Dear Northern Families,

This coming week marks the start of exams (Wednesday). If you are new to Northern please note that only students writing exams on a given day should be in the building. Teachers may make arrangements with students to meet for curricular reasons, but otherwise students should remain at home to study. Do prioritize exam preparation this weekend- it will pay off! Best of Luck next week, and congratulations for all the culminating activities you have already completed.

There is important information below regarding EXAMS and the upcoming TRUSTEE ELECTION (nominations close today). Please do read through this content. Plenty of other important items but I wanted to highlight these.

A reminder that we do not have space available for student parking at Northern. We have had to bring parking authorities to the school several times this year and hope to avoid this moving forward!

 

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). Students do not have to remain at school after their exam. Only students who are writing exams need to attend school on exam days.

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.

For the Exams, please note the following:

• There are no electronic devices allowed in the exam room. Any student found using cell phones, iPods, smart watches, etc. will be deemed as cheating. This could result in a grade of zero on the exam.
• There is no access to lockers during exams. Students may only access lockers before or after exams.
• All coats, school bags, and notes must be placed at the front of the room.
• There are no opportunities for breaks during the exam.
• Please encourage your student to use the washroom before the exam begins to avoid needing the washroom during the exam.

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.

 

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: Grade 9’s Math EQAO

Tuesday: Grade 9’s Math EQAO

Wednesday: Exams

Wednesday: Exams

Thursday: Exams

 

ELL Parent/Guardian Options Potluck – Course Selection 2025

We are pleased to invite you to our ELL Parent/Guardian Options Potluck!

The ESL & Guidance departments are hosting this event on Wednesday, February 12th, 6:00 - 8:00 PM in the school library.

Please join us for an information session about course selection, graduation requirements and more. Bring a small amount of food (appetizer, main dish or desert) to add to our potluck if you wish. ELL Parents/Guardians and their students are invited and encouraged to come for this informative and helpful event.

We hope to see you there!

Please RSVP through this Options Potluck Google Form or email chana.boxer@tdsb.on.ca

 

Attention Graduates!

We will be holding a second chance for graduation photos here at the school on February 10 and 11^th! Please book your appointment by following the link below:

https://booking.edgeimaging.ca/portal/book/NEH

Please come prepared in a white collared shirt and tie. Graduation gown, hat, sash, and props will be provided. You are welcome to bring your own small props to personalize your session.

Come and celebrate this achievement!

 

Table Tennis/ Ping Pong!

If you are interested in participating in this years BAA ping pong tournament, sign up on this google form until Tuesday 21st. Tournament will start Tuesday February 4th. More information coming. Here’s the link: Sign Up!

 

Trustee Elections:

As you know, in November 2024, former Trustee Rachel Chernos Lin was elected to Toronto City Council, leaving the Trustee seat for TDSB Ward 11 (Don Valley West) vacant. In December, TDSB Trustees voted to hold a by-election to fill the vacant seat. Candidate nominations for the 2025 Ward 11 By-Election are open until January 17 and election day is March 3.

To support our promotion of this by-election, please share the following information with your communities through your regular communication channels at your convenience. Thanks in advance!

The 2025 TDSB Ward 11 By-Election

At the December 11, 2024, Board Meeting, TDSB Trustees voted to hold a by-election to fill the vacant Ward 11 seat.

Election day is Monday, March 3, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Advance voting takes place Saturday, February 22 and Sunday, February 23 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Voters and potential candidates are encouraged to visit the TDSB 2025 Ward 11 By-Election webpage for more information.

TDSB Ward 11 By-Election Candidate Nominations

Candidate nominations are open until Friday, January 17, 2025, at 2 p.m.

To qualify, candidates must file a nomination paper with an original signature, be a resident of Toronto with proof of address, support public schools, be eligible to vote for the TDSB trustee, and pay a $100 filing fee.

The nomination form, campaign rules, and additional resources are available on the City of Toronto’s Information for Candidates webpage.

TDSB Ward 11 By-Election Voter Information

You can vote for the TDSB Ward 11 Trustee if you are a Canadian citizen, at least 18 years old, a public school supporter, and a resident in TDSB Ward 11.

More information about who can vote, acceptable identification, and voting options can be found on the City of Toronto’s Voter Information webpage.

 

Upcoming Library Closures:

Fri. Jan. 17th, Mon. Jan. 20, & Tues. Jan. 21 - Library closed for EQAO Math

The Circulation Desk will be open before school: 8:30-8:55, at lunch 12:15-12:35, and after school: 3:15-3:45pm for students who need to borrow, return, or renew books or Chromebooks.

