Good Afternoon Northern Families,
It’s been another exciting week here with more and more activities getting underway. On Tuesday Northern welcomed guests from the Simon Wiesenthal Centre for an assembly. The assembly was titled “Freedom Day” and had several powerful presenters and performers who delivered an anti-hate/ anti-violence message. The assembly was broadcast across the country and can be viewed here: Freedom Day Recording
Interested in hearing about supporting your teen's mental health? Have a look at two virtual evenings coming up: TDSB Parenting for Positive Mental Health
Want to know what is happening at Northern every day? Check out the NSS Air Announcements
See Trustee Rachel Chernos Lin’s most recent newsletter HERE.
For those celebrating Rosh Hashanah, wishing you a Shana Tova.
Here are the “Five Things You Need to Know about Northern Next Week”:
- Wednesday: Late Start at 9:55am
- Wednesday: Class Rep Meeting at Lunch
- Thursday: SAC Club Fair at Lunch (rescheduled due to weather)
- Thursday: Academic Resource Committee Meeting at 7pm (virtual- see below)
- Friday: National Day of Truth and Reconciliation
The student calendar can be found here: CALENDAR (please click the link once on the page).
NSS Special Education - Action Required
On Tuesday, September 20, the families/guardians of our Special Education students will have received an IEP consultation form through their email addresses.
This form is used to inform the IEP development for this upcoming school year.
Please complete the form and return it to the appropriate Special Education Department.
Academic Resource Center (ARC)
- Electronically: Amanda.Kearney@tdsb.on.ca
- In Person: Room 112
Gifted Department
- Electronically: Monique.Cipollone@tdsb.on.ca
- In Person: Room 118
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Department
- Electronically: Eric.Larocque@tdsb.on.ca
- In Person: Room 334
Absences and Notes
If a student is absent from school, the parent or guardian must call the VP office before 8:50 a.m. with the student name and reason for the absence. After an absence, students must bring a note of explanation signed and dated by their parent or guardian to the VP office for entry on the computer; the student will then present the note to his/her teachers. Students who are 18 years of age or older may write their own notes. Alternatively, parents have the option of reporting a student absence via e-mail at northern@tdsb.on.ca.
OR
The attendance secretaries are as follows:
Call 416-393-0284 to leave a message for the appropriate VP office administrator:
A-G : Ms. Kert @ Dani.Kert@tdsb.on.ca --> ext. 20003
H-O : Ms.Irving @ Dianne.Irving@tdsb.on.ca --> ext. 20008
P-Z : Ms. Benjamin @ Krista.Benjamin@tdsb.on.ca --> ext. 20007
Attendance reporting policy and more can be found on the Northern Secondary School Website.
International Week of Deaf People / International Day of Sign Languages
Hey Northern! This week was the International Week of Deaf People and today is the International Day of Sign Languages! To celebrate, we are kicking off a sign of the week right here in the weekly bulletin. This week you can see the links below for the ASL alphabet, and some simple phrases for making introductions:
ASL Alphabet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkMg8g8vVUo
Making Introductions Vocabulary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YasOpK1RNvg
If you are interested in learning more ASL signs, and would like to practice signing with us, please fill out the google form HERE.
If you would like to learn more, and see these phrases signed across the world, check out this link from World Federation of the Deaf: https://wfdeaf.org/iwdeaf2022/
Music:
Music Ensembles:
Rehearsals for music ensembles have begun. If you missed them this week, don't worry, you can still participate. Just come to a rehearsal date next week, and speak to Ms. Peng or Mr. Newman. Here's the schedule: Mon. lunch: Chamber Strings; Tues. lunch: Choir; afterschool: Concert Band, Wed. lunch: Jazz Band; Thurs. afterschool: Guitar Ensemble; Fri. lunch: A Capella - to audition, dm @nss.acapella on instagram
Music Week: Oct. 24-28
Are you a solo performer or in a band? Do you want to perform in our first ever Music Week - Oct 24 to 28th? Go to bit.ly/musicweeksignup to sign up! The link can also be found in our instagram bio, @nssmusic.
Yearbook
For students who purchased last year's yearbook but did not receive their copy: Yearbooks will be available for pick-up on Wednesday, September 28th and Thursday, September 29th at lunch and after school. Yearbooks are not for sale at this time. This is your last chance to pick up last year's yearbook for students who purchased yearbooks. If you have any questions, please email the editors: lola.cejovic@student.tdsb.on.ca, sara.khorvash@student.tdsb.on.ca, and cassandra.cohen@student.tdsb.on.ca.
Calling all Indigenous Students:
Make positive change and get a high school credit. The Toronto Indigenous Youth Council (TIYC), through the Urban Indigenous Education Centre (UIEC), is offering an extraordinary opportunity for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit students: Earn Grade 11/12 credits (NDA3M or NDW4M) while participating in TIYC every Monday, 3:30-5:30PM, all school year. This will take place at Kâpapâmahchakwêw-Wandering Spirit School/UIEC, Room 313, at 16 Phin Avenue, very near Donland TTC Station. TTC tickets and dinner provided. Online participation will be considered.
Apply here!: https://forms.gle/cyxq3ehUK8GAdZtZ7.
Please see attached poster.
WellNSS:
Hey Northern! WellNSS is back and ready for the year! As Northern’s mental health association, we discuss all things mental health and mental illness. WellNSS’ main priority is to spread awareness and foster a community where discussing mental health is encouraged, to offer resources and strategies to promote mental health and reduce the stigma around it. You can keep up with all of our events and activities by following our Instagram @northernwellnss. If you are interested in getting involved as a general member or volunteering during events please join our google classroom! Our new google classroom code for the 2022-23 school year is 3qo5khn. Everyone is welcome!
