Lord Strathcona Public School

<h3 class="editor-heading-h3" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Lord Strathcona Public School Family Update</span></h3><h3 class="editor-heading-h3" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">April 24, 2026</span></h3><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/7c7a844c-11ef-492a-8603-c2b9e0119d6d" alt="gym floor pic" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr" style="text-align: start;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Principal's Message</span></h2><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">It has been so nice to see the sun come out, the field dry up, and students enjoying this Spring weather! April and May are very busy around the school, with our School Track meet, our Junior Basketball tournaments, the LCVI Road Race, Fruity Friday and the School Talent show all on the horizon. In the middle of all that fun and activity we are focused on finishing the year strong academically, with important math and literacy learning along with content in all the other subjects. Students and staff are working hard and playing hard!</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: start;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">G. Seiveright, Principal</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><hr><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Upcoming Dates</span><img src="/images/bf01b13c-67bd-4a83-86ff-20c946b73a4b" alt="logo2" width="230" height="114" style="width:230px;height:114px;display:inline-block;float:right"></h2><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">May 1 - School Track and Field meet (gr. 3-6) - wear your Lightning T-shirt to show your school spirit!</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">May 6 - LCVI Road Race</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">May 7 - Jr. Basketball (Boys and Girls teams)</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">May 8 - Fruity Friday</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">May 18 - Victoria Day - School Holiday</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">May 21 - Talent show</span><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">SAVE THE DATE:</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> Year-end family barbecue is scheduled for Thursday, June 18 in the evening. More details to follow, but put it on your calendar now!</span></p></p><hr><h2 class="editor-heading-h2"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Track and Field</span></h2><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/41a19fb0-154e-4e83-9a6e-a28c66ee5d91" alt="track image" width="112" height="112" style="width:112px;height:112px;display:inline-block;float:right"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Our annual school track and field meet for students will be next Friday, May 1 (rain date: May 8). Our grade 3-6 students will have the opportunity to participate in sprinting, jumping, and medium-distance races all day on our school yard. Top finishers will be invited to represent Lord Strathcona at the Regional Meet at Caraco Field on June 4. All student athletes are reminded to dress to be outside all day, and to bring plenty of water and food. Students in k-2 will have the opportunity to come watch some of the events, and parents/caregivers are also welcome to join for part or all of the day! Wear your Lord Strathcona T-shirt to show your school spirit!</span></p><hr><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Kindergarten Registration</span></h2><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/faedf7b2-c5e9-46d2-be5e-a4fa1a12892d" alt="2026 01 05 Kindergarten Student Registration E Newsletter Graphic 1" width="489" height="611" style="width:489px;height:611px;display:inline-block"></h2><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr"><br></h2><hr><h2 class="editor-heading-h2"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Fruity Friday!</span></h2><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Today was the first F</span><img src="/images/4745f10f-63de-4472-98c7-6cf80f77fb9e" alt="strawberry" width="153" height="124" style="width:153px;height:124px;display:inline-block;float:left"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">ruity Friday of the year. Sponsored by School Council, all students were offered a delicious fruit snack at first nutrition break. It looked like everyone loved the selection of strawberries, bananas and pears! We will have our second Fruity Friday on May 8, with different fruits for students to try. Thanks School Council and PlayYGK! Charitable Gaming for the funding for this delicious initiative!</span></p><hr><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Hot Lunch</span></h2><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: start;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Hot lunch has returned to Lord Strathcona for term two! We will be offering lunch for purchase every Wednesday. We have switched providers and all lunches listed below will be from Paradiso Pizza.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: start;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The next scheduled lunches are as follows:</span><img src="/images/1a852065-0985-43c0-8a11-01fad6927644" alt="pizza" width="177" height="177" style="boxSizing:border-box;borderStyle:none;height:177px;maxWidth:100%;objectFit:cover;display:inline-block;marginBottom:0.5rem;float:right;marginLeft:1.25rem;width:177px"></p><ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Wed. Apr. 29: Paradiso Pasta and Sauce</span></li><li value="2" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Wed. May 6: Paradiso Pizza</span></li><li value="3" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Wed. May 13: Grilled Cheese</span></li><li value="4" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Wed. May 20: Paradiso Pizza</span></li><li value="5" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Wed. May 27: Paradiso Pasta and Sauce</span></li></ul><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: start;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">All orders and payments must be made online using </span><a href="https://www.school-day.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">School-Day</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">. You must order before the deadline (</span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Sundays before the lunch</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">). LATE ORDERS CAN NOT BE ACCEPTED. </span></p><hr><h2 class="editor-heading-h2"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Bus Cancellations</span></h2><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Even though the worst of the weather is behind us, sometimes buses are cancelled due to driver shortages or other factors. The decision to cancel buses is made by TriBoard, in consultation with the Limestone District School Board, early in the morning. When buses are cancelled in the morning they are cancelled for the full day. We will send an email to families in the morning when buses are cancelled, but you can also sign up for notifications at </span><a href="https://triboard.ca/snowdays/" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">https://triboard.ca/snowdays/</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> . Please remember that if you drive your children to school on inclement weather days our supervision begins at 8:45 a.m. and students must be picked up by 3:30. If they are staying home due to weather or bus cancellations, please report the absence through SafeArrival to avoid an attendance call. </span></p><hr><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Dress for the weather!