The Library will be closed during Exams: Jan. 23-28 and reopen on Wednesday, January 29th, 8:30am-12:40pm

2) Toronto Public Library Volunteer Opportunity

TPL Palmerston Branch is looking for Youth Volunteers for their Seniors E-Connect program. They are looking for Teens ages 13 to 17 to volunteer. Visit in person or contact Mabel from Palmerston at msit@tpl.ca for more information or for an application form.

 

Student Success:

Credit Rescue - “Complete, Not Repeat” Credit rescue will be running January 28th from 9am-3:15pm for students who have a mark between 40-49%. Your child's teacher will inform you if they will be invited to this day. Please also look out for communication from April Vibert. You may receive multiple emails if your child is invited to recover more than one course. Thank you!

 

Canadian Computing Competition:

Calling all computer programmers!

Do you want to compete with other computer science enthusiasts and flex your ability to understand, design, and implement algorithms?

Well then register to compete in the Canadian Computing Competition!

Contest date: Wednesday, February 19, 2025

Join the google classroom with code: fvzkjjb

And please see Dr. Afsari to register and create an account. Room 231

Contest fee per participant: $10.00 to be paid through “School Cash Online” at a later date.

 

School Council:

1. Your Donations at Work. We extend our gratitude to our generous donors. Your support has enabled us to make the following contributions to the school: three cameras for the photography program; stools for our ceramics program; essential cookware for the school nutrition program; equipment for experiments in science labs; support girl’s volleyball team trip; T-shirts for our PALs and support for the Buddies Conference.

2. Walking Buddies - Saturday, January 25th at 9:30 am. 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.

 

Northern Secondary School Foundation:

Happy New Year 2025 to all members of the Northern community!

We would like to thank all the parents and family members who remembered Northern in their year-end giving either through matching employee programs or who designated the Foundation as the recipient of their United Way donations.

We will use these funds to provide Grants to student clubs and teams.

For more information www.nssf.ca/donate

Connect with us on insta @northernssfoundation.

Contact us at info@nssf.ca

 

Culturally Relevant and Responsive Community Resources

As we begin the new year, just a kind reminder of resources for students, staff, parents, caregivers, and guardians. Toronto is home to a wide range of services which can be overwhelming, and the TDSB Mental Health Leads have developed an easy-to-use tool featuring over 1,000 Toronto-based resources sourced from 211ontario.ca in hopes to make the navigation of community resources easier.

These resources are:

• Culturally relevant and responsive
• Organized by themes and locations, including East York, North York, Etobicoke, Toronto, and Scarborough
• Covering services such as youth shelters, food banks, and mental health agencies

While this list is comprehensive and regularly updated, it is not exhaustive. We encourage you to explore and share the Culturally Relevant and Responsive Community Resources widely within your school communities.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at mentalhealthandwellbeing@tdsb.on.ca .

 

African Heritage Month: Talent Showcase & Fundraiser - Lift Every Voice

Extended Deadline: Secondary Students: Wednesday, January 29, 2025 by 4:00 pm

Attention: All Black Artistic Students of the Toronto District School Board

In celebration of African Heritage (Black History) Month, which takes place every February, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) has chosen the theme Lift Every Voice for this year's event. The TDSB's African Heritage Month Volunteer Planning Committee (AHMPC) invites you to participate in the Lift Every Voice: Talent Showcase and Fundraiser. This event will conclude in the month-long celebration and will feature a variety of artistic performances that honor and reflect Black cultural heritage.

Event Details

• Event: Lift Every Voice: Talent Showcase and Fundraiser
• Date: Thursday, February 27th, 2025
• Location: To Be Announced

Why Participate? This is a unique opportunity for Black students to showcase their creativity, talent, and artistry. Whether you specialize in visual arts, music, theatre, dance, film, or literature, we want to celebrate your work. This event is also a chance to contribute to the success of the TDSB's African Heritage Month programs and initiatives.

How to Apply To be considered as a performer for this inaugural event, you must submit a video audition that represents your artistic talent. We are looking for a wide range of performances that celebrate African and Caribbean culture, art, and expression.

