Near North District School Board

Students Who Make a Difference

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The 31st Annual Evening of Applause, held on March 21, 2018, recognizes the globally celebrated Day of Anti-Racial Discrimination, and featured nominated and deserving students from Kindergarten to post- secondary from all four school boards and educational institutions across Nipissing District.

EoA online spread 2018

 

EoA photo collage 2018

The Near North District School Board was pleased to honour 4 nominated and deserving students.

“Students Who Make a Difference” Nominations:

Carissa Robinson – Grade 3 @ Sunset Park Public School

Brooklynn Pegg – Grade 5 @ Silver Birches Public School

Liam McNeil – Grade 7 @ West Ferris Intermediate School

Kate Sherry – Grade 12 @ Widdifield Secondary School

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DELF (French) Proficiency Test

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The Near North District School Board is happy to announce to, once again, be a part of the DELF Pilot Project in Ontario.

The DELF is a second language proficiency test that is above and beyond the Grade 12 FSL curriculum. In last year’s project, all participants successfully achieved this world wide recognized accreditation. Please sign up with the link below if you are currently in a grade 12 FSL course and wish to participate in this test of French proficiency. Please speak with your classroom teacher to support your decision.

There is a fee of $50 (cheque made payable to the NNDSB) to cover the cost of the test. Full information was given to interested grade 12 students during a classroom visit and teachers have extra copies.

Our Board graciously appreciates the support and guidance from Kawartha Pine Ridge DSB (DELF Centre) and the Ministry of Education.

Significant Capital Funding Requests Approved

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MEDIA RELEASE

Near North District School Board Receives Approval for Capital Funding Requests

February 1, 2018 –  The Near North District School Board is very excited to announce that the Government of Ontario has approved very significant capital funding requests, both of which are a result of student accommodation review processes.

Capital funding has been committed to build a new elementary school on the W.J. Fricker Public School site at 790 Norman Avenue in North Bay to accommodate Junior Kindergarten to Grade 6 students from E.T. Carmichael and E.W. Norman public schools, along with Extended French Grade 5 and 6 students from W.J. Fricker Public School.  The construction of integrated child care facilities has also been approved with 1 Infant, 1 Toddler, 2 Pre-School rooms as well as the construction of a new EarlyON Child and Family Centre.  Working in partnership with the District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board (DSSAB) and third-party licensee, YMCA Northeastern Ontario, children and families can expect a seamless approach to quality childcare and school programs in one facility, which is anticipated to open in September of 2020.

“The District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board is very pleased to support this project, bringing much needed quality early years and childcare services into the education system,” said DNSSAB chair Mark King. “This is an excellent example of considering what’s effective and convenient for children and families in the Nipissing District.”

W.J. Fricker Public School will close at the end of the 2018-2019 school year.  In September 2019, Grade 5 and 6 students from W.J. Fricker will be accommodated at E.W. Norman while the new school is being constructed and the Grade 7 and 8 students from W.J. Fricker will attend the Chippewa site.

As previously announced, child care facilities (one Infant room, one Toddler room and one Pre-School room) will be included in the design of the new Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 school at 111 Isabella Street in Parry Sound.  Working with the Parry Sound District Social Services Administration Board (DSSAB) to further enhance services for families, capital funding has been committed by the Government of Ontario to build a new EarlyON Child and Family Centre at the new school.  The Board hopes to be able to tender for architectural services this Spring.

“The Board of Trustees are pleased to see another reinvestment of tax dollars supporting our long-term Capital Plan that modernizes local education in the City of North Bay and the Town of Parry Sound,” said school board chair David Thompson.

The Board graciously acknowledges the financial investment the Government of Ontario has committed to these projects.

The Near North District School Board remains committed to: ensuring that students are accommodated in facilities that are safe and healthy; promoting optimal learning environments; and, offering optimal programming options.

