Good Afternoon Northern Families,
We are faced with some huge challenges to overcome hate in all its forms as a society. Northern is a microcosm of society and there is work to be done here too. Everyone needs to leave their home feeling safe and secure from violence. When I state this I am including verbal and emotional violence. Nobody should have to think about their identity and whether it will bring negative commentary. Nobody should have to see or hear messages that attack who they are/ what their identity is. We are a school, and therefore our primary function is to educate. It has been a challenging two years where typical campaigns/ assemblies/ student initiatives have been sidelined. While we look forward to this all changing in the near future, let’s start with bringing the aforementioned concerns around hate and identity into daily consciousness. With this in mind, I am going to try and send out “conversation starters” for your families. I hope somewhere in your week you can find time to check in with your family members- get to know their thoughts, and talk through tough issues. I will follow up with some very simple responses the next week, and then provide another conversation starter. I will never try to give an “answer key”. I don’t have all the answers. My hope is that the people behind the nearly 5000 email addresses this bulletin goes to each week will have anti-hate in their daily consciousness. Then students will bring the ideas generated during these conversations to the school- share them with friends and teachers- build momentum. When we all start thinking critically about the impacts of our words and actions the by-product will be a better school for everyone. This is a space we can try and control- let’s all take advantage of that amazing opportunity to effect change. Thank you for hearing me out and for your support moving forward….here is this week’s conversation starter:
“To permit is to promote”. What does this mean to you? When have you permitted something that you don’t agree with? What could you do next time you are faced with a similar situation?
Wishing everyone a relaxing March Break. It is a well-deserved rest for everyone. Thank you to all our staff and students for continuing to persevere through the stages of this pandemic. Unplug from school for the week, recharge your batteries, and have some fun. Looking forward to seeing you in a week!
You can read Trustee Rachel Chernos Lin’s current newsletter HERE.
Semi-Formal Warning:
We have got wind of a “Northern Semi-Formal” that may be taking place over the next week. Location would be Fiction Night Club from what we can gather. Please know that Northern IS NOT holding a semi-formal. Please note this is an event that is not organized or sanctioned by the school. We are unaware of the security measures put in place to ensure the safety of students. School staff will not be at the event to supervise students. As you know, the safety of our students is always a top priority and we ask that parents exercise caution should they permit their children to attend.
United Way:
Hey Northern! The United Way Thrift Shop is now open on the @nssthriftshop Instagram account! Be sure to follow as the items will be posted in batches throughout the week. The thrift shop ends on March 18 and all proceeds will go to United Way! Happy thrifting!
French Extra Help:
The Moderns Department is offering extra help in French every Tuesday at lunch in room 102. This is for students in grade 9 or 10 French who would like some extra support.
Congratulations... And Northern, we need your help!
Congratulations to Lauren Altomare (grade 12) for being selected as a semifinalist in the national Poetry in Voice contest in the bilingual category. Lauren has the chance to win the People's Choice Award for her poetry recitation, but we need your vote. This is where you come in: Please click on the link just below and cast your vote for Lauren Altomare before March 29th at 8:00pm (Lauren's English-language recitation is the one that is posted and the one that you would be voting for the People's Choice Award)!
https://www.poetryinvoice.com/peoples-choice
NSSF:
Parents/Guardians: Please encourage your sons and daughters to apply for Northern Secondary School Foundation Scholarships and Awards.
Grateful to the Northern Alumni who have established scholarships to recognize the achievements of Northern students and to show their appreciation for their Northern experience..
The Belyk Award for Excellence in Design. Created by Tom Belyk to honour his family’s 50-year association with Northern.
Gail Robertson Whitworth Award in Family Studies NSS ’73 to honour three generations of her family who have graduated from Northern.
Jim Davidson NSS ’76 to recognise athletic and academic achievement in the Jim W. Davidson Scholarship
Norman Hayman NSS ‘45 to recognize participation in Mathematics’ competitions.
Jason Herriott NSS ’87 to honor the inspiration and mentoring of ‘Mr. Z’ in the Robert Zawerbny Scholarship in Design and Illustration.
The Red Knights through the years to honor legendary Coach Clarke Pulford.
Go to nssf.ca/scholarship to learn more about the awards and to complete an application.
Deadline April 30th, 2022.
School Council:
When Learning Is Hard, What Do You Do? - ARC presentation by Susan Schenk and Dr. Todd Cunningham - links for the recording and slides (that include links to outside resources) from Tuesday's presentation are both posted here on the homepage under "In Case You Missed It".
GAC (Gifted Advisory Committee) Virtual Presentation - Wed. April 6, at 7:00 p.m.
