Dear Northern Families,

Thank you to all of you that came out for Parent/Guardian-Teacher interviews last night. It is always great to have the personal connection between teacher and home. To all our students participating in the CN Tower Climb tomorrow – have a blast!

This week we held our School Council Elections. I want to give a heartfelt thank you to outgoing co-chairs Janice Barnett and Andy Anderson. Your time and efforts through several years in the role has been greatly appreciated. Welcome to new co-chairs John Bakous and Omar Becerril. More details below under School Council.

The Fall edition of Hearts and Minds from the psychology is here: Hearts and Minds Newsletter .

Nest week is the United Way Week. Students, where possible, are encouraged to bring change/ cash to help support class projects that will be running all week. Northern has a long-standing tradition of making contributions to the United Way- it’s your turn to be a part of this legacy!

12461806835671. Update: Unfortunately delivery of the devices has not occurred yet. As soon as they are on site, we will be distributing to students that ‘opted in’ via their first period classes.

231810. Friday October 27^th we will be dismissing students at 2:30pm. This will allow students interested to attend our last home senior football game of the year. To attend make sure you have your student card ready to show at the gate! We will not have an entry fee for students but donations to the Toronto Council Fire are encouraged where possible. For adults attending we will be asking for a $5 contribution to the Toronto Council Fire. There will be hotdogs, snacks, and water available. For more information see Instagram @nss.baa.gaa. Let’s bring the Northern spirit- wear anything red, blue, and/ or gold next Frida. See you all out there for homecoming!

Next Friday’s Schedule:

Period 1: 9:00am-10:05am

Period 2: 10:10am-11:15am

Lunch: 11:15am-12:15pm

Period 3: 12:15pm-1:20pm

Period 4: 1:25pm-2:30pm

 

Student Verification forms: If you still haven’t returned your child’s Student Verification Form, please complete any necessary corrections and return them to your child’s 1^st period teacher on Monday, October 23, 2023 . If you have any questions or haven’t received your child(ren) form please email danielle.trotto@tdsb.on.ca.

 

Upcoming Week:

1. Wednesday- Late Start Staff Meeting @9:55am
2. Thursday – Faculty Follies @ Lunch in auditorium
3. Thursday: ELL Parent Guardian Welcome 6-8pm. Details below.
4. Friday: Great Race @ Lunch in Upper Gym
5. Friday: Early Dismissal @2:30pm

 

ESL/ ELL Department:

The ELL Parent/Guardian Welcome Potluck is next Thursday, Oct. 26th 6 - 8 PM.

 

United Way:

The CN Tower Stair climb is back! Join Northern’s Team on October 21st at 9:00 am to climb the CN tower for change! United Way holds this fundraising event every year to raise money for the United Way charity. United Way is an umbrella organization that supports local communities, providing them with basic needs. Every dollar that is raised goes to the United Way. This is a great event for our school community to get together and have a fun time! Join our team from this link:

https://secure2.convio.net/uwgt/site/TR/CommunityEvents/General?team_id=7701&pg=team&fr_id=1440

 

Cross Country Team - South Regional Champs!

Congratulations to Northern's Cross Country Team for their amazing performance at the South-West Regional Championships yesterday. Northern brought home all the South Regional titles again this year, making us Overall South Regional Champions for Girls, Boys, and Combined divisions. We had many individual top 10 finishes, including Novice Girls - Rebecca Pribaz (1st), Olivia Moore (9th); Novice Boys - Spencer Rizzuto (6th); Junior Girls - Kieva Birmingham (1st), Samantha Hanna (6th); Junior Boys - Jacob Pozin (4th), Campbell Wotherspoon (5th), Mateo Trujillo (9th); Senior Girls - Ena Smailbegovic (6th), Mia Blackmore (10th); Senior Boys - Will Greenfield (3rd), Quinlan Birmingham (8th). All of our runners qualified for the City Championships. Good luck on Monday!!

 

Take Our Kids to Work Day

Take Our Kids to Work Day (TOKTWD) is taking place on Wednesday, November 1, 2023. Take Our Kids to Work Day is an experiential learning opportunity for Grade 9 students across Canada offering them the chance to see the world of work firsthand, explore a variety of careers and sectors, and look at what skills are important to thrive in the world of work.