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For further information, please contact:

Carrie Girard, Information Officer

Carrie.Girard@nearnorthschools.ca

(705) 472-8170, extension 5010

 

 

 

2018 Program Transitions Announced in Preparation of North Bay High School Consolidation

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MEDIA RELEASE

2018 Program Transitions Announced in Preparation of North Bay High School Consolidation 

 January 29, 2018 – The systemic capital planning implications of the September 2019 consolidation of three North Bay secondary schools (Chippewa, West Ferris and Widdifield) into two schools with the rebranding of the West Ferris (South) and Chippewa (North) sites require that some program transitions take place for the upcoming school year.

To relieve current accommodation pressures at Chippewa and in order to prepare instructional space required for the 2019 transition, the following programs will transition in September 2018:

  • Current Grade 6 Sunset Park French Immersion students
  • Current Grade 6 W.J. Fricker Extended French students
  • Current 7-11 Chippewa Extended French students
  • Current 7-11 Chippewa French Immersion students (zoned for Sunset Park).

Future opportunities will be provided for parents who were unable to attend the information session tonight.

As previously announced, the following programs will be fully implemented in September of 2019:

 

South Site (currently West Ferris):

·         Arts Nipissing Program / S.T.E.A.M. Program (Grades 9-12),

·         French Immersion Program (Grades 7-12 zoned for Sunset Park),

·         Extended French Program (All North Bay area Grades 7-12), and

·         English Program (Grades 7-12 zoned for West Ferris).

North Site (currently Chippewa):

·         International Baccalaureate Program (Grades 9-12),

·         French Immersion Program (Grades 7-12 zoned for Alliance),

·         English Program (Grades 7-12 zoned for Widdifield and Chippewa), and

·         W.J. Fricker English Program (Grades 7-8).

 

 

*Widdifield Secondary School will close in September 2019.

The Near North District School Board values comprehensive and supportive communication to our valued students and families.  As such, parents of students who are imminently affected were invited to attend an information session at West Ferris tonight to hear first-hand from board and school staff about the 2018 transition, to learn more about ongoing transition planning and to ask related questions.

The Board is highly committed to ensuring that transitions and school environments are supportive of optimal learning conditions for all students.

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For more information, please contact:

Carrie Girard, Information Officer

705-472-8170, extension 5010

Carrie.Girard@nearnorthschools.ca 

3:2 North Bay High School Consolidation – Programming Framework

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MEDIA RELEASE

North Bay High School Consolidation Programming Framework Announced

 

January 19, 2018 –  On September 26, 2017, Trustees approved the consolidation of three North Bay secondary schools (Chippewa, West Ferris and Widdifield) into two schools with the renaming and rebranding of the West Ferris (South) and Chippewa (North) sites.  Since that time staff in all three schools have collaborated to discuss how best to use this opportunity to enhance student program options.

There is much transition planning ahead which will take some time to complete.  The planning of transition activities will involve student, parent and staff voice.

In the interim, the Board is pleased to share its transition programming framework.

The following programs will be fully implemented in September of 2019:

South Site (currently West Ferris):

·         Arts Nipissing Program / S.T.E.A.M. Program (Grades 9-12),

·         French Immersion Program (Grades 7-12 zoned for Sunset Park),

·         Extended French Program (All North Bay area Grades 7-12), and

·         English Program (Grades 7-12 zoned for West Ferris).

 

 

North Site (currently Chippewa):

·         International Baccalaureate Program (Grades 9-12),

·         French Immersion Program (Grades 7-12 zoned for Alliance),

·         English Program (Grades 7-12 zoned for Widdifield and Chippewa), and

·         W.J. Fricker English Program (Grades 7-8).

 

 

*Widdifield Secondary School will close in September 2019.

Parents of students who attend the Board’s Extended French program and the Sunset Park French Immersion program will receive an invitation to attend an information meeting in the coming weeks (Chippewa, Sunset Park and W.J. Fricker).

