Dear Northern Families,
We have had an exciting week- in particular our Black History Month Assembly was a huge success. Music, dance, and important messages about the diversity within the Black community were highlights of the show. Thank You to all our student speakers and performers, and of course the staff sponsors involved in making it such a success.
We have also wrapped up course selection for next year. Thank You to everyone for getting this important task done!
We are getting close to March Break. Lots of athletic playoffs, rehearsals for shows, and more happening at the school. Please (especially if you are in grade 10 English!) pay attention to the weeks following March Break as the OSSLT and Parent/Guardian-Teacher Interviews are immediately after the break. As a reminder, you will receive mark updates on March 11th to inform your decisions for P/G-T interview day.
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:
Friday: SAC Store Opens
From SAC:
New clubs semester 2! As always find our clubs here in the club charter
Inclusive History Club -first meeting will be on Thursday, March 5th in room 339
The purpose of our Inclusive History Club is to create a welcoming and accessible space where students can explore history from diverse perspectives, with a special focus on Deaf history.
We aim to promote understanding, inclusion, and cultural awareness by bringing together Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and hearing students to learn from one another. Through discussions, presentations, and activities, the club will explore global history while emphasizing the experiences of Deaf communities and other marginalized groups.
The significance of our organization is to foster respect, empathy, and cross-cultural connection within our school community. By learning about different histories and identities, students can develop a deeper appreciation for diversity in Canada and around the world.
Accounting Club- Thursday at Lunch (room TDB)
The purpose of the Accounting Club is to support students interested in accounting by offering a collaborative and engaging environment. We will provide chances for skill development, job discovery/potential careers, and academic support. Some potential activities are tutoring, and a potential networking event with people in the accounting field or a guest speaker. The goal is to offer a welcoming and informative environment for those who have an interest in accounting as a topic or career.
Talent Show:
Hey Northern! We’re so excited to see our student’s amazing talents take the stage at this year's talent show! Whether it’s singing, dancing, or anything in between, all students are invited to audition, and can sign up at this link: https://forms.gle/VpWykkpkaDDucfeM8 before March 1. Auditions will take place from March 2-6. We can’t wait to see your talent shine!
OSSLT
The OSSLT will be taking place beginning March 23 for grade 10 students taking English this semester. All first-time eligible students in a semester 2 grade 10 English or ESLD/E class along with previously eligible/unsuccessful grade 10 (semester 1)/11/12 students will be writing. Families of students who are scheduled to write will receive an email with the necessary details. If a student would like to know if they are writing, please have them come to the VP office.
OSSLT PREP
Students who are currently enrolled in a Grade 10 English course, or who have not yet successfully completed the OSSLT, will write the test during the week of March 23. Parents and students are encouraged to join the Northern SS OSSLT 2025 PREP Google Classroom to receive important updates and access helpful preparation resources.
The OSSLT classroom can be accessed at: https://classroom.google.com/c/NzI3OTM0NTgwMDg0?cjc=b5umys4 using the code b5umys4.
OSSLT extra help sessions will be offered at lunchtime in Room 304 during the week of March 9. For more information, students can visit the Google Classroom, speak with their English teacher, or see Ms. Siegel or Dr. Reibetanz in Room 313.
EQAO Literacy Session for Families: Focus on Writing:
Join us for a free live webinar about how EQAO assesses students’ writing skills at key stages of their education. EQAO staff will discuss writing prompts and questions from the reading component of the primary- and junior-division assessments and from the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test. Participants will hear how these prompts and questions help assess the skills students are learning in class. Staff will also highlight valuable insights and resources that can help parents and guardians support their child’s learning.
Dates: Mar. 25
https://eqao.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_F3XF343SQve5ZGR6fEfLoA#/registration
Math Homework Help
Is your child having trouble in math?
Please encourage them to attend the Math HW Club.
There is free drop-in extra help with peer tutors and a math teacher every day at lunch in room 108.
Building Math Confidence in Our Class
We are excited to share that students in grade 9 are participating in weekly EQAO Math practice to strengthen problem-solving skills and build confidence. Here are some links for Math support at home:
Mainstage:
Dear Northern families,
🩷 Omigod You Guys! 🩷 We are reaching out to you for help for the Legally Blonde Musical at Northern SS! Putting together a show is no small feat, neither is bringing back the musical spirit from many years ago. To make our production a smash hit, we would like your help with the following:
- Sponsorships: Your generosity will be recognized with an ad in our programme that will be distributed to the audience on the show nights.
- Donations: Providing supplies for our sets, costumes, props, hairstyling, makeup, or even printing the programme. Currently, we are looking for salon chairs and salon equipment that you can lend us or donate for the rehearsals and show nights in April.
Please note that performances are April 29th and 30th in the auditorium.