</span></h2><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Families are reminded that we have 50 minutes of outdoor recess every day. Along w</span><img src="/images/6e55e5cd-ca30-4195-ad8f-d612629d4392" alt="rain" width="114" height="114" style="width:114px;height:114px;display:inline-block;float:left"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">ith this, many classes enjoy gym time outside and also may use our many yard spaces as an outdoor classroom. Remember to send your students to school every day prepared for the weather. We will still go out in light rain and wind, so make sure that children have rain boots, jackets and rain pants as necessary. It is so much fun outside, especially when students are dressed for the weather!</span></p></p><hr><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/4347a551-7238-43fe-8cdb-74792c2ad122" alt="2026 04 08 Raising healthy minds Newsletter Insert" width="602" height="752" style="width:602px;height:752px;display:inline-block"></p></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p></p><hr><h2 class="editor-heading-h2"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Upcoming Family Engagement and Climate Survey</span></h2><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: start;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The Limestone District School Board is inviting families to take part in the&nbsp;</span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Family Engagement and Climate Survey</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">. This survey gives families an opportunity to share their experiences with their student’s school and with the school board. The feedback helps us understand what is working well and where we can improve. It also supports schools and school councils in building welcoming, safe, and supportive school communities.&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: start;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The survey includes questions about:</span></p><ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem" style="text-align: start;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">How schools communicate and share information</span></li><li value="2" class="editor-listitem" style="text-align: start;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Whether families feel welcome, included, and connected</span></li><li value="3" class="editor-listitem" style="text-align: start;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Barriers to taking part in school activities, such as time, childcare, language, accessibility, or cost</span></li><li value="4" class="editor-listitem" style="text-align: start;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Safety and bullying, including reporting and follow‑up</span></li><li value="5" class="editor-listitem" style="text-align: start;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Licensed Before and After School Programs</span></li><li value="6" class="editor-listitem" style="text-align: start;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Some questions ask about family background to help us better understand different experiences across our communities</span></li></ul><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: start;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp;Participation is&nbsp;</span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">voluntary and anonymous</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">. Families may skip any questions they choose. No names or identifying information are collected. Results are shared only as grouped summaries and are used to support learning, planning, and improvement at the board, school, and school council levels. </span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The survey will be open from May 1 to May 11 and will be available online. Families will receive an e-mail on May 1 with a link to the survey.&nbsp;</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Paper copies will also be available at your school’s administrative office starting May 1.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: start;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Thank you for sharing your voice and helping strengthen our schools and school communities.</span></p><hr><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Office Notes</span></h2><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Please note that our Office Administrator is on lunch from 11:30 - 12:30. Phones may not be answered during this time, and it may take longer than normal to answer the front door. Thank you for your patience and understanding.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">All parents dropping students off or picking students up are asked to wait in the foyer for your child. To help ensure school and student safety and to minimize disruptions, parents/caregivers are not allowed to go down to classrooms during the school day. If you need to pick your child up early from school, please notify the office before 3:10. After that regular dismissal routines start to get very busy and it can be difficult to get a message to classrooms. Thank you for your understanding.</span></p><hr><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Busing Information</span></h2><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">You can check your busing information and apply for any changes to transportation at </span><a href="https://triboard.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">https://triboard.ca/ </span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">All students must be registered for the bus in order to be able to ride. </strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Please note that new applications and any changes take several days to process, so be sure to have alternate transportation plans in place. Please be at your child's bus stop 10 minutes before their scheduled pick-up/drop-off time to make sure you are there on time. </span></p></p><hr><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">PlayYGK! Charitable Gaming fundraising</span></h2><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Through our School Council, Lord Strathcona is a proud participant of Charitable Gaming! Through funds raised at @PlayYGK, we can continue our important work supporting students. Moneys raised from this partnership goes to covering a variety of expenses, including yard equipment and paying for buses for all our field trips!