Dear Northern Families,

It has been a challenging week at Northern. The loss of Robert Deak over the weekend has been felt throughout the building. I want to thank our guidance department and social worker for putting aside their regular business and offering such solid support to students who have needed it. For anyone looking for information on a memorial service for Robert it can be found here: Robert Deak Visitation

A huge shoutout to WellNSS who had three therapy dogs visit the school on Wednesday, the timing was perfect as many of us are struggling with Robert’s passing.

Thursday brought a challenge as we managed a hold and secure, classes, and two assemblies at the same time. Thank You to BlackNSS and all other staff and students involved in producing a fantastic Black History Month assembly- more details below. Our entire school (students and staff) should also be commended for ensuring everyone was safe and secure throughout the hold and secure process. I appreciated everyone’s co-operation under pressure!

Trustee Rachel Chernos Lin is hosting Ward 11 COMMUNITYCOFFEE In-Person on Wednesday, February 28 at Leaside Longo’s Loft (upstairs kitchen) located at 99, Laird Drive in the Leaside Village Plaza beginning at 9:30am – 11:00am.

 

Things to Know for Next Week:

Wednesday: Late Start @9:55am

Thursday: University of Waterloo Math Contests (Pascal/ Cayley/ Fermat)

Friday: Informal Mark Update

 

Black History Month Assembly 2024:

Thank you to all staff and students for their efforts and talents to make our 2024 Black History Month Assembly a huge success! We are so proud of the hard work, dedication and time everyone contributed to the event. Please see some pictures and videos in this google folder.

 

BlackNSS:

BlackNSS and the GAA are hosting an epic three-day co-ed basketball tournament next week. Show off your skills, and you could win Raptors 905 tickets! You can sign up using this link and check out our instagram @blacknss_ for more info. Don't miss this chance to play hard and win big!

One Love Midtown Conference
March 6, 2024 All Day
At the Nia Centre for the Arts, 524 Oakwood Avenue.

This year’s conference titled It’s a Melanated Thing will feature 8 unique workshops led by students from LN5/6 schools.
10 Black identifying students can attend.
Please contact Ms. Irving or Mr. Edwards if you are interested in attending: sharon.irving@tdsb.on.ca or ryan.edwards2@tdsb.on.ca or visit room 213 or room 130

 

Dalla Lana School of Public Health - Pathways to Public Health:

Black students in Grades 10-12 who are interested in the pursuit of academic and career pathways in public health and health systems are invited to register for Pathways to Public Health. This 12-week program explores pathways into fields of health and health systems (e.g., Clinical Epidemiology, Health Economics, Social Epidemiology, Bioethics and Health Informatics, etc.). Students will develop a deeper understanding of public health concepts and academic/career pathways.

Virtual information session: February 28 | 6 - 7:30 p.m.

Program runs from: March 5 - May 28, 2024 | 4:30 – 6 p.m. (*no programming during March Break)

Location: In-person at the Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement - 2239 Lawrence Ave. East. (*May 21, May 28 sessions will be hosted on the UofT St. George Campus)

Additional Information: Weekly dinner and transportation support provided.

Students can register for this program here or at bit.ly/49se6kM

Registration Closes: Friday March 1, 2024

 

Webinar Wednesdays:

The Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement is hosting its second session of the 2023 - 2024 Webinar Wednesdays series. The aim of this virtual series is to provide space for Black parents and caregivers, and families raising Black children to support their children’s success, academic achievement and overall well-being as they transition from high school.

Through collaborations with various post-secondary institutions, the Webinar Wednesdays series shares information and resources on various topics, including, but not limited to graduation and post-secondary pathways.

338903. session, we focus on Pathways to Skilled Trades. Join us as we learn more about the various pathways and apprenticeship programs.

Date: Wednesday, March 6, 2024

Time: 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Location: Virtual

Registration link: bit.ly/42zc7sY

 

Northern Math Contest:

Registration is open for the University of Waterloo - Euclid, Fryer (grade 9), Galois (grade 10), Hypatia (grade 11) math contests and the Canadian National Math League #6 contest.

If your student is interested in writing please have them join the Google Classroom using code kzwovat and register as soon as possible.

 

NSS CHAMPS:

Any students interested in learning how to sign O' Canada in American Sign Language (ASL) should fill out this form! Our goal is to sign the anthem during the graduation ceremony. We look forward to meeting everyone!

https://forms.gle/9g8EF5Fue54SMRXg7

 

Special Education- Parent Engagement Session:

Special Education and Inclusion is pleased to offer our second engagement session for parents/guardians/caregivers this year. We ask that you please share the flyers below with the families in your school.

Morning Session – March 5^th Flyer

FLYER Parent Session March 5th AM Session.pptx - Google Slides

Evening Session – March 6^th Flyer

FLYER Parent Session March 6th PM Session.pptx - Google Slides

 

Northern Secondary School Foundation:

What would Harvard University Medical School do without Northern Grads?

Creating a healthier future for all...

Dr Nazlee Zebardast NSS ’02 MD, MSc Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology

Dr Silas Wang NSS ’98 MD Instructor of Ophthalmology

Dr Nina Resetkova NSS ’01 Instructor of Reproductive Endocrinology

For more information about the Northern Secondary School Foundation visit our website nsssf.ca or contact us at info@nssf.ca

 

Webinar Wednesdays:

The Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement is hosting its second session of the 2023 - 2024 Webinar Wednesdays series. The aim of this virtual series is to provide space for Black parents and caregivers, and families raising Black children to support their children’s success, academic achievement and overall well-being as they transition from high school.

Through collaborations with various post-secondary institutions, the Webinar Wednesdays series shares information and resources on various topics, including, but not limited to graduation and post-secondary pathways.

338903. session, we focus on Pathways to Skilled Trades. Join us as we learn more about the various pathways and apprenticeship programs.

Date: Wednesday, March 6, 2024

Time: 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Location: Virtual

Registration link: bit.ly/42zc7sY

 

School Council:

1. Walking Buddies - Saturday, February 24th - 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. Upcoming External Events. Please visit our website for a list of free upcoming events and parent resources. Events about self-harm and financial literacy are taking place next week. All members of the Northern community are welcome to share upcoming events that might be of interest to the parent community by sending an email to nss.school.council@gmail.com

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

 

Battle of the Bands:

Northern’s first ever Battle of the Bands will be after school on Wednesday March 27th! Sign ups for performers are due March 12. It’s free to watch for everyone! Check out our Instagram, @nssmusic, for all the details or sign up at bit.ly/NSSbattleofthebands24

 

Guidance Updates:

1. Guidance Week Ahead: COURSE SELECTION!

• Course Selection is DUE February 28 at 4pm.
• Please complete your selections at www.myblueprint.ca/tdsb
• Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday at lunch, Guidance will be in the front foyer answering quick course selections. We have a high volume of appointment requests, so if you have a quick question, please come by the table at lunch in the 1^st floor foyer.
• 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!
• 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. Guidance Week-in-Review: Course Selection!
3. Reminder: All students need to be enrolled in their graded Guidance Google Classroom to be sure 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.
• NSS Scholarship Information Chart 2023/2024 where Northern-specific scholarship information and deadlines can be found (along with other common awards).

5. 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.
6. 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

7. 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.
• Students: for volunteering information and opportunities, please visit your Guidance Google classroom or www.volunteertoronto.ca.
• You can find the TDSB Community Involvement form here.

8. Post Secondary Updates:

• 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
• NSS Post-Secondary Individual School Lunch Visits 2023/24
• NSS Post-Secondary Guide is here!

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