Near North District School Board

A year in review and a look ahead with NNDSB’s Student Trustee

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Friday, June 18, 2021

As the 2020-2021 school year comes to a close, Near North District School Board (NNDSB) Student Trustee Madelaine Hall-Paradis reflects on her time in the role and NNDSB introduces incoming Student Trustee Cecilia Darling.

A student trustee represents the student population at the Board level. They share the opinions of the students and strive to make change using the student voice. Board meetings are also crucial opportunities for student trustees to bring ideas, questions, and initiatives to the attention of trustees and administration.

Madelaine Hall-Paradis – Student Trustee 2020-2021

In her final weeks as student trustee, Madelaine Hall-Paradis virtually sat down with NNDSB’s Communication Department for a year in review interview.

The Grade 12 student at Almaguin Highlands Secondary School shared her thoughts on the school year that saw a mixture of in-person and remote learning.

The challenges of an unconventional year

“Everyone this year is experiencing screen fatigue,” she noted. “We really don’t want to be on electronic devices more than we have to given the shift from virtual learning to in-person to virtual that we’ve been experiencing throughout the year. So, trying to organize additional meetings and conferencing over TEAMS has been incredibly challenging because we all just really want to be able to meet face-to-face, but are unable to at the given moment.”

One goal Student Trustee Hall-Paradis achieved this year was free menstrual hygiene products for students

“One of the big goals to the Ontario Student Trustees’ Association this year was we wanted to ensure there were free menstrual hygiene products available to all students,” she said. “NNDSB had those in different places in each secondary school. At some secondary schools, they were located in the main office or elsewhere. So, after bringing this forward to the Board of Trustees, we are currently working towards re-locating those resources to gender non-binary washrooms, and female washrooms to make sure they’re available to any student that needs them.”

“This was a big achievement that I am excited to see implemented at NNDSB,” Hall-Paradis noted.

A favourite moment for Student Trustee Hall-Paradis was networking with Student Trustees across the province as ‘knowledge is power’

“Even though the conferences were virtual this year, I really enjoyed getting to network with all of my fellow Student Trustees and learning about what’s happening in the other school boards. I really believe knowledge is power,” she said.

“Hearing what’s going on at other boards and bringing it back to NNDSB, it gave me some really good thoughts for what I want to see implemented in our board. That was one of the ways we crafted with the Student Senate this year which focused on mental health: Thrive in a Hive and wellness pledges,” Hall-Paradis noted. “We saw through some of our other boards, how they were hosting virtual mental health symposiums with meetings and offering these resources. So, when our board’s mental health team approached us about this initiative, Thrive in a Hive, and collaborating, we were able to see that as a great opportunity to bridge the gap and give some student feedback. Additionally, it was really fun to generate some friendly competition between schools and see how invested students became in getting the most pledges.”

Student voice has drastically increased this year

“Students have had to be more vocal in terms of how we are feeling and what we need in order to be successful when we’re learning remotely because it’s not like when you’re sitting in a classroom and you don’t understand something, or something happens in school, where it’s really easy to just walk up to a teacher and say, ‘hey, I need help.’ You really need to be better at facilitating those conversations and opening that line of communication. So, I would say even individual student advocacy, and connecting with our school team for additional support when needed has definitely improved over the past year,” Hall-Paradis said.

Advocating for student voice was extremely important for Student Trustee Hall-Paradis

“I am a student with a Learning Disability (LD) and that is one of the reasons I am so invested in student advocacy. I want to increase the representation of marginalized students who wouldn’t typically be presented with opportunities such as being a Student Trustee, being a student with an “invisible” disability myself,” she said.

“I’m very open about my LD and think this is a great opportunity to help other students feel more comfortable with their unique learning profiles and realize the potential they have in an academic setting.”

