Dear Northern Families,

We are already into the second half of the year. There were a few room adjustments and so on today but it was a solid start to semester 2. We are very close to having our staffing sorted out and excited about what lies ahead. Lots of important information this week- TPH, Guidance, and many other items worth having a look at.

Semester 1 Final Report Cards- Students and parents will receive their Semester 1 Final Report Card electronically next Wednesday February 8^th.

Semester 1 OSSLT (Literacy Test) Results- All students who wrote the OSSLT in December will receive their individual results Friday February 3^rd or Monday February 6^th from their classroom teacher(s). In the event they are absent during these days they can retrieve their OSSLT results from the VP office during lunch or after school in the VP office.

School Immunization – Toronto Public Health (TPH) will be holding a vaccine clinic at Northern Secondary School on Tuesday February 14^th, 2023. This catch-up clinic will offer Hepatitis B, Human Papillomavirus (HPV), and Meningococcal vaccines to students who are missing one or more doses of these important vaccines. The clinic will be held during school hours for Grade 9-12 students who attend the school.

• Click HERE to read an important letter from Toronto Public Health.
• Click HERE to open the consent form.
• Click HERE to view the promotional poster.
• Click HERE to view a fact sheet.
• Click HERE to view the checklist.
• Click HERE to view frequently asked questions.
•  

4 Things to Know About Northern Next Week:

1. Monday and Onwards: OSSLT’s results distributed.
2. Monday to Friday: Course Selection HF Visits
3. Wednesday: Report Cards Distributed
4. Friday: Course Selection Info Fair

 

Pine River Institute:

The Pine River Institute is pleased to present a session on anxiety management. Click HERE for more information.

 

Professional Support Services: Black Mental Health Wednesday Talk Series

Professional Support Services Mental Health and Well Being Committee have organized a Talk Series on Wednesdays beginning February 8th, 2023.

The Talk Series will center the importance of understanding and discussing Black mental health and well being. The facilitators of the Talk Series include Jason Best and Karlene Haughton, Chris Leonard and Imani Hennie.

This link will provide you with the flyers and the zoom links for each of these Wednesday sessions throughout February and early March.

Black Mental Health-Wednesday Talk Series - Google Slides

We hope these discussions build capacity in understanding Black mental health, the impact of racialized trauma and connections to culturally responsive and identity affirming supports in the community.

 

New Parkette on Redpath (north of school)

The online family friendly survey is available at toronto.ca/RedpathParkette. The survey will be open until Sunday, February 5, 2023.

Students can fill out the survey at home with their family, as a household activity.

 

HOSA - Fall Leadership Conference 2022

Congratulations to Ethan Chan (5^th place – Sports Medicine) and Laura Roobaert (5^th place – Clinical Laboratory Science) on their achievement at the HOSA-Future Health Professionals Canada Fall Leadership Conference (FLC).

If you are interested in participating in health science competitions at HOSA’s Spring Leadership Conference (SLC) taking place on May 17 and 18, 2023, in Downtown Toronto, join Northern’s HOSA Club. The last day to register, pay, and change your event/teammate information is March 17 at 11:59 pm. The top three competitors/teams from each event will be offered the opportunity to compete at the International Leadership Conference taking place June 21-24 2023 in Dallas, TX

Our google classroom code is CQBHZXH -- join to receive updates and information. Everyone is welcome!

To learn more about HOSA Canada: https://hosacanada.org/

To learn more about HOSA’s International Leadership conference: https://hosa.org/ilc/

 

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!

 

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

 

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

1) Games Night - Friday, February 3 at 6:30-9 pm - That's tonight! Join other Northern parents for a night of good food and good fun. It's a great way to beat the mid-winter blahs and make some new friends! Email nss.school.council@gmail.com for more details.

2) Walking Buddies - Saturday, February 11 at 9:30-10:30 am - join other Northern parents to walk and talk about parenting, school, and life. Email nss.school.council@gmail.com for more details.

3) Teens and Relationships - Wednesday, February 22 at 7 pm - Is your teen having difficulty keeping relationships? are they unhealthy? have they experienced rejection? Join psychologist, Elizabeth McEwen, on this live call for students and parents. Email nss.school.council@gmail.com for a link.

4) School Council Meeting - Thursday February 23 at 6:30 pm on Zoom - hear updates from the Principal and Committees, as well as guests, Superintendent Ron Felsen and Chairman Rachel Chernos-Lin. 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 February 23. If you have any questions for the Principal's Update, please send them to nss.school.council@gmail.com.

 

Guidance Updates:

1. NSS 2023-2024 Course Selection Events and Information!
   1. Students will complete their course selection for the 2023-2024 year through www.myblueprint.ca/tdsb. All students have an account and access to this course selection tool.
   2. myBlueprint OPENS for course selection February 6, 2023 @ 9 am
   3. myBlueprint CLOSES for course selection February 28, 2023 @ 4pm.
      1. Please note, myBlueprint is not first come first serve.
      2. Not submitting course selection before Feb 28^th can delay your course selection process.
   4. In-class grade specific Course Selection Presentations - week of Feb. 6, 2023
   5. NSS Evening Course Selection Presentation – Thursday, February 9^th, 2023 from 6:00- 7:00pm.
      1. To join, please use this link: https://tdsb-ca.zoom.us/s/93938018832
   6. Department Course Fair @ Lunch Fri. Feb 10^th and Mon. Feb 13^th happening in the 1^st and 2^nd floor foyers
   7. Check out our 2023-2024 Course Selection Google Site

2. TDSB Remote Credit Recovery Semester 2: Registration Closes Feb 10, 2023 @ 10am

Students who have been unsuccessful in a course and have not earned a credit in the last two years may be eligible to recover one or two credits at night school in semester 2. 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.

Please book an appointment with your Guidance Counsellor if you have any questions.

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. Opting-Out of the e-Learning Graduation Requirement
   Students may withdraw from the online e-Learning requirement. A parent/caregiver/guardian or student (18 years of age or older or 16 or 17 years of age and withdrawn from parental control) may withdraw by submitting the TDSB Opt Out/Withdrawal Form to their school. No explanation or reason is needed to opt out/withdraw.

If you are not ready to make a decision with regard to participating in e-Learning, there will be future opportunities to participate in e-Learning courses or withdraw from the graduation requirement. A final decision is not required at this time.

If you have decided now to withdraw from the graduation requirement, please complete the TDSB Opt Out/Withdrawal Form.

5. Post- Secondary Updates:

Individual colleges and universities are booking presentations with NSS. Be sure to check out the Post-Secondary calendar in the Grade 12 Guidance Google Classroom for dates and times.

Check out our NSS Guide to Applying to Post-Secondary for info about post-secondary application dates, process and links.

6. Looking for Scholarship Application Support?

Seeking Scholarships has released their February Scholarship Report which has new and upcoming scholarship dates listed, as well as tips to support a strong application.

Northern students, teachers, and families can access from this link using the password, scholar1: https://seekingscholarships.com/the-scholarship-report-2/?mc_cid=0a7a52e07f&mc_eid=a90fd997dd

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

The Northern Secondary School Foundation will be opening scholarships for application soon. Graduating students can choose up to three scholarships to apply for. Grade 12s can start exploring available awards here: https://nssf.ca/scholarships/

7. 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.

8. 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

 

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