Dear Northern Families,

Everyone should have received a mark update for their classes by now. You can use this information to make decisions about attending Parent/Guardian – Teacher Interviews next week. More information below. In an effort to give as much warning as possible you will see the exam/ culminating activity schedule below. In the meantime, I want to wish all our Northern community a Happy Thanksgiving!

Parking- This is a reminder that there is no student parking at Northern. Please be aware that parking authorities may ticket unpermitted cars.

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: Thanksgiving- No School.

Wednesday: Ontario College Fair

Thursday: Parent/ Guardian - Teacher Interviews (details below)

Thursday: SAC Store Opens

Friday: Late Start @9:55am

 

Parent/Guardian-Teacher Interviews

We will be holding Parent/Guardian-Teacher Interviews at the school on Thursday, October 17^th from 2:00 - 4:00 pm and 6:00 - 8:00 pm. This semester, you will be able to schedule your Parent-Teacher Interviews online. If you wish to schedule a meeting with any of your child's teachers, please follow the instructions printed further down the page.

You will be able to make appointments from October 14^th at 7:00 am to October 16^th at 11:00 pm.

Instructions

1. Prepare a list with the names of each teacher you would like to meet

2. Go to the NSS scheduling website at https://parentinterview.com/s/nss

3. Enter your child's 9-digit student number or Ontario Education Number and click "Sign In"

4. Fill in your contact information and click "Continue to Make Appointments"

5. Click on the name of a teacher with whom you wish to schedule an appointment

6. Click on an "Available" time at which you wish to meet with that teacher

7. Repeat Steps 5 and 6 until you have scheduled all the teachers you wish to see

8. Click on "My Schedule" (top left of the page)

9. Print out, email or copy down your schedule

Should you wish to cancel an appointment you have made, click on "Cancel" beside the meeting you wish to have removed from your schedule.

If you misplace your schedule, you may use your Confirmation # to retrieve your schedule from the website at any time.

If you experience any difficulty using the service, please email support@parentinterview.com

 

United Way:

The United Way Silent Auction is back! Items from local businesses will be available for bidding to raise money for the United Way. Come check out this year’s auction items during Parent / Guardian - Teacher Interviews on Oct. 17!

 

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and you have a chance to show your support to more than 2 million people diagnosed with the disease each year. This tuesday, October 15th, Northern’s feminist club will be collecting donations for the Canadian Cancer Society in the front foyer in the morning and at lunch. It would be kindly appreciated if you made a donation, no matter how small, to support people in need.

 

Exams and Culminating Activities:

Final exams run from January 22-27, 2025. The moratorium period begins on Thursday January 16th. There will be no excursions or athletic events during this period.

You can find information about the culminating activities and final exams for each course here (organized by grade) here: NSS Culminating and Final Exam Information Sem 1 2024-2025

You can find a detailed exam schedule here: NSS Exam Schedule - Semester 1 2024-25

The schedule follows this format:

Students will follow their Day 1 schedule as follows for exams:

Wednesday, January 22 - Period 1 Exam

Thursday, January 23 - Period 2 Exam

Friday, January 24 - Period 3 Exam

Monday, January 27 - Period 4 Exam

ALL exams will begin at 10:00 am.  Exam duration will vary by subject/year.  Looking ahead, students should make sure they eat a good breakfast as they will eat a “late” lunch on these days once exams are over (late relative to our usual 11:40 am lunchtime).

Please take some time to look through our Exam ReadiNSS site for information and resources.  More information will be added as exams approach – including some in person exam preparation sessions provided by our student services and special education departments.

