Dear Families,
As we are almost reaching the one-month mark of this school year, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude for your continued support and engagement. While September weather has been very summer-like, it has been a pleasure to see Limestone students settle into their routines for the 2024-2025 school year.
I have a couple of updates for you, and invite you to watch a Message from the Director video which summarizes this communication:
Multi-Year Strategic Plan Update
As a board, we will continue to act upon our new Multi-Year Strategic Plan and our intention of making a positive difference in the lives of every student, in every classroom, in every school. Our staff is committed to doing the work necessary to improve student well-being and sense of belonging, literacy and math learning, graduation rates and preparedness for future success, and responsiveness and service to students, families, staff, and community partners. We will continue to share more updates with you in the coming weeks about how we are putting our Strategic Plan into action.
School Profile Data Now Available on School Websites Across Limestone
Limestone is pleased to announce that school profile data is now available on our district’s school websites. This information provides us with data and trends that assist with enrolment projections, boundary planning, and school catchment areas.
This initiative is driven by our commitment to transparency and our desire to keep our community well-informed about the educational environment within our schools.
Sharing school profile data with the greater community is essential for several reasons, including providing transparency for community members to see the school’s profile data, empowering families to make informed decisions about their student’s education, and supporting community engagement.
We are pleased to provide school profile data for our schools and look forward to working together with our community to continuously improve our learning environments.
School Profile Data can be found on all LDSB school websites under “Our School” in the main navigation menu.
Cell Phones and Vaping
One item receiving considerable attention as we start this school year is the new provincial policy on cell phones and vaping. This was outlined in my first family message at the start of the school year. In Limestone, vaping has never been permitted on school property. In addition, cell phones have only been permissible during class time with the educator’s permission.
What is clear is more education about the dangers of vaping and overuse of cell phones and social media is necessary for the benefit of all children and youth. More and more evidence is emerging linking poorer health outcomes associated with increased use of cell phones and social media.
We will be working closely with public health to increase education on the harms of vaping, and excessive cell phone and social media use during this school year. It is important for students, families, and staff to understand the health concerns related to both behaviours.
Attendance Matters
Regular school attendance is crucial for a student’s academic success and overall development, as it is directly related to personal growth and future opportunities. It helps build a strong foundation of knowledge, encourages a sense of responsibility, and establishes a consistent routine. 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 letting your student stay home if they are unwell.
- Where possible, trying to schedule doctor, dentist, and other appointments after school hours. If your student must be out of school for an appointment during the school day, trying to minimize their absence by having them attend for at least part of the school day.
We fully recognize and acknowledge that not all children/youth are the same, and some students have important needs that may prevent consistent, regular attendance. In these cases, it is important for families to work with the school to make sure the student is best supported.
We know school makes a difference and matters for students. Together, let us make school attendance a priority to the maximum extent possible, and make every school day count.
All the very best,
Krishna Burra
Director of Education