Dear Families,
It is hard to believe that we are already at the end of February and March Break is just over a week away. I have a few updates for LDSB families:
2025-2026 School Year Calendar
Thank you to everyone who provided feedback on the 2025-2026 School Year Calendar options. Calendar Option 3 was the choice selected most by families, staff, and students. Associate Superintendent Gollogly shared an overview of the consultation results at last week’s Board Meeting. The Board has approved the calendar and awaiting Ministry of Education approval.
Kids and Screens: Healthy Habits - An Evening with Dr. Shimi Kang, March 4, 2025
Join us for a one-hour keynote by Dr. Shimi Kang, author of The Tech Solution: Creating Healthy Habits for Kids Growing Up in a Digital World, where she shares how families can navigate healthy technology use with their children of all ages.
Refreshments will be served. A book sale and signing will follow the talk.
When: March 4, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Queen’s University, Humphrey Hall, 62 Arch Street, Kingston
(North of the Craine Building and across the street from the Biosciences Complex).
Free registration: bit.ly/DrShimiKang.
This event has been made possible through the collaboration of LDSB, LDSB Parent Involvement Committee, and KFL&A Public Health.
Ministry and Board Resources for Math and Literacy
There are many resources available designed to support your student’s learning in math and literacy, offering engaging activities that can make learning fun and effective for students and families. Visit Limestone’s Online Learning Resources and Tutoring webpage to learn more.
2025-2026 School Year Budget Survey
We anticipate receiving budget information from the Ministry of Education a bit later than usual due to the provincial election. We hope to have Ministry of Education information by the end of April. As we await this information and work on our preliminary budget, Limestone District School Board wants your feedback on our 2025-2026 school year budget.
We invite families, students, staff, and community members to take a short survey to share what is important to you.
Your feedback will help the Board of Trustees make decisions to best serve students' needs in 2025-2026.
Please take a few minutes to fill out the online survey. It is open until March 21, 2025. The survey is voluntary and anonymous, and all responses are confidential. Paper copies can be available at your student’s school if that is preferred.
Access the 2025-2026 School Year Budget Survey online.
You can view the current school year budget, which will help us plan for 2025-2026, on our website.
2025-2026 Virtual School Survey
Families interested in enrolling their students in virtual school for the 2025-2026 school year should complete the Virtual School Survey. This helps with early planning for the next school year. The virtual school option is for students who learn best online or need a virtual environment due to medical reasons. This survey is not for registration. If you have more than one student interested, please complete a survey for each student. The survey will remain open until 4:00 p.m. on March 20, 2025. Families can access the survey online. If you require a printed survey, please contact Kate Myers by e-mail.
Access the Virtual School Survey online.
See Yourself in Limestone Student Census – Fall 2025
This fall, all Limestone students can take part in the See Yourself in Limestone Student Census 2025. By learning more about students' backgrounds and needs, we can create a more inclusive and supportive school environment. Student participation helps us:
- Assess and work towards ensuring every student has a positive sense of belonging.
- Enhance support: Develop support systems for diverse learning styles.
- Inform decision-making: Provide data for better policies and outcomes.
More information will be shared with families and students leading up to the survey taking place in November. We invite all students to participate. Their voice matters, and together, we can build a stronger school community. More information will be shared leading up to the census.
Host an International Student – Be a Part of Kingston’s Global Community
Limestone is proud of our long tradition of hosting students from other countries, and with the demand for Kingston, and Canada, as a learning destination rapidly expanding, we are looking to expand our program. Students from over 15 different countries are here now staying with great homestay families in Limestone. Our International Education team is looking for more families to become homestay hosts to international students.
We currently have 15 students on our waiting list that have applied to Limestone for the 2025-2026 school year and need a home. They range from one semester to one year stays and are from Germany, Spain, Japan, Brazil, Slovakia, Czechia, and Denmark.
Host families will be paid a tax-free monthly stipend to host students. All students in the program attend local intermediate or secondary schools and range in age from 12 to 17 years old. Our International Education team works hard to make a great match for your family, that can last a lifetime.
Families can learn more by visiting Limestone’s International Education website or phoning the International Education offices at 613-544-7745 ext. 290.
As March Break often signals the start of spring for our school communities, it brings with it the chance for renewal and rejuvenation. I wish all LDSB families a safe and restful weekend and March Break when it arrives (week of March 10 to 14).
Thank you,
Krishna Burra
Director of Education