Dear Northern Families,

We held our course fair today at Lunch to cap off our course selection presentations that took place all week by grade. Now it’s time to make some tough decisions! Please note that your selections are VERY important to get right. We decide what classes to run, and how many to run based on your selections. Changes to choices later on usually mean there has not been space allocated. All this to say, make your selections carefully!

From Psychological Services: February 22, 2023 from 7pm-8:30pm for the virtual Lets Connect About Mental Health and Well Being Webinar Series: Parent Voices-Creating fun opportunities to connect and boost positive mental health, joy and happiness. See this FLYER Audience: students, families, parents, guardians, caregivers and staff; ALL are welcome! Members from our Mental Health and Well-being Parent Partnership Committee will add their voices on the importance of exploring fun activities for positive mental health and wellness. In addition, please come and enjoy break out rooms, which will be co-lead by Professional Support Staff and community partners, on different ways we can enhance overall mental health and wellness.

A reminder that Friday February 16^th is PD Day (no school) and Monday February 19^th is Family Day (no school).

 

Things to Know for Next Week:

Monday: Class Rep Information Shared.

Tuesday: Class Rep Elections

4627406012917. Valentine’s Day! (look for SAC events next week!)

Thursday: ESL/ ELL Course Selection Potluck @6pm (details below)

Friday: PD Day- No School!

 

History Club:

They Called Us Enemy: An Online Event with George Takei

On Tuesday Feb 15, History Club and the Library will be hosting an online event with George Takei (author and actor) to discuss the Internment of Japanese Americans during WWII. The live stream will be hosted in the library running from 12:00 to 12:40."

 

Yearbook

To any students who believe the name that may appear in the yearbook under their student portrait is not their preferred name, please fill out this name change request form: https://forms.gle/5i6KNaVHBQfcPfiW7.

The deadline to fill out this form is February 20, 2024. If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to our editors at Lola.Cejovic@student.tdsb.on.ca and Julian.Cohen@student.tdsb.on.ca, or our staff advisor at Ryan.Edwards2@tdsb.on.ca.

 

Northern Secondary School Foundation

Thank you to the parents and guardians who have contributed to the Northern Secondary School Foundation through their workplace giving programs. We have allocated these funds to support grants to student led enrichment activities.

We would also like to acknowledge a generous donation from the MakeWay Foundation through the generosity of the Wansbrough family to upgrade the sound system in the auditorium. This gift has embolden our Board of Directors to embark on a fundraising initiative to redo the ageing seats in the auditorium. Stay tuned!!!

For more information about the Foundation, follow us on Instagram @northernssfoundation and visit our website nssf.ca to sign up for our newsletter or email us at info@nssf.ca

 

ELL Parent/Guardian Options Potluck – Course Selections 2024

Our ESL & Guidance departments are hosting a potluck event on Thursday, February 15th, 6:00 - 8:00 PM. Please join us for an information session on Course Selection, graduation requirements and more. Bring a small amount of food (appetizer, main dish or desert) to add to our potluck table if you wish. ELL Parents/Guardians and their students are invited and encouraged to come for this informative and helpful event.

We hope to see you there!

Please RSVP through this Options Potluck Google Form or email chana.boxer@tdsb.on.ca

 

School Council:

1. Walking Buddies - Saturday, February 10th - 9:30-10:30 am 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.

2. Future Career Pathways in Science/Technology: Virtual Discussion for Parents/Families - Tuesday, February 13th, 7:00-8:00 pm

York Mills CI School Council is hosting an informal virtual Q&A session on Tuesday, February 13 from 7-8 pm dedicated to exploring post-secondary possibilities in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. It is for parents of high school students, particularly those in grades 10 and 11 who are deciding on their courses for next year. The goal is to help families see a clearer connection between high school math, science, and technology courses and future possibilities. Panelists will include engineering students from Waterloo and Queen's and a University of Toronto physics student and software developer. Please register here. A link will be emailed the day of the event.

3. Call For Volunteers. NSS Council wants to hear from you! All of our committees welcome your input and support.
Committees welcoming volunteers include the following:

• Academic Resource Committee
• Education Committee
• ELL Parent Engagement
• Fundraising Committee
• Gifted Advisory Committee
• Social Committee
• Website Committee

If you are interested in participating in any of these committees, please send and email to nss.school.council@gmail.com

4. Free Parent Resources. Please visit our website for a list of free parent resources. New this week: resources about organization for ADHD and parent burnout.