Student Trustee Hall-Paradis shared what she gained during this experience

“I would say my ability to collaborate with others and facilitate group projects has definitely improved. I have always been a part of student council throughout my four years of secondary school. Having the ability to lead a team of students from multiple schools had its unique challenges,” she said. “Especially with it being virtual this year, we’ve had to be very good with time management and scheduling meetings that weren’t during online lessons, making sure everyone could get there, creating agendas, finding ways to still connect with students such as what we did for Thrive in a Hive.”

Hall-Paradis shared that working with creativity was a big part of her gained experience, as was just “rolling with the punches.”

During her term as Student Trustee, Hall-Paradis learned a lot about herself

“This is something I already kind of knew going into the role. I am extremely passionate about student voice and equity in education,” Hall-Paradis shared. “I’ve really enjoyed having the chance to hear from students about the changes they wish to see implemented in the school system, so every student has an equitable and fair chance at having a safe school experience. Also connecting with students across the region has given me ideas of projects I want to see implemented not only in my school community, but across the board.”

“I learned I really like presenting to large groups. Having the opportunity to present to the Board every month on the Student Trustee updates has been super exciting because I’m very proud of what our students accomplish and always happy to share and talk about what’s going on in all of our schools. And number three, I would say my ability to speak in front of a group, it’s not something I’ve had to do a ton of previously, but it’s something I’ve become quite comfortable with and that I enjoy doing now,” Paradis said.

Student Trustee Hall-Paradis shares what it’s like to present a report at the Board meetings

“From a student perspective, it’s not often you get the opportunity to talk to a group of higher-ups such as the trustees, superintendents and principals about what’s happening in our schools and giving student perspective on events and other things that we see happening. It’s a pretty exciting opportunity,” she said.

“It’s definitely a responsibility because I want to do my best to represent not only my secondary school but all schools across the region. So before presenting, I always make sure that I have some input from each respective school senator to make sure all schools are included,” Hall-Paradis shared. “It’s a really great opportunity to be able to connect the board with what’s happening from a student’s perspective. It’s not often we get that chance to kind of give our two cents into what’s happening and provide student insight.”

Hall-Paradis provides advice to incoming Student Trustee Darling

“I actually go to the same secondary school as Cecilia, and I’ve had the chance to get to know her personally. So, with her level of drive and determination, I know she’s going to excel in this role and I’m very excited to be passing the torch to her. I would say you need to be really good at communicating with those around you. As much as there’s only one Student Trustee for NNDSB, it’s really a teamwork role. You have to rely on your school student senators and those around you for support because there are so many things you’re responsible for. Learning how to delegate and to share the workload is especially important,” Hall-Paradis said.

What does the next chapter look like for Hall-Paradis?

“Next year, I’m going to be pursuing a joint Bachelor of Social Science in Communications and Political Science. I’m also enrolled in the French immersion stream at the University of Ottawa,” she said.

After post-secondary school, Hall-Paradis hopes to work in human rights law, specifically as it relates to education.

Hall-Paradis offers parting words as she wraps up her term

“It (student trustee) is an opportunity I would suggest to any other student that is passionate about bringing student voice to the table and who wants to advocate for the students of their respective school board. I think a lot of students are kind of unaware this position exists. So, I really hope to see our student senate grow in the next few years. And I’m sure that’s something Cecilia is going to do a fantastic job of,” Hall-Paradis exclaimed.

Cecilia Darling – Student Trustee 2021-2022

NNDSB is proud to officially announce and welcome the incoming Student Trustee for the 2021-2022 school year: Cecilia Darling.

“Hello, I’m Cecilia Darling and I am going into Grade 11 at Almaguin Highlands Secondary School. I am very passionate about school life, student involvement activities, and being an advocate for student voice. I would like to say to my student body that I am very approachable. I have established a communication plan and I really have my finger on the pulse of the student body,” she said. “Through my involvement in many aspects of school, I will be able to represent the student body of our board as a Student Trustee, and I am very excited and appreciative that I was given the opportunity in this role.”

