Dear Northern Families,
Lots of content below as usual. A couple of mentions from this week: Congratulations to Northern’s Deaf and Hard of Hearing Department on another successful running of our annual Basketball Championships tournament yesterday. The team was incredible and fell short by 1 point in the final! Thank You to the entire DHH staff and especially to Mr. Larocque for making this such a success (again)!
Today at lunch our guidance department put on our annual Volunteer and Employment Fair. There was a great turnout of students to learn about opportunities in our community for volunteering and work opportunities. Thank You Ms. Sohn and the entire Student Services department!
Please check out the March SAC Newsletter!

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: School Council Meeting @6:30pm
Wednesday: Talent Show
Thursday: DHH Communication Contest
Thursday: Guest Speaker (see School Council Section for details)
Friday: Midterm Report Card Distribution

Mainstage:
School Cash Online is open for tickets for both days - April 29th and 30th
When: April 29 and 30 @ 6:30pm
Where: Northern Secondary School Auditorium
Adult tickets: $15
Student tickets: $10
Run-time: 2.5 hours
🩷 Omigod You Guys! 🩷 Legally Blonde Musical will take centre stage in late April! We would like to personally invite you and your family to attend our show nights on Wednesday April 29th and Thursday 30th.
The ticket links are now available on school cash online. In case you can't navigate the portable, below are the individual links for each show, and feel free to share them with anyone interested.
April 29 https://tdsb.schoolcashonline.com/Fee/Details/424021/153/False/True
April 30 https://tdsb.schoolcashonline.com/Fee/Details/424066/153/False/True

Badminton
Congratulations to Emma W., Grant J. and Alec J. winning silver in South Region Badminton Championships. Clara K and Faye G. for winning gold in South Region Badminton Championships. Wishing them all the best as they will be competing in the City Championships next Friday.

Talent Show:
Talent Show is excited to announce our second annual show taking place on April 15th at 6:00 pm! Come out and support your peers as they showcase a wide range of incredible talents.
Tickets are being sold at lunch in the first floor foyer for $5 and can be purchased with cash or card. Be sure to grab yours early so you don’t miss out!
We welcome all Northern students, staff, and families, and we can’t wait to see you there for a fun and memorable show!

HEY GRADUATES!!
Prom is quickly approaching, and we can't wait to see you all there! To ensure a spot at prom, please make sure to buy your ticket through SchoolCashOnline as soon as possible! It will close on MAY 13th at 11:59 PM. In order to attend prom, you must also fill out the Code of Conduct form and a Guest Form if you are bringing one. Guest forms can be found in the Guidance Office. All Code of Conduct forms are due on MAY 15th! However, the sooner you purchase your ticket and fill out the Code of Conduct form, the sooner you can request your seating and pick up your physical ticket!! More information on seating requests and physical ticket pickup will be released soon.

Special Note from Guidance Regarding Colleges:
The Ontario Colleges Degree Panel is coming to Northern on the afternoon of Thursday, May 7. Representatives from George Brown, Humber, Centennial, Georgian, Seneca, and Sheridan and their Applied Degree programs will share information and answer questions.
Students will learn about:
· How to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in a hands-on College setting.
· How going to College to earn a Degree can give them a focused education and job opportunities they didn’t know existed (the benefits of an applied Bachelor’s Degree Program).
· Joint College-University programs and transfer/bridging to university programs options.
· Majors offered: Computer Science, Business Administration, Commerce, Accounting, Early Childhood Education, , Public Relations, Criminal Justice, Health Sciences, Interior Design, and many more!
· Admissions requirements: programs typically have the same requirements as university programs (6 grade 12 U/M course) and can be very competitive.
This panel is a chance to expose our students to amazing educational opportunities that exist in Ontario.

SAC
HEY NORTHERN!! The Spring SAC Store is officially open! This is your last chance this year to grab limited-edition Northern merch. Be sure to purchase through SchoolCashOnline before APRIL 17 at 11:59 PM! Happy shopping!
Graduating students Prom 2026 is fast approaching. Stay tune for more information to roll out next week. A reminder:
Northern Secondary School Prom 2026
Friday, May 29th, 2026, 6-11 pm
Parkview Manor
School cash online opens April 1st.

