Dear Northern Families,
This week all students took part in our Opening Safety Assemblies. We reviewed TDSB and School expectations around student conduct. Messages around attendance, behaviour, board and schools were reviewed along with the Chart of Consequences. Please take a look at the TDSB Code of Conduct and other information shared HERE in our Student Agenda/Handbook.
This past week has been Buddy Week- thank you to all our Buddies for doing such a fantastic job making Northern such a welcoming space!
- huge thank you to SC and GA/BAA, and Buddies for hosting the Grade 9 BBQ on the field at lunch today. The sun was shining, and it was a great way to end the week together as a cohort! special shout out to all staff supervisors and especially Ms. Le for making it such a success!
Election Announcement! School Council Elections are approaching! You will receive an official notification in a separate email early next week. Please consider getting involved!
ACTION: Student Accident Insurance – The TDSB does not provide accident insurance coverage for student injuries that occur on school premises or during school-organized activities. Treatment for student injuries can be costly to families and could extend over several years (example – dental treatment requiring follow-up in subsequent years as the child grows). In accordance with the Education Act, the TDSB has partnered with Study Insured to offer families Student Accident Insurance. Please find details here: Student Accident Insurance
We are just over a week from Orange Shirt Day. Have look for an appropriate orange shirt in your household to wear on Wednesday September 30th!
New to Northern and in grades 10-12? We look forward to welcoming you at our New Student Luncheon on Friday September 25th. We will be located in Room 105 (staff room) during the lunch hour.
The student calendar can be found here: 2026-2027 Northern Community Calendar. Any additions made will be highlighted for a two week period throughout the year.
The student handbook can be found here: Student Handbook
Things to Know for Next Week:
Monday: SAC Class Rep Elections
Tuesday: Caring and Safe Schools Meeting @4pm
Wednesday: Late Start @9:55am
Wednesday: International Day of Sign Languages
Thursday: Terry Fox Run at Lunch- details below- come out and participate!
Thursday: Curriculum Night 6-8pm (details below)
Friday: Grade 10-12 Welcome Lunch (staff room)
Coming Up: Club Fair @ Lunch Monday Sept. 28!
Join the Northern Parent Community!
Whether you are just starting or in your last year at Northern, newcomer or Northern alumna, social or academic - every parent has questions.
What’s important to know at Northern? how do I get connected to teachers, clubs, parents? what is course selection? how to plan for post-secondary? what supports are there for special needs? how to connect with my teen? And the list goes on…
Northern School Council is pleased to host ongoing opportunities to ask these questions, share experiences, and get help. Everything we do is “for parents, by parents”, and there is something for everyone.
Want to stay informed?
- Our Website - Visit nsscouncil.com for upcoming events, Northern essentials, parent tips, and resources beyond Northern.
- What’s App - join our chatroom for Northern parents (with lots of subgroups too!) To join, email nss.school.council@gmail.com with “Join What’s App” in the subject line.
Want to make connections?
1) Get connected - visit nsscouncil.com to learn how to join our parent-to-parent mailing list, what's app group, and more.
2) Grade 9 Parent Coffee - Sat, Sept 19 at 9-10 am - The Harp Coffee Bar - 174 Eglinton Ave E- meet other Grade 9 parents and School Council parents to chat about wins, jitters, and parent-to-parent support as you start the new year in a big school!
3) Walking Buddies - Sun, Sept 20 at 9:30-10:30 am - join other Northern parents to walk and talk about parenting, school, and life. Meet at the Funeral Center parking lot at Mt Pleasant Cemetery; dogs welcome. For more details, email nss.school.council@gmail.com.
4) Parent Social - Thurs, Sept 24 8-9:30 - Granite Brewery- 245 Eglinton Ave E - Mingle with other parents after Curriculum Night! A great opportunity for finding out more about navigating Northern, getting involved, and making connections with other parents with similar interests. School Council will supply finger foods; drinks are cash and carry.
5) School Council Meeting - meet the principal and find out how to get involved on October 1st.