</span></p></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/dbc341e6-f745-451f-b66a-ca4af65bc88e" alt="PLAY Gaming" width="594" height="742" style="width:594px;height:742px;display:inline-block"></p><hr><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">School-Year Calendar 2026-27</span></h2><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The Ministry of Education has approved the school year calendar for the 2026-2027 school year. The school year will start on September 1 (P.A. Day) and the first day of classes for students is on September 2, 2026. A printable calendar along with the 5-day cycle calendar are posted on the Board website here: </span><a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/school-year-calendar" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.limestone.on.ca/school-year-calendar </span></a></p></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><hr><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">School Council</span></h2><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Our small but mighty School Council continues to meet to discuss events and fundraisers at Lord Strathcona, bring up issues with administration, and plan special opportunities for students and families. This includes our Fruity Fridays and our year-end family barbecue!</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Our Lord Strathcona School Council includes the following executive members:</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Chair/Secretary/PIC Rep: Bethany Hufnagel</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Treasurer: Carrie Fenton</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Bingo &amp; Fundraising Coordinator: Angela McGinnis</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Our next School Council meeting will be held on </span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Thursday, April 23 at 4:00 p.m.</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> in the library. We are trying different times for our meetings this year in the hopes that new interested parents and caregivers will join us! All LSPS parents/guardians are invited to join us. </span></p></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><hr><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">School Council Facebook Group</span><img src="/images/3a68c5ca-3aff-41de-8fb5-9da1715893d2" alt="Parent Facebook Group QR Code" width="418" height="239" style="width:418px;height:239px;display:inline-block;float:right"></h2><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">NEW this year is an unofficial Facebook Group for Parents and Guardians in the LSPS community to connect. Any parent or guardian is welcome to join at the QR code in the image, or by following the link:&nbsp;</span><a href="https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ffacebook.com%2Fgroups%2FLSPSparents&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cseiverightg%40limestone.on.ca%7C00bf46f8147b4ee5684208ddef2a54ef%7Ce1f4165febae4d82a73ca0de593830be%7C0%7C0%7C638929687333782544%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=KHH2FMUOec8C%2FwTK4QvNU3VuozW%2F7OZJEz73Kq1HOn8%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Original URL: http://facebook.com/groups/LSPSparents. Click or tap if you trust this link." class="editor-link" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Facebook.com/groups/LSPSparents</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp;This will be a place to find reminders of upcoming events and to build connections with other families in the community. </span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">This group is not monitored by the school and is not a place to ask student-specific questions or raise concerns.</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> Please feel free to share the link with any LSPS parent or guardian you are connected with - the more the merrier!</span></p></p><hr><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/d095568d-31a5-4651-8be1-5b2b7fc9ef76" alt="By Your Side webinar series spring 2026 Flyer" width="490" height="633" style="width:490px;height:633px;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><hr><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Daily Schedule </span></h2><table class="editor-table" style="width: 100%; table-layout: fixed;"><colgroup><col style="width: 50%;"><col style="width: 50%;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="background-color: rgb(242, 243, 245); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Time</span></p></th><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="background-color: rgb(242, 243, 245); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Activity/learning block</span></p></th></tr><tr><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">8:45 a.m.</span></p></th><td class="editor-tableCell" style="border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Supervision begins on the yard</span></p></td></tr><tr><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">9:00 to 10:40 a.m.</span></p></th><td class="editor-tableCell" style="border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">100-minute learning block</span></p></td></tr><tr><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">10:40 to 11:25 a.m.</span></p></th><td class="editor-tableCell" style="border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Recess and nutrition break</span></p></td></tr><tr><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">11:25 a.m. to 1:05 p.m.</span></p></th><td class="editor-tableCell" style="border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">100-minute learning block</span></p></td></tr><tr><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">1:05 to 1:50 p.m.</span></p></th><td class="editor-tableCell" style="border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Recess and nutrition break</span></p></td></tr><tr><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">1:50 to 3:30 p.m.</span></p></th><td class="editor-tableCell" style="border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">100-minute learning block</span></p></td></tr><tr><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">3:30 p.m.</span></p></th><td class="editor-tableCell" style="border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Dismissal</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></p></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><hr></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Allergen Awareness - Nut-Free School</span></h2><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Thank you for packing nut-free snacks! Please communicate with teachers before sending any treats in for your student's class. </span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/77143b36-64d5-4f80-a9f2-cf2bf339fb88" alt="Nut Free School" width="387" height="553" style="width:387px;height:553px;display:inline-block"></p><hr><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">2025-2026 LDSB School Year Calendar</span></h2><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">A </span><a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/documents/7291ab76-99b5-43a1-8f2b-edaade7c53e8/2025-04-07-LDSB%20School%20Year%20Calendar-2025-2026.pdf" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">PDF version of the 2025-2026 School Year Calendar is available online</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><img src="/images/1161a439-a52c-4144-ad44-b2b141f1f967" alt="2025 2026 LDSB School Year Calendar" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><hr><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr"><br></h2><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><br></p></p>

