News

<img src="/images/2eafabb4-d55f-5887-bd9e-ef411b15f94c?fingerprint=ppb20251217013433" srcset="/thumbnails/2eafabb4-d55f-5887-bd9e-ef411b15f94c?fingerprint=ppb20251217013433 450w, /images/2eafabb4-d55f-5887-bd9e-ef411b15f94c?fingerprint=ppb20251217013433 600w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 450px, 600px"><iframe src="https://www.smore.com/yhxfs-tpcs-family-update?embed=1" title="TPCS Family Update"></iframe><iframe src="https://www.smore.com/zbytr6-tpcs-holiday-update?embed=1" title="TPCS Holiday Update"></iframe><iframe src="https://www.smore.com/f1dxp-tpcs-family-update?embed=1" title="TPCS Family Update"></iframe><iframe src="https://www.smore.com/f1dxp-tpcs-family-update?embed=1" title="TPCS Family Update"></iframe>

<img src="/images/ca88ff8c-2f26-5257-bd98-7e92cc190c2a?fingerprint=ppb20251217014853" srcset="/thumbnails/ca88ff8c-2f26-5257-bd98-7e92cc190c2a?fingerprint=ppb20251217014853 450w, /images/ca88ff8c-2f26-5257-bd98-7e92cc190c2a?fingerprint=ppb20251217014853 600w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 450px, 600px"><span>Please enjoy and share our TPCS Holiday video with your family and friends. The students and staff have worked very hard to put all of this together. It is our hope that this video will give you a sneak peek inside the school and allow us to spread hope, love and holiday cheer to all of our Stinger community.<br> <br> <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gZ1eWVOm2-1retmn9LjOgeblGGXV_YEX/view?usp=share_link" title="TPCS Holiday Special Video">TPCS Holiday Special Video</a></span>

<img src="/images/586665eb-3ca0-5d2c-b358-700492bc29c6?fingerprint=ppb20251217013816" srcset="/thumbnails/586665eb-3ca0-5d2c-b358-700492bc29c6?fingerprint=ppb20251217013816 450w, /images/586665eb-3ca0-5d2c-b358-700492bc29c6?fingerprint=ppb20251217013816 600w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 450px, 600px"><br><br><strong>field trips </strong><strong>hot lunch</strong><br><br><br><br><br><br><br> <div></div><span></span>

<img src="/images/dd6df890-0a94-5eb6-b1ec-592faee6231b?fingerprint=ppb20251217015036" srcset="/thumbnails/dd6df890-0a94-5eb6-b1ec-592faee6231b?fingerprint=ppb20251217015036 450w, /images/dd6df890-0a94-5eb6-b1ec-592faee6231b?fingerprint=ppb20251217015036 600w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 450px, 600px"><span>Welcome to Kindergarten in Limestone. This is an exciting time for both you and your student. Kindergarten is a wonderful experience and your student’s next phase on their journey of learning.&nbsp;<br> <br> Kindergarten programs in Ontario offer a full day of learning for four- and five-year-olds. Limestone is unique in offering both English and French Immersion programs in Year 1 and Year 2 Kindergarten.<br> <br> At The Prince Charles School, students can begin French Immersion in year 1 Kindergarten. The French Immersion program is designed for students of non-French speaking parents and guardians. There is nothing extra that you need to prepare your child for French Immersion. All students are welcome!<span><br> </span><br> If your student is 4 or 5 by the end of December, now is the time</span><a href="http://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=Xxb04a7rgk2nPKDeWTgwvuA2N-ymBn9ElBpKp0GN6NxUMTlLUkxQT0FCTFlIVTlRMzEzVFIzUFhSTC4u" title="kinder registration">to register</a><strong>English</strong><strong>French Immersion</strong>