Student mental health and wellness will be a major focus for Darling

“Going into my term as an incoming Student Trustee, I would like to continue the focus on mental health and wellness that was focused on this school year. I feel it’s very important to prioritize mental health and wellness within our board and through the province. That’s something that I would like to focus on going forward and I’m really looking forward to soaking up the knowledge that the trustees have to offer, learning and growing as a leader, representing our school board and making change for the better,” she said.

What does Darling hope to accomplish during her term as Student Trustee?

“In my term as Student Trustee, I hope to inspire other students within NNDSB, I hope to ensure students feel like they have a purpose and a voice. And that students can present any issues, opinions, wants or needs in their education to me and I can be the bridge to the board level,” she said. “I hope to be a mentor like Madelaine was to me; I hope to mentor the team of senators that I will be leading and focusing on mental health and wellness.”

Incoming Student Trustee Darling plans to start new initiatives

“In the experience of being a Student Trustee, I hope to broaden my impact on the Near North District School Board to inspire others and to be a strong advocate for student voice. I would like to start initiatives that benefit our students in our school and can lead them all to success and get to know new leaders within our board,” Darling noted.

Student Trustee Darling offers final comments

“I would just like to say thank you for this amazing opportunity! I started out by being involved in Student Council at my school, working up to be a Student Senator and now Student Trustee. I’m very excited for the opportunity to come and very appreciative of it,” Darling exclaimed.

Trustees approve MYSP that will be board’s roadmap

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Thursday, June 17, 2021

Trustees approve MYSP that will be board’s roadmap

The five-year roadmap that charts the course for Near North District School (NNDSB) has been approved by the Board of Trustees. It has taken 16 months of extensive research and collaboration to get the Multi-Year Strategic Plan (MYSP) to this stage. Now that the plan is approved by the Board, staff will be oriented to their role in the MYSP, which will officially launch in September.

The MYSP is more than just an assertion of the work the board wants to accomplish. It is a comprehensive document that incorporates the voices and concerns of internal and external stakeholders into a plan whose goals all focus on student achievement and well-being. As a living document, the MYSP will adapt as new ministerial and community initiatives come forward to align with the board’s ultimate goal of student achievement and well-being.

Board Chair Jay Aspin said, “With strong and capable leadership from our Director, Craig Myles, this Multi-Year Strategic Plan has been one of the most important initiatives our board has undertaken. This strategic plan will be our compass in focusing on marshalling our resources on student achievement and well-being over the next five years. This process included comprehensive survey scans by Nik Nanos of Nanos Research, one of Canada’s most prominent research firms who concluded ‘our board was headed in the right direction’. Committee Chair Trustee Bill Steer did a tremendous job of shepherding our board through this important process despite the disruptive challenges of a pandemic.”

The MYSP has four strategic priorities: Excellence in Teaching and Learning, Excellence in Communication, Excellence in Building Relationships and Excellence in Innovation. The work of the committee included overseeing the creation of improvement plans for schools, departments and the board that set measurable goals that aligned with the four priorities.

With the MYSP in place, the processes and decisions of the board will be guided by the plan, which will ensure all resources are aligned to the board’s core purpose of student achievement and well-being.

The full MYSP report to the board can be found on Page 64 of the agenda package. All MYSP information can be accessed on the MYSP page of the board’s website.

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Information about Near North District School Board:

Near North District School Board is an English-language public school board serving the North Bay – Parry Sound – Nipissing area. The Board consists of approximately 10,000 students in 27 elementary schools, seven secondary/senior schools and various alternative learning centres. For more information, please visit nearnorthschools.ca and follow Near North District School Board on social media.

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 approve compliant 2021-2022 budget

By

Tuesday, June 15, 2021

Trustees approve compliant 2021-2022 budget

North Bay, ON –

At tonight’s meeting, the Board of Trustees of the Near North District School Board (NNDSB) approved the 2021-2022 budget, which has an operating revenue of $160.9 million. The budget was developed, after review for efficiencies and savings, to align with the Multi-Year Strategic Plan (MYSP) and provides resources that support the Board’s mission and vision.

