Dear Northern Families,
Can you believe it’s already December on Monday?!
Great week here at Northern. The OSSLT wrapped up this week. We had a fantastic Grade 8 Open House last night and equally amazing afternoon visit from some of our traditional feeder schools. The next several weeks are busy ones with activities at the school, including evenings. Students, with this in mind, it is a good time to do a check-in with teachers on work outstanding or coming up. There are 3 weeks until the break and this will go quickly. When you return in January we only have 2 weeks before exams. Being up-to-date before the winter break will make January a much easier month for you to focus on culminating activities!
Please have a look at the November SAC Newsletter
The TDSB put out some information about board achievements for staff this week. Please check out the publicity for our own Stephen Wong !
Northern's United Way Fashion Show- a long standing Northern tradition, will be held on Thursday December 4 and Friday December 5, 2025. Each exciting night will showcase the myriad talents of over 200 of our students, a spectacular dance, model and fashion show starting at 7pm. All proceeds go to the United Way, an organization that supports the community by meeting essential needs like food, housing and mental health. Their goal being to impact the community with real and long-lasting change.
Buy a ticket to watch your child or their friends and peers dance, model, and show off their designing skills. This is not an event you want to miss and all supporting a deserving cause! Tickets can be purchased through School Cash Online for Thursday's Show or Friday's Show or they can be purchased in the first floor foyer every day at lunch and at the door for $15 (cash). There will be a silent auction, pizza and treats available for CASH only sale.
Get ready for the school’s biggest music event of the winter, featuring magical student performances full of singing and playing. That’s right, it’s time for Winterlude!! Our show will be taking place Thursday, December 11th at 7pm, and tickets can be bought any day next week in front of the drama office or through School Cash Online. For more information click HERE or visit @nssmusic on Instagram. Winterlude awaits!
A final message about adult education offerings for the winter term: Learn 4 Life
School Absences: Family vacations are not considered a legitimate absence. Every effort should be made to avoid scheduling family vacations during school time. Holiday dates are published in the agenda book and on the TDSB website, http://www.tdsb.on.ca. In the event of a missed evaluation due to a family vacation, teachers are not required to provide an alternative form of evaluation. In the case of examinations, no make-up exam or alternative arrangements will be made.
The student calendar can be found here: 2025-2026 Northern School Calendar . Any additions made will be highlighted for a two week period throughout the year. Also see the creed and holy day calendar for your reference (non-board calendar).
The student handbook can be found here: Student Handbook
Things to Know for Next Week:
Tuesday: PALs Holiday Event in Foyer @ Lunch
Thursday: Fashion Show! @7pm
Friday: Fashion Show! @7pm
From Prom Committee
HEY NORTHERN GRADS!! Are you planning on attending prom? If so, be sure to vote for YOUR prom theme using this link! Voting ends on December 5th at 11:59 PM. Please note this is for grade 12 students only. Other votes will not be counted. link: https://forms.gle/aAVq5XxT3HZQQaDy5
Buddies Toy Drive:
Hello Northern Families!
The Buddies Annual Toy Drive is back, and we need your support! We are collaborating with the Leaside Toy Drive to collect new, unwrapped toys, supporting elementary students and families in our local community.
Our goal this year is to collect 500 toys as a school.
We will be collecting donations to Friday, December 5th. With your help, we are confident we can make this fantastic cause a success and smash our target!
How you, the Northern Community, can contribute:
Parents and Guardians: Please encourage your students to participate, or consider contributing a toy directly!
Grade 9 Students: Bring your donation to your Homeform (Day 1, Period 1) classes, and compete with your class to bring in as many as you can. The grade 9 homeform class with the highest total donations will win a class Pizza Party, and the runner-ups will receive Timbits!
Grade 10-12s: Bring your donations to the donation box in the first floor foyer Monday, to Friday, December 5th before 8:55 am, and at lunch.
Together, we can make a meaningful impact in our wider community. Thank you for being a difference in helping make the holiday season that much brighter!
If you have any questions or would like to learn more about the cause, please reach out at: [email protected]
Library Learning Commons
Giant Floor Map: December 4-17: NSS Library Learning Commons is going to be hosting Canadian Geographic's Indigenous Peoples Atlas Giant Floor Map. Grade 9 Geography and grade 11 NBE: First Nations, Metis and Inuit Voices classes will be using the map to explore a wide-range of topics, including Indigenous languages, traditional territories, treaty areas, and place-based storytelling. For more information on this fantastic resource, check out this news article.
