Dear Northern Families,

What a busy week. A huge thank you to our students and families for making it so successful. A shoutout to the Buddies who continued to help new Red Knights find their way around the building. Lots of extra-curriculars starting to ramp up with tons of opportunities to participate.

School Absences: Family vacations are not considered a legitimate absence. Every effort should be made to avoid scheduling family vacations during school time. Holiday dates are published in the agenda book and on the TDSB website, http://www.tdsb.on.ca. In the event of a missed evaluation due to a family vacation, teachers are not required to provide an alternative form of evaluation. In the case of examinations, no make-up exam or alternative arrangements will be made.

If you have concerns about dogs on TDSB property (at Northern or elsewhere) please look for more information here.

Lockers: As Northern’s enrollment has grown substantially, so too has the need for lockers. However, we have come to realize that many students do not require the use of their assigned locker. We are kindly asking all grade 12 students to use this Grade 12 – Locker Use Form to indicate their desire to keep their locker assignment or to indicate that they do not use their locker and it can be re-assigned to a student without a locker.

Special Education Support at NSS: If your child had an IEP with the TDSB for the 2023-2024 school year à The IEP will be transferred in the system and updated within the first 30 school days. You will be receiving a parent/guardian consultation form in the near future. All teachers have access to the IEP

If your child had an IEP with a board other than the TDSB à Please reach out to the respective guidance counsellor to notify them and to provide supporting documentation. Guidance counsellors will explain the TDSB’s process for the establishment of an IEP.

Parent/Guardian Special Education Support:

TDSB Special Education and Inclusion

Guide to Special Education and Inclusion for Parents/Caregivers/Guardians

 

Textbooks & Materials Owing: A reminder to bring back any textbooks/materials from last semester to the Vice-Principal Office

Start of Year Permission Forms and Student Device Agreements were sent to all secondary student families by IT Services on August 29. IT Services will send reminders to families who have not completed the forms.

New to Northern and in grades 10-12? We look forward to welcoming you at our New Student Luncheon on Thursday September 19^th. We will be located in Room 105 during the lunch hour.

The student calendar can be found here: 2024-25 School Calendar.  Any additions made will be highlighted for a two week period throughout the year.

The student handbook can be found here: Student Handbook

Electronics / Valuables - Unfortunately the school cannot be responsible for lost or stolen items. Please encourage your child to leave their valuables at home.

School Expectations -We will be holding Welcome Grade Assemblies where we review school expectations next week.

 

Things to Know for Next Week:

Wednesday: Grade 9 and 10 Welcome Back Assemblies.

Friday: Grade 11 and 12 Welcome Back Assemblies

Friday: Grade 8 Welcome BBQ on Back Field during lunch.

 

Student Activity Council:

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING CLUBS, ATHLETICS, ASSOCIATIONS, AND EVENTS AT NORTHERN THROUGH STUDENT FEES!

Dear Parents, Guardians and Students,

Every fall NSS asks you to contribute to Student Council through the collection of Student Fees.

Every dollar provided goes DIRECTLY to student-led activities that make Northern a more exciting, engaging and meaningful place for all.

Students learn how to budget, request and allocate funds, and monitor their distribution and spending. We work collaboratively to equitably distribute donations to that so many diverse and amazing things can happen here!

Student fees pay for: Full colour keepsake yearbooks, spirit day events, athletic equipment/safety gear/team jerseys, entrance fees to student academic competitions, student BBQ and CARNIVAL, and essential materials for clubs/associations to do things like build robots, share cultural traditions, play games, share knowledge, and build community together.

If you have not yet had the opportunity to pay your student fee, please consider looking for an email from School Cash Online dated August 17^th.

We are so grateful for your support! From the Student Activity Council Executive

 

Girls Athletic Association (GAA):

Are you interested in athletics and having fun? If you are, then come to our very FIRST Girls Athletic Association (GAA) meeting of the year, TUESDAY, September 10 at lunch in the NORTH GYM! (room 139)

Join us for a game of dodgeball and find out about our September GAA retreat to Camp Olympia. (Sept 23-25) No matter your level of athleticism, we encourage everyone to come and have a blast. See you there Northern!!

