Together in Education
May 2018
Lancaster Drive Public School and Parent Council
Email: lancd@limestone.on.ca
Website: http://lancaster.limestone.on.ca
Location: 1020 Lancaster Drive, Kingston, ON, K7P 2R7
Phone: 613-634-0470
Twitter: @LancasterPSLDSB
Upcoming Events
May 1 - Hot Lunch - Chicken Fingers
May 2 - LCVI Road Race
May 2 - Gould Lake (SK/1, 1, 2)
May 3 - LTTC Play - King Grumbletum and the Magic Pie - Primary classes
May 3 - Student Wellness Lunch - Intermediates
May 7-11 - Education Week; Equity in Action and Mental Health Awareness
May 7 - Junior Basketball Tournament A Division @ Queen's Faculty of Education
May 7 - Celebration of Dance - Hamilton, Wilkins, Jarbeau, Bruder, Vreeken
May 7 - Queen's Tinker Trailer - STEM Activities for classes
May 8 - Queen's Tinker Trailer - STEM Activities for classes
May 8 - Hot Lunch - Mac and Cheese
May 8 - Teacher Appreciation Day
May 8 - STEM FAMILY NIGHT - Free Hands-On Learning and Sharing evening 6:00-7:30
May 9 - Support Staff Appreciation Day
May 9 - Grade 8's visit Bayridge Secondary School p.m.
May 10 - Student Wellness Lunch - Kindergarten and Junior division
May 10 - Grade 5 (Wilkins) to Queen's Brain Day
May 11 - Junior Basketball Tournament B Division @ Queen's Faculty of Education
May 15 - Hot Lunch - Panzarotti
May 15 - Lancaster School Based Track and Field Day (rain date May 16)
May 16 - Gauss Math Contest for Intermediates
May 17 - Student Wellness Lunch -Primary
May 18 - PA DAY - No School
May 21 - Victoria Day - No School
May 22 - Hot Lunch - Subs
May 22 - Grade 3 EQAO
May 23 - Grade 3 EQAO
May 23 - Marathon Club to Invista Track - Junior Division + Kinders
May 24 - Grade 3 EQAO
May 25 - Kindergarten to Little Cataraqui Conservation Area
May 28 - Grade 6 EQAO
May 29 - Hot Lunch - Pizza
May 29 - Grade 6 EQAO
May 30 - Grade 6 EQAO
Grade 2 "Lancaster Land" is ready to open - amusement park rides created by students
Kinders show of their creations and structures to families in their afternoon extravaganza
Primary students enjoyed May 2nd at Gould Lake for an Eco-Adventure
Message from your Administrative Team
May arrives bringing more seasonable weather and we look forward to the many upcoming events that spring brings. Classes continue to engage in rich learning opportunities both in the classroom, outdoors and out in the community. Students took part in a school-wide Earth Day clean up in April and our Environment Club continues to nurture their seedlings in the front foyer for their upcoming plant sale, it certainly is nice to see some green! Road Race season is drawing to a close with many personal and team successes, runners have continued to show great character and resiliency as we pushed through training sessions in the rain, sleet and snow of April. Ultimate season is now in full swing and heading outdoors for practices this week. Students will have an opportunity to try out the various track events at our school meet on May 15th. Training for the district meet on June 6th will take place during the month of May.
Lancaster will recognize Mental Health Awareness Week 2018 from May 7-11 this year. Mental health is part of our overall well-being, contributes to student achievement, and relates to our ability to connect with those around us. Within the school day our staff looks for opportunities to have students engage in mindfulness activities, self-reflection, engage in healthy outlets and evaluate the various aspects of their well-being. We know that efforts in these areas have a positive impact on our students' ability to engage in learning, have a strong social network, and live with a growth mindset.
As part of our focus on mental health, we are excited to bring Wellness lunches to each division thanks to the organization of Ms. Wellwood and support of our community through popcorn sales. As we look at the importance of student well being and mental health we recognize how important it is to nurture the whole child. Through this experience, students gain an appreciation of the importance of slowing down, that meals are an opportunity to share time with others, and how decisions around menus can be focused not only on health and nutrition but also on inclusion as we consider the dietary needs of others.
As we move into planning for the next school year please read in this newsletter the section on creating successful learning environments to get a sense of all that goes into student placements. To give us the best information to work with, please let the office know if you are moving and will not be returning to our school for the new school year. Please also encourage anyone you know who is moving into our school area to be sure and register before the end of June. This information greatly assists us in building our classes and staffing organization for the next school year.
HAPPY SPRING to all of our families as we head into sports of all sorts, watch the world around us turn green, and enjoy the sunshine!
