District News

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Dear Students and Families,</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Due to today’s additional inclement weather day, the Semester 1 exam schedule will be pushed back by one more day. The exam period will now continue into next week and will be </span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">completed on Monday, February 2</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Semester 2 will now begin on Tuesday, February 3 for students.</strong></b></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">We appreciate your continued understanding and flexibility as we prioritize everyone’s safety during the winter weather. Schools will communicate any school specific details or adjustments directly with students and families.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Thank you,</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Talya McKenna</span><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Associate Superintendent K-12 Curriculum and Program Services</span></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Dear Students and Families,</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">As we continue through the Semester 1 exam period, we would like to share an important update about </span><i><b><strong class="editor-text-bold editor-text-italic" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">potential</strong></b></i><i><em class="editor-text-italic" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </em></i><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">schedule changes related to inclement weather.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><i><b><strong class="editor-text-bold editor-text-italic" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">If</strong></b></i><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">we experience another day of bus cancellations during the exam period, the exam schedule </span><i><b><strong class="editor-text-bold editor-text-italic" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">may</strong></b></i><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> continue to shift forward by one exam day, as previously communicated. </span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">If this happens</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">, school exam schedules will need to be extended to Monday,</span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">February 2</span><sup style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span>nd</span></sup><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span><i><b><strong class="editor-text-bold editor-text-italic" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">If this occurs,</strong></b></i><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> then students would start Semester 2 on Tuesday, February 3</span><sup style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span>rd</span></sup><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Please note that the upcoming Professional Activity (PA) Day on January 30</span><sup style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span>th</span></sup><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> cannot be used for exams.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Should bus cancellations occur again, schools will communicate any exam schedule changes directly to families by e-mail, and updates will also be posted on school websites.</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> We encourage families to continue monitoring school communications closely throughout this period of winter weather.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">We recognize that these shifts may cause disruption, and we appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to ensure the safety and well-being of students and staff. We will continue to keep students and families updated if inclement weather causes any changes to the exam schedule.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Thank you,</span><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Talya McKenna</span><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Associate Superintendent K-12 Curriculum and Program Services</span></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The Limestone District School Board is developing the 2026-2027 school year calendar. With Labour Day falling later than usual in 2026, the creation of a balanced and consistent calendar has presented more challenges than in typical years.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">We continue to receive inquiries about the possibility of introducing a fall break. During the 2023–2024 school year, students, families, staff, and community members were surveyed on this topic. Due to the way the calendar year falls and contractual agreements, implementing a fall break is not something we are able to consider for the upcoming 2026-2027 school year.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">In collaboration with our coterminous boards—the Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board and the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board—we have prepared </span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">four calendar options for consideration</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">. We are seeking feedback from members of the Limestone community to help guide our final decision.</span></p><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Option 1 Overview:</strong></b></h2><ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">First Day of School</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">: September 1, 2026</span></li><li value="2" class="editor-listitem"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Winter Break</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">: December 21, 2026 to January 1, 2027</span></li><li value="3" class="editor-listitem"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">March Break</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">: March 15 to 19, 2027</span></li><li value="4" class="editor-listitem"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Last Day of School</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">: June 24, 2027</span></li><li value="5" class="editor-listitem"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Professional Activity Days</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">:&nbsp;</span></li><li value="6" class="editor-listitem editor-nested-listitem"><ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">August 31, 2026</span></li><li value="2" class="editor-listitem"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">September 25, 2026</span></li><li value="3" class="editor-listitem"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">October 26, 2026</span></li><li value="4" class="editor-listitem"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">November 27, 2026</span></li><li value="5" class="editor-listitem"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">January 29, 2027</span></li><li value="6" class="editor-listitem"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">May 31, 2027</span></li><li value="7" class="editor-listitem"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">June 25, 2027</span></li></ul></li><li value="6" class="editor-listitem"><a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/documents/81d9c077-e59e-40f6-b97d-eab79a798524/2026-2027-School-Year-Calendar-Option-1.