If you have any questions or can help us with donations or the services mentioned above, feel free to contact one of the staff supervisors Trevor Wang at [email protected].
Thank you!
The Legally Blonde Musical team & The Drama Council
Exciting Opportunities for Black, Indigenous, and more students!
We are excited to announce that applications are now open for two outstanding high school outreach programs offered by the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto:
Summer Mentorship Program (SMP)
Designed for students who identify as Black or Indigenous, SMP provides hands-on learning in health sciences, mentorship from professionals, and skill-building workshops.
Eligibility:
- Grade 10 or 11 student
- 16 years old by June 30
- Completed Grade 10 Science (Academic) or any Grade 11 science course
Contact [email protected] if you have any questions about the program.
STEAM-D Program
STEAM-D introduces students to science, technology, engineering, arts, and math in health-related contexts, emphasizing diversity and innovation.
Eligibility:
- Priority for students who are Black, Indigenous, Latin American, Filipino or facing socio-economic barriers
- Grade 10 or 11 student
- 16 years old by June 30
- Completed Grade 10 Science (Academic) or any Grade 11 science course
Contact [email protected] if you have any questions about the program.
Students Receive:
- $1600.00 upon completion
- Grade 12 high school SNC4M Credit
- TTC Presto Pass for the month in the program
For more information, please check out our website.
Virtual ASD Afterschool Skills Development Program - Spring 2026 Registration
The spring 2026 session of the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Virtual Afterschool Skills Development Program will run from March 24 to June 9. The program is open to students in grades 4 to 10 with an ASD diagnosis. Please read the ASD Afterschool Skills Development Program letter, which includes the spring 2026 registration link. Registration closes on March 6.
Yearbook:
Grad Quotes: Submissions are officially open! Submit a quote that you would like displayed next to your grad photo by Friday, March 13th: https://forms.gle/vx4KPHXzWrGMETBk6
Special Education and Inclusion Parent Engagement Sessions - March 2026
Special Education and Inclusion is pleased to offer various sessions for parents/caregivers this March. Please find additional information in this flyer. All parent engagement sessions for the 2025-26 school year can be found on the TDSB website.
Library Learning Commons
Library CLOSED for Literacy Test: Wednesday March 26 & Wed. April 1
9:45am - to 3:15pm
→ circulation desk CLOSED: no Chromebook loans or borrowing available
→ no printing
→ no classes; no spares
RETURN or RENEW your Library Books and bring back your Day Use Chromebooks
- Email reminders are being sent out to students with overdue and missing books, as well as Daily Loaner Chromebooks, on Friday, February 27
- 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 in the Library.
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]
School Council:
Want to find parent tips, supports for you and your student, and the latest events for parents at Northern and beyond? Come visit our updated and easy-to-use School Council website! Made for parents, by parents. nsscouncil.com
Upcoming Events:
Student Nutrition Program - Cobs Bread Yonge & Davisville @ 1969 Yonge St - From Feb 7 - March 8 2026, Cobs Bread is running a fundraiser for Northern to help support Northern’s School Nutrition Program. 3 ways to support. Please visit the store for more details.
Grade 11 Parents and Caregivers Social (all welcome) - Saturday February 28 2026. Who doesn’t enjoy a good coffee connect. Meet other parents and carers in the community supporting our students success at Northern. Join us at Daphne’s Antioch Café (620 Mt. Pleasant Rd) at 11 am.
Walking Buddies - Sunday March 1st 2026 at 9:30 am. Join us for a relaxing one-hour walk through Mt. Pleasant Cemetery – every second weekend at 9:30am. Meet at the Funeral Centre parking lot (Dogs welcome) to get your steps in, strengthen your connection to the Northern SS Community, and enjoy the autumn weather. Please let us know that you are coming by emailing us at: [email protected] with “Walking buddies” in the subject line.
Upcoming dates: Saturday March 14, Sunday March 29
Post-secondary parent coffee - Saturday, March 28th 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.
Grade 9 Parents and Caregivers Social (all welcome) - Saturday April 11 2026. Meet other parents and carers in the community supporting our students success at Northern. Join us at Daphne’s Antioch Café (620 Mt. Pleasant Rd) at 9 am.
To receive news "for parents, by parents," email: [email protected] with the subject line “Count me in.”
Follow us on Instagram: @nss_council. If you have ideas, questions, or would like to get involved in the work of the School Council, email us at [email protected]. We would love to hear from you!
Northern Secondary School Foundation:
Accepting Applications for Scholarships and Awards March 13-May 3, 2026
Attention Parents/Gurdians of Graduating Students
The Foundation is pleased to offer over 45 Scholarships and Awards to graduating students. We are grateful to former teachers, parents and alumni who fund these awards. Awards range from $200 to $5000.
