Choices at 7

Limestone Learning Foundation

The Limestone District School Board's Choices at 7 programs offer opportunities for students entering Grade 7 to participate in a variety of unique learning environments. Depending on the availability of places in the programs, students currently in Grade 7 may also apply to join a program for their Grade 8 year. 

Due to the limited number of spaces in each program, not all applicants may be offered placements. It is also important to note that transportation is not guaranteed, however, Tri-Board Transportation attempts to accommodate transportation requests, if possible. Please see FAQ for further information about transportation. 

For detailed information about any of the Choices at 7 programs, please access the menus below. This year the entire Choices at 7 application process will be conducted in an online format. 

Application Process:

The application process for the ATLAS, CHALLENGE AND LEAP Programs for September 2024 is now closed. Registration for the Extended French Immersion Program for September 2024 remains open. 
 

To all families of students currently enrolled in Grade 6 or 7: Please mark your calendars if you are interested in attending the LDSB Extended French Immersion Open House for the 2024-25 school year. 
Extended French Immersion Open Houses will be held Wednesday, February 21, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. at all three sites in the Limestone District School Board. 
- Module Vanier Extended French Immersion (located in Kingston Secondary School)
- Harrowsmith Public School Extended French Immersion (located at Harrowsmith Public School) 
- Module de L’Acadie Extended French Immersion (located in Frontenac Secondary School )
 

IF YOUR STUDENT IS INTERESTED IN APPLYING TO THE EXTENDED FRENCH IMMERSION PROGRAM and IS: 

A.  Currently Attending a school WITHIN the Limestone District School Board 

Click on the preferred site link below to complete the application for Extended French Immersion: 

HARROWSMITH PUBLIC SCHOOL APPLICATION LINK 

MODULE DE L’ACADIE APPLICATION LINK 

MODULE VANIER APPLICATION LINK 

** Students currently enrolled in a LDSB French Immersion program will be automatically transferred to their immersion site.  

B. Currently enrolled in a school OUTSIDE of the Limestone District School Board 

Applications for Extended French Immersion are ongoing and will remain open during the current school year. Go to the Limestone District School Board website to complete the new student Online Registration form. Please contact the school if you require support to complete the application form. 

Questions:
P
lease consult our list of frequently asked questions below. Additional questions about Choices at 7 Programs and the online application process should be directed to the Choices Programs Registrar.

Extended French Immersion

The Extended French Immersion Program is designed to develop Grade 7 and 8 students’ skills in reading, writing, listening and oral communication in French. Through this immersion experience, students will communicate and interact in French with growing confidence and fluency. The program implements the Ontario curriculum and provides authentic experiences as well as marketable second language skills. 

The Extended French Immersion Program accepts students who are currently in Grade 6 Core French and who have a desire to learn in French across most of the curriculum areas.   

Extended French Immersion is offered at three sites:

Application Process: Extended French Immersion

My student is: 

In Grade 6 at a LDSB school and has only learned Core French:


The next steps are:
1. Use the school locator and select the ‘Extended immersion’ program to determine which school is in your catchment 

2. Please apply to the school that is closest to your home address:

HARROWSMITH PUBLIC SCHOOL APPLICATION LINK

MODULE DE L’ACADIE APPLICATION LINK

MODULE VANIER APPLICATION LINK

** Students currently enrolled in a LDSB French Immersion program will be automatically transferred to their immersion site.

In Grade 6 in another School Board and is interested in joining Immersion/Extended French at LDSB:

Complete the Online Registration Process


In Grade 6 at a LDSB school and has been taking French Immersion:

An application is not required as you will be transferred to your immersion site automatically. 

Deadlines: Extended French Immersion

Applications to the Grade 7 Extended French Immersion Programs at Module de l’Acadie, Module Vanier and Harrowsmith Public School are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Families are asked, where possible, to submit the application form by Friday, April 22, 2024. 

Open Houses for 2024-2025 School Year

The Open Houses for the Challenge, Leap and Atlas Programs took place in December, 2023. 

Please mark your calendars if you are interested in attending an LDSB Extended French Immersion Open House for the 2024-25 school year. 

Extended French Immersion Open Houses will be held Wednesday, February 21, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. at all three sites in the Limestone District School Board. 