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20260203171850" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Click here to view School Year Calendar – Option 1</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> (PDF)</span></li></ul><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Option 2 Overview:</strong></b></h2><ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">First Day of School</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">: September 2, 2026</span></li><li value="2" class="editor-listitem"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Winter Break</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">: December 21, 2026 to January 1, 2027</span></li><li value="3" class="editor-listitem"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">March Break</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">: March 15 to 19, 2027</span><br><i><em class="editor-text-italic" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Please note, Friday, March 12 is a Board Holiday</em></i></li><li value="4" class="editor-listitem"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Last Day of School</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">: June 28, 2027</span></li><li value="5" class="editor-listitem"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Professional Activity Days</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">:</span></li><li value="6" class="editor-listitem editor-nested-listitem"><ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">September 1, 2026</span></li><li value="2" class="editor-listitem"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">October 26, 2026</span></li><li value="3" class="editor-listitem"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">November 20, 2026</span></li><li value="4" class="editor-listitem"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">January 29, 2027</span></li><li value="5" class="editor-listitem"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">April 23, 2027</span></li><li value="6" class="editor-listitem"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">May 31, 2027</span></li><li value="7" class="editor-listitem"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">June 29, 2027</span></li></ul></li><li value="6" class="editor-listitem"><a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/documents/6f8a7ea2-ab83-49a2-a65e-9094dccfc607/2026-2027-School-Year-Calendar-Option-2-Final.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20260203171850" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Click here to view School Year Calendar – Option 2 </span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">(PDF)</span></li></ul><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Option 3 Overview:</strong></b></h2><ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">First Day of School</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">: September 8, 2026</span></li><li value="2" class="editor-listitem"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Winter Break</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">: December 21, 2026 to January 1, 2027</span></li><li value="3" class="editor-listitem"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">March Break</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">: March 15 to 19, 2027</span></li><li value="4" class="editor-listitem"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Last Day of School</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">: June 29, 2027</span></li><li value="5" class="editor-listitem"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Professional Activity Days</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">:</span></li><li value="6" class="editor-listitem editor-nested-listitem"><ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">September 3, 2026</span></li><li value="2" class="editor-listitem"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">September 4, 2026</span></li><li value="3" class="editor-listitem"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">October 26, 2026</span></li><li value="4" class="editor-listitem"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">November 27, 2026</span></li><li value="5" class="editor-listitem"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">February 2, 2027</span></li><li value="6" class="editor-listitem"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">May 31, 2027</span></li><li value="7" class="editor-listitem"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">June 30, 2027</span></li></ul></li><li value="6" class="editor-listitem"><a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/documents/a9b64560-2a59-483a-917d-200007782f2c/2026-2027-School-Year-Calendar-Option-3.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20260203171850" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Click here to view School Year Calendar – Option 3</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> (PDF)</span></li></ul><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Option 4 Overview:</strong></b></h2><ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">First Day of School</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">: September 8, 2026</span><br><i><em class="editor-text-italic" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Please note that Friday, September 4, 2026, is a Board Holiday</em></i></li><li value="2" class="editor-listitem"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Winter Break</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">: December 21, 2026 to January 1, 2027</span></li><li value="3" class="editor-listitem"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">March Break</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">: March 15 to 19, 2027</span></li><li value="4" class="editor-listitem"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Last Day of School</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">: June 29, 2027</span></li><li value="5" class="editor-listitem"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Professional Activity Days</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">:</span></li><li value="6" class="editor-listitem editor-nested-listitem"><ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">September 2, 2026</span></li><li value="2" class="editor-listitem"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">September 3, 2026</span></li><li value="3" class="editor-listitem"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">October 26, 2026</span></li><li value="4" class="editor-listitem"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">February 2, 2027</span></li><li value="5" class="editor-listitem"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">April 16, 2027</span></li><li value="6" class="editor-listitem"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">May 31, 2027</span></li><li value="7" class="editor-listitem"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">June 30, 2027</span></li></ul></li><li value="6" class="editor-listitem"><a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/documents/522f1e3e-d355-4639-9c5c-734db566fcdb/2026-2027-School-Year-Calendar-Option-4.