<img src="/images/a9756718-dce0-5e70-b5bb-9daec0f72489?fingerprint=ppb20251217014559" srcset="/thumbnails/a9756718-dce0-5e70-b5bb-9daec0f72489?fingerprint=ppb20251217014559 450w, /images/a9756718-dce0-5e70-b5bb-9daec0f72489?fingerprint=ppb20251217014559 600w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 450px, 600px"> <p><span>The Limestone District School Board is excited to launch our new mobile app designed to enable students, families, staff and the broader community to stay informed about district and school news and events.</span></p><span> </span> <p><span><span>The free app (Limestone Dist School Board) can be </span><span><a href="https://launch.customschoolapp.net/limestone-dist-school-board/"><span>downloaded</span></a></span><span> for Apple in the App Store or for Android in the Google Play Store. Users can also select “push notifications” when they download the app to receive the latest news from the district and your school(s).</span></span></p><span> </span> <p><span>The new app will allow users to subscribe to their schools of choice and will provide families with instant access to school calendars and news items as well as links to sports schedules, busing information and social media accounts. New information will continue to be added to the app.</span></p><span> </span> <p><span>“Our new, official mobile app empowers everyone in our school communities to stay connected and up-to-date on the information that they want and need using the convenience of their mobile device,” says Director of Education Debra Rantz. “The app will allow the school board and our schools to manage and share content in a more timely manner with our families, students and staff.”</span></p><span> </span> <p><span>The mobile app is the latest tool in a new suite of electronic communication tools being deployed by the school board to improve communication with families and our school communities.</span></p><span> </span> <ul> <li> <p><span>New and improved district and school websites were launched in late spring.</span></p> </li> <li> <p><span>All schools will begin using a broadcasting tool called Communicate that allows the Board and schools to push important messages to students, families, and staff via voice mail, email or text message. The tool is linked to the Board’s student information system and families will choose how they wish to receive these important messages. Some schools are beginning the new school year with Communicate. All schools will introduce the tool by the beginning of October.</span></p> </li> <li> <p><span>The Board is piloting Safe Arrival, an enhanced two-way absence reporting tool with Southview Public School this September. This new system will make it easier for you to report your student’s absence, reduce the time it takes for our school staff to verify student attendance, and respond to unexpected or unplanned student absences. Safe Arrival will be rolled out to all schools during the upcoming school year.</span></p> </li> <li> <p><span>Some schools in the Greater Napanee area will begin piloting a cashless payment system that will allow families to pay for field trips, hot lunches and other items online. The system will also schools to include any necessary permission forms to increase efficiency and privacy.</span></p> </li> </ul><span> </span> <p><span>We are excited to unveil these new tools to our school communities. We will share more information as each new tool is introduced. We thank you in advance for your patience and understanding as we improve to serve you better.</span></p>

<img src="/images/3ba3f5c1-d4a4-58e6-901a-5630a60ccfcb?fingerprint=ppb20251217013553" srcset="/thumbnails/3ba3f5c1-d4a4-58e6-901a-5630a60ccfcb?fingerprint=ppb20251217013553 450w, /images/3ba3f5c1-d4a4-58e6-901a-5630a60ccfcb?fingerprint=ppb20251217013553 600w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 450px, 600px"> <p><span>One of our greatest priorities is ensuring that all our students arrive safely to school.&nbsp; To enhance our existing absence process, we are introducing a new, more efficient absence-reporting system called Safe Arrival.</span></p> <p><span>&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span>This new system will make it easier for you to report your student’s absence, reduce the time it takes for our school staff to verify student attendance, and respond to unexpected or unplanned student absences. This time savings makes it faster and more efficient to account for all students and their safety.</span></p> <p><span>&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span>The new student absence reporting system will let you use a mobile app, a website, or an interactive toll-free phone number to report an absence in advance. These options are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.&nbsp; Future absences can be reported at any time.</span></p> <p><span>&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span>If your student is marked absent and the absence hasn’t been reported in advance, our new SafeArrival system will attempt to reach the student’s priority contact by telephone to confirm the absence. If our system is unable to reach the designated contacts, school office staff will follow up.</span></p> <p><span>&nbsp;</span></p> <p><strong><span>How to report an absence using SafeArrival</span></strong></p> <p><span>&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span>There are three ways you can report your student’s absence in advance:</span></p> <p><span>&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span><span>1.<span>&nbsp; </span></span><span>Using your mobile device, download and install the SchoolMessenger blue app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store or from </span></span><a href="https://go.schoolmessenger.ca/"><span>School Messenger website</span></a><span> or you can select it from within the LDSB mobile app. The first time you use the app, select Sign Up to create your account. </span><span>Make sure you use the same email address your child’s school has on file. If you do not use that same email address, you will not be able to create an account.</span><span> You </span><span>You may have already created an account when we introduced the Communicate broadcast system. Select Attendance, then Report an Absence.</span></p> <p><span><span>2.<span>&nbsp; </span></span><span>Use the </span></span><a href="https://go.schoolmessenger.ca/"><span>School Messenger website</span></a><span>. The first time you use the website, 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.</span><span> </span><span>You may have already created an account when we introduced the Communicate broadcast system. Select Attendance then Report an Absence.</span></p> <p><span>3.<span>&nbsp; </span></span><span>Call 1-855-257-9349 toll-free to report an absence using the automated phone system. </span></p> <p><span>&nbsp;</span></p> <p><strong><span>Please do not call the school directly to report your student's absence.</span></strong></p> <p><strong><span>&nbsp;</span></strong></p> <p><strong><span>This new system will begin on January 14, 2019.</span></strong></p> <p><span>&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span>·<span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span>Frequently asked questions [insert hyperlink to Board site]</span></p> <p><span>&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span>·<span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span>Using the School Messenger App for Safe Arrival [insert hyperlink to Board site]</span></p> <p><span>&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span>Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we implement this new system.</span></p> <p><span>&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span>&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span>&nbsp;</span></p>