<h3 class="editor-heading-h3" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Lord Strathcona Public School Family Update</span></h3><h3 class="editor-heading-h3" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">April 10, 2026</span></h3><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/7c7a844c-11ef-492a-8603-c2b9e0119d6d" alt="gym floor pic" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr" style="text-align: start;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Principal's Message</span></h2><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">It was great to see so many families at our Math Games Night last night! Students all looked like they were having a great time playing games, building math skills, and spending quality family time. We hope that the learning will continue at home with the games that families took home, building confidence in math and having fun as a family! Thanks to School Council and the PRO Grant program for making this event possible, along with all the staff members and parents who volunteered.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Next Friday, April 17, is a PA Day for Students. After that, we are back to 5-day weeks for students until the Victoria Day holiday on Monday, May 18.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: start;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">G. Seiveright, Principal</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><hr><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Upcoming Dates</span></h2><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apr. 17 - PA Day - no school for students</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apr. 23 - School Council - 4:00</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">May 1 - School Track and Field meet (gr. 3-6)</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">May 6 - LCVI Road Race</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">May 18 - Victoria Day - School Holiday</span></p></p><hr><h2 class="editor-heading-h2"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Staffing Update</span></h2><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">We are very sad to say goodbye to Ms. Goslin today. Ms. Goslin has been the office administrator at Lord Strathcona for more than two years, and has had a huge impact on our school, students, families and staff. On Monday she will start the next chapter of her career at Storrington Public School, where we know she will make a big difference in all the lives of that community. Thanks for everything you have done for Lord Strathcona, Ms. Goslin, you will be missed!</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">We are pleased to share that our new Office Administrator will start next week. Ms. Shetler is joining us from her last position, which was split between the offices at Rideau PS, Calvin Park PS, and Polson Park PS. Ms. Shetler is excited to join the Lightning family, and we are very happy to welcome her to our school community!</span></p></p><hr><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Kindergarten Registration</span></h2><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/faedf7b2-c5e9-46d2-be5e-a4fa1a12892d" alt="2026 01 05 Kindergarten Student Registration E Newsletter Graphic 1" width="489" height="611" style="width:489px;height:611px;display:inline-block"></h2><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr"><br></h2><hr><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Hot Lunch</span></h2><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: start;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Hot lunch has returned to Lord Strathcona for term two! We will be offering lunch for purchase every Wednesday. We have switched providers and all lunches listed below will be from Paradiso Pizza.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: start;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The next scheduled lunches are as follows:</span><img src="/images/1a852065-0985-43c0-8a11-01fad6927644" alt="pizza" width="177" height="177" style="boxSizing:border-box;borderStyle:none;height:177px;maxWidth:100%;objectFit:cover;display:inline-block;marginBottom:0.5rem;float:right;marginLeft:1.25rem;width:177px"></p><ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Wed. Apr. 15: Grilled Cheese Sandwich</span></li><li value="2" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Wed. Apr. 22: Paradiso Pizza</span></li><li value="3" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Wed. Apr. 29: Paradiso Pasta and Sauce</span></li></ul><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: start;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">All orders and payments must be made online using </span><a href="https://www.school-day.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">School-Day</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">. You must order before the deadline (</span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Sundays before the lunch</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">). LATE ORDERS CAN NOT BE ACCEPTED. </span></p><hr><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Immunization Update</span></h2><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Students who are not up to date with their required immunizations have received mulitple notices from Southeast Public Health and the school. Students on the list are at risk of suspension from school on April 14</span><sup style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span>th</span></sup><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp;for 20 school days under the&nbsp;Immunization&nbsp;of School Pupils Act until vaccine information is received.&nbsp;You must send vaccine information directly to Public Health - contact information is below.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/02649cde-de6b-47db-90ca-9916c9a963ad" alt="Immunization poster jan 2026 Page 1" width="457" height="586" style="width:457px;height:586px;display:inline-block"></p><hr><h2 class="editor-heading-h2"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Bus Cancellations</span></h2><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Even though the worst of the weather is behind us, sometimes buses are cancelled due to driver shortages or other factors. The decision to cancel buses is made by TriBoard, in consultation with the Limestone District School Board, early in the morning. When buses are cancelled in the morning they are cancelled for the full day. We will send an email to families in the morning when buses are cancelled, but you can also sign up for notifications at </span><a href="https://triboard.ca/snowdays/" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">https://triboard.ca/snowdays/</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> . Please remember that if you drive your children to school on inclement weather days our supervision begins at 8:45 a.m. and students must be picked up by 3:30. If they are staying home due to weather or bus cancellations, please report the absence through SafeArrival to avoid an attendance call. </span></p><hr><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Dress for the weather!