Grad Photos offsite last-chance photos!
I wanted to share the details about our annual Toronto Weekend Graduation Photo Studio. It is scheduled to take place on April 18th and 19th. If you have any grade 12 students that require an alternative option for graduation photos or require a retake, please share this information.
We will begin designing the graduation composites the follow week once the images from this event are processed.
Edge Imaging will be holding a weekend Toronto Graduation Photo Studio. It will take place on April 18 and 19th.
Address:
36 Scarsdale Rd
North York, ON
M3B 2R7
If a student requires a photo session, has missed the opportunity at the school or requires a retake, please book an appointment using the link below:
https://edgeimaging.ca/en/graduation-photography-studios/
Choose Toronto
Acknowledge the Studio Disclaimer
Choose Senior Grade (Grade 12)
Choose date and time
Follow prompts to confirm appointment

Special Education and Inclusion Summer School 2026
The TDSB will once again offer summer school programs from July 6 to 30 for students currently enrolled in Developmental Disability, Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and Physical Disabilities Intensive Support Programs (ISPs). Principals are asked to share this information flyer with the families of students currently enrolled in these programs.
Spaces in the program are limited, and enrollment is on a first-come, first-served basis. Visit our Summer School website for more information.

Minister’s Certificate of Recognition for Community Involvement
As previously communicated, graduating students who go beyond 40 hours of volunteer work are eligible for the Minister’s Certificate of Recognition for Community Involvement. This new certificate comes in Bronze (50-99), Silver (100-199) and Gold (200+hrs).
Graduating students will have a submission deadline of April 17 to ensure that their certificate will be available for a June commencement. All hours must be recorded in PowerSchool as they are submitted to OnSIS. Hours submitted after April 17 will continue to be accepted; however, those beyond the 40-hour requirement may not lead to a certificate being available at commencement.

Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement Newsletter - April 2026
The April 2026 Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement Newsletter is now available to support student learning experiences, caregiver engagement and staff instructional programming. This month’s edition includes:
• Good news stories across the TDSB
• Upcoming Student, Staff and Parent/Caregiver Experiences
• Asynchronous Resources and Recorded Learning Opportunities
Questions? Contact Rukiya Mohamed.

Supporting Black Youth Mental Wellness - Scrolling with Ancestral Wisdom April 16 Event
The Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement in collaboration with TDSB Professional Support Services are excited to invite you to our upcoming Scrolling with Ancestral Wisdom: Supporting Black Youth Mental Wellness in the Digital Age webinar. Join us as we explore the evolving intersection of technology, social media, and Black youth mental health within today’s digital era!
This session, facilitated in collaboration with Dr. Travonne Edwards, will emphasize the importance of preserving ancestral wisdom, cultural grounding, and intergenerational connection as young people navigate digital realities. Rather than positioning technology as inherently harmful or focusing on parental control, this discussion will highlight guidance, relationship building, and culturally informed approaches to supporting Black youth wellness. Please share this information with your school communities:
• April 16 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
• Register here or see the flyer for details

Northern Semester 2 Final Exams and Culminating Activities:

Semester 2 final exams take place on:
Wednesday, June 17 at 10 am Period 1 Classes
Thursday, June 18 at 10 am Period 2 Classes
Friday, June 19 at 10 am Period 3 Classes
Monday, January 22 at 10 am 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 2 JUNE 2025-2026
Please find a FINAL version of our exam schedule here: NSS Exam Schedule - Semester 2 JUNE 2025-26

EARLY EXAM REQUESTS: A reminder that special scheduling requests cannot be made for exams. The relevant TDSB policy can be found here:
Under Ministry of Education and TDSB regulations, there can be no accommodations (scheduling changes) made for students who miss the 30% culminating activities at the end of a semester for personal reasons such as vacation, camp or work. Students and parents should be aware that scheduled vacations/trips 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
Bring in your broken TDSB Chromebook*
If you have a broken TDSB Chromebook, bring it to the Library by 4:00pm on April 15 to send it in for repairs. See Juli or KJ for help with submitting your device when you visit. The TDSB IT department will determine if the device is repairable.
* The Chromebook must have a blue label with “TDSB 1:1 Student Device Program” on the bottom in order to be eligible.
End of Library Daily Chromebook Loan program:
- the Library Daily Loan Chromebook program for students will end on April 20
- students with outstanding Chromebooks on loan are expected to return them daily (ie. as soon as possible if they are currently outstanding)
What can students do if they need a Chromebook?
- if you are in grade 9 and did not bring your 1:1 Device Chromebook from your grade 8 TDSB school, please report this to KJ or Juli in the Library
- if you are in grade 10, 11 or 12, or you are new to TDSB, and you were not given a 1:1 Device TDSB Chromebook, please see KJ or Juli in the Library to put in a request
- if you have lost your 1:1 Device Chromebook, please report it to KJ or Juli in the Library; we will report it and try to find it
- if you returned a 1:1 Device Chromebook and now need one for school, please report to KJ or Juli in the Library to put in a request

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.

