Dear Northern Families,
Tomorrow, Saturday February 1st, a memorial service will be held for Northern student Maya Zibaie. The service will take place at the Parya Foundation located at 344 John Street in Thornhill. The service will run from 11am-1pm. Details can be found here .
Moving forward, Northern will be exploring the best way to remember Maya at the school. In consultation with Maya’s closest friends, father, and students we will try to come up with an appropriate way to preserve Maya’s memory. Once details are finalized we may reach out to the Northern community for assistance- we have received many questions about how people can help- please stay tuned as we work this out.
Important Schedule Change: Last week I emailed that the afternoon portion of the parent teacher interview schedule would be cancelled. I am happy to inform you that we are able to run the afternoon portion of the schedule. Therefore, there WILL be an early close on Wednesday February 12th at 12pm. Interviews will run from 1:30-3:00pm and again from 6:00-8:30pm. Please see sign up details below. All other late starts/ early closes continue to be cancelled. For example, the late start on February 13th is still cancelled at this point.
Course Selection is coming! Please note this process gets underway next week during the course selection fair. There are important dates to be aware of that can be found in the student agenda. We will send out some communication about these dates next week. Most importantly, myBlueprint closes on February 20th. It hasn't opened yet, but this date will arrive quickly, so we encourage you to look at available courses for next year on the school website to begin the decision making process. The best way to ensure you get your courses of choice is to make the right selections early (by this first deadline).
Please see a message from the board in the details below about the Coronavirus.
Here are the “Five Things You Need to Know about Northern Next Week”:
- No Early Close- regular day schedule: Tuesday February 4th
- Class Rep Meeting: Wednesday February 5th @ lunch
- Postponed: African Heritage Assembly: stay tuned for alternate date announcement
- Report Cards Issued- Thursday February 6th
- Course Selection Fair: Friday February 7th (extended lunch 11:15-12:45)
Details:
1.Early close cancelled. Regular full day schedule on Tuesday the 4th.
2.Class rep meeting in the auditorium starting at 11:15.
3. We are looking at an alternate date that works for all involved for the African Heritage Month Assembly. We hope to get an alternate date to students early next week.
4. Report Cards Issued on Thursday February 6th. Information on signing up for parent teacher interviews can be found below.
5. The Course Selection Fair runs on Friday during an extended lunch. This is a great way for students to inform themselves about courses they are considering. For more information about the course selection process for next year please look here:
Parent/Guardian-Teacher Conference Information
Dear Parents and Guardians of Northern Secondary School,
We will be holding Parent/Guardian-Teacher Interviews at the school on Wednesday, February 12th from 1:30-3:00 pm and 6:00 - 8:30 pm. You will be able to schedule your Parent/Guardian-Teacher Interviews online. If you wish to schedule a meeting with any of your child's teachers, please follow the instructions printed further down the page.
You will be able to make appointments (following report card distribution) on Thursday February 6th at 4:00 pm to February 11th at 11:00 pm.
Instructions
1. Prepare a list with the names of each teacher you would like to meet
2. Go to the NSS-parentInterview scheduling website at https://nss.parentinterview.com
3. Enter your child's 9-digit student number or Ontario Education Number and click "Sign In"
4. Fill in your contact information and click "Continue to Make Appointments"
5. Click on the name of a teacher with whom you wish to schedule an appointment
6. Click on "Available" for a time at which you wish to meet with that teacher
7. Repeat Steps 5 and 6 until you have scheduled all the teachers you wish to see
8. Click on "My Schedule" (top left of the page)
9. Print out (or copy down) your schedule and bring it with you
Should you wish to delete an appointment you have made, click on "Delete" beside the meeting you wish to have removed from your schedule.
If you misplace your schedule, you may use your child's student number to retrieve your schedule from the website at any time.
If you experience any difficulty using the service, please email support@parentinterview.com
If you do not have access to the internet at home or in the workplace, please call parentInterview toll-free at 1-866-810-0076, and someone will be happy to make your appointments with you.
We look forward to seeing you.
Sincerely,
The Teachers and Administration of Northern Secondary School
Coronavirus Message from the TDSB:
Good Afternoon Parents/Guardians,
We wanted to provide you with a brief update with regards to the coronavirus. The Toronto District School Board continues to take its lead from Toronto Public Health and other public health agencies, which have not advised our schools to take any additional precautions at this time. They also continue to advise that the risk to the public remains low.
The TDSB will continue to keep school communities updated and will promptly advise should any additional precautions become necessary. In the meantime, please visit our website for recent communications, questions and answers and links to important resources such as those from Toronto Public Health, the Ontario Ministry of Health, Health Canada and the Ontario Human Rights Commission.
Drama News
Drama News: Drama Trip
Does your child love theatre? Northern is going to the Stratford Festival and all students are welcome to participate!
Where? Stratford, Ontario
Who? All students attending Northern next year
What? The trip includes:
+ 6 Theatrical productions (Chicago, Spamalot, The Miser, Much Ado About Nothing, All's Well That End's Well and Here's What it Takes - new Canadian Musical by BareNaked Ladies lead singer - Steven Page)
+ 5 Tours - Costumes/Props Warehouse, Backstage, Gardens and Set Changeover tours
+ Cast and Crew meet and greets
+ 3 nights Hotel Accommodation
+ 3 breakfasts & 1 dinner
+ Luxury Motor Coach Transportation
When? Thursday, Oct 22 @ 3:30 to Sunday, Oct 25 @ 6:30
Registration is now open. Deadline to register is Sunday, March 15th. The first 25 students to pay the deposit will be accepted on the trip.
