Dear Northern Families,
We started the week with Orange Shirt Day. Thank You to everyone that acknowledged the Truth and Reconciliation process by wearing an Orange Shirt. Students should be taking a first look at buckling down with work this weekend as the Informal Mark Update comes next Thursday the 10th. Make sure you are up-to-date with your work/ assignments.
To all those families that have been celebrating Rosh Hashanah- Shana Tovah!
A reminder that School Council nominations have now closed, and elections take place Tuesday October 8th. Details below!
Parking- This is a reminder that there is no student parking at Northern. Please be aware that parking authorities may ticket unpermitted cars.
We welcome families to attend sporting events on the back field. Please do leave your 4-legged friends at home. No dogs are permitted on school property, and there are signs posted on the back field specific to the playing area. Your co-operation is appreciated.
Start of year Forms – Please make sure you take the time this weekend to complete these! These forms are essential for our operations and delays impact all students at the school in our planning efforts.
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
Things to Know for Next Week:
Monday: Photo Re-Take Day (details below)
Tuesday: School Council Meeting @6:30pm (details below)
Thursday: Academic Awards (Period 1)
Thursday: Early Dismissal/ Homecoming
Friday: PD Day
School Photos and Student ID
October 7th is the Photo Re-take day. Students that were unable to have their photo taken at the start of school will be invited to the auditorium via alpha call down to have their photo taken. School picture packages and student ID’s have been distributed via period 1 teachers. If your child did not receive their package, please have them see the alpha secretary in the VP office and we will track it down or request a new package. If you missed your picture and are getting re-takes done, your package and ID will be sent to the school at a future date.
Girl’s Tennis:
Congratulations to the Girls Tennis Team for finishing third in the South Region!! Stephanie Semenov and Madison Skipp won all five of their matches in dominating fashion!! Congratulations to the Boys Tennis Team for finishing second in the South Region and qualifying for the City Semi-Finals!!
Webinar Wednesdays
The Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement is hosting its first session of the Webinar Wednesdays series for the 2024-2025 school year. We invite parents and caregivers of Black children to join in the conversation as we discuss the Cell Phone/Mobile Device Use in Schools Policy at the TDSB. Claudine Tyrell, Principal of Humberside Collegiate Institute, and member of TDSB’s cellphone guidelines working group, will be joining us alongside Graduation Coaches for Black Students and K-12 Learning Coaches.
In this session, participants will learn:
- What this new policy means for students
- Impact on learning and accommodations
- Tips for parents, caregivers and students
Date: October 30, 2024
Time: 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Location: Virtual
Registration link: https://bit.ly/3MY7Gka. Registration closes October 28, 2024
Online Interpreter Training
We are excited to once again offer the Online Interpreter Training program. We will be offering the opportunity to 85 TDSB parents/caregivers to receive online interpreter training in TDSB's most requested languages!
Are you a parent/caregiver with a child registered in the TDSB who:
- has full proficiency in English and another language (i.e., Pashto, Farsi, Roma, Ukrainian);
- is interested in being trained as an interpreter to work with the TDSB;
- is comfortable with virtual/online learning;
- has access to a computer, and the internet and has, at minimum, intermediate computer fluency;
- has a recording device, headphones, and dictionaries (hard copy and/or online).
TDSB is the largest school board in Canada and one of the most diverse. 23% of our students were born outside of Canada and there are over 120 languages spoken by TDSB students and their parents/caregivers. Research also identifies communication between the home and the school as essential to student success. Ensuring equitable engagement opportunities for our multi-lingual parents/caregivers, while maximizing their language assets, will enable the TDSB to improve communication between parents/caregivers and the school/Board.
Please join us on October 21, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. See attached for more details. Share widely with your school community.
School Photos and Student ID
October 7th is the Photo Re-take day. Students that were unable to have their photo taken at the start of school will be invited to the auditorium via alpha call down to have their photo taken. School picture packages and student ID’s have been distributed via period 1 teachers. If your child did not receive their package, please have them see the alpha secretary in the VP office and we will track it down or request a new package. If you missed your picture and are getting re-takes done, your package and ID will be sent to the school at a future date.
Library Learning Commons:
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
- Visit the website or in person to find more information about services, volunteer opportunities, and hours of operation at our closest TPL branch! Or checkout their online calendar of October events for Youth.
Student Success Updates
Save the date! Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) Presentation and information sessions
When: October 16th 3:30-4:15
Where: NSS Library
Who: All SHSM students and anyone interested in joining one of our SHSM programs
You will receive information about the program, workshops and career opportunities.