Curriculum Night – Thursday, September 24, 6:00 -8:00 pm
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a Northern Student? Come out to Curriculum night on Thursday, September 24 where you will follow your Northern Student’s timetable and visit each classroom. Here you will have the opportunity to meet teachers and find out more about what your Northern Student will be learning this semester. You can arrive beginning at 5:30 to pick up your Northern Student’s timetable and go to the auditorium for a brief presentation. Schedule below. Please note, this is NOT Parent/ Guardian-Teacher interview night. That occurs on October 15th. Please do not plan on connecting with your child’s teachers about individual progress during Curriculum Night! Please walk, take transit, or leave plenty of time to find parking for this event. We hope to see you there!
5:30 to 6:00 Parents/ Guardians Arrive – Buddies distribute timetables and answer parent questions
6:00 to 6:20 Message in Auditorium for Parents/Guardians.
6:20 to 6:30 Transition to period 1 presentations
6:30 to 6:45 Period 1 (We will follow a Day 1, timetable)
6:50 to 7:05 Period 2
7:10 to 7:25 Period 3
7:30 to 7:45 Period 4
8 PM Announcement to clear the building.
The Caring and Safe Schools Committee - Please join us!
Our first of four meetings this year will take place on TUESDAY September 22nd in the Heritage room from 4 to 5:30 pm. We are looking forward to seeing interested parents/caregivers and students! Our team is responsible for fostering a safe, inclusive, and accepting school climate at Northern, and we welcome students, parents, teachers, non-teaching staff members, and community partners to ensure a positive and peaceful school. We explore prevention strategies and peaceful problem solving and work with community partners to attract students into positive activities. Please join us! For more information contact VP Kristen.Beach@tdsb.on.ca
September 23: International Day of Sign Languages
September 23 marks the annual celebration of the International Day of Sign Languages. This day is a unique opportunity to support and protect the linguistic identity and cultural diversity of the Deaf community and sign language users. Declared in 2018, September 23 commemorates the launch of the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) in 1951 in Rome, Italy. The WFD represents deaf associations from 133 countries, advocating for the rights of approximately 70 million Deaf individuals worldwide and aiming to preserve sign languages and Deaf culture.
Sign language is a visual language expressed through physical movements, including hand cues and facial expressions. Fully fledged and structurally distinct from spoken languages, over 300 unique sign languages exist, varying by dialects, accents, and movements. While there is no universal sign language, several internationally recognized signs are used in formal meetings and informally during travel or socializing.
Northern Football "Friday Night Lights Game vs Western Tech at Rob Ford Stadium Friday Oct 2nd, 2026"
Tickets go on sale this Monday Sept 21st during lunch sales via cash sales/debit at Northern, and cash online "NSS RedKnight Football Friday Night Lights game Oct 2, 2026" - This will be an exciting Friday Night of Football - The Jr Red Knights will play at 5pm and the Sr Red Knights will play at 7:30pm. Both games will take place at Rob Ford Stadium vs. Western Tech.
Tickets and proceeds sold at Northern or via cash online go directly to the Northern Football Program. Please purchase your tickets through one of these platforms so ensure funds go to Northern Secondary School. Tickets purchased "at the gate" on the evening will go directly to WT- so get your tickets through the BAA (Boys Athletic Association) Any tickets sold via cash online need to be picked up at the head office at Northern prior to the game. Support the Red Knight while enjoying a Great Night of Football!
Does Your Child Have an IEP?
Every year, schools have the responsibility to update Individual Education Plans (IEPs) in the first 30 days of the school year. Getting parent/guardian/caregiver feedback is a very important part of the process.
If you have a student with an IEP at Northern this year, you will have received an email with a blank IEP Consultation Form. Families may email or print and return the form to the VP Office. If you did not receive a form and your child/student has a TDSB IEP, please contact the appropriate special education teacher listed below.
What feedback is important? Any perspective on how your child is doing is valuable; especially challenges they may be facing that the school can support. Please also note any recent assessments so that we may contact you to consult.
