CENTENNIAL FAMILY UPDATE: FEB 2-6
WEEK AHEAD
The month of February is BLACK HISTORY MONTH!
Monday, Feb 2
- Bring a Book! Last days of our BOOK SWAP!! Please bring a book to take a book. We hope that every student will be able to take a book home this week!
- Indigenous Story Telling- Farndon
- Let’s Talk Science - Kinder B
- School Council Meeting @ 6:30 in the library - all are welcome to attend!
Tuesday, Feb 3
Wednesday, Feb 4
- LUNCH IS READY: Pasta Salad
Thursday, Feb 5
Friday, Feb 6
- Primary Classes - Olympic outside Play Day! Snowshoeing, sled races, snow hurdles, snow scoop race, snow obstacle course, snow frisbee golf, snow soccer!
Farewell Ms. Murphy!
Students in our Grade 1 class have thrived this fall under the care and thoughtful instruction of Ms. Murphy, Ms. Mellor, Mme. Evans and Mme. Wallis. We are so grateful for all that they have done with our learners to welcome them into a new school year, learn and grow with them, and set them up for a successful year.
Ms. Tara Murphy was the successful candidate for another teaching position within our system and will transition to her new site after her upcoming leave. Ms. Murphy has been a beloved part of our Centennial family and has invested many years here, sharing her passion for learning, guiding and caring for her students. She will be very missed by colleagues and students. Ms. Murphy’s last day at Centennial will be Friday, January 30th.
We are happy to share that Ms. Dorothy Evans was selected as the successful candidate for Ms. Murphy’s position. In her role as the core French teacher for the class this term, Ms. Evans has already established strong relationships with students and their families. Ms. Murphy and Ms. Evans will be working together over the next week to share key information and student achievement data to support the success of students during this transition. Ms. Evans will begin her role as the primary classroom teacher on Monday, February 2nd.
Farewell Ms. Talisse!
Ms. Talisse was the successful candidate for a position within our system and has contributed many years to the team here at Centennial. She will be dearly missed for all of the work with students and collaboration with colleagues as a true team player! We will miss her and her contributions to our school-wide spirit and bulletin boards!
LITERACY WEEK @ CENTENNIAL!!
Director's Update:
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.
Family Literacy First aims to bring parents and children together to practice family literacy through free online resources. The program offers resources in different languages, including English, French, Simplified Chinese, Tagalog, and Arabic, so families can learn together in their first language, or practice a second or third language. Resources include stories, games, and activities that you can engage in with your child to build literacy skills, grow confidence and offer connection time with your child. See the RESOURCES PAGE HERE
Taking time every day to read or do a learning activity with children is crucial to a child’s development, improving a child’s literacy skills dramatically, and can help a parent improve their skills as well.
HOW CAN WE SUPPORT MY STUDENT AT HOME?
CHECK OUT THESE FAMILY RESOURCES!
Family Literacy Engagement Ideas:
- Plan a Day Trip: Go online together to find fun (and free) places to go in your city for your next family day trip.
- Sing it to Me: Play a song and then pause it. Ask your family to sing the next line – do they know it?
- Pop-up Kitchen: Follow a recipe together – a yummy way to practice math and reading.
- Aqua Adventure: Visit an aquarium (or aquarium store) to learn about nature and the environment (see cool fish too!)
- #TTYL: Keep in touch with teens and impress them with your amazing texting skills (like using popular hashtags while using full sentences.)
- Weekend Hike: Enjoy the great outdoors and learn about nature – why not make it a scavenger hunt!
- Shop Till you Drop: Shopping together can be fun if you’re prepared (no really.) Write a list together of what you need and take turns finding the items on your list.
- Hopscotch Count: Make a giant hopscotch calculator, ask math questions and hop to the answers!
- Reverso Story: Tell your favourite story, backwards – start with the ending. Can your family guess the story?
- Library Passport: Use your library card at the library as your passport to travel the world. Where will you go and what will you learn?
