Joyceville Public School

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Nov.21 Newsletter

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">School Newsletter – Weekly Update</strong></b></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Dear Families,</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">We’ve had another wonderful week of learning and community at our school. Classrooms continue to be full of energy, creativity, and meaningful learning—students are engaging in hands-on tasks, rich discussions, and collaborative activities across all grades. This week, we were also pleased to welcome our Superintendent,&nbsp;</span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Mike Blackburn</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">, for a school visit. Mr. Blackburn spent time in classrooms observing instruction, student engagement, and the overall learning environment. He commented on the strong relationships between staff and students, the purposeful learning happening across grade levels, and the positive, welcoming atmosphere felt throughout the building. Thank you to our staff for the thoughtful, student-centred experiences they create every day.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">We also want to extend a sincere thank-you to our&nbsp;</span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">School Advisory Council (SAC)</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp;for supporting our school in so many ways. Our recent&nbsp;</span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">SAC Movie Night</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp;was a terrific evening for families, and the trip to the&nbsp;</span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Kingston Frontenacs game</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp;was a great community-building experience for our students. These events bring us together and help create memorable moments for our learners. We appreciate SAC’s ongoing support and commitment.</span></p><hr><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">See Yourself in Limestone – Student Census (Nov. 24–28)</strong></b></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">A reminder that the&nbsp;</span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Student Census</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp;will take place the week of&nbsp;</span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">November 24–28</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp;for students in&nbsp;</span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Grades 4 to 12</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">. The census is a voluntary, confidential survey that helps us better understand the identities, experiences, and needs of our students.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Key points:</span></p><ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Participation is voluntary</span></li><li value="2" class="editor-listitem"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Responses are confidential</span></li><li value="3" class="editor-listitem"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Students may answer as much or as little as they choose</span></li></ul><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Opt-Out Information</strong></b><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">If you prefer that your child not participate, please contact the school principal. Students who are opted out will not receive the survey and will be given an alternate activity.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Opt-Out Deadline: Friday, November 14, 2025</strong></b><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">If you miss the deadline but still wish for your child not to complete the census at school, please contact the office next week and we will support you.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Resources—including FAQs, video overviews, and survey copies—are available on the LDSB website.</span></p><hr><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Important Public Health Update – First Confirmed Case of Influenza A</strong></b></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Southeast Public Health (SEPH) has confirmed the&nbsp;</span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">first case of Influenza A</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp;for the 2025–2026 season. Please take a moment to review the information below so we can continue keeping our school community healthy.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">About Influenza</strong></b><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Influenza can cause mild to severe illness and may lead to serious complications, even in otherwise healthy children and adults.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Immunization</strong></b><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The&nbsp;</span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">flu vaccine</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp;is the best protection and is available free for all Ontarians aged&nbsp;</span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">6 months and older</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></p><ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Available through health-care providers and pharmacies</span></li><li value="2" class="editor-listitem"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">SEPH is offering immunization clinics for children under 5 who cannot receive it from their primary provider</span></li></ul><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Everyday Prevention</strong></b></p><ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Wash hands frequently with soap and water or use alcohol-based sanitizer</span></li><li value="2" class="editor-listitem"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Assist young children in using sanitizer and store it safely out of reach</span></li></ul><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Symptoms of Influenza</strong></b><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Fever (over 38°C), dry cough, chills, headache, muscle aches, sore throat, runny nose, loss of appetite</span><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Young children may also experience nausea or vomiting</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">When to Keep Your Child Home</strong></b><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Please keep students home when unwell. They may return once they are:</span></p><ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Fever-free, and</span></li><li value="2" class="editor-listitem"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Their symptoms have improved for at least&nbsp;</span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">24 hours</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp;(48 hours for vomiting/diarrhea)</span></li></ul><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">SEPH recommends wearing a&nbsp;</span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">well-fitting mask for 10 days</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp;after symptoms begin.