Message from the Director - Nov. 2, 2023
It is hard to believe we are already entering the third month of the school year. I hope all families have had a good start to the 2023-2024 school year. As we move into the month of November, a brief brush with snow earlier this week, and the end of fall extracurricular seasons, I have some updates to share with you.
Phase 2: Strategic Planning Consultation
During the spring of 2023, the Limestone District School Board (LDSB) collected feedback from the Limestone community, including students, families, staff, and community partners, about their own or their student’s learning experiences, and their perspectives on the key strengths and opportunities of the board for the future. The feedback from families focused on what would help improve their child’s learning was extremely valuable. Thank you to all those who contributed as part of these engagements.
This feedback was collated and combined with several other engagements with students, families, staff, and community partners to support the development of our new Multi-Year Strategic Plan. A summary of the feedback was shared at the August 23 Board Meeting.
In June, the provincial government passed new legislation, Bill 98 or the Better Schools and Student Outcomes Act, which set three provincial priorities that must be incorporated into the LDSB Multi-Year Strategic Plan: (a) Achievement of Learning Outcomes in Core Academic Skills; (b) Preparation of Students for Future Success; and (c) Student Engagement & Well-Being. Here is a graphic with further details around Ontario’s Student Achievement Plan.
Based on the first round of consultation on the strategic plan from the spring, and the additional requirements of Bill 98, we have drafted a proposed Mission and Vision for the new strategic plan.
You are now invited to provide your feedback on the proposed Mission and Vision and vote for a selection of Values that best describe the future direction of the board through an online survey. This survey is open now until November 24 at 4:00 p.m. Your input is greatly valued, and we thank you in advance for your participation.
Food Sharing Project Support
Given increases in the cost of living, and particularly inflationary pressure on the price of food, we are seeing a significant increase in students accessing food provided at school. In the past couple of years, Limestone has tripled its contributions to support continued, student access to food in Limestone schools. With the increased demand for food, and the higher cost of groceries, we are facing a food security crisis in many schools that is outpacing what can be provided to schools through the Food Sharing Project. As a result, if you can, please consider donating $2.00 or more to the Food Sharing Project through the Products tab in School Day. Your donation will help support some of the most vulnerable children and youth in our communities by providing them with the nourishment they need to improve their readiness to learn.
We thank you for your support.
KFL&A Public Health: Respiratory Illness Season
KFL&A Public Health has provided the LDSB with a letter from Dr. Piotr Oglaza, Medical Officer of Health, as well as helpful resources to share with you regarding how to stay healthy during respiratory illness season. Up to this point we have not seen a significant increase in student and staff absences due to illness, but we continue to monitor this data. To view information from KFL&A Public Health, please use the following links:
I wish you a wonderful month of November, and I thank you for your support and partnership as part of the Limestone community.