March 2, 2021

Mme Pearson’s Grade 5 French immersion class at Sunset Park Public School were joined virtually by Ms. Erica Kataquapit of Omushkegowuk Cree First Nation, who taught students about Wampum Belts, The Tree of Peace and their importance to the Haudenosaunee.

Students also learned about treaties and the agreements that provide the foundations for ongoing cooperation and partnership as we move forward together to advance reconciliation.

Kinana’skomitin Ms. Kataquapit!

 

March 1, 2021

Dear Parents and Guardians,

NNDSB is pleased to share the following Child Care Viability Survey for 2021-2022. This short survey will help determine the number of child care programs that operate for school-aged children (ages 3.8-12 years).

The survey can be found here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/childcareneeds2021-2022. If you require a paper copy of the survey, please contact your child’s school.

The Child Care Viability Survey is open from March 1 to March 12, 2021.

Child Care Needs Survey 2021 Poster EN-FR (1)

Child Care Needs Survey 2021 Poster FR-EN

Thank you,

Near North District School Board

March 1, 2021

Social Work Week is celebrated annually in Ontario during the first week of March.

NNDSB recognizes our dedicated social work team and their contributions to achieving mental health and well-being across our district.

With over 20,000 Registered Social Workers in Ontario, they play an essential role in the overall mental health and well-being of individuals in our communities.

This year’s Social Work Week theme is “You are Not Alone”. Resources can be found on the Ontario Association of Social Workers’ website: www.oasw.org/socialworkweek.

Happy Social Work Week!

The Grade 11/12 construction students at F.J. McElligott Secondary School are well on their way to constructing houses, well miniature versions that is.

Students are learning all about the design and construction of a house by making their own small versions. Starting with framing the floors, students then move onto constructing the walls, roofs, and finish with cedar shake shingles and wood siding.

The learning opportunities experienced by the students in this fun project are multi-curricular. Along with building, there is a strong sense of literacy through reading plans and numeracy through measurement and calculations. Some students even chose to customize their houses and finish them off with a fresh coat of paint.

Excellent work, students!

Feb. 19, 2021

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The Ministry of Education has updated the school and childcare screening tool and provided new direction for attendance requirements.

School and Childcare Screening Tool

This includes new provincial direction that staff, students and children with any new or worsening symptom of COVID-19, as indicated in the school and childcare screening tool, even those with only one symptom, must stay home until:

• They receive a negative COVID-19 test result.
• They receive an alternative diagnosis by a health care professional, or
• It has been 10 days since their symptom onset and they are feeling better.

Daily screening of all students before coming to school is critical to keep our schools as safe as possible during the pandemic.

COVID-19 School Screening

Isolation Requirement for Household Contacts

Household contacts of individuals who have symptoms of COVID-19 will not be allowed to come to school. This means that if a student is sick, all other school-aged children from the home must stay home and follow public health guidance. This measure is being put in place across the province due to the presence of variants of concern.

• All household members who are contacts of anyone with symptoms are required to quarantine until the person with symptoms receives a negative COVID-19 test result or an alternative diagnosis by a health care professional.
• If the person with symptoms does not have COVID-19 testing, all household contacts must quarantine for 14 days from their last contact with the symptomatic person.

If you have additional questions, please contact your child’s principal. For up-to-date information, visit the Near North District School Board and North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit websites.

Thank you,

Near North District School Board

Feb. 18, 2021

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Sunset Park Public School has been given the green light to reopen by the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit. Students and staff will return to in-person learning on Monday, Feb. 22, 2021.

Near North District School Board would like to reassure you that the school underwent an extensive cleaning by custodial staff. All student and staff areas were thoroughly disinfected during the 14-day closure.

The health unit would like to share some important updates and reminders to help you prepare your child for their return to school:

• Be sure to complete the daily COVID-19 school and childcare screening tool before coming to school:

COVID-19 School Screening

• Staff, students and children with any new or worsening symptoms of COVID-19, even those with only one symptom, must stay home until:
  1. They receive a negative COVID-19 test result;
  2. They receive an alternative diagnosis by a health care professional; or

• It has been 10 days since their symptom onset and they are feeling better.
• All household members who are contacts of anyone who has symptoms are now required to quarantine until the person with symptoms receives a negative COVID-19 test result or an alternative diagnosis by a health care professional.
• If the person with symptoms does not have COVID-19 testing, all household contacts must quarantine for 14 days from their last contact with the symptomatic person.
• Please note that the provincial COVID-19 school and childcare screening tool will be updated to reflect these changes in the coming days.
• Pack your masks/face coverings. Students are required to wear a well-fitting mask/face covering at all times, including outdoor recess, except when eating lunch. This includes wearing a mask/face covering while waiting at the bus stop and riding the school bus.

• Pack extra masks/face coverings as they need to be changed when they become wet or dirty.
• Practice and encourage proper hand hygiene. Students should wash or sanitize hands frequently both at home and at school.
• Reinforce the importance of Physical Distancing. Students should stay at least six feet/two metres from others as much as possible.
• Continue to follow stay-at-home measures in order to keep schools as safe as possible. Stay at home except for school, work, essential shopping, outdoor exercise, or healthcare appointments. Limit contact outside of school/work to only the people you live with.

Thank you for everything that you are doing to keep our schools and communities safe. Please visit the North Bay Parry Sound District website at www.myhealthunit.ca/en/health-topics/schools-and-covid-19.asp for more information. Specific COVID-19 school-related questions can be directed to the health unit’s school call centre at 1 800 563 2808, option 6.

On behalf of NNDSB, I would like to extend a sincere thank you to our students, families, and staff of Sunset Park Public School for your patience and understanding over the past couple of weeks.

We look forward to welcoming you back on Monday!

Stay well.

Sincerely,

Craig Myles

Director of Education

Feb. 17, 2021

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Following last week’s Ontario Government announcement on a delayed March Break, NNDSB has updated the 2020-21 school year calendar to reflect the new date; April 12-16. The updated calendar can be found on NNDSB’s website.

Thank you,

Near North District School Board

Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021

Dear Parents and Guardians,

This message is to inform you of the Government of Ontario’s decision about the scheduled March Break.

This afternoon, Minister of Education Stephen Lecce announced that the March Break, scheduled for March 15-19, 2021 has been deferred until the week of April 12-16, 2021.

The Ministry decision was made in consultation with public health experts in an effort to reduce travel and gatherings and help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

Near North District School Board