Grade 9 students will have the opportunity to shadow a parent/guardian or another adult approved by their parent/guardian on November 1st. Parents/ Guardians will need to submit an excused absence for students who will be participating in TOKTWD with them. For students who choose to stay at school on TOKTWD, Grade 9 teachers are encouraged to use this day to explore the Education and Career/Life Planning (or Career Education, Cooperative Education and Other Forms of Experiential Learning) sections of their curriculum to guide lessons that day.

 

Pet Rescue Club

Pet Rescue Club will be holding its annual Pet Supplies Drive for the Toronto Humane Society next week (October 23-27). Bring in any blankets, towels, unopened pet food, pet toys, or any other pet supplies. The donation bin will be in the front foyer in the morning and in the library for the rest of the day.

 

Parents and Caregivers as Partners Conference - October 21 & 22, 2023

Join us at our annual Parents and Caregivers as Partners Conference on October 21 and 22, 2023. Parents, guardians, and caregivers are invited to participate in a weekend of learning, connection, and engagement and to learn strategies to support your child throughout the year.

Last year, we partnered with the TDSB’s Outdoor Education team and the City of Toronto to bring a unique experience to the conference. All of the in-person sessions are scheduled between 2:00 and 3:30 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. Transportation from central sites is available to all venues, leaving the location at 1:00 p.m. and returning at 3:30 p.m. More information will be provided as we approach the date.

13031. virtual conference includes a keynote address on Saturday, October 21, 2023, by Dr. Gholnescsar (Gholdy) Muhammad, an Associate Professor of Literacy, Language, and Culture. On Sunday, October 22, 2023, Sarah Baldeo, an accomplished neuroscientist, technologist, corporate strategist, and a successful entrepreneur, will be our keynote.

Visit www.parentsaspartners.ca to register and for more information.

 

Halloween 2023: Cultures Are Not Costumes

Each year, Halloween is marked in a variety of ways in school communities across the TDSB. Students can choose whether or not to participate in Halloween related activities.

As TDSB schools prepare for this day, there are often questions and concerns about Halloween costumes. To support safe, welcoming, and dynamic learning spaces, educators are encouraged to engage students in critical conversations about cultural appropriation, stereotypes, and caricature. This includes reminding students and staff that certain costumes are viewed as offensive, inappropriate and/or discriminatory to many different cultures/peoples, and as a result can cause harm to members of that community and the TDSB community.

Additionally, school communities are reminded that it is important to be aware of the potential negative and triggering impact violent images and/or scenarios can have on students and families with varying lived experiences and backgrounds.

 

Music:

Do you like making music? Do you want to perform for your fellow students? Sign up to perform at our second ever Music Week! Events are running every lunch from October 30th to November 3rd with performances on November 2nd and 3rd. Sign up at bit.ly/musicweek23signup. Follow our Instagram @nssmusic for more info!

 

The 4^th Northern Secondary School Foundation Online Auction

Auction 2023 was a great success thanks to our local community, parents, former teachers and alumni!!

Please consider supporting our local businesses, professionals and artists who donated items for auction:

Fairlawn Physiotherapy, Summerhill Market, Spokes and Sports, Paradise Comics, Merchant of Tennis, Advice from a Caterpillar, Wanda Ely Design, The Dickson Group, Vidal Sassoon, American College Consulting, EduTravel, Mostly Math, Tournament Park Tennis, Toronto Argos, Hockey Hall of Fame, Thrive Academy, Mercatto, Pantry Catering, The Friendly Butcher, Tabule, Granite Brewery, Snyder’s School of Music, Squibb’s Stationary, Sports Specialist Rehabilitation, Florio Salon, Want Boutique, Majer Hockey, Shoppers Drug Mart, Stainsby Studios, Morrison and Co., A J Spaw, Over the Rainbow, Blue Rodeo Productions, SRO Management, Loblaws, Home Depot, Dogease Puppy Training

Special Thanks to Christina Lawrence, former parent and Matt Kassirer for their technical support. Proceeds to scholarships and grants to student led enrichment activities.

 

Drama:

Is your child interested in a fun filled and educational trip to Chicago this March Break?

Sign Up Deadline: Thursday, December 21st for first 2 payments installments - if we do not have 30 students at this time, your money will be refunded.

Why? To experience Chicago's Art, Architecture, Museums, Theatre, Parks and Zoos.