</span></h2><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Families are reminded that we have 50 minutes of outdoor recess every day. Along w</span><img src="/images/6e55e5cd-ca30-4195-ad8f-d612629d4392" alt="rain" width="131" height="131" style="width:131px;height:131px;display:inline-block;float:left"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">ith this, many classes enjoy gym time outside and also may use our many yard spaces as an outdoor classroom. Remember to send your students to school every day prepared for the weather. We will still go out in light rain and wind, so make sure that children have rain boots, jackets and rain pants as necessary. It is so much fun outside, especially when students are dressed for the weather!</span></p></p><hr><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p></p><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/569abc68-f56b-49af-95c2-8fcc0ce98d68" alt="PEO 2026 Bridge Competition Poster" width="353" height="471" style="width:353px;height:471px;display:inline-block"></p><hr><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Office Notes</span></h2><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Please note that our Office Administrator is on lunch from 11:30 - 12:30. Phones may not be answered during this time, and it may take longer than normal to answer the front door. Thank you for your patience and understanding.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">All parents dropping students off or picking students up are asked to wait in the foyer for your child. To help ensure school and student safety and to minimize disruptions, parents/caregivers are not allowed to go down to classrooms during the school day. If you need to pick your child up early from school, please notify the office before 3:10. After that regular dismissal routines start to get very busy and it can be difficult to get a message to classrooms. Thank you for your understanding.</span></p><hr><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Busing Information</span></h2><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">You can check your busing information and apply for any changes to transportation at </span><a href="https://triboard.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">https://triboard.ca/ </span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">All students must be registered for the bus in order to be able to ride. </strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Please note that new applications and any changes take several days to process, so be sure to have alternate transportation plans in place. Please be at your child's bus stop 10 minutes before their scheduled pick-up/drop-off time to make sure you are there on time. </span></p></p><hr><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">PlayYGK! Charitable Gaming fundraising</span></h2><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Through our School Council, Lord Strathcona is a proud participant of Charitable Gaming! Through funds raised at @PlayYGK, we can continue our important work supporting students. Moneys raised from this partnership goes to covering a variety of expenses, including yard equipment and paying for buses for all our field trips!</span></p></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/dbc341e6-f745-451f-b66a-ca4af65bc88e" alt="PLAY Gaming" width="594" height="742" style="width:594px;height:742px;display:inline-block"></p><hr><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">School-Year Calendar 2026-27</span></h2><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The Ministry of Education has approved the school year calendar for the 2026-2027 school year. The school year will start on September 1 (P.A. Day) and the first day of classes for students is on September 2, 2026. A printable calendar along with the 5-day cycle calendar are posted on the Board website here: </span><a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/school-year-calendar" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.limestone.on.ca/school-year-calendar </span></a></p></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><hr><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">School Council</span></h2><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Our small but mighty School Council continues to meet to discuss events and fundraisers at Lord Strathcona, bring up issues with administration, and plan special opportunities for students and families. This includes our Family Math Games Night!</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Our Lord Strathcona School Council includes the following executive members:</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Chair/Secretary/PIC Rep: Bethany Hufnagel</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Treasurer: Carrie Fenton</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Bingo &amp; Fundraising Coordinator: Angela McGinnis</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Our next School Council meeting will be held on </span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Thursday, April 23 at 4:00 p.m.</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> in the library. We are trying different times for our meetings this year in the hopes that new interested parents and caregivers will join us! All LSPS parents/guardians are invited to join us. </span></p></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><hr><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">School Council Facebook Group</span><img src="/images/3a68c5ca-3aff-41de-8fb5-9da1715893d2" alt="Parent Facebook Group QR Code" width="418" height="239" style="width:418px;height:239px;display:inline-block;float:right"></h2><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">NEW this year is an unofficial Facebook Group for Parents and Guardians in the LSPS community to connect. Any parent or guardian is welcome to join at the QR code in the image, or by following the link:&nbsp;</span><a href="https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ffacebook.com%2Fgroups%2FLSPSparents&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cseiverightg%40limestone.on.ca%7C00bf46f8147b4ee5684208ddef2a54ef%7Ce1f4165febae4d82a73ca0de593830be%7C0%7C0%7C638929687333782544%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=KHH2FMUOec8C%2FwTK4QvNU3VuozW%2F7OZJEz73Kq1HOn8%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Original URL: http://facebook.com/groups/LSPSparents. Click or tap if you trust this link." class="editor-link" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Facebook.com/groups/LSPSparents</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp;This will be a place to find reminders of upcoming events and to build connections with other families in the community. </span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">This group is not monitored by the school and is not a place to ask student-specific questions or raise concerns.