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Please see news below from our school and across the Limestone District School Board:

Indigenous Caregivers are Invited to Submit an Expression of Interest to Join the Indigenous Education Committee (IEC)

The Limestone District School Board is inviting Indigenous caregivers to submit an Expression of Interest to join the Indigenous Education Committee (IEC).The IEC provides guidance on Indigenous Education initiatives throughout the district and collaborates to support Indigenous students and their families. This year, we are seeking one additional Indigenous caregiver to join this important circle.If you are interested, please complete the Expression of Interest form here: <a href="https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fforms.office.com%2Fr%2F8zsv9E9JDC&data=05%7C02%7Ccrothersm%40limestone.on.ca%7Ca0aeee05278d4e887f1408ddf52de1f3%7Ce1f4165febae4d82a73ca0de593830be%7C0%7C0%7C638936299630563795%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=6u91hjpJIfKQjm9fWKaBPNZhbw6%2FSmnBUq2bttPIjlA%3D&reserved=0" class="editor-link">ttps://forms.office.com/r/8zsv9E9JDC</a> This form will be available from September 17 to September 24. Please ensure that you complete this form before the due date.We are grateful for your time and consideration.

2025-09-17 13:52:43.569 +0000 UTC

What's Happening at Southview PS - Week 2, September 2025

<img src="/images/1ece4821-e131-41d2-8937-afa40dae9b3f?fingerprint=ppb20251217013257" alt="Land acknowledgement" width="413" height="323" style="width:413px;height:323px;display:inline-block"><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr">Growing, Learning, and Achieving Together</h2>Hello Lynx Families!We haved completed the first full week of school and everyone is feeling great about our progress. The students are consolidating routines and the staff are beginning to assess students in core areas such as Literacy and Numeracy in preparation for data analysis activies and goal setting for individual learners. It is an exciitng time!We have a few important notices that we want to draw your attention to as we move into Week 3. The Grade 7 Immunization Clinic will take place on October 27th, 2025 but the information and application forms went home this week. The Forms are due back to the office by September 18th, 2025. Information regarding KFL&A's School Dental Screening is being sent home with all JK/SK/Grade 2 students. All students in these Grades will be screened unless families indicate otherwise by contacting KFL&A at 613 549 1232 (Extension 1218) or by visiting <a href="about:blank" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link">kflaph.ca/DentalScreening</a> and filling out an online form.Many of our sports teams and athletic opportunities are in full swing. Cross Country running practices for Grades 3-8 are being held multiple times per week during the recess break period in preparation for race day at Fort Henry which will take place on October 14th. The Intermediate Baseball team is practicing for their big event to take place on October 8th. Finally, the Intermediate Boys and Girls Soccer teams are in preparation for their tournament day taking place between September 29th and October 1st. The exact date will be announced shortly. Thank you to all of our staff who are dedicating so much time to coaching our young athletes and good luck to all students! Go, Lynx! Junior boys and girls intramural soccer will be starting up very soon. Please see Mr. Dunleavy if you have any questions about this fantastic activity. The whole school will be participating in the annual Terry Fox Fundraiser on October 9th, 2025. Please review the relevant section below to see how you can contribute and stay tuned for more information coming in the near future!Don't forget about the Southview PS OPEN HOUSE to take place on September 25th, 2025 from 5-6 p.m. Please plan to attend!With Hot Lunches soon starting and field trips gearing up all parents should ensure that they have access to their School Day accounts. Notices have been sent home with students new to LDSB that include instructions on how to set up a School Day account. If you have any difficulty with this process, please contact our Office Administrator, Ms. Brenda Sproule, at the school. Students who have transferred from another LDSB school should already have a School Day account. To access School Day, log into our website at <a href="about:blank" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link">http://southview.limestone.on.ca</a> and click on the Permissions and Payments tab which will take you directly to the Login Page.For your information, Hot Lunch orders have been extended until this Sunday September 14th at midnight.Nominations are still being accepted for a position on the School Advisory Committee. Come on out and share your voice with our school!Have a wonderful weekend everyone!John Ricci, Jen Cole and the Southview Learning Team!School Calendar<h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr">Limestone DSB School Year Calendar 2025-2026</h2><img src="/images/ee9891ee-87b5-48b0-8790-ffa4d09e3fac?fingerprint=ppb20251217015205" alt="LDSB School Year Calendar" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr">What's Ahead...</h2><h3 class="editor-heading-h3" dir="ltr">September 2025</h3>12 Distribution of Immunization Forms to students in Grade 7 only25 Southview PS Back To School Open House (5-6 p.m.) First School Advisory Council (Parent Council) Meeting (6:00 p.m.)30 National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Orange Shirt Day)<h3 class="editor-heading-h3" dir="ltr">October 2025</h3>8 Intermediate Baseball Tournament9 Terry Fox Fundraiser10 P.A. Day (no classes for students)13 Thanksgiving Day16 I.E.P.s Distributed to Families for Review<h3 class="editor-heading-h3" dir="ltr">November 2025</h3>7 School Photos13 Kindergarten Communication of Learning: Initial Observations and Elementary Progress Reports Distributed to Families14 P.A. Day for Educators (no classes for students)<h3 class="editor-heading-h3" dir="ltr">December 2025</h3>5 School Photo Re-takes and Absentee Make-Ups<img src="/images/2703824f-3a47-4213-b9c3-8c75b07482f1?fingerprint=ppb20251217013352" alt="Open House" width="395" height="245" style="width:395px;height:245px;display:inline-block"><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr"> </h2><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr">Southview Open House - Thursday, September 25 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.</h2>The Southview PS Educator Team and students would like to invite all Lynx families to attend our "Back to School" Open House on Thursday September 25th, 2025 from 5-6 p.m. This event provides an excellent opportunity for parents and guardians to visit Southview PS have a look at your child's classroom and meet the teachers who are working with your children to help them achieve their academic, social and character development goals during the 2025-2026 school year. Many of our team members will be available, including class and planning time teachers, support professionals and administration, to answer questions about our school, the classroom routines and our plans for student achievement.As an additional bonus, the Open House is running on the same night as the first School Advisory Council (SAC) meeting which all parents are invited to attend. The School Advisory Council meeting will run from 6:00 p.m. until approximately 7:30 p.m. in the school library and is your opportunity to have a voice at your child's school.Please plan to attend this two important events!<img src="/images/a47ab516-7871-43fd-9fe0-829271526421?fingerprint=ppb20251217014531" alt="Terry Fox Run" width="385" height="341" style="width:385px;height:341px;display:inline-block"><h4 class="editor-heading-h4" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">SOUTHVIEW PS Runs For Terry Fox</h4>October 9th, 2025Southview Public School is proud to take part in the 2025 Terry Fox School Run!Since 2013, Southview has participated in 12 runs and raised a total of $44, 227.95. This is a proud history!This year we have set a goal to raise $4500 prior to run day to support cancer research. Instead of using Pledge Sheets, we ask our students to collect from family and friends. We would also like to encourage families to use the online donation site specifically set up for Southview Public School. The site can be found at the following link:<a href="https://schools.terryfox.ca/107849" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link">Southview Public School</a>Alternatively, students can collect donations and bring cash or cheques to the main office. Please make cheques payable to the Terry Fox Foundation.Thank you in advance for your support of Southview Public School and its efforts to support cancer research!<h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr">Reporting Absences</h2>All student absences should be reported through the SafeArrival system. Please do not call the school directly to report an absence. You can use the SchoolMessenger app, the Safe Arrival website, or the toll free number (1-855-257-9349) to record an absence.You can find more information by clicking on the following link: <a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/report-a-student-absence" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link">Reporting Absences</a><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr">Southview Swag</h2><img src="/images/ce3260d8-1332-41c4-93bb-e049e3c2eb09?fingerprint=ppb20251217014921" alt="Lynx" width="148" height="179" style="width:148px;height:179px;display:inline-block;float:right">We have partnered with a Specialty Trophies for our school clothing this year. Specialty Trophies is a local Kingston company which provides school apparel to many of the schools in our district. One of the big advantages of this company is that they will provide free shipping to the school! That will be a great savings to our families!If you want to start the year showing off your school colours, checkout what's available at:<a href="https://specialtytrophies.ca/4g/SouthviewPSApparel/" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link">https://specialtytrophies.ca/4g/SouthviewPSApparel/</a><img src="/images/d953d6e6-3477-4d91-a70e-4d7e9970fb32?fingerprint=ppb20251217015010" alt="School Council" width="469" height="216" style="width:469px;height:216px;display:inline-block">School councils play a vital role in the education system in Ontario. They provide a forum through which parents, school staff, students, and other members of school communities can contribute to improving student achievement and well-being, and enhance the accountability of the education system.Elections and the first meeting will be held , Thursday, September 25 at 6:00 p.m., in the school library.Please consider nominating yourself, another Southview parent or guardian, or a community member for a position.Click on the link below to see a description of School Advisory Council positions.The 2024-2025 School Advisory Council Chairperson, Amanda Morrison and Co-Chairperson, JenCovell have provided a welcome letter to the Southview PS families. Please click on the link below to see their message.Hope to see you there!<a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/12HoXQU93k5RtlXUBTa3UjPBA1zP_gxMOOUGSHQgoQbo/edit?tab=t.0" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link">School Council Representative Job Descriptions</a><a href="https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=Xxb04a7rgk2nPKDeWTgwvvuXCMp4sblAvQqj0WGFxqdUNTQzT0M1Q1lTN0lGSURCR0kzNUw4MUVWTS4u" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link">Nomination Form for Southview School Advisory Council</a> (Please use this link to nominate yourself to someone else to the Southview PS School Advisory Council)<a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xMKwcdQM2UIkGnEjLq324cKVgExWxOtN/edit" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link">School Advisory Council Chair/Co-Chair Welcome Letter to Southview Families</a><img src="/images/e2ca02c0-0937-4c4d-a106-7ae68dc9c367?fingerprint=ppb20251217015101" alt="Screenshot 2025 09 12 181303" width="399" height="519" style="width:399px;height:519px;display:inline-block"> <img src="/images/6b8671bd-7df8-4d15-bbbb-3ead38299e08?fingerprint=ppb20251217014016" alt="Screenshot 2025 09 12 084941" width="425" height="548" style="width:425px;height:548px;display:inline-block"> <img src="/images/58ae1d2f-6786-49ce-849d-62f64cc09c0e?fingerprint=ppb20251217013816" alt="KFLA PH" width="471" height="795" style="width:471px;height:795px;display:inline-block"><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr">KFL&A Public Health</h2>The <a href="https://www.kflaph.ca/en/health-topics/parenting-programs-and-services.aspx" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link">KLF&A Public Health website</a> is an invaluable source for parent/guardians and families with respect to family health and welfare. Please use the link provided below to explore the topics and resources available through KFL&A.<h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr">School Mental Health Ontario</h2><img src="/images/cf8e0478-107c-443d-bfd4-1ef12b843d71?fingerprint=ppb20251217014921" alt="School Mental Health Ontario" width="473" height="224" style="width:473px;height:224px;display:inline-block">Check out some of the <a href="https://smho-smso.ca/" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link">Mental Health and Wellness Resources for Families</a>