Your leaders in learning,
Lani Fox & Sara Wellwood
Letter from your Parent Council Chair
Dear Lancaster Families,
The school is blooming with excitement during the month of May. We started off the first day of the month with our coffee time on the yard. We hope that many parents are enjoying the opportunity to sip on a hot cup of coffee when they bring their child(ren) to school. Our June coffee time event will be held near the end of the month with an extra little treat for you.
On Tuesday, May 8th from 6 – 7:30pm, Parent Council with be hosting a STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math) night at the school. This is a night where we invite students and their families out to participate in hands on activity sessions all related to STEM. You can choose 2 activities to attend during the event time. We hope to see you there.
Last month, parents were invited to take part in a day filled with valuable information during the Promoting Youth Wellness 2018 Parent Symposium. This event was held at Bayridge Secondary School and was put on by Limestone District School Board Parent Involvement Committee (PIC) and the Learning Disabilities Association of Kingston (LDAK). The event hosted multiple vendors, break out sessions in a smaller setting for learning and interacting, and 3 speakers. Psychotherapist Lynn Lyons kept us engaged while talking about preventing anxiety and depression, Educator Dr. Lynda Colgan taught us about parents as partners in Math, and Michael Ballard presented to us about resiliency for life. It was a wonderful experience where we were able to leave having learned new techniques to better assist our children, developed a greater understanding of how our children are being affected and many more “AH HA” moments.
Also, in April there was the Minister’s Ninth Annual Parent Involvement Committee Symposium held in Toronto. This symposium was delivered over 2 days and our Parent Council Chair Serena Milling along with our Program/Events Coordinator Donna Banting were able to attend. The symposium attendees were lucky to have each day begin and end by listening to an Elder who would share with us all the beauty in Indigenous teachings, learnings, healing, accepting and embracing change. There was also a panel comprised of Indigenous educators who helped us learn more ways for inclusion and positive identification. There were many opportunities to attend work shops which touched on several different topics and inspiring speaker presentations. Student well-being and mental health as well as creating genuine, purposeful relationships with students was a predominant theme. Tom Boland, one of the members who created The Third Path, spoke passionately on how relationships can shape our schools while Karl Subban, an educator, motivational speaker & author of How We Did It, reminded us that we are difference makers and everyone has the potential inside to succeed. The symposium would not have been complete without the chance to listen to the Minister of Eduction, Honourable Indira Naidoo-Harris address the entire group. She speaks powerfully with purpose, her support for our participation and belief in what the future holds for our children in education.
Each student will be receiving a copy of the parent council survey to bring home. There will be 2 ways to fill it out, either on the paper copy or by following a link to the online copy of the survey. We encourage everyone to let us know their thoughts and opinions. This information is valuable for the council to reflect upon when moving forward to prepare for our next school year. The surveys are due by Thursday, May 31st.
With some planning already in the works for our 2018/2019 school year, there will be positions available on our Parent Council. If you have any interest in joining our council or more specifically information on positions, please contact our chair Serena Milling at serenamilling@hotmail.com.
Our next month’s meeting, which is the last one of the school year, is going to be held on Tuesday, June 5th and begins at 6:00pm. All parents are welcome to come to the meeting and listen or participate by sharing ideas, questions or concerns. There is child care provided in the gym during the meeting time.
“Believe in your potential.” Karl Subban
Sincerely,
Serena Milling and Allison Slate
Chair, Vice-Chair
SCHOOL NEWS
Creating Successful Learning Envrionments
Student Voice: Our School Survey
We know that when students are highly engaged in school, they are more likely to achieve at high levels. We also know that for students to achieve to the best of their ability and to reach their full potential, they need to feel safe, secure and supported at school. As a result, the Limestone District School Board (LDSB) is working with The Learning Bar organization to survey our students on their level of engagement in learning, their level of wellness, and the climate of their school. You may remember in past years, Lancaster students in Grades 4-8 completed this same survey. This spring, students in Grades 4-8 will again complete a survey to assess their engagement and their perceptions of the school climate. As in the past, all LDSB schools will be using the Learning Bar’s Our School survey (formerly known as Tell Them From Me), which was developed by internationally renowned educational researcher Dr. Douglas Willms and is based upon years of research in Canada and around the world. Secondary Schools in LDSB have been using Learning Bar surveys for the past 7 years. Currently this survey tool is used in schools throughout Canada with over 100,000 students participating. More information is available regarding Our School at www.thelearningbar.com.
These surveys provide Lancaster with invaluable feedback directly from students regarding their experiences and perceptions about their school environment. Information gathered will help us to share best practices as well as areas for focus, in order to foster a positive school environment. Aggregate results tied to the school climate will be shared with our school’s Safe Schools Team and School Council to help guide their work, and to inform School Improvement Plans for School Climate based on the feedback.