The budget was first reviewed and approved by the Finance Committee, which is chaired by Board Vice-Chair John Cochrane.

Ministry of Education funding to boards is provided based on enrolment and the needs of students in each board. NNDSB expects to receive 90 per cent of its operating revenue from the province in the form of operating grants based on enrolment of 9,488.5 students in the 2021-2022 school year, an increase of 136 students.

Expenditures are projected at $161.2 million, resulting in a deficit of $417,000, or 0.3 per cent of the total budget. COVID has significantly impacted revenue and expenses this year, and the Ministry of Education is allowing boards to access previous years’ surpluses to assist with the current budget. The Ministry has allowed two per cent of operating grants ($2.9 million for NNDSB) but asked boards to budget half this amount. This budget is compliant.

This year’s operating budget projects a decrease of $3.4 million (2.1 per cent) less revenue than 2020-2021 revised estimates.

The budget has been prepared with the knowledge there will be support for remote learning in the fall, though there was not enough information to determine the number of students registered with the remote school. There will be further Priorities and Partnership Funds (PPF) announced in the coming weeks which may reduce the deficit.

By function, 71 per cent of operating expenses are spent on instruction. A further 17 per cent is on pupil accommodation, which are costs associated with maintaining the buildings that house students.

Of the work done by staff throughout this school year, Board Chair Jay Aspin says, “What a year! This board has overseen the consolidation of three high schools into two and put final touches on the consolidation of three elementary schools into one in North Bay, as well as the consolidation of two elementary schools with a high school to form a K-12 school in the Parry Sound area. The completion of a Multi-Year Strategic Plan will focus resources on student achievement and well-being over the next five years.

“Every staff member deployed new and innovative methods of instruction to deal with disruptions in the face of a costly and unpredictable pandemic. All these accomplishments have been achieved with a small deficit due to the dedication and hard work of all members of the Near North board,” says Chair Aspin. “It has been a remarkable year that has moved our board forward considerably despite being challenged by extremely difficult conditions.”

The full budget report can be found beginning on Page 91 of the agenda package.

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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 

Local schools to celebrate their graduates and end of year

By

Thursday, June 10, 2021

Local schools to celebrate their graduates and end of year

North Bay, ON –

In consultation with the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit, the four local school boards – Conseil scolaire catholique Franco-Nord, Conseil scholaire public du Nord-Est de l’Ontario, Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic District School Board and Near North District School Board – are confirming that school administrators will move ahead with virtual ceremonies with the opportunity of a drive-by component in order to provide graduates and a few immediate family members a safe yet unique celebration. Elementary school administrators are invited to offer virtual ceremonies to their graduating students with the possibility of a drive-by element if it is feasible and safe.

All scheduled drive-up components will be done with all safety precautions in place and in alignment with the approach outlined in the recently released Guide to End of School Year Celebrations by the Province of Ontario.

Principals will be communicating the final details of their ceremonies with families as it will be left to their discretion to organize the most secure event. Any year-end ceremony that involves physically attending a location will be held with the support and recommendations of the Health Unit, whose oversight will address requirements such as COVID pre-screening and masking. We would also like to provide a reminder that gathering before or after any in-person year end celebration is not permitted by the provincial COVID-19 measures.

Parents are invited to contact their school administrator should they have any questions related to their specific school’s plan.

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For more information, please contact:

Jaqueline Levesque, Communications & marketing agent, Conseil scolaire catholique Franco-Nord, levesquj@franco-nord.ca

Guylaine Scherer, Communications Officer, Conseil scolaire public du Nord-Est de l’Ontario, guylaine.scherer@cspne.ca

Victoria Johnson, Executive Assistant to the Director of Education, Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic District School Board, johnsonv@npsc.ca

Deb Bartlett, Communications Officer, Near North District School Board, Deb.Bartlett@nearnorthschools.ca

Letter to families: Health unit issues updated information on youth COVID-19 vaccinations

By

Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit released updated information today for clinic dates and times for youth to book their COVID-19 vaccines. Free transportation is now available.