2025-09-12 22:26:21.502 +0000 UTC

Boardroom Briefs in white text on a teal background

Boardroom Briefs: August 20, 2025

Boardroom Briefs is intended to provide highlights of presentations, reports and decisions made at the regular meeting of the Limestone District School Board of Trustees. The following are highlights of the August 20, 2025 Regular Board Meeting. Agendas can be found on the website under <a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/board_meetings-1719463739654" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="editor-link" dir="ltr">Board Meetings</a>.  <h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Land Acknowledgement </h2>All meetings begin with a Land Acknowledgement: "The Limestone District School Board is situated on the traditional territories of the Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee. We acknowledge their enduring presence on this land, as well as the presence of Métis, Inuit, and other First Nations from across Turtle Island. We honour their cultures and celebrate their commitment to this land.”  <h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr">Private Session Report</h2><details open="false"><summary>Private Session Report - August 20, 2025</summary><div data-lexical-collapsible-content="true">Earlier this evening during Private Session:The private session minutes were approved from the following:<ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">June 18, 2025, Regular Board Meeting</li><li value="2" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Director Burra provided a Legal Update</li></ul>There was no other business conducted, or motions passed in Private Session. </div></details><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr">Reports from Officers</h2><details open="false"><summary>Chair's Report</summary><div data-lexical-collapsible-content="true"><img src="/images/3b73f535-6db0-57a4-bb4f-a5bb6232f53e?fingerprint=ppb20251217013553" alt="" width="268" height="347" style="width:268px;height:347px;display:inline-block;float:right">Chair McGregor provided the following report: "As we prepare to welcome students and families back into our schools on Wednesday, September 3, I want to take a moment to reflect on the excitement and promise that a new school year brings.Each September marks a fresh beginning—an opportunity for students to grow, for families to engage, and for staff to collaborate in creating vibrant learning environments. This year, we look forward to building on our shared commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of every student, in every classroom, and every school across Limestone.The start of the school year is not only a time of renewal but also a chance to strengthen relationships, foster innovation, and celebrate the diverse strengths of our communities. I am confident that through collaboration, dedication, and a shared vision for student success, we will achieve great things together.On behalf of the Board, I extend a warm welcome back to all students, families, and staff. Let’s make this year one of meaningful learning, growth, and achievement.This concludes my report." </div></details><details open="true"><summary>Director's Report</summary><div data-lexical-collapsible-content="true"><img src="/images/959f9ebc-0553-5f56-afed-83ccf39d2906?fingerprint=ppb20251217014409" alt="" width="316" height="316" style="width:316px;height:316px;float:left;display:inline-block">Director Burra provided the following report: "Good evening Trustees and members of the public joining us for this meeting. I am pleased to provide you with my update tonight as we prepare for the start of the 2025-2026 school year in two weeks.I hope everyone found themselves with some holiday time this summer to enjoy time with family and friends. In reflecting on this summer, it is important for everyone to have the opportunity to recharge and reflect on the important work we do collaboratively to support children and youth in the Limestone community.With the summer season, schools were not running as they do for the other ten months of the year. However, there was lots of activity for students this July and August. Similar to last summer, over 260 students participated in Camp Read A lot, and over 700 secondary students participated in summer session earning credits. In addition, almost 570 students participated in outdoor education programming offered at some schools, at Gould Lake, and/or on outdoor education trips. Trustees will receive a report in the fall providing more details regarding the range of summer programs that occurred in July and August. In addition, a considerable amount of facilities work occurs in schools during the summer and Manager Fowler will provide a summary of this work in September.We are greatly looking forward to welcoming back staff and well over 20,000 students as the school year starts. While over 99% of students will be in face-to-face classrooms, Limestone continues to offer a virtual option for some students. Regardless of the format of learning, Limestone will continue to do its best to meet students where they are and support student well-being. Mental health and well-being are essential conditions for achievement and learning for all students. Schools will be reopening next week with many staff getting ready for the new school year and we look forward to Limestone schools welcoming students back on Wednesday, September 3, with a full range of activities to be available for students in the 2025-2026 school year. As a reminder, we are starting the school year with a PA day on Tuesday, September 2. With almost all labour agreements behind us, we can expect stability on that front for the next couple of years. We all know that extracurriculars like sports and clubs, full arts programming, and field trips are of tremendous value. As Trustees know, all of these student activities are made possible by the generous time provided by staff and some community members. I think I speak for everyone in expressing our gratitude to the staff and community members that provide these valuable experiences and services to Limestone students. This evening there are some routine, cyclical reports coming to Trustees, but we also look forward to sharing with you an overview of a new administrative procedure focused on Human Rights, and an award to honour the late former Trustee Judith Brown.As Trustees know, considerable work occurs by central departments: Facilities, Finance, Human Resources, and ITS during the summer months to ensure schools are ready for the school year. I would like to acknowledge staff in all of those departments for the important work they do throughout the year, but also during the summer months. Finally, I should also note that Limestone hosted its 12th successful Summer Institute earlier today with approximately 200 LDSB educators attending to learn from each other and continue to hone their craft. A wide range of learning topics were available to support educator learning K-12. We are very pleased to be able to provide this valuable learning opportunity to staff. This is just one example of learning that Limestone educators have been participating in this summer. As we all know, learning is a journey, not a destination, and we must always model learning to support the system, and do the best we can to serve every student, in every classroom, in every school. Thank you, Chair McGregor. That completes my report for this evening." </div></details><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr">Reports</h2><details open="true"><summary>OPSBA Report</summary><div data-lexical-collapsible-content="true">Chair McGregor provided an OPSBA report.</div></details><details open="true"><summary>Student Trustees' Report</summary><div data-lexical-collapsible-content="true">There was no Student Trustee report.</div></details><h3 class="editor-heading-h3" dir="ltr">Reports for Action</h3><details open="true"><summary>Short-Term Borrowing Resolution - Superintendent Young</summary><div data-lexical-collapsible-content="true">The purpose of this report is to recommend a short-term borrowing resolution for the 2025-2026 school year to meet cash flow requirements. The Education Act requires the Treasurer of the Board to furnish to the bank a copy of the resolution(s) authorizing the borrowing of funds.Operating: Periodically the Board is required to borrow funds for current operating purposes to provide interim financing until revenues are received from Municipalities and the Province. The Board did not have any operating borrowing requirements during 2024-2025. The Board is subject to cash flow decisions from the Province and should have a borrowing resolution in place to provide interim financing if our cash flow situation should change.The operating resolution authorizes the signing officers of the Board to borrow operating funds when required to meet short-term cash flow needs. The dollar amount of the operating borrowing requirement has been set to a maximum of $20 Million and is the same amount as in 2024-2025. Capital: The Board is also required to arrange short-term bridge financing during the construction of major capital projects, capital additions/retrofits and for School Condition Improvement projects.The Board currently has credit facilities to cover all the required borrowing for the School Condition Improvement projects.The Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) is the Board’s primary banker, a relationship that dates back to 1966. The banking services agreement with RBC extends to April 30, 2027. Recommendations: That the Board authorize the signing officers of the Board to enter into agreements with the Royal Bank of Canada for the following:1. The borrowing of funds to meet operating requirements to a maximum of $20 million for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.</div></details><h3 class="editor-heading-h3" dir="ltr">Reports for Information</h3><details open="false"><summary>Interim Financial Report for Quarter 3 - Superintendent Young and Manager of Financial Services, Paula Carson</summary><div data-lexical-collapsible-content="true">The purpose is to report on the Interim Financial Operating expenditures for the period from September 1, 2024 to May 31, 2025 (Quarter 3).The Interim Financial Report – Operating Expenditures for the period ending February 28, 2025, was presented to the Board on April 23, 2025. This report provided operating expenditures for the period from September 1, 2024 to February 28, 2025 (Quarter 2).The Interim Financial Report – Operating Expenditures for the period ending May 31, 2025 (Quarter 3), is presented in a similar format to the 2024-2025 operating budget, indicating the amount spent by expenditure category and the associated percentage. To see the full report, please review the <a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/documents/4ad0a857-4900-4c40-b16a-80546aada787/LDSB-Regular-Board-Meeting-Agenda-August-20-2025.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20251217013714" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link" dir="ltr">Board Meeting Agenda</a> (pg. 25).As of Quarter 3, $238.96M of the $312.7M operating budget, or 76%, has been spent. This is 9% lower than the 85% recorded in the same quarter last year. The difference is primarily due to additional expenditures for Bill 124 Remedy payments included in the previous year's results.It is important to note that expenditures are calculated based on payments made within the specified period. Some expenditures may be non-cyclical, potentially resulting in higher or lower amounts within a given timeframe. For further details, refer to Appendix 1.The Board is on target to end the 2024-2025 fiscal year with a balanced budget as projected.</div></details><details open="false"><summary>Administrative Procedure 107 - Human Rights - Superintendent McDonnell and Human Rights and Equity Advisor, Yusuf Abdulkareem</summary><div data-lexical-collapsible-content="true">The purpose of this report is to share with Trustees Administrative Procedure 107: Human Rights (AP 107). This administrative procedure sets out the Board’s approach to creating equitable, inclusive, and accessible learning and working environments that are free from discrimination and harassment.This administrative procedure supports the Strategic Plan goal of fostering student learning, achievement, and well-being by ensuring all members of the Limestone District School Board (LDSB) community feel respected, safe, and supported. Background In the past few years, the Ministry of Education has provided human rights training for Trustees and senior leaders in school boards. Additionally, staff have provided updates to Trustees regarding student census data, staff workforce data, school climate data, and human rights complaints’ data. The LDSB recognizes the existence and impacts of historical and ongoing systemic discrimination. AP 107 outlines the Board’s commitment to anti-colonial, anti-oppressive, anti-racist, and anti-discriminatory practices, and to creating respectful environments for students, staff, and the broader community. The procedure applies to all LDSB community members and covers conduct both within, and beyond, the physical school/work environment, including online spaces and off-site events.AP 107 affirms LDSB’s commitment to legislative and policy compliance, and upholding the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. AP 107 also respects and recognizes the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.AP 107 addresses systemic discrimination identified through LDSB Student Census results, Staff Workforce Census and Belonging Survey, Human Rights Reporting Tool data, and School Climate Surveys, which revealed disproportionalities and inequities affecting students’ access to learning, sense of belonging, and feelings of safety.AP 107 clarifies roles and responsibilities by establishing clear expectations for all community members, staff, and leaders, along with consistent complaint processes for different interest groups.AP 107 creates accountability through data collection and reporting, ensuring progress is tracked, shared, and used to inform decision-making and continuous improvement. Current Status The creation and implementation of Administrative Procedure 107: Human Rights provides clarity in the following areas:<ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Clear definitions of key human rights concepts such as discrimination, harassment, equity, prejudice, and reprisal.</li><li value="2" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">A comprehensive list of protected grounds under the Ontario Human Rights Code (e.g., race, disability, creed, gender identity, age).</li><li value="3" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Detailed forms of discrimination, including subtle discrimination, microaggressions, and systemic discrimination.</li><li value="4" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Specific complaint mechanisms for different parties (students, employees, Trustees, members of the public).</li><li value="5" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Defined roles and responsibilities for all LDSB community members, employees, managerial staff, the Human Rights and Equity Advisor, and the Director of Education.</li><li value="6" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Requirements for human rights learning and awareness, including regular training and review cycles.</li><li value="7" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Annual data collection, analysis, and public reporting on human rights trends.</li><li value="8" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr"> Prohibitions on reprisal and vexatious complaints, with disciplinary measures for violations.</li></ul> Next Steps and Communication Plan The following are the next steps in the implementation of Administrative Procedure 107: Human Rights:<ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Ensure ongoing communication and awareness for staff, students, union and labour partners, families and the community on AP 107.</li><li value="2" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Continue annual analysis of human rights data to identify systemic issues and gaps, and use this information to inform decision making.</li><li value="3" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Publicly release the annual human rights report on the Board’s website.</li><li value="4" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Review related administrative procedures to ensure alignment with AP 107.</li></ul>For more information, please view the <a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/documents/4ad0a857-4900-4c40-b16a-80546aada787/LDSB-Regular-Board-Meeting-Agenda-August-20-2025.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20251217013714" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link" dir="ltr">Board Meeting Agenda</a>.</div></details><details open="true"><summary>The Judith Brown Black Excellence Award - Director Burra</summary><div data-lexical-collapsible-content="true">The purpose of this report is to provide Trustees with an update on the Judith Brown Black Excellence Award.Background With the passing of Trustee Judith Brown last year, a number of members of the Limestone DSB community voiced their support for creating an award in her honour. Support for honouring Trustee Judith Brown came from Trustees, Limestone staff, and members of the Umoja Black Advisory Council that Trustee Brown helped found, and lead. Consequently, the Judith Brown Black Excellence Award was established in the spring of 2025 to honour Judith’s legacy.The Judith Brown Black Excellence Award: In honour of Trustee Judith Brown, who was a dedicated Black educator who advocated for education and equity, this award recognizes a Black student who exemplifies leadership, perseverance, and commitment to advancing inclusive education. As a champion for student success and diversity, Judith Brown worked tirelessly to promote Black Canadian and local history while creating opportunities for all learners, fostering a more equitable and inspiring learning environment. This award is given annually to a graduating Black LDSB student who demonstrates outstanding academic achievement, community involvement, and a passion for promoting Black Canadian history. Through their actions, the recipient carries forward Judith Brown’s legacy, making a meaningful impact in their school community and beyond.It should be noted that the award description was approved by Trustee Brown’s family in mid-June. Current Status The inaugural Judith Brown Black Excellence Award was proudly presented to a graduating student at Loyalist Collegiate and Vocational Institute during their June 2025 graduation ceremony. Moving forward, this award will be presented annually to one graduating Black student across the LDSB, continuing to honour Judith Brown’s legacy and celebrate excellence, leadership, and community impact.Next Steps and Communication Plan With the support of Trustee Brown’s family and Umoja, additional fundraising efforts may take place over the coming year to help establish a financial component to accompany the Judith Brown Black Excellence Award. These contributions will further honour Judith Brown’s legacy by providing meaningful support to future recipients as they continue their educational journeys and community leadership.</div></details><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr">Unfinished Business</h2><details open="true"><summary>Feeding Minds: Food and Beverage Policy (PPM-150) Delegation</summary><div data-lexical-collapsible-content="true">Director Burra provided a copy of a letter to Madison Stewart of Food for Good acknowledging her delegation at the June 2025 Board Meeting called "Feeding Minds: Food and Beverage Policy (PPM 150)." Director Burra thanked her for sharing the information with the Board.</div></details>