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20260203171850" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Click here to view School Year Calendar – Option 4</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> (PDF)</span></li></ul><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Please take a few minutes to complete this short survey. The survey will remain open until </span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">February 9 at 12:00 p.m. (noon).</strong></b></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Survey link:</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><a href="https://bit.ly/20262027SchoolYearCalendar" class="editor-link"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">bit.ly/20262027SchoolYearCalendar</strong></b></a></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">If you would prefer a paper version of the survey, please contact your school and a hard copy will be provided.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Your input is important to us, and we appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback.</span></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Dear Students and Families,</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">As we enter the Semester 1 exam period, we would like to remind families of how schools will adjust exam schedules if student transportation is cancelled due to inclement weather.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">If buses are cancelled on an exam day, the exams scheduled for that day will automatically move to the next exam day. All subsequent exams will also shift forward by one exam day.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Schools will communicate any changes to the exam schedule directly to families by e-mail. Updated information will also be posted on school websites. We encourage families to monitor school communications closely during this period of winter weather.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Students are expected to be available to write exams for the full exam window, from January 22 to January 29, 2026.</strong></b></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">We understand that schedule changes can be disruptive and appreciate your patience and cooperation as we prioritize the safety and well-being of our school communities.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Thank you,</span><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Limestone District School Board</span></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Dear Students and Families,</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The Ministry of Education has introduced a new initiative to recognize the contributions of students to their communities through volunteer service. Beginning with students graduating in the </span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">2025–2026 school year</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">, students who achieve </span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">50 or more community involvement hours</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> will be eligible to receive a </span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Minister’s Certificate of Recognition for Community Involvement</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Overview of the Recognition Tiers</strong></b></p><ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Bronze Certificate:</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> 50 to 99 community involvement hours</span></li><li value="2" class="editor-listitem"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Silver Certificate:</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> 100 to 199 community involvement hours</span></li><li value="3" class="editor-listitem"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Gold Certificate:</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> 200 or more community involvement hours</span></li></ul><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Please note that the </span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) requirement remains at 40 hours</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> of community involvement. The new certificates serve as an </span><i><em class="editor-text-italic" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">enhancement and formal acknowledgment</em></i><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> of students who demonstrate exceptional commitment to community service.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">For additional information on Community Service Hours and the Student Tracking form, please see our </span><a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/volunteer__community_service__hours" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Volunteer (Community Service) Hours webpage</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Sincerely,</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Talya McKenna Associate Superintendent K-12 Curriculum &amp; Program Services</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Limestone District School Board</span></p>