 

Math Competitions:

The NSS Math Department is excited to offer a variety of math competitions, again, for the 2024-2025 school year.

Registrations have opened for the following competitions:

Canadian Lynx Math Competition

Canada National Math League Contest #1, 2 and 3

Canadian Open Math Competition

Canadian Intermediate/Senior Math Contests

Students can sign up by completing the registration forms on the 2024-2025 NSS Math Contest Google Classroom using class code: x56enxz

Please direct any contest questions to steven.ong@tdsb.on.ca

 

Library Learning Commons:

1) Library Hours and Services

• All NSS students are able to access the Library Learning Commons for book exchange, quiet study, and printing services:
  • Monday-Friday 8:30-8:55 am, 12:20-12:40 pm, and 3:15-3:45 pm,
  • open until 4:15 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays
• NSS Students with a spare in their timetable may access the Library during class time for Quiet Study. Students may be asked by a Teacher-Librarian to confirm the spare on their timetable.

2) Found some NSS Library books over the summer?

• Bring them into the Library: there will be no overdue fee or penalty.
• Use the Book Drop outside the Library entrance at any time to return borrowed items (overdue or not)

3) Toronto Public Library: Northern District Branch

• Visit the website or in person to find more information about services, volunteer opportunities, and hours of operation at our closest TPL branch!

 

Student Password Re-set:

Students in Grades 5-12 can also reset their passwords directly on the login page of many online tools, including Brightspace. Once registered, students will be able to validate their password reset requests using security questions, email, phone, text message, or the “Microsoft Authenticator” smartphone app.

For additional information, please view this infographic or demo video.

 

Cellphones:

As you are likely aware, the Ministry of Education has provided new direction around cell phone and mobile device use in all Ontario schools. By reducing the distraction of cell phones and mobile devices in school and during class, together we can create more focused and engaging learning environments.

We understand that this direction is new and will take some time to successfully implement. Educators will work with students to determine classroom practices and will ensure expectations are clearly understood.

Students in Grades 7 to 12 must have cell phones/mobile devices powered off or set to silent during instructional time.

Should a student not follow these directives, they will be asked to hand in their cell phone/mobile device. If a student does not hand in their personal mobile device when required, they must be sent to the Principal’s office, as per Ministry direction.

Please learn more about the new direction around cell phones and mobile device use in Ministry of Education PPM128 and at www.tdsb.on.ca/mobiledeviceuse.

Thank you for your cooperation as we work together to implement this new direction across TDSB.

 

School Council:

1) Join the list! School Council sends emails with news from within and beyond Northern to help you support your student's academic success. If you would like to be included on our mailing list to receive news "for parents, by parents", please send an email to nss.school.council@gmail.com with the subject line, “Count me in”.

2) Check us out! Our website is your virtual "parent buddy" to help you Navigate Northern. Visit nsscouncil.com for the latest ways to connect, get involved, and see what Council is doing for you and your student! You may find our New to Northern slides helpful to orient yourself and have essential info all in one place!

3) The first council meeting of the year is Tuesday Sept 17^th in the Northern Library and virtually through Teams. Meet the outgoing School Council, hear plans for the upcoming year and details for the October election (all Northern parents are welcome to run; no experience needed). Also, hear a Principal's Report on the latest news at Northern to help you get off to a good start! Mark your calendars and keep and eye open for further information in next Friday's bulletin

4) Welcome new and returning gifted families!
The Gifted Advisory Committee (GAC) would like to extend a warm welcome to all new and returning families of gifted students. GAC aims to connect and support families of gifted students during their time at Northern. To join our mailing list, please sign up here.

