Dear Families,
Welcome back to a new school year! It is my pleasure to extend a warm welcome to all new and returning elementary and secondary students, and their families. We hope you had a restful and enjoyable summer break, filled with quality time with friends and family.
I invite you to watch the Welcome to the 2024-2025 School Year video.
As we embark on a new academic year, our team is filled with enthusiasm and optimism for the opportunities that lie ahead. Our dedicated team of educators and staff have been working diligently to prepare for your return, ensuring that our schools are safe, inclusive, and conducive to learning. We are committed to providing a supportive environment where every student can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally, allowing everyone to see themselves in Limestone.
I have a couple of reminders for students and families as we begin this school year:
School Attendance – Every School Day Counts
Regular school attendance is crucial for a student’s academic success and overall development, as it is directly related to academic success, personal growth, and future opportunities. It helps build a strong foundation of knowledge and encourages a sense of responsibility. Additionally, consistent attendance allows teachers to better support each student’s individual needs, leading to improved academic performance and a more cohesive classroom environment.
We encourage all families to make school attendance a priority for their students by:
- Talking with your student(s) about the importance of daily attendance in a positive way and how it supports learning.
- Only let your child stay home if they are sick.
- Make every effort to schedule doctors, dentist, and other appointments after school hours. If your child must be out of school for an appointment, bring the child back to school for at least part of the school day.
Together, let us make school attendance a priority, and make every school day count.
PPM 128 – Cell Phone Usage and Vaping on School Property
Policy/Program 128: The Provincial Code of Conduct and School Boards Code of Conduct regarding the restricting/limiting cellphones and vapes in schools is now in effect. The revised Code of Conduct outlines that members of the school community will:
- treat each other with kindness and respect,
- support learning and keep distractions out of class, and
- help others when they are in need.
It also outlines that members of the school community will not:
- bully, cyberbully, or encourage others to do so,
- harm others, including harm with the motivation of hate or discrimination,
- use a personal mobile device during class unless permitted by an educator, and
- use, share, or sell vape, nicotine, and/or tobacco products on school property.
The Provincial Code of Conduct requires boards to restrict access to all social media platforms and apps on school networks and school devices. In addition, personal devices, including cell phones, can only be used by students during class time for educational purposes, directed by an educator. Unless approved by the educator(s) in the classroom, cell phones are not to be visible or used beyond exceptional circumstances. It should be noted that expectations are slightly different for students in Kindergarten-Grade 6 vs. students in Grades 7-12.
KFL&A Public Health and Limestone District School Board are working together to support the implementation of PPM 128 and the necessary educational supports for students, families, and staff.
Additional information is on Limestone’s website and further details will be shared with students and families from schools this fall as it becomes available.
Family Engagement
We encourage families to stay engaged and involved in their student’s education. Your partnership is invaluable, and together, we can create a nurturing community that supports the growth and development of students. Families and students can find lots of resources to support learning and family engagement on the Limestone website.
The Ministry has also provided a Family Guide filled with information to help you support your student’s success and make informed decisions about their education.
As we begin this school year together, let us embrace the challenges and celebrate the successes that come our way. We look forward to a year filled with learning, growth, and wonderful achievements.
Welcome back, and best wishes for a fantastic school year!
Krishna Burra
Director of Education