Dear Northern Families,

We had a great week with lots of athletics events and a return of our Sounds of Springs Concert on Thursday. A number of Northern musicians performed on the back field for a respectable audience. Thank You to our musicians, volunteers, and of course Mr. Newman and Ms. Peng for a great afternoon!

This week was HUGE for James Begin. James travelled to Anaheim, California with a contingent of students for the DECA International Competition. James brings home 4 medals and a first place trophy. DECA has over 250,000 competitors internationally and 22,000 competing at the finals. This is a massive accomplishment. Well done James, Northern is proud of you!

 

Things to Know for Next Week:

 

Monday-Friday: WellNSS Week

Monday: SAC Election Assemblies

Wednesday: Northern STEM Alumni Panel (see below)

Friday: SAC Election Day

 

 

Northern Debate

Congratulations to the Northern Debate Team on an excellent performance at the Harbord CI May Motions Debate Tournament. After three challenging rounds, two Northern teams made it to the final. With a proposition focused on the necessity of electric cars to the future of transportation, Leah Sternberg and Olivia Gorja managed to clinch second place and Sean Gao and Dustin Vali-Farhad who secured a third place win. Well done debaters."

 

TDSB Connects:

For your information, please find below a link to the May edition of TDSB Connects for Parents/Guardians/Caregivers.

https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Media/News/Newsletters/TDSB-Connects/May-2024

 

 

Bursary Opportunity:

Are you in grade 12 and live in 53 Division? Check out this bursary opportunity: https://www.53division.ca/student-leadership-bursary-awards

 

NEMO:

NEMO wants to know your knowledge on species at risk in Canada! If possible, please fill out this short survey and be entered into a draw to win 1 of 2 FREE NEMO water bottles! To fill out the survey go to bit.ly/nssnemoform.

 

Special Education Workshops (TDSB facilitated):

See information here:

FLYER Parent Session May 28th AM Session - Google Slides

And here:

FLYER Parent Session May 29th PM Session - Google Slides

 

 

Library:

Upcoming Library Closures*:

• Wednesday, May 8 - All Day - AP Exams
• Tuesday, May 14 - morning - AP Exams
• Wednesday, May 15 - All Day - AP Exams

*During this time there will be no Library Services, including printing, Chromebook loans, or book circulation.

Students can always return books in the Book Drop outside the Library doors.

 

 

Student Success

Peer Tutoring is now available! We are able to offer tutoring support in all compulsory subjects for Grades 9 and 10. Students, please complete the Tutee Registration Form in order to be matched with a Peer Tutor this semester.

Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM)

All Northern Students are welcome to join the SHSM events below. Sign up and see what SHSM has to offer. These are both fantastic opportunities!

May 17th Dance Revolt at Humber College. Learn from professional dance artists in styles: breakdancing, dancehall and house.

All Northern students are welcome. Sign up by Monday, April 22nd

Please sign up here

Region with a very impressive 10-2 record!!! Good luck to all four girls next week at Cities. We placed first overall girls and fourth team overall. Way to go Northern!!!!!

 

Apply Now to the Indigenous Student Summer Leadership Program

The Urban Indigenous Education Centre is now accepting applications for the Indigenous Student Summer Leadership Program (ISSLP).

This paid summer program provides First Nation, Métis, and Inuit students (ages 16 to 20 years of age) leadership opportunities with Indigenous mentors throughout the month of July 2024.

During the program, students will:

Earn one Co-operative Education (Co-Op) credit, with the opportunity to also take part in Credit Recovery.

Receive additional wrap around support from Indigenous Graduation Coaches.

Gain invaluable work experience through placements that include:

o Nikibii Dawadinna Giigwag,

o The Toronto Zoo,

o TTC (Equity, Communications and Legal Departments),

o Scotiabank,

o Evergreen Brickworks, and more!

Students can express interest in ISSLP by completing the Google Form. An Indigenous Graduation Coach will be in contact to follow up.

Final Day to Apply is June 5, 2024.

 

 

SAC Elections:
The Northern SAC Elections Assembly will take place on Monday, May 7th.

This year, voting will happen digitally; ballots will be cast online. Links will be provided to each member of the student body via email.

The elected roles in our Student Council (SAC) at NSS are:

-Grade 9 Senator (to be elected in the fall of 2024)

-Grade 10 Senator

-Grade 11 Senator

-Grade 12 Senator (no candidate at this time)

-Secretary

-Treasurer

-Internal Social Director

-External Social Director (Grade 12)

-Vice-President (Grade 11 or 12)

-President (Grade 12)

Students are encouraged to actively participate in our democratic process! Every vote counts.

