Dear Northern Families,
Feels like summer has arrived today. Enjoy the amazing weather this evening! We had an amazing Asian Heritage Month Assembly this week. You can see some additional details below.
Please put Thursday May 29th in your calendars- the Northern Lights Arts and Tech Show will be on. A great evening of shows, demonstrations, and touring through incredible student work!
Congratulations to William Hu, our Valedictorian for the 2025 graduations class
This seems like a good time to remind everyone of the TDSB’s Event Management Protocol. There are key safety and supervision expectations that we must follow as a member of the board. These measures help support a safe and inclusive environment for all students and staff. I am including this here as it includes expectations of spectators/ families who may wish to attend an event.
- Only students from the “host” or “home” school are permitted to attend TDSSAA sponsored events. This includes events held in gymnasiums, fields, stadiums, pools and domes.
- There are to be no outside spectators permitted at school events without approval of the administrator within the building. Failure to comply with event management protocols will result in the event being closed to all spectators.
If you do attend sporting events to support your child/ their team, please conduct yourself accordingly so we can continue to have this privilege when visiting other schools!
The student calendar can be found here: 2024-2025 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: Victoria Day- No School!
Wednesday: Late Start @9:55
Thursday: School Council Meeting @ 6:30pm (details below)
Friday: SAC Carnival (extended lunch schedule)
SAC Carnival:
- RED KNIGHTS!! The annual FREE SAC Carnival is happening NEXT FRIDAY (weather-dependent), on May 23! It will take place on the back field during an EXTENDED LUNCH, so be sure to check it out!! We will have everything from a teacher dunk tank to face paint, and more! Please remember to bring your student ID to get in! Also, don’t forget to bring sunscreen, water, and money for all the delicious food! All Carnival games and SAC snacks are FREE, and you can buy meals from clubs like GreekNSS and BlackNSS. We are looking forward to a safe and fun event for all!
PROM TICKETS
Please pick up your PROM TICKETS in room 111 at lunch on Tuesdays/Thursdays!
We look forward to hearing who you would like to sit with (10 to a table).
Questions? Email Kristen.Beach@tdsb.on.ca
Asian Heritage Month Assembly Resources
- We hope that you enjoyed the Asian Heritage Month Assembly and learned something new!
- As promised, here is the Speak Up & Take Action! strategy for families to review.
- If you missed the assembly, the Asian Heritage Club will be hosting a lunch viewing party later this month so stay tuned!
PACE 2025
Our Northern Robotics team had the exciting opportunity to attend PACE 2005 at the STACKT Market this week. The event was a vibrant celebration of creativity, bringing together secondary school students from across Ontario. It served as an excellent platform for outreach and business learning, allowing our students to showcase their STEM innovations, projects, and products developed throughout the school year. Additionally, they had the chance to engage with the broader community, fostering connections and gaining valuable support from various sectors.
Some Northern students also embraced their entrepreneurial spirit by setting up a booth to display and sell their handcrafted ceramics. Their participation not only highlighted their artistic talent but also provided them with firsthand experience in business and marketing.
You can find related photos here:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1KTa1EdM3AVt7yiwGOXLsLUdwNmMGjW68?usp=sharing
Tennis
Congratulations to the following Tennis players who won medals at Tennis Regionals -Nolan C. won gold in High School Boys Singles, Michael M. and Rodrigo V. won silver in High School Boys Doubles and Vanessa E. K. won silver in High School Girls Singles. Good luck to our medalists next week at the City Finals!
BAA (Boys Athletic Association) for 2025-2026
Anyone interested in being a part of the BAA next year can pick up an application form out of the James Hutton Upper Gym. Deadline for return is Thursday May 22nd to Mr. Lombardi
Next BAA intramural
Starting on Tuesday May 20th to Thursday May 22nd - anyone interested in the next BAA intramural of Spike ball, please sign up in the first floor foyer at lunch.
Roadmap to Digital Safety:
Great information, learning and tips about digital safety as well as food and giveaways! Parents/families/caregivers and guardians can register in the attached flyer . The link to register is also here Social Media and Safety: A Parents' Roadmap as well as details about the event below:
Aligned with TDSB’s policies on responsible technology use, including social media and cellphone guidelines, this event aims to equip parents/caregivers/guardians with strategies to navigate their children's digital engagement. We encourage you to share this opportunity with your school communities, ensuring families have the tools to support safe and balanced technology use (see PPM 128 & TDSB resources on Addressing Inappropriate Social Media).
For an engaging Social Media Safety Night for Parents on May 26th, from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM at Westview Centennial S.S. located at 755 Oakdale Road, Toronto. Toronto Police Services (Child Exploitation Unit) as well as TDSB partners will be presenting. TDSB Professional Support Services staff including community partners such as Youth Outreach Workers (YOW’s) will also be present.
This evening will include:
- Practical strategies for navigating social media risks
- Open discussion on online safety
- Take-home resources and giveaways
- Food and childcare
Model UN Executive Applications:
The application deadline is Friday, May 24th at 11:59 PM, and interviews will begin the week of May 27th. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1mUIC1703RizymRccZpQp14gzsuzxd0F9TBuYGRv3v24/edit
Library Learning Commons:
Return your Overdue Chromebooks, USB chargers and Library Books!
- It’s time to start hunting for those overdue items from the Northern Secondary School Library.
- Students who have overdue Library technology and/or books have received an email notification with a list of what is overdue.
- If the Library door is closed, books can be left in the DROP BOX outside.
All Library tech and book loans are due before the end of semester on June 12th, 2025.
Do you read manga? Love comics? Need Volunteer Hours?
