Near North District School Board

Parry Sound High School hex pods will offer a unique school experience for intermediate students

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Parry Sound High School hex pods will offer a unique school experience for intermediate students

Tuesday, July 14, 2026

The Near North District School Board is pleased to share plans for Grade 7 and 8 students at Parry Sound High School beginning this September.

Grade 7 and 8 students will have dedicated learning spaces in the school’s modern hex pods, creating a unique intermediate school experience while also providing opportunities to be part of the larger secondary school community. The hex pods feature climate-controlled classrooms, including air conditioning, secure access through key cards, built-in storage for student belongings and learning materials, and convenient access to designated washrooms located just inside the main building.

While their core classroom learning will take place primarily in the hex pods, they will also spend time in the main school building each day for:

  • Physical Education classes
  • Cafeteria access
  • Mentorship opportunities with older students
  • Collaborative learning experiences
  • School-wide events and activities

This approach will provide Grade 7 and 8 students with a strong sense of belonging within their intermediate cohort while also allowing them to experience the opportunities, connections, and school spirit that come with being part of the larger school community.

We look forward to welcoming our Grade 7 and 8 students this fall.

Two Parry Sound High School grads earn prestigious Schulich awards

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Tuesday, June 23, 2026

Two Parry Sound High School grads earn prestigious Schulich awards

Hard work and perseverance have paid off for two Parry Sound High School (PSHS) graduating students as they were recognized with prestigious Schulich awards this spring.

Grade 12 students Paige West and Ceci Martens have both been recognized by the Schulich Foundation for their academic achievements in the skilled trades (West) and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) (Martens).

West was chosen as a recipient of the $40,000 Schulich Builders Award for students pursuing post-secondary education in the skilled trades. She is the first PSHS student to ever win this award.

West’s award is intended to combat the shortage of skilled trades in Ontario and amplify their importance and value to our communities. Award winners are identified and nominated within their schools as being responsible, hardworking, dedicated people with a strong work ethic and character. West certainly fits the bill.

She will be attending Cambrian College in Sudbury in the fall to study in the Electrical Engineering Technician Program.

Ceci Martens has been named as a recipient of the prestigious Schulich Leaders award valued at $100,000.

This award, geared toward students in STEM fields, not only provides significant financial support to winners but also connects them with a network of mentors within their fields of study.

Martens said that she was in a state of shock and disbelief when she received the news that she had won a Schulich Leader Scholarship.

“This award will take the financial stress off my time at university and allow me to pursue opportunities such as research and internships during the summer,” Martens said. “I am also looking forward to meeting a network of like-minded students and mentors.”

Martens will be studying Mathematics and Statistics at McMaster University in the fall, intending to pursue a career in digital encryption.

“I first learned about encryption at math camp at the University of Ottawa in Grade 10. It fascinated me because it was a practical application of my two favourite areas of math, number theory and abstract algebra.”

“My teachers at PSHS have been incredibly supportive, and I would especially like to thank Mr. Loewen, my physics and calculus teacher, for encouraging me to apply for this scholarship,” Martens said.

While she is not yet sure exactly what her dream job would be, Martens said she is excited to see what opportunities await her in the field of mathematics and encryption.

Martens has been interested in math since a young age and has advice for like-minded students. “My advice for younger students with an interest in math is to remember that math is a very broad subject, ranging from purely abstract proofs to applications in most areas of science,” Martens said. “One of the most valuable experiences I have had with math is my participation in math contests, and I would encourage younger students to try them out.”

This is the second year in a row that Near North District School Board students have received Schulich awards. Last year, Almaguin Highlands Secondary School (AHSS) student Keith Rubin won the $120,000 Schulich Leader Scholarship for engineering. Rubin was the first AHSS student to win a Schulich award.

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Introducing Our New Student and Family Support Office

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June 18, 2026

We are excited to launch the Near North District School Board’s new Student and Family Support Office. A provincial initiative, this service is designed to provide families with a direct way to access support, raise concerns, and find timely solutions.

As always, your first point of contact should be your child’s school. Many questions or concerns can be quickly resolved by connecting with the classroom teacher, principal, or vice-principal.

If additional support is needed, the Student and Family Support Office is here to help. Our team can guide you through next steps, connect you with the right departments, and support more complex situations to ensure your concerns are addressed.

