Selby Public School

<p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Dear Families,</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">As we enter the spring season and final third of the school year, we are reminded of this season’s promise of renewal and growth, and the key role schools and families have together in supporting student learning and well-being. This time of </span><a href="about:blank" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">year</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> brings many opportunities for learning both inside and outside of the classroom, along with the return of outdoor extracurricular activities. While this week has been very wet and rainy, the warmer temperatures of spring are upon us.&nbsp; I would like to take this opportunity to share a few important updates with you:</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">P.A. Day – Friday, April 17</strong></b></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">A reminder to families that tomorrow, Friday, April 17, is a P.A. Day. There will be no classes for students, and we look forward to welcoming them back to school on Monday.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Family Engagement and Climate Survey – Coming in May</strong></b></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">In early May, Limestone will be inviting families to take part in a Family Engagement and Climate Survey. The optional survey is anonymous, and families can choose which questions they want to answer.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The survey asks about topics such as feeling connected to school, family involvement, safety and bullying, communication, before- and after-school programming, and how technology like artificial intelligence is used in schools.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The feedback shared through this survey helps schools and the school board understand what is working well, what could improve, and what may make it harder for some families to take part. Your feedback helps strengthen communication, support student well-being, and improve school experiences for everyone.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">More information will be shared leading up to the survey being live in early May. </span><a href="https://youtu.be/kKxSsDtggew" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Families are encouraged to watch a short video</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> featuring Senior Staff and a Parent Involvement Committee (PIC) Co-Chair, who share more about the Family Engagement and Climate Survey and why family voice is so important.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Human Rights Information</strong></b></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Launched in October 2022, the Limestone’s Student Human Rights Reporting Tool provides a way for students, families, caregivers, and staff to report human rights concerns involving LDSB students, including matters related to discrimination and harassment. Reviewing and analyzing this information helps support safe, welcoming, and inclusive school environments and supports the board’s obligations under the Ontario Human Rights Code. The&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/documents/dff6803b-6f2d-4d36-a758-68758a63ceb3/2026-04-09-Student-Human-Rights-Data-Summary-for-2024-2025.pdf" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Student Human Rights Reports – 2024-2025 Summary is now available online</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp;and can be accessed by families.&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Student Census 2025 Update</strong></b></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">In November 2025, Limestone completed the See Yourself in Limestone: Student Census 2025, a voluntary and confidential survey that helps us better understand students’ identities and school experiences. The findings support planning and decision-making that promotes equity, well being, and student success across Limestone schools. An overview of the Student Census 2025 was presented to the Board of Trustees at last night’s board meeting. Families are encouraged to </span><a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/news/see-yourself-in-limestone-2025-student-census-update-20260416133605" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">visit the Limestone District School Board website to review the full Student Census summary</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> and learn more about how student voice is helping shape our work.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp;</strong></b></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Mental Health Supports Available for Students</strong></b></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">In response to tragic events, locally or globally, students may experience a wide range of emotions, including sadness, confusion, worry, or questions about what they may be hearing from others. Students may react in different ways depending on their age, experiences, and how connected they feel to the situation. With time, reassurance, and support from caring adults, these reactions often ease.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">We encourage families to keep lines of communication open at home, to invite questions, and to offer reassurance as needed. If you have concerns about your student or would like support, please refer to the following resources:</span></p><ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem"><a href="https://smho-smso.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Supporting-your-childs-well-being.pdf" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Supporting Your Child’s Well-being</span></a></li><li value="2" class="editor-listitem"><a href="https://smho-smso.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Caring-for-yourself-while-caring-for-others.pdf" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Caring for yourself while caring for others: A parent’s guide to self-care</span></a></li><li value="3" class="editor-listitem"><a href="https://smho-smso.ca/parents-and-caregivers/" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">By Your Side</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> (parent/caregiver resources to support mental health learning)</span></li><li value="4" class="editor-listitem"><a href="https://maltbycentre.ca/" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Maltby Centre</span></a></li><li value="5" class="editor-listitem"><a href="https://onestoptalk.ca/" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">One Stop Talk</span></a></li><li value="6" class="editor-listitem"><a href="https://kidshelpphone.ca/" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Kids Help Phone</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> (Call 1-800-668-6868 or Text “Connect” to 686868)</span></li><li value="7" class="editor-listitem"><a href="https://211ontario.ca/" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">2-1-1 Ontario</span></a></li></ul><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">If you are worried about your student’s immediate safety, or the safety of others, please seek urgent assistance by calling 9-1-1, your local mobile crisis service (613-354-7388), or by going to the nearest emergency department.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Thank you for your continued support of Limestone schools and their communities. Your partnership, feedback, and engagement play an important role in strengthening student learning and well-being across Limestone. Limestone staff remain committed to collaborating with families to create safe, inclusive, and supportive school communities where every student can learn and see themselves in Limestone.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Krishna Burra</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Director of Education</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp;</span></p>

