Dear Northern Families,

A reminder that next Thursday is a regular school day, no late start.

I am going to keep the opening short this week as there is a fair bit of important content below this week. Winter athletics regular seasons are wrapping up and playoffs are around the corner. Our Arts departments are busy preparing for various shows/ productions/ exhibitions that run in the near future as well. Add to all this activity the pressure of the last few weeks where students have been submitting and teachers marking work for report cards…everyone is feeling the drag of winter right now. Make sure your children maintain balance in their lives as much as possible…reminders about sleep, screen time, relaxation etc. are important this time of year!

 

Here are the “Five Things You Need to Know about Northern Next Week”:

1. Monday February 10^th: grade 9 myBlueprint Assembly period 1.
2. myBlueprint (course selection) opens: Tuesday February 11^th
3. GAC Information Evening: Tuesday February 11^th @6:30pm
4. Early Close- Parent Teacher Interviews: Wednesday February 12^th
5. PA Day- School Closed: Friday February 14^th

 

Details:

1. myBlueprint assembly for grade 9 students only. This is a first run-through the system for grade 9’s. A brief, but important session. Support with myBlueprint for all grades is available in guidance.

2. myBlueprint opens for all students. Don’t leave it to the last minute! Have a look at courses on offer, talk to teachers, family, and guidance. Here is an outline of the process:

Monday February 10

• myBlueprint Assembly for grade 9 home forms where the course selection process will be reviewed
• Grade 9, 10, and 11 home form teachers will review the course selection process with their students emphasizing the importance of thoughtful choices and meeting course selection submission deadlines

Tuesday February 11, at 9 AM – COURSE SELECTION PROCESS BEGINS

• myBlueprint opens for course selection
• All students advised to choose two alternate courses as requested within myBluepint

Tuesday February 20 at 9 AM – myBlueprint CLOSES, and Course Selection Sign Off sheets are DUE

• myBlueprint closes for course selection
• SIGNED Course Selection Sign Off sheets (course choice summaries printed by students from myBlueprint) are due to home form teachers

Monday February 24, in home form classes

• Course Verification sheets will be distributed to students – students receive a final confirmation of their selections which they wish to have on their timetables for the upcoming school year
• Course Verification sheets must be taken home and signed by their guardians

Wednesday February 26 in home form classes

• SIGNED Course Request Verification sheets are due to home form teachers

3. AP, Enrichment, & Scholarship Information Evening
Come to Northern on Tues. Feb 11 from 6:30 to 8 pm to learn more about: a variety of Enrichment Opportunities for students (for summer plans and for year-round); Advanced Placement courses and exams (and whether they might be a good option for you to gain university credit in high school); and how to help fund post-secondary expenses, including a surprising range of Scholarship opportunities. There are presentations, question and answer opportunities, and an exhibitors' fair to browse. This information may help with planning your future courses, and support learning inside and out of the classroom. This is a school-wide presentation by GAC for all Northern students and parents. See poster attached here for more information.

4. Parent Teacher Interviews…here is the information from last week again in case you need it:

Parent/Guardian-Teacher Conference Information

Dear Parents and Guardians of Northern Secondary School,

577. will be holding Parent/Guardian-Teacher Interviews at the school on Wednesday, February 12^th 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 11^th 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

5. PA Day: Friday February 14^th: no school- Happy Valentine’s Day!

 

Cooperative Education Information on Parent-Teacher Interview Day:

Cooperative Education is a program that allows students to earn high school credits while gaining valuable work experience. Placements include hospitals, skilled trades, vets, business, architecture, elementary schools, daycare, law, politics, restaurants as well as many other opportunities.

Co-op staff will be available on Parent-Teacher Interview Day in the Co-op Office, Room 312, for parents who would like to drop by and ask questions about co-op.

Students who are interested in finding out if Co-op would be a good program choice for next year are also welcome to visit us in the Co-op Office.

 

Pay It Forward :

Former Northern grads are participating in our Pay It Forward panel to share their experiences at post-secondary school with students on Tuesday, Feb. 18, period 3, in the library. Interested students should contact Mrs. Smither by email sherry.smither@tdsb.on.ca or drop by the Gifted office room 118A.

