Lord Strathcona Lightning
September 2, 2021 Update
Welcome!
We are so excited to welcome you to a new school year at Lord Strathcona!
Supporting your child to feel safe, secure, welcome and ready to learn as they return to school is our top priority. Public Health and the Ministry of Education continue to provide direction to schools about routines and protocols. We will continue to take our direction from the local health unit and from the LDSB to ensure a safe start to the school year. Students and families will find comfort in the fact that many of our safety procedures are the same as last year. We have included some of those safety items for you throughout this newsletter.
We wish families who will be observing Rosh Hashanah a wonderful celebration! If your child will not be attending school due to this special holiday, please ensure that you let the office know. We will ensure that your child's teacher helps to get them caught up on all of the introductory activities.
We look forward to an amazing year!
Have a wonderful long weekend.
Karen Leggett, Principal
Communication Home:
https://twitter.com/LordStrath_LDSB
Our website:
https://lordstrathcona.limestone.on.ca/
The newsletter and information will also be shared through School Messenger. Instructions for downloading the School Messenger app are included in this newsletter.
Reminders for the first day:
- We are asking parents to not enter the school building or be on the playground during drop off and pick up for safety reasons.
- For the first few days, your child will be directed onto the yard where we will help them find their teacher.
- Supervision does not start until 8:45 am - please arrive as close to 9:00 as possible as students will be remaining with their cohorts in line.
- Please do not park in front of the school as this is where our buses load. Please park along the street, or in the parking lot.
- All adults and students are asked to wear a mask at drop off and pick up..
- Pleae send extra masks in case one gets wet or soiled.
- All of our classrooms have new air purification systems to help keep us safe!
Allergen Awareness
Thank you for your help in keeping all of our students safe!
Daily Active Covid Screening
COVID Protocols and Reminders
Covid protocols are similar to last Fall’s where each class will be kept together as a cohort and will be assigned a designated area for the class on the yards during recess. Masks are mandated in grades 1-6 and strongly encouraged and recommended in Kindergarten.
Masks will be worn inside but once students are outside, they will be able to remove their masks if they maintain social distancing. Handwashing and personal hygiene will be top priority in an effort to reduce any transmission of Covid. A very useful and up-to-date place to look for answers to possible questions you may have is on the LDSB Website FAQs and the return to school guide (click on the links below).
Daily Schedule
10:40-11:25 Nutrition break and recess
11:25-1:05 Second 100 min learning block
1:05-1:50 Nutrition break and recess
1:50-3:30 Third 100 min learning block
Bus Information
If you were on a bus last year, you are set up for busing this year. If you are new to Lord Strathcona and require transportation, you will need to fill out the bus form at https://triboard.ca/
Please visit https://triboard.ca/covid19/ for the latest protocols and expectations for riders and families.
SAFE ARRIVAL - How to Report an Absence
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, please report a full day absence and then we will sign them in when they arrive. You cannot indicate a half day absence.
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 MESSENGER APP
If you are new to our school, please take the time to download the School Messenger App to stay connected and report student absences. If you wish to receive our weekly family updates, please follow the instructions for selecting email as one of your preferences. We have provided a video below to help you.
Class Placements
All students have been placed into a tentative classroom organization. All classes and staffing are tentative until at least the second week of September. Should there be reorganization of staff and students, information will be shared with families. We will do our best to minimize disruption to student learning and will take direction from the LDSB should changes be required.
Our Amazing Team!
Jennifer Marsh- Early Childhood Educator
Marlene Feenstra -Early Childhood Educator
Lee Eyles- Educational Assistant
Amy Boulerice- Educational Assistant
Brooklin Magee- Educational Assistant
Nicole Vellis- Educational Assistant
Rosemary Groenewegen- Office Coordinator
Kip Foster- Head Caretaker
Mark Jones- Evening Caretaker
Teaching Staff (grades are tentative):
Elizabeth Raven- Kindergarten
Kathryn Lane- Kindergarten/Planning Time
Kimberly Mulholland- Kindergarten
Deborah Pepper- Grade 1
Sarah Carter- Grade 2
Elizabeth Whitehead- Grade 2/3
Amanda Allen- Grade 3/4
Josie Turner- Grade 4/5
Jaymee Shepherd- Grade 5/6
Rita Fabbro- Core French
Lindsay Bell- ESL
Stephanie Leeder- ESL
Andrea Doolan- SST
Information From LDSB:
Threat/Risk Assessment Notification and Process:
The Limestone District School Board and community partners are committed to making our schools safe for students and staff. As a result, schools will respond to all student behaviours that pose a potential risk to other students, staff, and members of the community. The Community Violence Threat Risk Assessment Process is designed to be proactive in developing intervention plans that address the emotional and physical safety of those involved. A Threat/Risk Assessment is initiated by the school administration or community partners when behaviours have been identified by staff or students that pose a potential risk to self and/or others. Please note: it is important for all parties to support the Violence Threat Risk Assessment Process. However, if for some reason there is a reluctance to participate in the process, by the student of concern or parent/guardian, the threat assessment process will continue in order to ensure a safe and caring environment for all. Families are asked to review the steps of a Threat/Risk Assessment online at http://bit.ly/LDSBthreatassessment .
Parking
The first day of school will be exciting...and busy. We ask that you please use the parking lot or side streets when dropping off or picking up your children. Please do not park in front of the school as this is where our buses load. We very much appreciate your cooperation and help in keeping our students safe.
School Supplies
Students do not need to purchase school supplies for school, as supplies like pencils, pencil crayons, paper and notebooks are provided. Sometimes students prefer to have their own items and students can bring a pencil case if they wish, but it is not necessary.
Click on the link below for the school year calendar
School Council:
Medical Conditions
613-549-1680 main office
Construction Updates:
Progress is on-going with the construction happening on the east side of our school. The construction area is fenced off and well contained. We will certainly have lots of students excitedly and safely watching the progress. We will have new bricks, doors and windows on that side of the school. Good progress is being made and it will continue into the fall. We will provide you with updates on the construction project as it progresses. Our school is going to look amazing!