Hello Ernestown Intermediate & Secondary School families,
What a great start to semester two! Basketball just wrapped up for LESAA and KASSAA, with three intermediate basketball tournaments. Report cards went home for both Intermediate and Secondary students last week on Friday. Some students in grades 9, 10 and 11 wrote the University of Waterloo math contest recently, alongside thousands of other Canadian and International students, a great enrichment opportunity and a fun way to challenge themselves! See below for some wonderful highlights from the past few weeks at Ernestown, and excellent opportunities ahead for students.
Early Reports & Parent Teacher Interviews- Coming Up!
Families will receive an Early Report update for students in grades 9 and 10, as will parents for Grade 11 or 12 students who may be struggling in their current course(s). Parents/guardians can expect to receive this update either by paper, email, or via a phone call on Thursday, March 12th. If you have any questions or concerns about your student’s progress, please contact their teacher directly (see our website). Families are also invited to book a Parent Teacher Interview through School Day for our upcoming Parent Teacher Conferences scheduled for Wednesday, March 25th, from 6:30-8pm. Bookings are open now on School Day.
EOSSA Wrestling Update
Ernestown students represented the school with a great showing in February's EOSSA wrestling finals. Fynnegan Johnston-Morris won gold, Samson Davy placed 4th, and Thomas Harvey and Simon Morrison each earned silver medals. Simon and Fynnegan competed last week at OFSAA in Peterborough. Way to go!
Opportunity from the University of Toronto
Summer Mentorship Program (SMP): Designed for students who identify as Black or Indigenous, SMP provides hands-on learning in health sciences, mentorship from professionals, and skill-building workshops.
Eligibility:
- Grade 10 or 11 student
- 16 years old by June 30
- Completed Grade 10 Science (Academic) or any Grade 11 science course. Contact smp.outreach@utoronto.caif you have any questions about the program.
STEAM-D Program: STEAM-D introduces students to science, technology, engineering, arts, and math in health-related contexts, emphasizing diversity and innovation.
Eligibility:
- Priority for students who are Black, Indigenous, Latin American, Filipino or facing socio-economic barriers
- Grade 10 or 11 student
- 16 years old by June 30
- Completed Grade 10 Science (Academic) or any Grade 11 science course. Contact steamdesign.oao@utoronto.ca if you have any questions about the program.
Students Receive:
- $1600.00 upon completion
- Grade 12 high school SNC4M Credit
- TTC Presto Pass for the month in the program
For Indigenous students residing outside the Greater Toronto Area, we provide on-campus housing and transportation within the city. Collaboration with the Office of Indigenous Health and First Nations House ensures these students remain connected to their community during their stay. While tuition and residence costs are covered by the Office of Access and Outreach, students are responsible for transportation to and from Toronto, meals, and personal expenses.
Programming for Families - Extend a Family
Please find below programming and contact info for Extend a Family in Napanee including both their Saturday programming and March Break camp.
Girls System Mentorship- Opportunity
We had Amanda come speak about Girls SySTEM Mentorship at our recent Grade forums. Girls System Mentorship is a non-profit organization based in Canada that strives to bridge the gap between men and women in STEM. We believe that early intervention at a young age is critical for young women interested in STEM. The program provides a space for encouragement and aims to increase diversity in the STEM workforce by pairing self-identifying young women in grades 7-12 (ages 12-18) with professional mentors from a diverse range of STEM fields. In doing so, mentees can gain first-hand knowledge of STEM early on, which we believe is vital in building the confidence to succeed in the future.
Some of the benefits of becoming a mentee include:
· Free one-on-one mentoring with a professional in STEM
· Access to monthly workshops and events to further your STEM interests
· A platform to connect with other like-minded individuals
Applications to become a mentee for the Winter 2026 program year are now open. Apply to become a mentee here. Although the program targets self-identifying young women, it is open to students of any gender. Students are expected to be able to commit 1-2 hours a month. Our program is hybrid, therefore we provide virtual and in-person opportunities to accommodate everyone. Mentees will be paired with the mentor that we see most fitting based on shared interests and goals, hobbies, and overall compatibility. More information can be found on our website.
You're Invited to Dramafest- Cheer on Ernestown!
On Thursday, March 26th drama students will be performing the one-act play, "The Hatchetts" they've been practicing since the fall at the Kingston St. Lawrence NTS Drama Festival in Gananoque (at the 1000 Islands Playhouse). The performances start that night at 7:00pm the Ernestown crew takes the stage around 7:45pm.
Intermediates in the Kitchen- Pizza Day! 🍕
A little slice of learning, coming right up! Last week, Ms. Lamarre’s French classes took their learning to the kitchen, rolling up their sleeves and cooking up pizza from scratch. A delicious day of hands‑on, experiential learning for our intermediate students! See some great pictures from the day below. Students practiced their French language and food safety as part of the preparation. Way to go! See pictures below.
EOSSA Update
Our Eagles represented the school in Sr. Girls Volleyball last week in Gananoque and Sr. Boys Basketball in Almonte. Way to go Eagles!!
Free Webinar for Families- Supporting Youth Mental Health
We are excited to share a valuable opportunity to support your child’s well-being. School Mental Health Ontario is offering a free webinar series as part of the By Your Side Learning Hub, designed to help parents and caregivers navigate important topics to support their children’s mental health. We encourage all parents and caregivers to participate in this informative series. Together, we can support the well-being of our children and communities.
