September 11 2026 Family Update

Lord Strathcona Public School Family Update

September 11, 2026

Principal's Message

We have had a great first two weeks at Lord Strathcona. Students are settling into routines and are already hard at work on baseline assessments in math and literacy. We have been enjoying the late summer weather, and our soccer teams have begun their practices leading up to their tournament at the end of the month.

We are pleased to share that our school organization as it stands has been approved by the District Staffing Committee, which means that we do not need to reorganize any of our classrooms. We are very happy that we won't need to disrupt any of the routines that have been established, and that all students will stay in their current classes.

Please read through this newsletter carefully - it includes important information about busing, school hours, volunteers, school council and more. Reach out to your child's teacher or to the office if you have any questions!

G. Seiveright, Principal

Upcoming Dates

Sept. 22 - School Soccer Tournament

Sept. 24 - School Council election and meeting

Sept. 28 - Terry Fox Run

Sept. 30 - Nat'l Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Orange Shirt Day)

Oct. 1 - Bus safety presentations k-6

Oct. 1 - Save the Date! Open House

Open House - Save the Date!

Our annual Open House will be held on Thursday, October 1, from 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. We hope that all families can join us to meet your children's educators, see their classroom, and learn about some of the work that they have begun.

At our Open House, School Council will also be hosting a Hand-me-Down table. Families are invited to drop off and pick up gently used clothing items for the upcoming school year. Any clothing left over at the end of the event will be dropped off to a local charity.

School Council

Our small but mighty School Council meets about once every 6 weeks to discuss events and fundraisers at Lord Strathcona, bring up issues with administration, and plan special opportunities for students and families. It is a great way to stay informed and involved in your child's schooling!

Our Lord Strathcona School Council from 2025-26 includes the following executive members:

Chair/Secretary/PIC Rep: Bethany Hufnagel

Treasurer: Carrie Fenton

Bingo & Fundraising Coordinator: Angela McGinnis

We hold elections for all executive positions annually. This year our elections and first meeting of the year will be held on September 24 at 4:00 in the library. All parents/caregivers are welcome, whether you are interested in running for an executive position or not. Further meeting dates and times will be determined at the first meeting.

Fire/Safety Drills

As we do every year, we will have three Fire Drills in the fall (including one next week), and three more in the spring. We will also have a lockdown practice drill in the fall and spring. Students will be prepared for these drills by their classroom educators in age-appropriate ways.

Class Organization

Volunteers

We love having volunteers in our school! Volunteers fill a variety of important roles at Lord Strathcona, including helping in classrooms, going on field trips, helping out with special events, keeping the library in order, and more!

Board policy states that people wishing to volunteer (including parents/guardians attending school field trips) are required to complete a mandatory screening process that includes a police criminal record check, sometimes better known as a CPIC that has a completion date within the last six (6) months. In most instances, a Vulnerable Sector Check CPIC will be required if the volunteer will be working regularly, directly, and/or alone, with students.  In some instances, for example if a parent/guardian is participating on a field trip to attend to the needs of their child, a CPIC may not be required (a condition of this situation must be that this parent is never alone with children other than their own). In this case, an offense declaration would be acceptable. A Vulnerable Sector Check CPIC can be obtained from the Kingston Police. The office will provide a letter to anyone requiring a CPIC to confirm that you are requesting it to work in a school.

Terry Fox Run

Every September, schools across the province participate in the Terry Fox School Run as a way to remember the courage and determination of Terry Fox. The Terry Fox School Run is more than an event, it is a powerful educational experience that encourages students to embody the values Terry championed: courage, perseverance, compassion, and hope. It fosters civic responsibility, character development, and engagement in causes greater than oneself; values that align closely with the ministry’s commitment to student well-being and success. 

To learn more about the Terry Fox School Run please visit Terry Fox Foundation School Run – Inspiring the Next Generation.

Our annual Terry Fox Run will take place this year on Monday, Sept. 28. Students will learn about Terry, who ran across Canada to raise money for cancer research, and will run with students across Canada in their own fundraiser. Students are encouraged to bring a small donation with them on the day of the run, a 'Twonie for Terry', or if you would prefer you can make a donation online through a link that will be shared in the next newsletter.

Parking info

As you may have noticed, the Unitarian church across the street is under construction, and we can no longer use their parking lot. Our school parking lot is for Staff Parking only. Street parking is permitted as posted in the neighbourhood on Jane Ave., Westmoreland Rd., and Seaforth Rd. There is no parking on either side of the street on McMahon Ave. in front of the school. Students and families are encouraged to walk or ride bikes/scooters where possible, and to be very careful at pick-up/drop off times if driving around the school.

Busing Information

You can check your busing information and apply for any changes to transportation at https://triboard.ca/ . All students must be registered for the bus in order to be able to ride. 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. You do not need to re-apply for busing in September if your school and address have not changed, but if you have moved or your child is changing schools, you must re-apply!

Medical Conditions

This message is intended for the families of students with prevalent medical conditions where documentation is needed by the school:

Students who had a Medical Plan of Care with us last year will bring home a new form for you to complete and return as soon as possible.

For new students with prevalent medical conditions, or returning students with new medical needs: To help us gather important medical information about your child, we ask that you select the correct Plan of Care form below, complete it and return it to the school as soon as possible. If you require us to administer daily medication, you will also need to complete the necessary paperwork for us to be able to do this.

Daily medication will need to be dropped off at the school. Students cannot carry medications in their backpack, at any time. Please call the school to make arrangements for drop off.

**Be sure to also include the supplementary forms if medication may need to be administered by school staff.

Health and safety of our students is our first priority. Thank you for helping us stay informed on your child's medical conditions and Plan of Care.

Supplemental Forms

Click below for necessary supplementary forms needed including:

• Form 311-A General POC
• Form 311-B - Epilepsy Plan of Care
• Form 311-C - Diabetes Plan of Care
• Form 311-D - Asthma Plan of Care
• Form 311-E - Anaphylaxis Plan of Care
• Form 314-A1 - Authorization and Request for Administration of Prescribed Medication
• Form 314-A2 - Administration of Medication
• Form 314-A3 - Administration of Epi-Pen
• Form 314-A4-Request and Authorization for the Administration of Reliever/Rescue Inhaler
• Form 314-B1 - Authorization and Request for the Administration of Medical Procedures

Office Notes

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.

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 3:15. 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.

PlayYGK! Charitable Gaming fundraising

Through our School Council, Lord Strathcona is a proud participant of Charitable Gaming! Through funds raised at Play! Gaming and Entertainment Centre we are able to continue our important work supporting students. Money raised from this partnership goes to covering a variety of expenses, including buses for field trips, yard equipment and Chromebooks for students! Over $750 million has been raised for charities across Ontario through Charitable Gaming.

School Council Facebook Group

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: Facebook.com/groups/LSPSparents This will be a place to find reminders of upcoming events and to build connections with other families in the community. This group is not monitored by the school and is not a place to ask student-specific questions or raise concerns. Please feel free to share the link with any LSPS parent or guardian you are connected with - the more the merrier!

Daily Schedule (2026-2027 school year)

If you have any questions, please contact school administration. Thank you for your continued support.

Allergen Awareness - Nut-Free School

Thank you for packing nut-free snacks! Please communicate with teachers before sending any treats in for your student's class.

2026-2027 LDSB School Year Calendar

A PDF version of the 2026-2027 School Year Calendar is available online.