District News

<img src="/images/94c2ce39-3787-5c80-a81f-0f8fef76cb42?fingerprint=ppb20251217014357" srcset="/thumbnails/94c2ce39-3787-5c80-a81f-0f8fef76cb42?fingerprint=ppb20251217014357 450w, /images/94c2ce39-3787-5c80-a81f-0f8fef76cb42?fingerprint=ppb20251217014357 600w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 450px, 600px"> <p><span>Students gravitate to new books and new stories - especially if they are windows into perspectives and lived experiences of others. Contemporary stories that stimulate positive discussion and empathy in equity, inclusion, resilience and understanding.</span></p> <p><span><strong><em>Books are Back</em></strong> will build rich classroom libraries for independent reading. These are not textbooks, but important topical stories featuring high quality, literacy authors’ works at appropriate reading levels not provided by government funding.</span></p> <p><span>The Limestone Learning Foundation is providing all Grade 4 to 6 classrooms, in every elementary school of the Limestone District School Board, with books to further support Indigenous Education, Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity. These books will give students the opportunity to connect, question and explore.</span></p> <p><span>Twenty-five titles curated by Erica Wyncoll and Elisabeth Beaulieu, educators, and Program Consultants of the Limestone District School Board. These books range from graphic novels, small chapter books, to full length novels with complex plots and sophisticated themes.</span></p> <p><span>As part of this project, French Immersion classes will receive English books to support English to French Immersion educators’ class libraries. It is the hope of both the LLF and the LDSB that this will support students who are developing a love of reading in both French and English. Support for French books for classroom libraries continues to be a priority and will be made available to French Immersion educators as funding allows.</span></p> <p><a class="editor-link" href="/documents/4228d5e4-b084-5d35-b5ad-a1bfa1e8848e?fingerprint=ppb20251217013621" target="_blank"> <span>Books are Back catalogue</span> </a><br> <br> <span>The<a href="https://llf.limestone.on.ca/" target="_blank" title="LLF website"> Limestone Learning Foundation&nbsp;</a><span>inspires excellence in education&nbsp;by funding school and classroom initiatives that&nbsp;demonstrate creativity, innovation, empowerment, equity and inclusion. <br> <br> The LLF was established by the Limestone District School Board in 1999 to enhance educational opportunities for students by raising money for projects and initiatives that could not otherwise be offered by the school board through its regular government funding.<br> </span></span> </p>

<img src="/images/04ae8ec6-311c-55f8-bea3-7efe0cb2729b?fingerprint=ppb20251217013037" srcset="/thumbnails/04ae8ec6-311c-55f8-bea3-7efe0cb2729b?fingerprint=ppb20251217013037 450w, /images/04ae8ec6-311c-55f8-bea3-7efe0cb2729b?fingerprint=ppb20251217013037 600w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 450px, 600px"> <p><span>The Limestone District School Board has released a preliminary report of data collected and next steps from the See Yourself In Limestone Student Census 2020.</span></p> <p><span><span>More than 10,000 total surveys were completed by students and families in November and December 2020. <span>The voluntary and confidential census asked a series of questions&nbsp;around identity and demographics to help the board better understand the diverse backgrounds, experiences, strengths and needs within our school communities. The overall goal of the student census is to i</span></span><span>mprove achievement and well-being by identifying&nbsp;</span><span>opportunities to help all students succeed.</span></span></p> <p><span><span>Board staff have spent the past few months verifying and validating the data collected to ensure its integrity. This includes screening for inconsistencies, and reviewing the format of all data fields to ensure it is ready for analysis. The result is the <span>&nbsp;</span></span><span><a class="editor-link" href="/documents/74614968-8317-5224-942e-965cb7417635?fingerprint=ppb20251217014056" target="_blank"> <span>See Yourself in Limestone Student Census: Preliminary Report (September 2021)</span> </a></span><strong><span> </span></strong><span>which provides a summary of answers to all census questions without any interpretation. Offering data in this format is a requirement of the Ontario Anti-Racism Data Standards. We acknowledge there are more meaningful ways to explore this data and this work is under way.