During this time students on spare will be asked to use the North Lab, as the Quiet Study Area will be unavailable. Library services (book circulation, Chromebook access, research support) will continue as normal.
Northern Food Program:
If you would like to donate to our Snack/Lunch Program:
To donate please use the link below:
https://tfss.ca/donate/schoolsites-snp/
Select Northern Secondary School so your donation helps the students here at Northern!
If you have any questions, please email [email protected]
Northern Semester 1 Final Exams and Culminating Activities FINAL
Semester 1 final exams take place on:
Wednesday, January 21 Period 1 Classes
Thursday, January 22 Period 2 Classes
Friday, January 23 Period 3 Classes
Monday, January 26 Period 4 Classes
Classroom teachers will share detailed information about Culminating Activates and Final Exams with students.
Please find FINAL information about culminating activities here: NSS Culminating and Final Exam Information Sem 1 2025-2026
Please find a FINAL version of our exam schedule here: NSS Exam Schedule - Semester 1 2025-26
Please review the information posted in the Bulletin about family holidays and absences during exam times.
Reporting Student Absences:
Option 1:
- Download the SchoolMessenger App from the Google Play or Apple App Store.
- Register by using your email account linked to our Student Information System.
Option 2:
- Call the automated attendance system: 1-833-250-2290.
- Use your phone number linked to our Student Information System.
Option 3:
- Call the main office line: 416-393-0270.
Option 4*:
- Email the Office Assistant associated with your child’s last name:
- *Please note that option 4 may not prevent a call from the automated SafeArrivals phone system.
-
School Council: Upcoming Events for Parents by Parents
Walking Buddies on Weekends (Rotating Saturdays | Sundays - Bi-Weekly): Join other parents for a relaxing one-hour walk through Mt. Pleasant Cemetery – every second weekend at 9:30am. Meet at the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery’s Funeral Centre parking lot. Dogs welcome. Please let us know that you are coming by emailing us at: [email protected] with “Walking buddies” in the subject line.
Upcoming dates: Saturday, November 29 and Sunday December 14. Where: Mount Pleasant Cemetery Funeral Centre Parking Lot
Grade 9 Parents and Caregivers Social - Saturday, December 6th at 9 am. Who doesn’t enjoy a good sociable to ease the jitters that come with making the transition to a new community environment more engaging for all. Join us at Daphne’s Antioch Café (620 Mt. Pleasant Rd) at 9 am.
Canadian University Admissions: All You Need to Know - Monday, December 8, 7:30-8:30 pm - Join Teo Salgado, an independent educational consultant, for an online, comprehensive overview of Canadian university application processes. He’ll cover admission requirements, timelines, costs, scholarships, and strategies for building a balanced university list. Whether your student is in grade 10 starting to research or in grade 12 preparing to apply, you’ll come away with clear steps and trusted resources to guide your next moves. Registration link: Teo Selgado University Applications
Raising a Gifted Child: What Every Parent Needs to Know - December 9 at 6 pm in the Northern Library. The Gifted Advisory Committee invites all gifted families to join us for a talk by Barbara Lazarou. https://forms.gle/XUsUtARMX3DPxWbq5
Post-secondary parent coffee - Saturday, January 10 at 9:30 am - Guidance has provided all the tools for knowing what to do (thanks, Guidance!). This is an informal space to chat with other parents to compare notes, ask questions, and hear about their experiences going through this process. RSVP to [email protected] with Post-Secondary Parent Coffee in the subject line, and we will send you the location
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 [email protected] with "Ask Adam" in the subject line.
Join our Mailing List. Stay informed with School Council updates to support your student's academic success. To receive news "for parents, by parents," email [email protected] with the subject line “Count me in.”
Please visit our website at nsscouncil.com or follow us on Instagram @nss_council. If you would like to get involved in the work of the School Council, email us at [email protected]. We would love to hear from you!
Guidance:
- NSS Mental Wellness Theme: December’s Wellness theme is Acts of Kindness.
