Upcoming Dates to Remember
October
Running Club Practices: Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays @ Lunch
Tuesday, October 6th ~ Picture Day
Thursday, October 8th ~ Lancaster's Race Around The Park 4-6pm
Thursday, October 15th ~ Regional Cross Country Meet @ Fort Henry
Thursday, October 15th ~ Parent Advisory Council Meeting @ 6:00pm in the library.
Thursday, October 15th ~ IEPs sent home to families
Saturday, October 18th ~ Family Skate 12-1pm @ Invista (CUPE pad)
Tuesday, October 20th ~ District Cross Country @ Fort Henry
Friday, October 26th ~ PA Day
Friday, November 6th ~ Class Photos and Photo Retakes
Terry Fox Event
We are so proud of our Lancaster Lions! Our fundraising goal for the Terry Fox Foundation this year was $3000. We smashed that goal by doubling it and raising over $6000! At the assembly, we thought our total was $5996.80, but the funds just kept coming in and we are now over $6000! Through your fundraising efforts, purchasing Terry Fox t-shirts and bringing in toonies on Terry Tuesday, our community is making a difference in the fight against cancer and continuing to support cancer research. Thank you so much for all your generous contributions to the Terry Fox Foundation this year and it was so nice to see that so many of you could join us at our run/walk on Friday.
To celebrate our incredible fundraising acheivement, we thought we would have some fun before our walk/run. We started our assembly with singing together, the French song, "Je cour comme Terry". Then, because we raised so much money, we had Lancaster staff participate in scooter/plasma car races, get whip cream pies in the face, shave or cut their hair or get an ice bucket dumped over them! Here are some photos of the celebrations on Friday afternoon! :)
Race Around The Park
Our annual Lancaster Race Around the Park on Thursday October 8, 2026. This event serves as a fun practice race for Grade 3-8 runners who are preparing for the upcoming races at Fort Henry.
Our race will be held in the park behind Lancaster Drive Public School with the Atom Girls race starting at 4:00 PM. Participating athletes will stay at the school upon dismissal and will be warmed up and organized by Lancaster coaches. Upon completion of their race, athletes will be asked to check in with the coaches and will be free to be dismissed with their families.
The day could offer a wide range of weather possibilities so athletes are asked to bring a raincoat, warm clothes, a hat, sunscreen, and a large quantity of water to drink.
Approximate Race Times:
Atom Girls 4:00 PM
Atom Boys 4:15 PM
Bantam Girls 4:35 PM
Bantam Boys 4:55 PM
Senior Girls 5:15 PM
Senior Boys 5:35 PM
If you have any questions please contact us at the school. If you would like to volunteer with the organization and set-up of the race course beforehand, and/or supervising during the event, please email Lisa Walsh at hanleylc@limestone.on.ca Be sure to provide your name and the best phone number to reach you at. We appreciate your help!
This year, there will be a canteen available selling drinks and snacks! Proceeds will help support Lancaster’s running team to purchase equipment and spare running shirts for our runners. Families are encouraged to come and cheer on our athletes and our team. We are looking forward to a great event. Thank you in advance for your support! Please note that parking at the school is limited. We encourage parents to utilize side streets and enter the park through “catwalks” for convenience.
Hot Lunches
We’re excited to offer hot lunch twice a week this year! Tuesdays will be ordered through School-Day, featuring pizza from Riverhead. Lancaster's first pizza lunch day will be this Tuesday, October 6th. For our second day, we’ll be trialing a new ordering platform called Lunchbox, with meals from Greek Town and some new options for students to enjoy.
SockTober
A Friendly Reminder about E-Scooters
E-scooters are easy to find, but they aren't toys and aren't designed for kids. In Ontario, you must be at least 16 years old to ride wherever e-scooters are permitted.
In Kingston, e-scooters are not currently permitted. The City is developing a Micromobility Regulations Strategy — with updated rules around e-scooters, e-bikes and other lightweight, rideable transportation — to support safe, accessible and sustainable travel around Kingston. The strategy, which considers public engagement feedback and research into best practices, will be presented to Council for consideration later this year.
Find out more at Micromobility Regulations | Get Involved Kingston by Communications & Public Engagement.”
