Dear Northern Families,

This past weekend the world was reminded how quickly a feeling of safety and security can be shattered by the actions of just a few individuals. The tragedy at Bondi Beach serves to remind us not to take for granted the comfort we enjoy locally here in Toronto and Canada. The events also remind us how important heroes are. We all can play a role in building an amazing community right here. Looking out for each other and creating safe spaces has to be a priority for all of us. I want to commend our student body, in moments like this, for continuing to exemplify the best of humanity.

There are many faith-based celebrations occurring during this time of year. These events are about family, love, and hope. Let’s all celebrate these common values, and no matter what celebration(s) your family is participating in, have a Safe, Healthy, and Happy Holidays!

The TDSB has run a great piece about the amazing Mr. Wong. Check it out here!

It is with sadness I share the news of the passing of Maddie Walker. Maddie is a recent graduate and fought a courageous and prolonged battle with cancer. I will always remember Maddie’s key role in getting our two elevators upgraded to ensure accessibility at Northern. Maddie, you will be missed and we are all better for having known you.

NSS United Way Fashion Show 2025- It is hard to believe that the fashion show was two weeks ago. The committee has been hard at work tidying up all the loose ends and counting all of the donations. The final tally is in and we are overjoyed to announce that we raised $14 836.07 for the United Way, an all time high! We hope to share information with you in the new year about selling copies of the video of the show, created by Northern students, with all the proceeds going to the United Way.This organization serves those in our community that are unhoused and are facing food insecurity, unemployment, and/or mental health issues. We are delighted to be able to give back and would like to extend our gratitude to our community, family and friends for their support of this event. We are already looking forward to next year!

Please check out the Winter Mental Health & Well-Being Guide. The guide offers practical supports, activities and avenues for navigating the winter months. I hope it serves as a small but meaningful source of care, connection, and reassurance during the break.

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 the first week back in January:

Monday: Back to School! Regular Day 1.

Wednesday: Late Start @9:55am

 

For all future Medicine and STEM students

On Wednesday January 7th Dr. Zainab Abdurrahman will be coming to Northern to speak to all interested students about Pathways and Inclusivity in Medicine and STEM. Dr. Abdurrahman is the President of the Ontario Medical Association, and is passionate about young people, particularly young women and people of diverse backgrounds finding entry into STEM studies and the medical profession. Dr. Abdurrahman will be giving a short talk and then having a conversational Q&A with students from 12:25pm to 1:15pm (it’s a late start that day, so this is during lunch). The talk will take place in the south section of the library and absolutely everyone is welcome.

There is no eating in the library, so please eat quickly and then join us!

 

From the North Toronto Ontario Health Team. (No Family Doctor or Nurse Practitioner?):

Why find a family doctor or nurse practitioner?

1. Get health care from a professional who knows you
2. Catch health issues early with preventative check-ups
3. Referrals to medical specialists when needed

Interested North Toronto residents can get more information and sign up at www.northtorontooht.ca/primarycare .

 

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition 2025-26 Challenge Process - January 14 Family Session

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) is the formal evaluation and credit-granting process whereby students may obtain credits for prior learning. Prior learning includes the knowledge and skills that students have acquired, in both formal and informal ways, outside secondary school. Students may have their knowledge and skills evaluated against the expectations outlined in provincial curriculum policy documents in order to earn credits towards the secondary school diploma.

The 2025-26 PLAR Challenge Process Virtual Information Session for Families takes place on January 14, 2026, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Please share the information below with your school community:

1. PLAR Fact Sheet (internal site, for TDSB staff)
2. PLAR Notice to Families (optional template letter to be put on school letterhead and sent to parents/guardians)
3. PLAR Information Session Flyer
4. PLAR website

 

Special Education and Inclusion Parent Engagement Sessions - January 2026

Special Education and Inclusion is pleased to offer a number of sessions for parents/guardians/caregivers in January. Please find information in this flyer. All parent engagement sessions for the 2025-26 school year can be found on the Special Education and Inclusion webpage.