Youth aged 12-17 are eligible to begin receiving their COVID-19 vaccine on June 14. Health Canada authorized the use of Pfizer-BioNTech for use by youth 12 and older.

Below are links and a brief description of the communication from the health unit.

Email to Parents – COVID-19 vaccine clinics for youth

Youth messaging – COVID-19 vaccine clinics for youth

Transportation for youth-specific clinics

Child and youth COVID-19 fact sheet

Child and youth COVID-19 poster

Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

Near North District School Board

Local businesses support SHSM students’ certifications

By

June 7, 2021

Local businesses support SHSM students’ certifications

Near North District School Board (NNDSB) offers a wide range of programming options for students across the district. One program, the Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM), allows secondary school students in the pathways of apprenticeship, college, university or workplace to focus on sector-specific skills. Students gain specialized training and certifications while completing the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) requirements.

In past years, students benefited from many in-person trainings and certifications, but COVID-19 and the resulting lockdowns and shut-downs made accessing the certifications challenging, as in-person training is no longer an option.

Lisa Spencer, coordinator of student success, gap closing, secondary program and SHSM, says that students in the SHSM program complete their secondary school diploma requirements while also earning two coop credits, and between four and seven certifications. There are mandatory certifications, such as automated external defibrillator (AED) training, cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS), along with at least one sector-specific certification.

The orders in place around COVID meant that no one was able to come and teach those components.

NNDSB’s Health and Safety and Maintenance Coordinator, James Coventry, was able to access and post content through the board’s Safe Schools portal that enabled students to get some safety-related certifications.

Meeting some of the sector-specific requirements was more difficult, says Spencer. Trainers weren’t able to come to the schools, yet “we want them (students) in touch with the sector,” says Spencer. The benefits include businesses knowing about NNDSB students and their training, which opens doors for coop placements and employment, and exposes students to professionals in the sector.

SHSM students must spend six hours in a sector-partnered experience, which traditionally (pre-COVID) meant one day at the location of a business partner. COVID has altered how that is done; it means that students can no longer attend in-person, but it also means students had access to a wider pool of partners thanks to technology.

One such connection made was with Anita Brisson, a local business owner, project management professional and a certified LEAN Six Sigma Black who has been providing professional development since 2006. The SHSM business students at both Chippewa and West Ferris Secondary Schools took her Project Management for Beginners course, in which they learned about time management, task breakdown and budgeting.

“The project management course gave students perspective about project scope and goals, and other skills that are valuable in the workplace,” says Spencer.

Other partnerships that developed because of COVID include Nipissing University, which created a sports/nutrition program for SHSM health and wellness students, and Inksmith, which worked on modules for SHSM students in the areas of math, coding, and innovations, creativity and entrepreneurship (ICE).

Spencer notes the relationships with leaders, sector entrepreneurs and partners in the community has not waned through the pandemic, and in fact, the partners have been helping to solve the problem of meeting the needs of the hours students need to meet their educational requirements.

These partners, she says, “align with our vision for learning”. The priority is always “what’s best for kids”, and other initiatives that have resulted in learning opportunities for students include a sector-partnered experience in coding and workshops for students on musical instrument care.

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Information about Near North District School Board:

Near North District School Board is an English-language public school board serving the North Bay – Parry Sound – Nipissing area. The Board consists of approximately 10,000 students in 27 elementary schools, seven secondary/senior schools and various alternative learning centres. For more information, please visit nearnorthschools.ca and follow Near North District School Board on social media.