Module Vanier Extended French Immersion (located in Kingston Secondary School) 
Harrowsmith Public School Extended French Immersion (located at Harrowsmith Public School) 
Module de L’Acadie Extended French Immersion (located in Frontenac Secondary School ) 

Challenge Program: Gifted and Academic Enrichment Program

The Challenge Program is designed to meet the needs of academically motivated and/or formally identified gifted students who are seeking new learning challenges while maintaining a healthy, balanced lifestyle.  The purpose of the program is to engage students in the provincial grade level curriculum through enriched experiences in a fast-paced, dynamic and multi-faceted learning environment. Students will have the opportunity to extend their learning and maximize their potential alongside peers from a variety of schools. 

A Challenge student:

  • Is inquisitive and is often found learning new skills on their own. 

  • Is open-minded, creative, innovative, and takes risks in their learning.    

  • Is determined and aims to persevere when faced with challenges, such as working at an accelerated pace. 

  • Is academically skilled/gifted, values and works to collaborate in subject areas.

  • Is an engaged citizen and demonstrates awareness and concern for each other, for issues of social justice, the environment, equity, and ways to make a difference in the world. 

  • Is a problem-solver, in critical and creative ways; asks questions, looks at multiple perspectives, and evaluates/challenges information. 

  • Is motivated, demonstrating ownership of their learning and self-discipline 

  • Has the potential to share ideas, listen to others, challenge respectfully and celebrate differences.

 

The Challenge Program is offered at:

LEAP (Limestone Education through the Arts) Program

The Limestone Education Through the Arts Program (LEAP) allows students to learn the Grade 7 and 8 curricula through an integrated, hands-on approach that uses the arts as a foundation. Taught by teachers who are specialists in their field, the purpose of the LEAP Program is to provide students with the opportunity to achieve their personal best through arts-based activities that emphasize teamwork, self-direction, motivation, innovation and creativity. 

LEAP is designed for students who demonstrate a passion for the arts and best demonstrate their learning through creative and artistic activities. Students participate in experiences that develop their skills and interests in movement, drama, visual arts and music.  LEAP allows students to gain an appreciation for all arts disciplines while growing as knowledgeable and responsible citizens.

A LEAP student is:

  • Willing to learn and develop in creative ways.

  • Passionate about learning through the Arts.

  • Willing to participate in all strands of the Arts.

  • Self-disciplined to work independently and demonstrate perseverance when encountering challenges. 

  • Open-minded and willing to take creative risks in learning.

  • A team player who works positively in groups, accepting and inclusive of peers.

The LEAP Program is offered exclusively at Calvin Park Public School.

ATLAS (Applying Technology for Learning, Aptitude and Success) Program

The ATLAS Program is designed to provide focused, structured learning opportunities for students who are experiencing difficulties with executive functioning skills (including communication and organization). As a result of these difficulties, their academic performance is not reflective of their potential. Through intensive, direct teaching experiences, the use of assistive technology and more hands-on learning, students will have opportunities to develop the knowledge, skills, strategies and attitudes that they will need to be successful in their learning.  

Students in the ATLAS program may or may not be diagnosed with a Learning Disability. The program focus is on developing students’ organizational skills, self-advocacy skills, communication skills, and social skills, as well as enhancing their use of assistive technology to support their learning for today and future pathways.

The ATLAS Program promotes respect, collaboration and inclusiveness. These attributes enable students to develop a sense of their role as citizens within their communities and global society.

ATLAS students come to the program with: 

  • Significant learning gaps in reading and/or writing and/or math.

  • A lack of confidence/self-esteem in academics. 

  • Difficulty expressing their ideas. 

  • Difficulties with executive functioning (planning, time management, organization, working memory, adaptable thinking). 

  • Gaps between their learning potential and their achievement.

  • A willingness to start work independently. 

  • A willingness to collaborate as a team.

  • A willingness to persevere and take risks.

The ATLAS Program is offered exclusively at Calvin Park Public School.

Application Process: Challenge, LEAP & ATLAS

Step 1: December 15, 2023 - January 15, 2024 

All online applications for the 2024-25 school year for Challenge, LEAP,  and ATLAS are due on Monday, January 15, 2024, at 4 p.m. 

Step 2: January 18 – February 26, 2024
 
All applicants will receive an email on January 18, 2024, outlining, in detail, the next steps of the application process (i.e., task requirements, how to submit tasks, etc.).