2025-09-08 19:42:35.037 +0000 UTC

What's Happening at Southview PS - Week 1, September 2025

<img src="/images/1ece4821-e131-41d2-8937-afa40dae9b3f?fingerprint=ppb20251217013257" alt="Land acknowledgement" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr">Growing, Learning, and Achieving Together</h2>Hello Lynx Families!The first three days of the 2025-2026 school year are in the books and we have gotten off to a fantastic start. The students have settled beautifully into routines and the atmosphere around the school is optimistic and welcoming. All of the staff have been providing daily feedback that is overwhelmingly positive and the entire school community is feeling energized about the learning ahead. Well done, Southview!We celebrated our first assembly on Friday September 5th to welcome everyone back to school and to introduce the staff. A few key messages were shared with students regarding the mindset we would like to continue to foster at Southview. The first message is that we are all capable of doing hard things! Developing confidence, resilience, teamwork skills and a growth mindset will be a focus for all classrooms as we engage in learning that is challenging and engaging. The next message is that we all need to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. New learning can cause us to feel frustrated as we struggle through the various strategies associated with problem solving to achieve success. If during the learning process you are not feeling the discomfort associated with that struggle then perhaps you are not challenging yourself with enough new learning. Learning how to cope with being uncomfortable and that this is a normal part of the learning process will be key! The third important message is simply choose kindness. At Southview All Are Welcome and our goal is to foster a community where we all feel safe and supported in order to learn at our best. In all of our interactions with students and as we help them deconstruct conflict, we will be reinforcing the kindness option! Please help us to continue to make these important goals a part of your daily discussions with your children!Two very important events are coming up in our school calendar: the Welcome Back to School Open House and the first School Advisory Council - SAC (Parent Council) meeting both taking place on September 25, 2025. More information about each of these activities is provided in the sections below. In addition, please consider becoming a member of the School Advisory Committee by completing the Nomination Form linked in the School Council section. If there is a role on SAC that you would like to fill but you do not see it listed, please indicate this in the comment section. There is room for everyone on the School Advisory Council!Finally, we would like to thank Mr. Babcock's, Ms. Bridgen's and Mr. Gallupe's three intermediate classes for providing the whole school with a rousing opportunity to participate in their "Egg Drop" activity. Not only was this an amazing display of the engineering ingenuity in our Intermediate students, but is was a highly engaging demonstration of how exciting and inclusive learning can be. Well done to all of our student and staff leaders!Have a wonderful weekend everyone!John Ricci, Jen Cole and the Southview Learning Team!School Calendar<h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr">Limestone DSB School Year Calendar 2025-2026</h2><img src="/images/ee9891ee-87b5-48b0-8790-ffa4d09e3fac?fingerprint=ppb20251217015205" alt="LDSB School Year Calendar" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr">What's Ahead...</h2><h3 class="editor-heading-h3" dir="ltr">September 2025</h3><ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem">12 Distribution of Immunization Forms to students in Grade 7 only</li><li value="2" class="editor-listitem">25 Southview PS Back To School Open House (5-6 p.m.)</li><li value="3" class="editor-listitem">First School Advisory Council (Parent Council) Meeting (6:00 p.m.)</li><li value="4" class="editor-listitem">30 National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Orange Shirt Day)</li></ul><h3 class="editor-heading-h3" dir="ltr">October 2025</h3><ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem">10 P.A. Day (no classes for students)</li><li value="2" class="editor-listitem">13 Thanksgiving Day</li></ul><h3 class="editor-heading-h3" dir="ltr">November 2025</h3><ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem">7 School Photos</li><li value="2" class="editor-listitem">13 Kindergarten Communication of Learning: Initial Observations and Elementary Progress Reports Distributed to Families</li><li value="3" class="editor-listitem">14 P.A. Day for Educators (no classes for students)</li></ul><h3 class="editor-heading-h3" dir="ltr">December 2025</h3><ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem">School Photo Re-takes and Absentee Make-Ups</li></ul><img src="/images/2703824f-3a47-4213-b9c3-8c75b07482f1?fingerprint=ppb20251217013352" alt="Open House" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"><h2 class="editor-heading-h2"> </h2><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr">Southview Open House - Thursday, September 25 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.</h2>The Southview PS Educator Team and students would like to invite all Lynx families to attend our "Back to School" Open House on Thursday September 25th, 2025 from 5-6 p.m. This event provides an excellent opportunity for parents and guardians to visit Southview PS have a look at your child's classroom and meet the teachers who are working with your children to help them achieve their academic, social and character development goals during the 2025-2026 school year. Many of our team members will be available, including class and planning time teachers, support professionals and administration, to answer questions about our school, the classroom routines and our plans for student achievement.As an additional bonus, the Open House is running on the same night as the first School Advisory Council (SAC) meeting which all parents are invited to attend. The School Advisory Council meeting will run from 6:00 p.m. until approximately 7:30 p.m. in the school library and is your opportunity to have a voice at your child's school.Please plan to attend this two important events!<h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr">Reporting Absences</h2>All student absences should be reported through the SafeArrival system. Please do not call the school directly to report an absence. You can use the SchoolMessenger app, the Safe Arrival website, or the toll free number (1-855-257-9349) to record an absence.You can find more information by clicking on the following link: <a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/report-a-student-absence" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link">Reporting Absences</a><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr">Southview Swag</h2><img src="/images/ce3260d8-1332-41c4-93bb-e049e3c2eb09?fingerprint=ppb20251217014921" alt="Lynx" width="148" height="179" style="width:148px;height:179px;display:inline-block;float:right">We have partnered with a Specialty Trophies for our school clothing this year. Specialty Trophies is a local Kingston company which provides school apparel to many of the schools in our district. One of the big advantages of this company is that they will provide free shipping to the school! That will be a great savings to our families!If you want to start the year showing off your school colours, checkout what's available at:<a href="https://specialtytrophies.ca/4g/SouthviewPSApparel/" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link">https://specialtytrophies.ca/4g/SouthviewPSApparel/</a><img src="/images/d953d6e6-3477-4d91-a70e-4d7e9970fb32?fingerprint=ppb20251217015010" alt="School Council" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block">School councils play a vital role in the education system in Ontario. They provide a forum through which parents, school staff, students, and other members of school communities can contribute to improving student achievement and well-being, and enhance the accountability of the education system.Elections and the first meeting will be held , Thursday, September 25 at 6:00 p.m., in the school library.Please consider nominating yourself, another Southview parent or guardian, or a community member for a position.Click on the link below to see a description of School Advisory Council positions.The 2024-2025 School Advisory Council Chairperson, Amanda Morrison and Co-Chairperson, JenCovell have provided a welcome letter to the Southview PS families. Please click on the link below to see their message.Hope to see you there!<ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem"><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/12HoXQU93k5RtlXUBTa3UjPBA1zP_gxMOOUGSHQgoQbo/edit?tab=t.0" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link">School Council Representative Job Descriptions</a></li><li value="2" class="editor-listitem"><a href="https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=Xxb04a7rgk2nPKDeWTgwvvuXCMp4sblAvQqj0WGFxqdUNTQzT0M1Q1lTN0lGSURCR0kzNUw4MUVWTS4u" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link">Nomination Form for Southview School Advisory Council</a> (Please use this link to nominate yourself to someone else to the Southview PS School Advisory Council)</li><li value="3" class="editor-listitem"><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xMKwcdQM2UIkGnEjLq324cKVgExWxOtN/edit" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link">School Advisory Council Chair/Co-Chair Welcome Letter to Southview Families</a></li></ul><img src="/images/58ae1d2f-6786-49ce-849d-62f64cc09c0e?fingerprint=ppb20251217013816" alt="KFLA PH" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr">KFL&A Public Health</h2>The <a href="https://www.kflaph.ca/en/health-topics/parenting-programs-and-services.aspx" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link">KLF&A Public Health website</a> is an invaluable source for parent/guardians and families with respect to family health and welfare. Please use the link provided below to explore the topics and resources available through KFL&A.<h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr">School Mental Health Ontario</h2><img src="/images/cf8e0478-107c-443d-bfd4-1ef12b843d71?fingerprint=ppb20251217014921" alt="School Mental Health Ontario" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block">Check out some of the <a href="https://smho-smso.ca/" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link">Mental Health and Wellness Resources for Families</a>