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:
Looking for ways to meet other parents or find the latest information at Northern? Click here to Get Connected on the School Council website.
Our Annual Giving Campaign has been a great success. Thanks to our generous parents we have funds still available to support club activities at our high school. If your club is planning an event, project, competition, or other initiative and could benefit from financial support, we encourage you to submit a funding request through our website. All requests will be reviewed, and funds will be distributed based on need and available resources.
Funding Request Form
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.
Walking Buddies on Weekends: Join us 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: Sunday April 12 and Saturday April 25th. Where: Mount Pleasant Cemetery Funeral Centre Parking Lot
Parent Feedback Opportunity - are you the parent or guardian of a student with disabilities or special education needs in the TDSB? Share your experiences and recommendations with the Special Education Advisory Committee on April 13. Submissions are due April 2nd. Learn more here.
Northern Secondary School Council Meeting: Tuesday April 14th 6:30 - 8:00 Heritage Room (Rm 114): All parents and caregivers of Northern students are invited to attend. Each meeting features updates from chairs and committees, the latest school news from the principal, a Q&A with Adam, and time for parents to share ideas or concerns. Meetings are hybrid in format. Virtual links can be requested at [email protected] and they will be emailed by 5pm on the day of the meeting. Our last Council meeting is set for May 27th.



In Conversation with Claire Cameron: April 16th in Northern’s Library: Join us for a conversation with Claire Cameron, winner of the Governor General’s Literary Award 2025 for Non-fiction and Northern Alumni (’91) . How to Survive a Bear Attack: A Memoir. This fundraiser for School Council supported activities is a pay-what-you-can event. Parents, Caregivers, Staff, Students, Alumni and Friends of Northern are all invited. 6:30pm – Doors open and Event starts at 7pm. More info: nsscouncil.com Add to calendar
Grade 11 parents coffee: Sunday April 19, 11am, Daphne’s Antioch café. Yes. Grade 11. There has been interest in expanding our connection with other parents to share and learn more about other Grade 11 families and setting our kids up for the next stage in their journey. Please join us at 620 Mount Pleasant Road at Daphne's Antioch cafe.
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
The Jim McCarron Changemaker Award: Apply before May 3,2026
This award was generously funded by his family and colleagues to honour the legacy of Jim McCarron, Principal of Northern Secondary School from 1991 -1996.
Jim was a highly respected educator in the TDSB for over 30 years who made a profound difference in the lives of his colleagues and former students.
He was a real Changemaker!
The award will be given out annually at Commencement to a graduating student who has changed our hearts and mind by taking courageous action to made a difference in the lives of others in the school or wider community.
For more information about this award and others, go to nssf.ca/scholarships and complete an application form or contact us at [email protected] .