The Toronto Comic Arts Festival, a FREE event, will take place on June 7-8th on the TMU campus. Visit the TCAF Volunteer site if you’re interested in getting involved directly with the festival, and earning community hours for graduation. You can also talk to Juli (juli.mori@tdsb.on.ca) in the NSS Library to learn more about the event.
Upcoming Parent/Guardian/Caregiver Engagement Session: Strategies and resources to support students with ADHD
Special Education and Inclusion will host a session to explore strategies and resources to support students diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
Date: Wednesday, May 28, 2025
Time: 10:00 am - 11:30 am
Date: Thursday, May 29, 2025
Time: 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Please see this flyer for more information.
Final Exams
Exams are fast approaching in just over 4 weeks!
Final exams run from June 18-23, 2025. The moratorium period begins on Thursday June 12. 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 2 2025.
You can find a detailed exam schedule here: NSS Exam Schedule - Semester 2 2024-25
The schedule follows this format:
Students will follow their Day 1 schedule as follows for exams:
Wednesday, June 18 - Period 1 Exam
Thursday, June 19 - Period 2 Exam
Friday, June 20 - Period 3 Exam
Monday, June 23 - 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 Resource Centre:
Exam Computer Accomodation Survey - Students with Assistive Technology/Computer on their IEP received the Exam Computer Accomodation survey yesterday. If your child has the accommodation encourage them to complete the form as soon as possible.
Note*
- Have a math or science exam? Check with your teacher because you probably do not need a computer.
- Please complete this form AS SOON AS POSSIBLE
- You can not make changes so if you have any questions - come to room 112 at lunch time
- If you have a language exam check with your teacher that you will use your own chromebook in the classroom
School Council:
1. School Council meeting - Thursday, May 22nd at 6:30 pm - virtual. We welcome all members of the school community to join us for the final meeting of the school year. This meeting will be virtual only to accommodate ongoing work on the school boiler system. To receive the meeting link, please send a request to 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.
2. 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.
3. Walking Buddies - Saturday, May 24th 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.
Help Wanted: The Student Nutrition Program is looking for three new Parent Volunteers for the 2025/2026 school year. This program offers free healthy lunches to registered students throughout the school year. The time commitment is 10:30-12:30 one or more days a week to prepare and serve food to students. A vulnerable sector police check is required, which is why the process starts well in advance of the next school year. If you are interested, please email april.vibert@tdsb.on.ca
External Free Resources for Families
Youth ADHD Peer-facilitated Support Group: Age 16-24 - May 28 and June 25, 2025 at 8:00 pm. CADDAC is excited to offer virtual support groups led by CADDAC-trained peer facilitators. Each session will offer a brief educational component to help relate a chosen topic to ADHD (i.e.. Procrastination; sleep; advocacy; etc.) Based on the topic and information shared, participants are then invited to discuss how this relates to them, share strategies and to offer support to peers with similar lived experience. Our wonderful team of facilitators is there to provide a safe and inclusive space for you to listen, share, and feel validated. Registration is required.
Guidance Updates:
- May’s Wellness Theme is “How to Help: Bethere.org
Just talking about mental health isn’t enough. We need the knowledge, skills and confidence to step up and be there for one another. Please check out: Bethere.org!
Bethere.org has 5 Golden Rules:
Rule #3: Hear Them Out - Learn to be a good listener and balance the conversation
Rule #2: Show You Care – How to build trust and support someone. Rule #1: Say What you See – How to break the ice and start the conversation.
- OSAP Applications are now OPEN for the 2025-2026 school year: www.osap.on.ca for more information.
Recently, the Guidance Department held a lunch presentation on How to Pay for Post-Secondary, here's the slide deck from that presentation. You will find the following topics within:
- OSAP: when to apply, how it works, what you need etc.
- Student Loans: how to bridge the gap if OSAP is not enough
- The difference between OSAP and Student Loans
Feel free to come to the Guidance Office if you have any questions!
- TDSB Summer School Options:
- Registration for 2025 e-Summer School Program will OPEN on Tuesday, April 15 at 10:00 AM for TDSB students.
- Registration for 2025 ConEd Summer programs will OPEN April 22, 2025 at 10:00 a.m.
- Continuing Education (ConEd) and e-Summer are two separate departments.
e-Summer Information here
- Registration for 2025 e-Summer School Program will tentatively OPEN on Tuesday, April 15 at 10:00 AM for TDSB students.
- asynchronous online e-learning
- July and August courses available
- Grade 11 and 12 courses
- July e-Learning Key Dates: July e-Learning registration closes June 3, 2025
- August e-Summer Key Dates – Registration closes July 4, 2025.
ConEd Information here
- Registration for 2025 ConEd Summer programs will OPEN April 22, 2025 at 10:00 a.m.
- Full Credit Course Registration will CLOSE June 17, 2025 at 10:00 a.m.
- TDSB Credit Recovery will CLOSE June 27, 2025.
- ConEd Summer School classes will be held from July 2 to July 25, 2025 - Monday to Friday, from 8:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
- These classes are available only in July.
- ConEd Remote Learning: All Grade 9 and 10 credit courses will be delivered through synchronous online learning.
- ConEd In-Person Learning: All Grade 9 to 12 credit courses, students will attend face-to-face classes with a teacher.
- Summer School In Person Sites/Locations
- Seeking Scholarships has released their April Scholarship Report which has upcoming scholarship dates listed for students applying to post-secondary programs in all areas, and there are tons of helpful resources around applying to OSAP as well.
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
- IMPORTANT Volunteering Information:
NSS Volunteer & Community Involvement Policy:
Guidance has been working with Admin to finalise the NSS Volunteer & Community Involvement Policy.
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.
- 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.
- Mental Wellness Resource Document
If you are experiencing an emergency, please call 911.
Have a great long weekend!
Adam Marshall
Principal