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">For more information, please visit Ontario’s respiratory illness webpage.</span></p><hr><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Parking Lot Safety Reminder</strong></b></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">As mornings get busier and weather conditions change, please continue using extra caution in our parking lot. Drive slowly, avoid passing other vehicles, watch carefully for students crossing, and use designated drop-off areas only. These small steps ensure everyone’s safety during arrival and dismissal times.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Morning Supervision Reminder</strong></b></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">We want to remind families that&nbsp;</span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">morning supervision for students begins at 8:55 a.m.</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp;To ensure student safety, we ask that children&nbsp;</span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">not be dropped off on the yard before this time</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">, as there are no staff supervising prior to 8:55 a.m.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Your cooperation helps us maintain a safe and well-supervised environment for all students at the start of the school day. Thank you for your attention to this important safety reminder and for helping keep our students safe.</span></p><hr><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">School Clothing – Two Ordering Options</strong></b></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Families now have&nbsp;</span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">two ways</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp;to order school clothing:</span></p><ol class="editor-list-ol"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">School-Day</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp;– A selection of school clothing items can be purchased directly through your School-Day account.</span></li><li value="2" class="editor-listitem"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Specialty Trophies</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp;– Additional options, colours, and styles are available here:</span><br><a href="https://specialtytrophies.ca/4g/joycevilleps/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" title="https://specialtytrophies.ca/4g/joycevilleps/" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">https://specialtytrophies.ca/4g/joycevilleps/</span></a></li></ol><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">These are&nbsp;</span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">two separate ordering sites</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">, each offering&nbsp;</span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">different items</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp;for families to choose from.</span></p><hr><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Important Upcoming Dates &amp; School Events</strong></b></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Please mark the following dates on your calendar:</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Pancake Tuesday – November 25</strong></b><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">All students will enjoy Pancake Tuesday during first snack.</span><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Our&nbsp;</span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Volunteer Firefighters</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp;will be onsite helping cook and serve!</span><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Thank you to our&nbsp;</span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">School Advisory Council (SAC)</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp;for supporting this event.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Poinsettia Pick Up - Thursday, December 4</strong></b></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Jingle Bell Walk – Friday, December 5</strong></b><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Families are encouraged to send&nbsp;</span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">non-perishable food items</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp;to support local food banks.</span><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">This event teaches students about giving back while bringing holiday cheer to our community.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Picture Retake Day – Monday, December 8</strong></b><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Students who missed Picture Day or who require retakes will have the opportunity to do so.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Holiday Gift Room – December 8, 9 &amp; 10</strong></b><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Students will have the opportunity to choose small gifts for family members.</span><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">A joyful three-day tradition made possible by the generosity and time of our volunteers and SAC.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Holiday Luncheon – December 10</strong></b><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">A school-wide meal for all staff and students.</span><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">A warm thank-you to our&nbsp;</span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Bingo Committee</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp;for sponsoring and hosting this special tradition.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Holiday Concert – Wednesday, December 17</strong></b><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">We will host both an&nbsp;</span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">afternoon matinee</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp;and&nbsp;</span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">evening performance</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Exact performance times will be shared with families soon.</span><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Students and staff are already hard at work preparing for this highlight of the year!</span></p><hr><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership. Our school continues to thrive because of the strong relationships between students, families, staff, and our community. We look forward to another great week ahead!</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p>