 

Final Exams - EARLY EXAM ACCOMMODATIONS

A reminder that accommodations cannot be made for exams. The relevant TDSB policy can be found here:

9370158. Ministry of Education and TDSB regulations, there can be no accommodations made for students who miss the 30% culminating activities 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. Students who miss culminating activities will be given a mark of zero for the portion missed with no opportunity to make up for the missed work unless there is an extenuating and documented circumstance, such as a medical situation, court date, funeral, etc.

 

Library Learning Commons-

Search for your Overdue and Missing Library Books and Chromebooks

We hope that all students with missing and overdue books will find them and return them to the Library. No fees, just the gratitude of your Teacher-Librarians.

Email reminders will be sent out to students with overdue and missing books and Chromebooks on Thursday December 18th. Please bring back Library resources in January, when you return to school.

Toronto Public Library

Enjoy free activities next week and throughout the holiday break:

• Access streamed TV shows and movies–free–using your Library card.*
• Want a place to read, relax, get a change of scenery?
  Visit a local branch: Northern District, Mt Pleasant, Leaside, Locke, Deer Park, or find one close to your home!
• 2025 Winter Solstice Scavenger Hunt at the Fort York location - Ongoing event running from Tue. Nov. 11, 2025 - Tue. Jan. 13, 2026
• TPL Holiday Hours

*don’t have a TPL Library card? Did you know you can use the following two pieces of identification to renew or apply for a new card?

• Your report card (found in your email)
• Your school ID (with photo)

↪ show these to the TPL Librarian at your local branch and apply for a card today!

 

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:
  • [email protected] (Last Names A to G)
  • [email protected] (Last Names H to O)
  • [email protected] (Last Names P to Z)
• *Please note that option 4 may not prevent a call from the automated SafeArrivals phone system.

 

School Council: Highlights reel from the latest Events (Recap) for Parents by Parents:

Northern Staff Appreciation Breakfast - held Wednesday, December 17th - Oh, what fun we had ushering in the holidays, together. Thanks to all of the merry-making volunteers who joined in celebrating the excellence and magic of community that happens within Northern's hallways daily. We wish all staff a healthy and happy holidays! If you missed out on this year’s holiday appreciation celebration - there'll be plenty of opportunities to stay connected and engaged with Northern in the new year.

Canadian Post Secondary Admissions: All You Need to Know

Teo Salgado, an independent educational consultant, provided a comprehensive overview of the Canadian post-secondary application process. He covered admission requirements, timelines, projected costs, and potential scholarships. Whether your student is in grade 10 starting to research or in grade 12 applying, you’ll gain insightful tips - watch his presentation here until Jan 2nd: https://nsscouncil.com/

The Look Ahead (Upcoming Events):

Post-secondary parent coffee - Saturday, January 10 at 9:30 am - A great opportunity to connect with other parents, share, and learn more about setting our kids up for the next stage in their journey. RSVP to: [email protected] with Post-Secondary Parent Coffee in the subject line, and we will send you the location.

Social media awareness – what parents need to know

Thursday, January 8, 6:30-7:30 pm – Leaside High School Auditorium

Join Toronto Police Constable Megan McGarry for an important and informative session on the current social media and online environment that our children navigate daily. Learn what to watch for, how to recognize risks, and how to respond to online harm. Topics Include: Personal and cyber safety, identifying common parental actions that increase risk, real examples affecting students, and steps to take if your child is targeted by cyberbullying.

Register

Parent Workshop: Teen Anxiety, Stress, and Overuse of Screens

Monday, January 12, 7-8:30 pm – Online

This interactive workshop will help parents understand the factors that contribute to anxiety in teens and equip you with effective strategies to reduce it. We will also address the significant impact of social media and screen use on mental health.
We are very fortunate to have Drs. Michele Foster and Nina Mafrici, clinical psychologists and co-directors of the Toronto Psychology & Wellness Group (TPWG), leading this important session. Register early – space is limited.

Register

Northern School Council - Wednesday, January 14, 6:30-8 (online) Join us and hear the latest news on Northern in the Principal (Adam’s) report, updates from our student leaders, committees, and how we’re supporting student success. If you would like to attend, please email us at [email protected] with the subject line “School Council Meeting Link” in advance.

