Message from the Director - April 27, 2023

Limestone Learning Foundation
Message from the Director - April 27, 2023
Posted on 04/27/2023
April Message from the Director

For a version of this message to translate into additional languages, please click here. 

 

Dear Families, 

 

It is hard to believe we are already at the end of April. I hope you are enjoying the warmer weather, even if it is a little unpredictable. Earlier this week, the Ministry of Education released the theme for Education Week in Ontario: Education for a Brighter Future. Given the power of education in supporting children and adolescents, and the importance of trying to create hope for the future for all young people, this is a very fitting themeAt the same time, as communities and society, there are significant challenges and issues that have individual, family, and collective impacts. However, I think we can all agree that education has a critical role in supporting the growth of students and trying to generate hope for a better future for everyone. 

 

Last week you may have heard that the provincial government released information about 2023-2024 government funding for school boards, as well as new legislation called The Better Schools and Student Outcomes Act 

 

We are still unpacking details about the budget and legislation, but we will share specific information with you as part of the annual budget process. The budget information released last week is critical in planning for the 2023-2024 school year and shaping the local budget and staffing for Limestone. You can learn about the provincial-level announcements by visiting the following resources: 

 

 

 

See Yourself in Limestone Student Census: Student Sense of Belonging Report 

Last week I shared with you that the Limestone District School Board (LDSB) would be releasing a preliminary report focused on student sense of belonging based on results of the See Yourself in Limestone Student Census 2020.  

 

Today we are releasing the first in a series of reports that focuses on belonging at school for different demographic groups: race and racial background; religion; country of birth; first language; and newcomer or refugee status, and how these identities relate to student experiences.  

 

Building local knowledge about who Limestone students are and how they are experiencing school is a crucial step towards actively creating meaningful positive change for all individuals within the school community. This report, like future reports based on the student census, will help provide guidance for Limestone to better serve students.   

 

To read this first report, please visit the Student Sense of Belonging Report page on the board website.  

 

Special Education Review 

This is a reminder that you are invited to participate in the LDSB’s Special Education Review, a short online survey that is currently active to help identify supports and services that are important for students with special education needs to experience success and reach their full potential.  

 

The survey went live on April 24 and will be open until end-of-day tomorrow (Friday). To complete the survey, please visit the Special Education Review page on the board website. 

 

Strategic Plan Monitoring Mid-Year Update 

At last evening’s Board of Trustees Meeting, the senior team and I provided an update to Trustees about the progress of the Strategic Action Plans from September 2022 to January 2023, focusing on items that have been assessed as high priorities to focus our work and achieve Limestone’s strategic goals. To review this update, please visit the April 26 Board Meeting Agenda (pages 21-60). 

 

More information regarding the next steps in preparing a new strategic plan for Limestone will be released in the coming weeks. 

 

School Year Calendar  

The LDSB school year calendar for 2023-2024 has been approved by the Board of Trustees, confirmed by the Ministry of Education and will be posted to the board website early next week. 

 

Enjoy the rest of your week, and the weekend when it arrives. 

 

Krishna Burra 

Director of Education 

The Limestone District School Board is situated on traditional territories of the Anishinaabe & Haudenosaunee.