Where? We are planning to explore everything that Chicago has to offer: WILLIS TOWER | HISTORIC NAVY PIER | ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO | LINCOLN PARK ZOO | FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY| MILLENNIUM PARK | ARCHITECTURE RIVER CRUISE | JOHN G SHEDD AQUARIUM | ADLER PLANETARIUM & ASTRONOMY MUSEUM | MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY | and see some really great CHICAGO THEATRE (MUSICALS)! Click here for the itinerary!

When? Mar 11-Mar 15, 2024

Who? All Northern students are welcome. Priority is given to students enrolled in a Performing Arts course or participating in a Performing Arts extracurricular.

Cost? Price: $1,975 per student (Trip price based on 30 participating students). This includes hotel accommodation (4 students in a room), coach bus transportation, 4 breakfasts & 4 dinners, all trip experiences,entrance fees and tickets, Edutravel tour animator and all night security. Link here for more details!

How? Check the registration instructions attached here.

Please contact Flora Wellsman flora.wellsman@tdsb.on.ca for more information and/or join the Google Classroom using this LINK and code: phdus2m.

Drama Extracurriculars:

Drama Club is a drop in club that all students are welcome to join. The first meeting will be at lunch in Room 225 on Wednesday, October 11th.

Improv Team is a competitive team that is coached by Ms Stassis. Practices are mandatory and are scheduled for Monday after school and Friday lunch in the auditorium. If you child is interested in being on this team, they should speak with Ms. Stassis in guidance or at one of the team practices.

 

Student Success:

Peer Tutoring

Peer Tutoring is now available! We are able to offer tutoring support in all compulsory subjects for Grades 9 and 10. Students, please complete the Tutee Registration Form in order to be matched with a Peer Tutor this semester.

 

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

1) Draft Minutes for the Oct 17 meeting are available here

2) Meet the New Council: The 2023-24 Northern School Council includes: Co-chairs John Bakous and Omar Becerril; Co-treasurers Jen Ankenmann and Gaya Sathiyamoorthy; Co-secretaries Jessica Miklos and Kristina Turner; Parent members: Andy Anderson, Janice Barnett, Elena Comelli, Abby Dwosh, Giovanni Grasselli, Beth Lauer, Ana Rodrigues, Anna Rutledge, Natasha Sachs-Pepe; Teacher Rep: Susan Woodward; Co-community members: Diana Goldie, Tania Osmond, and Melissa Rosen.

3) 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). Click HERE for more details and the link to make your contribution through School Cash Online by Friday, November 10. Every gift makes a difference!

4) Fundraising Policy Feedback Requested Now - the TDSB is proposing changes to their fundraising policy that would affect our students. Read here for more information and the mechanisms for feedback.

5) Accommodations and Learning Gaps - Wed Oct 25 at 7 pm - Join Dr Todd Cunningham in this live call to discuss common questions and ask your own to understand how to advocate for effective accommodations and close learning gaps! To request a link, email nss.school.council@gmail.com with "Accommodations" in the subject line.

6) Walking Buddies - Sat Oct 28 9:30-10:30 am - Come join other Northern parents for some fresh air, exercise, and conversation about school, kids, and life! Email nss.school.council@gmail.com for more details.

 

Guidance Updates:

1. Guidance Week-in-Review:
   1. Scholarship Workshop – click here for slideshow
   2. One-on-one grade 12 post-secondary meetings looking more closely at our “I’m in Grade 12, Now What?” Graduation Requirements check & Post-Secondary home form presentations
   3. Scholarship Workshop happened Tuesday – slideshow here.
   4. Ontario College Fair: Oct 18 & 19, 2023 @ Enercare Centre
2. Looking Ahead:
   1. OUF: Ontario Universities Fair @ the Metro Convention Centre - October 21-22, 2023.
1. Post Secondary Updates:
   1. NSS Post-Secondary Individual School Lunch Visits 2023/24
   2. NSS Post-Secondary Guide is here!
   3. Save the dates:
      1. NSS Post-Secondary Fair is Wednesday, November 8, 2023 - 6:00pm - 8:00pm @ Northern SS
4. NSS Scholarship Information Chart 2023/2024 where Northern-specific scholarship information and deadlines can be found (along with other common awards).
5. Seeking Scholarships has released their September Scholarship Report which has upcoming scholarship dates listed for students applying to post-secondary programs.

Northern students, teachers, and families can access from this link using the password, scholar58: https://seekingscholarships.com/the-scholarship-report-2/

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

 

Have a great weekend,

Adam Marshall

Principal

Follow me @PrincipalNSS