There are three convenient ways to connect with us:

Please visit our Student and Family Support Office webpage to learn more.

Warm regards,
NNDSB Student and Family Support Office

F.J. McElligott art students help to beautify Canadian Ecology Centre

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After the devastating storm that ravaged Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park and the Canadian Ecology Centre (CEC) a year ago, the work of repairing, replanting and revitalizing has steadily progressed. Parts of the park are now open to campers and the Canadian Ecology Centre will once again welcome students this summer.

Art students from F.J. McElligott Secondary School have also lent their skills to the re-beautification of the area by contributing four paintings, which will be displayed in the CEC.

The paintings, which were created by last year’s graduating class, were scheduled to be installed in the CEC on the day after the tragic storm. That event was, of course, put on hold, and finally, after a year of recovery, the art was presented to Canadian Ecology Centre founder and general manager Bill Steer by current Grade 9/10 visual arts students.

F.J. McElligott teacher, Josie Morin said the CEC had proposed this initial project that celebrates the 7 Grandfather Teachings.

“The Grade 12 visual arts class spent time brainstorming how we can honour and acknowledge the 7 Grandfather Teachings in a way that is respectful and meaningful, yet reflects our personal connections within them,” Morin said. “We collaborated with my Grade 11 English: Understanding Contemporary First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Voices class.”

One thing that stood out to students, Morin said, was that all of the teachings truly work together and that none should be excluded or left behind in our journey.

“Students decided that the wolf (humility), the bear (courage), the buffalo (respect), the turtle (truth), the eagle (love), the beaver (wisdom) would be highlighted within their own sphere, with the footprints of the Sabe (Honesty) following behind the landscape within each teaching.”

As part of the visit, students were taken on a tour of what the CEC looks like now, almost a year after the storm. Bill Steer talked to students about the changes to the landscape and provided stories about the journey that the CEC has been on during the last year.

Students were provided with the opportunity to create plein air illustrations of the landscape around them, which they then used as inspiration for a collaborative chalk mural on the closed roads of the park.

Morin said she hopes that students took in the opportunity to create artwork in the moment, with real reference photos in front of them.

“I hope students soaked in the beautiful opportunity to sit by the water and listen to nature around them while they create,” Morin said.

Art student Izzy said, “I had a fabulous day touring and making art. I enjoyed sitting by the water at the bridge to draw the landscape. It was relaxing, and I liked what I created.”

“Bill made the experience engaging,” fellow student Kaleb said. “I appreciate him providing the experience through the Canadian Ecology Centre. I’d give it a 10-star experience getting to create art in nature.”

Reminder: Information Night on West Nipissing Schools Configuration

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This is a reminder about the upcoming public information night being held on Wednesday, June 17 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the auditorium of Northern Secondary School.

This session will provide information about upcoming changes to the configuration of schools in West Nipissing. Beginning September 8, White Woods Public School will serve Kindergarten to Grade 6 students, and Northern Secondary School will welcome Grades 7 and 8 students, operating as a Grade 7–12 school.

Representatives from both the Near North District School Board and Conseil scolaire publique du Nord-Est de l’Ontario will share information and be available to answer questions.

We encourage all families to attend to learn more and ask questions about these changes.

We look forward to seeing you there.

If you are unable to attend, but have a question about the event or plans, you can send your question to info@nearnorthschools.ca with the subject line: Questions about West Nipissing schools with a deadline of noon on Tuesday, June 16.

West Ferris Secondary School student wins Bronze at Canada-Wide Science Fair

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West Ferris Secondary School science phenom Jiya Savsani brought home a bronze medal from her third consecutive entry in the Canada-Wide Science Fair.

For more than 60 years, the Canada-Wide Science Fair has shone a national spotlight on youth innovation in the study of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Savsani’s award-winning projects have focused primarily on renewable energy. Her 2025 project Watt’s the Wind? Optimizing Lakeside Hybrid VAWTs, explored the potential of hybridized Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT) units to optimize power production on the shorelines of Canadian lakes. Savsani created 13 different variations of hybrid VAWTs with 3D design software SolidWorks and analyzed their effectiveness through Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations.

This year’s Bronze medal-winning project, called Highway Harvest 2.0: Optimizing Ways to Harness Renewable Energy on Highways is a continuation of her research from a previous science fair project, which focuses on various ways of harvesting energy from solar panels and vertical wind turbines on Canada’s highways.