Attachments: One , Two , Three
From the Guidance Office:
For Students in a 12Z Home Form
On Tuesday, February 5th there will an information session regarding the course selection process for the next academic year in room 119 starting at 11:40 a.m.. All students in a 12Z Home Form are invited to attend.
After-school Numeracy Program will begin every Tuesday and Thursday starting February 11, 2020.
The purpose of the Numeracy Program is to provide additional support for interested mathematics students. Students will work with faculty members of the NSS Math department to identify students’ individual areas of need, build and strengthen their mathematical foundation, practice and apply key mathematical processes and concepts required throughout the mathematics curriculum.
We are here to help!
Every Tuesday or Thursday @ 3:15- 4:30 in Room 124
Contact Ms. Kendall to register for sessions.
stephanie.kendall@tdsb.on.ca
Carlton University Northern SS - Lunch Visit:
A representative from Carlton University will be visiting Northern SS Tuesday, February 11, 2020 at lunch in room 120. Find out more about programs, your application and have any other questions answered.
Summer CO-OP – Application Due March 13, 2020
Did you know you can earn two credits this summer and gain employment experience?
Registration for Summer Coop is done in two steps:
- Students must apply first through eReg: https://ereg.tdsb.on.ca/public/conedstudentlogin.aspx
- Please upload this application and your résumé to eReg and have your guidance counsellor submit your eReg application.
eReg registration and receipt of the application and résumé must be received by Friday, March 13, 2020.
Please see your Guidance Counsellor for more details and to complete the application.
School Council:
School Council meets next on Tuesday February 25th at 6:30pm.
For more information please visit our website at nsscouncil.com or email us at: nss.school.council@gmail.com
A Northern/ School Council Presentation:
Save the date: Northern Secondary will be hosting a viewing of "Screenagers - Next Chapter" on Thursday March 5th.
More details to come on how to register.
From the Makers of the Award-Winning Documentary SCREENAGERS comes Screenagers NEXT CHAPTER
Filmmaker and physician Dr. Delaney Ruston takes the conversation around screens and teens to the next level with Screenagers NEXT CHAPTER: Uncovering Skills for Stress Resilience—a film that examines the science behind teen’s emotional challenges, the interplay of social media, and most importantly, what can be done in our schools and homes to help them build crucial skills to navigate stress, anxiety, and depression in our digital age.
MOVIE TRAILER: https://www.screenagersmovie.com/nc-trailer
JOINT WARD FORUM: (from Trustee Rachel Chernos Lin)
Guest Speaker, TDSB Director, Dr. John Malloy, Feb. 6, 6:30-8:30pm @ North Toronto Collegiate Please join me for my next ward forum coming up on February 6th from 6:308:30pm at North Toronto Collegiate. Trustee Shelley Laskin and I will be hosting a joint ward forum with special guest, TDSB Director of Education, Dr. John Malloy. Dr. Malloy will speak on a variety of current topics including the Secondary Review, French programming, and the Multi-Year Strategic Plan. There will be plenty of time for questions and answers with the Director and Trustees. Please click on this link , for more information on parking, child care and more. We hope you will be able to join us!
Reminder from the TDSB regarding feedback
Secondary Program Review and Optional Attendance Policy – You can provide feedback by completing the survey here.This survey will be online until January 31, 2020. More information here: Secondary Program Review.
In addition, the Optional Attendance draft policy has been posted on the TDSB public site. To provide feedback, please visit the Policy Consultation page.
Please note that the Optional Attendance policy is being reviewed at the same time as the Secondary Program Review.
You can e-mail your comments or questions about the review and/or the Optional Attendance policy to: secondaryreview@tdsb.on.ca
Lunch Program!
The Toonie Trio Lunch Program is back in 2020! Students can come down to the Cafeteria on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays to get lunch for $2.
Northern Secondary School Foundation:
The next NSSF meeting is on February 18 @ 6:30pm.
For more information, contact us at info@nssf.ca
Upcoming Events:
- February 11th: The University of King’s College in Halifax Visit – Guidance Office at 11:30.
- February 11th: After School Numeracy Program- grade 9 focus begins at 3:15 in room
- February 11th: Carlton University Visit - Guidance office from 11:30 – 12:30
- Feb. 11th: AP, Enrichment, and Scholarship Info Evening for Parents and Students
- February 12th: Parent-Teacher Interviews*watch for updates.
- February 14th: No School- PD Day
- February 17th: No School- Family Day
- February 19th: OSAP Presentation – Room 111 from 11:40 – 12:15
- February 19th: Chamber Concert at 3:30pm
- February 24th: Academic Resource Committee Meeting
- February 25th: Caring and Safe Schools Meeting
- February 25th: School Council Meeting
- Feb. 27th: “Essential Stuff You Wanted To Know About Teen Substance Use But Were Afraid To Ask” - Information Evening for Parents and Students
- March 5th: Winter Athletic Assembly
- March 10th: NSSF Meeting
- March 13th: deadline for Summer Co-op- see your Guidance Counsellor!
- March 15-20: March Break
Have a great weekend,
Adam Marshall
Principal
Follow me @PrincipalNSS