For more information on our SHSM programs, please visit the Student Success Website.
Peer Tutoring- Peer tutoring is now available in all compulsory classes for all grades! To be matched with a tutor, please fill out this form.
Northern's Student Nutrition Program- Each week Student and Parent Volunteers prepare FREE lunch for students on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays starting September 24th. If you would like to receive FREE lunch every week please sign up here.
If you are a parent looking to volunteer, please email april.vibert@tdsb.on.ca
Math Competitions:
The NSS Math Department is excited to offer a variety of math competitions, again, for the 2024-2025 school year.
Signups are currently open for the following contests:
Canada National Math League Contest #1, 2 and 3
Canadian Open Math Competition - Register by Thursday Oct 10
Canadian Intermediate/Senior Math Contests - Register by Thursday Oct 10
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
School Council:
- . We Need Your Help! Our Fall Annual Ask is now underway to collect funds for School Council. We support student clubs, teams, and student initiatives - as well as provide events for parents on mental health, educational needs, and more. Please give whatever you can - every gift makes a difference! Click here to login to School Cash Online to donate
- . We want parents! - School Council Elections Our elections of the 24-25 Council is October 8th 6:30pm at the school library or through virtual link. All parents/guardians are welcome to join and participate in voting of this year’s School Council members. Only parents in attendance can vote. Please email nss.school.council@gmail.com to request a link if you plan to attend virtually through MS Teams.
- Walking Buddies – Sunday, October 6th at 9:30am. Join other Northern parents for some fresh air, exercise, and conversation about school, kids, and life! If you are interested in joining us, please send a message with “Walking buddies” in the subject line.
- . 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”.
- . 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!
- Gifted mailing list. If your student is in Northern’s gifted program, please feel free to join the Gifted Advisory Committee mailing list.
Northern Secondary School Foundation:
The Foundation is pleased to offer over 40 Scholarships and Awards to Northern students . We are grateful to former teachers, parents and alumni who fund these awards through endowments or annual donations.
- scholarships and awards recognize academic achievement in math, science, social science, business, family studies, music, art and design.. Others recognize leadership in community service, environmental and humanitarian initiatives, participation in athletic and extracurricular activities, and perseverance in face of adversity.
If you are interested in honouring a family member or recognizing achievement in a particular area, we would be happy to assist you. We are hoping to find donors for awards recognizing achievement in engineering, technological studies including robotics.
Contact us at info@nssf.ca for more information.
Guidance Updates: October’s Wellness Theme: Gratitude
WellNSS Quote of the Week: “At times, our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.” – Albert Schweitzer
- THIS WEEKEND! O.U.F. – Ontario Universities Fair – Oct 5-6, 2024
One of the largest educational fairs in North America is happening in Toronto this weekend! October 5-6, 2024, 9:30 am to 5 pm, daily, Metro Toronto Convention Centre, South Building, 225 Front ST. West
- Saturday International Languages Program Registration is OPEN.
You can find information here.
- Post-Secondary Events & Info:
- O.C.F.- Ontario College Fair – Oct 16 & 17, 2024
Want to learn about career focused degree and diploma programs at Ontario Colleges? You should attend the OCF October 16 – 5pm-9pm and Oct 17 9am – 2pm, Enercare Centre Hall B, Exhibition Place, Toronto
- 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.
- NSS Post-Secondary Fair: Wednesday, October 23/24, 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!
- This past week, Guidance Counselors visited gr 12 home form classrooms to deliver our “You’re in Grade 12, Now What? Grad Requirements & Post-Secondary Info presentation”. Please find the slideshow here.
- 2024 – 2025 Scholarship Updates:
A general list of scholarships has been shared with Grade 11 & 12 students, and can be found here. This list includes major scholarship awards that require a nomination from Northern (highlighted in yellow). Now is a great time for Grade 12 students to take a look and plan out which awards they may want to apply for!
Seeking Scholarships has published their September Scholarship report, which contains information and tips about funding post-secondary, along with an updated list of scholarships and deadlines.
Northern students and parents can access this resource here: https://seekingscholarships.com/the-scholarship-report-2/ using the password scholar678.
This resource is copyrighted and our use is limited to Northern students and families - please do not share outside of the Northern community.
Keep an eye out for those early scholarship deadlines!
- 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
- Booking a Guidance Appointment:
The Guidance appointment system will open on Monday, Sept 9, 2024.
To book an appointment: http://bit.ly/nssguidance
- 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
- Mental Wellness Resource Document
If you are experiencing an emergency, please call 911.
Have a great weekend,
Adam Marshall
Principal
Follow me @PrincipalNSS