- FGN: Start an FGN (Family Game Night) with your family and friends, and switch houses each week.
- Picture Maker: Make pictures out of modelling clay to go with your story. Get inspired by Family Literacy Day Honourary Chair Barbara Reid (have you seen what she can do with modeling clay? WOW!)
- Tell it 2 Me: Write a secret message with numbers and do math to solve it.
- Animal Walk: Read street names and think of animals that begin with the same first letter of each street.
- Eat Your Words: Play with your food and write words with alphabet cereal and soup (we like cookie letters too!)
- Story Switch-A-Roo: Take turns reading a bedtime story together, kids and adults each read one sentence at a time.
- WOW Palindromes: Find words that are spelled the same way forwards and backwards. How many can you find? (Some to get your started: wow, mom, dad, radar.)
- Abracadabra: Find cool card tricks from the library or by going online with your family. Practice and show your friends – can they figure out the tricks?
- Word Dynamo: Say a word and ask kids to say a new word that begins with the last letter of the word you just said (apple, eat, tidy, yawn.)
- Watch a Book: Read a book then watch the movie together. Talk about which version you liked the best.
UPCOMING CONSTRUCTION ON NORMAN ROGERS DRIVE
The project website includes a general overview of the project scope, as well as maps to show existing and proposed conditions.
KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION
Registration forKindergarten in Limestone is now open! If your student was born in 2022, now is the time to register your new student to start school this September.
Kindergarten is a wonderful new world of learning and growing and a very exciting time for both you and your student. We learn how to read, how to write and we make so many new friends. Our educator teams of a teacher and early childhood educator, help us along the way. You can feel confident your child will be cared for within safe and inclusive environments. Discover Kindergarten in Limestone and learn more about our Kindergarten program, resources, and tips to help your new student prepare for school.
Centennial School Council Update:
Family Games and Crafts Night
Save the date for February 12th! The school council will be hosting a Family Games and Crafts Night from 6:30 to 8:00 pm in the Centennial PS gym. A variety of games will be available, and families are also welcome to bring their own. There will also be free fun crafts for families to make!
This is a free event. All students must be accompanied by an adult.
School Council Meetings
The next School Council meeting is scheduled for February 2 from 6:30 to 8:00 pm at Centennial PS. All Centennial parents and caregivers are welcome. Please email us at ldsbcentennialpscouncil@gmail.com in advance if you require childcare.
School Council Request: Containers needed for winter sowing of native plants in preparation for the May eco-fair:
Large plastic containers are needed for a School Council project, examples are 2L pop bottles, vinegar bottles, or clear plastic boxes with lids (not the type that holds fruit or salad greens). No bottles that held toxic chemicals such as cleaning fluids. Containers that have been cleaned thoroughly can be brought to the office.
Learn more about winter sowing: https://www.rbg.ca/winter-sowing-part-one/
Reminder About Parking Areas
As the weather changes, more families may choose to drive to and from school. Please remember that stopping in school bus loading zones or no-stopping areas can result in high parking fines. Bylaw encourages families to respect posted signage and use alternative locations for pick-up and drop-off.
Bus Cancellation Day Reminders:
- Families can choose to drop their child off to school, but should not arrive before 8:50 when supervision begins on the school yard. If you arrive before that time adults should stay with their student until 8:50
- If you drop off, you must also pick your student up by 3:25. Please avoid picking your student up between 3:00-3:25 as this presents significant challenges at a very busy time of day. Plan for delays as we locate your student during this time.
- Students who do not typically take the bus will be dismissed as they normally are onto the school yard.
- Students who typically take the bus will be gathered in the gym and dismissed to their adult out the front door.
- Please submit an absence for your student if they are staying home.
- Communicate your end-of-day plan to your child or classroom staff to help facilitate a smooth dismissal.
CENTENNIAL SCHOOL EXPECTATIONS - Slides for Family reference to review with your students.
