August 31st-September 11th

Upcoming Dates to Remember

September

Tuesday, September 1st-PA Day ~ No School for Students

Wednesday, September 2nd ~ First Day of School

Friday, September 4th ~ First Fire Drill Practice

Monday, September 7th ~ Anniversary of the London Township Treaty

September 11th-13th ~ Rosh Hashanah

Thursday, September 17th ~ SAC Elections & First Meeting 6:00pm in Library

September 19th ~ Powley day

September 20th-21st ~ Yom Kippur

Thursday, September 24th ~ Lancaster Open House 5-6pm

September 25th-October 2nd ~ Sukkot

Wednesday, September 23rd-Friday, September 25th ~ Scholastic Book Fair

Wednesday, September 30th ~ Orange Shirt Day / National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

October 18th ~ Family Skate 12-1pm @ Invista (CUPE pad)

Hot Lunches

We’re excited to offer hot lunch twice a week this year! One day will continue through School-Day, featuring pizza from Riverhead. 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.

Watch for Lunchbox login and ordering information during the first couple weeks of school. We’re excited to bring more variety to our hot lunch program!

Parking Updates

We are excited to share that the bussing loading zone and accessible parking spaces at the front of the building have been freshly painted to provide increased clarity and support smoother morning and afternoon drop-off and pick-up routines.

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!

Pick Up and Drop off Routines

When students arrive at Lancaster and are dismissed each day, they will have an assigned meeting place. On the first day of school, teachers will be greeting students at their designated meeting spaces on the pavement at the back of the school.

Each morning, students should meet their classmates at their assigned meeting place. This will help ensure a safe, smooth, and organized start to each school day.

Lancaster SAC Elections & September Meeting Date

It's that time of year - parents/caregivers! School Advisory Council (SAC) elections for Executive Positions are coming up very soon! The first SAC Council meeting & elections will be on Thursday, September 17th @ 6:00pm The elections will take place first with the SAC meeting following afterwards.

Nomination forms will be sent home with the youngest/only student in each family on the first day of school. Nominations are anonymous and you can nominate yourself or someone else for a position. If you are nominating someone, please ensure they are up for the position and have agreed to your nomination. The person you nominate must be available to be present at the meeting. Your nomination does not count as a vote; you must be present to vote. Nominations (for others and self) are due by 12:00 noon on Thursday, September 17th. Please return all nomination forms to the main office in care of Ms. O'Hearn/Mrs. Bates.

Positions for election are:

Chair/Co-Chair: Represents, works with and provides support to all school community and council committee chairs. This person works closely with the school principal and VP, school staff and parents to enrich the education of all students. Additionally, they preside over and conduct monthly council meetings, set agendas and schedule meetings (in consultation with the VP/Principal). The chair promotes discussion amongst council members and the community, receives and reports on correspondence sent and received by council. Acts as coordinator between the school board and council. Receives documentation from board and keeps council advised of board decisions, activities etc. Supports programs, initiatives and activities led by other council members and contributes to the monthly council newsletter.

Vice Chair: Presides at meetings in the absence of the chair or upon the incumbent’s inability to serve. Responsible for overseeing all sponsored events and programs.

Treasurer: Works with the council and coordinators in developing an operating budget, keeps a full and accurate account of receipts and expenditures and serves as the liaison with the Board of Education. Additional responsibilities include depositing/disbursing funds on behalf of the council, the preparation of monthly financial statements, and the preparation & filing of all necessary financial reports.

Secretary: Attends scheduled council meetings, records, maintains and distributes minutes of meetings, keeps non-financial records of council.

Fundraising Coordinator: Plans, manages fundraising activities of council. Works closely with the treasurer.

Event Co-ordinator: Plans, manages events of council. Works closely with the treasurer.

Volunteer Co-ordinator: Plans, manages volunteer opportunities of council.

Inclusive Education Co-ordinator: Helps ensure that school programs, policies, and community events welcome and support students of all backgrounds, abilities, and identities. Act as a bridge between families and the school to champion equity and accessibility.

Indigenous Representative: This is a newer position with the SAC and will evolve and grow organically.

