Does LDCSS receive any funding from the provincial government?LDCSS receives no government funding for its programs or facilities. Our school programs and facilities are supported through tuition, through generous donations from donors supportive of the cause of Christian education, as well as from school rental income.
How do I apply and how do I find out if I am accepted?Grade 8-12 student applicants who are currently attending a school affiliated with the Ontario Alliance of Christian Schools (OACS), must submit a Registration Form and a Course Selection Form, and attach their most recent Report Card or a transcript, and must submit this information to the school office. All other student applicants must arrange an interview with the Principal, submitting Proof of Registration at their current school, a Registration Form, a Course Selection Form and their most recent Report Card or transcript. The Principal will decide eligibility for admission for all applicants who are not currently attending a local Christian school. The goal of the Admissions process is to have the final acceptance letters sent out not later than August 31st, each year.
Are tuition fees tax-deductible?Yes, a portion of tuition fees are eligible for a Charitable Donation Receipt for the person paying the tuition. The portion of total tuition that is eligible for a tax deduction is calculated each year according to a formula accepted by the Canada Revenue Agency.
What is included in tuition? Tuition fees cover the cost of activities that are compulsory for a class or grade level, as well as the cost of textbooks. In addition, students pay a Student Activities fee, ($50 in 2008/09), and also purchase personal study aids such as notebooks and calculators. Students may also be required to contribute towards the cost of extended field trips or long distance travel for sporting events. Also, students who participate in extra-curricular sports team will be assessed an additional fee of $10-$20 per sport. Tuition fees also cover the cost of transportation by bus for all students from St. Thomas, Aylmer, Clinton, Strathroy, Woodstock and Ingersoll. Tuition fees do not cover the cost of transportation for students from within the City of London, the Village of Dorchester, or other surrounding communities.
Are parents expected to do fund-raising over and above tuition payments? There is no formal expectation for parents to do any additional fundraising as part of enrolling their children in the school. The school does raise approximately $100,000 annually through the generous support of the broader Christian community.
How do I pay for tuition? Tuition is payable in either a lump sum payment due by September 30th, or monthly by post-dated cheque. For either form of payment, post-dated cheques must be submitted before the first day of classes in September.
Does the LDCSS calendar follow local public and Catholic school holidays?Yes, Christmas and spring break are scheduled to coincide with regional schools. Classes begin each year on the Tuesday after Labour Day.
How do students get to LDCSS?Many out-of-town students from other local communities travel on buses arranged by the families of students from those communities. A similar bus service is available for students in London, depending on location, and a fee of approximately $1,500 per family is charged, (beyond the base cost of tuition). Other families participate in car pools, and a number of our senior students drive to school on a daily basis. The school is also accessible by city bus.
What is LDCSS’s current enrollment? We have 303 students for the 2008-2009 school year.
What are average and maximum class sizes?Class sizes are a function of the type of course, with the maximum class size set at 30 students for any class. Core curriculum courses in Gr. 9 average 25 students, while an elective course in Gr. 12 may have only 12 students.
When does the school day begin and end?The school day begins at 8:58 am and ends at 3:05 pm.
Is the educational program inspected by the Ministry of Education?Yes, the school is inspected on a bi-annual basis by the Ontario Ministry of Education. The purpose of these inspections is to assess the standard of instruction in courses leading to the Ontario Secondary School Diploma, as well as compliance with MOE policies.
Does each student get their own locker and day planner?All students are assigned a locker at the beginning of the school year. In addition, each new student is given a Planner/Organizer at the beginning of the school year, to track homework, assignments, tests and other school related activities.