Chair, Vice-Chair acclaimed at organizational meeting

December 7, 2021 By Deb

Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021

Chair, Vice-Chair acclaimed at organizational meeting

Chair Jay Aspin and Vice-Chair John Cochrane were acclaimed at tonight’s organizational meeting of Near North District School Board (NNDSB), signalling trustees’ continued support of Board leadership.

Director of Education Craig Myles, as secretary of the Board, presided over tonight’s meeting until the Chair was elected.

The two have held these positions with this Board since it was elected in the fall of 2018, through elections and acclamations.

Much has been accomplished under the leadership of Chair Aspin and Vice-Chair Cochrane. Among the highlights are the appointment of a new Director of Education, consistent efforts to improve transparency and processes, the creation and implementation of a governance manual and the development of a Multi-Year Strategic Plan (MYSP) that sets the course for the board through 2026.

After his acclamation, Chair Aspin addressed the Board, thanking trustees for their continued confidence.

Chair Aspin is entering his 21^st year as a school board trustee, and has held elected public office for 43 years, including six terms as a North Bay councillor and a Member of the 41^st Canadian Parliament.

“It is both an honour and a privilege to continue to serve as your Chair. I look forward to continuing to work with Board members, Director Myles and his senior leadership team to support the achievement and well-being of our students and staff,” said Chair Aspin.

After his acclamation, Vice-Chair Cochrane said, “I would like to thank my fellow board members for their on-going support of my work as Vice-Chair, and Chair of the Audit and Finance Committees,”. “My thoughts are focused, of course, on completing our much-needed school in Parry Sound. Our Board remains intent on pupil and staff safety throughout this coming year.”

Director Myles is grateful that Chair Aspin and Vice-Chair Cochrane were willing to let their names stand for another term. “This board has made remarkable progress in so many areas under the leadership of Chair Aspin and Vice-Chair Cochrane. NNDSB is fortunate to have a stellar group of trustees who are passionate about the work they do on behalf of students. I believe that more good things are to come with them guiding the Board for another year.”

This will be the final year of this Board’s mandate; the next municipal election will be held Monday, Oct. 24, 2022.

Chair Aspin said, “As this is our last year of this term as the Board of Trustees, let’s continue to reform and rejuvenate the board with the good work we have achieved together since 2018.”

The Chair said the key challenges the Board will focus on this year include providing quality education while keeping staff and students safe and healthy in the face of COVID-19, full implementation of the MYSP, completion of new school builds at Fricker and the Parry Sound JK-12 build, support improvements in human resource allocation, effective continued expansion of community partnerships and communications and to advance the North Bay facilities study.

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For more information, please contact:

Deb Bartlett
Communications Officer
Near North District School Board
P. (705) 472-8170, extension 5010
E. Deb.Bartlett@nearnorthschools.ca

December Letter to Families

December 3, 2021 By Deb

Friday, Dec. 3, 2021

Dear Parents and Guardians,

This monthly Letter to Families is intended to keep you apprised of news that affects all students and families of Near North District School Board (NNDSB). The Letter to Families is distributed on the first Friday of the month.

Child vaccine clinics: The North Bay Parry Sound Health Unit is hosting COVID-19 vaccination clinics for 5- to 11-year-old children in the coming weeks. You can find out more information about clinic dates and times here.

Some of these clinics are being held at area schools. The school clinics are not during school hours and the expectation is that children will attend with an adult who will consent on their behalf. According to our local health unit, there is no age of consent for vaccinations, but nurses determine if a child can make that decision and understand the consequences prior to vaccination. For more information about Child Vaccination Clinics please call the health unit at 1-844-478-1400.

Travel at December Break: With the holiday season approaching, it is anticipated that many staff, students and families will choose to make travel plans for the December break. Ahead of the break, we would like to share some information about directives related to international travel and quarantine requirements.