2025-11-21 18:41:23.727 +0000 UTC
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Picture Day at Joyceville Public School

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Dear Joyceville Community,</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Please mark down Wednesday, October 8 in your calendars for this year's school photos!</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/2f2cf517-53ae-4fa1-a83a-fda5a3800f58" alt="pic day" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p>
2025-10-02 14:37:50.079 +0000 UTC
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September 26 Newsletter

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Dear Joyceville Community,</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">🌟 </span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Terry Fox Run Success!</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> 🌟</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">We had a </span><i><em class="editor-text-italic" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">fantastic</em></i><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> Terry Fox Run this week! Students and staff gave it their all and came together to continue Terry Fox’s </span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Marathon of Hope</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Our school has already raised </span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">over $4,600</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">—far surpassing our original goal of $1,000. Way to go, everyone! 🎉</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">A huge thank you goes out to all who have donated. If you would still like to contribute (or add to your donation), you can do so until the end of the day </span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Sunday</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">. We’ll be announcing which class raised the most money on </span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Monday morning</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></p><hr><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">🌽 </span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Thank You for a Wonderful Corn Roast &amp; Open House!</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> 🌽</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">A heartfelt thank you to our </span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">School Advisory Council</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> and our </span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">dedicated staff</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> for organizing such a fantastic Corn Roast and Open House. The evening was filled with great food, warm conversations, and a true sense of community.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">We are especially grateful to </span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Forman Farms</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> for generously donating the corn and to </span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Bingo</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> for their support in helping organize the event. Your contributions made the evening extra special!</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Events like this remind us of the power of strong relationships between the school and the community. When we come together, we create not only memorable experiences but also the foundation for a supportive and thriving environment for our students.</span></p><hr><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">🧡 </span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">National Day for Truth and Reconciliation &amp; Orange Shirt Day – September 30</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> 🧡</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">As we approach </span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Orange Shirt Day</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> and the </span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">National Day for Truth and Reconciliation</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> on September 30, we are reminded of our responsibility to learn intentionally about the history and legacy of Residential Schools, and the impact they continue to have today.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">This day calls us to </span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">honour the children who never returned home</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">, to </span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">support Survivors and their families</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">, and to reflect on the ongoing journey of reconciliation. It is also a time to commit to building understanding, respect, and meaningful relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in our classrooms and communities.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Together, through learning and action, we can ensure that </span><i><em class="editor-text-italic" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Every Child Matters</em></i><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></p><hr><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">🥪 </span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Hot Lunch Program is Back!</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> 🍎</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">We’re excited to share that our </span><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Hot Lunch Program</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">, run through </span><a href="https://www.lunchboxorders.net/" target="_new" rel="noopener" class="editor-link"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Lunchbox</strong></b></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">, is now live! Families can browse the menu, place orders, and enjoy the convenience of fresh, tasty meals delivered right to the school.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">This program is a wonderful way to make lunches easier while also supporting our school community. We encourage families to check it out and take advantage of this service.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Have a wonderful weekend!</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Sincerely,&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Mr. Morency</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>
