Dear Northern Families,

Thank You to all the families who were able to get an appointment/ attend parent-teacher interviews this week. Also thank you to our staff and the Northern Buddies for making yesterday night run so smoothly.

This coming week we will be running our African Heritage Assembly on Wednesday. This adjusts Wednesday to an assembly day schedule.

At this point, it also looks very likely that school will be out on Friday February 21^st as OSSTF members continue to advocate for better conditions for students in schools. If there are any changes to this planned job action you will receive a follow up message next week.

The school has recently had a generous donation of a grand piano from Ms. Joyce Hisey. Ms. Hisey is the grandmother of Northern grad Patrick Chappell. The piano now resides in our auditorium. Thank You Ms. Hisey!

A reminder (it is below too) that course selection is nearing conclusion!

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

1. Family Day- No School: Monday February 17^th
2. NSSF Meeting: Tuesday February 18^th @ 6:30pm
3. African Heritage Month Assembly: Wednesday February 19^th
4. Music Cafe: Wednesday February 19^th @ 3:30
5. My Blueprint Closes: Thursday February 20^th @ 9am

 

Details:

1. Family Day Holiday- No School Monday!

2. Northern Secondary School Foundation meeting: in the Heritage Room @6:30pm

3. African Heritage Month Assembly: We will be operating on an assembly day schedule on Wednesday February 19^th.

4. Music Council and the Music teachers would like to invite you to the Music Cafe ( former Chamber Concert) this Wednesday, Feb 19 at 3:30PM . room 227

We will be featuring the talent of our Northern students Coffee, tea and refreshments will be served during intermission

5. Course Selection/ myBlueprint (some of this is already in progress)

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

Thursday 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

 

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.

 

Duke of Edinburgh Awards: Congratulations!

Congratulations to our most recent Duke of Edinburgh Award Recipients!

Angelica Lee- Bronze

Juan Humberto Rico Alfaro- Bronze

Sierra Banayon-Abraham- Silver

An amazing accomplishment. If you are interested in learning more about this program please see Ms. Nechyporuk.

 

Coronavirus Message from the TDSB:

 

From the Guidance Office:

OSAP Information Session: Wednesday, February 19, 2020 at lunch in room 111:

Spring is almost here and that means it is almost time to start thinking about your OSAP application.

Any students who are planning on applying for OSAP to fund their post-secondary education should come to an important information lunch session hosted by an OSAP representative, Wednesday, February 19, 2020 in room 111.

Have all of your OSAP questions answered by an expert, learn about changes to OSAP, and get informed! See you February 19^th at lunch in room 111.

St. Francis Xavier University

Wednesday, February 19, 2020 –– Guidance Office from 11:30 – 12:30

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

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:
Northern Secondary School is hosting a Free Viewing of Screenagers - The Next Chapter Documentary on Thursday March 5th (7 - 9 pm).
This sequel to the very popular 2016 Screenagers film looks at the impact social media and other types of screen time can have on the mental health and wellness of our youth. The film looks at some real life scenarios and gives parents and students some helpful tips and strategies
to help deal with stress, anxiety, depression and loneliness. Please click on the Eventbrite link to register for your free ticket. Voluntary donations will be accepted at the viewing.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/screenagers-next-chapter-viewing-hosted-by-northern-secondary-school-tickets-93583108597

 

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

 

Addiction Awareness Workshops Available:

Click Addiction_Awareness_Poster_2020 (005)_Final_February10.pdf for details.

 

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

 

Gifted AdvisoryCommittee:

Thurs. February 27, 7:00 pm - "Some Important Stuff You Wanted To Know About Teen Substance Use But Were Afraid To Ask"
Come to Northern on Thurs. Feb. 27 at 7 pm to hear an experienced speaker from CAMH speak to students and parents about some substances that are commonly used by teens, their risks, impacts, and a common sense approach to reducing risk. Topics will include brain development and brain vulnerabilities, coping & resilience, having difficult conversations, reducing harm, and confronting stigma around substances and addiction. This is a school-wide presentation by GAC for all students and parents from Northern and beyond. Mark your calendars - we hope that you can join us.

Course Planning Information and Enrichment Opportunities:
As follow up to GAC's AP, Enrichment, & Scholarship information evening earlier this week, we're happy to share links to information that may be helpful in planning course selection, post-secondary funding, and enrichment and summer programs for students.