The Board remains committed to providing parents, students, staff and communities with relevant and timely communication.  The Board thanks its stakeholders in advance for their patience to allow for the time required to develop a thoughtful and purposeful transition plan.

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For more information, please contact:

Carrie Girard, Information Officer,

Carrie.Girard@nearnorthschools.ca

705-472-8170, extension 5010

Northern SS Receives New Civic Si for Manufacturing Program

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A class trip for Northern Secondary School students has resulted in a very generous donation from Honda of Canada Manufacturing that will benefit students for years to come. Their donation of a 2018 Honda Civic Si and two 4-cylinder turbo charged engine transmission assemblies will allow for learning opportunities that align with the current automotive manufacturing job market, 21st Century Learning and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education.

In November 2017, Grades 11 and 12 students in Kevin Baker’s Technological Design visited the Honda of Canada manufacturing plant in Alliston, Ontario to learn about robotics, the manufacturing process and careers in the automotive industry.

“This tremendous donation will bring an awareness to our students about post-secondary opportunities which includes employment, apprenticeships, college and university pathways. It is a great experience for the students who took part in the trip to be able to see transition of the vehicle being built in the assembly plant and having the final product back in their school,” said Northern principal Laurent Paquette.

The Near North District School Board is extremely grateful to Honda of Canada Manufacturing for their generous donation as well as Lafond Towing and Recovery Limited in Sturgeon Falls.

For more information, please contact:
Laurent Paquette, Principal, Northern Secondary School
E. Laurent.Paquette@nearnorthschools.ca
P. (705) 472-5322

Capital Planning Updates

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CAPITAL PLANNING UPDATES

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JK-12 BUILD - PARRY SOUND

On June 28, 2017, Parry Sound High School was chosen as the site on which to build a new Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 school and a new child care facility including three new child care rooms: one Infant, one Toddler and one Pre-School within the new facility.  To further enhance services for families, capital funding has been committed by the Government of Ontario to build a new EarlyON Child and Family Centre at the new school.  Working in partnership with the Parry Sound District Social Services Administration Board (DSSAB), the Board will be able to create a seamless day for children and families from an early age through to nearly adulthood which is aligned with the community and Ministry vision for a comprehensive, quality and integrated approach to child care and education for families in the Parry Sound area.

Along with child care spaces, the new JK-12 school will house separate elementary and separate secondary learning areas with some common facilities and learning spaces to accommodate Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8 students from McDougall and Nobel public schools, as well as Parry Sound High School and Intermediate School students including Grade 7 and 8 English stream, Extended French, secondary students and Alternative Learning students.  Through thoughtful design and careful planning, the staff and students in the existing school will be safely accommodated during construction.  The existing sports field will remain accessible to students while the new school is constructed.

Pre-construction investigations are underway at the site including a geotechnical investigation, a traffic study and a designated substance survey.  The Board hopes to be in a position to select an architect in Spring of 2018.

E.T. CARMICHAEL, E.W. NORMAN, AND W.J. FRICKER CONSOLIDATION - NORTH BAY

Capital funding has been committed to build a new elementary school on the W.J. Fricker Public School site at 790 Norman Avenue in North Bay to accommodate Junior Kindergarten to Grade 6 students from E.T. Carmichael and E.W. Norman public schools, along with Extended French Grade 5 and 6 students from W.J. Fricker Public School.  The construction of integrated child care facilities has also been approved with 1 Infant, 1 Toddler, 2 Pre-School rooms as well as the construction of a new EarlyON Child and Family Centre.  Working in partnership with the District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board (DSSAB) and third-party licensee, YMCA Northeastern Ontario, children and families can expect a seamless approach to quality childcare and school programs in one facility, which is anticipated to open in September of 2020.

W.J. Fricker Public School will close at the end of the 2018-2019 school year.  In September 2019, Grade 5 and 6 Extended French students from W.J. Fricker will be accommodated at E.W. Norman while the new school is being constructed and the Grade 7 and 8 students from W.J. Fricker will attend the Chippewa site.

