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Cyber Incident Update - May 15, 2025

Dear Families, We appreciate your continued support, understanding, and patience while we have been responding to a cyber incident. While services have been restored in all schools for the past few weeks, we have continued to work diligently with cyber experts to better understand what occurred.   Unfortunately, we can now confirm that the perpetrators of this cyber incident stole personal information about members of the LDSB community, including current and former staff members, some students, and some of their parents or guardians. We understand this news may be concerning, and we are deeply sorry.  We believe the risk of publication and misuse of the exposed information to be low. Unfortunately, cyber incidents are occurring on a frequent basis, and impacting many individuals, public institutions, and private companies. Most current students and families receiving this notice are likely affected, though to varying degrees. To better understand how you may be affected, categorized by school, please visit the following LDSB website hyperlink: <a href="https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ftrack.spe.schoolmessenger.com%2Ff%2Fa%2FU8sDSLPU3jq_KVdAMF2R3Q~~%2FAAAAARA~%2F127FPW-zekjrzm5iOtpLlCBTUj4iO4d8cxXigqt7DI5lJklknLa5-cKhAn_GKCsOLemXrh5wyKritTFyhkH0tzF9x-5Jq3KyMn-FaiOpC-Txii-MLxBlSqG_rUXzDu02qT6P-cr4ZBYlX7pwfs4Piw~~&data=05%7C02%7Cgrangea%40limestone.on.ca%7Cce86f5967ebd4b8004cd08dd93ef5e80%7Ce1f4165febae4d82a73ca0de593830be%7C0%7C0%7C638829378501284588%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=V2PRhjnypnB2iPqEKL7R87C7oTTRP8fiYC1p8JwXLdI%3D&reserved=0" title="Original URL: http://track.spe.schoolmessenger.com/f/a/U8sDSLPU3jq_KVdAMF2R3Q~~/AAAAARA~/127FPW-zekjrzm5iOtpLlCBTUj4iO4d8cxXigqt7DI5lJklknLa5-cKhAn_GKCsOLemXrh5wyKritTFyhkH0tzF9x-5Jq3KyMn-FaiOpC-Txii-MLxBlSqG_rUXzDu02qT6P-cr4ZBYlX7pwfs4Piw~~. Click or tap if you trust this link." class="editor-link">limestone.on.ca/cyber-incident-update.</a> Once there, select “Cyber Incident Update for Students and Families – May 15, 2025,” and choose from the “All Schools” and the school-specific drop-down list. Please note that there is also a Frequently Asked Questions section at the bottom of the page. How can I protect myself? As indicated, we believe the risk of publication and misuse of the exposed information to be low. Nonetheless, all of us should always be vigilant in identifying phishing attempts and other suspicious communications, and families should practice good cyber hygiene by limiting the amount of personal information they share online and by using strong and unique passwords for all online services. Sadly, cyber incidents are occurring on a frequent basis, and impacting many individuals, public institutions, and private companies. What is next?  We are aware that this incident has affected our community in a direct way. We are deeply sorry for this. Please know that we are committed to strengthening our cybersecurity to better protect against future incidents. As indicated several weeks ago, we have reported the incident to the Kingston Police. Additionally, we have notified the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario (IPC). You have the right to file a complaint with the IPC, although you are not required to do so as we have already voluntarily reported to the incident to the  <a href="https://can01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Ftrack.spe.schoolmessenger.com%2Ff%2Fa%2Fxzyji44Gao6LyDPB2yUzWQ~~%2FAAAAARA~%2FMYt6Wr-KScyWVVcYn-nTroSqWLtcTrHOAGJ3ZIfaUWwNHQhho-kbCIL_S4MTnjXHRvsX31dQ5PVp5v94P-fm0JSj1rd-wtg7gKGb99EHGvns7s65Bkt6Wzh553L9SrtJ&data=05%7C02%7Cgrangea%40limestone.on.ca%7Cce86f5967ebd4b8004cd08dd93ef5e80%7Ce1f4165febae4d82a73ca0de593830be%7C0%7C0%7C638829378501304689%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=NA6Lb4mz31G%2BacGcndK%2FLX%2FNZfKQ7CDa63rDsFnjlbE%3D&reserved=0" title="Original URL: http://track.spe.schoolmessenger.com/f/a/xzyji44Gao6LyDPB2yUzWQ~~/AAAAARA~/MYt6Wr-KScyWVVcYn-nTroSqWLtcTrHOAGJ3ZIfaUWwNHQhho-kbCIL_S4MTnjXHRvsX31dQ5PVp5v94P-fm0JSj1rd-wtg7gKGb99EHGvns7s65Bkt6Wzh553L9SrtJ. Click or tap if you trust this link." class="editor-link">Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario</a>. Additional Questions If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Limestone District School Board by e-mail at <a href="mailto:cyberincident2025@limestone.on.ca" title="mailto:cyberincident2025@limestone.on.ca" class="editor-link">cyberincident2025@limestone.on.ca</a>. Sincerely, Krishna Burra Director of Education