Individuals must follow federal testing and quarantine requirements upon return from any international travel. This includes not attending school or childcare for the 14 days following a return from international travel for individuals advised to quarantine or not attend school/childcare upon their return.

While unvaccinated children under the age of 12 who travelled internationally with a fully vaccinated companion are exempt from federal quarantine, they are not permitted to attend school or childcare for 14 days following their return. Generally, individuals who are fully vaccinated are exempt from federal quarantine and may continue to attend school or childcare. Individuals with all other federal quarantine exemptions (e.g., travelling for cross-border custody arrangements; travelling for medical treatment) may also continue to attend school or childcare. For more detailed information, please contact our local health unit.

Rapid Antigen Testing during December Break: On Nov. 18, 2021, the Minister of Education announced a program for rapid antigen testing for all Ontario students during the December break. Before the break, every student in Ontario will be sent home with a rapid antigen screening kit that contains five tests. These kits will support all students to complete voluntary screening at home prior to their return to the classroom in January.

If a student tests positive using the rapid antigen screening, they must follow local health unit guidance which includes isolating and getting a confirmatory test at a local testing site. More information about this program will be shared once it is received from the Ministry of Education.

Winter Timetabling for Secondary Schools: For the winter semester starting in February 2022, the Ministry of Education has announced that all secondary schools may resume a regular timetabling model of four courses per day, unless not supported by the local Medical Officer of Health.

We are currently working with our local health unit to finalize how timetabling will look in our NNDSB secondary schools and will share further information once it is available to us.

Time-limited Health and Safety Measures in Schools: To mitigate risks associated with the colder weather and gatherings/travel over the winter holidays and to limit the number of contacts for unvaccinated populations especially in elementary schools, the Ministry of Education is implementing enhanced health and safety measures for schools. These measures will remain in place until the Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health recommends they be lifted, and include:

virtual-only parent teacher conferences/interviews in elementary and secondary schools;
starting in January, virtual-only assemblies in elementary schools.
restricting lunches/breaks to classroom cohort when indoors, where distancing between cohorts cannot be maintained in elementary schools.

In addition, all elementary and secondary schools will be required to implement daily onsite confirmation of screening prior to/upon arrival at school for at least two weeks following winter break. Please ensure your child completes their COVID-19 school screening before attending school each day. Starting on Jan. 5, teachers will confirm completion of this screening each morning during daily attendance. The screening tool can be found here.

More COVID-19 information may be found in this memo from Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health.

Thank you to all parents, guardians, community members, staff and students who took the time between Nov. 15 – Dec. 3, 2021 to complete the School Climate Survey. This survey is important because a safe, inclusive, and accepting school environment is essential for student success and well-being.

The data collected from the School Climate Survey is used to inform the development of Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plans and to build strategies into School Improvement Plans to improve school climate. We appreciate your participation!

The Canadian Centre for Child Protection (C3P) provided an informative parent session on Nov. 17, 2021, that was well attended by parents/guardians from throughout our district. Feedback from the session was very positive; parents/guardians were highly encouraged by the number of resources C3P provided. One area of focus was how to have positive conversations with kids so that they feel supported and safe while online. More information can be found on a variety of C3P’s platforms, including:

Protectchildren.ca – the Canadian Centre for Child Protection’s main website with resources for families to help keep kids safe;

Protectkidsonline.ca – a one-stop shop for all things about internet safety;

DontGetSextorted.ca – a website with information about sextortion – including a video, lesson plan, tips to stay safe, and information about reporting;

NeedNelpNow.ca – a website designed to help teens stop the spread of sexual pictures or videos and provides support such as information about how to involve a safe adult, helping a friend, and the laws in Canada/how to report;

Cybertip.ca – Canada’s tip line to report the online sexual exploitation of children;

Cybertip.ca Alerts – notifications sent out to inform the public of concerning technology trends and new resources designed to increase children’s personal safety.

MLI HOMESTAY, one of NNDSB’s partners, is seeking families to host international students coming to North Bay in late January 2022.