</span><strong></strong></span></p> <p><span><span>Next, staff will share findings with stakeholders, and then conduct secondary analyses on achievement and suspension data.&nbsp;“Right now, we are beginning to share the&nbsp;</span><span>data contained in this report with students, families, staff and community partners,” says Alison McDonnell, Superintendent of Education. “We will discuss the results and start to interpret them together.”</span></span></p> <p><span>That interpretive work includes the formation of a Technical Advisory Group (TAG),&nbsp; a group of individuals with research and statistics experience who can offer a variety of perspectives and lived experiences in their analyses. Census data will also show how student identity data intersects with academic outcomes (like graduation and credit accumulation) and student suspensions. By connecting these datasets, we will begin to identify potential systemic barriers in Limestone and their effects on students' outcomes. “Ultimately, data collected in the Student Census will help us build a shared understanding of what working and learning within an equity lens means, and in Limestone specifically,” says McDonnell.</span></p> <p><span><span>The preliminary report is the first in what will be </span><span>a series of themed reports to further&nbsp;share data with school communities. “</span><span>The Student Census project would not be possible without the continued support and engagement of students, families, staff and community partners,” says McDonnell. “We will continue to build and expand our relationships with our community as we move forward with data analysis and strategic planning.”</span></span></p> <p><span>The census was completed by students in Grades 4 to 12 during supervised class time between November and&nbsp;&nbsp;December 2020. Families&nbsp;of Kindergarten to Grade 3 students were invited to participate at home. More than 10,000 total surveys were completed by students and families – an overall response rate of 55 per cent. Among student-only surveys, Limestone’s response rate was 76 per cent.</span></p> <p><span>&nbsp;</span></p>

<img src="/images/cfdc3342-ad88-5a29-93b8-05b4739de49c?fingerprint=ppb20251217014921" srcset="/thumbnails/cfdc3342-ad88-5a29-93b8-05b4739de49c?fingerprint=ppb20251217014921 450w, /images/cfdc3342-ad88-5a29-93b8-05b4739de49c?fingerprint=ppb20251217014921 600w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 450px, 600px"> <p><span><span>School boards are using multiple strategies to support safe and learning environments.</span><span> </span><span>A multi-pronged ventilation strategy is a key element as part of the various risk mitigation initiatives in place to </span><span>reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.&nbsp;</span><span>School boards are optimizing air quality in schools through improved ventilation and filtration thanks to recent investments from the Ministry of Education.</span></span></p> <p><span>School ventilation systems in all Limestone schools are regularly inspected to ensure they are in good working order.&nbsp;School boards are also optimizing air quality in schools through existing or upgraded Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems or stand-alone High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filtration units. Implemented measures are dependent on the type of ventilation and feasibility within the context of school facilities and related building systems.&nbsp;Classrooms that do not have filtered air, for example, will have HEPA unit(s) installed to ensure the air is changed frequently.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span><span>Beginning September 3, 2021, school boards will share a&nbsp;</span><span>standardized ventilation measures report HYPERLINK for the 2021-2022 school year to enhance transparency and provide consistent communication across the province. This reporting requirement includes&nbsp;School Board Ventilation Strategy;&nbsp;School Board Ventilation Investments; and a&nbsp;School-level Ventilation and Filtration Measures Report.</span></span></p> <p><span>In 2021-2022, Limestone received $7.8 million in ventilation funding to support 26 ventilation projects in progress/planned, and 25 schools received an investment, which is 45% of total schools in the board.