Parking and Traffic Reminders - Student Safety
Quick Guide to Fueling Your Child at School
Hello!
My name is Kenzie Osborne and I am a Volunteer at Lancaster Drive Public School. I specialize in health and nutrition, and am currently enrolled in university with the hopes of pursuing a career in the field. After conversations with teachers and my own parents, I have come to realize the difficulties with packing lunches for children. There are so many factors to consider: Will my child eat the food I pack? Will they have enough time to eat their food? Are there specific allergies in the classroom? How much time will it take me in the morning to pack their lunch? How much will it cost to provide them a good meal?
Here are some great recipes:
https://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2014/12/01/chocolate-chip-cowboy-cookies/
http://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/250239/tomato-soup/ https://cookieandkate.com/2016/gluten-free-double-chocolate-cookies/ https://cookieandkate.com/2011/healthy-blueberry-muffins-recipe/
In addition to some of the recipes I linked above, I’ve come up with a list of a few ideas for quick and easy healthy snacks/lunches…
1. Toast with mashed berries – instead of using store bought jam, mash a banana or a few berries and mix in a half a teaspoon of honey. Spread on a piece of whole grain toast.
2. Applesauce – Make homemade applesauce by peeling and chopping a couple of apples. Cook down in a saucepan and mash with a potato masher. Add cinnamon and nutmeg to flavor (add as much or as little as you’d like – I typically use a quarter of a teaspoon of cinnamon and a pinch of nutmeg per each apple)
3. Sweet Potato Blender Soup – Cook a sweet potato (you can pierce it with a knife a couple of times and pop it in the microwave for 3-7 minutes – depending on the size – to cook it quickly) and scoop out the flesh (or peel it before cooking). Use about one cup of the softened sweet potato and a quarter of cup water. Add in 5 cooked baby carrots and a pinch each of ginger and nutmeg. Store in the fridge and reheat when ready to eat!
4. Avocado Toast – Toast a piece of whole wheat bread and mash a ripe avocado. Top with seeds, dried fruit, shredded cheese, tomatoes, or any other toppings your child would enjoy!
5. Veggie Skewers – Use cherry tomatoes, cheese blocks, cucumber slices, zucchini slices, etc. and place on a wooden skewer. Serve with a small portion of balsamic vinegar and olive oil (about two teaspoons of balsamic vinegar and one teaspoon of olive oil)
6. Fruit Skewers – Use grapes, banana slices and berries. Serve with Greek yogurt and honey.
> Tip: Try to consume real fruit instead of drinking fruit juices if possible. Fruit juices are often packed with added sugars, and have much less fiber than a real fruit. Even if the fruit juices are 100% natural, they typically contain the juice of many fruits (far more than what you would normally have). For example, one cup of 100% natural orange juice is equivalent to the juice of eight oranges (that’s a lot of sugar WITHOUT the fiber and calcium from the pulp/skin of the orange). Instead, try slicing a piece of fruit into small pieces and serving with a spread that your child will enjoy.
Parent Council News
Coffee Time!
Parent Council Account Balance
The Parent Council account balance
as of April 30, 2018 is
$7,926.36
Submitted by Kory Slovitt, Treasurer
Additional Community Information and Useful Links
Young Choirsters Limestone
Auditions for Young Choristers Limestone, Kingston Area Choir
Who: Students who will be in Grades 3 - 8 during the 2018-19 school year
Date: Tuesday, May 8
Time: 4:00 - 5:30 pm on a first come, first served basis
Location: Cataraqui Woods Public School, 1255 Birchwood Dr., Kingston
Preparation: Students come prepared to sing a song of their choice, without accompaniment. They can also choose to sing “O Canada” with accompaniment provided. Auditions will be approximately 10 minutes long.
Choir Information: Young Choristers Limestone meets on Tuesday afternoons from 4:30 - 5:30 at Cataraqui Woods Elementary School from September to the end of April with breaks in December and during March Break. The choir prepares for several concerts and presentations over the course of the school year.
More information? youngchoristers@gmail.com
Music/Instrument Lessons at Lancaster
Lancaster is happy to share that our students are able to register for instrumental music lessons that take place in our school building during the school day. Please contact the music teachers directly if you are interested in registering your child/children for piano or guitar lessons.
Piano:
Tanya Bezanson
E-mail: Tanya.bezanson@bell.net
Phone: 613-539-8342
Guitar:
John Porter
E-mail: Mourninghorse@gmail.com
Phone: 613-328-6070
Useful Links
Sign Up for the Parent Council E-mail List
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People for Education
To sign up for their bi-weekly newsletter:
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LDSB Family Lending Library
limestone.on.ca/lending_library
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Limestone Link
www.limestone.on.ca/
Limestone_Link/
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Council Calendar
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School Calendar