Dear Northern Families,

It’s already December and the snow was falling as classes let out this afternoon- perfect!

The Fashion Show was an incredible success last evening. Thank You to the staff and students who have worked so hard to make it work. This is a massive production led and performed by students, with all proceeds going to the United Way! I am already looking forward the encore (and final) show this evening. Tickets still available at the door for $15.

We have realized there was going to be a conflict with Winterlude and Hanukkah. As a result Winterlude (our holiday themed music night) has been moved to Wednesday December 13^th. As a reminder, Winterlude tickets are now on sale at lunch in the foyer and on school cash online! Tickets are only $5 for NSS Students, and $8 for adults to see amazing music and dance performances!

Exams: First semester exams will be held from Wednesday January 24^th to Monday January 29^th. Students will follow their Day 1 schedule as follows for exams:

• Wednesday January 24^th- Period 1 Exam
• Thursday January 25^th- Period 2 Exam
• Friday January 26^th- Period 3 Exam
• Monday January 29^th- Period 4 Exam

ALL exams will begin at 10am. Exam duration will vary by subject/ year. Looking ahead, students should make sure they eat a good breakfast as they will eat a “late” lunch on these days once exams are over (late relative to our usual 11:40am lunchtime). Teachers have shared with students if there is an exam for their classes. There may be changes to this up to and including Friday December 15th, but there will be no change to the four day cycle laid out above. As an example, if I have math period 2 on a day 1, I will write my math exam Thursday January 25^th at 10am.

On December 12^th we will be holding our annual open house for prospective students and their families. Timing-wise this is a change for us from January, but it makes sense with the semester system. On December 12^th we will end the day at 11:35am to welcome several of our feeder schools for an afternoon at the school. The same evening we will welcome families and students from a broader cross-section of the city.

CULMINATING TASKS AND EXAMS While we are a few months away from the end of the Semester, it is important to remind all families of the following information related to culminating activities and exams: Culminating activities and examinations carry the same importance and the same attendance requirement. Thus, attendance during culminating activities is mandatory. Some courses have culminating activities that take place over several days. Thus, attendance during culminating activities/summative evaluations is mandatory. A culminating activity is the final evaluation in each course which is worth 30% of the final mark. “This evaluation will be based on evidence from one or a combination of the following: an examination, a performance, an essay and/or another method of evaluation suitable to the course content” (p.41-Growing Success). Students who miss culminating activities or summative evaluations will be given a mark of zero for the portion missed with no opportunity to make up the missed work unless there is an extenuating and documented circumstance, such as a medical situation, court date, funeral etc. It is absolutely crucial that students do not miss any time during the end of a semester. Under Ministry of Education and TDSB regulations, there can be no accommodations made for students who miss the 30% culminating activities and summative evaluations at the end of a semester for personal reasons such as vacation or work. Students and parents should be aware that scheduled vacations at this time can significantly impact student achievement. With the exception of a medical emergency, all summative tests and assignments that are missed as a result of these absences will be assigned a mark of zero.

Upcoming Week:

1. All-Week: United Way Thrift Shop! Auditorium at lunch
2. Tuesday: Gifted Advisory Committee 2pm
3. Wednesday: Nat’l Day for Remembrance & Action on Violence Against Women
4. Thursday: PAL’s Holiday Event- Front Foyer @ lunch

 

White Ribbon Campaign:

Next Wednesday marks the 34th anniversary of the Ecole Polytechnic massacre. This act of anti-feminist violence resulted in the murder of 14 women. The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, also known as the White Ribbon Campaign, was established to mark this event for reflection and action. This year, the BAA will be raising money in support of the White Ribbon Campaign. Students can donate change for a white ribbon in the morning and at lunch. Over the last 30 years, the White Ribbon Campaign has focused on promoting healthy masculinities, advancing gender equity and building allyship (https://www.whiteribbon.ca/) .

 

Music:

Winterlude is back! Come see Northern's amazing music classes and ensembles perform at 7:00pm on Wednesday December 13th! Tickets will be going on sale soon. Be sure to follow our instagram @NSSmusic for all the information!

