION ATTIRE! Click link below for email or find them on Facebook @graduationrotation
KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION IS HERE!
Meet Up Location Map
KFL&A Masking Protocol Changes for LDSB
KFL&A has updated the masking protocol for schools. Students are no longer required to wear masks when they are outdoors and in their cohorts. This means that when students are outside with their class cohorts for phys. ed or for recess, they do not have to keep their masks on.
A reminder that arrival and dismissal times have many students crossing different areas of the yard to get to their cohort lineup spots. Students should keep their masks on until they get to their designated lineup with their class cohort. Masks are still required indoors and on school transportation. Staff will remind students to put their masks on prior to entering the school building and prior to boarding a school
Student Rapid Antigen Testing Kits
Rapid antigen test kits can be provided for students, and staff that develop symtoms at school. Please let us know if you require additional test kits if you are picking up a symptomatic student from school.
Please follow these instruction when using the Rapid Antigen Test Kit .
Tutoring Available through LDAK
For more info, click here.
Lancaster Apparel available through our Spirit Store
Contact your School Advisory Council Using the link below
Connecting our Lancaster Community - Do you own your own business in Kingston?
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Mabels Labels
Cobs Bread
Love tasty baked goods from Cobs Bread?? Every time you visit Cobs Bread Bakery at 770 Gardiners rd. in Kingston simply let them know you are supporting Lancaster School’s Fundraiser and they will donate 10% of your sale to us!
Let’s “Raise some Dough”!