<h2 class="editor-heading-h2"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">A vibrant event celebrating neurodiversity with inspiring talks, creative spaces, and an inclusive community experience.</span></h2><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Now entering its third year, Neurovibes is a community event celebrating neurodiversity through engaging talks, creativity, and connection.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Attendees can hear from inspiring speakers, explore interactive spaces, and connect with community partners and vendors in a welcoming, inclusive environment. The event is designed to support different sensory needs while bringing people together to learn, share, and celebrate neurodivergent experiences.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: start;"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">When: April 29, 2026, 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. (Doors open at 4:00 p.m.)</strong></b></p><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: start;"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Where: Queen's Biosciences Complex, 116 Barrie Street, Kingston</strong></b><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">&nbsp;</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" style="text-align: start;"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Register now at:&nbsp;</strong></b><a href="https://bit.ly/Neurovibes2026%20" class="editor-link"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">bit.ly/Neurovibes2026</strong></b></a><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">.</strong></b></p><h2 class="editor-heading-h2"><br></h2><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/0d9fba3e-4cf2-480e-973b-7617e4932a7f" alt="Neurovibes 2026 Poster" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></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;">With March now underway, and March Break fast approaching, I would like to share a few updates with families:</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">School Year Calendar is Approved</strong></b></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The Ministry of Education has approved Limestone’s recommended 2026-2027 school year calendar. The school year will begin with a P.A. Day on September 1, 2026, with the first day of classes for students on September 2, 2026. A </span><a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/school-year-calendar" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">printable version of the calendar is available 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;">Budget Survey</strong></b></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Trustees are seeking feedback on the Limestone District School Board budget planning process for the upcoming 2026-2027 school year. Families are encouraged to take a few minutes to provide feedback on areas or priority. The survey is anonymous and can be accessed online at </span><a href="https://bit.ly/2026-2027LDSBBudgetSurvey" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">bit.ly/2026-2027LDSBBudgetSurvey</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> . The survey closes March 23, 2026.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Video: Limestone’s Student Achievement Plan in Action – EQAO Highlights</strong></b></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">As previously shared, the Ministry of Education released the 2024-2025 Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) results in December, and we are pleased to share that Limestone has 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 are consistent with provincial trends in many areas and show meaningful improvement in others, including among specific student groups. In fact, Limestone is performing 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 results reflect the collective efforts of Limestone educators, Educational Assistants, program teams, and school leaders—supported by the ongoing commitment of students and families across our district. We are extremely proud of the dedication and hard work that contributed to these achievements.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">We are pleased to share a </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1qQcIXSyFU" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">video update with families on Limestone’s Student Achievement Plan in Action – EQAO Highlights</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">. This </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1qQcIXSyFU" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">short video</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> provides an overview of Limestone’s Student Achievement Plan and how it guides our shared work to support student learning and well-being.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Through insights from members of the Limestone Senior Team, families will learn about the key priorities shaping our efforts, the thinking behind our actions, and how collaboration, evidence, and reflection help us improve. The video highlights how data, professional learning, and shared leadership work together to move learning forward, while keeping students, belonging, and continuous growth at the centre. It offers a look at how planning connects to practice as we work together toward positive outcomes for all Limestone students.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Revisions to Grades 7, 8, and 10 History Curriculum</strong></b></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The Minister of Education has announced updates to the Grades 7, 8, and 10 History curriculum for the upcoming 2026-2027 school year.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">With these updates, in Grades 7, 8, and 10, students will learn about significant contributions of Black individuals and communities to Canada’s foundation as a nation, and the obstacles they faced in the pursuit of building an inclusive and prosperous country.&nbsp;The Grade 10 History course will also have new learning on extreme political and social ideologies, the Holocaust and rising antisemitism, and the Holodomor famine in Ukraine.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Learn more about the updated curriculum on the </span><a href="https://www.dcp.edu.gov.on.ca/en/" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Ministry of Education’s Curriculum and Resources website.</span></a></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Become a Homestay and Host an International Student: A Meaningful Experience for You and Your Family</strong></b></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Each year, LDSB welcomes more than 120 international students into schools across the district from countries around the world, including Brazil, Italy, China, Germany, Japan, Mexico, France, Vietnam, Rwanda, and many others. Hosting an international student is a meaningful way to bring the world into your home while making a positive difference in a young person’s life. Limestone homestay families are carefully matched with students and supported by dedicated Limestone staff throughout the placement, so families are never on their own. Hosting offers opportunities for cultural exchange, the development of lasting relationships, and a monthly stipend to help offset costs. To learn more about how hosting works, the supports in place, and why many local families choose to open their homes, visit </span><a href="https://internationaled.limestone.on.ca/become_a_homestay" class="editor-link"><b><strong class="editor-text-bold" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">internationaled.limestone.on.ca/become_a_homestay</strong></b></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;">Ministry Resources for Reading and Math</strong></b></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">There are many resources available to support your student’s learning in math and literacy, offering engaging activities that make learning both fun and effective for students and families. To explore these tools, visit Limestone’s </span><a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/tutoring" class="editor-link"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Online Learning Resources and Tutoring webpage</span></a><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Thank you for your continued partnership and support of student learning and well-being across Limestone. We are grateful for the role families play in helping students feel supported, connected, and successful, and we look forward to continuing our work together.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Krishna Burra</span></p>