Application requirements will include:

ATLAS: A completed application form, February 2024 report card (for Learning Skills), an in-school team questionnaire and a student advocacy card (to be completed at the home school)

Challenge: A completed application form, February 2024 report card, an online task requiring a response to a question provided to the student, and a school-based questionnaire.

LEAP: A completed application form, February 2024 report card, an arts-related task, and a school-based questionnaire.

 

The student task portion of the application process must be completed by 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 31, 2024.

The February 2024 Report Card and the school-based questionnaire will be collected in February.

If you are applying from a school outside of the Limestone District School Board, and are unable to complete the educator questionnaires/surveys of the application process, please contact us at: [email protected]. We will be available to support your completion of all components.  

Step 3: Notification on Tuesday, March 5, 2024 
All applicants who have completed the application requirements are notified by email if they are accepted, placed on the waiting list, or if they have been declined. Notifications will be sent out on Tuesday, March 5, after 4:00 p.m.  

 

Step 4: Acceptance by Monday, March 18, 2024 

The deadline for students to accept or decline the offer to a Choices at 7 program is Monday, March 18, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. 

Notification Dates

Candidates for Challenge, LEAP and ATLAS programs will be contacted by e-mail regarding their application on Tuesday, March 5, 2024 after 4:00 p.m.

The deadline for students to accept or decline the offer to a Choices at 7 program is Monday, March 18, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the process for applying for LEAP, Challenge, and ATLAS?
Please refer to the Choices at 7 application process information. All applicants must complete the online application form by the due date and then complete the application requirements. All Challenge and LEAP applicants will be invited to submit a task and an educator/school team reference will be submitted. The tasks are scored together with the report card and a school-based questionnaire. The students are then ranked in numerical order, by their overall score. The selection of suitable candidates for ATLAS will be made by a Board committee who will review each on-line application, student’s report card, IEP (if applicable), the in-school team questionnaire and the student advocacy card. 

What is the deadline for applications?
All of the dates are posted within the Choices at 7 application process information. We do not accept late applications, but we will consider applications from military families who have moved into the area following the deadline. We encourage these families to reach out directly to the Choices at 7 Registrar at [email protected].

What do I do if I am having technical difficulties?
Please contact the ITS LDSB Service Desk at 613-417-3559 for assistance. Please note that all requests for technical support must be made no later than 24 hours prior to the submission deadline. If you continue to experience issues, please contact your classroom teacher, student support teacher or school administrator for assistance.

Where can I get more information about the programs and the admission requirements?
Information about the admission requirements and important dates are available at Choices at 7.

Challenge is offered at three sites. Can we apply for whichever one we prefer? 
There are geographical boundaries for each site. Particular elementary schools feed into each site (i.e., northern schools into Loughborough PS, western area schools into Odessa PS, and the others into Calvin Park PS). Please note that you can only apply to one Challenge site.

Can we apply to more than one program, for instance LEAP and Challenge?
Certainly. Several students apply to both programs every year. Please note that you can only apply to one Challenge site.                                                                                

How do you obtain a copy of my student's February report card?

If your student attends a school within the Limestone District School Board, we access the report card electronically and no action is required on your part. If your student attends a school outside our Board, or is home schooled, you will be asked to deliver or email a copy of the most recent report card to the Limestone District School Board Education Centre, 220 Portsmouth Ave., Kingston ON K7M 0G2, or scan and email.

Can my student apply for a Grade 8 placement in LEAP, Challenge or ATLAS?
Yes. The process is the same as Grade 7. Please note that there are only limited vacancies in the Grade 8 programs, because most of our students continue on in the program from Grade 7.

What is the selection process for Challenge and LEAP?
Challenge and LEAP applicants are rank-ordered based on their overall score. First Round: equity of opportunity. The first 23 places in each program are accepted from the rank-ordered list based on quotas for each Family-of-Schools. Second Round: based on the overall assessment score of each applicant until the cut off point of acceptance.

My student is currently in a Grade 6 French Immersion program (not in Core French). Do I need to apply to Vanier, Acadie or Harrowsmith?
If you are a Grade 6 LDSB student, currently in a French Immersion program, you do not need to apply. Your current school will transfer your child’s information to the appropriate site. If you require transportation, you will need to complete a Tri-Board Student Transportation application. If you are in a Grade 6 French Immersion program in another school board, you are required to complete a LDSB Student Registration Form and submit it to Vanier, Acadie or Harrowsmith (based on the location of your home). 

