Together in Education:Family Update
September 11th-September 22nd
Lancaster Drive Public School and Parent Council
Email: lancd@limestone.on.ca
Website: http://lancaster.limestone.on.ca
Location: 1020 Lancaster Drive, Kingston, ON, Canada
Phone: (613)634-0470
Twitter: @LancasterPSLDSB
SCHOOL UPDATE
Dear Families,
Welcome Back to another exciting school year at Lancaster Drive Public Schoo! We hope you have had a wonderful summer filled with fun and relaxation. As we gear up for the new academic year, we are thrilled to welcome you and your children back to our school community.
Welcome to this year’s “Team Lancaster”
Office Administrator ~ Mrs. Davies
Principal ~ Ms. Jolene Knowles
Vice Principal ~ Ms. Sara O’Hearn
Teaching Staff:
Jk-Sk ~ Mrs. McCullough & Ms. Andrews
Jk-Sk ~ Mrs. Powers & Mrs. Hewitt
Grade 1 ~ Mrs. Dowker
Grade 1 ~ Mrs. Sidlauskas
Grade ½ ~ Mrs. Peltier
Grade 2 ~ Mrs. Boriotis & Mrs. McDougall
Grade 2/3 ~ Ms. Jarbeau
Grade 3 ~ Mrs. Tidman
Grade 4 ~ Mrs. Hamilton
Grade 4 ~ Mrs. Dowdell
Grade 5 ~ Mrs. Greenlees
Grade 5/6 ~ Mrs. Van Dyke
Grade 6 ~ Mr. Vreeken
Grade 6/7 ~ Ms. McLinton
Grade 7/8 ~ Ms. Cancian
Grade 7/8 ~ Mrs. Smith
Planning ~ Mrs. McDougall & Mrs. Chapman
Core French ~ Mme Take & Mme Walsh
District Autism Program ~ Mrs. Wright
Support Staff:
Mrs. Cattermole
Mr. Coughtrey
Mr. Hamilton
Mrs. Kim
Mrs. Kuriachan
Ms. Sask
In addition to academics, we believe in the holistic development of our students. Our school offers a wide range of extracurricular activities, clubs, and sports programs that cater to various interests. These activities are not only an opportunity for your child to explore their passions but also a chance to build friendships and develop valuable life skills.
We encourage you to stay involved in your child's education and engage with our school community. Our school organizes regular parent/family-teacher events where you can connect with other parents and learn more about your child's progress.
As we embark on this new school year together, let us celebrate the incredible strength and commitment of this school community. We are confident that with your support and collaboration, this will be a memorable and successful year for your child(ren).
Once again, welcome back Lancaster Families. We look forward to partnering with you to create a nurturing and enriching educational experience for your child.
Warmest regards,
Jolene Knowles, Sara O'Hearn and Lancaster Staff
Upcoming Dates:
TEAM PRACTICE SCHEDULES:
Running Club – Tues/Thurs 3-4 pm & Friday at Lunch
Girls/Boys Soccer Practice- Monday/Wednesday @ Woodbine after school, Thursday @ lunch
September 13th ~ Anniversary of the Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
September 15th ~ Intermediate Leadership Mixer
September 15th-17th ~ Rosh Hashanah
September 19th ~ Parent Advisory Council Meeting & Elections 6:00 pm
Week of September 18th ~ Soccer Tournament date TBD
September 24th-25th ~ Yom Kipper
September 25th ~ PD Day ~ No School For Students
September 29th ~ Tentative Date for Race Around The Park
September 30th ~ Orange Shirt Day, National Day of Truth and Reconciliation (recognized at school on Sept 29)
October 6th ~ Terry Fox Event
October 12th ~ Picture Day
October 16th ~ Gould Lake (Boriotis, Tidman, Jarbeau)
How Do I get Information From The School?
LDSB schools and school board use School Messenger to send key messages, alerts and general communication to families. Lancaster uses this platform and will continue to use our Together In Education to provide updates to families. These newsletters are where we will share school-specific information and highlights of student work and events in the building. This newsletter is sent out via School Messenger and posted on our school Twitter account and website.