<h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr"><img src="/images/474fd7ad-a699-440c-b07c-6f721154865c?fingerprint=ppb20260120155614" alt="LDSB Black History Month Opening Ceremony Poster" width="637" height="796" style="width:637px;height:796px;display:inline-block"><br><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">You're Invited: LDSB Black History Month Opening Ceremony</span></h2><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">When:</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> Wednesday, February 4, 2026, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Where: </strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">LCVI, 153 Van Order Drive, Kingston</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">All students, staff, families, and community members are invited to join us for an evening of community, connection, and celebration with food, music, and dancing! Featuring: Kids Zone with "Ruthy's Reading Room," and a performance by Cassel Miles as Josiah Henson.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">This event is presented by the LDSB and the LCVI BIPOC affinity group. We hope to see you there!</span></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Welcome to </span><a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/kindergarten-early-learning" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Kindergarten in Limestone</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">. If your student was born in 2022, now is the time to </span><a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/registration" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">register your new student</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> to start school this September.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Kindergarten is a wonderful new world of learning and growing and a very exciting time for both you and your student. We learn how to read, how to write and we make so many new friends. Our educator teams of a teacher and early childhood educator, help us along the way. You can feel confident your child will be cared for within safe and inclusive environments.&nbsp;</span></p><iframe data-lexical-video-id="1e0spaIrnis" width="640" height="480" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/1e0spaIrnis" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="true" title="Youtube video"></iframe><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Limestone has an open boundary administrative procedure, [</span><a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/policies-procedures" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Section 300 – Students AP305 Student Transfers</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">], for student registrations. Limestone welcomes all students, promoting and encouraging families to attend their area school, but we understand that it is best interest of some students to attend an out-of-boundary school and that selecting the right educational setting for your new student is a significant decision.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Selecting an out-of-boundary school for your new student is a decision influenced by many factors. The school may be closer to a workplace or near a childcare provider that might be more convenient for drop-off and pick-up routines. In accordance with board policy, by default, students will be enrolled in the school designated within their boundary area, based on their home address.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">We aim to accommodate family preferences, but please note that out-of-boundary placements are not guaranteed, and families will be responsible for organizing transportation to and from out-of-boundary schools.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Students may be permitted to attend any school within the board when there is available student space, upon submission and approval of the proper application. The board will not be held responsible for the provision of any transportation for students outside of their regular school boundary area. This applies to both students within Limestone’s geographic boundaries (out-of-boundary), and students who live outside of those boundaries (out-of-district).&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">We are committed to supporting you every step of the way. Our dedicated staff are here to assist you throughout this process. If you have any questions or need more information, please contact the school.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Let us embark on this exciting educational journey together!</span><br><br><a href="https://limestone.cmdesign.imagineeverything.com/discover_kindergarten" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Discover Kindergarten in Limestone</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> and learn more about our Kindergarten program, resources, and tips to help your new student prepare for school. &nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/f05f0e70-9777-4085-8ef0-aac5affa75ab?fingerprint=ppb20260115184001" alt="LDSB Kindergarten Student Registration Website Graphic" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Dear Families,</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">I hope this message finds you well as we approach the end of the last school week of 2025 and the upcoming holiday season. &nbsp;I wanted to share a few updates with you before we head into the Winter Break:</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">EQAO Results</strong></b></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The Ministry of Education recently released the 2024-2025 Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) results, and we are proud to share that Limestone achieved its strongest performance in four years, with gains across every testing category.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Limestone’s results align with provincial outcomes in many areas and show notable improvements in others, including among specific student groups. In fact, Limestone’s performance is at or above the provincial average in nearly all measures.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">These accomplishments reflect the collective efforts of Limestone’s educators, Educational Assistants, program teams, and school leaders—along with the commitment and support of students and families across the district. I am deeply proud of the dedication shown by Limestone staff, students, and families in achieving these results.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">More information on EQAO results is </span><a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/news/limestone-s-eqao-results-improve-across-all-categories-20251205185556" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">available on Limestone’s website</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">, including a </span><a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/documents/2a916cd2-b224-4a93-a4b3-b0a57ae98e62/Letter-to-Parents-EQAO-Dec-3-2025.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20251217013406" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">letter to families from Minister of Education, Paul Calandra</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Grade 8 Information Nights</strong></b></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The Limestone District School Board is hosting Grade 8 Parent Information Nights at secondary schools across the region for families and students. These events include a special presentation about the school, its programs, and the registration process.