Greetings Northern Families,

It is hard to believe it is Thanksgiving weekend already. A reminder that next week is a Week 2 and Dismissal by floor will be 1,3,2.

Thank You to everyone who supported the Button Sale Drive for Toronto Council Fire. We will be donating nearly $2000 on behalf of Northern and Kensington CS. A great way to begin to address the TRC’s calls to action as a school.

Teachers have been receiving requests from parents/ guardians to add their student to the virtual class when they are absent. This is a reminder that the school’s timetable has been set up to concentrate Virtual Learners into particular classes. This ensures that a very small percentage of classes are actually running with Virtual Learners. Only Virtual Learners who were grouped in August have access to this platform.

Students who are absent for any other reason (sick, self-isolating, awaiting COVID test results, injury, travel etc) are marked absent. To keep up with their classes students will be able to access the Brightspace platform where they can find daily assignments/ information about upcoming evaluations/ information about assigned reading and so on. If students are still struggling to keep up they can reach out to their teacher for additional assistance.

Students who are excused for medical/ COVID protocol reasons will not be penalized for their absence and can keep up to date through the methods described above.

 

For students that have not had a photo taken yet this year October 18 will be the next opportunity to have this done.

 

Wishing Everyone a great long Thanksgiving weekend!

 

1:1 Device Program for grade nine students: If your child was away and/or you originally opted out but would like to receive a device, please email Jessica.pearson@tdsb.on.ca and I will arrange for a device and re-send the permission click form if necessary.

 

 

From SAC:

Hey Northern, SAC is running their first spirit week, October 13-15!

 

Wednesday: Red Blue and Gold, Northern Colours

Thursday: Jersday Thursday (jersey day)

Friday: Pyjama Day

We can’t wait to see you show your spirit :)

Extra-Curriculars:

United Way Fashion Show: If you are interested in auditioning to be a dancer or model in this year's United Way fashion show please join the google classroom with the code 7wgitoe. On the google classroom you will find a link to a google form where you can sign up to audition. Make sure you join with a non TDSB gmail account. All are welcome!

 

Drama: Is your child interested in joining drama club? If so, please ask them to fill out this google form…

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdThEYII8JhGlUvAQ_r2dp5ueiiQt1Sc0zYEEodtTIObSgPFQ/viewform?usp=sf_link

 

Music: Did you miss the General Music Meeting? Have no fear, you can still indicate your interest in being part of an ensemble this year. Go to bit.ly/nssmusicinterest, We'll then be emailing interested students early next week with more info.

 

Message from the United Way Committee:

 

Hey Northern!

The United Way Committee is excited to launch our first event of the year! Get excited for "United Way Awareness Week"! Keep and eye out for our booths outside the main entrances before school and during lunch during the week of October 12th! We will be selling a variety of COVID safe foods and sharing information about United Way! This event will fundraise money and raise awareness for United Way. We hope to see you there!

 

Opportunity!

Join WiCS' first-ever high school mentorship program!

University of Toronto Women in Computer Science (WiCS) is a student-led organization dedicated to supporting women in computer science and building an inclusive and diverse tech community.

As a mentee, you will be paired with an undergraduate or graduate student at the University of Toronto, who is pursuing a technical degree. Throughout the year, you will meet with your mentor regularly and participate in social and professional development events and workshops. Mentorship sessions can take any direction that you and your mentor choose, from hearing about their university experience, learning about different career paths, getting advice on professional development or university decisions, or getting support learning a new programming language. You will also gain access to all WiCS events, which are typically reserved for current UofT students!

You're perfect for this program if you're:

- a female-identifying or non-binary high school student

- interested in pursuing computer science / tech, or simply wanting to learn more about it

- able to meet with your mentor for approx. 30-60 minutes once every two weeks, and attend a few workshops throughout the year (likely on Saturday afternoons)

*Note: this mentorship program will be conducted virtually, with optional in-person meetings with your mentor. You do not have to be located in Toronto to participate.