</span></p> <p><span>The board has received 850 stand-along HEPA filtration units which are being deployed to schools.&nbsp;Limestone has received 820 classroom units and another 30 units (these are equivalent in size to four classroom units) for school gymnasiums are expected this week.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span>All Kindergarten classrooms will also be equipped with HEPA units regardless of the type of ventilation in the school as per Ministry of Education guidelines.</span></p> <p><span><span><a href="/cms/One.aspx" target="_blank" title="LDSB Ventilation Measures Reporting">LDSB V</a></span><span><a href="/cms/One.aspx" target="_blank" title="LDSB Ventilation Measures Reporting">entilation Measures Reporting</a></span></span></p>

<img src="/images/6284d300-d545-5427-ad34-c06e2a13151d?fingerprint=ppb20251217013923" srcset="/thumbnails/6284d300-d545-5427-ad34-c06e2a13151d?fingerprint=ppb20251217013923 450w, /images/6284d300-d545-5427-ad34-c06e2a13151d?fingerprint=ppb20251217013923 600w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 450px, 600px"> <p><span>The Ministry of Education has approved the Limestone District School Board’s 2021-2022 School Year Calendar.</span></p><span> </span> <p><span>The approved calendar allows for a traditional start for students following Labour Day. The first day of school for students will be Tuesday, September 7, 2021. Staff will begin the school year with a Professional Activity (PA) Day on Friday, September 3, 2021.</span></p><span> </span> <p><span>Every school year must include a minimum of 194 school days including seven PA Days and 187 instructional days. Each semester is equally divided into 97 days.&nbsp;<br> <span></span></span></p> <ul> <li><span><a class="editor-link" href="/documents/7993c8d6-1661-5046-8f4c-d49ea761b392?fingerprint=20260525T0545Z" target="_blank"> <span>2021-2022 Elementary Calendar</span> </a></span></li> <li><span><a class="editor-link" href="/documents/03764c51-1a6c-5aa3-86b0-b0186b51d6d1?fingerprint=20260525T0545Z" target="_blank"> <span>2021-2022 Secondary Calendar</span> </a></span></li> </ul><span> </span> <p><span>Provincial Regulation 304: School Year Calendar requires the following school holidays:</span></p><span> </span> <ul> <li><span>Every Saturday and Sunday</span></li> <li><span>Labour Day – Monday, September 6, 2021</span></li> <li><span>Thanksgiving Day – Monday, October 11, 2021</span></li> <li><span>14&nbsp;consecutive days for December Break – December 20, 2021 to January 2, 2022</span></li> <li><span>Family Day – Monday, February 21, 2022</span></li> <li><span>5 consecutive days for March Break – March 14 to March 18, 2022 inclusive</span></li> <li><span>Good Friday – Friday, April 15, 2022</span></li> <li><span>Easter Monday – Monday, April 18, 2022</span></li> <li><span>Victoria Day – Monday, May 23, 2022</span></li> </ul><span> </span> <p><span>Additionally, there are seven Professional Activity (PA) Days throughout the year.</span></p> <ul> <li><span> Friday, September 3, 2021<br> <span></span></span></li> <li><span>Friday, October 1, 2021<br> <span></span></span></li> <li><span>Monday, November 1, 2021<br> <span></span></span></li> <li><span>Wednesday, February 2, 2022 (semester 2 turnaround day)<br> <span></span></span></li> <li><span>Friday, April 29, 2022<br> <span></span></span></li> <li><span>Friday, June 3, 202<br> <span></span></span></li> <li><span>Thursday, June 30, 2022</span><span> </span></li> </ul> <p><span>Families, caregivers, students, staff, unions and federations, and community partners were invited to provide feedback on the calendar through an online survey. Both the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board and Algonquin Lakeshore Catholic District School Board will follow the same school-year calendar due to shared transportation.<br> </span></p>