 

Grad Photos:

Did you miss all our in-house grad photo days? Have no fear….

https://edgeimaging.ca/en/graduation-photography-studios/

Choose: Toronto (Senior Graduation)

Follow the prompts to book and confirm appointment

*This studio will be held at North Toronto Christian School - 255 Yorkland Blvd, Toronto

 

Northern STEM Alumni Panel see this NEW POSTER

The Northern Science Department is pleased to present the 2024 STEM Alumni Panel.

This moderated event will feature Northern Alumni from a variety of different STEM related fields. Panelists include current university students and professionals who have excelled in their chosen profession. The panel discussion will be followed by a short meet and greet session.

The event will take place on Wednesday, May 8 from 6:00-8:00 pm at Northern (in person). This event is proudly sponsored by the Northern Secondary School Foundation.

For more information about our speakers please see the attached flyer. To register, please use this link.

 

 

Northern Secondary School Foundation:

The Northern Secondary School Foundation

The Jim McCarron Changemaker Award: Apply before May 3^rd,2024

This award was generously funded by his family and colleagues to honour the legacy of Jim McCarron, Principal of Northern Secondary School from 1991 -1996.

Jim was a highly respected educator in the TDSB for over 30 years who made a profound difference in the lives of his colleagues and former students.

He was a real Changemaker!

The award will be given out annually at Commencement to a graduating student who has changed our hearts and mind by taking courageous action to made a difference in the lives of others in the school or wider community.

For more information about this award and others, go to nssf.ca/scholarships and complete an application form or contact us at info@nssf.ca .

 

School Council:

1. Walking Buddies - Saturday, May 4th - 9:30-10:30 am Join other Northern parents for some fresh air, exercise, and conversation about school, kids, and life! Email nss.school.council@gmail.com for more details.

2. Panel Discussion about AI in the Classroom - Tuesday, May 7th at 7:30 pm at Leaside High. Leaside Parent Council is inviting Northern families to attend an in-person panel discussing the use of AI in the classroom. Register to attend here.

3. School Council meeting - Thursday, May 23rd at 6:30 pm. School Council meets in the Northern Secondary School Library. We are looking forward to seeing you in person or on the screen - the meeting will be hybrid. If you would like to attend virtually, please email us at nss.school.council@gmail.com with the subject line "School Council Meeting Link." The link will be sent by 5 pm the day of the meeting. Documents for the meeting can be found here.

4. Ask Adam The Principal's update is an important part of every school council meeting. If you have a question about something that is happening at Northern, please submit your question to nss.school.council@gmail.com with "Ask Adam" in the subject line.

 

From the Marc Garneau School Council:

Human Trafficking Parents Workshop- We invite you to a very special presentation presented by Victim Services Toronto on Tuesday May 7, 2024 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Marc Garneau C.I. in our school’s library. The presentation will focus on your role as a parent/guardian/caregiver and how you can prevent human trafficking. You will learn how youth are recruited, how to identify if your child is being trafficked, and how to support your child to prevent from being trafficked. We look forward to seeing you on May 7 at 6:30 p.m. in our school’s library.

 

Guidance Updates:

1. Mental Health Awareness Week – May 6 – 10, 2024: During Mental Health Awareness Week, period 1 classes will continue to develop mental health literacy and share support resources for students to access.

Monday, May 6/24: My Identity Monday - Importance of Self Care in Relation to Mental Health

Tuesday, May 7/24: Talk Tuesday - BeThere.org: Student Mental Wellness Support Resource

Wednesday, May 8/24: Walking Wednesday - Physical Movement and its connection to Mental Health

Thursday, May 9/24: Thankful Thursday - Gratitude

Friday, May 10/24: Friendly Friday - Kindness to Self and Others

2. TDSB e-Learning Summer School Registration OPENS: Monday, April 22, 2024. For more info about TDSB e-Summer school go here

3. TDSB In-Person/Remote Continuing Education Summer School information here. Registration for TDSB In-Person/Remote Summer OPENS Friday April 19, 2024.