 

Northern Secondary School Foundation:

The Northern Foundation is a charitable organization started in 1999 by parents, alumni and staff to generate funds for scholarships and grants to support Northern Secondary School student initiatives. It is managed by a Board of Directors. We are pleased to distribute 40 Scholarships annually at Commencement and the fall Awards Assembly.

If you would like further information about NSSF, please visit our website at nssf.ca or follow us on Instagram @northernssfoundation. If you would to get involved in the work of the Foundation, email us at info@nssf.ca . We would love to hear from you!

 

Start of the Year Updates from your NSS Guidance Department:

Hello NSS Community! It was really great to connect so many students and families this past week. Thank you for your patience as we worked through our Timetable Request Change google form. The form is now closed. Please request an appointment with your Guidance Counsellor in the appointment system, see info below.

Have a wonderful weekend!

1. Post-Secondary Lunchtime Visit Calendar

Guidance has booked individual schools to give a lunch time presentation for our students. Please check out the Post-Secondary Lunch time visit calendar here.

2. SAVE THE DATE: NSS Post-Secondary Fair: Wednesday, October 23, 2024,6 – 8pm

Please save the date for our NSS Post-Secondary Evening Presentation and Fair. With over 40 schools in attendance, you are sure to find excellent info about post-secondary opportunities!

3. TDSB Semester 1 Day School eLearning Registration is OPEN.

If you are in grade 11 or 12 and want more information click here.

Registration closes Friday, September 20, 2024 at 12:00pm.

4. TDSB Semester 1 Night School (Con Ed) registration is OPEN.

You can find course offerings here.

You can find registration information here.

Courses with low enrollment closed Friday, September 20, 2024 at 10am.

Registration closes Friday, September 27, 2024 at 10 am.

5. Saturday International Languages Program Registration is OPEN.

You can find information here.

6. 2024-2025 Guidance Counsellors by Last Name Alpha:

Kristen Beach, Kristen.Beach@tdsb.on.ca, X 20042, Alpha: A, F, P

Jenny Sohn, Jenny.Sohn@tdsb.on.ca, X 20041, Alpha: B, C, E, I

Deborah Poutissou, Deborah.Poutissou@tdsb.on.ca, X 20046, Alpha: D, G, J, T, Z

Jennifer MacPhee, Jennifer.MacPhee@tdsb.on.ca, X 20045, Alpha: H, K, L

Sean Magee-Saxton, Sean.Magee-Saxton@tdsb.on.ca, X 20043, Alpha: M, N, O, Q,R

Melanie Stassis, C.L., Melanie.Stassis@tdsb.on.ca, X 20044, Alpha: S, U, V, W, X, Y

7. Booking a Guidance Appointment:

The Guidance appointment system will open on Monday, Sept 9, 2024.

To book an appointment: http://bit.ly/nssguidance

8. Student Guidance Google Classrooms:

Students, please ensure you are registered in your grade’s Guidance Google Classroom. This is where we share all our important information throughout the year.

Sign-up for your Guidance Google Classroom:

Grade 9 Google Classroom code: bedkqks

Grade 10 Google Classroom code: x6sh4ue

Grade 11 Google Classroom code: 4ixv2jl

Grade 12 Google Classroom code: kmv6fcz

 

Have a Concern?

If you have general inquiries, please reach out to the appropriate Vice-Principal by alphabetical last name. Emails to the principal will generally be forwarded directly to the appropriate vice-principal by (alphabetical last name).

Vice Principals for your Reference:

150958831003. A to G: Ms. Karen Stelling 416-393-0284 ext. 20013 (karen.stelling@tdsb.on.ca)

Surnames H to O: Ms. Jessica Pearson 416-393-0284 ext. 20012 (jessica.pearson@tdsb.on.ca)

Surnames P to Z: Ms. Joy Kim 416-393-0284 ext. 20011 (joy.kim@tdsb.on.ca)

 

Have a great weekend,

Adam Marshall

Principal

Follow me @PrincipalNSS