Dear Families,
As January comes to a close, I want to acknowledge the dedication students and staff have demonstrated as we begin the new year. We have certainly faced challenging weather as winter has thrown the kitchen sink and dirty dishes at us this year, and it is not even the end of January! This has resulted in an inordinate number of inclement weather days this year. Thank you for your continued partnership in fostering safe, caring, and inclusive learning environments across Limestone.
I have a few updates for you:
Inclement Weather and Bus Cancellations
This year we have experienced an inordinate number of bus cancellations. To date LDSB has had around 10 school days disrupted due to bus cancellations, and one day where most schools were closed. Tri-Board Student Transportation Services works closely with people on the ground across the district to assess road and weather conditions, and consults with local meteorologists for up-to-date, local weather forecasts whenever winter weather occurs and/or is expected. Because school buses handle differently than personal vehicles, there are times when roads may seem safe for cars but are not suitable for buses.
Given the size of the district, weather can vary significantly from one region to another, which means cancellations may be necessary in some areas while others continue to operate. We recognize there have been several inclement weather days since returning from the winter break and understand that transportation cancellations can be very challenging for families; however, the safety of the more than 30,000 students who rely on bus transportation each day remains Tri-Board’s highest priority. To learn more about how inclement weather decisions are made, here is a link to a recent, local media story.
For tips on preparing for winter weather and managing bus cancellation days, please visit Limestone’s Prepare for Winter-Related Bus Delays and Cancellations webpage.
Inclement Weather and Continuity of Learning
The number of inclement weather days have resulted in significant disruption to learning for students, particularly in January. On these days, staff are expected to provide some continuity of learning to support students unable to attend school when buses are cancelled. Educators may share asynchronous learning through previously established means through board approved tools or e-mail. For those students who can attend on inclement weather days, educators will continue to provide programming and support learning with smaller group and/or more individualized learning.
School Year Calendar 2026-2027 Survey
The Limestone District School Board is developing the 2026-2027 school year calendar. Together with our coterminous boards, the Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board and the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board, we have created four calendar options and are seeking community input to help inform the final decision.
Please take a few minutes to complete this short survey, open until February 9 at 12:00 p.m. (noon).
Survey link: bit.ly/20262027SchoolYearCalendar
If families prefer a paper version, please contact your school to request a hard copy.
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback.
Black History Month Opening Ceremony – Wednesday, February 4, 2026
All Limestone students, families, and community members are invited to attend the LDSB Black History Month Opening Ceremony on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at LCVI (153 Van Order Drive, Kingston). The ceremony will celebrate community and connection with food, music, and dancing, featuring a Kids Zone with “Ruthy’s Reading Room”, and a performance by Cassel Miles as Josiah Henson.
Kindergarten Registration and Out of Boundary Registration
Do you have a child ready to start Kindergarten this September? If your child is four- or five-years-old by the end of December (2026), now is the time to register. Limestone offers Kindergarten in both English and French Immersion—where 85% of instruction is in French—plus a strong focus on the core skills of reading, writing, and math. With greater choice in schools and future programming, your child can discover a sense of belonging, while learning the knowledge and skills they need to succeed. For more information, please visit limestone.on.ca/kindergarten.
In Limestone, students may be permitted to attend any school within the board when there is available student space, upon submission and approval of the proper application. Please note only one application per student can be processed; please do not submit more than one application for multiple school locations. If multiple applications are submitted, families will be contacted to select which school application they would like processed, and all other applications will be removed from the system.
The board is not responsible for the provision of any transportation for students outside of their regular school boundary area. This applies to both students within Limestone’s geographic boundaries (out of boundary), and students who live outside of those boundaries (out of district).
To find the name and location of your in-boundary or home school(s), enter the student’s home address into Tri-Board's Locate A School tool.
EQAO Results
The Ministry of Education released the 2024-2025 Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) results in December, and as shared previously, we are pleased to share that Limestone has achieved its strongest performance in four years, with gains across every testing category.
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.
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.
More information will be shared with families soon, including a deeper dive and discussion into the EQAO results and Student Achievement Plan (SAP).
Ministry Resources for Reading and Math
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 Online Learning Resources and Tutoring webpage.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Resources
Limestone continues to explore AI tools and their potential benefits, while also developing resources and information to support students and families in understanding AI. Limestone’s Artificial Intelligence in Limestone webpage shares some of the work already underway, including our AI Guiding Principles and a video showcasing how students in Limestone are innovating with AI.
If you are interested in learning more about artificial intelligence and media literacy, or would like resources to explore with your student(s), MediaSmarts: Canada’s Centre for Digital and Media Literacy offers a range of valuable materials on AI and other digital media topics. These resources can be found on the MediaSmarts website.
Host an International Student – Be a Part of Kingston’s Global Community
Limestone is proud of our long tradition of hosting students from other countries. The demand for Kingston, and Canada, as a learning destination is rapidly growing. Students from over 15 different countries are here now staying with great homestay families in Limestone. Our International Education team is looking for more families to become homestay hosts to international students.
We currently have 19 students on our waiting list that have applied to Limestone for 2026-2027 and need a home. They range from one semester to one-year stays and are from Germany, Spain, Japan, Brazil, Slovakia, Czechia, Italy, and Denmark.
Host families will be paid a tax-free monthly stipend to host students. All students in the program attend local intermediate or secondary schools and range in age from 12 to 17 years of age. Our International Education team works hard to make a great match for your family, that can last a lifetime.
Families can learn more by visiting internationaled.limestone.on.ca or phoning the International Education offices at 613-544-7745, ext. 288.
Thank you,
Krishna Burra
Director of Education
Limestone District School Board