Happy Holidays Northern Families!
To try and reduce the number of emails you are receiving I am attaching our most recent school Toronto Public Health letter HERE. This is the follow up letter that is sent after the investigation of the case is concluded (not a new case). If your child needs to self-isolate you would have received an email from me last night.
During the Winter Break, if you are reporting a case of COVID-19, please contact the TPH Health Connections Line at 416-338-7600. This telephone number will be monitored during the winter break.
We made it- December 18th and really fantastic attendance, compliance with COVID guidelines, and achievement. While it has not been normal by any means, these are really fantastic outcomes in a year like this. I can’t thank our Northern families and students enough for your support this fall. Also to our teaching, support, office, and caretaking staff- everyone has gone above and beyond to make things work. It has been good for the soul to have people back in the building learning and connecting (albeit in new ways) this year.
Our School Council is running a fundraising campaign to support student activities among other initiatives. Please see details HERE.
For students taking Civics or Careers currently: Quad 2/Term 1 ends on Friday, December 18th 2020. If you have a student in a Civics or Careers course, this will be the last date of the course. Report cards, for these courses only, will be issued in the New Year.
As well, students enrolled in the civics or careers courses in Term One will be receiving a mark update by Monday, December 14th at 9:00 am. If your child is at risk of not receiving the credit, you will be contacted by the teacher no later than Monday, December 14th at 9:00am.
For all other students you will receive a mark update from your teachers between January 5th and 8th.
Please see a Trustee Rachel Chernos Lin’s most recent newsletter HERE.
A reminder that the provincial government announced more funding Monday for students up to 12 years of age ($200 per child) and $250 per student up to the age of 21 years with special needs who is attending school. Students can be attending in person or virtually. For more information visit https://www.ontario.ca/page/get-support-learners
TDSB Psychology (Wellness):
Please find attached the December edition of Hearts and Minds here.
School Council:
1) Thank-a-teacher - we encourage you to send a quick email of appreciation to anyone who has been a part of your student's success this year.
2) School Council Annual Ask - our annual fundraiser has begun and will run until Feb 12. Please consider a contribution to help us support student activities through School Cash Online. See the attached letter for more details.
3) Ask Adam - the most recent notes from the December 10 Q & A with Adam Marshall are posted on our website. Please look them over and send us your questions for future discussion.
4) "News for parents, by parents" - sign up for our email list for updates and news written for parents by the parents at School Council. Send an email to nss.school.council@gmail.com with "Count me in" in the subject line. And check out our website for notes from meetings and presentations, resources, and upcoming events!
Operation Smile:
Northern’s Operation Smile club is currently collecting donations! Operation Smile is an international organization that provides children and young adults in developing countries with free cleft palate surgeries. A donation of any size can help to repair a child’s cleft palate. This holiday season, consider donating to help children and young adults afford these life-changing surgeries. Donations can be made to the following link: https://secure.operationsmile.ca/site/TR/LongestDayofSmiles/LongestDayofSmiles20?pg=team&fr_id=1230&team_id=2171&capID=1194943
Guidance Updates:
- Applying to Post-Secondary - Ontario Universities and Colleges
Please use our Applying to Post-Secondary Guide to access resources over the winter break.
Ontario Universities (OUAC) Deadline January 15, 2021
Ontario Colleges (OCAS) Deadline February 1, 2021
- 2021-2022 Course Selection Process: Upcoming Dates
January 18 - 21, 2021: Student Course Selection Presentations
January 27, 2021 at 6:30 pm - Course Selection Evening Presentation
February 3, 2021 at 9 am - myBlueprint goes “live” for course selection
February 18, 2021 at 9 am - myBlueprint CLOSES for closure selection
- Quad 3 TDSB eLearning Registration opens January 5, 2021 at 9 am.
For more information on Quad 3 eLearning please click here.
- Semester 2 TDSB Night School Registration opens January 4, 2021 at 10 am.
For more information on Semester 2 Night School please click here.
- Quad 2 Full Disclosure Date: January 18, 2021.
If you (or your student) would like to withdraw from a quad 2 course without it being listed on their transcript, you must contact your Guidance Counselor one week before the January 18, 2021 Full Disclosure date.
Northern Secondary School Foundation News:
The Foundation is pleased to announce a new award to recognize one of Northern’s outstanding teachers.
The Robert Zawerbny Memorial Award in Design and Illustration has been generously funded by Jason Herriott NSS’ 87, a former student of Mr. Zawerbny, in appreciation of the profound impact Bob had on his life and career.
The award of $5000 will be given annually to an outstanding graduating student in Design and Illustration whose superior skills and outstanding portfolio has inspired other student to strive for excellence.
Robert Zawerbny , or Mr. Z as he was affectionally known, was an icon at Northern. He not only taught at Northern for over 35 years but studied at Northern under renowned artists and educators Ethel Currie, Percy Gardner and John Bennett. With his talent and boundless enthusiasm, Bob influenced a generation of young artists who enjoy successful careers in the arts in Toronto and around the world. Several have achieved international fame as illustrators and concept artists winning Academy Awards and an Emmy.
