We are excited to welcome KLC students back to school for the first day on Wednesday, September 2nd. We look forward to seeing our returning students and welcoming students who are new to KLC into our learning community.
This year, we are thrilled to expand our programming with the addition of The Paddle Program, a new Grade 6-8 Indigenous Program. As a result of the new classroom addition, our Get SET (Skills, Employment and Training) Program for Adults has moved upstairs. Get SET students working with Jeff and Joanne should now use the door in the South parking lot to access the stairs to the new classroom space.
In this newsletter, you will find key information about first-day routines, school hours, cell phone expectations, being good neighbours, construction updates, administrative contacts, concussion protocols, the Code of Conduct, and the school year calendar. We ask that you please take the time to review all the information in this newsletter.
As always, please feel free to reach out to connect with us at any time. We are looking forward to working with you and supporting a positive start to the school year.
Getting Started on Wednesday:
Students who attended KLC in 2025-2026 can arrive at KLC and check the lists in the front foyer for their class location. If you were continuing in classes from last year, or if you met with Guidance and registered last week, your class will be listed and you may go directly to class to get started with your teacher.
For students in KLC Junior, class lists will be posted on each classroom door.
For our elementary students, staff will be in the foyer to greet students and support the transition into their classroom spaces.
Please also note that our Adult ESL programming starts on Tuesday, September 8, and our TASS Teacher Assisted Self-Study Program starts on Wednesday, September 9.
School Hours
KLC school hours for students are from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. We ask that any families dropping off or picking up students ensure that they are dropping off no earlier than 8:50 am and picking up no later than 2:10 pm. Please also remember that the front round about is a bus loading and unloading zone and so families should not park there for pick up at the beginning and end of the day.
Each program at KLC has its own schedule for lunch and breaks. Most programs, except KLC Core, will have a scheduled lunch break. Breaks during instructional periods will vary based on the needs of students and the learning happening in each classroom.
KLC Core offers online courses with teacher support available each day from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. Each student’s schedule will be individualized in consultation with families, teachers, Guidance, and Admin.
Transportation
Families are reminded to check the Triboard Transporation Student Portal to find student bus information for 26-27. As a reminder, students who are attending KLC Core are not guaranteed transportation and so do need to complete the Online Courtey Transportation Request available on the Triboard website
Cell Phone Expectations
KLC is committed to maintaining a focused, safe, and supportive learning environment. We want to review the expectations for the use of cell phones and personal electronic devices in accordance with the Ontario Ministry of Education’s Provincial Code of Conduct (PPM 128) and current best practices for student well-being, mental health, and academic success.
📵 Phones are not used during class time
- Students are not allowed to use cell phones or personal devices during instructional time
- Please note: Cell Phone use is also not permitted in the washrooms to support comfort and privacy for all students using washroom facilities.
🔒 Devices are safely stored
· At the start of class, students will silence or turn off their phone. If the phone is brought into the classroom, students will secure it in the designated space. Depending on the student’s program and grade, this space may be a VP’s office, classroom lock box, or another place that is out of sight and not accessed for the duration of learning time.
· Why classroom lock boxes? Lock boxes help protect student property, remove distractions, and create a calm, focused environment. They also reduce the temptation for students to use phones during learning time.
✅ When phones can be used:
· During instructional time, phones may be used only
o if a teacher asks students to use them for learning purposes,
o a student needs the device for documented health or medical reasons,
o or the device is necessary to address student learning needs, such as those documented on an IEP.
- During designated breaks and lunch breaks outside the learning space.
📞 If you need to reach your child during the school day:
- Please contact the main office at 613-542-7369. We will make sure your child receives the message and/or provide an approved quiet space to return your call.
Why this matters
🎯 Protecting learning time: Phones can make it harder to concentrate. When they are put away:
· Students focus better
· Learning time is protected
· Teachers can spend more time supporting students
🧠 Supporting mental health and well-being: We know that phones and social media can sometimes cause stress or distraction. Having clear boundaries during school helps:
· Reduce pressure from social media
· Improve relationships with peers and staff
· Support a healthier, more balanced school day
🤝 Consistency helps everyone: All programs at KLC follow the same expectations. This means:
· Clear, predictable routines for students
· Fewer conflicts or misunderstandings
· A fair and supportive learning environment
Please feel free to connect with the VP assigned to your program or your student’s program if you have any questions or would like to discuss a particular situation.
Being Good Neighbours
It is important that staff and students work together to ensure that we are good neighbours in the community where we are located. As a reminder, KLC students are not permitted to be on LCVI property or in the LCVI building, and LCVI students are not permitted on KLC property or in the KLC building. Students are also asked not to litter or gather in ways that prevent community members from accessing spaces such as Kingston Transit bus shelters, community pathways, and local parks.
Student Absences
We ask families in our Elementary and Secondary Program classes to make the school aware of any approved student absences. One of our greatest priorities is ensuring that all students arrive safely to school each day. Please report student absences through SchoolMessenger/Safe Arrival or by contacting the school and/or the classroom teacher. More information on reporting student absences is available at https://www.limestone.on.ca/report-a-student-absence.
Food Sharing Project/LionsHeart
We are grateful for the continued support of our in-school food program from The Food Sharing Project and LionsHeart. At KLC, we have healthy snacks available for students to access as needed each day.
Summer Construction Update
Over the summer, work continued on our outdoor space to create the Katarokwi Learning Centre Cultural Space. Not all of the work was able to be completed during July and August and so will continue at the back of the building into September. Fences are in place as there will not be access to the yard at KLC for the start of school, and parking will be reduced.
Administrative Portfolios:
Our Admin team is made up of Kate Myers, Principal, Scott McFarlane, Vice-Principal, and Kristin Stevens, Vice-Principal. Each VP has responsibility for different programs and so to help families be aware of their primary Admin connection we wanted to share that information with you.
Bridge and Paddle Programs (Elementary Indigenous Program) – Scott McFarlane
Rise Program (Elementary) – Scott McFarlane
Transitions Program (Secondary 9 -10) – Kristin Stevens
Links Program (Secondary 9-10) – Kristin Stevens
KLC Junior (Secondary 9-10) – Scott McFarlane and Kristin Stevens
River ASSP Program (Secondary 10-12) – Kristin Stevens
KLC Core Program (Secondary 11-12, Adults) – Kate Myers, Kristin Stevens
Adult Programming – Get SET, ESL, PSW and TASS – Kate Myers
Concussion Protocols
AP 142: Concussions has been updated. Information related to concussions in schools is available on the Limestone website at https://www.limestone.on.ca/concussion_protocols
Limestone District School Board Code of Conduct
School Year Calendar