2025-09-08 18:28:49.923 +0000 UTC

Paul Calandra, Minister of Education, Back to School Letter 2025

As the 2025-26 school year begins, Paul Calandra, Minister of Education, has prepared a message for Ontario parents, students, teachers and staff:<ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem"><a href="/documents/6945a4f5-a106-44cd-be02-1e7f55228fc8/Back-to-School-Letter-2025.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20251217014003" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link">English Letter</a> (PDF)</li><li value="2" class="editor-listitem"><a href="/documents/30337950-d8c1-4a70-9e10-6abbd4957e51/Lettre-pour-la-rentr-e-scolaire-2025.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20251217013433" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link">French Letter </a>(PDF)</li></ul>

2025-08-28 14:45:32.665 +0000 UTC

2025 07 10 Summer Institute 2025 Graphic

Summer Institute August 20 for LDSB Educators

<img src="/images/a970c8cc-cd06-4565-ad5b-3e34d2c1d300?fingerprint=ppb20251217014559" alt="Graphic promoting LDSB Summer Institute" width="605" height="605" style="width:605px;height:605px;display:inline-block">The Limestone District School Board (LDSB) is hosting Summer Institute, a voluntary professional learning opportunity for LDSB educators and administrators, on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, at Kingston Secondary School. The theme for this year's Summer Institute is "Accelerating Growth in Limestone."If you are an LDSB educator or administrator who is interested in learning more and registering to participate in this year's Summer Institute, please check your LDSB e-mail inbox, as well as myLDSB for details.

2025-07-10 19:54:04.488 +0000 UTC

Free French Learning Opportunity This Summer: Smash French Camp

Limestone District School Board students are invited to take part in Smash French Summer Camp — a dynamic and engaging way to review, catch up, or get ahead in French before the new school year begins!This free online program is available now through August 14 and is open to all students, whether they’ve used Smash before or are brand new to the platform.<h4 class="editor-heading-h4" dir="ltr" style="text-align: start;">Program Highlights:</h4><ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem" style="text-align: start;">A wide range of CEFR-aligned French classes</li><li value="2" class="editor-listitem" style="text-align: start;">Interactive, motivating activities to build confidence and language skills</li><li value="3" class="editor-listitem" style="text-align: start;">Flexible access from home — anytime, anywhere</li></ul><h4 class="editor-heading-h4" dir="ltr" style="text-align: start;">Getting Started:</h4><ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem" style="text-align: start;">Current users can log in and begin right away.</li><li value="2" class="editor-listitem" style="text-align: start;">New users can create an account and start learning in just a few minutes.</li></ul>A step-by-step guide with instructions and class codes is available to help students get started quickly and easily.We encourage families and educators to take advantage of this exciting opportunity to support French language learning over the summer.For more information, visit <a href="https://www.smasheducation.com/" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link">www.smasheducation.com</a> or contact Abraham Bravo, Co-Founder & Head of Implementation Success, at <a href="mailto:abraham.b@smasheducation.com" target="_blank" class="editor-link">abraham.b@smasheducation.com</a>.