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

Indigenous language studies at NNDSB

By

The following interviews were conducted and the feature was written in mid-May for publication in early June to acknowledge and celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day on Monday, June 21. The discovery of the remains of 215 Indigenous children on the grounds of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School in British Columbia brings to the fore the importance of support for Indigenous students, and the study of Indigenous issues for all.

Indigenous education is an important part of student learning for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous. Learning about Indigenous history, culture, and worldview is the foundation of truth and reconciliation.

While Indigenous education has numerous learning aspects, this feature will focus on Near North District School Board (NNDSB)’s language studies programming. While the Ministry of Education calls this programming NSL, at NNDSB the preferred name is Anishinaabemowin or Nishnaabemwin.

NNDSB offers Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe language) classes to students in 13 schools. With 10 language teachers and 365 students enrolled, students have the opportunity to learn Anishinaabemowin to develop a better understanding of Indigenous culture and benefit from cross-cultural education.

“Learning about Indigenous language and culture is very important for all students and staff,” said Tracy Hendrick, NNDSB’s Indigenous Education Lead. “Infusing Indigenous worldview in the classroom and curriculum, in a good way that appreciates the culture, not appropriates it, should be happening regularly and not just on special days of recognition.”

All students, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, can take Anishinaabemowin classes in lieu of French. Anishinaabemowin ensures Indigenous students can learn about and embrace their cultural ways, and sharing what they already know enhances their sense of identity and pride. Non-Indigenous students gain a better understanding of and appreciation for Indigenous culture and worldviews.

Anishinaabemowin classes often take the lead in helping all students and staff develop an awareness and appreciation of Indigenous cultures and languages. This can include organizing school powwows, school drum groups, and incorporating Ojibwe language throughout the school in several ways including word of the day and signage.

Wanda McQuabbie has been an Anishinaabemowin teacher at Britt Public School for almost 20 years.

“I’m fortunate to have my First Nations background that helps and supports our learners who are Indigenous and non-Indigenous,” explains McQuabbie. “At Britt, the learning has really flourished. Even though we’re a small school, our language is strong at the school and across the school. It’s really progressed over the years.”

Common Ojibwe words and phrases you may see or hear around the school or in a meeting are:

  • boozhoo – more formal hello
  • aaniin – more casual hello
  • kina weyaa – everyone
  • <name> ndizhnikaaz – my name is
  • <place> ndoonjibaa – I’m from
  • mno gizhep – good morning
  • mno giizhgat – it’s a nice day
  • mno bmaadziwin – a good life
  • biindigen – welcome
  • miigwech – thank you
  • baamaapii – until later (used when parting, similar to a good-bye)
  • ahow, nahow – ok (often used to acknowledge a thank you)
  • weweni – take care, be careful
  • binoojiinyag – children
  • Anishinaabe – Ojibwe/Pottawatomi person
  • Anishinaabeg or Anishinaabek – plural of Anishinaabe
  • Anishinaabe kwe – Anishinaabe woman
  • Anishinaabe kwewag or kwewak – plural Anishinaabe women
  • Anishinaabemowin or Nishnaabemwin- Ojibwe language

Depending on the individual or community, there may be spelling differences.

“I’m proud to be part of Near North and proud to say the language is strong here. I’m part of a great team that tries to fulfill that portion of that Native language program,” said McQuabbie. “At Britt, we have a drum, teepee put up – it’s visible in our school. We are sharing our knowledge with the other NSL teachers. We’ve come a long way as an NSL group.”

NSL was first introduced in Ontario’s education curriculum in 1987.

The first school within NNDSB to offer NSL was Britt Public School. Since then, several other schools began offering these classes and programming.

“When my students graduate, I give them an Eagle feather. And there are teachings that go along with that Eagle feather, which is a major accomplishment when they receive it – it’s a high honour. I tell my students what it represents and they carry that for life,” said McQuabbie.

When asked, McQuabbie says her favourite part of teaching students the language is having them learn and understand it.

“My favourite part of the job is hearing the kids speak the language and having them repeat it back to me as well as carry on a conversation. It’s a real joy for me.”