 

Apply at https://forms.gle/97uGQy2ET7jRgg588!

 

DEADLINE: October 17, 2021

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Natalie at wicsuoft@gmail.com!

 

 

A reminder from the TDSB- email sent earlier this week:

 

Good afternoon Parents/Guardians,

Ensuring the health and safety of our students and staff is a priority and everyone plays a role. Toronto Public Health has made updates its COVID-19 screening for students/children in childcares and JK to Grade 12 schools. Please use this updated version when conducting your daily screening before coming to school.

Here is the revised TDSB Health Pass paper version and these updates are reflected in the TDSB Health Screening App.

One of the most important thing families can do to help mitigate the transmission of COVID-19, is to screen their children daily for any COVID-19 symptoms and keep them home from school if they are sick or have had close contact with anyone diagnosed with COVID-19. Thank you for your continued support in keeping our schools safe and healthy.

 

Somali Heritage Month at the TDSB - October 2021

The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) proudly recognizes Somali Heritage Month during the month of October. The TDSB has been marking Somali Heritage Month since June 2016, and we continue to expand on the selected theme Educate. Elevate. Excel.

1. October 2020, the Government of Ontario proclaimed Somali Heritage Week Act, 2020 Somali Heritage Week Act, 2020 which will take place on June 25 through July 1.

"By proclaiming the week of June 25 through July 1 as Somali Heritage Week, the Province of Ontario recognizes the economic, political, social and cultural achievements and contributions of Somali Canadians in all aspects of Ontario society. Like many refugees and immigrants who have made Ontario their home, Somali Canadians are proud to be part of diverse communities across the province."

 

Somali Heritage Month at the TDSB - Creative Writing Challenge

The TDSB proudly recognizes Somali Heritage Month during the month of October. The TDSB has been marking Somali Heritage Month since June 2016, and we continue to expand on the selected theme: Educate. Elevate. Excel.

Toronto has a large population outside of the Somali subcontinent with thousands of TDSB students and staff members heritages identified as Somali. The importance of building awareness, creating a strong self identity, and understanding one's own roots and rights are important objectives of the Somali Heritage Month Volunteer Planning Committee.

The Somali Heritage Month Volunteer Planning Committee members are excited to share that TDSB students from Grades 1 - 12 are invited to submit a creative piece (poem, short story, essay) to the Somali Heritage Month Creative Writing challenge.

Please see the attached for full details.

Deadline: All entries must be received by Friday, October 22, 2021 by 4:00 pm to shukri.farah@tdsb.on.ca or farhia.nagi@tdsb.on.ca

 

Islamic Heritage Month at the TDSB - October 2021

The TDSB proudly recognizes Islamic Heritage Month during the month of October since our Board of Trustees passed their motion on June 22, 2016. Our main theme for the month continues to be Reflect. Celebrate. Learn.

Canadian Islamic Heritage Month has been recognized across our nation since October 2007. Subsequently, since November 2016, the Province of Ontario established October as Islamic History Month through the Islamic Heritage Month Act, "proclaiming a month to be Islamic Heritage Month in Ontario will provide all Ontarians, both today and in future generations, with an opportunity to reflect, celebrate, and learn abut the rich and longstanding Islamic history in the Province and the diverse roles and contributions of Muslim people in communities across Ontario. This new understanding will turn help combat anti-Islamic sentiment." (Link: https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/16i20)

 

 

Guidance Updates:

 

1. SeekingScholarships.com Fall Video Presentation

Looking for some more information about how to apply to scholarships?

Watch

Funding Post-Secondary Education (47 mins)

 

Topics Covered

1:00 – Cost of Post-Secondary Education

4:30 – OSAP – Student Loans

10:00 – Scholarships, Bursaries, and Awards

14:20 –Automatic vs Major Admission Scholarships

21:30 – External Scholarships – Includes lots of scholarship opportunities!