2025-07-03 18:21:54.362 +0000 UTC

Message from the Director

Dear Families,As we reach the end of the 2024–2025 school year, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks for your continued support and partnership.Each school year brings its own unique experiences, and I hope this one has been filled with meaningful learning, growth, and connection for your student(s) and your family.I hope you have had the opportunity to enjoy the recent graduation ceremonies and year-end celebrations. These moments are a wonderful time to reflect on the journey and look ahead to the future with optimism. Congratulations to all intermediate and secondary graduates across Limestone—we are very proud of your accomplishments.I have a few updates for you as we move into the summer months:Tri-Board Student Transportation for 2025-2026 School YearSchool bus information for 2025-2026 will be available to families in July on Tri-Board’s portal.If your student currently has school bus transportation and there is no change to their school or address in September, families do NOT need to take any action or reapply for transportation through Tri-Board Student Transportation. Current school bus transportation will remain in place unless families are contacted by Tri-Board Student Transportation directly.New students and students with a change of address or school need to apply online by August 6, 2025, to have busing set up for the first day of school. Please visit <a href="http://www.triboard.ca/" class="editor-link">triboard.ca</a> to apply for transportation and access your student(s)’s busing details for September. Messages from the Ministry - Celebrating the End of the School YearWe are pleased to share a special <a href="https://youtu.be/6YHXUF3UtHc?si=qym1IQLmi8-QYVIU" class="editor-link">video message from The Honourable Edith Dumont, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario</a>, as well as letters from Minister of Education Paul Calandra addressed to families and graduating students across the province. These messages recognize the hard work, resilience, and accomplishments of Ontario students throughout the year:<ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem"><a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/documents/793cbd5d-ca02-4bf9-b367-f9e8a5ff0c1a/Year-End-Letter-to-Parents.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20251217014125" class="editor-link">Message for families from Minister of Education, Paul Calandra</a></li><li value="2" class="editor-listitem"><a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/documents/61248391-bed1-499b-bcc8-3e977d928d99/Graduation-Letter-2025.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20251217013909" class="editor-link">Message for graduating students from The Honourable Edith Dumont, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario</a></li></ul>We encourage you to take a moment to view and read these messages as we wrap up another successful school year together. Learning about Artificial Intelligence (AI)This past school year, Limestone started further exploring AI tools and their potential benefits.  There is no question that AI creates a range of potential challenges and opportunities for learning and in society.  Further exploration will resume in 2025-2026. <a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/artificialintelligenceinlimestone" class="editor-link">Please take a look at some of the work that has started in Limestone in this area on our website.</a> If you are interested in learning more about Artificial Intelligence and media literacy or sharing some learning with your student(s), Media Smarts: Canada’s Centre for Digital Media Literacy has a range of worthwhile resources about AI and other digital media. These resources can be found at <a href="https://mediasmarts.ca/" class="editor-link">on the Media Smarts website.</a>   First Day of School – Wednesday, September 3, 2025As we look ahead, please note that the first day of school for students for the 2025–2026 school year is Wednesday, September 3, 2025. Tuesday, September 2 is a Professional Activity (P.A.) Day, and there will be no classes for students on that day.As we look ahead to the 2025–2026 school year, I hope we continue to nurture a love of learning, curiosity, kindness and compassion in all students.Thank you for being an essential part of the Limestone education community. When we work together to support student learning and well-being, we create the strongest foundation for success. Your ongoing support makes a meaningful difference, and I am excited for the opportunities and adventures that await our school communities in the school year ahead.Wishing all students and families a safe, restful, joyful summer, and time with those people that matter most in your lives. Krishna BurraDirector of EducationLimestone District School Board