2025-05-15 20:48:16.733 +0000 UTC

Boardroom Briefs in white text on a teal background

Boardroom Briefs April 23, 2025

Boardroom Briefs is intended to provide highlights of presentations, reports and decisions made at the regular meeting of the Limestone District School Board of Trustees. The following are highlights of the April 23, 2025 Regular Board Meeting. Agendas can be found on the website under <a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/board_meetings-1719463739654" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="editor-link" dir="ltr">Board Meetings</a>.  <h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Land Acknowledgement </h2>All meetings begin with a Land Acknowledgement: "The Limestone District School Board is situated on the traditional territories of the Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee. We acknowledge their enduring presence on this land, as well as the presence of Métis, Inuit, and other First Nations from across Turtle Island. We honour their cultures and celebrate their commitment to this land.” <h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">Presentation</h2><h3 class="editor-heading-h3" dir="ltr">Learning from the Land Through the Four Seasons - Gillianne Mundell</h3>Superintendent Scot Gillam introduced Gillianne Mundell, Indigenous Elementary School-Based Learning Coach, who presented to Trustees an overview of her work with students throughout this year focusing on learning from the land. She shared the "Land as our Teacher" graphic: Learning From and With the Land, Guided by 4Rs of Indigenous Land-Based Education. There has been a focus on each "R" throughout the four seasons:<ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Relationships in Fall</li><li value="2" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Respect in Winter</li><li value="3" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Reciprocity in Spring </li><li value="4" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Responsibility in Summer </li></ul><img src="/images/f93dd327-db42-4416-a5a2-118c00f31d66?fingerprint=ppb20251217015306" alt="Year at a Glance" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr">Private Session Report</h2><details open="false"><summary>Private Session Report - March 26, 2025</summary><div data-lexical-collapsible-content="true">During Private Session:The private session minutes were approved from the Regular Board Meeting of March 26, 2025.<ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Superintendent Gillam gave a Safe Schools update.</li><li value="2" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Superintendent McWilliams gave a Labour update.</li><li value="3" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Director Burra gave a Property and Legal update.</li></ul>There was no other business conducted, or motions passed in Private Session. MOVED By Trustee Godkin and seconded by Trustee Neill that the Private Session Report be received. Carried</div></details><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr">Reports from Officers</h2><details open="false"><summary>Chair's Report</summary><div data-lexical-collapsible-content="true"><img src="/images/dea058a1-e5d6-46f9-a75e-2526a81dc7b3?fingerprint=ppb20251217015036" alt="A photo of Chair Robin Hutcheon " width="243" height="314" style="width:243px;height:314px;float:right;display:inline-block">Chair Hutcheon provided the following report:"Good evening, I would like to begin this report by recognizing the exceptional resilience demonstrated by our staff and students during these challenging times following the recent cyber incident. Their unwavering dedication and adaptability have been truly commendable, and I am confident that we will emerge stronger from this experience. Looking ahead, we anticipate an exciting season for our school communities. Our staff and students are preparing for a variety of extracurricular activities designed to enrich our educational environments and foster a sense of community. From sports to arts and academic clubs, there is something for everyone to look forward to. Yesterday, April 22 was Earth Day. Recognizing Earth Day is crucial in fostering a sense of responsibility and awareness among our students, helping them understand the impact of their actions on the environment. It was wonderful to see many students, staff, and school communities celebrating Earth Day across our district. As graduation season approaches, the Board is enthusiastic about celebrating the achievements of our graduating students. Their dedication and hard work have led them to this significant milestone. We are keen to honour the accomplishments of our Specialist High Skills Major students, Limestone Student Achievers, and Staff Awards at the upcoming Board and Committee meetings in May and June. We extend our sincere gratitude to students, families, and staff for their continued support and commitment to our school communities. Together, we will navigate these challenges and celebrate the successes that lie ahead. That concludes my report." </div></details><details open="false"><summary>Director's Report</summary><div data-lexical-collapsible-content="true"><img src="/images/4873d4b7-cc29-5314-bbad-a4938f269261?fingerprint=ppb20251217013700" alt="" width="238" height="309" style="width:238px;height:309px;float:right;display:inline-block">Director Burra provided the following report: "Good evening, Trustees and the viewing public. We apologize for the inconvenience of not being able to broadcast this evening live due to our current cyber incident, but we will make a recording of the meeting available in the coming days. I have a number of updates for this evening’s meeting.We are still eagerly awaiting provincial budgetary information. The hope was that this information would be released shortly after MPPs returned to Queen’s Park. The longer the delay, the greater the challenge for us in meeting our needs in preparing for the 2025-26 school year. This information is vital for our planning purposes in preparing for the next school year. I know Superintendent of Corporate and Staff Services Young and Manager of Financial Services Carson, and their teams will do the best they can to unpack the funding and the local implications in Limestone, and allow us to continue