Dear Northern Families,

We are excited to have everyone back at school on Tuesday!

It was exciting to see students returning and new students this week at timetable pick up and Head Start to High School. Thank You to Northern staff and student leaders who stepped forward to make this week go so smoothly. Our Buddies and student leaders did an amazing job again this year and will continue to be available at the “Buddy Booth” in the front foyer at lunch next week. Any student questions about the school can be fielded there.

If you were unable to attend timetable pick-up this week please go to the south gym Tuesday September 5^th at 8:30am. As a reminder: We will collect Student Activity Fees of $60.00- this includes your yearbook (cash, cheque, or School Cash Online which is open from now through October 7^th. Instructions can be found ), distribute timetables, sell locks for anyone wanting one ($8), student photos, and creating student ID’s. Student Activity Fees cover the yearbook, and help to fund many student activities. We have a strong student government that works to distribute these funds to applicants (student groups/ teams/ clubs) throughout the year. Everyone’s support is greatly appreciated.

First Day of School:  Tuesday September 5^th.  Please note we will start classes at 9:55 on September 5^th. 

Books Owing from last year?  Please bring them to the VP office next week.  Anyone with books owing will need to return them or submit payment for these items prior to picking up their timetable.

Start of Year Permission Forms will be sent via Permission Click to all students on September 8th. Forms will continually be sent out to brand new TDSB students, once students are activated (this happens when they first attend class). It is ESSENTIAL that these forms are completed upon receipt. Thank You for your attention to this.

Below you will find a link to the Back-to-School Letter from Trustee Rachel Chernos Lin. This letter contains key information and resources for parents / guardians / caregivers, and is one way that we are increasing awareness among families and school community members about the role of trustees.

Trustee Rachel Chernos Lin’s Ward 11 Back-to-School Letter <https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Portals/ward11/docs/2023%2008%2028%20W11-R_%20ChernosLin_BTS_AODA.pdf>

New to Northern and in grades 10-12? We look forward to welcoming you at our New Student Luncheon on Wednesday September 14^th. We will be located in Room 105 during the lunch hour.

13031. student calendar can be found HERE  .  re will be additions coming in the future. These will be highlighted for 2 weeks within the calendar and then simply appear as regular text after that. Please note that all odd days are day 1 and even days are day 2 this year.  In other words, October 7 would be a day 1 and October 8 would be a day 2.  Please note that this year morning and afternoon classes tumble. This means that first period day 1 becomes second period day 2. We will continue to have tumbling afternoons as well.
13031. student agenda can be found here: AGENDA se are both links to the school website where tons of useful information can be found.

For students new to the school please note that we do not have food service in the cafeteria. You can bring your lunch and eat in the caf, have lunch at home, or purchase lunch in the neighbourhood.

Electronics / Valuables - Unfortunately the school cannot be responsible for lost or stolen items. Please encourage your child to leave their valuables at home.

School Expectations – During the first week of school we will be reviewing school expectations with students. On Wednesday the 13^th we will reinforce these expectations via student assemblies.

 

Upcoming:

1. Monday Sept. 4- Labour Day – No School

2. Tuesday- First day of classes. Late Start at 9:55am

3. Tuesday- Late timetable Pickup (8:30am in south gym)

 

Have a Concern?

Please familiarize yourself with the Parent Concern Protocol 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. Emails to the principal will generally be forwarded directly to the appropriate vice-principal by (alphabetical last name).

Vice Principals for your Reference: it is essential that questions/ concerns

Surnames A to G: Mr. Kenn Harvey 416-393-0284 ext. 20013 (kenn.harvey@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)

 

Guidance Counsellor assignments:
Kristen Beach – A, F, P, T – kristen.beach@tdsb.on.ca

Melanie Stassis – S, U-Z – melanie.stassis@tdsb.on.ca
Jenny Sohn – B-E, I – jenny.sohn@tdsb.on.ca
Jennifer MacPhee – G, H, K, L - jennifer.macphee@tdsb.on.ca
Sean Magee-Saxton – I, J, M-R – sean.magee-saxton@tdsb.on.ca

 

School Council Update:

1) Join the list! School Council sends emails with news 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 send an email to nss.school.council@gmail.com with the subject line, “Count me in”.

2) First Council Meeting: Our first meeting will be held on Thursday, September 21 at 6:30 pm, hybrid format, in the Northern School Library. Meet the outgoing School Council, hear plans for the upcoming year and details for the October election (all Northern parents are welcome to run; no experience needed). Also, hear a Principal's Report on the latest news at Northern to help you get off to a good start! Details for the meeting and the zoom link will be posted in Principal Marshall's Friday weekly bulletin.