For McQuabbie, the first language she learned was Ojibwe and she learned English as a second language.

“If you have all the appropriate resources and tools in place, it makes it easier and fun for the kids to learn the language,” she stated. “I put pride in everything that I make for my kids. And for them to use it and utilize it and learn it and to have for them to use and speak the language. That’s the golden moment for me.”

Hard work, dedication, and skill pay off for Parry Sound High School students at Skills Ontario competition

By

June 4, 2021

Winning a medal in the prestigious Skills Ontario Competition is incredibly difficult – it takes dedication, perseverance and passion. All the necessary ingredients came together for three Parry Sound High School hospitality students.

The trio, Hazel Joy Downey, Sarah Hardie, and Keegan Love, each brought back a medal in their respective categories: baking and culinary arts.

“I was so excited to get out there on May 4 and do the best I could and show off all my hard work for those judges. I was so happy and pleased with my dishes. I have said it before and I’ll say it again, I am very thankful to be given this opportunity and what helped me get through this whole experience was everyone who cheered me on from day one, especially my teacher Blair Cousins,” said Hardie, who earned silver in the culinary arts category. “When it came time for the awards ceremony, I could barely look at the screen as I was so nervous. I saw Keegan Love’s name pop up on the screen for the bronze medal and I thought for sure I was in at least fourth place; I was not expecting to see my own name on the screen for silver when I looked back up. I am very honoured to be the student holding the silver medal this year; it is way better than I could have imagined and I am beyond grateful!”

The Skills Ontario Competition is Canada’s largest skilled trades competition and traditionally hosts more than 2,400 students each May in Etobicoke. This year, the competition took place virtually. Due to the stay-at-home order and shift to virtual learning, students adapted to prepare and compete virtually in front of judges from their own kitchens.

“Leading up to the competition, I went from confident to terrified of doing the competition. Skills don’t only test your culinary skills, it also tests your mental and physical state, and how you work under pressure and stress, like real-world situations in the field,” explained Love, who earned bronze in the culinary arts category. “On the day of the ceremony, I was nervous but still hopeful. The baking category was first, and I was excited that Hazel Joy Downey, a friend of mine, placed third in baking that I was celebrating a bit, then heard my name called and freaked out and then my competitor Sarah Hardie won silver, so it was a rollercoaster of excitement that kept building. I hope to do better next year,” Love said.

Parry Sound High School is home to the prestigious Specialized High Skills Major (SHSM) tourism and hospitality program and state-of-the-art industrial kitchen.

A proud Blair Cousins, the school’s Tourism and Hospitality teacher, reflected on the competition.

“It was so exciting to share this experience with Hazel Joy Downey in her last competition at PSHS. Downey achieved her goal of earning a medal after finishing sixth in her Grade 10 year (Culinary) and losing her internet while trying to compete from the Philippines last year,” said Cousins. “It was also the school’s first baking medal at Skills. For Sarah Hardie and Keegan Love, it reinforced their efforts and sets a goal for them to become our school’s first two-time medal winners next year. Sarah and Keegan overcame many obstacles and I am so proud of them.”

With an ambitious plan, Downey, who earned bronze in the baking category, said planning and careful execution were extremely important.

“Baking was difficult to accomplish in my own kitchen especially with the big ideas I wanted to execute – from the fragile French macarons to the povitica bread and the Enchanted Forest bar cake. But careful planning and time allowances allowed me to get everything done on time.”

Upon seeing her name on the screen during the awards ceremony, Downey ‘couldn’t believe it.’

“I screamed in disbelief that I had just placed third for Skills Ontario. I rushed to call my coach and mentor, Mr. Cousins to share my excitement,” she recalled.

Of course, the success of any program can’t happen without the dedication and support of staff.

