LDSB Virtual School

The Limestone District School Board is establishing an LDSB Virtual School to accommodate students who have decided to opt for remote learning for the start of the 2020-2021 school year.

The LDSB Virtual School (for Kindergarten to Grade 12) will use the same content and expectations set out in the Ontario Curriculum as regular in person learning. Programming will include opportunities for guided instruction, large- and small-group learning, live (synchronous) check-ins, and scheduled (asynchronous) independent work. Students are expected to engage for 300 minutes of learning as they would in in-person school.

The LDSB Virtual School will be staffed with an administrator and teachers, all of whom are Limestone staff.

In Limestone, we are supporting Elementary Virtual School students using a phased approach to ease them into remote learning, establish a positive connection with their home school, and give families some additional time to decide if they wish to opt in or out of in-person and remote learning. This also allows the regular elementary staffing process of matching teachers with classes to unfold. Read more about Elementary Virtual School below.

Secondary Virtual School will follow the same "blocked" timetable as most LDSB secondary schools (other than GREC and NAEC). Read more about Secondary Virtual School below.

Classes can be live (synchronous) or scheduled (asynchronous) and can be taught online through a school board's learning management system. In Limestone, this is Minds Online (D2L Brightspace) or Google Classroom. In some cases, teaching may be delivered through emails, print materials, broadcast media, or telephone calls.

During remote learning, students and families will be provided with a daily schedule or timetable that includes a combination of live (synchronous) and scheduled (asynchronous) learning activities. Teachers will be available to students during the teachers' assigned teaching timetables, as they would be if they were face-to-face in a classroom setting.

Live (synchronous) learning sessions will be communicated to families and students. Educators should use their professional judgement to provide some flexibility to students on an individual basis when students are unable to participate in (live) synchronous learning.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Elementary Virtual School look like?

In Limestone, we are supporting Elementary Virtual School students who have opted for remote learning using a phased approach.

Phase 1: Home school support (September 8-23, 2020)

Students can engage in the learning activities provided by their home school teacher at their own pace
The home school classroom teacher will monitor the progress of learning during this period through periodic check ins (e.g. phone calls home).
Students/families can access phone help or virtual meeting support with the assigned learning activities from our Synchronous Student Support Team made up of elementary teachers and educational assistants.
To access help with the work assigned from home schools, call 613.817.9322 from September 8-23 on school days between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. and request telephone support or support through a virtual meeting.
Students will be provided some opportunities to join larger virtual learning meetings beginning the week of September 14 in addition to learning activities assigned by the home school.
LDSB Virtual School staff will coordinate with home schools to ensure students who require a device are able to get one from the home school and ITS will explore new Internet connections for students where required and available.
To access technical support, call 613.417.3559 or email.
If you would like to opt in or out anytime on or before September 14, 2020, please call your home school. Another opportunity to opt in or out at a later date is still to be determined.

Phase 2: LDSB Virtual Elementary School (September 24 to June 24, 2021)

LDSB Virtual Elementary School will begin September 24, 2020
Students will be in virtual classes with students from other LDSB schools, not only students from their home school.
The virtual school organization and staff will be determined based on enrolment through the regular staffing process and reorganization like every other school in the district.
Virtual School teachers will be online for 225 minutes per day (Grades 1-8) or 180 minutes per day (Kindergarten) providing a combination of whole class instruction, guided instruction, individual support and “office hours” for each full-time assignment. The remaining instructional time can be used to support remote students working offline, checking in with students, etc.
Elementary Virtual School will run from 9 a.m. to 3:20 p.m., Monday to Friday
There will be another opportunity to opt in or out at a later date to be determined.

What does Secondary Virtual School look like?

Secondary Virtual School will follow the same "blocked" timetable as most LDSB secondary schools (other than GREC and NAEC).
The Block 1 timetable was create using existing course selections as much as possible.
The first day of Virtual School is September 8, 2020.
Secondary Virtual school will run from 8:30 a.m. to 2:35 p.m., Monday to Friday.
Opt-in/out dates: anytime in the preceding block for the next block and only if space exists.

How do we contact our Virtual School teachers?

Meetings with parents/guardians will be conducted through the same virtual tools students will use, email or telephone.

How are special education needs being handled in the Virtual School?

The LDSB Virtual School is committed to providing special education supports and services required by students, and would have been assigned had they attended school in person. These supports, however, will be provided virtually and might include some alterations to fit the remote model. These supports include accommodations, modified expectations and alternative programming where appropriate as outlined in their Individual Education Plans (IEPs).

How are mental health supports being handled in the Virtual School?

The LDSB Virtual School is committed to providing mental health supports and services required by students, and would have been assigned had they attended school in person. These supports, however, will be provided virtually and might include some alterations to fit the remote model. Students who receive supports from Educational Services support staff will do so from the staffing compliment of their home school. For example, if the home school of students is Frontenac Secondary School, that student would virtually access service from the Adolescent Care Worker at their home school.

Can I decide to leave the Virtual School to go back to in-person learning?

Students may opt in/out to their home school for in-person learning or from in-person learning to the Virtual School only on specific transfer dates (to be determined) if space exists.

Elementary: anytime on or before September 14, 2020
Secondary: anytime in the preceding block for the next block and only if space exists

While efforts will be made to accommodate requests for a change, families should expect that they might need to be wait-listed if they change their minds after these dates due to capacity challenges at their home school, or the LDSB Virtual School.

Where will my report card come from?

Report cards and transcripts will come from the LDSB Virtual School. Diplomas will come from the home school the student attended previously.

How do I get a device or Internet to participate in remote learning?

Technology (devices) will be provided for students who are learning remotely and require it. Internet access will be provided to students who are learning remotely and do not currently have access (where service is available). Schools will work directly with students and families to accommodate students' needs.

Click here to access Minds Online D2L platform for virtual learners.

Click here for more information on LDSB Elementary Virtual School.

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