CULMINATING TASKS AND EXAMS

Culminating activities and examinations carry the same importance and the same attendance requirement. Thus, attendance during culminating activities is mandatory. Some courses have culminating activities that take place over several days. Thus, attendance during culminating activities/summative evaluations is mandatory. A culminating activity is the final evaluation in each course which is worth 30% of the final mark. “This evaluation will be based on evidence from one or a combination of the following: an examination, a performance, an essay and/or another method of evaluation suitable to the course content” (p.41-Growing Success). Students who miss culminating activities or summative evaluations will be given a mark of zero for the portion missed with no opportunity to make up the missed work unless there is an extenuating and documented circumstance, such as a medical situation, court date, funeral etc. It is absolutely crucial that students do not miss any time during the end of a semester. Under Ministry of Education and TDSB regulations, there can be no accommodations made for students who miss the 30% culminating activities and summative evaluations at the end of a semester for personal reasons such as vacation or work. Students and parents should be aware that scheduled vacations at this time can significantly impact student achievement. With the exception of a medical emergency, all summative tests and assignments that are missed as a result of these absences will be assigned a mark of zero.

 

Academic Accommodations and University – virtual workshop

All high school students and parents (or other support persons) who have questions or concerns about the transition to university for students with disabilities are invited to attend this session. This workshop is for you, your family and support team to ask questions about the transition to university.

You will learn about:

• Documentation required to access academic accommodations.
• The supports and accommodations available through Student Accessibility Services at York.
• Transition planning.

This workshop will take place from 7 to 8p.m. on the dates listed below.
To participate, register before the workshop begins.

• Tuesday, October 8, 2024: Registration Form
• Wednesday, December 11, 2024: Registration Form
• Wednesday, March 5, 2025: Registration Form
• Wednesday, May 14, 2025: Registration Form

Service Providers Workshop – virtual workshop

Intended for high school service providers (such as teachers and guidance counsellors) and clinicians who work with students preparing to move on to university. The focus of this workshop is the transition to university for students with disabilities.

Topics of discussion include:

• Academic accommodations at post-secondary
• Medical/psychological documentation needed to access academic accommodations
• Registration with our office
• Overview of supports and services available through our office
• Disability related financial information such as the Bursary for Students with Disabilities

This workshop will take place via Zoom on Thursday, December 5, 2024 from 9am to noon. To register visit Student Accessibility Services Transitioning to University.

Strengthening Transitions to Post-Secondary for Autistic Students and their Families – in person on York University Keele Campus

This informational day is designed for grade 10, 11, and 12 students who are Autistic and planning to attend post-secondary, as well as their families. High school educators and support staff are also cordially invited.

Join us to explore key insights! You'll delve into:

• The transition realities facing students and their families
• How to access support
• Strategies for academic success
• Insights into student life at the university shared by current York students
• Methods to nurture and strengthen independence

This workshop will take place in person at the York University Keele Campus on Thursday, February 20, 2024 from 9am to 1pm. To register visit Student Accessibility Services Transitioning to University.

If you have questions about any of the above programs, please contact projecta@yorku.ca.

 

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.

 

Library Learning Commons:

Looking for a way to connect with local ravines, while also celebrating great Toronto authors and books?

The Humber River Pals are hosting a ravine clean up and special literary event with guest Zalika Reid-Benta, "acclaimed author of River Mumma, an urban fantasy set right here in Toronto! River Mumma follows Alicia on a magical quest through the city, guided by the Jamaican water goddess, River Mumma. Cruickshank Park, a key location in the story, is the perfect setting to explore both the book and the landscape that inspired it."

Saturday, October 19th: 11am - Use this Eventbrite link to register for free tickets.

Feeling inspired to read River Mumma or Reid-Benta's Frying Plantain? Pick up a copy at the NSS Library, or at your local Toronto Public Library branch.

 

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

 

School Council:

1. . 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
2. . Walking Buddies – Sunday, October 13^th 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.
3. School Council meeting - Tuesday, October 22nd 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. Interested attendees are welcome to meet at the Granite Brewery after the meeting for an informal social opportunity.
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.

 

Guidance Updates:

October’s Wellness Theme: Gratitude

1. WellNSS Gratitude Quote of the Week: ““In ordinary life, we hardly realize that we receive a great deal more than we give, and that it is only with gratitude that life becomes rich.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer
2. Post-Secondary Events & Info:

1. 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

2. 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.

3. 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!

4. 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.

3. 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!

4. Mental Wellness Resource Document

If you are experiencing an emergency, please call 911.

 

Have a great long weekend!

Adam Marshall

Principal

Follow me @PrincipalNSS