Dear Northern Families,

What a nice breather for most- an unscheduled day off yesterday followed by a 4 day weekend. Enjoy and recharge!

We are really just into the start of semester 2. I want to take this opportunity to remind students and families that cellphones are to be turned off and out of sight during instructional time unless explicit permission has been granted by the classroom teacher. This means cellphones should not bee seen in ALL spaces in the school during instructional time! Teachers have expectations

We had an amazing Careers Week (although cut a little short by the weather). Thank You to April Vibert for her hard work on the initiative and to all our guidance staff who offered support. Fantastic information about pathway options students have! Message from Ms. Vibert: Careers Week has been a great success! Many students engaged with our guest speakers and began their journey to pursue the skilled trades. Due to the snow day on Thursday, February 13, some of our events will need to be rescheduled. Our NSS Alumni and Skills Ontario presenters will be rescheduled to a future date. More details will be shared soon.

Congratulations to Northern Trivia for their performance at the Consensus (trivia) regionals on February 9th. In the A division Northern finished second to UTS, defeating UCC, De La Salle, SMC and TFS, among others. In the B division Northern teams finished second and third, again just behind UTS. A fantastic result!!

As a reminder about lockers, please be sure to bring a lock to school to safely lock up your belongings in your own locker. Please DO NOT leave belongings in unlocked lockers. We have had several instances of student belongings going missing in unlocked lockers. If you need assistance with your locker, or need to be assigned a locker, please come to the Vice Principal’s office.

A reminder that February 17^th is Family Day (no school).

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: Family Day- No School!

Tuesday: Pay It Forward- Period 3 (details below)

Tuesday: CANCELLED- Caring and Safe Schools moved to March 4 (see below)

Wednesday: Late Start @9:55am

Wednesday: Canadian Computing Competition

Wednesday: ESL Potluck/ Course Selection Evening – more info below

Friday: Gifted Advisory Committee (GAC) Meeting @6pm

 

Pay it Forward

Former Northern grads are participating in our Pay it Forward panel to share their experiences at post-secondary school with students on Tuesday, Feb. 18, period 3, in the library. Interested students should contact Sherry Smither by email sherry.smither@tdsb.on.ca or drop by the Gifted office room 118A.

 

RESCHEDULED- 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 19th, 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

 

Yearbook:

Grad Quote/Superlative Form : Hey Grade 12s! Fill out this form to submit your Grad Quote and to vote on this year's Superlatives: https://forms.gle/U83JCNyvD32gzwAL9. The deadline to fill this out is February 21st.

To any students who believe the name that may appear in the yearbook under their student portrait is not their preferred name, please fill out this name change request form: https://forms.gle/74mdiXP92LLFU8HA6.

The deadline to fill both forms is February 21st.

Thank you!

 

Caring & Safe Schools Committee:

13031. next Caring & Safe Schools Committee meeting is on Tuesday, March 4th at 4:00 pm in the Heritage Room (114). Membership includes students, caregivers, teaching staff, non-teaching staff and community partners. New members are always welcome!

 

Library:

1. LOST & FOUND

This is a reminder to visit the Library’s Lost and Found bins to find your coats, hats, gloves, water bottles, lunch bags and binders. The Lost and Found will be emptied on Thursday, February 20th. Remaining items will be donated to the NSS United Way Club.

2. LIBRARY Closures

Tuesday, February 18 - closed Period 3 for students on Spare, Circulation Desk open (Pay It Forward Event)

Wednesday, February 19 - closed ALL Day for students on Spare, Circulation Desk open (Computer Competition)

3. RETURN or RENEW your Library Books and bring back your Day Use Chromebooks

All students with overdue Library materials received an email reminding them to return or renew their books and devices. Books can be returned to the Drop Box outside the Library. Chromebooks and chargers borrowed for the day need to be returned to the Circulation Desk.

 

Student Success:

Peer Tutoring is available for Semester 2!

All information about Peer Tutoring, including the sign-up form, can be found on our NEW website: https://bit.ly/NSSPeerTutoring

 

Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement:

On behalf of the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement, we are excited to invite you to a community dialogue event designed specifically for Black Parents, Caregivers, and Families. This in-person session is a key step in developing a comprehensive Anti-Black Racism Strategy, and your input will play a crucial role in shaping its direction.

Many of you previously participated in discussions in 2021 and 2022, where we explored the educational experiences of Black students in the TDSB. Your feedback was instrumental in operationalizing the Centre of Excellence’s initiatives and in creating a report that has guided the next phase of this work. You can read the full report [here].

Now, we invite you to continue this important conversation. Together, we will ensure that the Anti-Black Racism Strategy reflects the voices, experiences, and perspectives of Black families. This collaborative effort aims to create a more inclusive and equitable educational environment for all students. The strategy’s development is grounded in an intersectional approach, recognizing the diversity within Black communities and prioritizing transparency, openness, and collaboration.

