What's Happening at Sydenham High School
November 2025
November is here!
We had a very busy October with many fun events for our students: Grade 9 Day, Bubba Bowl, Academic Awards, Fall Pep Rally, Field trips, Parent/Guardian night, and more!
Our sports teams are wrapping up their fall season, good luck to our Football teams entering play-offs this week, and our teams who are advancing to EOSSA! A big congratulations to our Girls Field Hockey team who won Silver at KASSAA Finals this past Friday in a very close 1-0 game. Also, a big congratulations to Claire Wang who competed at OFSAA and finished 87th out of a huge number of athletes. Congrats Claire!
It was a big weekend for our Eagle Mascot who handed out candy to local children on Halloween, and then on Sunday, our Eagle attended the Kingston Frontenacs hockey game for Barrack the Bears birthday!
Midterm report cards are also coming up. We encourage families to discuss progress with your student and make plans with classroom teachers if your student is struggling. We are here to offer support, and want to work together to ensure your student's success. Remember that daily attendance improves academic achievement so continue to promote regular school attendance. If needing to be away for an extended period of time, students are required to fill in an extended absence form accessed from the main office.
Remembrance Day - Nov. 11th
As we head into November, we are preparing for our annual Remembrance Day ceremony. Every year, we recognize family members of our staff and students who have served in the Canadian Military Forces. If you have a family member that you would like acknowledged during our service, please email mcdougallr@limestone.on.ca.
Thank you Play YGK!
Thank you for supporting our athletic programs!
Department News - Technology
Every month we will be spotlighting a department in our school. This month we are highlighting our Technology Department.
This time of year is busy in tech classes as students practice and learn new skills. Students are preparing for the upcoming Holiday Showcase, November 29th at Sydenham High School, making cutting boards and shelves, sweet treats and take home cooking kits, as well as 3D printed keychains and ornaments. The auto shop is lined up with student, faculty and community member vehicles getting ready for cooler weather driving conditions.
The collaborative and special skills workshops taken on by students so far this year have been incredible and diverse, everything from chainsaw certification, to working at heights, to Haudenosaunee beading techniques. we also had a staff member, Mr. Moelker, who was recognized for supporting an Indigenous Art Project.
James Robert Chambers, Retired LDSB teacher, Adjunct Professor, Instructor for Technological Education CTE, Queens University, Faculty of Education
Upcoming Dates
Nov. 2 - Nov. 9 - Treaties Recognition Week
Nov. 4 to the first week of Dec. - Grade 10 Literacy Test
Nov. 6 - First day of Term 2 begins for Careers and Civics classes
Nov. 11 - Remembrance Day
Nov. 12 - Drive Thru Flu Shot Clinic
Nov. 14 - PA Day - No School
Nov. 17 - School Council 7 PM
Nov. 20 - Syd's Cafe
Nov. 21 - Mid term Report Cards
Nov. 24 - 28 - Student Census
Nov. 29 - Holiday Showcase for SHSM
Student Census Survey - See Yourself in Limestone
Limestone is committed to creating safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environments for all students. To help us better understand how students’ identities and experiences relate to their achievement and well-being, we are launching our second See Yourself in Limestone Student Census Survey this fall.
The census is a voluntary and confidential survey for students in Grades 4 to 12, running from November 24 to 28, 2025. It gathers information about students’ identities and their experiences at school. This data is then paired with academic information to help us understand what school is like for different groups of students.
Important information for families:
- The survey is optional.
- Responses are confidential and students can skip any questions they do not wish to answer.
- Students will complete the survey during class time.
- Students who do not participate will be provided with an alternative activity.
Families who do not want their student(s) to complete the survey must contact their school principal by Friday, November 14, 2025. Opting out means the student will not receive the survey in their e-mail inbox.
By better understanding students’ identities and experiences, we can remove barriers and better support students in accessing what they need to succeed.
Learn more about the Student Census and how it supports equity in Limestone: limestone.on.ca/student_census
School Council 2025-2026 & Elections
We had our first School Advisory Council SAC on Sept. 22, 2025. We are happy to share the results of our elections:
- Chair: Vanessa Wood
- Vice chair: Darren Rayner
- Secretary: Derek Snider
- Treasurer: Molly Slate
- Indigenous Family: vacant
- Safe Schools: Julie Bomba
- PIC: Vanessa Wood
Future Meeting Dates (7 PM SHS Library)
- November 17
- January 19
- February 23
- April 20
- June 1
2025-2026 LDSB School Year Calendar
A PDF version of the 2025-2026 School Year Calendar is available online.
Concussion Protocol
SHS is committed to student safety, injury prevention, and well-being, and supports concussion awareness, prevention, identification, management, tracking, and training. Our point of contact is Ms. Ash Ward, Vice Principal.
Our LDSB Concussion Policy/Concussion Code of Conduct is here as well to ensure we work together to support our students if a concussion is suspected or diagnosed.
Allergen Awareness -
Nut-Free & Scent Free School
Threat/Risk Assessment Notification and Process
The Limestone District School Board and community partners are committed to making our schools safe for students and staff. As a result, schools will respond to all student behaviours that pose a potential risk to other students, staff, and community members. The Community Violence Threat Risk Assessment Process is designed to be proactive in developing intervention plans that address the emotional and physical safety of those involved. Families are asked to review the steps of a Threat/Risk Assessment online.