Council Update - Progress to Plan Update

Council Fundraising - Our heartfelt and deepest gratitude for this incredible Northern community! We recently asked the Northern community to step up – helping us Close the Gap on our fundraising campaign. We are so thrilled to announce that we did it! In our latest campaign, we raised $6500 in just over a week and a total of $13,700 in support of our Northern students, staff, and community. Thank you for helping us surpass our initial goal of $12,500. Wishing you all the very best for a wonderful break - see you in 2026! You can count on us to provide updates on the Council's allocation of money spent.

 

The Northern Secondary School Foundation

Season’s Greetings from the Northern Secondary School Foundation. May your holiday season bring many moments of peace and joy!

Your support has enabled us to

• Honour outstanding student achievement in our scholarship program
• Help fund new student initiatives in Robotics, STEM Racing and Girls Volleyball

• It’s not too late to make a tax-refundable donation to the Foundation at www.nssf.ca/donate to help up continue our work in 2026.

For more information, contact us at [email protected] and visit our website at nssf.ca/stories and follow up on Instagram @northernssfoundation

 

Guidance:

1. Wishing everyone a fun and restful winter break!
2. Ontario College Applications for Equal Considerations: Due February 1, 2026
3. Ontario Universities Applications Due: January 15, 2026
4. September 2026 Specialised OYAP(TDSB Apprenticeship) Due February 2, 2026
   1. For more info click here.
5. NSS Mental Wellness Theme: December’s Wellness theme is Acts of Kindness.
   1. 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.
   2. Hold the door open for someone, tell someone thank you, give a compliment to a friend. They will feel good and so will you!
6. Black Student Summer Leadership Program: Applications due January 9, 2026

The Black Student Summer Leadership Program (BSSLP) is a paid, seven-week internship for Black high school students in Grades 10–12. Rooted in Afrocentric and community-based approaches, the program combines experiential learning placements, and mentorship to support students as researchers, leaders, and changemakers. Link to info here.

7. NSS Post-Secondary Application Supports:

1. I’m in Grade 12, Now What? Slideshow - Slides only
2. My Student is in Grade 12, Now What? - Video recording of Grade 12 presentation
3. 2025-2026 NSS Post-Secondary Application Guide
4. 2025-2026 NSS Scholarship Information Chart
5. 20 Questions to Ask a Post-secondary Representative

6. 2025-2026 Scholarship Update:
   1. UPDATE: 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 the December Newsletter update which is now posted on the website.
   2. For access to The Scholarship Report Library, please follow the instructions below:
   3. Login here. Click on the LOGIN tab.
   4. Password: SEPTSCHOLAR25
   5. Click 'Dashboard' and then click on the TSR Newsletters
   6. This resource is copyrighted and should not be shared outside the NSS Community.
   7. 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
   8. 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.
   9. 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

7. SEE U of T:

SEE U of T is an access program and collaboration between the University of Toronto (Scarborough or St. George) and the TDSB. The aim of the program is to encourage students who come from communities historically underrepresented at U of T and post-secondary institutions, to view post-secondary education as a viable destination. See U of T is a program for students to immerse themselves in university studies, leadership development, and campus life over two semesters, in Grade 11 and 12.

You can find the presentation for each campus below:

SEE U of T – Scarborough

SEE U of T – St. George

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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!
12. 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.
    1. Grade 9 Google Classroom code: 3wvfe4kf
    2. Grade 10 Google Classroom code: bedkqks
    3. Grade 11 Google Classroom code: x6sh4ue
    4. 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.

1. Link: https://guidanceinterview.com/s/nss
2. Username: Student Number
3. Password: YYYY-MM-DD (date of birth)
4. 2025-2026 Guidance Counsellors by Last Name Alpha:
5. [email protected], X20046, Alpha Last Names: A, E, F, I, P
6. [email protected], X 20041, Alpha Last Names: B, C
7. [email protected], X 20042, Alpha Last Names: D, G, J, T, Z
8. [email protected], X 20045, Alpha Last Names: H, K, L
1. [email protected], X 20043, Alpha Last Names: M, N, O, Q, R
10. [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 Happy Holiday!

Adam Marshall- Principal