4. OUAC Updates: June 3rd & Offers of Admission
   Students must accept offers by that date. OUAC recommends watching their video link for how to accept an offer. We've posted the video below so please watch it - it's only 3 min.https://youtu.be/vN34g9lgTxY

Students often make a mistake and do not finalize/submit their offer properly.
Students that have accepted an offer for one school can override by accepting another offer after. However, this may invalidate the original offer of admission and the student would have to reach out to the first school if they change their mind again and wish to go back to the first offer.
To OUAC’s knowledge, students should still continue to receive offers of admission even if they have already accepted an offer elsewhere (and they can still accept later offers to override according to the presentation - see video).
Students must reach out to institutions if they are planning on taking a summer course or repeating a course in the summer to clarify conditions of their offers. In many cases, universities won’t accept a course taken after June 30th unless the admissions team approves this.

5. Graduating Students: be sure you have submitted your 40 Community Service Hours and your Opt Out of eLearning form (if you are not completing two eLearning courses) by mid May to ensure there are no issues with your graduation status. Please see your Guidance Counsellor if you have any questions.

6. Graduating students who are applying to O.S.A.P. for next year should attend our “Financing Post-Secondary” workshop at lunch in May. Date T.B.D.

7. Grade 11 SHSM Students who have not completed their COOP requirement: The Experiential Learning 2-Credit Coop Summer Program is now accepting Student Expression of Interest forms. Full information about the program is available for students to access via the Experiential Learning AW Page. Please see Ms. April Vibert in Student Success, or your Guidance Counsellor to complete this Expression of Interest form.

8. Scholarship Information:

1. Graduating Students: The Northern Secondary School Foundation offers 40 Scholarships and Awards to graduating students ranging from $200 to $5000. Check out the list on our website at NSSF.ca. Go to Scholarships and follow the instructions to apply for awards. Applications will be accepted March 11,2024 until May 3, 2024. Assistance is available from your guidance counsellor or at scholarships@nssf.ca
2. Seeking Scholarships has released their April Scholarship Report which has upcoming scholarship dates listed for students applying to post-secondary programs. It also has some great tips for preparing for interviews for scholarships, admissions to special programs, or for employment opportunities.

Northern students, teachers, and families can access from this link using the password, scholar58

Please note: This resource is copyrighted and only available to Northern families - please do not share outside of the Northern community. A copy of the report is posted on the Guidance Google Classroom for Grade 12 students.

3. NSS Scholarship Information Chart 2023/2024 where Northern-specific scholarship information and deadlines can be found (along with other common awards).

9. IMPORTANT Volunteering Information:

PLEASE NOTE: Events and activities supporting a not-for-profit initiative are approved. If you are unsure if your activities supports a not-for-profit program, please see your Guidance counsellor for approval of the volunteering initiative.

For more information about the TDSB’s policy on Volunteering, click here.

Students: for volunteering information and opportunities, please visit your Guidance Google classroom or www.volunteertoronto.ca.

You can find the TDSB Community Involvement form here.

10. CANADIAN BLOOD SERVICES: Community Service Opportunity

Empowering Students: Join the Canadian Stem Cell Registry Initiative

Open to Grade 9-12 students nationwide, this well-established initiative is dedicated to educating students on the profound impact of joining the Canadian Stem Cell Registry.

Students can earn up to 40 hours of Community Service/Involvement to be counted towards graduation while also possibly saving a life. This year, there is a new scholarship opportunity for Grade 12 students to enter to win their post-secondary tuition. For more information please go to: StartWithHillary.ca/students-saving-lives.

11. Post Secondary Updates:

Do you have questions about how to access accommodations at your post-secondary school? This chart lists each university's policy/needs around what is required to get accommodations: https://caddac.ca/wp-content/uploads/Post-Secondary-documentation-Requirements-Chart.pdf

NSS Post-Secondary Individual School Lunch Visits 2023/24

NSS Post-Secondary Guide is here!

12. Online Graduation Requirement – Information and Opt-Out Form

Looking for information about the new Ontario Ministry Online Learning graduation requirement? Please click here

Overview Info: applies only to students who entered Grade 9 on or after September 1, 2020. Students may withdraw/opt out of this new requirement and graduate with an OSSD if you have decided now to withdraw from the graduation requirement, please complete the TDSB Opt Out/Withdrawal Form and return it to your Guidance Counsellor.

13. Mental Wellness Resources

Kids Help Phone: text 686868.

In an emergency, call 911.

 

 

Have a great weekend- Go Leafs Go!

Adam Marshall

Principal

Follow me @PrincipalNSS