2025-09-26 19:01:53.309 +0000 UTC
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About Our School

Welcome to Joyceville Public School where we provide our students with a safe, caring, and cooperative learning environment. Working as a team, we strive to provide each student in our school an opportunity to achieve his or her potential personally, academically, and socially. Our teachers are a dynamic group who plan exciting lessons that challenge our Kindergarten to Grade 8 students to set high expectations for themselves and to work toward achieving those goals every day.

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What's New at the District

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Message from the Director - December 17, 2025

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Dear Families,</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">I hope this message finds you well as we approach the end of the last school week of 2025 and the upcoming holiday season. &nbsp;I wanted to share a few updates with you before we head into the Winter Break:</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">EQAO Results</strong></b></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The Ministry of Education recently released the 2024-2025 Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) results, and we are proud to share that Limestone achieved its strongest performance in four years, with gains across every testing category.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Limestone’s results align with provincial outcomes in many areas and show notable improvements in others, including among specific student groups. In fact, Limestone’s performance is at or above the provincial average in nearly all measures.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">These accomplishments reflect the collective efforts of Limestone’s educators, Educational Assistants, program teams, and school leaders—along with the commitment and support of students and families across the district. I am deeply proud of the dedication shown by Limestone staff, students, and families in achieving these results.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">More information on EQAO results is </span><a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/news/limestone-s-eqao-results-improve-across-all-categories-20251205185556" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">available on Limestone’s website</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">, including a </span><a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/documents/2a916cd2-b224-4a93-a4b3-b0a57ae98e62/Letter-to-Parents-EQAO-Dec-3-2025.pdf" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">letter to families from Minister of Education, Paul Calandra</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Grade 8 Information Nights</strong></b></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The Limestone District School Board is hosting Grade 8 Parent Information Nights at secondary schools across the region for families and students. These events include a special presentation about the school, its programs, and the registration process.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Information nights are also a great opportunity to learn about the wide variety of programs available for secondary students in Limestone—including expanded opportunities, French immersion, the International Baccalaureate program, and more. We are very proud of the range and choice of different secondary programs we provide to the communities we serve.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Upcoming </span><a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/news/grade-8-information-nights-20251208194333" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">information night dates can be found on Limestone’s website</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Inclement Weather Reminder/Tri-Board Transportation Reminder</strong></b></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">We are now well into the inclement weather season and have already experienced some transportation cancellation days. Our transportation partner, Tri-Board Student Transportation Services (Tri-Board), works closely with school bus companies to determine whether it is safe to operate on days with adverse weather.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">School buses function differently than family vehicles, and sometimes, even when roads seem safe for cars, conditions are not suitable for buses. Given the geographic size of our district, weather can vary significantly from one region to another. As a result, cancellations may affect only certain areas while others remain unaffected.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">We understand that transportation cancellations can be disruptive for families, but safety is always Tri-Board’s top priority for the 30,000-plus students who ride the bus each day. </span><a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/news/prepare-for-winter-related-bus-delays-and-cancellations--20251020203640" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Learn more about how to prepare for winter weather and manage bus cancellation days on our website.</span></a></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Ministry and Board Resources for Math and Literacy</strong></b></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">There are many resources available designed to support your student’s learning in math and literacy, offering engaging activities that can make learning fun and effective for students and families. </span><a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/tutoring" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Visit Limestone’s Online Learning Resources and Tutoring webpage</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> to learn more.&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Director’s Annual Report 2024-2025</strong></b></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The Director’s Annual Report offers a concise overview of the teaching and learning that occurred across the Limestone District School Board during the 2024-2025 school year. It highlights ongoing progress toward the Board’s strategic priorities, shares student achievement data, and showcases key initiatives and accomplishments from across the district and is </span><a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/director-s-annual-report-2024-2025-" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">available on Limestone’s website</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">We hope all Limestone families enjoy a restful winter break filled with time with those who matter most in your lives. We look forward to welcoming students and staff back to school on Monday, January 5, 2026, ready for an exciting new year of learning.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Krishna Burra</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Director of Education</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp;</span></p>