Having trouble accessing the form? Please contact your child’s special education teacher (email addresses below) and they can assist you with accessing the form.
Did your child have an IEP with another school board? Please reach out to your child’s guidance counsellor (see list in guidance section) and provide them with supporting documentation.
Special Education:
Parent Engagement Sessions – September 2026: Special Education and Inclusion is pleased to offer a number of sessions for parents/caregivers in September. Please find additional information in this flyer. All parent engagement sessions for the 2026-2027 school year can be found here.
Special Education and Inclusion Newsletter – September 2026 Edition: The September 2026 edition of the Special Education and Inclusion Newsletter for Parents/Caregivers is now available on the Special Education and Inclusion site. This monthly newsletter includes important updates, tips, and resources to support students with disabilities and special education needs, and indeed all students.
OSSLT Prep Opportunity:
The English Department will be hosting weekly OSSLT prep sessions beginning Thursday, September 24. Sessions will take place every Thursday at lunch in Room 305.
Students are encouraged to drop in for extra support, practice, helpful strategies, and preparation for the OSSLT.
All students preparing to write the OSSLT are welcome!
Terry Fox Run:
Terry Fox Run- Northern Field Thursday Sept 24th 2026 at lunch.
Please join the GAA as we aim to continue Terry’s mission of finding a cure for cancer by raising money for cancer research. This year, Northern will be participating in the Terry Fox run on September 24th at lunch on the backfield. Terry is an inspiration to everyone, and we hope to carry on his dedication and commitment by raising funds at our school. Our goal is to raise awareness and bring back the Terry Fox spirit.
The following link can be used to support and send donations to help us raise money. https://schools.terryfox.ca/131504
All proceeds go directly to the foundation. Students can also donate with tap (card) or cash in the front foyer during lunch the week of the event.
Thank you- The GAA
NSS Library Learning Commons: 8:30a.m. - 3:45p.m. daily
- Located in the basement of the school: accessible from the main foyer only
- Check out books, graphic novels and manga from our collection
- Get research assistance from a Teacher-Librarian
- Access technical support for your TDSB-issued Chromebook
Guidance:
- TDSB Semester 1 Day School eLearning IS OPEN!
- For more information: https://schoolweb.tdsb.on.ca/elearning/e-Learning-Day-School
- Registration closes: Thursday, Sept 24, 2026 unless the course is full before.
- TDSB Con Ed. NIGHT SCHOOL and SATURDAY SCHOOL is OPEN!
- For more info and to register click here
- Registration closes: Friday, September 25, 2026 unless the course is full before.
- Scholarships: Guidance will sharing lots of information about scholarships for students applying to post-secondary programs.
- We will be offering a scholarship workshop on Thursday, October 1st at lunch in Room 111 for students who want to learn more about opportunities to fund post-secondary school.
- Some major awards require students to apply for a nomination from Northern. Students can find a list of different commonly applied for awards and links to apply for school nominations here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ELN7YYaXVtQSYNHeL2n5t_yF8wTzO5WlVJUgyii1MM8/edit?tab=t.0
- We will also be sharing a resource from https://seekingscholarships.com/ in the coming weeks - stay tuned!
- The Ontario Universities' Fair is coming to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre South Building September 26-27 9:30-5pm daily.
- The Guidance Appointment Booking system is open! Thank you for your patience while we worked out the access issues!
Students can book an appointment here: http://bit.ly/nssguidance
We look forward to connecting with you!
- SAVE THE DATE: NSS Post-Secondary Fair:
- Booth-style Fair: Wednesday, October 14, 2026, 6:00pm - 8:00pm. Come and talk to all the Ontario Apprenticeship, College and University Reps!
- We encourage all students to ensure they have added themselves to their graded Guidance Google Classroom to stay up to date with all information shared throughout the year.
- Grade 9 Google Classroom code: pu7uilj4
- Grade 10 Google Classroom code: 3wvfe4kf
- Grade 11 Google Classroom code: bedkqks
- Grade 12 Google Classroom code: x6sh4ue
- Check out our NSS Student Services Info Hub Site created to help answer questions about graduation requirements, course selection and so much more!