“While the students were successful, none of it happens without the support of NNDSB Director (Craig) Myles, Lisa Spencer, Liana Blaskievich and Roy Desjardins. The support of the PSHS administration Dawn Buckland, Heather Hickey and Wesley Baxter is crucial to our ability to prepare our students to take on the best in the province,” said Cousins. “We also were fortunate to access former student Cody Wallace, chef de cuisine at Cut Steakhouse in Halifax, N.S. who helped the students with a TEAMS workshop where he showed a sesame seed tuile that Sarah used in the competition and just settled the students’ nerves and helped them focus.”

Cousins noted that Chef Fintan Flynn of Canadore College and Chef Monique Cousins also provided suggestions and advice to the students.

SHSM supports students in planning for a career in the skilled trades. The hospitality and tourism program allows students to build a foundation of sector-focused knowledge and skills before graduating and entering apprenticeship training, college, university, or an entry-level position in the workplace.

Students learn about food preparation and hospitality services, connect with hospitality employers, participate in training and certification in customer service and safe food handling and gain apprenticeship opportunities upon graduation.

Earlier this year, PSHS welcomed Minister of Education Stephen Lecce and Member of Provincial Parliament Norm Miller to the school for a virtual tour of the program. Both expressed their amazement with the skill and hands-on learning taking place. In his visit, Lecce noted PSHS’s hospitality and tourism program is the “gold standard of practical skills training.”

“We have seen our incredible teachers, students, and administrators move to meet the needs of program this year. We see resilience in our students as they charge ahead, focused on gaining experience and skills that are integral to their future. Supported by teachers who prioritize the interests and goals of their students, we have been able, as a system to continue with activities that enrich educational experiences and of course, the lives of students,” said Lisa Spencer, coordinator of student success, gap closing, secondary program and SHSM.

In a typical year, former PSHS competitors would come back to coach students, mock judge or talk about their own experiences.

“This continuity of alumni who have set the standard of success and now share it with others is what makes PSHS successful,” noted Cousins.

“I am very proud of all the students that participated in the Skills 2020-21 competitions. It takes an abundance of dedication, determination, and perseverance to prepare and participate in these challenges,” said Roy Desjardins, OYAP coordinator and dual credit teacher. “Mr. Cousins, and the PSHS team, remain dedicated to helping students achieve their personal goals and strive for excellence. It is no wonder that three members of this team received awards. My hat is off to this amazing team, they are truly an inspiration to others.”

Congratulations, Hazel, Keegan, and Sarah. You have made PSHS and NNDSB proud!

Director’s message to staff regarding tragic discovery at former Kamloops residential school

By

May 31, 2021

I write this message with deepest respect and profound sadness. The discovery this week of the remains of 215 children at Kamloops Indian Residential School is a glaring reminder that we have a great deal of work to do to educate our society on the tragic wrongs we have committed and continue to commit towards the people whose land we occupy. Any act of reconciliation seems insignificant when faced with such tragedies. Let us consider our own acts of reconciliation as a move toward a more positive and inclusive future for all.

Let us also be diligent in the care of our students and each other and remember that there are supports available through our mental wellness teams. Reach out to your immediate supervisor should you or your students require support.

Please find below a media release which will be sent today to inform the public of the NNDSB decision to lower all flags to half-mast for 215 hours from May 31 to June 8.

The Near North District School Board community is saddened by the news of the discovery of the remains of 215 children on the grounds of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School in British Columbia.

Our thoughts are with the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation, the surrounding First Nations of this area, and all Indigenous Peoples across Turtle Island.

This disturbing discovery reinforces our commitment to make reconciliation a priority in our school board. We commit to transform our education system to decolonize our practices and our minds and to honour Indigenous histories, cultures and perspectives today and every day.

All Near North District School Board buildings will lower their flags for 215 hours to honour the 215 lives lost in remembrance of all Indigenous children who never made it home and in acknowledgement of residential school survivors and their families. Flags will fly at half-mast from May 31 to June 8.

Sincerely,
Craig Myles
Director of Education

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