</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> Please feel free to share the link with any LSPS parent or guardian you are connected with - the more the merrier!</span></p></p><hr><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/d095568d-31a5-4651-8be1-5b2b7fc9ef76" alt="By Your Side webinar series spring 2026 Flyer" width="490" height="633" style="width:490px;height:633px;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><hr><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Daily Schedule </span></h2><table class="editor-table" style="width: 100%; table-layout: fixed;"><colgroup><col style="width: 50%;"><col style="width: 50%;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="background-color: rgb(242, 243, 245); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Time</span></p></th><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="background-color: rgb(242, 243, 245); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Activity/learning block</span></p></th></tr><tr><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">8:45 a.m.</span></p></th><td class="editor-tableCell" style="border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Supervision begins on the yard</span></p></td></tr><tr><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">9:00 to 10:40 a.m.</span></p></th><td class="editor-tableCell" style="border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">100-minute learning block</span></p></td></tr><tr><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">10:40 to 11:25 a.m.</span></p></th><td class="editor-tableCell" style="border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Recess and nutrition break</span></p></td></tr><tr><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">11:25 a.m. to 1:05 p.m.</span></p></th><td class="editor-tableCell" style="border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">100-minute learning block</span></p></td></tr><tr><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">1:05 to 1:50 p.m.</span></p></th><td class="editor-tableCell" style="border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Recess and nutrition break</span></p></td></tr><tr><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">1:50 to 3:30 p.m.</span></p></th><td class="editor-tableCell" style="border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">100-minute learning block</span></p></td></tr><tr><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">3:30 p.m.</span></p></th><td class="editor-tableCell" style="border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Dismissal</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></p></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><hr></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Allergen Awareness - Nut-Free School</span></h2><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Thank you for packing nut-free snacks! Please communicate with teachers before sending any treats in for your student's class. </span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/77143b36-64d5-4f80-a9f2-cf2bf339fb88" alt="Nut Free School" width="387" height="553" style="width:387px;height:553px;display:inline-block"></p><hr><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">2025-2026 LDSB School Year Calendar</span></h2><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">A </span><a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/documents/7291ab76-99b5-43a1-8f2b-edaade7c53e8/2025-04-07-LDSB%20School%20Year%20Calendar-2025-2026.pdf" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">PDF version of the 2025-2026 School Year Calendar is available online</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><img src="/images/1161a439-a52c-4144-ad44-b2b141f1f967" alt="2025 2026 LDSB School Year Calendar" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><hr><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr"><br></h2><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><br></p></p>

<h3 class="editor-heading-h3" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Lord Strathcona Public School Family Update</span></h3><h3 class="editor-heading-h3" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">March 27, 2026</span></h3><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/7c7a844c-11ef-492a-8603-c2b9e0119d6d" alt="gym floor pic" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr" style="text-align: start;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Principal's Message</span></h2><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">It was great to get back to learning this week after what we hope was a nice March Break for students and their families. Although it is cold today, it looks like we may have turned the corner to spring! With that in mind please remember that we are outside for 50 minutes a day of recess, along with additional outdoor play and learning for various classes. It is important to dress appropriately for the weather, including choosing the right footwear for out muddy field!</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Looking ahead we are getting very excited for our Family Math Games Night on April 9 (more information is below). Also, please be reminded that there is no school for students Friday April 3 and Monday April 6 for the Easter Weekend, and April 17 for a PA Day.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: start;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">G. Seiveright, Principal</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><hr><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Upcoming Dates</span></h2><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apr. 3 - Good Friday (No School)</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apr. 6 - Easter Monday (No School)</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apr. 9 - Family Math Games Night</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Apr. 17 - PA Day</span></p></p><hr><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Family Math Games Night</span></h2><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">We are very excited to welcome families to our Math Games Night, on April 9, from 5-7 p.m. Please note that children must be accompanied by an adult at this event, which is an opportunity to build math learning through board games. Even better, you can order pizza and juice boxes for the event, and you won't have to worry about dinner. All food orders must be placed in </span><a href="https://www.school-day.com/" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">School-Day</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> by Thursday, April 2. </span><img src="/images/d820a3e6-ade0-4e4d-a503-4452a3fe48f0" alt="LSPS Family Games Night poster 2026" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><hr><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Kindergarten Registration</span></h2><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/faedf7b2-c5e9-46d2-be5e-a4fa1a12892d" alt="2026 01 05 Kindergarten Student Registration E Newsletter Graphic 1" width="489" height="611" style="width:489px;height:611px;display:inline-block"></h2><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr"><br></h2><hr><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Hot Lunch</span></h2><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: start;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Hot lunch has returned to Lord Strathcona for term two! We will be offering lunch for purchase every Wednesday. We have switched providers and all lunches listed below will be from Paradiso Pizza.