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Information nights are also a great opportunity to learn about the wide variety of programs available for secondary students in Limestone—including expanded opportunities, French immersion, the International Baccalaureate program, and more. We are very proud of the range and choice of different secondary programs we provide to the communities we serve.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Upcoming </span><a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/news/grade-8-information-nights-20251208194333" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">information night dates can be found on Limestone’s website</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Inclement Weather Reminder/Tri-Board Transportation Reminder</strong></b></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">We are now well into the inclement weather season and have already experienced some transportation cancellation days. Our transportation partner, Tri-Board Student Transportation Services (Tri-Board), works closely with school bus companies to determine whether it is safe to operate on days with adverse weather.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">School buses function differently than family vehicles, and sometimes, even when roads seem safe for cars, conditions are not suitable for buses. Given the geographic size of our district, weather can vary significantly from one region to another. As a result, cancellations may affect only certain areas while others remain unaffected.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">We understand that transportation cancellations can be disruptive for families, but safety is always Tri-Board’s top priority for the 30,000-plus students who ride the bus each day. </span><a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/news/prepare-for-winter-related-bus-delays-and-cancellations--20251020203640" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Learn more about how to prepare for winter weather and manage bus cancellation days on our website.</span></a></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Ministry and Board Resources for Math and Literacy</strong></b></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">There are many resources available designed to support your student’s learning in math and literacy, offering engaging activities that can make learning fun and effective for students and families. </span><a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/tutoring" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Visit Limestone’s Online Learning Resources and Tutoring webpage</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> to learn more.&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Director’s Annual Report 2024-2025</strong></b></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The Director’s Annual Report offers a concise overview of the teaching and learning that occurred across the Limestone District School Board during the 2024-2025 school year. It highlights ongoing progress toward the Board’s strategic priorities, shares student achievement data, and showcases key initiatives and accomplishments from across the district and is </span><a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/director-s-annual-report-2024-2025-" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">available on Limestone’s website</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">We hope all Limestone families enjoy a restful winter break filled with time with those who matter most in your lives. We look forward to welcoming students and staff back to school on Monday, January 5, 2026, ready for an exciting new year of learning.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Krishna Burra</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Director of Education</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp;</span></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The </span><a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/documents/d9d195ca-5863-49e4-b0d9-ec6d0f1a84c5/2025-08-31-Limestone-District-School-Board-FS.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20260203171850" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Consolidated Financial Statements for the Year End August 31, 2025 are now available on our website</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Student trustees play a crucial role in giving students a voice in the decisions that shape the Limestone District School Board. As a student trustee, you will have the opportunity to represent the student body and advocate for your peers. You’ll attend board meetings, provide input on important issues, and ensure the student perspective is heard.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">This role offers incredible benefits:</span></p><ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Gain leadership skills</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> that will serve you for life.</span></li><li value="2" class="editor-listitem"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Amplify student voice and impact</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> across the district.</span></li><li value="3" class="editor-listitem"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Build connections</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> with students, staff, and leaders.</span></li><li value="4" class="editor-listitem"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Be an advocate for student voice and change</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> in education.</span></li><li value="5" class="editor-listitem"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Attend conferences in Toronto</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">, connecting with student leaders from across Ontario.</span></li><li value="6" class="editor-listitem"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Bursary </strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">at the end of the school year</span></li></ul><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">If you are going to be a senior student in the 2026-2027 passionate about student government and want to make a difference, this position may be for you! The application process is straightforward, and your school’s Student Council, staff advisors, and current student trustees are here to help you along the way.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Applications are open December 1, 2025, and close January 29, 2026.</strong></b><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">To learn more and submit your application, visit the </span><a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/student_trustees" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Student Trustee webpage</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Don’t miss your chance to be a voice for students across the Limestone District School Board!