3) Welcome new and returning gifted families!
The Gifted Advisory Committee (GAC) would like to extend a warm welcome to all new and returning families of gifted students. GAC aims to connect and support families of gifted students during their time at Northern. To join our mailing list, please sign up here (note that this is a new list started in February 2023). Details of our welcome-back social coming soon.

4) We need your help! In lieu of ongoing fundraising, we request voluntary contributions once in the fall for all our initiatives to support students throughout the year (clubs, athletics, wellness, conferences, workshops, advocacy, subsidies and much more). Watch for upcoming details on our annual fundraiser, and please consider a contribution through School Cash Online. Every gift makes a difference!

For more information, please contact us at: nss.school.council@gmail.com

 

Northern Secondary School Foundation

Mark your Calendar!

13031. Northern Community comes together to enrich the educational experience of our students. The 4^th Northern Secondary School Foundation Online Auction goes live on September 21 to October 1 2023.

Gift Certificates to local stores and restaurants, fine art and pottery, design consultations, tickets to sports events, sports memorabilia, waterskiing lessons, overnight at Deerhurst, family skiing at Craighleith. 70+ items in total.

All proceeds to scholarships and grants to student led enrichment activities.

Thanks to our alumni, parents, former staff and local merchants who have donated items.

Stay tuned for more information!

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.

 

Guidance Updates:

1. The Student Services Department (Guidance) welcomes you back to our 2023-2024 school year! We are excited to connect with you and help you reach all of your goals this year! See you soon ????
2. Timetable Change Request Criteria and Google From:

NSS Guidance will endeavour to fulfill all course change requests that meet the policy criteria below. Course changes are subject to availability.

Thank you for your patience as we work through the requests.

Please note: WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE ALL TIMETABLE CHANGE REQUESTS – but we always try our best. Thank you for your understanding.

Criteria for Timetable Change:

1. You are dropping a course and taking a spare.

2. You are missing a compulsory course (i.e. English, Math, Science).

3. You completed a summer school course and need a level change/prerequisite course.

4. You are in grade 11 or 12 and are changing post-secondary pathways. For example, you have three Science courses, but have decided to not study Science in post-secondary.

5. Grade 9 & 10: you do not have 8 courses on your timetable.

6. Grade 11: You selected a full 8 course load, but you do not have 8 courses on your timetable.

7. Grade 12: You selected a full course load, but do not have 7 or 8 courses on your timetable .

NOTE: Please remember whenever possible we use your alternative course choices to resolve elective course conflicts.

Priority will be given to students requesting a course required for a post-secondary pathway.

***Students are required to follow their existing timetable until notified otherwise.

Even if you have emailed your Guidance counsellor already, complete this form. They may not have read your email due to the volume of emails we have received over the summer.

Thank you for your patience as we work through the requests. We will be connecting with students Sept 5 – Sept 15, 2022.

Google Form: NSS Timetable Change Request

Again, thank you for your patience.

3. TDSB Day School E-Learning Registration
   Day School e-Learning Semester 1 courses are open for registration until 4pm on
   September 23, 2022.

Semester 1, 2023/24 e-Learning Day School Registration will open tentatively on Wednesday, September 6, at 10:00am. Semester 1 registration will close on Friday, September 22, 2023; however, many courses will likely fill up well before this date. Please note that courses are subject to change based on enrolment.
Grade 11 and 12 students are eligible to apply for an e-Learning Day School Semester 1 course if they have a spare in their semester 1 timetable.
Click the link here for more information.

4. TDSB Sem 1 Night School Registration - Full Credit and Credit Recovery
   School Registration Semester 1: OPENS Sept 6, 2023 @ 10 am
   Deadline to Enrol: September 29 @10am
   Continuing Education Night School Courses are being offered both as in-person and remote delivery this year. See here for course offerings.

Click here for more information. See your Guidance Counsellor for more information.

5. Sign-up for your Guidance Google Classroom:

Stay informed! Get all in info! Join your student Guidance Google classroom!

Sign-up for your Student Guidance Google Classroom:

Grade 9 Google Classroom code: x6sh4ue

Grade 10 Google Classroom code: 4ixv2jl

Grade 11 Google Classroom code: kmv6fcz

Grade 12 Google Classroom code: twdxca6

6. *** New 2023-2024 Guidance Alphas: by Student Last Name

A, F, P, T: Kristen Beach

B-E, I: Semester 1: Jenny Sohn, Semester 2: Leslie Usin-Rojas

G, H, K, L: Jennifer MacPhee

J, M – R: Sean Magee-Saxton

S, U-Z: Melanie Stassis

Click here for Counsellor contact info.

 

Have a great long weekend,

Adam Marshall

Principal

Follow me @PrincipalNSS