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: start;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The next scheduled lunches are as follows:</span><img src="/images/1a852065-0985-43c0-8a11-01fad6927644" alt="pizza" width="177" height="177" style="boxSizing:border-box;borderStyle:none;height:177px;maxWidth:100%;objectFit:cover;display:inline-block;marginBottom:0.5rem;float:right;marginLeft:1.25rem;width:177px"></p><ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Wed. Apr. 1: Personal Pizza</span></li><li value="2" class="editor-listitem"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Wed. Apr. 8: Paradiso Pasta w. sauce</span></li><li value="3" class="editor-listitem"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Wed. Apr. 15: Grilled Cheese Sandwich</span></li></ul><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: start;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">All orders and payments must be made online using </span><a href="https://www.school-day.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">School-Day</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">. You must order before the deadline (</span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Sundays before the lunch</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">). LATE ORDERS CAN NOT BE ACCEPTED. </span></p><hr><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Bus Cancellations</span></h2><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Even though the worst of the weather is behind us, sometimes buses are cancelled due to driver shortages or other factors. The decision to cancel buses is made by TriBoard, in consultation with the Limestone District School Board, early in the morning. When buses are cancelled in the morning they are cancelled for the full day. We will send an email to families in the morning when buses are cancelled, but you can also sign up for notifications at </span><a href="https://triboard.ca/snowdays/" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">https://triboard.ca/snowdays/</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> . Please remember that if you drive your children to school on inclement weather days our supervision begins at 8:45 a.m. and students must be picked up by 3:30. If they are staying home due to weather or bus cancellations, please report the absence through SafeArrival to avoid an attendance call. </span></p><hr><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Immunization Update</span></h2><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/02649cde-de6b-47db-90ca-9916c9a963ad" alt="Immunization poster jan 2026 Page 1" width="457" height="586" style="width:457px;height:586px;display:inline-block"></p><hr><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Dress for the weather!</span></h2><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Families are reminded that we have 50 minutes of outdoor recess every day. Along w</span><img src="/images/6e55e5cd-ca30-4195-ad8f-d612629d4392" alt="rain" width="131" height="131" style="width:131px;height:131px;display:inline-block;float:left"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">ith this, many classes enjoy gym time outside and also may use our many yard spaces as an outdoor classroom. Remember to send your students to school every day prepared for the weather. We will still go out in light rain and wind, so make sure that children have rain boots, jackets and rain pants as necessary. It is so much fun outside, especially when students are dressed for the weather!</span></p></p><hr><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Office Notes</span></h2><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Please note that our Office Administrator is on lunch from 11:30 - 12:30. Phones may not be answered during this time, and it may take longer than normal to answer the front door. Thank you for your patience and understanding.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">All parents dropping students off or picking students up are asked to wait in the foyer for your child. To help ensure school and student safety and to minimize disruptions, parents/caregivers are not allowed to go down to classrooms during the school day. If you need to pick your child up early from school, please notify the office before 3:10. After that regular dismissal routines start to get very busy and it can be difficult to get a message to classrooms. Thank you for your understanding.</span></p><hr><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Busing Information</span></h2><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">You can check your busing information and apply for any changes to transportation at </span><a href="https://triboard.ca/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">https://triboard.ca/ </span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">All students must be registered for the bus in order to be able to ride. </strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Please note that new applications and any changes take several days to process, so be sure to have alternate transportation plans in place. Please be at your child's bus stop 10 minutes before their scheduled pick-up/drop-off time to make sure you are there on time. </span></p></p><hr><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">PlayYGK! Charitable Gaming fundraising</span></h2><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Through our School Council, Lord Strathcona is a proud participant of Charitable Gaming! Through funds raised at @PlayYGK, we can continue our important work supporting students. Moneys raised from this partnership goes to covering a variety of expenses, including yard equipment and paying for buses for all our field trips!</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br></p></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/dbc341e6-f745-451f-b66a-ca4af65bc88e" alt="PLAY Gaming" width="594" height="742" style="width:594px;height:742px;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><br></p></p><hr><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">School-Year Calendar 2026-27</span></h2><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The Ministry of Education has approved the school year calendar for the 2026-2027 school year. The school year will start on September 1 (P.A. Day) and the first day of classes for students is on September 2, 2026. A printable calendar along with the 5-day cycle calendar are posted on the Board website here: </span><a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/school-year-calendar" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.limestone.on.ca/school-year-calendar </span></a></p></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><hr><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">School Council</span></h2><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Our small but mighty School Council continues to meet to discuss events and fundraisers at Lord Strathcona, bring up issues with administration, and plan special opportunities for students and families. This includes the upcoming Family Math Games Night!