This expert-led series will provide insights and practical strategies on:
- ✅ balanced device use
- ✅ vaping
- ✅ body image
- ✅ anxiety
The webinars will also include answers to questions that parents/caregivers can provide ahead of the webinar, giving you the chance to ask questions and gain practical guidance. Sessions run March-June.Register for free today
Limestone International Education
Limestone is proud of our long tradition of hosting students from other countries. The demand for Loyalist Township and Canada, as a learning destination is rapidly growing. Students from over 15 different countries are here now staying with great homestay families throughout Limestone District School Board. Our International Education team is looking for more families to become homestay hosts to great international students.
We currently have 19 students on our waiting list that have applied to Limestone for 2026-2027 and need a home. They range from one semester to one year stays and are from Germany, Spain, Japan, Brazil, Slovakia, Czechia, Italy and Denmark. Host families will be paid a tax-free monthly stipend to host students. All students in the program attend local intermediate or secondary schools and range in age from 12 to 17 years old. Our International Education team works hard to make a great match for your family, that can last a lifetime.
Families can learn more by visiting Limestone’s International Education website or phoning the International Education offices at 613-544-7745 ext. 288.
Free Webinar for Families- Supporting Youth Mental Health
We are excited to share a valuable opportunity to support your child’s well-being. School Mental Health Ontario is offering a free webinar series as part of the By Your Side Learning Hub, designed to help parents and caregivers navigate important topics to support their children’s mental health. We encourage all parents and caregivers to participate in this informative series. Together, we can support the well-being of our children and communities.
This expert-led series will provide insights and practical strategies on:
- ✅ balanced device use
- ✅ vaping
- ✅ body image
- ✅ anxiety
The webinars will also include answers to questions that parents/caregivers can provide ahead of the webinar, giving you the chance to ask questions and gain practical guidance. Sessions run March-June.Register for free today
LESSA Basketball Update
Ernestown Intermediate sent three teams to the LESAA tournaments in Febrary. The boys competitive team placed 2nd in their division. Way to go to all players, and thank you to coaches Lamarre and
Community Event- Braiding Sweetgrass Seminar
All are invited to a talk on Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults: A Community Evening with Author Monique Gray Smith, taking place on March 12, 2026 at Queen’s University. This special evening is led by the Limestone District School Board Indigenous Education Team in partnership with the Limestone Learning Foundation and Queen’s University’s Faculty of Education. We are pleased to welcome Monique Gray Smith, who will provide an in-person public talk inspired by her book, Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults, an adaptation of Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer. This gathering will bring together educators, families, students, Indigenous partners, teacher candidates, and community members to reflect on care, reciprocity, and connection to land and one another.
For Information: Summer 2026 Travel for Credit: Grade 10 Civics and Careers in the Canadian Maritimes
Limestone District School Board is excited to share that we have partnered with EF Tours Travel for Credit program again this summer. Students currently in Grade 8 or Grade 9 can earn their Civics and Careers credits this summer by participating in three weeks of virtual (asynchronous) learning plus one week of travel with EF Tours with stops in Halifax, Moncton, and Charlottetown.
Summer School Dates: Monday, June 29 to Friday, July 24, 2026
Travel Dates: Wednesday, July 8 to Tuesday, July 14, 2026
Visit the Canadian Maritimes Trip website for additional information, or join us for an upcoming virtual information session to learn more about this exciting opportunity. The session will cover everything you need to know about summer school dates, structure, travel dates, destinations, itineraries, pricing, and more.
Travel for Credit Information Session
Date: Thursday, February 27, 2026
Time: 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Location: Online Teams Meeting Families must register online in advance for the Information Session: Register today!
Ask Questions: If you have questions, contact Kate Myers by e-mail.
Message from Southeast Public Health- Healthy Relationships with Food
LDSB Skills Competition- Way to go!
We are pleased to share how proud we are of the Ernestown students who recently represented our school at the LDSB Skills Competition. Their professionalism, preparation, engagement and willingness to challenge themselves in a competitive environment truly reflected the strength of our programs and the dedication of BCIP teacher, Dan Fisher who supported three separate teams who competed at SLC last week. Participating in the Skills Competition requires courage, commitment, and countless hours of practice. Whether students earned medals or simply gained valuable experience, their efforts deserve recognition and celebration. They have showcased not only their technical skills, but also their confidence, resilience, and school pride. We had a team who won Bronze in the Home Builders Category, another that took Silver in the Homebuilders Category, and Natsuki Ono who took gold medal in indvidual carpentry. Way to go Eagles! For more info: check out the Global News Video, Kingstonist article, and Global News article about this great Limestone event.
HYPE Tutoring
HYPE Tutoring is a Queen’s student-run club offering free tutoring services to families who are interested. We are reopening our Tutor Request Form (linked below) for the second high school semester. See Tutor Request Form.
At a Glance- Events Coming up at Ernestown Intermediate & Secondary School
- Wednesday, March 4: St. Lawrence College Visit for students interested in SLC & Intermediate Kitchen Experience Day
- Monday, March 9: Intermediate Bowling Trip
- Wednesday, March 11: KEYS Employment Centre visits Ernestown
- Friday, March 13: Progress Reports go home for Grades 9 and 10 students and students whose credits are in risk for grades 11 and 12
- March 16-20: March Break
- Wednesday, March 25: Parent Teacher Conferences for Secondary Students, from 6:30-8pm in the Cafeteria. Bookings open NOW in School Day
- Wednesday, April 1: KWANIS Music Festival for Band
Kind regards,
Ernestown Administration