Savsani showed how vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWTs) placed along highways can be used to harvest wind energy from passing vehicles. Through virtual 3D modelling and physical wind tunnel testing, Savsani explored the optimal placement of wind turbines along roadways to maximize power generation.

In her submission, Savsani stated that in the event of large-scale blackouts like the one experienced in Canada and the U.S. in 2003, “the units can be used as a backup. Additionally, Canada has around 280 remote communities, most of which are not connected to the electrical grid, that could use this additional source. Overall, the concept has a lot of potential and could lead us to a future where we have reliable energy sources and ensure sustainability.”

Near North District School Board is proud to support the growth of young innovators like Jiya Savsani, who will help lead the world into a sustainable future. Congratulations Jiya!

Update on the Future Plans for McDougall Public School

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June 2, 2026

We are pleased to provide an update regarding the future of McDougall Public School.

With the opening of the new Parry Sound High School in June 2026 and the start of full school operations on September 8, 2026, the Near North District School Board (NNDSB) has started discussions with the Conseil scolaire public du Nord-Est de l’Ontario (CSPNE) regarding the future of the McDougall Public School property.

Details of the agreement are currently being finalized, with the expectation that CSPNE will take possession of the school later this summer, pending necessary approvals required under the Education Act and Regulations. Once the transfer is complete, CSPNE will begin renovations to prepare the building for its new role.

It is anticipated that McDougall Public School will reopen in January 2028 as CSPNE’s new Kindergarten to Grade 12 (K–12) school.

We are very pleased that this facility will continue to serve students and families in our community as a school.

We will continue to keep parents and guardians informed as more information becomes available.

Thank you for your continued support.

Dave Gunning returns to North Bay for encore performance

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Monday, May 11, 2026

Dave Gunning returns to North Bay for encore performance

Award-winning Canadian folk singer-songwriter Dave Gunning is returning to North Bay later this month, for a second fundraising concert in support of Chippewa Secondary School (CSS). Once again, students are involved in many aspects of the concert, including promotion and ushers. A student choir is also preparing to join Gunning on stage for a song.

Gunning, a Nova Scotian, has released a new album, and the North Bay stop is but one on his tour. Chippewa teacher Jamie Carruthers, via East Coaster Studios, brought his friend Gunning to North Bay last year. At that concert, Gunning debuted his song World of Make Believe, which is the first song on the new album.

“I had such a great time playing there last year, and I’m feeling excited to be coming back with a new batch of songs and some familiar ones,” says Gunning. “I’ve spent a bit of time playing in Ontario over the years, and in particular North Bay and Sudbury. I feel at home up in that part of the province. North Bay has a similar feel to Atlantic Canada, and I find that people connect well with the stories and get all the jokes.”

Last year’s concert included performances by CSS students, and proceeds improved the sound system, paid for microphones, monitor speakers and other equipment to build the school’s inventory of equipment. This allows the school to independently put on shows. While priorities for this year’s proceeds are being discussed, Carruthers says, “We hope to use the money to purchase proper lights that we can use for concert and theatrical productions. We have been renting and borrowing for productions.”

Carruthers says the CSS theatre is “gaining a reputation as being one of the best sounding theatres in Northern Ontario. We have received rave reviews from performers this past season who have performed here, including Joel Plaskett and Adam Baldwin. Both of these performers came from performing at Massey Hall to performing at Chippewa!”

This year’s concert takes place Saturday, May 30. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for the silent auction before the show. Doors to the theatre to take seats open at 6:30 p.m., with a show start of 7 p.m.

Tickets cost $25 for students, and $35 for adults. Tickets can be purchased by clicking the show’s link on www.eastcoasterstudios.com or by going directly to Ticket Scene (https://ticketscene.ca/o/eastcoasterstudios).

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Biindigen

Mii gwi Anishinabek wewena nkenmaaminak dependajig maa kiing.
"We acknowledge in a good way, the original people of the land here"
We value the cultures, histories and relationships with the Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island (North America)

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Near North District School Board
963 Airport Road, P.O. Box 3110, North Bay, ON P1B 8H1
[P] 705-472-8170   [TF] 1-800-278-4922   [F] 705-472-9927