Students are coming for long- and short-term studies. They will live as a member of the family, and compensation is provided to assist with expenses.

To learn more, contact Andrea Corbeil at acorbeil@mlihomestay.com , call 705-845-1988 or visit www.mlihomestay.ca.

Director of Education Craig Myles sends his best wishes to all students, staff and families for a most joyous holiday break.

COVID-19 has affected all over us over the past two years and as immunization has reduced the morbidity of the virus, we are seeing the return of some pre-pandemic activities at schools and in the community.

The Director is grateful for the board’s COVID-19 team for its leadership, and all staff and families for their diligence in adhering to the COVID-19 protocols that have kept NNDSB schools free from outbreak. We must balance the importance of friends and family, with awareness of the risks of gathering over the holidays.

Season’s greetings to all NNDSB staff and families.

NNDSB follows the direction of the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health and the public health unit when devising COVID-19 plans.

Thank you,

Near North District School Board

Safe Cycling program rolling with funding partnership

December 1, 2021 By Deb

Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021

Safe Cycling program rolling with funding partnership

A class set of bicycles has been purchased for Near North District School Board (NNDSB) students in Grades 7 and 8 to learn more about walking and wheeling to school. The Safe Cycling with NNDSB project is a partnership between the board, the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit, Ride Smart and Ontario Provincial Police. It was funded through a grant from Ontario Active School Travel, a program of Green Communities Canada (GCC), a non-profit organization that promotes active school travel, and the Government of Ontario.

The $30,000 grant enabled the purchase of a fleet of bicycles, safety equipment, a portable trailer to store the bikes, and CanBike Level 4 accreditation for all teachers participating in the program.

The program uses the Ride Smart Cycle Education program to prepare students for safe use of bicycles, including which type of bike is safe for a variety of roadways, emergency braking, hand signals and shoulder checks. In addition to learning how to cycle safely, “students learn how active transportation can reduce their carbon footprint”, says Emily Samuel, principal of safe schools for NNDSB.

Safe Cycling with NNDSB was recently launched at the Humphrey Community Centre, where students displayed their cycling knowledge and skills, and where community partners were acknowledged.

In his opening remarks, NNDSB Chair Jay Aspin noted that supporting students to become confident and capable cyclists was an excellent application of experiential learning that supported the board’s commitment to Excellence in Teaching and Learning, one of the pillars of the board’s multi-year strategic plan.

Superintendent Gay Smylie added that, “Walking and wheeling to school supports healthy brain development, which can lead to improved learning and academic outcomes. Research proves that kids who move more aren’t just healthier, they also tend to do better academically, behave better in class and miss fewer days of school.”

The Government of Ontario is providing $1.5 million through March 2022 to GCC to support new active school travel initiatives across the province that will help prepare students for learning and improve safety in school zones. This follows a previous investment of $3.5 million toward 28 active school travel projects benefiting 52 communities across Ontario between 2017-2020.

“In recent decades we have seen a significant decline in rates of walking to school and a marked increase in traffic volumes in school zones,” said Kate Berry, Ontario

Active School Travel program director with GCG. “This initiative is a great opportunity to reverse these trends by expanding on the previous work in the Near North region to rebuild a culture of active school travel. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with and support our local partners to implement this exciting initiative.”

Walking and cycling to school (while maintaining social distancing) are considered safe and healthy activities by public health authorities. Safe Cycling with NNDSB, GCC and its many partners are working to make active transportation the “new normal.” Benefits to active school travel include improved physical and mental health and well-being, increased cognitive function and social development that improves academic performance, safer school zones through traffic calming and reduced congestion, and improved air quality and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

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For more information, please contact:

Deb Bartlett
Communications Officer
Near North District School Board
P. (705) 472-8170, extension 5010
E. Deb.Bartlett@nearnorthschools.ca

Letter to Families: communication from transportation consortium

November 26, 2021 By Deb

Friday, Nov. 26, 2021,

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Nipissing Parry Sound Student Transportation Services (NPSSTS), or the Consortium, has requested distribution of this letter to families regarding transportation delays.

