Celebrating Education Week 2021

Limestone Learning Foundation
Celebrating Education Week 2021
Posted on 05/03/2021
Image of graphic with words Stronger Together

The first full week of May is recognized as both Education Week and Mental Health Week in Ontario. This year, the Limestone District School Board is showcasing and celebrating teaching excellence and student achievement, as well as promoting behaviours and attitudes that foster well-being and support good mental health.

Over the past year, since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, public schools have been at the forefront, providing much-needed support and connection to students and families. Staff have gone above and beyond to find creative, innovative and effective ways to support student learning and well-being during the constant change of the past 15 months.

The theme of Education Week 2021 is Stronger Together, a fitting concept given the way school and central staff and community partners have rallied to support students and families during these unprecedented times. From supporting students through the challenges of remote learning and helping secondary students navigate the new octomester system, to helping students cope with the loss of social activities, sports and extra-curriculars, staff have found a way to overcome these obstacles and bolster spirits every day in our classrooms while providing students with unique and engaging learning opportunities.

“The 2020-2021 school year has been full of challenges for everyone – students, families and staff – and yet I have been both impressed and inspired by the way our school communities have embraced change and adapted time and again to a regularly changing landscape,” says Director of Education Krishna Burra. “During Education Week and Mental Health Week, I want to acknowledge the ongoing efforts of all of Limestone’s education workers who have stepped up to provide care and support in these overwhelming circumstances. I sincerely thank them for everything they do to support students and families.”

While it is impossible to capture the amazing teaching and learning that takes place in our classrooms every day, below are just a few examples of how Limestone has been Stronger Together in 2020-2021. You can also review this short video compilation of posts shared by educators and schools on Twitter.

  • Limestone mental health professionals were available to consult and complete well-being check-ins to assist students in navigating community resources during the summer 2020 break.
  • Students in the LCVI Cook’s Internship Specialist High Skills Major Program partnered with Lionhearts Inc. to help prepare between 2,500 and 5,000 hot meals weekly to those in need in our community.
  • Students in the Emergency Response Specialist High Skills Major at La Salle Secondary School helped an elderly neighbour in need using what they learned through this expanded opportunity program earning them kudos from local paramedics.
  • When traditional school assemblies were suspended, school across the district recognized Remembrance Day with a variety of innovative classroom-based or school-wide virtual events to honour all those who served and continue to serve.
  • The Limestone Learning Foundation made a $100,000 donation to support The Food Sharing Project in continuing to provide food baskets or grocery cards to families in need throughout the pandemic.
  • Students in Limestone collected thousands of pounds of food to support food banks and food programs across our region as well as hundreds of pieces of clothing and personal hygiene items.
  • Students from Kingston Secondary School formed a school-based Blood Club to donate blood to Canadian Blood Services.
  • Students from several schools created letters, cards and pictures that were later shared with residents of area long-term care and retirement homes and health-care workers. Every student at Selby Public School, for example, created care packages for clients at Morningstar Mission, residents at the Village Green Nursing Home and frontline workers at L&A County General Hospital.
  • The Limestone Elementary School Athletic Association organized a virtual football and basketball challenges to provide elementary students with the opportunity to learn basic skills, compete against other classes and school to maintain physical activity, introduce some friendly competition, and add some much-needed fun and camaraderie.
  • Staff from several secondary schools offered online homework help sessions to students needing a bit of extra support.
  • The Virtual Gender & Sexuality Alliance was launched to support students in Grades 7 to 12 who are learning remotely via the LDSB Virtual School. The group was soon expanded to include all students in the board who felt more at home in the online space.
  • Dual Credit students attending St. Lawrence College participated in various Women in Trades events and certifications such as millwright, plumbing, carpentry and electrical credits.
  • A regular Indigenous Youth Drop-In allows students to a place to share and network.
  • Schools across Limestone shared the importance of mental wellness during the annual Bell Let’s Talk Day and many classes completed various wellness promotion activities.
  • Limestone schools made free menstrual hygiene products more accessible to students at schools to remove barriers and ensure equitable access for all.
  • Students from across Limestone elementary schools participated in virtual Frontenac, Lennox and Addington Science Fair. More than 600 students participated in a keynote event with Canadian astronaut Col. Chris Hadfield.
  • The School- to-Community Soccer Team at LCVI won the Division C Skills Competition at the Special Olympics Ontario event in February 2021. Bayridge Secondary School’s School-to- Community students participated in a week-long Virtual Bocce Tournament for Special Olympics Ontario and the team placed an honourable second overall provincially.
  • Students from Lancaster Public School painted wooden signs of what hope means to them to help decorate a well used community pathway.
  • Despite a delayed spring break, schools across the district hosted a variety of spirit events to help provide some fun and cheer during what would have been the traditional March Break.
  • Students in Limestone’s School Within a College Program constructed a timber frame shed and sold it in support of the Kingston Youth Shelter. More than $2,000 was raised to support youth in need.
  • Thanks to funding from the Ontario Arts Council, students in the Elementary Virtual School received art kits for an Artist in Residence Program focused on creating community and connections.
  • The Rotary Club assembled and delivered 250 wellness kits to help Limestone students as part of its Centennial year celebrations.
  • The annual Creative Arts Specialist High Skills Major Visual Paradise art exhibit moved to a virtual format in 2021. The work of 25 students was showcased online for several weeks for everyone to admire.
  • Students at North Addington Education Centre produced 10.5 litres of maple syrup from the school’s sugar shack. Every class from Kindergarten to Grade 8 got a bottle to share.
  • Grade 10 construction students at Frontenac Secondary School completed a wide range of projects, some of which will be heading out to community partners.
  • LDSB's first-ever Student Census to learn more about students' backgrounds, experiences and needs to identify and eliminate discrimination and bias from schools was conducted in 2020.
  • Grade 9 and 10 students from LCVI handcrafted nesting boxes and platforms for birds to be used within the Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area.
  • Secondary students at Bayridge Secondary School hosted and proctored an inaugural elementary computer challenge for Grade 7 and 8 students to collaborate, compete and solve computer-based problems.
  • Student Trustees provided valuable student voice to various provincial panels on remote learning, mental health, equity and anti-racism.
  • Information Technology Staff resolved almost 15,000 service desk tickets for service during the 2020-2021 school year so far, assisting students, families and staff with tech needs.
  • Limestone staff raised more than $53,000 to support the 2020 United Way of KFL&A campaign to support the immediate needs of the most vulnerable in our communities.

These are just a snapshot of the many wonderful examples of how Limestone staff are putting student achievement and well-being at the forefront during the 2020-2021 school year. We will continue to share more of these stories of success, spirit and goodwill using #StrongerTogether, #ShareTheGood and #LDSBeWell on our social media accounts.

 

 

 

 

The Limestone District School Board is situated on traditional territories of the Anishinaabe & Haudenosaunee.