 

Battle of the Bands:

Northern’s first ever battle of the bands will be after school on Wednesday March 27th! Anyone can sign up to compete for a performance opportunity at our end of year concert! See our POSTER. Check out Instagram for all the details or sign up at bit.ly/NSSbattleofthebands24

 

Attention Graduates!!

Graduation photos will take place on February 12 and 13th. Please book an appointment online following the link and steps below:

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

Click “Classic 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. Additional props could include- an old school photo, a small item that shows of your personality or an interest. If you would like to take a casual photo, please bring an additional outfit/top.

**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 photo session.

We look forward to seeing you there!

 

Guidance Updates:

1. Guidance Week Ahead: Check out our 2024-2025 Course Selection Google Info Site with tons of info about electives, myBlueprint How-tos, course selection works sheets, and more!

Guidance Week-in-Review: The whole school took park in supporting students by accessing the Course Selection Presentations! Student Services looks forward to talking with students, supporting their ideas and helping find the right answer to their questions!

If you missed our Evening Course Selection Presentation you can find the recording here.

Want to check out the slideshow only? Find it here.

2. NSS Course Selection Overview: Mark Your Calendars!
3. myBlueprint OPENS: Monday, February 5, 2024

myBlueprint CLOSES: Wednesday, February 28, 2024.

Please note: Parent Approval MUST be confirmed through myBlueprint by Feb 28, 2024.

2. Students: book appointments with your guidance counsellor

3. 2024-2025 Course Selection Google Info Site with tons of info about electives, myBlueprint How-tos, course selection works sheets, and more!

3. Reminder: All students need to be enrolled in their graded Guidance Google Classroom to be sur they do not miss important information throughout the year

Grade 9 Google Classroom code: x6sh4ue

Grade 10 Google Classroom code: 4ixv2jl

Grade 11 Google Classroom code: kmv6fcz

Grade 12 Google Classroom code: twdxca6

4. Scholarship Information:

Seeking Scholarships has released their February 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:

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

1. NSS Scholarship Information Chart 2023/2024 where Northern-specific scholarship information and deadlines can be found (along with other common awards).

 

5. TDSB eLearning Semester 2: Registration CLOSES February 22^nd, but all courses are now waitlisted.

For more information and course offerings click here.

6. First Nations, Metis, and Inuit Student ID Clinic:

The UIEC is running an I.D. clinic for First Nations, Metis and Inuit students helping them navigate a variety of processes related to gaining different forms of identification including support and navigating the lost, stolen and renewal of status cards.

Please register at: https://www.tdsb.on.ca/home/ctl/Details/mid/43823/itemId/242

7. The Study and Go Abroad and School Finder Fairs are coming together to offer you even more study options. Check out the Canadian pavilion for local and out-of-province universities and colleges. Explore the International pavilion to meet with institutions from around the world, including the UK, US, Australia, Switzerland, France, Belgium etc. Don’t forget to visit the Travel Zone for work abroad, internships, immersive language travel and volunteering.
   When? Where?
   Sunday, March 3, 2024
   Fair Times: 1 pm – 5 pm
   Free Seminars: 12 noon – 5 pm
   Metro Toronto Convention Centre, North Building
   Constitution Halls 105/106
   255 Front Street West, Toronto, On
   
   For more information, visit www.studyandgoabroad.com/toronto.
8. University of Toronto Outreach Opportunities:
   STEAM Design:

• Program Dates: July 2 - 26, 2024
• The STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) Design Program is an experiential learning program with an equity focus, as it is designed for grades 10-12 students identifying with groups that are underrepresented in health sciences (i.e. Black, Indigenous, Filipino, Latin American, racialized, and/or from any background experiencing socio-economic barriers)
• Click here to APPLY

Blueprint

• Program Dates: July 8 – August 2, 2024
• Blueprint is an academic enrichment program designed for highly motivated Black students interested in science and engineering. Blueprint is open to students currently in Grades 10 and 11, and are interested in careers in STEM (Science, Technology Engineering and Math).
• Click here to APPLY

9. 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.

You can find the TDSB Community Involvement form here.

10. 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!

11. 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