2025-06-26 20:30:05.204 +0000 UTC

Boardroom Briefs June 18, 2025

Boardroom Briefs is intended to provide highlights of presentations, reports and decisions made at the regular meeting of the Limestone District School Board of Trustees. The following are highlights of the June 18, 2025 Regular Board Meeting. Agendas can be found on the website under <a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/board_meetings-1719463739654" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="editor-link" dir="ltr">Board Meetings</a>.  <h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Land Acknowledgement </h2>All meetings begin with a Land Acknowledgement: "The Limestone District School Board is situated on the traditional territories of the Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee. We acknowledge their enduring presence on this land, as well as the presence of Métis, Inuit, and other First Nations from across Turtle Island. We honour their cultures and celebrate their commitment to this land.” <h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Presentation</h2><h3 class="editor-heading-h3" dir="ltr">Limestone District School Board Staff Awards</h3>The 2025 Limestone District School Board (LDSB) Staff Awards include the Barry C. O'Connor Excellence in Education Awards, and the J.C. McLeod Excellence in Teaching Awards. Trustee Ruttan introduced award nominators and recipients.The Barry C. O'Connor Awards recognize excellence in education as provided by support staff throughout the district. This award was established to recognize support staff in the following categories: Clerical and Secretarial, Educational Services Staff, Educational Assistants, and Central Office Support Staff. The recipients are:<ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Tracy MacVicar, Kingston Secondary School - Clerical and Secretarial Category</li><li value="2" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Nancy Gourdier-Golle, LDSB Educational Services - Educational Services Support Category</li><li value="3" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Shannon Gambicourt, Winston Churchill Public School - Educational Assistants Category</li><li value="4" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Jody Fitz, LDSB Education Centre - Central Office Support Category</li></ul>The J.C. McLeod Excellence in Teaching Awards are presented to two outstanding educators in the Limestone community. J.C. McLeod was the Director of Education for the former Lennox and Addington County Board of Education from 1969 to 1983. He recognized and rewarded excellence in teaching throughout his time as Director, and on his retirement, he established a fund to continue this focus. This award recognizes the outstanding contributions of individual teachers to classroom instruction or the improvement of classroom instruction, over several years. It is presented annually to one teacher in elementary, and one teacher in secondary. The recipients are:<ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Tara Murphy, Centennial Public School - Elementary Teacher</li><li value="2" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Tammy Hagerman, Katarokwi Learning Centre - Secondary Teacher</li></ul><img src="/images/87967a22-e1a3-469d-8d09-e2ccab360306?fingerprint=ppb20251217014249" alt="2025 LDSB Staff Award Recipients" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block">From left: Tara Murphy, Tammy Hagerman, Nancy Gourdier-Golle, Jody Fitz, Shannon Gambicourt, and Tracy MacVicar<h3 class="editor-heading-h3" dir="ltr">Recognition of Outgoing Student Trustees</h3>Vice-Chair Godkin acknowledged the service of the 2024-2025 Student Trustees, Rachel Kolosov, Ayesha Bukhari, and Siya Kumar. Indigenous Grade 11 Student Trustee Kolosov will be returning to the role for the 2025-2026 school year, while Urban Student Trustee Kumar, and Rural Student Trustee Bukhari are graduating. Rural Student Trustee Bukhari was recognized with a bursary for her role with the Limestone Learning Foundation Grants Committee. <img src="/images/8bab5481-4e23-4e68-847c-55fd3b255cdc?fingerprint=ppb20251217014301" alt="2025 LDSB Student Trustees" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"><h3 class="editor-heading-h3" dir="ltr">Feeding Minds: Food and Beverage Policy (PPM-150) Delegation</h3>Madison Stewart from Food for Good Program presented remotely.<h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr">Private Session Report</h2><details open="true"><summary>Private Session Report - June 18, 2025</summary><div data-lexical-collapsible-content="true">Trustee Ruttan provided the Private Session report for June 18, 2025: At the Special Meeting of the Board, May 27, 2025: Director Burra provided a personnel update.At the Education, Policy, and Operations Meeting, June 4, 2025: Director Burra provided a personnel updateEarlier this evening during Private Session:The Private Session minutes were approved from the following:<ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">The May 21, 2025, Regular Board Meeting</li><li value="2" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">The May 27, 2025, Special Meeting of the Board</li><li value="3" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">The June 4, 2025, Education, Policy, and Operations Committee Meeting</li></ul>Associate Superintendent Gollogly provided a Safe Schools update.Trustee Lloyd provided a personnel update which resulted in a motion being passed.There was no other business conducted, or motions passed in Private Session. </div></details><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr">Reports from Officers</h2><details open="false"><summary>Chair's Report</summary><div data-lexical-collapsible-content="true"><img src="/images/972606b7-b2d1-52c6-962b-7190b39ee44f?fingerprint=ppb20251217014409" alt="" width="258" height="334" style="width:258px;height:334px;float:right;display:inline-block">Vice-Chair Godkin provided the following report: "As we approach the end of another remarkable school year, I want to take a moment to reflect on and celebrate the incredible efforts and achievements of our Limestone community. June marks not only the closing of the academic year but also a time of celebration, reflection, and gratitude. Across our district, students have been wrapping up their studies, showcasing their learning, and participating in a wide range of extracurricular activities that highlight their creativity, leadership, and school spirit. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to our students for their resilience, enthusiasm, and dedication throughout the year. Your hard work and perseverance have been truly inspiring. To our educators, support staff, and administrators—thank you for your unwavering commitment to student success. Your passion and professionalism continue to shape a learning environment where every student feels supported and empowered. To our families and caregivers—your partnership and encouragement have been vital. Thank you for being such an integral part of our students’ journeys. This month, we’ve also seen vibrant celebrations of diversity and inclusion across the district. Pride events have brought our communities together in powerful and joyful ways. A special thank you to everyone who participated in the Greater Napanee Pride Parade and the Kingston Pride Parade. Your presence and support send a strong message of love, acceptance, and unity. We were also proud to support the second annual Inclusive Fun Fair hosted by the Inclusive Play Project at Shannon Park on June 7. This free, family-friendly event brought together community members of all ages and abilities to celebrate inclusion, accessibility, and connection. With live entertainment, a bustling vendor market, interactive games, and a vibrant KidsZone, the fair raised awareness and funds for Kingston’s first fully inclusive playground. Events like this remind us of the power of community and the importance of creating spaces where everyone feels welcome and valued  As we look ahead to the final days of the semester, let’s continue to lift each other up and celebrate the many successes—big and small—that have defined this school year. Wishing everyone a safe, restful, and joyful summer ahead."</div></details><details open="true"><summary>Director's Report</summary><div data-lexical-collapsible-content="true"><img src="/images/959f9ebc-0553-5f56-afed-83ccf39d2906?fingerprint=ppb20251217014409" alt="" width="316" height="316" style="width:316px;height:316px;float:left;display:inline-block">Director Burra provided the following report: "Good evening, Trustees and the viewing public. I am pleased to provide you with my update tonight as we enter the last ten days of the 2024-2025 school year.June is always a time of reflection as we complete one school year and continue preparations for the next school year. It is a time of change as we see students graduate from secondary school, staff retire, and many staff and students prepare for transitions. It is also a time of celebration across the system as students graduate and enjoy end-of-year activities and celebrations. We were able to enjoy some celebrations this evening with the annual Limestone Staff Awards. This evening, we heard and saw, some great examples of people focused on doing the very best they can to support students and learning in LDSB.In recent weeks and months, many graduating Limestone students have received significant scholarships and admissions to universities, colleges, and apprenticeships or have developed work plans for next year. I would be remiss to not mention the fact that Student Trustee Bukhari deserves to be recognized for being a TD Scholarship recipient, and the Trustee Laurie French Student Leadership Award from the Community Foundation for Lennox and Addington. Congratulations Student Trustee Bukhari. With secondary graduations just over a week away, I know Trustees and senior staff can look forward to hearing the plans of LDSB grads at those celebrations and honouring the graduates of 2025.I would also like to highlight for Trustees the tremendous success Limestone athletes experienced at the provincial finals in Track and Field. Wyatt Lee from FSS won gold in the Senior Boys 100m and 200m, Athena Andrecyk from KSS won gold in the Senior Girls 3000m, and the Junior Girls 4x100m relay team from KSS also won gold. That team consisted of Caitlyn Wimmer, Mara Barrow-McLagan, Amaya Barrow-McLagan and Marina Playter-Tuffs. Limestone students also won two silver medals and four bronze medals. I should note that the LSS Senior Boys won provincial AA gold. I should also note that LSS and KSS hosted provincial soccer championships. Congratulations to these winners and all of the other LDSB athletes who participated in the provincial finals.In reflecting on the 2024-2025 school year, or any other school year, I think it is important to again remember Kathy Freston’s wise words: “The goal is progress, not perfection.” In education, the stakes are always high for each learner, and there is always more we can do to serve each student. While there is always much to celebrate, there is also always room for improvement in realizing our LDSB intention of making a positive difference in the lives of every student, in every classroom, in every school.Given June is National Indigenous History Month, and Saturday is National Indigenous Peoples Day, Trustees should be aware that there are a range of activities occurring in the community this weekend, and at Confederation Park. This information has been shared with schools.As Trustees are aware, June is also Pride month, and like the last few years, Limestone formally participated in the fourth annual Napanee Pride Parade earlier this month, which was a great success, and we also had a very strong presence this past weekend for the Kingston Pride Parade. We must continue to take a strong stance in support of human rights, and against hate in the communities we serve.In closing, I want to offer my congratulations to all students graduating from Limestone and to staff entering their last ten days of work with Limestone. There is much to be proud of in Limestone and I have a great deal of gratitude and humility in serving as its Director. Thank you also to the Board of Trustees for your continued collaboration, strong support of public education, and advocacy. While all of us around this table may not always agree on everything, I think we can all be proud of the way we conduct ourselves and work together for the betterment of Limestone students. Thank you, Trustees. That concludes my report for this evening."</div></details><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr">Correspondence</h2>The Board of Trustees received correspondence from Trustee Hutcheon indicating her resignation from her role as Chair. The Board accepted her resignation, and held an election for the position of Chair of the Board for the remainder of the term, ending November 19, 2025. Trustees Godkin, McGregor, and Ruttan were nominated for the role of the Chair. Trustees Godkin and McGregor accepted the nominations, and Ruttan declined.Trustees voted and Trustee McGregor was elected Chair of the Board for the remainder of the term.<h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr">Reports</h2><details open="false"><summary>OPSBA Report</summary><div data-lexical-collapsible-content="true">Chair McGregor provided an OPSBA report.</div></details><details open="false"><summary>Student Trustees' Report</summary><div data-lexical-collapsible-content="true">Student Trustee Kolosov provide the Student Trustees' Report.We had our last Inter-School Council (ISC) meeting on the third of this month. At this meeting, we celebrated our success as a group this past school year, where the school representatives from each school brought their incoming reps for next year. This gave us the chance to meet and get to know our ISC team for next year.On June 10, after a lot of hard work from ISC members, we were able to run the LDSB Community Pride Event. During this event, we had a number of school groups coming in to host tables with some arts, crafts, and games, as well as community organizations like the Kingston Public Library. We were also thrilled to have the Queens Faculty of Education GSA come in, as well as Kingston Youth Pride, and LDSB’s Alyssa Vernon who did some collaging with guests. Student-run booths included face painting, flag painting, bracelet and keychain making, and more. It was such an amazing experience to see all of the students and families coming together to enjoy an evening of celebration to kick off Pride Month. We would like to extend a big thank you to all of the community members who came in, staff who helped support the event, the KSS custodial team for helping set up, and all of the students who helped make the event possible and the great success it was!We also had Pat Vanderholst do a PD session on Indigenous land teachings, with a tour around Lake Ontario Park, sharing different teachings connected to the land. On behalf of ISC, I’d like to thank Pat for sharing his time and knowledge with us.On behalf of the incoming Student Trustees, we look forward to what the next term of ISC will bring next school year!Thank you!</div></details><h3 class="editor-heading-h3" dir="ltr">Reports for Action</h3>There were no Reports for Action.<h3 class="editor-heading-h3" dir="ltr">Reports for Information</h3><details open="true"><summary>Operational Plan: Integrated Technology Services (ITS) - Associate Superintendent Hedderson</summary><div data-lexical-collapsible-content="true"><img src="/images/035f32a1-6d40-45c9-8050-ab09485fac19?fingerprint=ppb20251217013025" alt="2025 ITS Dept Common Culture Graphic" width="259" height="309" style="width:259px;height:309px;float:left;display:inline-block">This report updates Trusteed on the Integrated Technology Services (ITS) Operational Plan and how it supports the goals of the LDSB Strategic Plan. The report was presented by Kelvin MacQuarrie, Manager of Information and Communications Technology, Laura Alward, Manager of Innovation and Digital Transformation, and Steve Hedderson, Associate Superintendent of Curriculum and Program Services: Math Focus.ITS Operational Plan: The three departmental pillars of Customer Service Excellence, Data Integrity, and Learning Environment and Infrastructure Improvements continue to drive forward the team's main objective of supporting students and staff of LDSB within the 2023-2026 timeframe. These pillars help guide project priorities and business decisions and are a focus within the department’s operational plan. The presentation outlined various initiatives, including:<ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Learning Technology Refresh: Reliable Devices</li><li value="2" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Learning Technology Ticket Counts by School Year</li><li value="3" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Monitoring of Aging Classroom Projectors</li><li value="4" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">New Data Backup Solution</li><li value="5" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Microsoft 365 Copilot</li><li value="6" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Reporting Tool Efficiencies</li><li value="7" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Elementary Staffing App Efficiencies </li><li value="8" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Next Steps in Learning Technologies</li><li value="9" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Supporting Monitoring of the Student Achievement Plan</li></ul>The full report is available in the <a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/documents/458f1305-a251-48f2-bc45-18d43569c0ce/LDSB-Regular-Board-Meeting-Agenda-June-18-2025-AMENDED.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20251217013647" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link" dir="ltr">Agenda Package</a>.</div></details><details open="true"><summary>Math Achievement Plan - Associate Superintendent Hedderson</summary><div data-lexical-collapsible-content="true">This report updates Trustees on the continued development of Limestone’s Math Achievement Action Plan.Satellite data are high-level indicators that we are making progress towards our goal of improving math learning and achievement for every student.<img src="/images/12a3a14d-6c42-4061-af3e-1492f75c1306?fingerprint=ppb20251217013147" alt="Monitoring Math Achievement in the SAP and Strategic Plan: EQAO Results" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block">Since the last update in <a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/documents/61c13ecb-20b2-4600-84ea-c6440667d365/LDSB%20Regular%20Board%20Meeting%20Agenda%20March%2026%2C%202025.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20251217013909" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link" dir="ltr">March 2025</a>:<ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Additional meetings have been held with the Provincial Math Lead to discuss data analysis, impact of current improvement strategies, and key performance indicators to support the LDSB Math Achievement Action Plan</li><li value="2" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Strategic planning sessions with other board Math Leads and teams from across the province</li><li value="3" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">School-Based Math Facilitators and Learning Partners have been supporting educators in schools in gathering content diagnostic data to plan for meaningful math learning and assist in closing achievement gaps, with particular attention on students with modifications or recently removed from modifications</li><li value="4" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">School-Based Math Facilitators and Learning Partners also continue to support math-related professional learning sessions for educators at staff meetings, “lunch and learns,” and Professional Activity Days</li><li value="5" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Weekly meetings and capacity building with School Math Facilitators and ongoing learning and support for Learning Partners about the Math Achievement Action Plan strategies</li><li value="6" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Professional learning focus on fluency tasks and supporting the use of concrete and visual representations for students</li><li value="7" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Much more</li></ul>Next Steps and Communications Plan:<ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">The Ministry confirmed that board will continue with Math Achievement Action Plans during the 2025-26 school year with the same priority schools </li><li value="2" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Given the late arrival of the 2025-26 school year budget, the staffing of the 2025-26 Math Action Team is ongoing</li><li value="3" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Share the final report on the 2024-25 LDSB Math Achievement Action Plan with the Provincial Math Action Team in mid-July</li><li value="4" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Prepare for the introduction of targeted use of a new complementary digital math tool that uses AI to support the implementation of the LDSB Instructional Progression of Mathematics</li><li value="5" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Much more</li></ul>The full report is available in the <a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/documents/458f1305-a251-48f2-bc45-18d43569c0ce/LDSB-Regular-Board-Meeting-Agenda-June-18-2025-AMENDED.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20251217013647" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link" dir="ltr">Agenda Package</a>.</div></details>