<img src="/images/3590197d-9393-5878-859e-5cecc302af39?fingerprint=ppb20251217013513" srcset="/thumbnails/3590197d-9393-5878-859e-5cecc302af39?fingerprint=ppb20251217013513 450w, /images/3590197d-9393-5878-859e-5cecc302af39?fingerprint=ppb20251217013513 600w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 450px, 600px"><span>The students at The Prince Charles School did an excellent job collecting food for the annual Food Drive.&nbsp; Student placed the food they brought in into their Colour House bin and at the end of the week the Colour House Leaders counted the food.&nbsp; We celebrated the Stinger family supporting the Napanee community with a Jingle Bell Walk around the school on Friday, December 7th.&nbsp; Congratulations to Green Colour House for bringing in the most food.&nbsp; Green Colour House will celebrate with a Pizza Party before the holiday break.&nbsp; There were 633 non-perishable food items brought in by Stinger families.&nbsp; Thank you so much!</span>

<img src="/images/46cd5844-b5fb-5256-9a6b-d843a83c7467?fingerprint=ppb20251217013647" srcset="/thumbnails/46cd5844-b5fb-5256-9a6b-d843a83c7467?fingerprint=ppb20251217013647 450w, /images/46cd5844-b5fb-5256-9a6b-d843a83c7467?fingerprint=ppb20251217013647 600w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 450px, 600px"> <p><span>Our school will use a new broadcasting tool to communicate need-to-know information to families in a timely and efficient way.</span></p> <p><span>The “Communicate” system will allow us to share important school information with families via text, email or phone message. We will use this tool for urgent items like event cancellations or school emergencies. We may also use it for sharing information such as upcoming progress reports, school council meetings or special events.</span></p> <p><span>Secondary school families will be familiar with a previous version of the broadcast tool (Synrevoice) which allows schools to send messages about student attendance and other important school information.</span></p> <p><span><span>Registered parents/guardians will receive these messages through contact information collected in our student information system. Parents/guardians may choose how to receive these alerts by text message, email or phone call with the exception of emergency events which will always be communicated via all contact methods on file with the school. If parents/guardians choose to receive text messages, they must opt-in due to potential charges from their cell phone carrier. </span><a class="editor-link" href="/documents/48bbc50b-373e-5019-ae1d-7a37c047b5a4?fingerprint=ppb20251217013700" target="_blank"> <span>Learn how to opt-in for text messages</span> </a></span><span>.</span></p> <p><span>It is important that parents/guardians ensure schools have the most up-to-date contact information at the beginning of the school year. If your contact information changes during the school year, parents/guardians are asked to contact the school with the updated information.</span></p> <p><strong><span>Teacher/Coach/Extra-Curricular Leader Messaging:</span></strong></p> <p><span>In addition, t</span><span>eachers and coaches/leaders of extra-curricular activities will also be able to take advantage of an instant message option to keep students and families up to date regarding classroom or practice/game activities in a timely manner. Students and parents/guardians will be invited to join a group and receive messages related specifically to their group. Information on how to join groups will be shared directly with students and families by the teacher, coach/leader. <a class="editor-link" href="/documents/07694697-349d-51ff-a42c-a05550bd4f28?fingerprint=ppb20251217013050" target="_blank"> <span>Learn how to join a group</span> </a>.</span></p> <p><strong><span>School Messenger App Account:</span></strong></p> <p><span>All of our new electronic communications tools can be accessed anytime, anywhere online and/or via Smartphones. To take advantage of this new convenience and functionality, we encourage you to create a School Messenger account on your desktop, laptop, tablet and/or download the SchoolMessenger app. While an account is not required to use these new tools, it will allow you to review your contact information and communication preferences, and it stores all of your messages in one place. <a class="editor-link" href="/documents/07694697-349d-51ff-a42c-a05550bd4f28?fingerprint=ppb20251217013050" target="_blank"> <span>Learn how to create an account</span> </a><em>.</em></span></p> <p><span>Communicate does not replace current school communication tools but enhances the way in which schools will provide information to families. In most cases, information will still be provided on school websites, school newsletters, notices home and social media accounts, where applicable.</span></p> <p><span>Parents/guardians should expect to receive notifications from the system soon.</span></p>

<img src="/images/a2f57628-d038-5a90-b304-6a35f001957b?fingerprint=ppb20251217014516" srcset="/thumbnails/a2f57628-d038-5a90-b304-6a35f001957b?fingerprint=ppb20251217014516 450w, /images/a2f57628-d038-5a90-b304-6a35f001957b?fingerprint=ppb20251217014516 600w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 450px, 600px"> <p><span>Students in Mme. Cindy’s Grade ¾ French Immersion classroom prepared videos to share the importance of the French language.<br> <br> This <a href="https://youtu.be/Jg_cAyoIi8A" target="_blank" title="video">video</a> was chosen to share at the September Success Assembly.&nbsp; Bravo!</span></p>