Submission Guidelines

• Video Requirements:
  • Length: No longer than 1.5 minutes
  • Format: MP4 video only, MP3 audio only
  • Make sure the video is clear, well-lit and shows the full performance
• How to Submit:
  • Complete the Google form and upload your video
  • File Naming: Include the name of the performance/art piece and the type of performance (e.g. Life every Voice Song)
• Submit your video
  audition here

 

Guidance Updates:

1. January’s Wellness Theme is “Standing Strong: Power Poses”

Standing Strong Quote of the Week: "We do not have to become heroes overnight. Just a step at a time, meeting each thing that comes up, seeing it is not as dreadful as it appeared, discovering we have the strength to stare it down." – Eleanor Roosevelt

2. Planning on applying to an Ontario Post-Secondary School for September 2025?

Ontario College applications are DUE FEBRUARY 1, 2025. www.ontariocolleges.ca

3. SAVE THE DATE: VIRTUAL NSS Course Selection EVENING Presentation: Thursday, February 6, 2025

Want to learn more about Course Selection at NSS? We invite VIA ZOOM all parents/guardians to attend our Virtual Evening Course Selection presentation!

Title: NSS Evening Course Selection Presentation 2025/2026

Webinar Link:
https://tdsb-ca.zoom.us/j/96553526377?pwd=UMJM9YWfCZr4j0R22lnM2q9wHFpObL.1
Passcode: 601548

4. 2025-2026 Course Selection Save-the-Date: It ALMOST that time of year again, time to start thinking about course selection. Course selection for the 2025-2026 school year will begin in February 2025.

• myBlueprint OPENS: February 3, 2025
• myBlueprint CLOSES: February 26, 2025
• Course Selection Classroom Presentations: Feb 3-6^th @ 9:15am
• Course Selection Department Fair: Friday, February 7, 2025 – EXTENDED LUNCH
• Evening Course Selection Presentation: Thursday, February 6, 2025 TBA

5. Criteria for Requesting a Semester 2, 2025 Timetable Change:

• You are eligible to drop a course and will take a spare.
• You are missing a compulsory course or a graduation requirement (i.e. English, Math, Science, group 3 credit).
• You are in grade 11 or 12 and are changing post-secondary pathways. For example, you have three Science courses, but have decided not to pursue Science in post-secondary.
• You do not have a full timetable: Grade 9 & 10 = 8 courses; grade 11 = 7 courses; grade 12 = 6 courses.
• You failed a course in semester 1 and want to retake it in semester 2, if possible.

Please note: We will not be able to accommodate all timetable change requests. Thank you for your understanding. Please see your guidance counsellor with any questions.

 

6. Semester 2 Night School Registration:

Registration opens December 3rd, 2024 at 10:00 AM.

Registration closes on January 31st, 2025 at 10:00 AM.

Space is limited. Courses are only offered remotely in a synchronous (live) format on Google Meet or Microsoft Teams.

Registration and course offerings can be found here: Night School Website

Full Credit Night School/Remedial Night School:

Full credit courses run twice per week, on Mondays/Wednesdays or Tuesday/Thursdays from 6:00-9:00 PM.

Remedial math courses are also being offered for students who were unsuccessful in earning their math credit. Remedial classes are 1.5 hours, twice per week, and can be found under ‘full credit’ registration.

Credit Recovery:

Credit recovery courses are offered for students that have been unsuccessful in earning a credit within the last two (2) years. Credit recovery courses are delivered synchronously (live) online once per week from 6:00-9:00 PM.

Please reach out to your guidance counsellor have any questions or concerns.

7. 2024 – 2025 Scholarship Updates:

Seeking Scholarships has released their November Scholarship Report which has upcoming scholarship dates listed for students applying to post-secondary programs. It also has some great tips this month for applying to scholarships and funding post-secondary education.

Northern students, teachers, and families can access from this link using the password, scholar678: https://seekingscholarships.com/the-scholarship-report-2/

Please note: This resource is copyrighted and only available to Northern families - please do not share outside of the Northern community.

Northern-specific scholarship information and deadlines (along with other common awards that students apply to can be found here): https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-ZrEGhtrhY8rH4WW3NLC-p5QE-2hStUszLZTn34h8_o/edit

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!

8. IMPORTANT Volunteering Information:

PLEASE NOTE: Events and activities supporting a not-for-profit initiative/organization 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.

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

Looking for information about the Ontario Ministry Online Learning graduation requirement? Please click here. Overview Info: 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.

10. Mental Wellness Resource Document

If you are experiencing an emergency, please call 911.

 

Have a great weekend!

Adam Marshall

Principal

Follow me @PrincipalNSS