DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE

I am delighted to share some of the key areas of student achievement and well-being in the 2018-2019 Limestone District School Board Director’s Annual Report, including progress on our multi-year strategic plan focused on Wellness, Innovation and Collaboration.

Relationships are at the heart of effective classrooms and schools. By working together, using our strategic plan as their road map, our students and staff are moving closer to realizing our vision to foster engaging and innovative learning where everyone achieves success and well-being.

Now that we have completed year two of our five-year strategic plan, we are seeing incredible gains in our goals to put wellness first, turn innovation into action, and be committed to collaboration which include:

• Implement positive physical, mental and emotional health strategies.
• Promote diversity and foster a sense of belonging.
• Provide safe, inclusive and respectful learning environments.
• Cultivate problem solving, creative and critical thinking skills.
• Differentiate programming to support individual learning needs.
• Advance relevant and engaging learning experiences to support all pathways.
• Work with families to support every student’s learning journey.
• Maximize student engagement in classrooms and schools.
• Enhance partnerships with parents/guardians, employees, government and community groups.

The majority of our areas of our initiatives have been achieved, or are on target. Some items remain in progress while others require further attention. In many cases, those requiring further attention have been suspended due to a lack of sustainable Ministry funding.

To help implement Ontario’s Education Equity Action Plan, school administrators and educators participated in various professional development sessions including collaborative inquiries focused on learning and practices to build a more equitable and inclusive school environment. Also, Limestone established an Equity Advisory Committee made up of principals and vice-principals who provide feedback and input on the actions that the district is taking in response to the Equity Action Plan.

We are incredibly proud of the work we have accomplished to support key Ministry directives. As part of the Board Improvement Plan, a requirement for all school boards in Ontario, we have continued to see gains in improving students’ fundamental math skills. We also continue to support every student in their chosen pathway whether it be apprenticeship, college, community living, university, or the workplace in innovative ways that ensure all students have access to the very best opportunities to prepare them for life after graduation. Finally, we are proud to be local leaders in the area of equity and inclusion where our classrooms and schools work together to promote and build safe and welcoming environments where all students can have the opportunity to succeed and be well. We have shared highlights of some of this important work in the 2018-2019 Snapshot, and in our stories of Wellness, Innovation and Collaboration.

All of this work that takes place every day in every classroom across Limestone supports our ongoing commitment to ensure equitable opportunities and outcomes for all students in our public education system. We are excited to share our progress.

Debra Rantz, Director of Education