Guidance Updates: September 23, 2022
- Calling all those interested in attending University in Ontario!
Ontario Universities' Fair
October 1-2, 2022
Metro Toronto Convention Centre
9:30 am to 5 pm (ET), daily
This event is fair style with booths from Ontario universities, and it allows you to gather information and chat with representatives one on one.
- 2022-2023 Scholarship Updates:
NSS Scholarship Information 2022-2023 info sheet has been posted to the Grade 12 Guidance Google Classroom, including upcoming deadlines for scholarships in October.
There will be a scholarship workshop on Thursday, Sept. 29th over lunch in room 111 for Grade 12 students to learn more about a variety of available scholarships, the application process, and funding for post-secondary opportunities. Don't miss it!
- Looking for Volunteer or Youth Employment Opportunities? Check your Guidance Google classroom!
- Save the Dates: Upcoming Guidance Events
- Grade 12 Home form Guidance Visits: start week of Sept 26, 2022
- Scholarship Lunch Workshop: September 29, 2022, rm 111
- Post-Secondary Evening Presentation & Fair: October 26, 2022
- Post-Secondary In-School Individual Visit Calendar
- Youth Employment Lunch Workshop: week of Nov 21, 2022
- Semester 1: Last day to Request a course drop: November 16, 2022.
Please note, the last day to request to drop a semester 1 course is Wednesday, November 16, 2022.
- TDSB Night School Registration Full Credit: In- Person & Remote
School Registration Semester 1, 2022 –Deadline to Enrol: September 29 @10am
Continuing Education Night School Courses are being offered both as in-person and remote delivery this year.
Click here for more information.
See your Guidance Counsellor for more information.
- Stay Informed: Sign-up for your Guidance Google Classroom:
Stay informed! Get all in info! Join your graded Guidance Google classroom!
Grade 9 Google Classroom code: 4ixv2jl
Grade 10 Google Classroom code: kmv6fcz
Grade 11 Google Classroom code: twdxca6
Grade 12 Google Classroom code: hfg74ws
School Council Update:
As the school year is underway, we wanted to bring these opportunities to your attention...
1) Join the list! School Council sends emails with news from within and beyond Northern to help you support your student's academic success. If you would like to be included on our mailing list to receive news "for parents, by parents", please email nss.school.council@gmail.com with the subject line, “Count me in”.
2) All About Accommodations: a Youth Rise Up live call - Wednesday, Sept 28, 7pm - parents and students are invited to join Dr. Todd Cunningham (Bright Lights Psychology) for a live call to discuss accommodations for learning differences - what they are, which ones work best for you, and how you can advocate better to make sure your teachers are helping you be successful. Email nss.school.council@gmail.com with "Accommodations" in the subject line for a link.
3) Getting Off to a Good Start - Thursday, Sept 29, 7-8 pm - Wondering how to support your student’s success this year? Join Susan Schenk (Occupational Therapist, Author/Speaker, founder of Shift Your Thinking) for helpful stories, insights, and tools to support your student/teen and their learning needs this year. Presented by the Academic Resource Committee for all students and parents at Northern and beyond. For a webinar link, email nss.school.council@gmail.com with “Good Start” in the subject line.
4) "New to Northern" Zoom Parent Chat - Wednesday, October 5, 7-8 pm - join us for an introduction to Northern “for parents, by parents”! We have a diverse student body in a school with varied, rich offerings. Let us help you navigate your resources, answer questions (feel free to send them in advance!), and make the most of your years here. Email nss.school.council@gmail.com for a meeting link with "Parent Chat" in the subject line. Links will be sent out by 4 pm on October 5.
5) GAC (Gifted Advisory Committee) Social meeting - Thursday, Sept. 29, at 7:00 p.m.
All parents of gifted students are invited to our first GAC meeting of the year, which is a drop in Social on Thursday, Sept. 29, starting at 7 p.m. at the Granite Brewery. After a long pandemic stretch, we’re delighted to have this first opportunity to connect in person. You can meet and connect with other parents, ask and answer questions, learn about what's happening in the gifted program at Northern and beyond, and / or just have a nice time connecting with other parents in person.
The Granite Brewery is located at 245 Eglinton Ave East; enter on Mt. Pleasant, just south of Eglinton. Underground parking is free (enter from Mt. Pleasant, and have your parking slip validated in the restaurant).
If you have any questions, please send an email to northerngifted@gmail.com. We hope that you can join us!
Have a Concern?
Please familiarize yourself with the this document outlines the process to raise concerns at the school. If you have general inquiries, please reach out to the appropriate Vice-Principal by alphabetical last name:
Surnames A to G: Mr. Eric Halling 416-393-0284 ext. 20013 (eric.halling@tdsb.on.ca)
Surnames H to O: Ms. Jessica Pearson 416-393-0284 ext. 20012 (jessica.pearson@tdsb.on.ca)
Surnames P to Z: Ms. Tiffany Peel 416-393-0284 ext. 20011 (tiffany.peel@tdsb.on.ca)
Northern Secondary School Foundation
Welcome to New Parents and Guardians. From the Northern Foundation.
The Northern Foundation is a charitable organization started in 1999 by parents, alumni and staff to generate funds for scholarships and grants to support student initiatives. It is managed by a Board of Directors. We are pleased to distribute 40 Scholarships annually at Commencement and the Awards Assembly.
If you would like further information about NSSF, visit our website at nssf.ca or follow us on Instagram @northernssfoundation. If you would to get involved in the work of the Foundation, email is at info@nssf.ca and we will get back to you.
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 or drop by his office at Room 312A.
Have a great weekend,
Adam Marshall
Principal
Follow me @PrincipalNSS