SECONDARY SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION - NORTH BAY

On September 26, 2017, Trustees approved the consolidation of three North Bay secondary schools (Chippewa, West Ferris and Widdifield) into two schools with the rebranding of the West Ferris (South) and Chippewa (North) sites. Since that time staff in all three schools have collaborated to discuss how best to use this opportunity to enhance student program options.

There is much transition planning ahead which will take some time to complete. In the interim, the Board is pleased to share its transition programming framework. The planning of transition activities will involve student, parent and staff voice.

To relieve current accommodation pressures at Chippewa and in order to prepare instructional space required for the 2019 transition, the following programs will transition in September 2018:
• Current Grade 6 Sunset Park French Immersion students
• Current Grade 6 W.J. Fricker Extended French students
• Current 7-11 Chippewa Extended French students
• Current 7-11 Chippewa French Immersion students (zoned for Sunset Park).

The following programs will be fully implemented in September of 2019:

SOUTH SITE (CURRENTLY WEST FERRIS):

Arts Nipissing Program / S.T.E.A.M. Program (Grades 9-12)
French Immersion Program (Grades 7-12 zoned for Sunset Park)
Extended French Program (All North Bay area Grades 7-12)
English Program (Grades 7-12 zoned for West Ferris).

NORTH SITE (CURRENTLY CHIPPEWA):

International Baccalaureate Program (Grades 9-12)
French Immersion Program (Grades 7-12 zoned for Alliance)
English Program (Grades 7-12 zoned for Widdifield and Chippewa)
W.J. Fricker English Program (Grades 7-8).

*Widdifield Secondary School will close in September 2019.

Special Education Programs - As we look ahead now to transitions beginning in the 2019-2020 school year, we are committed to ensuring parents are kept apprised of decisions impacting their children and young adults attending school in one of our system special education programs.  We hope that the information below will help to ease any possible concerns:

  • There are no proposed changes to our current model for Special Education Programs in 2018- 2019 for Chippewa, Widdifield and West Ferris;
  • There will be no reduction in the number of special education programs for the 2019-2020 school year coming through the transition;
  • It is proposed that there will be 4 programs at the north site and 4 programs at the south site beginning in the 2019-2020 school year (this includes one Intermediate and 3 Senior classes at each site); and.
  • There will be clear and comprehensive pathways established that support student need, and allow for enhanced opportunities for collaboration and flexibility within this model.

The Board remains committed to providing parents, students, staff and communities with relevant and timely communication. The Board thanks its stakeholders in advance for their patience to allow for the time required to develop a thoughtful and purposeful transition plan.

ONTARIO EARLY YEARS AND FAMILY SERVICES CENTRE AT LAND OF LAKES - BURK'S FALLS

Working in partnership with the Parry Sound District Social Services Administration Board (DSSAB), the Board looks forward to creating a new EarlyON Child and Family Centre for children and families in the Almaguin Highlands area.

The project is moving along well.  Exterior design will be the final phase of the project and will involve the reconfiguration of the parking areas and a possible new bus loop/roadway with planned construction for early July 2018.

CHILD CARE ADDITION AT WOODLAND - NORTH BAY

Construction of an addition for a child care facility at the new Woodland Public School began on October 16, 2017.  Working with the District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board (DNSSAB) and the YMCA of Northeastern Ontario, the future Woodland Early Learning and Child Care Centre will provide high quality child care for the Woodland Public School community from infancy to 12 years.

In addition to the current Before and After School Program, four, full day, early learning child care classrooms will be built with 1 infant room, 1 toddler room and 2 preschool rooms. The new facility will include an enclosed entrance and exterior play space.

Exterior work has commenced with the creation of the additional parking lot at the bus loop entrance.  Construction will continue throughout the school year with an anticipated completion date of Fall 2018.

 *The Board graciously acknowledges the financial support the Government of Ontario has committed to the Board's capital projects.