planning once the information is made available. That being said, further delays do impede our staffing processes.I have a few highlights of recent events to share with Trustees this evening. First, On April 16, the LDSB Entrepreneur Showcase was held at Mitchell Hall at Queen’s, featuring innovative student businesses and products, with opportunities for students to pitch their ideas to local community partners and receive valuable feedback.The Ministry of Education's Entrepreneurship Education Pilot Projects aim to promote entrepreneurship education for Grades 7 to 12 students, fostering an entrepreneurial mindset and skills to run a business or social enterprise. Developed in partnership with local industry and community organizations, these projects support all students, including those with disabilities and special education needs, in today's changing economy. The objectives include encouraging innovative initiatives, fostering collaboration with industry partners, supporting student business plans, and promoting engagement in entrepreneurship, particularly in STEM and skilled trades. Limestone had 20 students participate in the pilot.The Limestone District School Board and Queen's University hosted Neurovibes - A Night Exploring Neurodiversity on April 3, 2025, at Katarokwi Learning Centre. This free evening event, open to students, staff, and family members, provided guests with opportunities to learn more about neurodiversity, neurodiverse-affirming practices, and supports within our community. There were speakers from the LDSB and Queen's, a neurodivergent speaker panel, community partner displays, and more.Next week at the United Way Workplace Volunteer Awards luncheon, Limestone will be given two awards: first an award honouring the 10-24 Leaders of the Way who contributed over $1,500 to the fundraising campaign, and a Sandstone Achievement Award acknowledging that Limestone contributed between $50,000 and $100,000 to the most recent campaign. The work of the United Way is of critical importance in supporting some of the most vulnerable members of the communities we serve, and I am proud of our collective efforts to support critical services for so many of the families that benefit from the work of the United Way.I would also like to publicly acknowledge the tremendous work of the LDSB Integrated Technology Services staff. Given the impact of a recent cyber incident, the ITS staff have demonstrated service above and beyond normal work requirements. I would like to acknowledge the department’s work throughout this past long weekend, and every other day since the incident. I would also like to publicly acknowledge and thank those members of the senior team and school administrators that also supported work in schools on the weekend. Lots of work is currently underway and, as always, we commit to sharing updates related to the cyber incident as new information becomes available. That being said, there is an impact on the system in having network systems offline for students, families, and staff. Lots of work is occurring behind the scenes to move us toward restoration, and providing work arounds to support schools in their regular day-to-day operations. We greatly appreciate people’s patience and support during this current challenge. And it is during adverse times like this that I have great appreciation for what makes Limestone so great: the cumulative and collective good will of members of the Limestone community to pull together, focus on what matters, and supporting each other along the way.This evening there are four reports on the agenda: Interim Financial Reporting for the second quarter, a virtual school update, a Student Achievement Plan update, and a report updating Trustees on Artificial Intelligence in Limestone.Thank you. That concludes my report, Chair Hutcheon."</div></details><h2 class="editor-heading-h2" dir="ltr">Reports</h2><details open="false"><summary>OPSBA Report</summary><div data-lexical-collapsible-content="true">Trustee McGregor provided an OPSBA report.</div></details><details open="false"><summary>Student Trustees' Report and Introduction to New Student Trustees</summary><div data-lexical-collapsible-content="true">Student Trustee Kolosov provided the following report:"Good evening Trustees and the viewing public. I am excited to introduce to you the new incoming Rural and Urban Student Trustees for the 2025-2026 school year. Mia Comeau is the incoming Rural Student Trustee. She is a Grade 11 student at Granite Ridge Education Centre. She values contributing positively to her school and district. She enjoys forming new connections and learning. She is driven to ensure academic courses will continue to be offered at rural schools, so that all students can succeed in whichever pathway they choose. Siham Ismail is the incoming Urban Student Trustee. She is a Grade 10 student at Kingston Secondary School. She is a proud member of the school affinity club where she helps in the creation and implementation of events in the school geared towards creating a welcoming environment for racialized students, and students from other minority groups. With help from the connections to her community, Siham looks forward to addressing the needs of students at urban schools. We look forward to working with our incoming Student Trustees to help them find a smooth transition into the role. Our April Inter-Student Council (ISC) meeting took place on April 15, chaired by Student Trustee Kumar, and Student Trustee Kolosov. To begin this meeting, we were privileged to be joined by Dr. Lee Airton, who is an associate professor of gender and sexuality studies in education at Queens University. Over the years, they have founded multiple initiatives like "They Is My Pronoun," and the "No Big Deal" campaign with a focus on enabling individuals and institutions to welcome gender and sexual diversity into everyday life. They are also the author of Gender Your Guide which you may have seen displayed during spring visits to schools. Dr. Airton provided us with a wealth of information on how to support inclusive events during Pride Month within schools and the community, especially with the rise of discrimination and hate based violence against 2SLGBTQ+ communities. We engaged in personal reflection, productive group discussion on our experiences and what strategies we can employ as student leaders to support all of our students year-round. As an ISC, we are looking forward to planning a community celebration event in June for all LDSB students. We firmly believe that hate has no home here and look forward to celebrating the diverse community of students Limestone is home to. Thank you."