Have a great weekend,
Adam Marshall
Principal
HISTORICAL:
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.
Important Academic Updates for 2026-27:
Assessment and Evaluation- The Ministry of Education has put new Assessment of Learning Guidelines (how marks are made up/ determined for each course) in place for high school students. Please visit this Growing Success Page for more details by grade and course type.
New Financial Literacy Test- If you go to the same link (Growing Success Page) and scroll down, you will also find important information about a new graduation requirement for students who entered Grade 9 in the 2025-26 school year and onwards. Students will complete this requirement as part of their compulsory Grade 10 Career Studies course. To meet the requirement, students will have to earn a mark of 70% or higher on the financial literacy modules. This mark will make up 5% of their final mark in Grade 10 Career Studies. The first test date will be 4 weeks after the course begins (a reminder that Careers classes last half a semester and are paired with Civics).
Mandatory Assessment and Evaluation Requirements for Grades 9 to 12- The Ministry of Education recently introduced mandatory assessment and evaluation requirements for secondary students. Beginning in the 2026-27 school year, most secondary courses will require written exams as a percentage of the final course mark. All written final exams from grades 9 to 12 will take place during the designated exam period, with the exception of the EQAO Grade 9 mathematics assessment. Please see Growing Success Page for details. This information will also be communicated for each class through the course outline.
Attendance and participation- To recognize the impact that student presence in class has on achievement, final student grades will reflect attendance and participation. Excused absences do not negatively affect a student’s mark. Excused absences are absences from school that are permitted under legislation or school policy, as outlined in Ontario’s enrolment register instructions. These may include illness or other unavoidable circumstances, such as inclement weather or approved absences such as cultural days and holy days.
2026-27 Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test Changes- In 2026-27, all first-time eligible students will write the OSSLT in the fall, and those who are unsuccessful will write again in the spring. This message applies primarily to Grade 10 students.
Linked to the Assessment and Evaluation changes mentioned above, and important for school safety, please review the options for student absence reporting below:
Cellphones:
Educators will work with students to determine classroom practices and will ensure expectations are clearly understood.
Students in Grades 7 to 12 must have cell phones/mobile devices powered off or set to silent during instructional time.
Should a student not follow these directives, they will be asked to hand in their cell phone/mobile device. If a student does not hand in their personal mobile device when required, they must be sent to the Principal’s office, as per Ministry direction.
Please learn more about cell phones and mobile device use in Ministry of Education PPM128 and at www.tdsb.on.ca/mobiledeviceuse.
Thank you for your cooperation as we work together to create a successful learning environment at Northern.
Northern Secondary School Start of Year Forms – Important Information
In preparation for the beginning of the 2026-27 school year, the Toronto District School Board will soon email all families directly with a link to Start of Year forms for your student(s). Look for a message from noreplyregistration@powerschool.com on August 27 and complete the online forms for your student as soon as possible prior to the first day of school on September 8, 2026.
Start of Year Forms ensure that the school has up-to-date and accurate student information on file, as well as consent for school activities. It is very important that these forms are completed in a timely manner and will help ensure a smooth start to the school year. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
Should you have any questions about the forms, please contact Heather.Jewell@tdsb.on.ca in our main office.
Student Password Information
Student accounts remained active over the summer and passwords did not expire.
Students in Grades 5-12 can also reset their own passwords directly through https://passwordreset.microsoftonline.com once registered for the Self-Service Password Reset (SSPR). Instructions to register for SSPR are available here.
Students new to the TDSB will have their password set to the Shared Secret Password. This is a combination of the last 4 digits of the student number, followed by 2 digits for the day of birth, and 2 digits for the month of birth, followed by “@Tdsb” (case sensitive and 13 characters in total).
IT Support for TDSB Students & Families
To support parents, caregivers, guardians, and students, please direct them to the School Community IT Support website. Services available included devices, such as Chromebooks, and login assistance with Brightspace, Google Classroom, Microsoft Teams and more. Go to the FAQ section to find details!