Event Details:

📅 Date: Thursday, February 20, 2025
⏰ Time: 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
📍 Location: Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement
Winston Churchill Collegiate Institute Library
2239 Lawrence Avenue E., Scarborough, ON M1P 2P7

Registration Deadline: February 18, 2025 (Space is limited)

Light refreshments and childcare will be provided

We hope you will join us for this vital discussion and help ensure that your experiences and recommendations remain central to shaping this strategy. Your voice matters in building a more inclusive and equitable future for our students.

To register for this event, please RSVP using this [form here].

For more information about this community conversation or the larger Anti-Black Racism Strategy Development and Working Group, please contact:

Karen Murray – karen.murray@tdsb.on.ca, System Superintendent, Equity, Anti-Racism, Anti-Oppression

Tanitiã Munroe – tanitia.munroe@tdsb.on.ca

Annette Walker – annette.walker@tdsb.on.ca

(Senior Research Coordinators, Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement & Research and Development Department)

 

York University Special Education Sessions Open to the Public:

Please feel free to share these events with colleagues and students (and their families) that you feel would benefit from them.

1. Strengthening Transitions to Post-Secondary for Autistic Students and their Families:

These informational sessions are 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 warmly invited to participate.

Why Attend?

• Understanding the realities of transitioning to post-secondary education for students and families.
• Accessing academic and non-academic support services.
• Developing strategies for academic success.
• Learning from current York University students about life on campus.
• Building independence and fostering confidence.

In-person Session:

Date: Thursday, February 20, 2025
Time: 9am to 1pm
Location: York University Keele Campus
Registration: Strengthening Transitions Registration Form (In-Person Session)

Please note: The last day to register in this session is Friday, February 14.

Virtual (Zoom) Session:

Date: Thursday, March 20, 2025
Time: 7pm to 8pm
Registration: Strengthening Transitions Registration Form (Virtual Session)

Please note: The last day to register in this session is Thursday, March 20.

2. Academic Accommodations and University 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.

· Wednesday, March 5, 2025: Registration Form

· Wednesday, May 14, 2025: Registration Form

Questions? E-mail us at projecta@yorku.ca.

 

Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement

Please see the following upcoming opportunities for students, staff and community offered by the Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement.

Honouring African Heritage Experiences

People of African descent have a rich legacy of cultural practices and traditions across generations. The Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement in collaboration with various community educators is excited to offer diverse learning experiences focused on honouring and affirming African, African-Caribbean and Black students' identities. These African-centred programming and learning experiences provide opportunities for students, staff, caregivers and community members. Please find the menu for February.

Engaging with Identity-Affirming Poetry with Dwayne Morgan (Educators Gr. 7 – 12)

Join Dwayne Morgan, Order of Ontario Recipient and affectionally called the Godfather of Canadian Spoken Word, for this session exploring how to engage with identity-affirming poetry. This session is suitable for educators who are teaching students in Gr. 7-12.

Date: February 13, 2025

Time: 1 – 3 p.m.

Location: Virtual

Registration Link

For more information contact, jeffrey.caton@tdsb.on.ca, Centrally Assigned Principal, or rukiya.mohamed@tdsb.on.ca, Program Coordinator, Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement.

 

Northern Secondary School Foundation:

The Federal Government delivered important news last month when they officially confirmed the extension of the 2024 tax deadline for charitable donations. This means eligible charitable gifts made before February 28th 2025, can be claimed on 2024 tax returns. The extension applies to donations made in cash, cheque, credit card, money order, or over electronic payment systems. Please consider supporting students at Northern Secondary School with a donation made before Feb 28th. Your support helps champion student led clubs, teams and initiatives.

For more information www.nssf.ca/donate

Connect with us on insta @northernssfoundation.

Contact us at info@nssf.ca

 

Guidance Updates:

1. February’s Wellness Theme is “Setting Intentions”

Setting Intentions Quote of the Week: “Our intention creates our reality” Wayne Dyer

2. 2025-2026 Course Selection To Know: It is that time of year again! Course selection for the 2025-2026 school year will begin in February 2025.

• myBlueprint OPENS: February 5, 2025
• myBlueprint CLOSES: February 26, 2025
• PARENT/GUARDIAN Approval Due: Feb 26, 2025
• Check out the NSS 2025-2026 Google Info Site! All you need to know about Course Selection
• Thank you to everyone who attend the NSS Evening 2025-2026 Course Selection Presentation. Please find the slides here. Please find the recording of our evening presentation here.
• Students: Drop-by 1^st Floor Foyer @ Lunch: Course Selection Questions Answered –No Appointment needed – lunch Tues. Feb 18^th until Fri. Feb 21^st

Come by at lunchtime to ask your quick questions: Guidance will be available for questions about the 2025-2026 Course Selection Process all lunch in the 1^st Floor Foyer

3. 2024 – 2025 Scholarship Updates:

Seeking Scholarships has released their February 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.

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!

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. Mental Wellness Resource Document

If you are experiencing an emergency, please call 911.

 

Have a great long weekend!

Adam Marshall

Principal

Follow me @PrincipalNSS