</div></details><h3 class="editor-heading-h3" dir="ltr">Reports for Action</h3>There were no Reports for Action.<h3 class="editor-heading-h3" dir="ltr">Reports for Information</h3><details open="false"><summary>Interim Financial Report for Quarter 2 – Superintendent Young and Manager Carson</summary><div data-lexical-collapsible-content="true">The report updated Trustees on the Interim Financial Operating Expenditures for the period from September 1, 2024, to February 28, 2025 (Quarter 2). The Interim Financial Report – Operating Expenditures for the period ending November 30, 2024, was presented to the Board on January 15, 2025. This report provided operating expenditures for the period from September 1, 2024, to November 30, 2024 (Quarter 1). In the Board Meeting Agenda Package is the Interim Financial Report – Operating Expenditures for the period ended February 28, 2025 (Quarter 2), which is presented in a similar format to the 2024-2025 operating budget, indicating the amount spent by expenditure category and the associated percentage. As at Quarter 2, $149.3M of the $312.7M operating budget or 48% has been spent. This is comparable to the 50% results from the same quarter last year. It is important to note that expenditures are based upon items paid within the stated period. Certain expenditures may be non-cyclical in nature, which may lead to higher or lower expenditures within a given period (see Appendix 1 for more information). The Board is on target to end the 2024-2025 fiscal year with a balanced budget as projected. The full report is in the <a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/documents/e9994407-0dbb-46f7-9552-4b993ae77a87/LDSB%20Regular%20Board%20Meeting%20Agenda%20April%2023%202025.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20251217015139" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link" dir="ltr">Agenda Package</a>.</div></details><details open="false"><summary>Elementary Virtual School Update – Associate Superintendent Sartor</summary><div data-lexical-collapsible-content="true">The purpose of this report was to provide Trustees with an update on Elementary Virtual School in Limestone. The Ministry of Education required school boards to offer virtual learning from March 2020 to June 2023. At the end of the 2022-2023 school year, the Ministry of Education announced that commencing 20232024, virtual school would be an option for Boards of Education to offer rather than a requirement. Boards were encouraged, but not required, to offer virtual school for students. While LDSB recognizes that choice is important for families based on personal circumstances, declining enrolment in virtual school was a potential barrier to school organization and content delivery. In spring 2023, LDSB formalized an Elementary Virtual School partnership with Renfrew County District School Board (RCDSB) and Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board (KPRDSB). At the end of the 2023/2024 school year, RCDSB opted to withdraw their participation in the virtual school partnership, but KPRDSB chose to remain. The following table displays enrolment in elementary virtual school from the onset of the pandemic to the current school year: <table class="editor-table" style="width: 100%; table-layout: fixed;"><colgroup><col style="width: 50%;"><col style="width: 50%;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start; background-color: rgb(242, 243, 245);">School Year</th><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start; background-color: rgb(242, 243, 245);">Elementary Virtual School Enrolment</th></tr><tr><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start; background-color: rgb(242, 243, 245);">2020-2021</th><td class="editor-tableCell" style="border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;">1,600 (enrolment varied throughout the year)</td></tr><tr><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start; background-color: rgb(242, 243, 245);">2021-2022</th><td class="editor-tableCell" style="border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;">307</td></tr><tr><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start; background-color: rgb(242, 243, 245);">2022-2023</th><td class="editor-tableCell" style="border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;">70</td></tr><tr><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start; background-color: rgb(242, 243, 245);">2023-2024</th><td class="editor-tableCell" style="border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;">48</td></tr><tr><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start; background-color: rgb(242, 243, 245);">2024-2025</th><td class="editor-tableCell" style="border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top; text-align: start;">56</td></tr></tbody></table>Some students from Boards outside of the partnership have also registered because their school board does not offer virtual school. These registration requests are handled on an individual basis with communication between Directors of Education prior to enrolment. In these cases, students become Limestone DSB students. Of the current 56 LDSB students, 27 students currently live in the LDSB catchment area, and 29 students are currently living outside of the catchment area. There are currently 95 students enrolled in Elementary Virtual School.<img src="/images/dbc854d1-c300-49dd-a773-249b5c5474dc?fingerprint=ppb20251217015024" alt="Virtual School Survey Results in a landscape graph format. Main Reasons for Choosing Virtual School for 2025-2026." width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block">The full report is in the <a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/documents/e9994407-0dbb-46f7-9552-4b993ae77a87/LDSB%20Regular%20Board%20Meeting%20Agenda%20April%2023%202025.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20251217015139" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link" dir="ltr">Agenda Package</a>.