Good Evening Northern Families,

Two more weeks! We will be releasing additional information/ supports for the upcoming exam cycle next week. We also hope to get the exam schedule to you for next week’s bulletin. In the meantime, try to clear the decks of all school work ahead of the holidays so you can take a worry-free, well-deserved break. Avoiding spending your holidays doing work you have procrastinated on is some incentive to work right through to the 23^rd.

Please note the information about the Winterlude Concert next Thursday below. It is always a great evening of performances!

A Gentle Reminder: We have had families reaching out to let us know they will be out of town for various amounts of time over the next several months. Please remember that family vacations are not considered a legitimate absence. Every effort should be made to avoid scheduling family vacations during school time. Holiday dates are published in the school calendar and on the TDSB website, http://www.tdsb.on.ca. In the event of a missed evaluation due to a family vacation, teachers are not required to provide an alternative form of evaluation. In the case of examinations, no make-up exam or alternative arrangements will be made.

 

 

Here are the “Three Things You Need to Know about Northern Next Week”:

1. Tuesday: Canadian National Math League Contest # 3
2. Wednesday: Late Start PLC @9:55am
3. Thursday: Winterlude Concert @7pm

ASL Sign of the Week

 

Hi Northern! ASL Sign of the Week is back! The ASL club has come up with some signs for winter cooking: cookies, turkey, and mashed potatoes. Click HERE to see the signs! If you want to join the ASL club, come see Mrs. Volk in room 345.

Music:

WINTERLUDE IS HERE!!! Come join us for the first in person Winterlude of the decade at 7pm next Thursday, December 15th! Tickets are on sale in the main foyer at lunch and on school cash online. We also have a holiday sing along/karaoke in room 227 on Friday, December 9th. Candy canes will be present.

 

Coat Drive

 

We have already made several drop offs to TDSB schools! If you have anything to bring you will be helping a student/family in need. We are taking any old or new coats, boots, gloves, hats, and scarves. Please drop them off to Student Success anytime before Dec 15th. Please see the attached poster for more info.

 

Dual Credit Lunch and Learn - December 12th in Student Success at Lunch

 

Did you want to experience a college course while still in high school? You can earn a College Credit and a High School Credit at the same time. The Dual Credit Program is free and can give you a head start to your post secondary pathway.

This session is open to all Gr 11 and 12 students.

We will be providing you with pizza and water, please RSVP here
Max attendees at this event will be 30 people. If RSVP exceeds 30, we will book another session.

 

 

2^nd Parents & Prevention Webinar

In collaboration with Victim Services of Toronto. This webinar will discuss, centering parents/guardians:

 

• What is Human Trafficking
• Concerns to look out for
• Coercive Control & Healthy Relationships
• Overcoming Shame & Stigma
• How to Support Children/Youth
• How to Spread Awareness & Get Involved.
• Hear from a Parent of a Survivor.

 

The webinar link is in the flyer and also here below:

https://tdsb-ca.zoom.us/j/96705077455?pwd=OUtZUll3bzZCT3VSd1hMbDAxYW8wZz09

Passcode: 696267

 

 

January 19, 2023 from 7-8:30pm – Academic Accommodations and Post-Secondary

This workshop is for high school students and parents (or other support persons) who have questions or concerns about the transition to university for students with disabilities. This workshop will cover the following:

• Documentation required to access academic accommodations
• The supports and accommodations available through Student Accessibility Services at York
• Transition planning

Last year’s session can be viewed on YouTube: Post-Secondary Transition.

To register, please complete this Registration Form before January 19. Upon submission of the form, you will receive an email containing information about joining the workshop.

February 17, 2023 from 9am to 1pm – ASD Transition Day

This is an information day for students on the Autism Spectrum or those with 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

To register for this session, please fill out the Meeting Registration form.

If you have questions about any of the above programs, please contact projecta@yorku.ca.

 

TUTORING!!!! Please remember that Monday- Thursday from 3:30-4:30pm we are offering tutoring opportunities in rooms 111, 119, and on certain evenings 120. Take advantage of the opportunity if you are struggling to get additional support from Northern Teachers!

 

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!