How many applicants apply and how many are accepted into each program?
As the applicant numbers vary significantly each year, we are not able to provide a specific answer.

Is there a waiting list?                                                 
Yes, a short waiting list is established for all programs, and it is kept active until the end of September. Vacancies are created, for instance, if a student is accepted into both LEAP and Challenge, so has to accept one offer and decline the other. That vacancy will be offered right away to the next person on the waiting list.

If my student doesn’t get in, will we be notified?      
Yes. All applicants are notified by email if they are accepted, placed on the waiting list, or if they are not being offered a space, on the notification date. 

I missed the application deadline. How do I apply now?We do not accept late applications, but we will consider applications from military families who have moved into the area following the deadline. We encourage these families to reach out directly to the Choices at 7 Registrars at [email protected]. Please visit the Choices at 7 web page for more information and important dates.

I have completed and submitted my child’s application but have not received any emails from the Choices at 7 Registrar.
You will receive a confirmation screen when you submit your application form for ATLAS, LEAP or Challenge. You should screenshot this confirmation for future reference. The application form will require that you provide only one email address for all future communications – ensure that it is typed correctly before submitting your form. You should also check your clutter/junk mail box as emails will sometimes be directed there. If you have any concerns or questions please email the Choices at 7 Registrar.

Can we visit the programs and meet the staff?
The Open Houses for the Challenge, Leap and Atlas Programs took place in December, 2023. 
Please mark your calendars if you are interested in attending an LDSB Extended French Immersion Open House for the 2024-25 school year. 
Extended French Immersion Open Houses will be held Wednesday, February 21, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. at all three sites in the Limestone District School Board. 
Module Vanier Extended French Immersion (located in Kingston Secondary School) 
Harrowsmith Public School Extended French Immersion (located at Harrowsmith Public School) 
Module de L’Acadie Extended French Immersion (located in Frontenac Secondary School) 
Families of students who are accepted into the Challenge, Leap and Atlas programs will be contacted by their school with further information.

Is transportation provided?
Transportation is not guaranteed but Tri-Board Transportation attempts to accommodate requests. If your student is accepted into a program, you will be required to complete an application for transportation through Tri-Board Student Transportation. If Tri-Board Transportation can find a space on a bus which is near where you live, and it is going to the site your student would be attending, they will try to accommodate the request. However, this accommodation may result in your student arriving a bit late and leaving a bit early every day, which may affect their progress.

Challenge is offered at three sites. Can we apply for whichever one we prefer? 
 
There are geographical boundaries for each site. Particular elementary schools feed into each site (i.e., northern schools into Loughborough PS, western area schools into Odessa PS, and the others into Calvin Park PS). Please refer to the chart to select your site. Please see the chart below for information on which school to apply to. Please note that you can only apply to one Challenge site. 

 Calvin Park PS  Loughborough PS Odessa PS 
 

Bayridge PS  

Calvin Park PS  

Cataraqui Woods ES 

Centennial PS  

Collins Bay PS  

Glenburnie PS  

JG Simcoe PS 

Joyceville PS  

Ecole JR Henderson PS  

Lancaster Drive PS  

Lord Strathcona PS  

Marysville PS  

Module de L’Acadie 

Module Vanier  

Molly Brant ·ES 

Ecole Polson Park PS  

RG Sinclair PS  

Rideau Heights PS  

Ecole Rideau PS  

Ecole Maple PS  

Storrington PS  

Sydenham PS  

Truedell PS  

Welborne Avenue PS  

Winston Churchill PS  

WJ Holsgrove PS 

Clarendon Central PS  

Elginburg PS  

Granite Ridge Education Centre Harrowsmith PS  

Land O'Lakes PS Loughborough PS  

Perth Road PS  

Prince Charles PS (Verona) 
 

Amherst Island PS Amherstview PS  

Bath PS  

Centreville PS  

Enterprise PS  

Fairfield PS  

Newburgh PS  

North Addington EC  

Odessa PS  

Selby PS  

Southview PS  

Tamworth PS  

The Prince Charles PS (Napanee) 

The Limestone District School Board is situated on traditional territories of the Anishinaabe & Haudenosaunee.