2025-06-24 20:57:55.816 +0000 UTC

Messages from the Ministry - Celebrating the End of the School Year

As we approach the end of the 2024–2025 school year, we want to take a moment to celebrate the achievements of all our students and extend our heartfelt congratulations—especially to our graduates.We are pleased to share a special <a href="https://youtu.be/6YHXUF3UtHc?si=qym1IQLmi8-QYVIU" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link">video message from The Honourable Edith Dumont, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario</a>, as well as letters from Minister of Education Paul Calandra addressed to families and graduating students across the province. These messages recognize the hard work, resilience, and accomplishments of Ontario students throughout the year:<ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem"><a href="/documents/793cbd5d-ca02-4bf9-b367-f9e8a5ff0c1a/Year-End-Letter-to-Parents.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20251217014125" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link">Message for families from Minister of Education, Paul Calandra</a></li><li value="2" class="editor-listitem"><a href="/documents/61248391-bed1-499b-bcc8-3e977d928d99/Graduation-Letter-2025.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20251217013909" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link">Message for graduating students from The Honourable Edith Dumont, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario</a></li></ul>We encourage you to take a moment to view and read these messages as we wrap up another successful school year together.

2025-06-19 12:00:14 +0000 UTC

Three Gold Medals at OFSAA Track and Field Championships

<img src="/images/d8c51901-16c1-4623-8968-bfd0467fbd7e?fingerprint=ppb20251217015010" alt="KSS Relay Team" width="624" height="491" style="width:624px;height:491px;display:inline-block">From left: Mila Stos, Marina Playter-Tuffs, Amaya Barrow-McLagan, Coach Morgann Rymal, Mara Barrow-McLagan, and Caitlyn Wimmer of KSS.Limestone District School Board had an outstanding showing with three golds and other notable placements at this year's <a href="https://www.ofsaa.on.ca/championship/track-field/" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link" dir="ltr">OFSAA Track and Field Championships</a>, held at the Toronto Track and Field Centre (York University) in Toronto from June 5 to June 7, 2025. <h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr">Gold Medals</h2><h3 class="editor-heading-h3" dir="ltr">Frontenac SS (FSS): </h3><ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Wyatt Lee finished 1st in Senior Boys 100 and 200m</li></ul><h3 class="editor-heading-h3" dir="ltr">Kingston SS (KSS):</h3><ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Junior Girls 4 x 100m relay team finished 1st - Caitlyn Wimmer, Mara Barrow-McLagan, Amaya Barrow-McLagan and Marina Playter-Tuffs</li><li value="2" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Athena Andrecyk finished 1st in Senior Women's 3000m</li></ul> <h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr">Other Notable Results:</h2><h3 class="editor-heading-h3" dir="ltr">KSS:</h3><ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Vicky Malik finished 2nd in Novice Girls 800/1500m</li><li value="2" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Eva Andrecyk finished 4th in Womens 3000m Novice</li><li value="3" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Claire Simmers finished 4th in Women's 800m Ambulatory</li><li value="4" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Amaya Barrow-McLagan finished 4th in Women's 80m hurdles</li><li value="5" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Luqmaan Brewster finished 4th in Junior Men's Triple Jump</li></ul><h3 class="editor-heading-h3" dir="ltr">LCVI: </h3><ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Sierra Carroll finished 3rd in Intellectually Imp. Shot Put </li></ul><h3 class="editor-heading-h3" dir="ltr">FSS:</h3><ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Declan Cowan finished 3rd in Junior Boys Disc Throw</li></ul> Congratulations to all Limestone athletes!

2025-06-18 17:40:00.715 +0000 UTC

School Bus Services 2025-2026 School Year

School bus information for 2025-2026 will be available to families in July on <a href="https://triboard.ca/" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link">Tri-Board’s portal</a>.New students and students with a change of address or school need to <a href="https://triboard.ca/" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link">apply online</a> by August 6 to have busing set up for the first day of school. Please visit <a href="https://triboard.ca/" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link">triboard.ca</a> to apply for transportation and access your student(s)’s busing details for September.<img src="/images/d39f4838-d728-446a-a486-9289f808ef7d?fingerprint=ppb20251217014946" alt="School Bus Services 2025-2026 School Year" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block">

2025-06-16 13:14:45.509 +0000 UTC