PIC (Parent Involvement Committee) Representative: PIC is an important advisory group that connects parents with their school board’s Chief Executive Officer and trustees. Attends monthly meetings at the Board Office alongside other PIC representatives and reports back to SAC members.

Member-At-Large: Attends meetings and participates in many aspects of council activities, as prescribed by council. Voting member.

Everyone who is part of our Lancaster PS family is welcome to attend any of our meetings this year.

We look forward to hearing your voice!

All meetings take place at Lancaster PS from 6:00-7:00pm. We will confirm SAC Dates for the year on September 17th.

School Organization 2026-2027

Class placements and line-up spots will be communicated to families on the afternoon of Tuesday, September 1st. We will place class lists with students first and last name initials on the front windows of the school by 2:30pm on September 1st. As always, starting class placements are subject to change if actual enrolment numbers require school reorganization. There has been lots of care, consideration, and collaboration with staff when working on class placements.

Mrs. Olive & Mrs. Flindall JK/SK

Mrs. Greenlees & Mrs. Gordon JK/SK

Mrs. Saha and Mrs. Lees JK/SK

Mrs. Sidlauskas Grade 1

Mr. Steele Grade 1

Mrs. Dowker Grade 2

Ms. Jarbeau Grade 2

Mrs. Tidman Grade 2/3

Ms. Matthews Grade 3/4

Mrs. Hamilton Grade 4

Mrs. Bateman Grade 4/5

Mrs. Graham Grade 5

Mr. Dee Grade 6

Mrs. Vandyke Grade 7

Mr. Keeler Grade 7/8

Mr. Teal Grade 7/8

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.

Medical Plans of Care for Prevalent Medical Conditions

This message is intended for the families of students with prevalent medical conditions(AP 314) where documentation is needed by the school:

Please read if your student is attending Lancaster Drive Public School and has a medical condition. We are here to support students with medical conditions to fully access school in a safe, accepting, and healthy learning environment that fully supports their well-being.

In order to make sure we are able to support the needs of your child, we ask that you take the time to complete the appropriate medical forms that are applicable to each of your children.

All medical forms are accessible through the Limestone District School Board website, click HERE to access all the information and documentation we require

Mrs. Bates will be sending home hard copies of Medical Plan of Care paperwork to all families by the end of the first week of school.

Please note the following:

• Form 311 (B, C, D, E) is the Plan of Care, which is required by all students with Epilepsy, Diabetes, Asthma and / or Anaphylaxis. Please make sure to fill out the correct form(s) for your child’s medical condition.
• Form 311-A General POC
• Form 311-B - Epilepsy Plan of Care
• Form 311-C - Diabetes Plan of Care
• Form 311-D - Asthma Plan of Care
• Form 311-E - Anaphylaxis Plan of Care
• Form 314-A1 is the Authorization and Request for Administration of Prescribed Medication. If your child requires medication during school hours, this form MUST BE completed and signed by the physician. 
• Form 314-A2 is the Authorization and Request for the Administration of Prescribed Medication. This form is for you to sign and give permission to the school to administer the medication indicated on Form 314-A1. If this applies to your child, please sign, and email the form to the school.
• Form 314-A3 is the Authorization and Request for the Administration of an Epi-Pen. This form is only required for students with Anaphylaxis. If this applies to your child, please sign, and email the form to the school.
• Form 314-B1 is the Administration of Medical Procedures. This form needs to be submitted if there is a certain medical procedure that needs to happen during school hours. If this applies to your child, please complete the form, sign, and email the form to the school.

These forms are extremely important for us to receive back from you so that we can support the needs of your child. No medication or procedures can be administered at school without the authorization forms signed and filed at the school.

In accordance with Limestone District School Board Policy, students at risk for anaphylactic reaction, and have prescribed epi-pens, are always to carry an epi-pen on their person. Please ensure that your student has their epi-pen with them and readily available to staff when they are at school. We store the second epi-pen at the main office.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the school. Thank you in advance for your attention to this important matter. We appreciate you gathering all this vital information and emailing it back to us in a timely manner so that we can fully support the needs of your student during the upcoming school year.