</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Our Lord Strathcona School Council includes the following executive members:</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Chair/Secretary/PIC Rep: Bethany Hufnagel</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Treasurer: Carrie Fenton</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Bingo &amp; Fundraising Coordinator: Angela McGinnis</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Our next School Council meeting will be held on </span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Thursday, April 23 at 4:00 p.m.</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> in the library. We are trying different times for our meetings this year in the hopes that new interested parents and caregivers will join us! All LSPS parents/guardians are invited to join us. </span></p></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><hr><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">School Council Facebook Group</span><img src="/images/3a68c5ca-3aff-41de-8fb5-9da1715893d2" alt="Parent Facebook Group QR Code" width="418" height="239" style="width:418px;height:239px;display:inline-block;float:right"></h2><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">NEW this year is an unofficial Facebook Group for Parents and Guardians in the LSPS community to connect. Any parent or guardian is welcome to join at the QR code in the image, or by following the link:&nbsp;</span><a href="https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ffacebook.com%2Fgroups%2FLSPSparents&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cseiverightg%40limestone.on.ca%7C00bf46f8147b4ee5684208ddef2a54ef%7Ce1f4165febae4d82a73ca0de593830be%7C0%7C0%7C638929687333782544%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=KHH2FMUOec8C%2FwTK4QvNU3VuozW%2F7OZJEz73Kq1HOn8%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="Original URL: http://facebook.com/groups/LSPSparents. Click or tap if you trust this link." class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Facebook.com/groups/LSPSparents</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp;This will be a place to find reminders of upcoming events and to build connections with other families in the community. </span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">This group is not monitored by the school and is not a place to ask student-specific questions or raise concerns.</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> Please feel free to share the link with any LSPS parent or guardian you are connected with - the more the merrier!</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p></p><hr><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/d095568d-31a5-4651-8be1-5b2b7fc9ef76" alt="By Your Side webinar series spring 2026 Flyer" width="490" height="633" style="width:490px;height:633px;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><hr><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Daily Schedule </span></h2><table class="editor-table"><colgroup><col><col></colgroup><tbody><tr><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="width: 350px; background-color: rgb(242, 243, 245); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Time</span></p></th><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="width: 350px; background-color: rgb(242, 243, 245); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Activity/learning block</span></p></th></tr><tr><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="width: 350px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">8:45 a.m.</span></p></th><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 350px; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Supervision begins on the yard</span></p></td></tr><tr><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="width: 350px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">9:00 to 10:40 a.m.</span></p></th><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 350px; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">100-minute learning block</span></p></td></tr><tr><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="width: 350px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">10:40 to 11:25 a.m.</span></p></th><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 350px; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Recess and nutrition break</span></p></td></tr><tr><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="width: 350px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">11:25 a.m. to 1:05 p.m.</span></p></th><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 350px; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">100-minute learning block</span></p></td></tr><tr><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="width: 350px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">1:05 to 1:50 p.m.</span></p></th><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 350px; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Recess and nutrition break</span></p></td></tr><tr><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="width: 350px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">1:50 to 3:30 p.m.</span></p></th><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 350px; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">100-minute learning block</span></p></td></tr><tr><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="width: 350px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">3:30 p.m.</span></p></th><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 350px; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Dismissal</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></p></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><hr></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Allergen Awareness - Nut-Free School</span></h2><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Thank you for packing nut-free snacks! Please communicate with teachers before sending any treats in for your student's class. </span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><img src="/images/77143b36-64d5-4f80-a9f2-cf2bf339fb88" alt="Nut Free School" width="387" height="553" style="width:387px;height:553px;display:inline-block"></p><hr><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">2025-2026 LDSB School Year Calendar</span></h2><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">A </span><a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/documents/7291ab76-99b5-43a1-8f2b-edaade7c53e8/2025-04-07-LDSB%20School%20Year%20Calendar-2025-2026.pdf" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">PDF version of the 2025-2026 School Year Calendar is available online</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><img src="/images/1161a439-a52c-4144-ad44-b2b141f1f967" alt="2025 2026 LDSB School Year Calendar" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><hr><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr"><br></h2><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: center;"><br></p></p>