SchoolMessenger App: Download the SchoolMessenger App to stay connected. Use your mobile device to download and install the free SchoolMessenger blue app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store, the SchoolMessenger website portal, or from within the LDSB mobile app. *New families will be able to create their account after the first day of attendance.
The first time you use the app, you must select Sign Up to create your account. Please ensure you use the same email address your student’s school has on file. If you do not use that same email address, you will not be able to create an account.
School Day Online Payments
We are paperless and cashless at Lancaster. We use the platform School Day for online payments (field trips, milkshake days, etc) and for digital permission slip signatures. ALL families are required to sign up using their child's individual match key that will be provided within the first weeks of school.
Safe Arrival
Please use the Safe Arrival system to report your child's absence; do not call the school to report an absence. If your child is going to be absent from learning, please ensure you use the Safe Arrival system to report the absence. If your child will be late, you can register for a late arrival.
How to report your absence:
1. Toll-free telephone
- Call 1-855-257-9349 toll-free to report an absence using the automated phone system.
2. School Messenger App
- Use your mobile device to download and install the free SchoolMessenger blue app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store, the SchoolMessenger website portal, or from within the LDSB mobile app.
- The first time you use the app, you must select Sign Up to create your account. Please ensure you use the same email address your student’s school has on file. If you do not use that same email address, you will not be able to create an account, or may not be able to see the "Attendance" option. You may have already created an account when we introduced the Communicate broadcast system.
- Select Attendance, then select Report an Absence and follow the prompts.
- Visit the SchoolMessenger website portal.
- The first time you use the app, you must select Sign Up to create your account. Please ensure you use the same email address your student’s school has on file. If you do not use that same email address, you will not be able to create an account, or may not be able to see the "Attendance" option. You may have already created an account when we introduced the Communicate broadcast system.
- Select Attendance, then Report an Absence and follow the prompts.
School Year Calendar
The Ministry of Education has approved the Limestone District School Board’s 2023-2024 School Year Calendar.
The following key dates have been approved:
First Day of School: Tuesday, September 5, 2023
Winter Break: December 25, 2023, to January 5, 2024
March Break: March 11, to March 15, 2024
Last Day of School: Thursday, June 27, 2024
The 2023-2024 school year consists of 194 days;
Secondary - 177 instructional days, 7 PA Days and 10 exam days.
Elementary - 187 instructional days and 7 PA Days.
Professional Activity Days - no classes for students:
Monday, Sept. 25, 2023
Friday, Oct. 27, 2023
Friday, Nov. 10, 2023
Friday, Feb. 2, 2024
Friday, April 12, 2024
Friday, May 31, 2024
Friday, June 28, 2024
Printable 2023-2024 School Year Calendar here.
Prevalent Medical Conditions
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. Completed forms can be faxed to 613-634-0472 or scanned and emailed to lancd@limestone.on.ca
**Be sure to also include the supplementary forms if medication may need to be administered by school staff.
Health and safety of our kids is our first priority. Thank you for helping us stay informed on your child's medical conditions and Plan of Care.
Lancaster School Advisory Council 2023-2024
Our next meeting is September 19th @ 6:00pm in the library at Lancaster PS. All are welcome!
At this meeting, we will be electing our new School Council Executive. You are welcome to nominate yourself for a position or have someone else nominate you. Please call/email the school if you would like more information or would like to nominate someone.
PARENT MEMBERS
COORDINATORS AND COMMITTEES
Chair
Represents, works with and provides support to all school community and council committee chairs. Presides over monthly meetings. Receives and reports on correspondence sent and received by council. Contributes to the Together in Education (TIE) newsletter.
Vice Chair
Presides over meetings in the absence of the Chair or upon the incumbent’s inability to serve. Responsible for overseeing all sponsored events and programs.