Sincerely,

Near North District School Board

Board provides update on new JK-12 Parry Sound school

November 18, 2021 By Deb

Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021

Board provides update on new JK-12 Parry Sound school

With siding being installed this past weekend, the demolition at Parry Sound High School is 95 per cent complete.

The architect, the Ventin Group (+VG Architects), has reserved space for a design feature at the front of the building that will reflect Indigenous culture. In consultation with Trustee Nichole King, the First Nation representative on the Board, it was felt that students ought to have input into this space. Parry Sound High School Principal Dawn Buckland will work with students to ensure their thoughts and ideas are considered and incorporated into the build.

In meetings with the architect, NNDSB learned that the Parry Sound build is not immune from global supply chain challenges and significantly rising costs from the impact of COVID-19 resulting in overages. Administration is fully examining these challenges and results will be shared with stakeholders when the design is finalized.

Community members are invited to learn more via the Parry Sound Build Report page on the board’s website. The page is updated when required in order to answer questions from community stakeholders.

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For more information, please contact:

Deb Bartlett
Communications Officer
Near North District School Board
P. (705) 472-8170, extension 5010
E. Deb.Bartlett@nearnorthschools.ca

Trustees offer congratulations to retiring MPP Norm Miller

November 16, 2021 By Deb

Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021

Trustees offer congratulations to retiring MPP Norm Miller

The Board of Trustees of Near North District School Board (NNDSB) has sent a congratulatory letter to Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) Norm Miller, who recently announced his retirement. Miller will complete his term and will not run in next year’s general election.

The Conservative MPP has represented Parry Sound-Muskoka for 21 years.

Board Chair Jay Aspin and Vice-Chair John Cochrane, who represents students and families in the Parry Sound area, signed the letter, which notes MPP Miller’s influence has shaped the future of a generation of students and will continue to shape students due to support for the new JK-12 Parry Sound school that NNDSB is building.

“Inspired by his predecessor, his father Premier Frank Miller, Norm has always been a stalwart for the educational system in the Muskoka-Parry region,” said Chair Aspin. ”Our schools have been a key beneficiary of his service as his advocacy for the people of his riding and his diligence at Queen’s Park is reflected in the projects and legislation that have come to fruition during his tenure.”

Vice-Chair Cochrane said it has been a pleasure working with Miller and acknowledges the contribution of the MPP to many facets of life in the Parry Sound area. “Norm’s retirement is well-deserved,” he said.

During Miller’s terms in office, his private member’s Bill 228 Keeping Polystyrene Out of Ontario’s Lakes and Rivers Act was passed and became law, the Parry Sound Airport Industrial Park was expanded and its infrastructure upgraded, and students from Parry Sound High School were acknowledged in the House for their trip to France to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge and for leading the Community Remembrance Project.

The letter from NNDSB recognizes the collaboration that has taken place between NNDSB and Miller to align the board’s vision for students with the needs of the community.

Miller announced his retirement on Nov. 2, noting he is looking forward to spending more time with his family.

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For more information, please contact:
Deb Bartlett
Communications Officer
Near North District School Board
P. (705) 472-8170, extension 5010
E. Deb.Bartlett@nearnorthschools.ca

November Letter to Families

November 5, 2021 By Deb

Friday, Nov. 5, 2021

Dear Parents and Guardians,

One of NNDSB’s community partners, Nipissing University’s Biidaaban Academic Support, is offering a tutoring program for Indigenous youth in Grades 3-8, with a focus on math and literacy.

Nipissing University student volunteers offer online or in-school tutoring support between October and March based on student needs and the tutor’s availability. Students will receive up to three hours of tutoring.

Families may register here or contact Makayla Nowee at 705-474-3450 ext. 4586 or email makaylan@nipissingu.ca.