ACADEMIC RESOURCE COMMITTEE:
Hello!
We are the Academic Resource Committee (ARC), which supports students with learning disabilities and other learning differences, and we're also parents of students with learning disabilities at Northern. Our mandate is to inform, engage, educate and support parents of students with learning disabilities and other learning differences. We run a variety of meetings and events throughout the year, and we advocate within and beyond the school on topics that are relevant to these students and their education, development and well-being.
We have a meeting every month in the evenings in the school (virtually for 20-21). Our scheduled meetings are posted here: https://www.nsscouncil.com/arc-ld.html. Additional events include socials and speakers of interest to you and your children will also be listed here.
We can be reached at: northernldcommittee@gmail.com, send us your email address and we'll include you in our distribution list.
Warm regards,
Rita Czamecki, Co-Chair / Laura Aguilar, Co-Chair
ARC (Academic Resource Committee)
Mental Health Counselling Support at Northern Secondary; FLYER
- Community Services provides a registered psychotherapist , Dale Callender, on-site, full time at Northern, to work in partnership with the existing school support services. The service uses an early intervention model and supports students by allowing them easy and immediate access to mental health and counselling services provided through the In-School service. Dale Callender works in collaboration with TDSB staff in order to customize a program to enhance the mental health services and supports that are available to students on-site at the school. This program allows Northern priority access to Lumenus’ mental health service program, and offers students a seamless referral process to other community programs as dictated by their individual needs. Dale Callender is available currently via virtual sessions and/or phone calls to provide psychotherapy counselling support to students, parents/caregivers. If you would like to consult and /or set up a time to talk with Dale, you can contact him via his email at dalecallender@lumenus.ca. Dale will be available upon his return from holidays on January 4th, 2021.
If anyone is requiring support during the upcoming holiday time, Lumenus has various walk in/virtual/phone support options. Please see attached with site, contact, age and location information.
Guidance:
There are two ways a student can book a non-urgent phone appointment:
PRO TIP: book during your a-synchronous morning time
1. Request a phone appointment at: http://bit.ly/nssguidance
2. Directly book a phone appointment (space permitting): http://bit.ly/nssguidance
Request or Book an appointment online at: http://bit.ly/nssguidance
To sign in to the online appointment system:
1. Enter your Student Number.
2. Enter your Date of Birth (YYYY-MM-DD) in the Password box.
3. Click “Sign in” User name: Student Number Password: Date of Birth (YYYY-MM-DD)
Need Help? See How-To instructions
*Sign-in for the First Time – How-to
*Requesting an Appointment – How-to
*Checking Appointment Times – How-To
*Changing Your Password – How-to
*Adding an Email and Cellphone Number: How-to
Please note Guidance Counsellor 2020-2021 assignments:
Melanie Stassis – A, S, U-Z - melanie.stassis@tdsb.on.ca
Leslie Usin-Rojas – B-E, I, T - leslie.usin-rojas@tdsb.on.ca
Jennifer MacPhee – F-H, K, L - jennifer.macphee@tdsb.on.ca
Andrew Primmer – J, M-R -andrew.primmer@tdsb.on.ca
April Vibert - Student Success - april.virbet@tdsb.on.ca
If you urgently need to speak to your counsellor send an email or call the Guidance office at 416-393-0284 X 20040. If you have an emergency, call 911.
Resource Support for all students with an IEP/ILP **VERY IMPORTANT**
GIFTED STUDENTS:
Monique Cipollone will be offering VIRTUAL office hours between 1:10 - 2 PM via appointment through the following link: https://nss-guidance.parentinterview.com/
Parents/Guardians - please feel free to email your questions or concerns to Monique.Cipollone@tdsb.on.ca
ACADEMIC RESOURCE CENTRE (LD) STUDENTS:
The Academic Resource Centre will be available VIRTUALLY, everyday, by appointment through the following link:
https://nss-guidance.parentinterview.com/
Ensure they book with: MS JESSICA BERESFORD
3 Staff members will be available from 1:10-2pm, daily to offer the following supports:
- Course work
- Brightspace and Google Classroom Navigation Support
- Organization Supports
- Homework Check ins
- Self Advocacy Development
DHH STUDENTS:
Eric Larocque will be offering Virtual office hours between 1:10 - 2:00 PM via appointment through the email: eric.larocque@tdsb.on.ca
Sign Language Facilitators and Educational Assistants will be available from 1:30-2pm, daily to offer the following supports. Please contact Eric Larocque.
STUDENT SUCCESS- for students without an IEP:
Student success supports that are offered at Northern can be found here: bit.ly/studentsuccessnss
How does Student Success help our students?
- Offering academic support in order to improve outcomes related to achievement and graduation.
- Benefit from programming that can help support the overall students’ needs (peer tutoring, student nutrition program, SHSM, etc).
- Support on matters they may have previously faced alone
April Vibert, ACL of Student Success, offers virtual appointments from 9am-2pm Monday-Friday.
Please book your appointment with April Vibert through the following link:
https://nss-guidance.parentinterview.com/
Have a great holiday season!
Adam
Follow Me @PrincipalNSS