Together in Education Family Update
Week of April 13-16
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
LANCASTER BIRTHDAY SHOUT OUTS!
MESSAGE FROM YOUR ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM
Lancaster Families,
We are so very proud of our staff, our students and our families for their support of each other, their positivity and their perseverance as we met remote learning last week with a sense of adventure. Navigating new on-line learning platforms, learning how to use new tools and applications, and giving remote learning a go together has likely earned all of us a virtual tech certificate of some sort! Administrators across the district, including Lancaster, were successfully able to distribute devices through our "drive-thru" pick up last week to families that required it for learning at home. Over the next weeks, we will continue to support all of our families the best we can. If you have a question or are looking for supports for your child or your family, please reach out to your child's teacher or administration. Links for staff emails are available in last week's newsletter which is on our Twitter feed and in your email inbox. We look forward to heading into week #2 with some new skills gained to smooth the process.
There have been some questions raised about students' assessment and marking going forward. The Ministry has released information regarding what assessment and evaluation will look like for students for Term 2, and has provided direction that all students will receive a final report card in June. For elementary students (Kindergarten to Grade 8), the marks will be based on student’s learning prior to the school closures in March. In the weeks ahead, teachers will be providing feedback only based on students’ learning at home. The goal of this feedback is to continue our student's growth in various areas of the curriculum, with a focus on literacy and numeracy. As always, families are encouraged to communicate with their student’s teachers regarding their progress. All staff will continue to support student success and well-being. Director Rantz sent out an update on April 9th update (see link below) which included information about how grades/marks will be determined for the June report card:
- For elementary students (Kindergarten to Grade 8), the marks will be based on student’s learning prior to the school closures in March. In the weeks ahead, teachers will be providing feedback only based on students’ learning at home."
SCHOOL DAY REFUNDS: We are currently working through the process of cancelling and refunding all hot lunch, milk and field trip payments that have been made through School Day. The amounts will be refunded via the original method of payment. These refunds will take a few days to be processed and appear on financial statements. Please contact lancd@limestone.on.ca if you do not see your refund over the next few weeks.
As we all adjust to our new circumstances challenges will arise. We ask for your continued support, partnership and resilience moving forward. This is not business as usual, and learning will look different for every student based on their current reality. We know this is an uncertain time, and we want to assure you that the physical, mental and emotional well-being of our entire school community, is our priority. Learning is important, and happens in many different ways. We are committed to being flexible and supportive recognizing that our students' learning needs might be secondary to others, during these unprecedented times. This a time for compassion for ourselves and others, it is the most healing measure we have at this time. Please prioritize taking care of yourself so that you can take care of others and those who are important to you.
Stay healthy and safe,
Lani Fox and Carrie Moore
Ontario Ministry of Education Learn at Home Resources
With the end of March Break, families may be looking for ways to establish learning routines at home when schools are closed. The Ontario Ministry of Education has provided some links to resources that families and students can access from home.
ACCESS TO WIFI
For individuals without access to the internet, the wifi is being left on, and enhanced where possible at Limestone D.S.B. schools. Students can log into wifi outside of any of LDSB school. A reminder that students and families must use physical distancing protocols and stay at least 2 meters away from others when using wifi around a school.