Arrival & Pickup Safety Reminder
This is a gentle reminder that Lancaster has two designated accessible parking spaces at the front of the school, as well as a designated bus loading zone. We kindly ask all families and visitors to be mindful of these designated areas and help ensure they remain available for those who require them.
Thank you for your cooperation and support in helping keep our arrival and dismissal routines safe and efficient for everyone!
CPICs For Volunteers
For the safety of our students and school community, all volunteers are required to have a recent vulnerable sector police check completed within 6 months of their volunteer start date. Existing CPICs are valid for 5 years. To help make the process easier, we will provide prospective volunteers with a letter to take to the police detachment that serves the area where they live. The letter must be completed by a school representative before you take it to the police. Once you receive your completed police record check, please upload it to the LDSB Police Record Check Portal. Human Resources will review the record check and will contact you if any additional information or follow-up is required. Thank you for helping us create a safe and welcoming environment for all of our students!
Lancaster SAC Elections & September Meeting Update
We are excited to announce our new parent council members after our election in September:
· Chair/Co-chair
o Melissa Cheetham
· Vice Chair
o Ali Crawford
· Treasurer
o Lindey Caves
· Secretary
o Vicki McConnell
· Fundraising Coordinator
o Not filled
· Event Coordinator
o Erin Bobyn
· Volunteer Coordinator
o Reid Rowe-Young
· Inclusive Education Coordinator
o Sevda Akilli
· Indigenous Representative
o Danielle Lussier
· PIC
o Elinor Chen
· Teacher Appreciation
o Alanna Sauer
· Active Member
o Kera Parada
o Megan Gilpin
o Tiffany Shih
o Meg Ferriman
o Brooke McBride-Geen
o Ali Alizadeh
Schedule of Parent Council Meetings for the year, please join us!
· October 15, 2026 – 6pm
· November 19, 2026 – 6pm
· December 17, 2026 – 6pm
· February 18, 2027 – 6pm
· April 15, 2027 – 6pm
· May 20, 2027 – 6pm
· June 3, 2027 – 6pm
- Riverhead Family Pizza Night October 30th (see flyer for details)
- Purdys Chocolate Fundraiser - Campaign will start November 2nd!
Allergy Awareness
We would like to gently remind Lancaster families that we have students in our school with severe, life-threatening anaphylactic allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, peas, and lentils.
We kindly ask families to keep these allergies in mind when packing lunches and snacks and to take a moment to carefully check ingredient labels. These ingredients can sometimes be found in unexpected foods and snacks.
Thank you so much for your continued care, understanding, and cooperation. By working together, we can help ensure that Lancaster remains a safe, welcoming, and inclusive place for all of our students.
Data Verification Forms & Computer Use Agreement
Hard copies of Data Verification Forms will be sent out in September to ensure we have the most up to date information in our Aspen database. If your contact information has changed over the summer, please email lancd@limestone.on.ca before the start of school. Families who have a student in JK or are new to Lancaster will receive a secure match key in order to access School Day.
Each year, we require families to sign off on our Computer Use Agreement in order for their students to access technology. This will be sent out on School Day in early September.
Artificial Intelligence in Limestone
In the Limestone District School Board, we are committed to helping students develop the skills and confidence they need to navigate today’s digital world. Technology, including artificial intelligence (AI), is already part of students’ everyday lives, and learning how to use it in a thoughtful and responsible way is important for their success in school and beyond.
We want all students to feel safe, supported, and informed when using digital tools. Students are learning about how technology can affect learning, mental health, and well-being, and how we can help students build healthy, balanced habits with their use of technology.
Students are also exploring how tools like AI can support learning and problem-solving in positive and meaningful ways. Our focus is on helping students become confident and responsible digital citizens who can use technology thoughtfully and safely to support their learning and well-being, both at school and at home.
Learn More:
Concussion Protocol - UPDATED!
LDSB is committed to helping all students succeed and lead safe, healthy, and active lives. As part of its commitment to student safety, injury prevention, and well-being, the Ministry of Education supports concussion awareness, prevention, identification, management, tracking, and training in schools through legislation, policy, and resources. Click HERE for more information on the LDSB website.
The office calls home for all students who have a head injury/suspected concussion. If a student has one or more symptoms of a concussion they are given an orange bracelet are will not particiapte in any physical activity (i.e., physical education, DPA, recess) until cleared (signed off) by a caregiver and/or medical professional using Form 142-D: Documentation of Medical Examination. We encourage all students with symptoms of a concussion to be picked up from school and monitored by a caregiver and assessed by a medical professional.