2025-12-17 21:30:52.297 +0000 UTC
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Limestone’s EQAO Results Improve Across All Categories

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The Limestone District School Board (LDSB) has&nbsp;achieved&nbsp;its strongest&nbsp;Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO)&nbsp;performance&nbsp;in&nbsp;four years, with gains in&nbsp;</strong></b><u><b><strong class="editor-text-bold editor-text-underline" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">every testing category</strong></b></u><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp;for the 2024-2025 school year.&nbsp;LDSB’s EQAO results&nbsp;align with provincial outcomes in many areas, while showing notable improvements in others and among specific student groups.&nbsp;Limestone’s 2024-2025 results are at, or above, the provincial average in&nbsp;almost all&nbsp;measures.</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Results show an upward trend&nbsp;and momentum&nbsp;across all eight areas of assessment for students in Grades 3, 6, 9, and 10, including those with special education needs, underscoring&nbsp;the&nbsp;Board’s intention&nbsp;of&nbsp;making a positive difference in the lives of&nbsp;every student, in every classroom, in every school.&nbsp;</strong></b><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp;</span><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">"These results reflect the daily dedication of Limestone educators, educational assistants, program teams, and school leaders,” says Krishna Burra,&nbsp;LDSB&nbsp;Director of Education.&nbsp;“I want to acknowledge&nbsp;the efforts of those who have&nbsp;focused on implementing evidence-informed practices, providing targeted supports, and collaborating across schools to ensure student achievement and success.”&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The elementary school report provides assessments of Reading, Writing, and Mathematics written by&nbsp;students&nbsp;in Grades 3 and 6. The secondary school report provides similar information relating to the Grade 9 Assessment of Mathematics and the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test&nbsp;(OSSLT).&nbsp;</span></p><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Results&nbsp;at a Glance&nbsp;</span></h2><ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Grade 3 Improvements:</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp;LDSB students showed a 5% to 8% increase in Reading, Writing, and Math, with 75% meeting the provincial standard in Reading, 65% in Writing, and 65% in Math, outperforming provincial averages. Students with special&nbsp;education&nbsp;needs improved by 8% to&nbsp;9% in these subjects.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></li><li value="2" class="editor-listitem"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Grade 6 Gains:</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp;Achievement rose in all areas, with 88% meeting Reading standards, 87% in Writing, and 51% in Math, matching or exceeding provincial rates.&nbsp;Students&nbsp;with&nbsp;special&nbsp;education needs&nbsp;made significant advances, especially in Writing with a 22% increase.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></li><li value="3" class="editor-listitem"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Grades&nbsp;9 and 10 Results:</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> LDSB’s Grade 9 Math scores were slightly below provincial levels but increased by 5% from the previous year, with&nbsp;students with special education needs&nbsp;performing better than&nbsp;students with similar needs in other&nbsp;jurisdictions.&nbsp;The Grade 10 OSSLT saw 95% participation and 84% success, a 3% rise, with continued improvement among&nbsp;students with special education needs.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></li></ul><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Grade 3 EQAO Results&nbsp;</span></h2><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Grade 3&nbsp;student&nbsp;achievement saw a&nbsp;5% to&nbsp;8% increase in all subject areas in Limestone, compared to the 2023/24&nbsp;assessment results, with&nbsp;75% meeting the provincial standard in&nbsp;Reading, 65% in&nbsp;Writing, and&nbsp;65% in&nbsp;Math.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Results for&nbsp;the province&nbsp;showed a slight&nbsp;increase&nbsp;from the previous year&nbsp;for&nbsp;all&nbsp;Grade 3&nbsp;subjects&nbsp;and&nbsp;were&nbsp;slightly lower&nbsp;than Limestone&nbsp;across Grade 3 assessment&nbsp;subjects.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">This new data shows improvement in all subjects, with&nbsp;Math achievement showing the most significant difference for&nbsp;students&nbsp;in Grade 3.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Of significant note&nbsp;are&nbsp;the gains in achievement in Grade&nbsp;3&nbsp;Reading,&nbsp;Writing, and&nbsp;Mathematics made by Limestone&nbsp;students with special&nbsp;education&nbsp;needs&nbsp;– up&nbsp;9%,&nbsp;8%, and&nbsp;9% respectively,&nbsp;compared to the 2023/24&nbsp;assessment results.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Grade 6 EQAO Results&nbsp;</span></h2><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Grade 6&nbsp;student achievement&nbsp;in Limestone&nbsp;also&nbsp;continues to&nbsp;build momentum with&nbsp;improvements in&nbsp;all subject areas.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">In&nbsp;Reading, 88% of students&nbsp;met&nbsp;provincial standard&nbsp;in 2024/25&nbsp;– an increase of&nbsp;9% from the 2023/24 assessment&nbsp;and a higher rate than the province for&nbsp;2024/25.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Results in&nbsp;Writing&nbsp;showed an increase of 14% over the&nbsp;previous&nbsp;assessment year, with&nbsp;87% of&nbsp;students&nbsp;meeting provincial standard,&nbsp;at a higher rate than the province.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">In&nbsp;Math,&nbsp;results were equal to&nbsp;the&nbsp;province,&nbsp;with&nbsp;51%&nbsp;of&nbsp;students&nbsp;meeting&nbsp;the provincial standard, an increase of 11% for Limestone compared to the&nbsp;previous&nbsp;assessment year.