Families whose children are eligible for transportation should have received a notice from Nipissing-Parry Sound Student Transportation Service (the Consortium) regarding opting out of transportation services.

Seating charts have been created for contact tracing purposes. If students will not be accessing assigned transportation this year, families are asked to complete a form confirming they are opting out of busing services this school year. If you are in this situation and have not yet filled out a form, please contact your school secretary for the form.

There has been an update to the COVID-19 school and childcare screening tool.

Families should use this version of the tool to decide if they should be attending school or childcare.

Library services reminds families that NNDSB provides safe, accurate and age-appropriate online subscriptions to students through the NNDSB Virtual Library. These educational sites are available to elementary and secondary students from home, 24/7 for research and homework help.

The subscription also includes SORA, which is a student digital reading library for students to borrow e-books and audio books of popular fiction titles for their independent reading enjoyment. Subscriptions are password protected.

Students may reach out to their school librarian for login information.

NNDSB will continue to take steps and enact procedures that build resiliency, enhance the safety and well-being of all individuals in its schools and promote clear standards of behaviour. The board’s code of conduct, and each school’s individual code of conduct, reflect the requirements outlined in Policy/Program Memorandum No. 128 (Dec. 5, 2012).

The Ontario standards of behaviour apply to all individuals (principals, teachers, other school staff, students, parents/guardians, volunteers, community groups, partners, etc.) involved in the schools and activities of NNDSB. These standards of behaviour apply to students whether they are on school property, on school buses, travelling to and from school, at school-authorized events or activities, or in other circumstances that could have an impact on the school climate.

Families play an important role in the education of their children and can support the efforts of school staff in maintaining a safe, inclusive, accepting and respectful learning environment for all students. Parents and guardians fulfill their role when they:
• show that they are familiar with the provincial Code of Conduct, the board’s code of conduct, and school rules by conducting themselves in a respectful manner while at the school and while in conversation (in-person, phone, email) with the school;
• communicate regularly with the school;
• show an active interest in their child’s school work and progress;
• help their child be appropriately dressed, and prepared for school;
• ensure that their child attends school regularly and on time;
• promptly report to the school their child’s absence or late arrival;
• encourage and assist their child in following the rules of behaviour;
• assist school staff in dealing with disciplinary issues involving their child.
Learn more by reading your school’s code of conduct, available on your school’s website.

The Healthy Schools Team has been hard at work this school year bringing many opportunities for increased physical health and well-being to students throughout the district. Last week we announced our newest project: Safe Cycling with NNDSB. This project, made possible through

partnerships with the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit, Ride Smart Ontario and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), is aimed at Grade 7 and 8 students who will become conscientious, safe and skilled cyclists who can practice regular bike maintenance, troubleshoot mechanical problems, and learn how to cycle in all environments safely. This project was made possible thanks to funding provided through the Ontario Active School Travel Fund by Green Communities Canada with support from the Government of Ontario and will result in students becoming leaders in active transportation. Our goal is to get more students using travel modes that are active, safe and sustainable!

NNDSB received a generous grant from the Safe and Healthy Schools Branch of the Ministry of Education to promote the sport of cricket.

Cricket is a global sport played worldwide and has generated significant interest in Canada in the last decade.
The program’s goal is to represent all genders, including providing a supportive environment for girls to participate in physical activity. The cricket initiative’s four key focus areas are equity; inclusion; quality opportunities; and collaboration and partnerships.

There has recently been a minor update made to the COVID-19 School and Childcare Screening Tool to provide further clarification on the federal government’s return to school requirements for students who are returning from international travel.

Individuals returning from international travel may not attend school or childcare for 14 days upon their return. For further clarity, while unvaccinated children under the age of 12 are exempt from federal quarantine if they travelled with a fully vaccinated companion, they may not attend school or childcare for 14 days upon their return. Individuals with all other quarantine exemptions (e.g., travelling for cross-border custody arrangements; travelling for medical treatment) may continue to attend school or childcare. Copies of the new screener are available for download here.