</div></details><details open="false"><summary>Student Achievement Plan Update – Superintendent Silver</summary><div data-lexical-collapsible-content="true">The purpose of this report was to update Trustees on the <a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/student-achievement-plan" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link" dir="ltr">Student Achievement Plan</a> and share connections to the <a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/mission__vision___values" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link" dir="ltr">LDSB Strategic Plan Goals</a>. As part of a July 2023 memorandum, the ministry regulated provincial priorities through a Student Achievement Plan Framework (O. Reg. 224/23). The framework sets out goals and performance indicators for school boards to monitor student achievement, develop action plans, and measure their progress in improving student outcomes. The LDSB Multi-Year Strategic Plan (2024-2028), aligns with Bill 98 Provincial priorities and reporting requirements. In March 2025, the Ministry shared LDSB’s pre-populated Student Achievement Plan Public Reporting Template. School boards are required to publicly report on progress toward the provincial priorities with the completed Student Achievement Plan Public Reporting Template shared on board websites by April 30, 2025. It should be noted that these timelines were adjusted by one month due to the provincial election and delayed release of provincial information. LDSB Senior Staff continue to support the implementation of the Strategic Plan and the Student Achievement Plan through focused work with school and system leaders. Our work continues to prioritize improved student achievement in core academic areas, with an emphasis on literacy and numeracy, preparation of students for future success, and student engagement and well-being. To support this, we are collaborating closely with the Program Team to build educator capacity through professional learning, instructional coaching, and the use of assessment data to inform instruction. The full report is in the <a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/documents/e9994407-0dbb-46f7-9552-4b993ae77a87/LDSB%20Regular%20Board%20Meeting%20Agenda%20April%2023%202025.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20251217015139" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link" dir="ltr">Agenda Package</a>.</div></details><details open="true"><summary>Artificial Intelligence in Limestone – Director Burra</summary><div data-lexical-collapsible-content="true">The purpose of this report was to provide Trustees with an updated regarding work related to artificial intelligence (AI) that has started in Limestone, and potential paths forward. Artificial intelligence has the potential to impact all five goals in the LDSB Multi-Year Strategic Plan. Here is a roadmap of the work Limestone has implemented and worked towards throughout the winter and spring of 2025.<img src="/images/021a0cf1-e717-4da9-909c-3c6f48a71873?fingerprint=ppb20251217013025" alt="LDSB AI Roadmap for Winter/Spring 2025" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block">A range of support documents and resources have been developed to support staff and students engaging with AI tools to support teaching and learning. Foundational to this work are a LDSB’s Generative AI Guiding Principles: Ethical Use, Accessibility and Equity, Teaching and Learning, Enhancement and Improvement, and Protection and Privacy. Given the fast evolution and change we are seeing in the world of AI, most school districts are maintaining flexibility to adapt to very fluid circumstances. Consequently, at this point we are utilizing Guiding Principles rather than developing a more formal administrative procedure. It is important to view the first and fifth Guiding Principles as bookends that anchor the critical work in the educational sector that are encompassed by the second, third, and fourth principles. By implementing a range of strategies, educators can reduce the likelihood of students using AI in an academically dishonest manner.<ul class="editor-list-ul"><li value="1" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Clearly define assignment expectations (including learning goals and success criteria).</li><li value="2" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Explicitly state the degree, if any, that AI can be used on a task and the required referencing standards.</li><li value="3" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Educate students about the limitations of AI.</li><li value="4" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Promote the value and need for independent thought and perspective.</li><li value="5" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Educate students about academic dishonesty and referencing standards.</li><li value="6" class="editor-listitem" dir="ltr">Create tasks that limit the efficacy of potential AI use. For example, requiring personal connections with curriculum, using multiple sources of data (product, conversation, and observation), and emphasizing the importance of process.</li></ul>A pilot project with 25-30 teachers (elementary and secondary) started in March 2025 for participants to try using one of five different “approved” AI tools: Quizizz, Magic SchoolAI, School AI, Microsoft Copilot, and Brisk Teaching. Each of these tools support teaching and learning. Later this spring, teachers participating in the pilot will bring back their learning from using these tools and support potential future work utilizing one or more of these tools in classrooms. Administrators, senior staff, and managers are piloting the use of Co-Pilot through Office 365 in an effort to streamline work and improve efficiency. The full report is in the <a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/documents/e9994407-0dbb-46f7-9552-4b993ae77a87/LDSB%20Regular%20Board%20Meeting%20Agenda%20April%2023%202025.pdf?fingerprint=ppb20251217015139" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link" dir="ltr">Agenda Package</a>. For more information about AI in Limestone, please visit: <a href="https://www.limestone.on.ca/artificialintelligenceinlimestone" rel="noreferrer" class="editor-link" dir="ltr">Artificial Intelligence in Limestone</a>.</div></details>