<figure class="image image_resized image-style-side" style="width:inherit;"><img src="/images/c8b14711-58e0-55ad-81f9-3e00e47e2e18?fingerprint=ppb20251217014840" alt=""></figure><p>Learning is always a priority for our students. We, recognize, however, that the&nbsp; COVID-19 situation is a stressful time for families and children/youth.&nbsp;On March 31, 2020, the Ministry of Education launched <a href="https://www.ontario.ca/page/learn-at-home?_ga=2.185453673.158439675.1584723892-1433620899.1580130535">Learn at Home</a>, an online portal, of educational resources to support&nbsp; student learning during the closure. The Limestone District School Board has also compiled a list of supplemental resources to help engage students and families. Please use these resources as an option to support your child’s learning and well-being, in addition to the Ministry's resources.</p><p>Some teachers may choose to provide learning materials to students virtually, however, there is no expectation they do so, nor that students complete any work until April 6, 2020 when teacher-directed learning begins.&nbsp;We know that not all families have access to, or the capacity for, online learning from home.&nbsp;</p><p><a href="/online_learning_resources" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">LDSB Online Learning Resources</a></p><p><a href="/documents/5c910c16-2c00-5089-a62d-efa94be7e755?fingerprint=20260525T0545Z">Guidelines for Video Conferencing: Support for Families</a></p><p><a href="/documents/06aa12dc-3188-5c03-88ad-e892e77b7017?fingerprint=ppb20251217013037">Guidelines for Video Conferencing: Support for Students</a></p>

<img src="/images/0e11cb84-c55e-5bb0-95b4-f2b697ac2765?fingerprint=ppb20251217013130" srcset="/thumbnails/0e11cb84-c55e-5bb0-95b4-f2b697ac2765?fingerprint=ppb20251217013130 450w, /images/0e11cb84-c55e-5bb0-95b4-f2b697ac2765?fingerprint=ppb20251217013130 600w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 450px, 600px"> <p><span>Pending approval, students of the Limestone District School Board will return to class before the traditional Labour Day holiday, with classes beginning for all students on Tuesday, September 1, 2020.</span></p> <p><span>Often, school starts in Ontario after Labour Day. This fall, however, the holiday is later which has resulted in Limestone <span>&nbsp;</span>and many other school boards across the province, starting school before the Labour Day holiday. </span></p> <p><span>Student achievement is the primary consideration for all calendar decisions and options.</span></p> <p><span>The school year calendar stakeholder committee explored a number of ways to meet the Ministry of Education’s requirement of 194 school days between September 1 and June 30, while still balancing school breaks, elementary reporting, <span>&nbsp;</span>secondary exam schedules, professional activity days and shared transportation.</span></p> <p><span><span>More than 2,700 people responded to the Board’s online survey seeking feedback on one of two options – a start on September 1 or 2. Sixty-one per cent of survey respondents, as well as Limestone’s co-terminous boards with whom we share busing, Hastings &amp; Prince Edward District School Board, and Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board, indicated a preference for a PA Day on August 31 with students starting September 1.</span><span></span></span></p> <p><span>A return to classes on September 1 provides a summer break of 67 days, which is consistent with the length of the break over the last five years. Utilizing professional learning days throughout the school year, and ensuring second semester for secondary students starts on either a Friday or Monday were also important factors.<br> </span></p> <p><span>Notable details of the proposed 2020-2021 School Year Calendar are:</span></p> <ul> <li><span>The school year starts on Monday, August 31, 2020 for staff only (PA Day). </span></li> <li><span>Students begin Tuesday, September 1, 2020</span></li> <li><span>December break (Monday, December 21 – Friday, January 1, 2021). School resumes for students and staff Monday, January 4, 2021</span></li> <li><span>March Break (March 15 – 19, 2021)</span></li> <li><span>There are seven (7) PA days in total (August 31, 2020 September 25, 2020, November 20, 2020, January 29, 2021, April 30, 2021, June 4, 2021and June 25, 2021).</span></li> <li><span>Two (2) PA days are required for Elementary reporting: January 29, 2021 and June 4, 2021.</span></li> <li><span>Semester 1 runs from August 31, 2020 to January 29, 2021 inclusive. Semester 2 runs from February 1 to June 25, 2021.</span></li> <li><span>Secondary exam Schedules: January 21 – 27, 2021 and June 17 – 23, 2021</span></li> <li><span><span></span>Last day of school for students Thursday, June 24, 2021</span></li> <li><span>Each semester consists of 97 school days.</span></li> </ul> <p><span><br> The final calendar must be approved by the Ministry of Education.<br> </span></p> <p><span><br> </span></p>