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Like&nbsp;the&nbsp;Grade 3 assessment results, achievement&nbsp;in&nbsp;all subject areas&nbsp;for&nbsp;students&nbsp;in&nbsp;Grade 6 with special education needs&nbsp;in Limestone&nbsp;has increased, with significant gains in&nbsp;Reading and&nbsp;Writing&nbsp;by&nbsp;12% and&nbsp;22%, respectively,&nbsp;since the 2023/24&nbsp;assessment. This increase in achievement&nbsp;for&nbsp;students&nbsp;in&nbsp;Grade 6&nbsp;with special education needs&nbsp;is higher than the province&nbsp;by 3% to 10%&nbsp;across all&nbsp;subject areas.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">“Limestone&nbsp;students&nbsp;and staff have worked hard to achieve these gains across Reading, Writing, and Mathematics, including the strong improvements for&nbsp;students&nbsp;with&nbsp;special&nbsp;education needs,” says Burra.&nbsp;“The momentum we are seeing is the result of consistent, evidence‑informed practice—targeted instruction, early interventions, collaborative professional learning, and a sharp focus on what happens in classrooms every day.&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">“We are proud of this progress, and we are committed to sustaining it by continuing the practices that work and adjusting where they do not,” he adds.&nbsp;“Our goal remains steady improvement over time, not one‑year spikes, for every&nbsp;student,&nbsp;in every classroom,&nbsp;in every school.”&nbsp;</span></p><h3 class="editor-heading-h3" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Primary Assessment (administered in Grade 3):&nbsp;</span></h3><table class="editor-table"><colgroup><col><col><col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 20px;"><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 321px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Area of Assessment&nbsp;</strong></b></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 85px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">LDSB&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></b></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 113px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Province&nbsp;</strong></b></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 20px;"><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 321px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Reading&nbsp;</span></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 85px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">75%&nbsp;</span></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 113px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">74%&nbsp;</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 20px;"><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 321px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Writing&nbsp;</span></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 85px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">65%&nbsp;</span></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 113px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">65%&nbsp;</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 20px;"><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 321px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Mathematics&nbsp;</span></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 85px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">65%&nbsp;</span></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 113px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">64%&nbsp;</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><h3 class="editor-heading-h3" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Junior Assessment (administered in Grade 6):&nbsp;</span></h3><table class="editor-table"><colgroup><col><col><col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 20px;"><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 321px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Area of Assessment&nbsp;</strong></b></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 85px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">LDSB&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></b></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 113px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Province&nbsp;</strong></b></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 20px;"><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 321px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Reading&nbsp;</span></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 85px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">88%&nbsp;</span></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 113px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">86%&nbsp;</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 20px;"><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 321px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Writing&nbsp;</span></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 85px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">87%&nbsp;</span></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 113px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">85%&nbsp;</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 20px;"><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 321px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Mathematics&nbsp;</span></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 85px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">51%&nbsp;</span></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 113px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">51%&nbsp;</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Grades&nbsp;9&nbsp;and 10&nbsp;EQAO Results&nbsp;</span></h2><h3 class="editor-heading-h3" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Grade 9 Mathematics Assessment:&nbsp;</span></h3><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Results&nbsp;for&nbsp;Grade 9&nbsp;Math&nbsp;in Limestone&nbsp;are slightly lower&nbsp;compared&nbsp;to the provincial results. For all participating&nbsp;students&nbsp;in the&nbsp;Grade 9&nbsp;Math assessment,&nbsp;55% achieved the provincial standard in Limestone,&nbsp;and 58%&nbsp;achieved the provincial standard provincially.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Limestone’s&nbsp;Grade 9&nbsp;Math results&nbsp;increased&nbsp;by&nbsp;5% as compared to last year.&nbsp;Results for&nbsp;students&nbsp;with&nbsp;special&nbsp;education&nbsp;needs&nbsp;achieving the provincial standard&nbsp;are&nbsp;higher than&nbsp;the province at&nbsp;34%&nbsp;for Limestone,&nbsp;compared to&nbsp;32% for the province.