Limestone District School Board Releases 2010 Mission Statement

Our Mission is to prepare students within safe and inclusive environments to embrace a changing world as life-long learners and informed, responsible citizens. The Limestone District School Board is committed to improving the outcomes for students through their well-being and academic achievement.  We are committed to success for all.

The LDSB will continue to maintain a culture of high expectations for all staff and students with a belief in their abilities to learn and grow. We will continue to focus on Success For All:  raising student achievement, closing the achievement gap for particular groups of students, and maintaining public confidence in our education system. We will work to ensure the implementation of practices that we know positively impact student achievement: precise language and mathematical literacy instruction, authentic assessment and evaluation strategies of and for learning, and the approaches recommended in Learning for All K-12, including differentiated instruction and collaborative professional learning.

The 2010 school year will introduce a number of exciting programs and initiatives within the district, not the least of which is the introduction of full-day, every-day, early learning programs for four and five-year-olds. Eight schools will be offering the full-day, every-day program staffed by a kindergarten teacher and an early childhood educator.

Other curriculum additions at the elementary level will include a pilot program in which an itinerant, specialist music teacher will offer instruction to students at all elementary schools within the QECVI family-of-schools area, while the elementary schools within KCVI catchment will offer Core French instruction to students in the primary grades.

In October the Harvesting House, built last year by students of the Building Construction Internship Program at QECVI in partnership with Braebury Homes, will be ready for tours and informational sessions. The Harvesting House is an interactive learning centre designed to promote sustainable energy systems and green building technologies to elementary, secondary and post-secondary students, industry members, and the general public.

With three new schools to be built, (two elementary schools to be built by 2012 in Kingston East and Greater Napanee, as well as one new K-12 school to be built by 2013 in Sharbot Lake), and major renovations at both Sydenham High School (which will include a gymnasium, hospitality suite, multi-media room and theatre arts room) and Bath Public School, growth will be a priority for Facility Services.  In addition, recommendations for changes to school catchment areas in the Kingston West Accommodation Review will be presented this fall for implementation in September 2011.

Other key provincial and LDSB initiatives include the following:

* Collaborative service delivery model for providing At Risk and Mental Health supports
* Equity and Inclusion Policy and Practices
* Environmental Sustainability and Education
* Safe Environments for staff and students

The LDSB hired an additional 35 Elementary Contract teachers (22 English, 13 French), 14 new registered early childhood educators, and five secondary technology teachers for the 2010 school year.

The LDSB has an operating budget totaling $235,556,000 and a capital budget of $22,577,000 for the 2010-2011 school year.

The LDSB serves approximately 22,202 students at 55 elementary schools, 11 secondary schools, and Limestone Community Education Centres in the Townships of Central Frontenac, Addington Highlands, North Frontenac, South Frontenac, Loyalist and Stone Mills, as well as the Town of Greater Napanee, the City of Kingston and the Frontenac Islands.

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