 

Yearbook:

The time for voting for your 2023-2024 yearbook cover has arrived! Please cast your vote, using the google form below, by Friday, December 1st, 2023. Happy voting NSS!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeN-LKAQOAc1ejW1nYX8hzWXqO489Jldc7T5SU7elePScc5ow/viewform?usp=sf_link

Thanks again,

Mr. Edwards & Yearbook Force

 

Northern Math Contest:

Registration is open for the Canadian National Math League #3 Contest.

It will occur on Tuesday, December 12th and is completed online. If your student is interested in writing please have them join the Google Classroom using code kzwovat and register before Friday, December 8th.

 

Winter Wear Exchange!

NEMO (Northern's environmental group) is hosting a Winter Wear Exchange. All next week students are invited to drop off winter wear items in the box in the front foyer. The clothing should be in good condition, but gently used items are encouraged. On December 7th all students are invited to meet in room 323 for the actual exchange, where everyone is welcome to grab any items they want! All leftover clothing will be donated to charity. For more, check the post on our Instagram; @nss_nemo. Thank you for your donations and we can't wait to see you there!

 

First Nations, Métis and Inuit Student Post-Secondary Opportunities Gathering

The Urban Indigenous Education Centre is honoured to host a Post-Secondary & Trades Fair for First Nations, Métis and Inuit students across the Toronto District School Board, on Wednesday, December 6.

Indigenous students will have the opportunity to:

• Meet universities, college and trades program representatives face-to-face, and engage with Indigenous representatives, mentors and alumni;
• Inquire about valuable information on programs, admissions, scholarships/bursaries, and support services;
• Learn how to access multiple options for post-Secondary pathways;
• Find out about employment opportunities for summer and beyond.

Date: Wednesday, December 6

Time: 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Location: The Urban Indigenous Education Centre, 16 Phin Avenue - see map. Please enter through Entrance #5

For more information, contact Emerelle Sliwa-Julian, Graduation Coach at Emerelle.Sliwa-Julian@tdsb.on.ca

 

The International Day of Disabled Persons

On December 3rd, we observe annually, the International Day of Disabled Persons. The International Day of Disabled Persons was proclaimed in 1992 by United Nations General Assembly resolution 47/3. It aims to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society and development, and to increase awareness of the situation of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic, and cultural life.

For further information, please visit the United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities webpage.

 

Webinar Wednesdays

The Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement presents Webinar Wednesdays. This virtual series aims to support and empower Black parents and caregivers, and families raising Black children in Toronto District School Board (TDSB) schools.

Through collaborations with various TDSB Departments, the series offers resources and information to families about system navigation processes and builds on their knowledge and advocacy skills to improve Black students’ academic achievement and overall well-being.

Date: December 6, 2023

Time: 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Registration link: https://bit.ly/3Rh52Jz

For more information contact, jeffrey.caton@tdsb.on.ca, Centrally Assigned Principal, or lindsey.marshall@tdsb.on.ca , Program Co-ordinator, Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement.

 

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:

1. Thank a Teacher. As the calendar year draws to a close, we encourage all Northern students and families to think about Northern staff who have made a difference to them this school year and consider sending a note of thanks. Who has really made an impact for you?

2. Mental Health at Northern - Tuesday, December 5th - 6:00 pm. Join the Gifted Advisory Committee for a question and answer session with John Moyer about mental health at Northern. Please send any questions that you would like addressed to northerngac@gmail.com.

3. Awards for Teaching Excellence: The nomination period for the Prime Minister's Awards for teaching excellence is now open. To nominate an outstanding teacher, review the process here (https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/pm-awards-teaching-excellence-stem/en): Deadline: January 11, 2024.

4. Call For Volunteers. NSS Council has a variety of committees that welcome your input and support. Committees welcoming volunteers include the following:

• Academic Resource Committee
• Education Committee
• Fundraising Committee
• Gifted Advisory Committee
• Social Committee/Parent Buddies
• Website Committee

For more information about our committees, please visit our website. If you are interested in participating in any of these committees, please send and email to nss.school.council@gmail.com

 

 

The Northern Secondary School Foundation Needs Your Help!

