Good Afternoon Northern Families,
It is absolutely incredible to think we are half-way through this tumultuous school year. Congratulations to everyone for making it this far and completing an interesting quadmester! We hope you had a good day to recover from the academic push of the past couple of weeks today. A reminder that Monday is a Day 1 and will follow the same schedule as we have been working with since the New Year. Many details coming in next week’s bulletin about how things will look starting on the 16th. A reminder next week is a 4 day week (one complete cycle of classes) and that Monday the 15th is Family Day.
We have some changes to staff that were anticipated at the midyear point and one position we are working to fill. Updates to come, but please bear with us next week as access to online classes is sorted out for new teachers.
Thank you to the Music Council, our amazing musicians, Mr. Newman, and Mr. Jameer for an amazing Winterlude Concert last night. If you missed it you can still check it out here: Winterlude Video
Important save the date- the SAC and Buddies will be hosting a virtual Club Fair on February 16th at 4pm. More details next week.
Please find Trustee Chernos Lin’s most recent newsletter here:Trustee Chernos Lin Newsletter
Maya Zibaie Academic Award: I will be including this for several more weeks. For more information, please click this link: nssf.ca/donate/maya Thank You.
2021 Yearbook Undergraduate Portraits:
Yearbook wants your photo!
Please submit the 2021 Yearbook Undergraduate Portrait form.
If a picture is not submitted we will use last year's photo or a standard fill in icon.
If you have any questions please reach out to staff advisor, Leslie Usin Rojas (leslie.usin-rojas@tdsb.on.ca)
Yearbook Info:
There is an option to purchase a yearbook for $35.00 this year.
If you are a face-to-face learner and have an account with school cash online you should have received a direct link to purchase a yearbook.
If you are attending the Virtual School you will need to access school cash online here: https://tdsb.schoolcashonline.com/Fee/Details/92603/153/False/True
Quad 2 Final Report Cards, Alternative Report Cards and Semester 1 Final Report Cards:
Will be delivered electronically by SIS starting the week of February 15th. Password protected files will be sent to the parent/guardian email address on file in Trillium as well as to students using the TDSB student email.
Dale’s New Contact Information:
Please click HERE to find Dale’s updated contact information.
Pay It Forward :
Former Northern grads are participating in our Pay It Forward virtual panel to share their experiences at post-secondary school with NSS students on Wednesday, Feb. 17, from 1:00 pm -2:00 pm. Interested students can see our poster here .
For more information contact Mrs. Smither sherry.smither@tdsb.on.ca
March of the Living (grade 11’s and 12’s):
This year, in lieu of the traditional March of the Living program, we have partnered with UJA Genesis to provide Grade 11 and 12 students with a local March of the Living experience.
The program is centered around Holocaust education and opportunities to give back to the community in a meaningful way. The program will run from February 22nd to April 16th with one session each week for the 8 weeks.
Canadian National Math League Contest #5:
Congratulations to our top CNML#4 contest writers: Jonathan Uy, Zoe Iczkovitz, Noah Hirji, and Ken Shibatafor their impressive performance on last month’s contest!
Registration for the February 9th CNML #5 Contest is now open to all students, with no registration fee!
Interested in testing out your mathematical problem-solving ability? Sign up by Monday, February 8 on our Math Contests Google Classroom, using the class code: j5mmrwq
Please direct any contest questions to stephanie.kendall@tdsb.on.ca
From the Academic Resource Centre:
Attention student with ASD:
York University is hosting a ASD Transition Day.
This is an information day for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or a Non-Verbal Learning Disability (NVLD) and their families. It is intended for students who are in grades 10, 11 or 12 and are planning to attend a post-secondary institution (university or college). High school service providers, such as teachers, are welcome to attend.
Topics to be discussed include:
- transition realities for students and their families
- accessing support systems at university/college
- strategies for academic success
- social life at university/college
- nurturing independence
This workshop will take place virtually, via Zoom, on Friday, February 26, 2021 from 9am to 1pm. Participants will be sent additional information about how to join the workshop as part of registration.
To register, please complete this ASD Transition Day Registration Form.
Registration will close on Friday, February 19, 2021.
Please contact projecta@yorku.ca with any questions. Please feel free to forward this opportunity to any other families you work with or colleagues who might be interested.
From Guidance:
OSAP Information Session - Save the date!
On Wednesday, February 24, Robyn Papoff of George Brown College will be hosting a live virtual information session for students and parents about OSAP. Please use the link below to join us on the 24th for this informative event!
Topic: OSAP Information Session - Northern Secondary
Time: Feb 24, 2021 03:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://tdsb-ca.zoom.us/j/96410526718?pwd=djJQNG8zZUc4Q3hwMGZnRkc5b1k0Zz09
Meeting ID: 964 1052 6718
Passcode: 489014
NSS 2021-2022 Course Selection Information and Links:
- Course Selection is now open!