&nbsp;</span></p><table class="editor-table"><colgroup><col><col><col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 20px;"><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 321px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Grade 9 Mathematics Assessment&nbsp;</strong></b></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 85px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">LDSB&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></b></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 113px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Province&nbsp;</strong></b></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 20px;"><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 321px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Grade 9&nbsp;Math&nbsp;</span></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 85px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">55%&nbsp;</span></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 113px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">58%&nbsp;</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">“Grade 9 Mathematics continues to be a priority area,” says Steve&nbsp;Hedderson, LDSB Associate Superintendent of Human Resources&nbsp;and&nbsp;Curriculum&nbsp;and Program Services: Math and FSL.&nbsp;“Limestone’s&nbsp;five‑point improvement year‑over‑year shows the work is taking hold. We&nbsp;are deepening supports in Grade 9&nbsp;Math—explicit instruction, daily practice, and&nbsp;timely&nbsp;interventions—and aligning professional learning so teachers have the tools they need. We&nbsp;are focused on building&nbsp;Math confidence and competency for every&nbsp;student.”&nbsp;</span></p><h3 class="editor-heading-h3" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test&nbsp;- Administered in Grade 10:&nbsp;</span></h3><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">This year, 95% of first-time eligible&nbsp;students&nbsp;wrote the test&nbsp;in Limestone, compared to 94%&nbsp;of&nbsp;students&nbsp;in the province. With&nbsp;this&nbsp;high&nbsp;participation&nbsp;rate,&nbsp;84% of all&nbsp;students&nbsp;in Limestone&nbsp;were successful, an increase of&nbsp;3%&nbsp;compared to&nbsp;the 2023/24&nbsp;school year.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">OSSLT&nbsp;results&nbsp;for&nbsp;students&nbsp;with&nbsp;special&nbsp;education&nbsp;needs&nbsp;continue&nbsp;to&nbsp;show&nbsp;an&nbsp;improvement&nbsp;for the&nbsp;2024/25&nbsp;year,&nbsp;with&nbsp;65% of&nbsp;Limestone&nbsp;students&nbsp;being successful&nbsp;on the assessment.&nbsp;</span></p><table class="editor-table"><colgroup><col><col><col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 21px;"><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 282px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Grade 10 OSSLT&nbsp;</strong></b></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 97px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">LDSB&nbsp;&nbsp;</strong></b></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 117px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Province&nbsp;</strong></b></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 282px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Participation&nbsp;Rate&nbsp;</span></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 97px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">95%&nbsp;</span></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 117px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">94%&nbsp;</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 21px;"><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 282px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Success&nbsp;Rate&nbsp;</span></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 97px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">84%&nbsp;</span></p></td><td class="editor-tableCell" style="width: 117px; background-color: transparent; border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">85%&nbsp;</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">“Strong Grade 10 Literacy outcomes begin with strong participation,” says Stephanie Sartor, LDSB Associate Superintendent of Curriculum and Program Services: Literacy Focus. “With 95% writing and 84% successful, up three points from last year, we are encouraged by the trajectory, including the continued improvement for students with special education needs. Literacy is a shared responsibility across subjects, and we will keep pairing explicit instruction with targeted supports so every learner can&nbsp;demonstrate&nbsp;success.”&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Students in all publicly&nbsp;funded schools in Ontario&nbsp;are required to&nbsp;write provincial assessments, administered by EQAO, a provincial body that tests students’ skills in&nbsp;Literacy in Grades 3, 6,&nbsp;and 10 and&nbsp;Math skills in Grades 3, 6,&nbsp;and 9 in relation to Ontario&nbsp;curriculum expectations.&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Successful completion of the&nbsp;Literacy requirement is one of the requirements to earn an Ontario Secondary School Diploma.&nbsp;The EQAO assessments have undergone significant&nbsp;updates, with the newer&nbsp;digital assessments offered entirely online through a digital platform for students over the past&nbsp;four&nbsp;years.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">“The dedication of Limestone educators,&nbsp;educational assistants,&nbsp;program team members, and school leaders will remain foundational to&nbsp;continued efforts moving forward,” says Burra.&nbsp;</span></p>
2025-12-05 19:00:45.215 +0000 UTC
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Education Minister Calandra's Letter to Parents - EQAO and Student Achievement Advisory Body

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The following message by the Honourable Paul Calandra, Ontario Minister of Education, is for parents and guardians regarding EQAO results and the appointment of a Student Achievement Advisory Body.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Please select the following link to read (PDF): </span><a href="/documents/2a916cd2-b224-4a93-a4b3-b0a57ae98e62/Letter-to-Parents-EQAO-Dec-3-2025.pdf" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Letter to Parents and Guardians</span></a></p>
2025-12-03 16:57:22.383 +0000 UTC
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Land Acknowledgement

The Limestone District School Board is situated on the traditional territories of the Anishinaabek and Haudenosaunee. We acknowledge their enduring presence on this land, as well as the presence of Métis, Inuit, and other First Nations from across Turtle Island. We honour their culture and celebrate their commitment to this land.