Please ensure that your child uses this screening tool each day before attending school, as it is the best way to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our schools.

NNDSB follows the direction of the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health and the public health unit when devising COVID-19 plans.

Thank you,
Near North District School Board

West Ferris Secondary School Named Apple Distinguished School

October 1, 2021 By Deb

Friday, Oct. 1, 2021

West Ferris Secondary School Named Apple Distinguished School

West Ferris Secondary School is pleased to announce that it has been recognized as an Apple Distinguished School for 2021–2024 for its meaningful use of Apple products and programs such as Everyone Can Code in an effort to get students future-ready. Educators and students use iMac, MacBook Air and iPad to create innovative, personalized teaching and learning experiences.

Apple Distinguished Schools are centres of innovation, leadership, and educational excellence. They use Apple technology to connect students to the world, fuel creativity, deepen collaboration, and make learning personal.

Sean Ruddy, the interim Principal of West Ferris says “We are very excited to be continuing our journey as an Apple Distinguished School. This recognition reaffirms our deep commitment to a cycle of innovation that continues to be a driving force for positive growth at our school.”

Brent Yacoback, the coordinator of the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) program says, “The staff and students of West Ferris are thrilled that West Ferris has been recognized as an Apple Distinguished School for 2021-2024. This recognition will help to inspire staff and students to continue to push the boundaries of what is possible with using technology in the classroom.”

Kendall Rosilius, a Grade 11 iCoach at the school says, “I was very excited to learn that West Ferris has been recognized as an Apple Distinguished school again. I think it’s great that future students will be able to benefit from the same opportunities that I’ve had as an iCoach at West Ferris.”

At the school, students are co-learners with their peers and teachers. The STEAM program provides students with unique learning opportunities that help students to appreciate and develop a good understanding of the interrelationships amongst various disciplines. A priority of STEAM is to ensure that students learn digital agility and master 21^st century competencies. Fundamental principles in the program develop students’ skills in problem-solving, analysis, experimentation, synthesis, and communication by integrating technology with project-based learning.

West Ferris students use MacBook, iMac and iPad to facilitate, enhance and redefine instruction of the curriculum in all STEAM courses. Learning is no longer defined by what is going on in the classroom but rather, has emerged as a 24-7 experience.

Staff are very excited to offer a new STEAM-focused construction SHSM pathway in September 2021. This extension of the program will leverage iPad, MacBook and iMac and link our existing coding continuum with our current construction SHSM. This new STEAM approach to the current SHSM will provide our students with opportunities to learn how to design, build and code robots.

For more than 29 years, the West Ferris STEAM program has to define “The Evolution of Learning” (the STEAM program’s motto).

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For more information, please contact:

Deb Bartlett
Communications Officer
Near North District School Board
P. (705) 472-8170, extension 5010
E. Deb.Bartlett@nearnorthschools.ca

Letter to Families

October 1, 2021 By Deb

Friday, Oct. 1, 2021

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The weekly Letter to Families was intended to help you learn how Near North District School Board (NNDSB) will support you in the return to school. We are hopeful that you and your child(ren) are settling into new routines. As a result, these letters will now be scheduled on a monthly, not weekly basis. The Letter to Families will be distributed on the first Friday of the month.

The 2021-2022 school year is off to a great start at secondary schools with the kickoff of Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) programs.

This year, we add two additional programs: Mining at Northern Secondary and Hospitality and Tourism at West Ferris Secondary.

These two incredible programs join our 15 existing programs to support hands-on and experiential learning that relate to career pathways and sector-related experiences. Students enrolled in SHSM have the opportunity to participate in unique certifications as well as learning alongside NNDSB’s community partners.

There is a SHSM program to match any student pathway! Students interested in these programs can reach out to their school’s guidance departments for more information or, visit the SHSM page of the board’s website to learn more.