27:40 – Tips on Applying to Scholarships

42:00 – How to choose a Career

 

Summary Info Sheet of the Presentation:

http://seekingscholarships.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Grade-12-Workshop-Summary-FALL-2021.pdf

 

 

2. Grade 12 Guidance Post-Secondary Visit Information:

• “You’re in Grade 12: Now What?” Recording of our classroom presentation
• Guide to Applying to Post-Secondary
• Grade 12 Guidance Google Classroom: u565fkg
• Virtual “Post-Secondary Presentation” November 6, 2021. More info to follow.

 

3. Post-Secondary Virtual/In-Person Tours and Visits

• Be sure to check out the grade 12 Google classroom to find out when colleges and universities are visiting NSS.
• We really encourage students to attend as many university and college virtual tours as they can to be able to ask your very specific question directly to the schools. You can find tour information at ontariocolleges.ca and ontariouniversitiesinfo.ca
• OCVF: Ontario College Virtual Fair

The Ontario College Fair is not running this year. Ontario Colleges will host individual presentations. Check out this site for more info for direct contact with colleges or see NSS’s Guidance Google classrooms for information.

• OUF: Ontario Universities Fair

Ontario's universities are excited to host the Ontario Universities' Fairs (OUFs) this fall. The OUFs will consist of 2 virtual events:

Tuesday, October 26, 5-7 pm (ET)

 

4. VolunteerToronto.ca VIRTUAL Volunteer Fairs: October 9th & 16^th

Looking for volunteer opportunities? The virtual Ignite Fair gives young people in the Greater Toronto Area a free opportunity to connect with non-profit organizations.
Attendees will interact in a virtual environment. All youth attendees will be navigating a virtual fair space hosted on the modern platforms Gather Town and Zoom.

Click here for tickets to the event Click here for more information

5. TDSB 2021/2022 Graduation Requirements Update:

Community Hours: In 2021-22, the required number of hours for community involvement activities will be reduced from 40 to a minimum of 20 hours for graduating students. Please see your Guidance Counsellor or the Guidance Google classroom for more information.

OSSLT: Ontario Literacy Test: Students graduating in the 2021-22 school year are exempted from the literacy graduation requirement.

Please see your Guidance Counsellor or the Guidance Google classroom for more information.

 

6. Graded Guidance Google Classroom Links:

Guidance will be using these graded google classrooms to disseminate LOTS of information! Please be sure you are signed up for your correct grade!

 

Grade 9 Google Classroom link: kmv6fcz

Grade 10 Google Classroom link: twdxca6

Grade 11 Google Classroom link: hfg74ws

Grade 12 Google Classroom link: u565fkg

 

 

School Council Update:

 

1) Election for School Council 21-22 - Thursday, October 14 at 6:30 pm. All parents and guardians of Northern students are welcome to run; no prior experience needed. If you would like to nominate yourself as a candidate in the election for School Council Parent Membership 21/22, email nssc.elections@gmail.com to request your nomination form package. All submissions must be received by 11:59 pm October 11 in order to be included. To attend the meeting and vote, email Chandra.Ramdhani@tdsb.on.ca and put “Council Meeting” in the subject line. You will receive a Zoom meeting link by 5 pm on October 14. And please send us any questions you would like to ask Adam at nss.school.council@gmail.com!

 

2) We’d love your help! In lieu of ongoing fundraising, we request voluntary contributions once in the fall for all our initiatives to support students throughout the year (clubs, athletics, wellness, conferences, workshops, advocacy, subsidies and much more). Click here for more details and the link to make your contribution through School Cash Online by October 15. Every gift makes a difference!

 

For more information on any of these matters, please contact us at: nss.school.council@gmail.com

 

Lumenus 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 supports to enhance the mental health services that they may need and wish to access. 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. If anyone 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. Please see attached information on the service provided at Northern.

 

Thank You, and have a great long weekend,

Adam

Follow me @PrincipalNSS