All parents of gifted students are invited to hear Northern’s former, excellent, longstanding, now retired Gifted Curriculum Leader, Leonila Liko, present “Parent Guide 101: Supporting Your Gifted Adolescent”. Come to be informed and gain insight, tips, and suggestions about ways that parents can support their gifted teens at home, including on mental health and other developmental issues.
Please send an email to northerngifted@gmail.com to obtain the meeting link. We hope that you can join us!
Guidance:
You’ve Got Questions: We’ve Got Answers!
“Ask a Guidance Counsellor”: every Wednesday at lunch
Drop by the front foyer at lunch to ask a Guidance Counsellor your questions.
TDSB SUMMER SCHOOL: Continuing Education (In-person) and eLearning
eLearning Summer School Update: July and August registration will open April 5th at 10am. Please check the TDSB eLearning website July session and August session tabs for important dates.
Continuing Education (In-Person) Update: Sign-up and information will be released in the coming weeks on the TDSB Continuing Education Summer School page
Carlton University: Enriched Support Program
Sometimes grades don’t tell the whole story.
Join Carlton’s info night (April 21, May 19, June 2, June 16) to learn more about the Enriched Support Program; a program that supports students with potential to succeed at university, but who may not meet the traditional entrance requirements.
For more information email: esp@carlton.ca, website: carlton.ca/esp
Volunteer Opportunities: Be sure to check your Guidance Google classroom for listed opportunities!
Ontario Science Centre School Student Applications Open for 2022-2023
The Ontario Science Centre Science School is now accepting online applications for the 2022-23 school year. The deadline is March 28, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. EST.
For more information about the program click here or go directly to the application form. For more information, please contact the Ontario Science Centre.
Guidance Counsellor assignments:
Melanie Stassis – A, S, U-Z – melanie.stassis@tdsb.on.ca
Leslie Usin-Rojas – B-E, T – leslie.usin-rojas@tdsb.on.ca
Jennifer MacPhee – F-H, K, L - Jennifer.macphee@tdsb.on.ca
Andrew Primmer – I, J, M-R – Andrew.primmer@tdsb.on.ca
Reminders from last week:
OSSLT: Grade 10 and 11 students will be writing the OSSLT starting in late April. In order to accommodate the requirements of the test (it is all online this year) we are going to have 8 modified schedule days as follows:
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MODIFIED OSSLT DAY SCHEDULE
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OSSLT Day A/C
(April 19, 26, May 4, 11)
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OSSLT Day B/D
(April 21, 28, May 5, 12)
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9:00-10:15
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Block A
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Block B
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10:20-11:35
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Block A
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Block B
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11:35-12:15
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LUNCH
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12:15-1:35
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Block C
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Block D
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1:35-2:55
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Block C
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Block D
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Students writing the test will do so over two days. Details for students required to write the OSSLT will be shared directly at a later date. This information is being shared with ALL students because the entire school will follow the modified day schedule to accommodate the test.
Mark Updates: Students will receive a mark update during the week of March 25th. This will be done via email. This is an early update to give students and families an opportunity to make improvements PRIOR TO credit rescue/ report card days, and inform parents/ guardians on whether or not an interview with a teacher is necessary.
Parent/Guardian- Teacher Interviews: will be held on April 7th as follows:
Period 1: 9-9:45am
Period 2: 9:50-10:35am
Period 3: 10:40-11:25am
Period 4: 11:30am-12:15pm (students dismissed)
Parent/Guardian - Teacher Interviews Afternoon Session - 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Parent/Guardian - Teacher Interviews Evening Session - 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
*Sign-Up information will be included in the March 25th Bulletin*
April 8th will be a late (10am) start.
Credit Rescue Days: There are TWO mid-semester Credit Rescue Days. The first is on April 11th (Day 2 schedule) and the second on April 20th (Day 1 Schedule).
Mid-Term Report Cards: Issued electronically on April 29th
Math Department:
2022 Fryer, Galois, and Hypatia Math Contests hosted by uWaterloo
The NSS Math Department is excited to be running the 2022 Fryer (gr. 9), Galois (gr. 10), and Hypatia (gr. 11) Math Contests hosted by the University of Waterloo Centre for Education in Mathematics and Computing. These contests are open to all students in Grades 9-11.
Contest date: Tues. April 12
Registration due: Fri. March 18
Registration fee: $11 (once registration closes)
Interested in testing out your mathematical problem-solving ability? Sign up by completing the registration form on the 2021-2022 Math Contest Google Classroom using class code: cyoa3rl
Please direct any contest questions to stephanie.kendall@tdsb.on.ca
Lumenus Community Services:
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.
Have a great March Break!
Adam
Follow me @PrincipalNSS