Lightning Family Update
August 29, 2023
We hope you had an enjoyable summer! We are very excited for the start of the 2023-24 school year and we have been busy getting ready here at Lord Strathcona! Preparations are well under way as educators get their classrooms ready for students, and everyone is excited to welcome your children! The first day of school for students from Senior Kindergarten to Grade 6 is Tuesday September 5, 2023. We will have a staggered entry for our Junior Kindergarten students- see information below.
The school office is open this week (August 28-Sept 1). Tentative class lists can be shared by calling the school: 613-549-1680. These lists are always tentative until final numbers are determined early in September. We are here to help! If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us.
Please see information below regarding drop off and pick up locations, traffic calming measures and more.
Enjoy the final few days of summer and we look forward to seeing you soon!
Karen Leggett, Principal and the Lord Strathcona Staff
Staggered Junior Kindergarten Start
School Day Schedule:
9:00 School day starts
9:00-10:40 First 100 minute learning block
10:40-11:25 Recess and nutrition break
11:25-1:05 Second 100 minute learning block
1:05-1:50 Recess and nutrition break
1:50-3:30 Third 100 minute learning block
3:30 Dismissal
First Day Information
Coming Up:
September 15- Dot Day
September 15- Kingston Fall Fair Education Day
September 15-17- Rosh Hashanah
September 18- International Week of the Deaf
September 23- Military Appreciation Day
September 24-25- Yom Kippur
September 25- PA Day
September 26- Police and Peace Officers' National Memorial Day
September 29- Terry Fox Run/Walk (more details to follow)
September 30- Orange Shirt Day- National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
September 30- Rowan's Law Day
October 9- Thanksgiving Day
October 19- Bus Safety Presentations
October 23- School Photo Day
Construction Updates:
You have likely noticed the construction happening on the west and north sides of our school this summer as we continue to update and refresh the look of the school as well as ensure that it is safe and secure. We will have new bricks, doors and windows as well as a new Kindergarten yard. Good progress is being made and it will continue into the fall.
Due to the construction, our Kindergarten students will be dropped off and picked up at the front doors of the school.
We will provide you with updates on the construction project as it progresses. Our school is going to look amazing!
Staff Only Parking in School Lot
Parking
The first day of school will be exciting...and busy. We ask that you please walk if possible. If you do drive, please use the side streets when dropping off or picking up your children. Please do not park in front of the school as this is where our buses load. Please take note of the signs that indicate the bus loading zones as well as no stopping signs across the road from the school. We very much appreciate your cooperation and help in keeping our students safe.
Reminder: School Zone Traffic Safety
Reducing vehicle speeds improves safety for all road users. Neighbourhood Area Speed Limits can help set consistent expectations for motorists across a community, encouraging careful and cautious driving through the area. Community Safety Zones also help to reinforce safe and attentive driving, especially in school areas where families may be walking or cycling to school.
Last fall, the City introduced neighbourhood-wide Area Speed Limit reductions to 40 km/h, school area speed limit reductions to 30 km/h, and the introduction of Community Safety Zones in the immediate area surrounding schools.
Click on the link below for more information from the City of Kingston:
https://www.cityofkingston.ca/residents/roads-and-traffic/neighbourhood-road-safety
Click on the link below for the school year calendar
Medical Safety Plans
Allergy Awareness
Thank you for helping to keep our children safe by not sending any items that contain peanuts or tree nuts.
Tentative School Organization
JK/SK: Ms. Mulholland/ Ms. Hull
JK/SK: Ms. Flanigan/ Ms. Feenstra
Grade 1- Ms. Pepper
Grade 1/2- Ms. Carter
Grade 2/3- Ms. Lees
Grade 3/4- Ms. Whitehead
Grade 4- Ms. Turner
Grade 5/6- Ms. Paterson
Grade 5/6- Ms. Reid
Planning Time: Ms. Zwicker
Core French: R. Fabbro, E. Vines, K. Gilroy
Student Support Teacher: Ms. Doolan
Educational Assistants: K. Ireland, B. Magee, N. Vellis, S. Keo, R. Walker
Office Administrator: R. Groenewegen
ESL Support Teachers: S. Leeder, A. Allen
Head Caretaker: S. Dwyre
Evening Caretaker: M. Jones
Principal: K. Leggett
Communication Home
We use an electronic newsletter! The newsletter as well as other information will be shared through our Twitter account:
https://twitter.com/LordStrath_LDSB
Our website:
https://lordstrathcona.limestone.on.ca/
The newsletter and information will also be shared through School Messenger and will go directly to your email. Please make sure we have your current email address. Instructions for downloading the School Messenger app are included in this newsletter.
SCHOOL-DAY ON-LINE PAYMENT AND PERMISSION FORM PLATFORM
School-Day is an online cashless system for use by parents, teachers and office administrative staff. Limestone is implementing School-Day to minimize the handling of cash by teachers and office staff, reduce paper, and streamline office efficiencies.
What’s in it for parents?
School-Day can be accessed from any web browser and gives parents real-time, secure access to up-to-date information, and the ability to:
- Complete on-line payments for trips or other activities
- Register your child for extra-curricular events
- Approve permission forms instantly on-line
- Minimize the risks associated with sending money to school with your child (“backpack delivery”)
- Reduce the environmental impact of photocopying permission forms and announcements
How can I sign up for my child’s School-Day account?
If your child is new to Limestone, your child will bring home a letter in the first few weeks of school. The letter contains a unique code to create an account in School-Day. Please reach out to the school if you do not receive your child's code by the end of September.
TRI-BOARD STUDENT TRANSPORTATION: SIGN UP FOR NOTICES
From time to time, Triboard Transportation needs to cancel buses due to staff shortages, weather, or mechanical issues. The best way to stay informed is to subscribe to Triboard's Delays and Cancellations notices. Click on the link below:
You can also follow us on Twitter to find out about bus cancellations:
https://twitter.com/LordStrath_LDSB
If a bus is cancelled, it is cancelled in the morning as well as the afternoon. If your child's bus is cancelled, and you drive them to school, please remember that you will also have to pick them up at the end of the day.
School Messenger App
Safe Arrival- How to Report an Absence:
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, please report a full day absence and then we will sign them in when they arrive. You cannot indicate a half day absence.
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.
3. SchoolMessenger SafeArrival Website Portal
- 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.
We would love to have you join our Council. Election information and meeting dates will be shared later in September.
Wanted: Bingo Volunteers
Bingo is back up and running and what a simple and easy way to fundraise for your school! Did you know Bingo is a completely separate entity from the school council?!
NO monthly meetings to attend!
NO awkwardly trying to sell something to your neighbours!
NO counting cash
The only requirement is a two hour shift at the Kingston Play! Gaming and Entertainment Centre! You don't even need to have kids at the school to volunteer!
All proceeds raised through our partnership with Play! Gaming and Entertainment are used to help fund field trips and extracurricular activities and to purchase items for the school such as Chromebooks, gym equipment, outdoor equipment, class supplies, coding robots, and so much more!!!
We are in need of volunteers and training is provided. The bingo volunteers act as ambassadors for our school: welcoming people, ensuring the facility is clean, helping out when a bingo is called, and assisting patrons. Each shift is just two hours long and volunteers are partnered up. It's a great way to spend time with a friend or family member or meet other members of the school community! If you would like to learn more about being a volunteer, please reach out to the school. We'd love to have you join us!