We encourage families to take some time to become familiar with NNDSB’s virtual learning tools and resources to help prepare for any situation that results in your child(ren) being required to learn from home.

The Near North District School Board supports the use of virtual learning platforms that allow students to connect with learning resources in a secure environment. Three primary, board-supported platforms include Brightspace LMS, Edsby and Office 365.

Please familiarize yourself with these resources and tips to prepare for remote learning:

students are encouraged to confirm they’re able to sign into their classroom virtual learning platform (LMS, Edsby, Office 365). If you encounter any issues logging in, please email passwordreset@nearnorthschools.ca or during regular school hours please call: (705) 472-5169 (North Bay), (705) 773-7975 (Parry Sound)
use the following links for parent information regarding Brightspace LMS and Edsby. Contact your child’s teacher if you’re unable to login. Click here to reset your parent password
the Learning at Home page hosts a variety of resources and helpful links to support at-home learning including access to various learning platforms as well as math and literacy resources
Microsoft Teams is a board-supported communication tool used to connect synchronously using audio, video and chat. Use the following link to learn how to join a Teams meeting across various devices: Microsoft Teams for Students
teachers will continue to integrate digital tools into classroom learning to ensure that students are prepared for a possible “pivot” to remote learning.

NNDSB follows the direction of the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health and the public health unit when devising COVID-19 plans.

Thank you,

Near North District School Board

NNDSB taking steps on path to truth and reconciliation

September 30, 2021 By Deb

Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021

NNDSB taking steps on path to truth and reconciliation

Near North District School Board (NNDSB) recognizes it has a role to play in truth and reconciliation. As outlined in the 94 Calls to Action that act as way finders – concrete steps to move forward in acknowledging the truth of Canada’s history with Indigenous Peoples – there is a role for education in the difficult and uncomfortable work of reconciliation.

It is imperative that the board climbs the mountain as requested by the Commission.

The path to truth and reconciliation will be slow and painful, but the steps must be taken. The Board of Trustees has proactively acknowledged this, and endeavours to be part of the change. In addition to opening meetings with a land acknowledgement, Board meetings now open with a prayer from an Elder. The Indigenous Trustee, elected by members of the First Nations to represent them on the Board, is actively consulted and her input valued in decision-making on issues that affect Indigenous students.

As an institution, NNDSB is taking steps in response to the Calls to Action, including:

working to eliminate educational gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous children (have staff positions to support Indigenous families in education)
on-going consultation with First Nations communities regarding new capital builds to ensure Indigenous students feel welcome and represented in NNDSB schools
offering Indigenous language classes to all interested students at 12 schools
formation of an Indigenous Youth Advisory Circle with membership of up to two students per secondary school. Once formed, the Youth Circle will determine a process for nomination and selection of an Indigenous Student Trustee to the Board
providing resources and building capacity to support all staff and students in understanding Indigenous history, culture, perspectives, and ways of knowing
encouraging and supporting non-Indigenous staff who want to take a First Nation, Metis and Inuit Additional Qualification course
partnering with Anishinabek Education System (AES) to place two full-time cultural advisors/knowledge keepers in schools on a regular basis
successful AES pilot project applicant to be one of five boards in the province to provide cultural competency training to administrators

The federal government has legislated Sept. 30, 2021 as the first National Truth and Reconciliation Day. NNDSB wants the day to be acknowledged in a way that is

most appropriate and meaningful to members of the eight First Nations that are NNDSB community partners, and other Indigenous Peoples in our schools. Schools have been given the flexibility to provide community-relevant programming.

The legacy of residential schools weighs heavy in the hearts of survivors and their families, who have been subjected to 200 years of colonization and systemic discrimination. NNDSB will continue to climb the mountain and strive to do better.

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For more information, please contact:

Deb Bartlett
Communications Officer
Near North District School Board
P. (705) 472-8170, extension 5010
E. Deb.Bartlett@nearnorthschools.ca

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