 

Social Justice Winter Clothing Drive:

Each year 40,000 young people will experience homelessness. In Toronto up to 2,000 young people are homeless each night. The statistics are staggering.

Do you have any winter coats, mitts, hats, clean socks, sleeping bags or warm winter clothing? Please consider donating to the Social Justice Club Winter Clothing Drive. Please bring any donations to the front foyer starting on Friday, February 7th and including parent teacher interview day until Thursday, February 13th. Thank you for your support.

Coronavirus Message from the TDSB:

Please find below a link to a letter from Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Eileen de Villa, with an update on the Novel Coronavirus.

Letter from Toronto's Medical Officer of Health

As we have indicated in previous letters, public health agencies continue to say the risk to the public remains low. As a result, they have not advised the TDSB or any of its schools to take additional precautions at this time. Working with Toronto Public Health and others, the TDSB continues to monitor the situation closely and will advise should any additional steps be needed.

In the meantime, should you have any questions about the coronavirus, visit the link in the letter above or the TDSB website.

 

From the Guidance Office:

1. After-school Numeracy Program will begin every Tuesday and Thursday starting February 11, 2020.

13031. 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! See poster attached

Every Tuesday or Thursday @ 3:15- 4:30 in Room 124

Contact Ms. Kendall to register for sessions.

stephanie.kendall@tdsb.on.ca

2. Tuesday, February 11, 2020 – Carlton University Visit - room 120 from 11:30 – 12:30

Thinking about attending Carlton University? Then come to an important info session to have your questions answered by a Carlton rep.

3. Monday, February 11, 2020 – The University of King’s College in Halifax Visit – Guidance Office from 11:30 – 12:30

Thinking about attending The University of King’s College in Halifax? Then come to an important info session to have your questions answered by a King’s rep.

4. 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:

1. Students must apply first through eReg: https://ereg.tdsb.on.ca/public/conedstudentlogin.aspx
2. 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.

 

A Northern/ School Council Presentation:

Save the date: Northern Secondary will be hosting a viewing of "Screenagers - Next Chapter" on Thursday March 5th.

To register visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/screenagers-next-chapter-viewing-hosted-by-northern-secondary-school-tickets-93583108597

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

 

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 Northern Secondary School Foundation was pleased to provide Grants to three Northern clubs for 2020!

The Northern Music Council

To provide an honorarium to professional musicians to present workshops and performances to music classes.

The Northern United Nations Club

To support our Northern delegates to Model UN conferences.

The Northern Bike Club

An amazing green Northern initiative!!

To encourage students to bike to school and help them understand how to keep their bikes in good working condition.

 

The next NSSF meeting is on February 18 @ 6:30pm.

For more information, contact us at info@nssf.ca

 

School Council:

School Council meets next on Tuesday February 25^th at 6:30pm.

For more information please visit our website at nsscouncil.com or email us at: nss.school.council@gmail.com

 

Upcoming Events:

1. February 17^th: No School- Family Day
2. February 19^th: OSAP Presentation – Room 111 from 11:40 – 12:15
3. February 19^th: Chamber Concert at 3:30pm
4. February 19^th: African Heritage Month Assembly
5. February 20^th: Co-Op Application forms for 2020-2021 due- see guidance for details.
6. February 24^th: Academic Resource Committee Meeting
7. February 25^th: Caring and Safe Schools Meeting
8. February 25^th: School Council Meeting
9. Feb. 27th: “Important Stuff You Want To Know About Teen Substance Use But Were Afraid To Ask” - Information Evening for Students and Parents
10. March 5^th: Winter Athletic Assembly
11. March 10^th: NSSF Meeting
12. March 13^th: deadline for Summer Co-op- see your Guidance Counsellor!
13. March 15-20: March Break
14. March 24^th: OSSLT Preparation Day (period 1)
15. March 30^th: Academic Resource Committee Meeting
16. March 31^st: OSSLT and Grade 9 math prep day
17. April 1^st: School Council Meeting

 

Have a great weekend,

Adam Marshall

Principal

Follow me @PrincipalNSS