Treasurer
Works with the Council and Coordinators in developing an operation budget and serves as the liaison with the school and the Board of Education. Additional responsibilities included depositing/disbursing funds on behalf of the council and the preparation of monthly and year-end financial statements.
Secretary
Attends scheduled School Council meetings, records, maintains and distributes minutes of meetings, keeps non-financial records of council.
Active Members
Attends meetings, votes and participates in many aspects of council activities.
Member at Large
Duties as prescribed by Council
Community Representative
Represents members of the community on the council. Acts as a resource to Council. Must not be a parent or guardian of a child attending LDPS, or an employee of LDPS. If employed by the Board, this information my be made public. Must live or work within the catchment area of the school.
Fundraising Coordinator (elected position)
Plans and manages fundraising activities. Works closely with Volunteer Coordinator, Treasurer and School Administrators.
Volunteer Coordinator (elected position)
Responsible for recruiting and organizing volunteers for events and activities. Maintains information and records pertaining to volunteer activities. Works closely with school staff and other council members.
Public Relations Coordinator (elected position)
Publicizes meeting of Council, edits the council newsletter (TIE), updates website and shares on-going council information about events and activities via group email.
Teacher/Staff Appreciation Coordinator/Committee
Plans and organizes staff appreciation activities during the year and any other events to make the staff feel special and express our thanks for all they do for our children
Program/Event Coordinator/Leaders/Committee
Family Fun Nights/Cultural Arts Events: coordinates, plans and organizes events throughout the year. Works closely with the volunteer coordinator.
Inclusive Education Coordinator
Submits monthly article for the Tie Newsletter. Helps with inclusive education events.
OR
I have limited availability but still want to help with smaller jobs (photocopying, paperwork, event helpers, etc.)
In addition, we are always seeking Hot Lunch Volunteers
Please email Kory Slovitt (kory@slovitt.ca) if you are interested in volunteering!
Thank you!!
VOLUNTEERS IN SCHOOL & ON FIELD TRIPS
Parent, guardian and community volunteers play an essential role in our school communities. We welcome the participation of volunteers who bring a wide range of talents and skills to school life that enrich and support both students and staff.
Board policy states that people wishing to volunteer are required to complete a mandatory screening process that includes a police criminal record check, sometimes better known as a CPIC. This excludes guest speakers or presenters but does include parents/guardians attending school field trips who will be assuming supervision responsibilities for students. Where, at the request of the principal, a parent/guardian is participating on a field 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. These situations must be discussed in advance with the school principal.
CPICs must be updated and approved every three years. During interim years, volunteers must complete the annual Offence Declaration Form. Volunteers are encouraged to complete their CPIC application forms early in the school year, as there may be a waiting period involved with the processing and approval. Currently, there is variability on whether or not school volunteers are charged for the police criminal record check.
Kingston Police offers an automated online system for submitting your CPIC for approval.
Ontario Provincial Police requires you to download the form and then take it to your nearest OPP Detachment for approval.
You may also obtain copies of the applications from your school.
All volunteers are required to sign in and out of the office as do all school visitors. You may be asked to wear a visitor pass while in the school.
Insure My Kids
School Board Policy states that participation on school sports teams (both elementary and secondary) is conditional on obtaining at least the basic student accident insurance coverage for the student or proof of external private coverage through your family plan. The cost of basic coverage is approximately $17.00 per year. This covers the student while attending school during the school day. The time spent by students participating in school-sponsored teams is considered part of the school day, even if the games and/or practices are held outside of the regular school hours. It is recommended that all parents consider this program. Visit www.insuremykids.com to get this inexpensive and highly recommended insurance.
Pick Up and Drop Off Routines
Lancaster Apparel available through our Spirit Store
Cobs Bread
Love tasty baked goods from Cobs Bread?? Every time you visit Cobs Bread Bakery at 770 Gardiners rd. in Kingston simply let them know you are supporting Lancaster School’s Fundraiser and they will donate 10% of your sale to us!
Let’s “Raise some Dough”!