THE WHY OF IT: Acts of Kindness are more than simple gestures – they’re powerful connectors that life both the giver and the receiver. When we choose to show compassion, our brains release feel-good chemicals like dopamine and oxytocin, reducing stress and strengthening our sense of belonging. Kindness interrupts cycles of worry, gives us purpose, and reminds us that we’re part of something larger than ourselves.
Hold the door open for someone, tell someone thank you, give a compliment to a friend. They will feel good and so will you!
- TDSB Night School Semester 2:
Registration Opens: November 18, 2025 at 10:00 a.m.
Registration Closes: January 30, 2026 at 10:00 a.m.
All Registration must be done online. Please view our Registration Process
- TDSB Semester 2 e-Learning Course Registration
Semester 2 e-Learning Day School tentative course offerings were added to the e-Learning Day School website on October 22. Please encourage staff, students, and families to review these offerings before registration opens to students on November 12 at 10 a.m. through the e-REG system.
e-Learning Semester 2 registration poster & e-Learning information flyer
- NSS Post-Secondary Application Supports:
I’m in Grade 12, Now What? Slideshow - Slides only
My Student is in Grade 12, Now What? - Video recording of Grade 12 presentation
2025-2026 NSS Post-Secondary Application Guide
2025-2026 NSS Scholarship Information Chart
20 Questions to Ask a Post-secondary Representative
Individual Grade 12 Visits – Guidance and grade 12 students are meeting one-on-one to go over students’ plans for after high school.
Students can book using this link: http://bit.ly/nssguidance
- 2025-2026 Scholarship Update:
-
- It's time for Grade 12 students to begin planning out which scholarships they would like to apply for! Many major university scholarships have deadlines in Semester 1 or early Semester 2, and some require a Northern nomination. The following link is a general list of scholarships, including ones that require an NSS nomination: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ELN7YYaXVtQSYNHeL2n5t_yF8wTzO5WlVJUgyii1MM8/edit?usp=sharing
- A webinar from Seeking Scholarships for Grade 12 Students, Funding Postsecondary Education (40:34), has been posted. There is also a Handout providing links to resources mentioned in the workshop.
To access the webinar, login to The Scholarship Report Library as usual: Click here. Password: SEPTSCHOLAR25
When you're in the Library, click on the Webinars category and enter this Password to view the webinars: FUNDING2526
- Northern has subscribed to the Seeking Scholarships Report, which has fantastic information and resources for students on available scholarships, financial aid, and application tips. Northern students and families can access to The Scholarship Report Library by following the instructions below:
Link: Click here
Password: SEPTSCHOLAR25
Click on the DASHBOARD page
This resource is copyrighted and should not be shared outside of the NSS community.
- The NSS Thrive Guide is a tool created and shared with classes to help students think about how they are participating in high school WITH INTENTION. Any questions, please speak to your guidance counsellor!
- Student Services Google Classrooms: Want info updated info about scholarships, volunteer opportunities, post-secondary visits, etc.? Students, please ensure you are registered in your grade’s Student Services Google Classroom. This is where we share all our important information throughout the year.
Grade 9 Google Classroom code: 3wvfe4kf
Grade 10 Google Classroom code: bedkqks
Grade 11 Google Classroom code: x6sh4ue
Grade 12 Google Classroom code: 4ixv2jl
- Booking a Guidance Appointment: Students can BOOK directly and/or REQUEST an appointment with their Guidance Counsellor or our Student Success teachers through our GuidanceInterview platform.
Link: https://guidanceinterview.com/s/nss
Username: Student Number
Password: YYYY-MM-DD (date of birth)
10. 2025-2026 Guidance Counsellors by Last Name Alpha:
Jenny Sohn, [email protected], X20046, Alpha Last Names: A, E, F, I, P
Leslie Usin-Rojas, [email protected], X 20041, Alpha Last Names: B, C
Deborah Poutissou, [email protected], X 20042, Alpha Last Names: D, G, J, T, Z
Jennifer MacPhee, [email protected], X 20045, Alpha Last Names: H, K, L
Sean Magee-Saxton, [email protected], X 20043, Alpha Last Names: M, N, O, Q, R
Melanie Stassis, C.L., [email protected], X 20044, Alpha Last Names: S, U, V, W, X, Y
Mental Wellness Resource Document
If you are experiencing an emergency, please call 911.
Have a great weekend.
Adam Marshall- Principal