Guidance:
1. Full Disclosure Date: April 24, 2026:
Courses dropped after this date will appear on a student’s transcript.
2. Minister’s Certificate of Recognition for Community Involvement:
Graduating students who go beyond 40 hours of volunteer work are eligible for the Minister’s Certificate of Recognition for Community Involvement. This new certificate comes in Bronze (50-99 hrs), Silver (100-199 hrs) and Gold (200+hrs). Due date to submit hours for consideration is Friday, April 17, 2026.
3. TDSB e-Learning registration OPENS April 21, 2026 at 10 am
• Do not wait to sign up as classes fill early!
• Asynchronous learning
• July & August sessions available
• Full credit courses only
• Grade 11 & 12 courses only
• Click here for more information TDSB e-Summer courses
4. TDSB Con Ed Summer School registration OPENS April 28, 2026
• Registration closes June 12, 2026 at 10am
• Synchronous learning – in-person & remote
• July Sessions ONLY
• Full credit, Credit Recovery and remedial Math course available
• Grade 9 – 12 courses available
• Click here for more information about TDSB ConEd Summer School
5. Please note below that the following compulsory courses WILL NOT be offered through central TDSB e-Learning Day School next year, 2026 - 2027:
a. ENG4UE - gr 12 English
a. HSP3UE - gr 11 Intro to Anthro, Psych & Sociology
a. MCV4UE - gr 12 Calculus
a. MHF4UE - gr 12 Ad. Functions
a. NBE3CE - gr 11 college English
a. NBE3UE - gr 11 university English
a. SCH3UE - gr 11 university Chemistry
a. SCH4UE - gr 12 university Chemistry
a. SBI4UE - gr 12 university Biology
a. SPH3UE - gr 11 university Physics
a. SPH4UE - gr 12 university Physics
6. We are excited to announce that the Corsage Project will once again be running for 2026! Created in 1999, we work in partnership with the Children's Aid Foundation of Canada to provide free formal wear and accessories to female-identifying high school students unable to purchase their own prom attire. The Corsage Project accepts students referred by their schools or through social service agencies. These students will be formally invited to attend our ‘Boutique Ball’ on Saturday, May 2nd, 2026 at Rosedale School of the Arts. For further information on the Corsage Project, please visit www.corsageproject.ca. To apply, please meet with your Guidance Counsellor well before the deadline of April 17th, 2026.
7. The African Heritage Month Planning Volunteer Committee and TDSB are committed to encouraging and supporting students of African heritage to further their post-secondary education.
We are proud to offer three Know Your Worth Scholarships to Black TDSB students once again this year.
Each award is worth $1500 and there are awards for creativity, leadership, and academics.
Please see here for eligibility, criteria, and submission information about the three Know Your Worth Scholarships below:
Know Your Worth Kuumba Creative Award – Deadline is April 10 at 7 p.m.
Know Your Worth Umoja Leadership Award – Deadline is April 24 at 7 p.m.
Know Your Worth Kujichagulia Academic Award – Deadline is May 8 at 7 p.m.
8. UPDATED Scholarship Info: Scholarships requiring a Northern nomination can be found here. One upcoming award is the Schulich Builders award, which provides up to $40,000 for students interested in studying an eligible skilled trade in college. Applications are due April 1st!
9. Northern Secondary School Foundation Scholarships will be opening for application on March 13, and will close on May 3rd. You can take a look at available awards here to start thinking about your application: https://nssf.ca/scholarships/
10. The Seeking Scholarships Report continues to update resources for students on available scholarships, financial aid, and application tips. Northern students and families can access the most recent updates in the Library.
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 Newsletter
This resource is copyrighted and should not be shared outside the NSS Community.
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.
Grade 9 Google Classroom code: 3wvfe4kf
Grade 10 Google Classroom code: bedkqks
Grade 11 Google Classroom code: x6sh4ue
Grade 12 Google Classroom code: 4ixv2jl
13. 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)
14. 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

15. 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:
• Download the SchoolMessenger App from the Google Play or Apple App Store or via the website: go.schoolmessenger.ca
• 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:
o [email protected] (Last Names A to G)
o [email protected] (Last Names H to O)
o [email protected] (Last Names P to Z)
• *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.

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:
• EQAO Questions and Supports on the TDSB website
• TDSB Mathematics for Families & Caregivers page
• Free Math Help Available at TVO Mathify, a free online tutoring service for grades 4 to 12
Additional EQAO Math Resources

Please see these archived EQAO questions to share with families in Grade 3, Grade 6, and Grade 9. These links are being shared with teachers through today's tdsbNOW. We are also sharing:
• Weekly questions for Grade 3, Grade 6, and Grade 9
• Answer key for Grade 3, Grade 6, and Grade 9
• Past weekly questions for Grade 3, Grade 6, and Grade 9 that students can still attempt (the SUBMIT YOUR ANSWER link is at the bottom)
Families can view and work through the questions at their own pace, or this package can be printed at the school for families. The answer key is at the end, and students can access support from their teachers or through online tutoring support (for grades 4 to 12) with teachers at TVO Learn Mathify.


EQAO Practice Questions for Grade 9
If your student is taking math this semester, your child will be writing the EQAO assessment in June. Teachers are preparing students in class, and there are some resources provided below for students to try at home.
• Weekly questions for Grade 9
• Answer key for Grade 9
• Past weekly questions for Grade 9 that students can still attempt (the SUBMIT YOUR ANSWER link is at the bottom)
Families can view and work through the questions at their own pace, or this package can be printed at the school for families. The answer key is at the end, and students can access support from their teachers or through online tutoring support (for grades 4 to 12) with teachers at TVO Learn Mathify.