Supplemental Forms:

Click below for necessary supplementary forms needed including:

• Form-314-A1: Authorization and Request for Administration of Prescribed Medication/Medical Procedures
• Form-314-A2: Authorization and Request Form for the Administration of Prescribed Medication
• Form-314-A3: Authorization and Request Form for the Administration of an Epi-Pen
• Form-314-A4: Asthma Management - Request and Authorization for the Administration of Reliver/Rescue Inhaler
• Form-314-B1: The Administration of Medication and/or Medical Procedures to Students: Record of Procedures

Medication (e.g., pills, inhalers, etc.) must be brought in/signed off by caregivers. Please do not send medication in your student's backpack.

We are happy to support families with anything related to students' medical needs, such as plans of care or medication - please reach out.

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.

Welcome to Kindergarten Families!

We are so excited to welcome our new and returning Kindergarten friends! ❤️

School starts on Wednesday, September 2, and we know that starting Kindergarten can bring lots of excitement and lots of questions, too! Here are a few things to help everyone feel ready for a wonderful first day.

🍎 Meet Your Kindergarten Team

We have three Kindergarten teams who can't wait to meet you!

🌟 Mrs. Greenlees & Ms. Gordon
🌟 Mrs. Olive & Mrs. Flindall
🌟 Ms. Saha & Ms. Lees

🌈 Who will my child's educators be?

Children and families will find out who their Kindergarten educators are on the PA Day, September 1. Your child’s educators will also let you know which Kindergarten gate to meet them at on the first day of school.

🎒 What Should I Bring?

Please send your child with:

• 🎒 A backpack large enough for school papers and belongings
• 🍎 A lunch pail with a snack and lunch
• 💧 A labelled water bottle
• 👟 Indoor shoes to keep at school
• 👟 Closed-toe outdoor shoes suitable for running and active play
• 👕 A labelled bag of spare clothes, including a shirt, pants/shorts, underwear and socks
• 🧥 Layers are a great idea, as our classrooms can sometimes feel cool.

Please label everything you can! Kindergarten belongings have a funny way of wandering away from their owners. 😊

🍎 Snack & Lunch

Children will have both a snack and lunch time each day.

🥜 Our school is nut-free, so please make sure all food sent to school is nut-free.

🏡 What Should Stay at Home?

Please keep toys, stuffies, valuables and other special items at home unless your child's educators have specifically asked for them.

☀️ The First Morning

Morning supervision begins at 8:15 a.m., and school begins at 8:30 a.m. If you arrive after the bell, please report to the main office to sign your child in before heading to the classroom.

When you arrive, our Kindergarten team will be there to welcome your family and help your child get to the right place.

❤️ A Little Tip for Goodbye

We know that saying goodbye can sometimes be hard, for children and grown-ups!

A quick, happy and confident goodbye is usually the best way to help your child start their day. A hug, a cheerful “Have a great day!” and then allowing our Kindergarten team to take over can make the transition much easier.

Lingering at drop-off can sometimes make saying goodbye harder for children. In our experience, even children who are tearful at the gate often settle very quickly once they say goodbye, join their friends and become involved in the morning.

There may be a few tears, especially during the first few days, and that's okay. ❤️ We will be there to comfort your child, help them feel safe and get them busy playing and exploring.

Once you've said goodbye, trust us to take it from there. We've got them! 🌈

🍎 We Can't Wait to See You!

Starting Kindergarten is a big adventure, and we are so excited to begin it with you.

We can't wait to see you on Wednesday, September 2! 🌈

Your Kindergarten Team,

Mrs. Greenlees & Ms. Gordon
Mrs. Olive & Mrs. Flindall
Ms. Saha & Ms. Lees

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.

School Trips and CPICs for Volunteers

Throughout the year, we may ask for parent/guardian volunteers on school trips or for various classroom and school activities. The wait time for obtaining a CPIC (background check with vulnerable sector screening) can be lengthy. As such, if you think you would be willing to assist with a trip or school event in the future, please consider obtaining a CPIC with vulnerable sector screening, beforehand.

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

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.