 

School Council Update:

 

1) Walking Buddies - Sat, Dec 10 9:30 - 10:30 am - join other Northern parents to walk and talk about parenting, school, and life. Meet at the Funeral Center parking lot, east of the Mt Pleasant entrance to the Mt Pleasant Cemetery. For more details, email nss.school.council@gmail.com.

 

2) DBT for the Holidays; How to Survive, Increase Joy, Connection and Mindfulness with Dr. Carmen Lalonde - Wed, Dec 14 7-8 pm -

learn DBT skills to increase connection and joy during the holidays while balancing and thriving in the emotions that come during the holiday season. Participants will be provided information to ensure relationships deepen and grow in meaningful and skilful ways as they spend time with their loved ones. Hosted by the Sashbear Foundation. To register, click here.

 

3) Thank-a-teacher: - as we approach the holiday break, we encourage parents to write a quick email to teachers, staff, coaches or administrators to recognize the efforts they've put forth to keep student success a priority this year. We all could use a little boost in the shorter days of the year, and we appreciate their efforts to make this term as meaningful as possible!

 

4) Draft minutes from Nov 22 Meeting - find out all the latest updates on what is happening at Northern from Principal Marshall and our committees here.

 

Northern Secondary School Foundation:

Follow us on Instagram @northernssfoundation to learn more about how Northern alumni are changing the world of science, philanthropy, the arts and technology and working to make the world a better place.

Read about all our Northern scholarships and awards on our website at www.nssf.ca/scholarships

For more information about the Foundation, contact us at info@nssf.ca

 

Guidance Updates:

1. Semester 2 Remote and In-Person Full Credit Night School & Remote Credit Recovery Night School REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN and will close February 10, 2023 at 10am.

For more information on course listings and dates for TDSB Con Ed Night School click here.

2. eLearning Day School Registration: OPENS December 14th @ 10 am

For more information on eLearning Day School courses and registration dates, click here.

3. Please note: NSS in-person Semester 2 Timetable changes are not being considered unless a student is eligible to drop a course (straight drop), needs to add a course for a post-secondary pre-requisite or if a student fails a course. Not all courses are available.
4. PRIOR LEARNING ASSESSMENT AND RECOGNITION (PLAR) 2022/2023 Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition

(PLAR) is the formal evaluation and credit-granting process whereby students may obtain credits for prior learning. Prior learning includes the knowledge and skills that students have acquired, in both formal and informal ways, outside secondary school. Students may have their knowledge and skills evaluated against the expectations outlined in provincial curriculum policy documents in order to earn credits towards the secondary school diploma.

The 2022/2023 PLAR Challenge process will kick off with a Virtual PLAR Information Session for Families on January 18, 2023 from 7:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. Please share the information below with your school community.

1. PLAR Information Session Flyer
2. PLAR Information Session Registration
3. PLAR website

5. Post- Secondary Updates:

1. OUAC (Ontario Universities) applications are due January 12, 2023.
2. OCAS (Ontario Colleges) applications are due February 1, 2023 for equal consideration.
3. Check out our NSS Guide to Applying to Post-Secondary for info about post-secondary application dates, process and links.

6. Please note: the TDSB Volunteer Policy States that an eligible volunteer activity constitutes:

• An event or activity designed to be of benefit to the community.
• A volunteer activity – not for pay or credit.
• An event or activity to support a not-for-profit initiative.

 

For more information please visit the TDSB Community Involvement policy.

7. Students, looking for Volunteer or Youth Employment Opportunities? Check your Student Guidance Google classroom: Gr. 9 code: 4ixv2jl; Gr. 10 code: kmv6fcz; Gr. 11 code: twdxca6; Gr. 12 code: hfg74ws
8. Upcoming award opportunity: Burger King Foundation offers several scholarships for Canadian High School students from $1,000 up to $5,000 dollars. Applications are due December 15th!

https://burgerking.scholarsapply.org/information.php

9. Looking for Scholarship Application Support?

Seeking Scholarships has published their November scholarship report, which contains information and tips about funding post-secondary, along with an updated list of scholarships and deadlines. Northern students and parents can access this resource here: https://seekingscholarships.com/the-scholarship-report-2/ using the password scholar1​​​​.

Please note: This resource is copyrighted and only available to Northern families - please do not share outside of the Northern community.

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