Applications will be accepted starting on March 13th 2026
Go to nssf.ca/scholarships for a complete list of the awards and application forms.
- scholarships and awards recognize academic achievement in math, science, social science, business, family studies, music, art and design.. Others recognize leadership in community service, environmental and humanitarian initiatives, participation in athletic and extracurricular activities, and perseverance in face of adversity.
Award winners are selected by the Scholarship Committee of Northern Secondary School. If you have any questions about the awards or the application process, contact us at [email protected] and we will get back to you
Guidance:
- Thank you to everyone for all their work to get our 2026-2027 Course Selections inputted into our myBlueprint.ca/tdsb system!
- OSAP Workshop: Tuesday. March 3, 2026 at lunch in rm 111.
There are changes to OSAP! Check out our 2nd Financing Post-Secondary & OSAP Workshop: Tuesday. March 3, 2026 at lunch in rm 111.
Come to room 111 at the start of lunch to learn more about how OSAP works and tips for planning your finances for post secondary.
- NSS Mental Wellness Theme: March’s Wellness theme is “Self Talk: Interrupting Negative Thinking Traps”!
The WHY of it: A Thought is Not a Fact! We get to control what thoughts we focus on and what thoughts we believe. Recognizing this leads us to be able to manage our anxious & negative thoughts so that we can function better.
- The Government of Ontario has launched My Career Journey, a new digital portal designed to help students navigate postsecondary options and career pathways with confidence.
What students can do with this tool:
Get a Personalized Resource Guide: By completing a quick survey, students receive a custom list of education and career resources sent directly to their inbox.
Explore Postsecondary Institutions: An interactive map of every university, college, and Indigenous Institute in Ontario.
Identify In-Demand Careers: Regional maps and data highlighting where the jobs are by industry and sector.
Access Labour Market Insights: Detailed profiles including median salaries, required training, and current job posting trends.
- Summer Mentorship Program
Gives high school students in grades 10-11, who self-identify as Indigenous or Black, a chance to explore health sciences at U of T over four weeks in July. Upon completion participants receive a stipend of $1600.
MORE INFO HERE
- Reach Ahead to Kinesiology
FREE March Break program for Black and Indigenous youth that offers hands-on workshops, interactive activities, meaningful connections with professors and staff, and opportunities to receive mentorship from currently enrolled Black, Indigenous and other racialized students.
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE
- 2025-2026 Scholarship 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.
For access to The Scholarship Report Library, please follow the instructions below:
Login here. Click on the LOGIN tab.
Password: SEPTSCHOLAR25
Click 'Dashboard' and then click on the TSR Newsletters
This resource is copyrighted and should not be shared outside the NSS Community.
- 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
- 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)
2025-2026 Guidance Counsellors by Last Name Alpha:
[email protected], X20046, Alpha Last Names: A, E, F, I, P
[email protected], X 20041, Alpha Last Names: B, C
[email protected], X 20042, Alpha Last Names: D, G, J, T, Z
[email protected], X 20045, Alpha Last Names: H, K, L
[email protected], X 20043, Alpha Last Names: M, N, O, Q, R
[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
HISTORICAL:
Line 5 is Finally Open!
The TTC has asked me to share some communication regarding conduct and payment on the system. Please note that fines can be occurred for any of the following:
TTC Safety & Delay Awareness for Students- The TTC continues to experience service delays, with the most common cause being patron‑related incidents such as disorderly behavior and track intrusions. These types of incidents create the most significant lost time across the subway system and can shut down stations or entire lines for long periods.
TTC Fare Tips:
- Youths ages 16-19: Must carry high school Photo ID, a driver’s license, or Ontario Photo Card when travelling on the TTC.
- Using a Presto card is the best option for paying fares. You can get a free card through the Presto App or pay $4 at the nearest Presto Fare Vending Machine for a physical card. If you make a round trip within 2 hours, it will only count as 1 fare when using a payment card.
Students are reminded to:
- Say NO to tail-gating
- Do not charge the Presto fare gates. One student at a time.
- Stay behind the yellow line and avoid any horseplay on platforms.
- Never step near the tracks - even brief track intrusions trigger full safety shutdowns.
- Keep doors clear and avoid holding or blocking them, as this causes system-wide delays.
- Follow TTC staff directions and listen for announcements during disruptions.
By being alert and respectful while travelling, students help keep the TTC safe and moving smoothly for everyone.
Reporting Student Absences:
Option 1:
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.
Setting Up a PIN for Reporting Student Absences
Setting up a PIN would ensure that your child’s absences are reported accurately. Families are strongly encouraged to set up a Personal Identification Number (PIN) by following these instructions. Download the SchoolMessenger App from the Google Play or Apple App Store or via the website: go.schoolmessenger.ca. When registering, be sure to use your email account linked to our Student Information System.