The Northern Secondary School Foundation is proud to enrich the academic and extracurricular programs at Northern. With Giving Tuesday just around the corner, please consider making a donation to support Northern's student clubs, teams or awards. All contributions go directly to enrich the experience of Northern Students-the Leaders of Tomorrow. Perhaps your company will match your donation? With your donation you will receive a charitable tax receipt. For more info check us out at nssf.ca/donate or email us at info@nssf.ca for more information.

 

 

Guidance Updates:

1. Guidance Week-in-Review: These are a few of our favourite things (from the past week): Post-Secondary meetings, academic support meetings, mental health support: check out these community supports, scholarship meetings, writing letters of recommendations for scholarships, etc.

Guidance Week Ahead: TDSB Semester 2 Registrations! See below:

2. Semester 2 Night School Registration and Course Offerings:

Continue to check our website for updates as all of our information you can find here: https://schoolweb.tdsb.on.ca/conedsecondarycreditprogram/

Registration Opens: December 1, 2023 at 10:00 a.m.

3. TDSB eLearning Semester 2: Registration OPENS December 5, 2023 at 10 am.

For more information and course offerings click here.

4. IMPORTANT Volunteering Information:

PLEASE NOTE: Events and activities supporting a not-for-profit initiative are approved. If you are unsure if your activities supports a not-for-profit program, please see your Guidance counsellor for approval of the volunteering initiative.

For more information about the TDSB’s policy on Volunteering, click here.

• for volunteering information and opportunities, please visit your Guidance Google classroom or www.volunteertoronto.ca.

5. Post Secondary Updates:
   1. Do you have questions about how to access accommodations at your post-secondary school? This chart lists each university's policy/needs around what is required to get accommodations: https://caddac.ca/wp-content/uploads/Post-Secondary-documentation-Requirements-Chart.pdf
   2. NSS Post-Secondary Individual School Lunch Visits 2023/24
   3. NSS Post-Secondary Guide is here!
6. Scholarship Information:
   1. NSS Scholarship Information Chart 2023/2024 where Northern-specific scholarship information and deadlines can be found (along with other common awards).
   2. Seeking Scholarships has released their November Scholarship Report which has upcoming scholarship dates listed for students applying to post-secondary programs. It also has some great tips this month for writing scholarship essays

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.

7. Aboriginal Post Secondary Information Program (APSIP)

• Meet with Aaron Sinclair, Recruitment Officer, at the Aboriginal Post Secondary Information Program (APSIP) tour. APSIP is a collective of recruitment representatives from Colleges, Universities, and Indigenous learning institutes in Ontario and Quebec. Over 30 post-secondary institutes participate in this post-secondary education tour.
• Click here to see all the regions Aaron will be visiting this fall!
• The Urban Indigenous Education Centre is honoured to host a Post-Secondary & Trades Fair for First Nations, Métis and Inuit students across the Toronto District School Board, Wednesday, December 6, 2023 from 9:30 am – 3:00pm at the URBAN INDIGENOUS EDUCATION CENTRE 16 Phin Avenue, Toronto.

8. Reach Ahead to Kinesiology
   • Reach Ahead to Kinesiology invites Black and Indigenous high school students to attend the Faculty during March Break. Participants are provided with experiential learning to explore the field of kinesiology, where health and physical activity intersect! Poster attached
   • Age Group: Black and Indigenous youth aged 15 – 17 who are currently enrolled in grade 10 or 11 at a high school within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), or who currently reside in the GTA.
   • Program Dates: March Break
   • Application Deadline is December 8th, 2023
   • Click here to APPLY TODAY
9. Online Graduation Requirement – Information and Opt-Out Form

Looking for information about the new Ontario Ministry Online Learning graduation requirement? Please click here

Overview Info:

• applies only to students who entered Grade 9 on or after September 1, 2020.
• Students may withdraw/opt out of this new requirement and graduate with an OSSD
  • if you have decided now to withdraw from the graduation requirement, please complete the TDSB Opt Out/Withdrawal Form and return it to your Guidance Counsellor.

 

Have a great weekend,

Adam Marshall

Principal

Follow me @PrincipalNSS