</span></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The Limestone District School Board is hosting Grade 8 Parent Information Nights at our secondary schools across the region for families and students to attend. Parent information nights include a special presentation about the secondary school, its programs, and the registration process. It is a great opportunity to learn about the wide variety of programs available for secondary students in Limestone—including expanded opportunities, French immersion, the International Baccalaureate program, and more.</span></p><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Open house dates:</span></h2><ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Bayridge Secondary School</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> - January 13, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.</span></li><li value="2" class="editor-listitem"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Ernestown Secondary School</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> – February 5, 2026 at 6:30 p.m.</span></li><li value="3" class="editor-listitem"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Frontenac Secondary School</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> – January 28, 2026 at 6:30 p.m.</span></li><li value="4" class="editor-listitem"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Granite Ridge Education Centre</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> – February 25, 2026 at 6:30 p.m.</span></li><li value="5" class="editor-listitem"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Kingston Secondary School</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> – December 9, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.</span></li><li value="6" class="editor-listitem"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">La Salle Secondary School</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> – February 11, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.</span></li><li value="7" class="editor-listitem"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">LCVI</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> – January 13, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.</span></li><li value="8" class="editor-listitem"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Napanee District Secondary School</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> – February 18, 2026 at 6:30 p.m.</span></li><li value="9" class="editor-listitem"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">North Addington Education Centre</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> – February 19, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.</span></li><li value="10" class="editor-listitem"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Sydenham High School</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> – January 14, 2026 at 6:30 p.m.</span></li></ul><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Locating your student’s home secondary school</span></h2><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Families can locate their student’s home secondary school by using </span><a href="https://triboard.mybusplanner.ca/Eligibility" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Tri-Board Transportation’s Bus Planner “Which School Do I Attend?” tool online</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">. &nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/0e06f234-e10b-4281-8bcb-a26cf890f858?fingerprint=ppb20260115153526" alt="Grade 8 Information Nights 2026" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The Limestone District School Board (LDSB) has&nbsp;achieved&nbsp;its strongest&nbsp;Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO)&nbsp;performance&nbsp;in&nbsp;four years, with gains in&nbsp;</strong></b><u><b><strong class="editor-text-bold editor-text-underline" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">every testing category</strong></b></u><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp;for the 2024-2025 school year.&nbsp;LDSB’s EQAO results&nbsp;align with provincial outcomes in many areas, while showing notable improvements in others and among specific student groups.&nbsp;Limestone’s 2024-2025 results are at, or above, the provincial average in&nbsp;almost all&nbsp;measures.</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Results show an upward trend&nbsp;and momentum&nbsp;across all eight areas of assessment for students in Grades 3, 6, 9, and 10, including those with special education needs, underscoring&nbsp;the&nbsp;Board’s intention&nbsp;of&nbsp;making a positive difference in the lives of&nbsp;every student, in every classroom, in every school.&nbsp;</strong></b><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp;</span><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">"These results reflect the daily dedication of Limestone educators, educational assistants, program teams, and school leaders,” says Krishna Burra,&nbsp;LDSB&nbsp;Director of Education.&nbsp;“I want to acknowledge&nbsp;the efforts of those who have&nbsp;focused on implementing evidence-informed practices, providing targeted supports, and collaborating across schools to ensure student achievement and success.”&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The elementary school report provides assessments of Reading, Writing, and Mathematics written by&nbsp;students&nbsp;in Grades 3 and 6. The secondary school report provides similar information relating to the Grade 9 Assessment of Mathematics and the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test&nbsp;(OSSLT).&nbsp;</span></p><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Results&nbsp;at a Glance&nbsp;</span></h2><ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Grade 3 Improvements:</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp;LDSB students showed a 5% to 8% increase in Reading, Writing, and Math, with 75% meeting the provincial standard in Reading, 65% in Writing, and 65% in Math, outperforming provincial averages. Students with special&nbsp;education&nbsp;needs improved by 8% to&nbsp;9% in these subjects.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></li><li value="2" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Grade 6 Gains:</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp;Achievement rose in all areas, with 88% meeting Reading standards, 87% in Writing, and 51% in Math, matching or exceeding provincial rates.&nbsp;Students&nbsp;with&nbsp;special&nbsp;education needs&nbsp;made significant advances, especially in Writing with a 22% increase.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></li><li value="3" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Grades&nbsp;9 and 10 Results:</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> LDSB’s Grade 9 Math scores were slightly below provincial levels but increased by 5% from the previous year, with&nbsp;students with special education needs&nbsp;performing better than&nbsp;students with similar needs in other&nbsp;jurisdictions.