-
- myBlueprint OPENS: February 3, 2021 @ 9am (for Virtual Students myBlueprint may not open until Feb 8th)
- myBlueprint CLOSES February 18, 2021 @ 9am (for all students)
- Course Verification Process: February 19, 2021 @ 4pm. Closes Feb 23, 2021 @ 4pm.
Course verification will be paperless, through a google form that will be emailed to all students and families February 19, 2021. Instructions will be included in the February 19th email.
- Course Fair Google Site – Where students and families can find lots and lots of information about NSS courses and access department info and contacts.
- Course Selection & myBlueprint HELP - LIVE Student Drop-In Zoom Sessions: 12:30 – 1:30 pm – Feb 4, Feb 9, Feb 10, Feb 16
Topic: Course Selection Drop-In
Time: Feb 4, Feb 9, Feb 10, Feb 16, 2021 @ 12:30 – 1:30 pm
Join Zoom Meeting
https://tdsb-ca.zoom.us/j/99367947870
Meeting ID: 993 6794 7870
- NSS Course Selection Presentation RECORDING:
Missed our Course Selection presentation? Access the recording here: https://youtu.be/kRZbPJ1oWMw
Slides ONLY: Jan 27th Evening Presentation Grs 9 - 12
- NSS Grade-specific Course Selection Slides ONLY Presentations:
These are slides from our grade-specific and evening course selection presentations.
Grade 9 to 10, Grade 10 to 11, Grade 11 to 12, Grade 12 & Beyond
- Guidance Google Classrooms – where everything Course Selection is posted.
Grade 9 GC: c7wbn3w, Gr 10 GC: xt4sp7k , Gr 11 C: jhazx2s, Gr12 GC: gthmiui
- We want to talk with you! Book an individual Guidance Appointment:
http://bit.ly/nssguidance & Book an Appointment – Help & How To
School Council:
1) We're over halfway to our goal of $10,000! - our annual School Council annual fundraiser has begun and will run until Feb 12. We need your help to reach our goal, so please consider a contribution to help us support student activities through School Cash Online. See the attached letter for more details.
2) Thank-a-teacher- as we approach the end of the second quadmester, we want to encourage parents to write a quick email to teachers, staff, or administration to recognize the efforts that they have put forth to adapt to extraordinary changes and keep student success a priority amidst many challenges. We appreciate their efforts to make this quadmester as meaningful as possible and look forward to a time when we can say thank you in person!
3) A Word from Wellness - Read here about how to support your child’s mental health during COVID-19 and where to get help. Also, visit the School Council website to see recently posted resources and information on how to build resilience.
4) Executive Functioning and Emotional Regulation Workshop - Thurs, Feb 11, 6-7:30 pm - this workshop provides participants with an understanding of the nature of executive functioning (higher order thinking skills including planning, organization, and flexibility) for children with LDs in this area. Practical strategies to support the development of executive functioning skills and self-regulation will be shared. Presented by Integra; registration and $15 fee due by Feb 8. Click here for more information and other workshops.
5) Looking for Things to Do? - have a look at our updated Parent Survival Chalkboard for creative, academic, and humorous links and activities for you and your student!
6) "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!
GAC:
GAC presents: “Advanced Placement, Post-Secondary Planning, and Enrichment Opportunities Information Evening” - Tuesday February 9 at 7:30 p.m.
All students and parents are invited to attend this virtual presentation about:
(1) Advanced Placement courses (and whether these might be a good choice for you to request in myBlueprint);
(2) thinking ahead to plan and prepare applications and sources of funding for Post-Secondary Education; and
(3) a lot of really interesting, diverse, and fun in person and virtual Enrichment Opportunities throughout high school, summer holidays, and other school breaks.
Please send an email to northerngifted@gmail.com to obtain the meeting link, which will be sent on the afternoon of the presentation.
We hope that you can join us!
GAC presents: “ADHD Highlights: What You Need to Know About ADHD” - Tuesday March 2 at 7:00 p.m.
GAC is excited to invite all parents, students, and educators to hear a presentation by Heidi Bernhardt, founder of CADDAC, the Center for ADHD Awareness, Canada.
Her presentation will start by debunking the myths of ADHD and explaining what ADHD actually is. She’ll look at how ADHD impacts an adolescent’s functioning in the home and school environment and the increased risks to kids with ADHD as they move into adolescence.
She’ll also look at what a comprehensive assessment of ADHD looks like and how ADHD is diagnosed and treated. She’ll discuss ways to support adolescents with ADHD at home, and ways to advocate for resources in Ontario schools. Additional links to resources will be provided during the presentation and access given to the Power Point following the presentation. We encourage you to try to attend the live virtual presentation in person, to hear the additional detail and Q & A of Heidi’s very considerable knowledge and experience. Please send an email to northerngifted@gmail.com to obtain the meeting link. We hope that you can join us!
Have a great weekend!
Adam
Follow Me @PrincipalNSS