2025-04-25 19:51:42 +0000 UTC

Expanded Opportunities Showcase

LDSB families and students learn more about secondary school opportunities by visiting the expanded opportunities showcase. Find out about Specialist High Skills Majors, apprenticeships, dual credits and more. When: Thurs. Feb. 2 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.Where: Cataraqui Centre - 945 Gardiners Rd, Kingston, ON<img src="/images/d3694da2-e2b6-4891-ab8b-01ba926228a5?fingerprint=ppb20251217014946" alt="SHSM Showcase 2023" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block">

2023-07-23 19:11:03 +0000 UTC

Congratulations Ty!

Join us in congratulating Ty who graduated from <a href="https://twitter.com/ndsshawks" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="editor-link">@ndsshawks</a> earlier this week with an SHSM Red Seal Diploma. Good luck on your next adventure in the Heavy Equipment program at <a href="https://twitter.com/FlemingFrost" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="editor-link">@FlemingFrost</a> in January! <img src="/images/7827b55c-7720-4fe3-a2d3-e474cf6f5e79?fingerprint=ppb20251217014125" alt="Congratulations Ty" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block">

2023-01-25 20:19:50 +0000 UTC

Parent Information Night at KSS

Thank you for hosting our Expanded Opportunities Team for your Grade 8 Parent Information Night. Lots of great questions and excitement about all the opportunities <a href="https://twitter.com/Ldsb" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="editor-link">t</a>hat LDSB offers our students!<img src="/images/c4812b35-c923-4c0d-826b-235b43d1f9d0?fingerprint=ppb20251217014816" alt="SHSM Open House" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block">

2023-01-25 20:16:25 +0000 UTC