&nbsp;The Grade 10 OSSLT saw 95% participation and 84% success, a 3% rise, with continued improvement among&nbsp;students with special education needs.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></li></ul><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Grade 3 EQAO Results&nbsp;</span></h2><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Grade 3&nbsp;student&nbsp;achievement saw a&nbsp;5% to&nbsp;8% increase in all subject areas in Limestone, compared to the 2023/24&nbsp;assessment results, with&nbsp;75% meeting the provincial standard in&nbsp;Reading, 65% in&nbsp;Writing, and&nbsp;65% in&nbsp;Math.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Results for&nbsp;the province&nbsp;showed a slight&nbsp;increase&nbsp;from the previous year&nbsp;for&nbsp;all&nbsp;Grade 3&nbsp;subjects&nbsp;and&nbsp;were&nbsp;slightly lower&nbsp;than Limestone&nbsp;across Grade 3 assessment&nbsp;subjects.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">This new data shows improvement in all subjects, with&nbsp;Math achievement showing the most significant difference for&nbsp;students&nbsp;in Grade 3.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Of significant note&nbsp;are&nbsp;the gains in achievement in Grade&nbsp;3&nbsp;Reading,&nbsp;Writing, and&nbsp;Mathematics made by Limestone&nbsp;students with special&nbsp;education&nbsp;needs&nbsp;– up&nbsp;9%,&nbsp;8%, and&nbsp;9% respectively,&nbsp;compared to the 2023/24&nbsp;assessment results.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Grade 6 EQAO Results&nbsp;</span></h2><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Grade 6&nbsp;student achievement&nbsp;in Limestone&nbsp;also&nbsp;continues to&nbsp;build momentum with&nbsp;improvements in&nbsp;all subject areas.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">In&nbsp;Reading, 88% of students&nbsp;met&nbsp;provincial standard&nbsp;in 2024/25&nbsp;– an increase of&nbsp;9% from the 2023/24 assessment&nbsp;and a higher rate than the province for&nbsp;2024/25.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Results in&nbsp;Writing&nbsp;showed an increase of 14% over the&nbsp;previous&nbsp;assessment year, with&nbsp;87% of&nbsp;students&nbsp;meeting provincial standard,&nbsp;at a higher rate than the province.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">In&nbsp;Math,&nbsp;results were equal to&nbsp;the&nbsp;province,&nbsp;with&nbsp;51%&nbsp;of&nbsp;students&nbsp;meeting&nbsp;the provincial standard, an increase of 11% for Limestone compared to the&nbsp;previous&nbsp;assessment year.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Like&nbsp;the&nbsp;Grade 3 assessment results, achievement&nbsp;in&nbsp;all subject areas&nbsp;for&nbsp;students&nbsp;in&nbsp;Grade 6 with special education needs&nbsp;in Limestone&nbsp;has increased, with significant gains in&nbsp;Reading and&nbsp;Writing&nbsp;by&nbsp;12% and&nbsp;22%, respectively,&nbsp;since the 2023/24&nbsp;assessment. This increase in achievement&nbsp;for&nbsp;students&nbsp;in&nbsp;Grade 6&nbsp;with special education needs&nbsp;is higher than the province&nbsp;by 3% to 10%&nbsp;across all&nbsp;subject areas.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">“Limestone&nbsp;students&nbsp;and staff have worked hard to achieve these gains across Reading, Writing, and Mathematics, including the strong improvements for&nbsp;students&nbsp;with&nbsp;special&nbsp;education needs,” says Burra.&nbsp;“The momentum we are seeing is the result of consistent, evidence‑informed practice—targeted instruction, early interventions, collaborative professional learning, and a sharp focus on what happens in classrooms every day.&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">“We are proud of this progress, and we are committed to sustaining it by continuing the practices that work and adjusting where they do not,” he adds.&nbsp;“Our goal remains steady improvement over time, not one‑year spikes, for every&nbsp;student,&nbsp;in every classroom,&nbsp;in every school.”&nbsp;</span></p><h3 class="editor-heading-h3" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Primary Assessment (administered in Grade 3):&nbsp;</span></h3><table class="editor-table" style="width: 100%; table-layout: fixed;"><colgroup><col style="width: 60.1124%;"><col style="width: 18.7266%;"><col style="width: 21.161%;"></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 33px;"><td class="editor-tableCell" style="background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Area of Assessment&nbsp;</strong></b></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">LDSB&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></b></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Province&nbsp;</strong></b></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 33px;"><td class="editor-tableCell" style="background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Reading&nbsp;</span></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">75%&nbsp;</span></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">74%&nbsp;</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 33px;"><td class="editor-tableCell" style="background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Writing&nbsp;</span></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">65%&nbsp;</span></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">65%&nbsp;</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 33px;"><td class="editor-tableCell" style="background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Mathematics&nbsp;</span></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">65%&nbsp;</span></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">64%&nbsp;</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><h3 class="editor-heading-h3" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Junior Assessment (administered in Grade 6):&nbsp;</span></h3><table class="editor-table" style="width: 100%; table-layout: fixed;"><colgroup><col style="width: 60.1124%;"><col style="width: 18.7266%;"><col style="width: 21.161%;"></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 33px;"><td class="editor-tableCell" style="background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Area of Assessment&nbsp;</strong></b></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">LDSB&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></b></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Province&nbsp;</strong></b></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 33px;"><td class="editor-tableCell" style="background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Reading&nbsp;</span></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">88%&nbsp;</span></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">86%&nbsp;</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 