How Can I get Information From the School?
LDSB schools and school board use School Messenger to send key messages, alerts, and general communication to families. Winston uses this platform and will continue to use our Centennial Family Update to provide updates to families. These newsletters are where we will share school-specific information and highlights of student work and events in the building and is generated on our school website.
SchoolMessenger App: Download the SchoolMessenger App to stay connected. Use your mobile device to download and install the free SchoolMessenger blue app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store, the SchoolMessenger website portal, or from within the LDSB mobile app. *New families will be able to create their account after the first day of attendance.
The first time you use the app, you must 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.
Ontario Ministry of Education Human Development and Sexual Health Information
As part of LDSB's commitment to ongoing transparency and communication with families, please follow the link to Form 325-D on the LDSB website. It outlines the Human Development and Sexual Health curriculum expectations for Grades 1-8. Families can request to have their child or children exempted from instruction related to Human Development and Sexual Health expectations by completing and returning an exemption form for each child (Form 325-B) five school days before the start of instruction. Prior to instruction, your child's classroom teacher will inform parents/guardians when the expectations related to the Human Development and Sexual Health expectations in Strand D will be covered. For a more detailed overview of this process, please refer to Administrative Procedure 325: Exemption From Human Development and Sexual Health Instruction (listed under the Policies and Procedures section of the LDSB website), or contact the school.
Human Development and Sexual Health Expectations by Grade
Please find below a list of Human Development and Sexual Health Expectations by Grade as outlined in The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 1-8: Health and Physical Education, 2019. The Ministry of Education provides additional information about Human Development and Sexual Health on its website at: http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/curriculum/elementary/health.html
Human Development and Sexual Health Expectations by Grade
Request for Exemption from Instruction in Human Development & Sexual Health
Classroom teachers will be sending home a letter (Form 235-A). Form 325-A is a formal notification to families indicating when instruction related to Human Development and Sexual Health will occur.
School Mental Health Ontario Resources
School Mental Health Ontario offers a variety of free resources for educators, students, and families. To stay updated with the latest information, resources, and research, families can visit the SMHO website. Simply scroll to the bottom of the page, click on "Connect with Us," and enter your contact information.
Upcoming Dates
February
- Monday, February 16 - Family Day Holiday
March
- Monday, March 16 - Friday, March 20 - March Break Holiday
April
- Friday, April 3 - Good Friday Holiday
- Monday, April 6 - Easter Monday Holiday
- Friday, April 17 - PA Day
May
- Monday, May 18 - Victoria Day Holiday
- Friday, May 29 - PA Day
June
- Friday, June 26 - PA Day
Ministry and Board Resources for Math and Literacy
There are many resources available designed to support your children’s learning in math and literacy, offering engaging activities that can make learning fun and effective for students and families. Visit Limestone’s Online Learning Resources and Tutoring webpage to learn more.
Attendance Matters!
We continue to emphasize the importance of regular attendance when students are healthy enough to attend. We will continue regular reach-outs for these families with regular absenteeism to develop plans to support.
KLF&A Public Health Childhood Illnesses and Exclusion
Unsure when to keep your child home when they are unwell? The KFL&A Public Health guidelines have changed and include different symptoms since Covid. Vomiting and diarrhea remain 48 hours symptom free. Other childhood illness exclusions can be found here:
https://www.kflaph.ca/en/health-topics/common-childhood-illnesses.aspx
School Day Schedule
Time | Activity/learning block |
|---|---|
8:50 to 9:05 a.m. | Supervision begins on the yard |
9:05 to 10:45 a.m. | 100-minute learning block |
10:45 to 11:25 a.m. | Recess and nutrition break |
11:25 a.m. to 1:05 p.m. | 100-minute learning block |
1:05 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. | Recess and nutrition break |
1:45 to 3:25 p.m. | 100-minute learning block |
2025-2026 LDSB School Year Calendar
A PDF version of the 2025-2026 School Year Calendar is available online.
