Dear Parents/Guardians,

Happy New Year! It has been fantastic to actually return to work at the school after the winter break for the first time in several years.

I want to acknowledge the passing of a sad anniversary this past week. On January 7^th 2020 Northern student Maya Zibaie passed away when her plane was shot down on it’s way back to Canada. Maya continues to be missed.

Northern will soon begin its Semester 1 Exam period (Jan. 25^th to Jan. 31^st).

Please visit our Exam ReadiNSS site to find the Exam schedule and links to helpful supports, study tips and wellness resources. As well, you will find grade/subject specific information that allows you to see how teachers have been preparing students within the classroom. For missed culminating/ exam policy please see this AGENDA LINK.

You can also see this Tip Sheet for Students and Parents/Caregivers/Guardians from the TDSB.

1. case you missed it here is the recording of: Exam Stress: Learning How to Manage It to Perform at Your Best. This is for students and parents/caregivers that focuses on understanding exam stress and developing strategies to cope with it to help students perform at their best. A link to the slide deck is HERE. A huge thank you to Northern’s psychologist Dayna Morris for her central role in making this happen.

 

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

1. Tuesday: Academic Resource Committee Meeting @6:30pm
2. Wednesday: Late Start at 9:55am
3. Thursday: School/ Parent Council Meeting @6:30pm (details below)
4. Thursday: Moratorium Begins.

 

Special Education and Exams:

Students with the Assistive Technology accommodation in their IEP - please check your email and respond to Ms. Kearney's or Ms. Cipollone's exam survey.

 

Attention Graduates:

Graduation photos will take place Monday, February 13th and Tuesday, February 14th. Space is limited and will be the final chance to book a session at the school. Please book an appointment online following the link and steps below:

https://booking.edgeimaging.ca/portal/book/NEH

Click “Classic Sitting”, “Retake Sitting” or “Yearbook Only” Sitting

Choose date and time of your liking, click “confirm and pay now”

Enter student, contact and billing information and “click confirm and pay”

**Props will be provided, but you are welcome to bring your own to personalize your session. Props could include- fake flowers, a rolled-up paper and ribbon as a scroll, an old school photo, a hard cover book, a small item that shows of your personality or interests.

**Please come prepared in a white collared shirt or blouse and tie.

**A black graduation gown, sash and graduation cap will be available

**Your confirmation email will confirm the location of your session will take place

We look forward to seeing you there!

 

The 3rd 2022-2023 Social Work Virtual Community Fair “Let’s Talk about Programs and Services for Children with Special Education Needs”.

Guests: With TDSB Social Work staff, Surrey Place, Geneva Centre, Strides Toronto, Community Living Toronto, and Lumenus Community Services will be presenting.

When: Monday January 16, 2023 from 9:30 am to 12:00 noon.

Monday January 23, 2023 from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm

338903. Community Fair is open to all families who have children with Special Education Needs attending TDSB schools. This includes children who are integrated in classrooms in our schools, attending our Intensive Support Programs (ISP) located in schools across the TDSB, as well as students in our Congregated Schools.

See flyer attached and the link to the virtual fair is also linked below:

Join Zoom Meeting

https://tdsb-ca.zoom.us/j/98367378226?pwd=MW9yaDZTYnBoUTRmZEpGaXVmMVAxdz09

Dial by your location Meeting ID: 983 6737 8226

Passcode: 969515

One tap mobile

+16473744685,98367378226# *969515# Canada

+16475580588,98367378226# *969515# Canada

Meeting ID: 983 6737 8226

Passcode: 969515

Come meet with community partners who provide behaviour supports to families to assist children, youth, and young adults.

For more information, please the flyer and/or you can contact Jill Elliott Brennan at 647-229-0728 or email virtualfairinfo@tdsb.on.ca .

 

Remote Night School Credit Recovery – Semester 2:

TDSB Students ONLY The Toronto District School Board is offering current TDSB students the opportunity to recover one or two credits at night school. Remote Night School Credit Recovery courses are open to current TDSB high school students who have taken the course in the past two years but have not earned the credit. Students may enroll in two credit recovery courses, one running on Tuesday and the other on Thursday. Visit our program page for more information and to register.

Key Dates

• Registration Opens – December 1, 2022 at 10:00 a.m.
• Courses with low enrolment cancelled – February 3, 2023

Registration Closes - February 10, 2023 at 10:00 a.m

 

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!

 

School Council News (for parents, by parents!):

1) School Council Meeting - Our next School Council meeting is scheduled for Thursday January 19th at 6:30 pm on Zoom.

To obtain a link please send an e-mail to Chandra.Ramdhani@tdsb.on.ca with "School Council Meeting link" in the subject line. The link will be sent out the afternoon of January 19th. If you have any questions for the Principal's Update, please send them to nss.school.council@gmail.com.

2) Working With Others - Tuesday, January 17 at 7 pm - Working with others is a fine art form, particularly when your child appears to be struggling or having difficulties at school. Susan Schenk, co-founder of Shift Your Thinking, will share expert insights about the three steps that will help your child move forward with their learning and make the work with outside supports successful. Email nss.school.council@gmail.com for a link.

3) Homework and Organization - Wednesday, January 25 at 7 pm - Organizing yourself for school can be tricky, especially when you have so many other things going on. Add in homework, and...ugh. Join Robin Bacher, special education consultant, on this youth and parent live call to learn tips to support you with homework and how to stay organized. Email nss.school.council@gmail.com for a link.

 

Northern Secondary School Foundation:

Happy New Year from the Northern Secondary School Foundation.

Thank you to all the parents and guardians who have donated to the Foundation.

Your support enables us

• To honour outstanding student achievement.
• To support news student led initiatives such as the Robotics Club and Ethics Club
• To recognise outstanding excellence in teaching.

 

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: OPEN - 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

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. PLAR Information Session Flyer PLAR Information Session Registration PLAR website

5. Post- Secondary Updates:

1. OCAS (Ontario Colleges) applications are due February 1, 2023 for equal consideration.
2. 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. 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