33px;"><td class="editor-tableCell" style="background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Writing&nbsp;</span></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">87%&nbsp;</span></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">85%&nbsp;</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 33px;"><td class="editor-tableCell" style="background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Mathematics&nbsp;</span></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">51%&nbsp;</span></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">51%&nbsp;</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Grades&nbsp;9&nbsp;and 10&nbsp;EQAO Results&nbsp;</span></h2><h3 class="editor-heading-h3" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Grade 9 Mathematics Assessment:&nbsp;</span></h3><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Results&nbsp;for&nbsp;Grade 9&nbsp;Math&nbsp;in Limestone&nbsp;are slightly lower&nbsp;compared&nbsp;to the provincial results. For all participating&nbsp;students&nbsp;in the&nbsp;Grade 9&nbsp;Math assessment,&nbsp;55% achieved the provincial standard in Limestone,&nbsp;and 58%&nbsp;achieved the provincial standard provincially.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Limestone’s&nbsp;Grade 9&nbsp;Math results&nbsp;increased&nbsp;by&nbsp;5% as compared to last year.&nbsp;Results for&nbsp;students&nbsp;with&nbsp;special&nbsp;education&nbsp;needs&nbsp;achieving the provincial standard&nbsp;are&nbsp;higher than&nbsp;the province at&nbsp;34%&nbsp;for Limestone,&nbsp;compared to&nbsp;32% for the province.&nbsp;</span></p><table class="editor-table" style="width: 100%; table-layout: fixed;"><colgroup><col style="width: 60.1124%;"><col style="width: 18.7266%;"><col style="width: 21.161%;"></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 33px;"><td class="editor-tableCell" style="background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Grade 9 Mathematics Assessment&nbsp;</strong></b></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">LDSB&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></b></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Province&nbsp;</strong></b></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 33px;"><td class="editor-tableCell" style="background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Grade 9&nbsp;Math&nbsp;</span></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">55%&nbsp;</span></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">58%&nbsp;</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">“Grade 9 Mathematics continues to be a priority area,” says Steve&nbsp;Hedderson, LDSB Associate Superintendent of Human Resources&nbsp;and&nbsp;Curriculum&nbsp;and Program Services: Math and FSL.&nbsp;“Limestone’s&nbsp;five‑point improvement year‑over‑year shows the work is taking hold. We&nbsp;are deepening supports in Grade 9&nbsp;Math—explicit instruction, daily practice, and&nbsp;timely&nbsp;interventions—and aligning professional learning so teachers have the tools they need. We&nbsp;are focused on building&nbsp;Math confidence and competency for every&nbsp;student.”&nbsp;</span></p><h3 class="editor-heading-h3" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test&nbsp;- Administered in Grade 10:&nbsp;</span></h3><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">This year, 95% of first-time eligible&nbsp;students&nbsp;wrote the test&nbsp;in Limestone, compared to 94%&nbsp;of&nbsp;students&nbsp;in the province. With&nbsp;this&nbsp;high&nbsp;participation&nbsp;rate,&nbsp;84% of all&nbsp;students&nbsp;in Limestone&nbsp;were successful, an increase of&nbsp;3%&nbsp;compared to&nbsp;the 2023/24&nbsp;school year.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">OSSLT&nbsp;results&nbsp;for&nbsp;students&nbsp;with&nbsp;special&nbsp;education&nbsp;needs&nbsp;continue&nbsp;to&nbsp;show&nbsp;an&nbsp;improvement&nbsp;for the&nbsp;2024/25&nbsp;year,&nbsp;with&nbsp;65% of&nbsp;Limestone&nbsp;students&nbsp;being successful&nbsp;on the assessment.&nbsp;</span></p><table class="editor-table" style="width: 100%; table-layout: fixed;"><colgroup><col style="width: 56.513%;"><col style="width: 20.0401%;"><col style="width: 23.4469%;"></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 33px;"><td class="editor-tableCell" style="background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Grade 10 OSSLT&nbsp;</strong></b></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">LDSB&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></b></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Province&nbsp;</strong></b></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 33px;"><td class="editor-tableCell" style="background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Participation&nbsp;Rate&nbsp;</span></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">95%&nbsp;</span></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">94%&nbsp;</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 33px;"><td class="editor-tableCell" style="background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Success&nbsp;Rate&nbsp;</span></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">84%&nbsp;</span></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">85%&nbsp;</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">“Strong Grade 10 Literacy outcomes begin with strong participation,” says Stephanie Sartor, LDSB Associate Superintendent of Curriculum and Program Services: Literacy Focus. “With 95% writing and 84% successful, up three points from last year, we are encouraged by the trajectory, including the continued improvement for students with special education needs. Literacy is a shared responsibility across subjects, and we will keep pairing explicit instruction with targeted supports so every learner can&nbsp;demonstrate&nbsp;success.”&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Students in all publicly&nbsp;funded schools in Ontario&nbsp;are required to&nbsp;write provincial assessments, administered by EQAO, a provincial body that tests students’ skills in&nbsp;Literacy in Grades 3, 6,&nbsp;and 10 and&nbsp;Math skills in Grades 3, 6,&nbsp;and 9 in relation to Ontario&nbsp;curriculum expectations.&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Successful completion of the&nbsp;Literacy requirement is one of the requirements to earn an Ontario Secondary School Diploma.&nbsp;The EQAO assessments have undergone significant&nbsp;updates, with the newer&nbsp;digital assessments offered entirely online through a digital platform for students over the past&nbsp;four&nbsp;years.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">“The dedication of Limestone educators,&nbsp;educational assistants,&nbsp;program team members, and school leaders will remain foundational to&nbsp;continued efforts moving forward,” says Burra.&nbsp;</span></p>