(1) Advanced Placement (AP) courses and course planning:
- Information about Northern's AP courses and AP exams; https://schoolweb.tdsb.on.ca/northernss/Academics/Advanced-Placement-AP

(2) Scholarships and sources of post-secondary funding:
- Information about Scholarships and other sources of post-secondary funding; [insert link to Jennifer MacPhee's presentation document]

(3) Enrichment Opportunities:
We also want to thank the following Enrichment Opportunity exhibitors who presented at GAC's AP, Enrichment, & Scholarship Information Evening this week. These exhibitors offer summer-time, March Break, and year-round enrichment opportunities, including 'for credit' travel courses that can free up your timetable so you have room for other courses or spares. Check these out and see if these are a good fit for your interests and course planning!

EduTravel for Credit - Earn high school credits (i.e. Civics and Careers, etc.) during March Break and the summer, through travel, classroom, and experiential learning - http://www.edutravelforcredit.com

Explore - government funded live-away Canadian spring or summer French Immersion programs for high school students - early-bird deadline - Feb. 15, 2020 - https://www.myexplore.ca/en

CEEF: Canadian Education Exchange Foundation - summer international exchange programs - https://www.ceef.ca

Brain Power Enrichment Programs- after-school academic enrichment programs for grades 1 -12 - https://www.brainpower.ca

Shad Canada - STEAM and Entrepreneurship one month summer live-in program for high school students at universities across Canada - https://www.shad.ca

Duke of Edinburgh's Awards - achieve skills and milestones in self-directed paths to earn internationally-recognized awards - check out Northern's Duke of Ed club and https://www.dukeofed.org

Boyd Archaeological Field School - archeology summer high school grade 11 and 12 credits earned while excavating an Indigenous archeological site in Pickering - https://trca.ca/conservation/archaeology/boydfieldschool

University of Toronto: Youth Summer Programs - Week-long summer programs providing high school students with information from professionals (Judges, lawyers, doctors) and professors at U of T's Faculties of Law and Medicine - http://ysp.utoronto.ca
Faculty of Law (LAW YSP)
Faculty of Medicine (MED YSP)
Faculty of Science & Engineering (DEEP) - week long summer STEM camps - https://outreach.engineering.utoronto.ca/pre-university-programs/deep

Holland Bloorview Kids Rehab Hospital - volunteer at specialized children's hospital - http://hollandbloorview.ca/Careers/Volunteeringwithus

SUNIA - week-long summer program in the Rocky Mountains on topics related to United Nations and International Affairs - https://www.sunia.ca

Queen's University: The Enrichment Studies Unit - stay in residence at Queen's for short spring and summer enrichment programs - https://esu.queensu.ca/programs

York University: Science Engagement Programs - hands on STEM programs in day-long workshops or week-long camps - http://science-explorations.info.yorku.ca

Northern Co-op program - explore career paths and contacts, learn valuable skills, and build your resume while earning high school credits for immersion in your choice of workplace - contact Northern Co-op teachers: Joan Jay <joan.jay@tdsb.on.ca>, or Linda.Duffy@tdsb.on.ca,

 

Upcoming Events:

1. February 19^th: OSAP Presentation – Room 111 from 11:40 – 12:15
2. February 20^th: Co-Op Application forms for 2020-2021 due- see guidance for details.
3. February 24^th: Academic Resource Committee Meeting
4. February 25^th: Huron at Western University Visit- Guidance office @ lunch
5. February 25^th: School Council Meeting
6. Feb. 27th: “Important Stuff You Want To Know About Teen Substance Use But Were Afraid To Ask” - Information Evening for Students and Parents
7. March 5^th: Winter Athletic Assembly
8. March 10^th: NSSF Meeting
9. March 13^th: deadline for Summer Co-op- see your Guidance Counsellor!
10. March 15-20: March Break
11. March 24^th: OSSLT Preparation Day (period 1)
12. March 30^th: Academic Resource Committee Meeting
13. March 31^st: OSSLT and Grade 9 math prep day
14. April 1^st: School Council Meeting

Have a great Family Day long weekend,

Adam Marshall

Principal

Follow me @PrincipalNSS