The Concussion Protocol has been updated to align with the Canadian Guideline on Concussion in Sport (2024) and current international concussion guidance. The changes simplify the Return to Learn (RTL) and Return to Physical Activity (RTPA) process and support a safe, gradual, symptom-informed return to school and activity.
Key changes include:
• Simplified RTL and RTPA stages: Several stages have been combined to create a clearer and more consistent progression for students, families, and staff. • Earlier return to school: Students may return to school as early as Stage 2, with appropriate supports and monitoring of symptoms.
• Symptom-informed progression: Mild and brief increases in symptoms during Stages 1–3 may be acceptable if symptoms resolve within one hour.
• Earlier medical clearance: Medical clearance from a medical doctor or nurse practitioner is required after successful completion of RTPA Stage 3 and before beginning Stage 4.
• Symptoms after medical clearance: If symptoms return during Stages 4–6, the student must return to Stage 3 and be reassessed by a medical doctor or nurse practitioner.
• School responsibility: The designated lead is responsible for monitoring the student's progression through the RTL/RTPA stages and ensuring medical clearance is received before Stage 4.
• Parent/guardian responsibility: Parents/guardians are responsible for communicating changes in symptoms and providing written medical clearance following RTPA Stage 3.
Student Accident Insurance
The Limestone District School Board requires that students have student accident insurance in order to participate in extra-curricular activities. Before students will be allowed to participate in these events, parents/guardians must confirm their own coverage for items not covered under the Provincial Health Plan, or purchase an insurance plan.
Each year a Student Accident Insurance Plan is made available to all students on a voluntary basis. The plan provides protection for dental damage due to accidents, fracture benefits and other important coverage, which are not covered under the Provincial Health Plan. Some parents may have dental plan coverage through their workplace but many of these plans are limited in one way or another, while this accident coverage is not. You should compare plans to make sure you have the coverage you need or desire.
In making this plan available, the Board wishes to make its position clear in the matter of insurance. Under the Education Act, the Board is not permitted to provide insurance coverage for accidents to pupils, therefore, the Board recommends consideration of this plan to any parent who wishes to obtain this kind of insurance. Although the policy has all the advantages of a group plan, it is essentially a direct contract between the parent and the insurance company.
A family plan is also available for three or more students which permits the enrolment of students in the family who are attending schools outside the jurisdiction of this Board as long as at least one child in the family is attending a school within the Limestone District School Board.
If you wish to subscribe to this insurance, you may do so by completing the form handed out to students the first week of school and mailing it directly to Reliable Life Insurance Company in the stamped envelope provided. Or, for your convenience, you may purchase directly online at www.insuremykids.com.
Indigenous Self-Identification
The Limestone District School Board (LDSB) invites students to voluntarily and confidentially self-identify as Indigenous. Elementary and secondary students with First Nations, Métis, and/or Inuit ancestry can self-identify HERE.
School board self-identification is based on any degree of Indigenous ancestry (Status, Non-Status, Métis citizenship, etc.). Self-identification can be withdrawn at any time. LDSB, in accordance with the Ministry of Education, Ontario, does not require proof of identity to self-identify.
Safe Arrival - Reporting a Student's Absence
There are three options for families to use to report a student's absence:
- SchoolMessenger App on your phone.
- SchoolMessenger website portal.
- call the automated attendance phone line at 1-855-257-9349
**Always enter "lates" as a full day even if the child will only be absent for half a day. It will adjust automatically once the student arrives.
For more information on how to report an absence please watch the video below or contact Mrs. Davies in the office.
Daily Schedule
Time | Activity/learning block |
|---|---|
8:15 to 8:30 a.m. | Outdoor supervision |
8:30 to 10:30 a.m. | Entry bell and instructional period |
10:30 to 11:00 a.m. | Nutrition and wellness break |
11:00 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. | Instructional period |
12:20 to 1:20 p.m. | Nutrition and wellness break |
1:20 to 3:00 p.m. | Instructional period |
3:00 p.m. | Dismissal |
Allergen Awareness - Nut-Free School
Thank you for packing nut-free snacks! Please communicate with teachers before sending any treats in for your student's class.
