Together in Education:Family Update
Holiday Edition
Lancaster Drive Public School and Parent Council
Email: lancd@limestone.on.ca
Website: http://lancaster.limestone.on.ca
Location: 1020 Lancaster Drive, Kingston, ON, Canada
Phone: (613)634-0470
Twitter: @LancasterPSLDSB
Upcoming Dates:
Dates of Significance
December 7th-December 15th ~ Hanukkah
December 21st ~ Winter Solstice
December 21st ~ Shab-e Yalda
December 25th ~ Christmas Day
December 26th-January 1st ~ Kwanzaa
* Please contact Mrs. Knowles at knowlesjo@limestone.on.ca if you would like any dates added to this list (we will update on a bi-weekly basis).
Lancaster Events
Holiday Break ~ December 22nd-January 7th
First Day Back ~ Monday, January 8th
Bayridge Open House ~ Wednesday, January 17th @ 6:00 pm
PA Day ~ Friday, February 2nd
Dental Screening JK/SK/2 ~ Tuesday, February 6th
Hot Lunch ~ Tuesdays
January 9th ~ 3 piece baked chicken tenders with carrot sticks
January 16th ~ Pizza
January 23rd ~ Sub Sandwiches
January 30th ~ 3 piece baked chicken tenders with carrot sticks
February 6th ~ Panzarotti
February 13th ~ Sub Sandwiches
February 20th ~ 3 piece baked children tenders with carrot sticks
February 27th ~ Pizza
March 5th ~ Sub Sandwiches
Primary Holiday Winter Concert
The Primary Winter Concert was held on Monday, December 8th. A big thank you to Mrs. Dowker and the primary team for their organization and planning of this event! Fun was had by all ☺️
Holiday Ornament Sale ~ Jr. Ministry of Caring
The Jr. Ministry of Caring Holiday Ornament Sale was a huge success! $504.75 was raised from the ornament sale and $204.00 in donations from the Cotton Candy!
We wil be delighted to make donations to The Kingston Food Bank, Interval House & Kingston Humane Society on behalf of Lancaster Drive Public School.
Thank You Parent Council!
Jingle Bell Run & Walk
Lancaster's Jingle Bell Walk on Friday, December 8th was a huge success. Thank you to all students that supported in this Lancaster and Community event! We were able to make a large donation of food items to the Kingston Food Bank. Way to Go Lions!
Basketball Challenge Sr. Boys vs. Lancaster Alumni
Bayridge Open House
Bayridge Open House ~ Wednesday, January 17th @ 6:00 pm
School Day Online Payments
We are paperless and cashless at Lancaster. We use the platform School Day for online payments (field trips, milkshake days, etc) and for digital permission slip signatures. ALL families are required to sign up using their child's individual match key that will be provided within the first weeks of school.
How Do I get Information From The School?
LDSB schools and school board use School Messenger to send key messages, alerts and general communication to families. Lancaster uses this platform and will continue to use our Together In Education to provide updates to families. These newsletters are where we will share school-specific information and highlights of student work and events in the building. This newsletter is sent out via School Messenger and posted on our school Twitter account and website.
SchoolMessenger App: Download the SchoolMessenger App to stay connected. Use your mobile device to download and install the free SchoolMessenger blue app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store, the SchoolMessenger website portal, or from within the LDSB mobile app. *New families will be able to create their account after the first day of attendance.
The first time you use the app, you must select Sign Up to create your account. Please ensure you use the same email address your student’s school has on file. If you do not use that same email address, you will not be able to create an account.
Safe Arrival
Please use the Safe Arrival system to report your child's absence; do not call the school to report an absence. If your child is going to be absent from learning, please ensure you use the Safe Arrival system to report the absence. If your child will be late, you can register for a late arrival.
How to report your absence:
1. Toll-free telephone
- Call 1-855-257-9349 toll-free to report an absence using the automated phone system.
2. School Messenger App
- Use your mobile device to download and install the free SchoolMessenger blue app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store, the SchoolMessenger website portal, or from within the LDSB mobile app.
- The first time you use the app, you must select Sign Up to create your account. Please ensure you use the same email address your student’s school has on file. If you do not use that same email address, you will not be able to create an account, or may not be able to see the "Attendance" option. You may have already created an account when we introduced the Communicate broadcast system.
- Select Attendance, then select Report an Absence and follow the prompts.
- Visit the SchoolMessenger website portal.
- The first time you use the app, you must select Sign Up to create your account. Please ensure you use the same email address your student’s school has on file. If you do not use that same email address, you will not be able to create an account, or may not be able to see the "Attendance" option. You may have already created an account when we introduced the Communicate broadcast system.
- Select Attendance, then Report an Absence and follow the prompts.
School Year Calendar
The Ministry of Education has approved the Limestone District School Board’s 2023-2024 School Year Calendar.
The following key dates have been approved:
First Day of School: Tuesday, September 5, 2023
Winter Break: December 25, 2023, to January 5, 2024
March Break: March 11, to March 15, 2024
Last Day of School: Thursday, June 27, 2024
The 2023-2024 school year consists of 194 days;
Secondary - 177 instructional days, 7 PA Days and 10 exam days.
Elementary - 187 instructional days and 7 PA Days.
Professional Activity Days - no classes for students:
Monday, Sept. 25, 2023
Friday, Oct. 27, 2023
Friday, Nov. 10, 2023
Friday, Feb. 2, 2024
Friday, April 12, 2024
Friday, May 31, 2024
Friday, June 28, 2024
Printable 2023-2024 School Year Calendar here.