Near North District School Board

REEL Writers East Hosting Film Festival

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The REEL Writers program is an NNDSB 3-week summer film camp that offers students in grades 5 to 8 engaging, creative and collaborative learning experiences through scriptwriting, photography, and cinematography.

REEL Writers East, which is held at Almaguin Highlands Secondary School this July, is hosting a film festival to showcase their learning and their finished films. The festival will take place on Friday, July 20, 2018 at 10:45 a.m. and will be held at the Burk's Falls Theatre in Burk's Falls. Families are invited to attend the screening of these young director's films.

For more information please contact:
Pamela Marshall Gray
Principal, Evergreen Heights Education Centre
Tel: (705) 636-5955
Email: Pamela.MarshallGray@nearnorthschools.ca
 
 

Local Teacher Earns Award

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​Congratulations to local educator, Laurie Clayton, who has earned the 2018 Schulich School of Education Associate Teacher Award.   

Calle Mady, Associate Dean of the Schulich School of Education, with Laurie ClaytonClayton has been teaching with the Near North District School Board since 2000.  This past school year, she taught grades 5/6 at Silver Birches Elementary School. 

She was nominated by the Nipissing Education student she supervised.  She was selected for the award out of 11 nominations by a committee of professors at Nipissing University.

Clayton’s extensive community work, fundraising efforts, coaching, and other extracurricular organizational activities were cited in her letter of nomination, as was her use of technology and hands-on activities to engage her learners in and outside of the classroom. The letter also stated, “this class was without a doubt the busiest class I have been in, but it was certainly the most rewarding.”
 
“I volunteer as an associate teacher to provide a safe environment for Nipissing students to make mistakes and grow while in return learning from their knowledge, personality and experiences,” said Clayton.

For more information, please contact:

Mairghread Knought
Information/Communication Officer
Near North District School Board
(705) 472-8170, extension 5010
Mairghread.Knought@nearnorthschools.ca

Board Approves 2018-2019 Budget

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NNDSB Approves 2018-2019 Budget

The Near North District School Board approved the 2018-2019 Budget at the June 26, 2018 Board Meeting.    Board of Trustees and Senior Administration undertook a rigorous budget process in order to develop the compliant in-year budget with a planned deficit of $482,609.  The planned deficit is a direct result of declining enrollment, full implementation of financial reforms which include elimination of top-up funding for "non-enhanced" facilities, increased costs associated with Workers' Compensation legislation, increased costs associated with escalating absenteeism, increased transportation costs and increased costs associated with electricity and snow removal.

As always, the focus continues to be on protecting the classroom as much as possible and the supports that are provided to our students.  During development of the Budget the NNDSB's Multi-Year Plan Priorities were kept at the forefront of all decisions to ensure continued support to:

  • Ensuring equity;
  • Promoting well-being;
  • Ensure safe and healthy learning environments;
  • Aligning resources to where they are needed, or at a minimum, to maintain existing resources where they are needed to support equitable outcomes for all students.

The 2018-2019 Budget will result in no layoffs and in fact the Board has been able to plan for some staffing enhancements as a result of additional funding provided by the Ministry of Education.

Staff have continued to demonstrate their ability to monitor expenses and identify areas of reductions for recovery purposes as well as to effectively "manage" in-year deficits.

2018 NNDSB Budget Overview

For more information, please contact:

Mairghread Knought
Information/Communication Officer
Near North District School Board
705-472-8170 ext. 5010
mairghread.knought@nearnorthschools.ca

Northern SS School Teacher Shortlisted for Prestigious Award

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Northern SS Teacher Shortlisted for Prestigious Award

Northern Secondary School Teacher Kevin Baker was chosen from hundreds of nominees across Ontario by the Ontario Teachers' Federation (OTF) and Ontario Teachers' Insurance Plan (OTIF), as a teacher who makes a difference and inspires students.  He is one of six teachers province-wide to receive an honourable mention, after being nominated by colleague Parker Robinson.

Kevin Baker is a shop teacher at Northern Secondary School and was nominated under the new teacher who has less than 5 years of experience category.  During his time at Northern Secondary School Mr. Baker has undertaken many innovative projects with the students, from a welding club to a robotics club, bringing in many students from elementary schools and engaging them as well. Mr. Baker is known for student engagement and being respected by the students.  Prior to beginning his teaching career Baker spent 30 years as an automotive mechanic in southern Ontario.

Kevin Barker has said of his teaching career "I'm just loving it.  I won the lottery.  I have a great rapport with the kids.  They come to me in Grade 9, I watch them mature and I know what to expect from them and the areas where I need push them.  It makes this job that much more special.  I love this job.  It's just so rewarding."

For more information please contact:
Laurent Paquette
Prinicipal, Northern Secondary School
175 Ethel Street, Sturgeon Falls
P: (705)472-5322 ext. 8067
E: Laurent.Paquette@nearnorthschools.ca

Director of Education Update Report 3:2 Consolidation

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At the June 5, 2018 Committee of the Whole Private Session Meeting, the Board of Trustees requested that the Director of Education, Jackie Young, prepare an update report on the 3:2 Consolidation that could be shared with the community.

The information contained within this report is intended to provide parents, students and all stakeholders with an update on the 3:2 Consolidation process.

 3:2 Consolidation

The Board of Trustees, with the support of Senior Administration, will proceed with the 3:2 Consolidation identified in the Board Resolution Number: 17-09-12, as soon as is practicable. The next major milestone for the project will be the submission of a business case to the Ministry of Education to obtain the funding to complete capital and infrastructure projects, purchase equipment and address programming and student transition requirements.  While the funding timelines, eligibility requirements and process has not been identified by the Ministry of Education, Senior Administration with the support of the Board of Trustees, have proceeded with the preparation of a preliminary business case to ensure that the Board is able to capitalize and move quickly when funding opportunities are announced.

Meanwhile, logistics with scheduling and programming requirements are being considered on a regular basis by the Board, Senior Administration, school administration and staff.  While the project costs and timelines are all contingent on funding, all efforts are being made to ensure that the 3:2 Consolidation proceed in a fiscally responsible manner that focuses on the needs and comfort of our students.

As with any capital project contingent on ministry funding, there is the possibility that the funding will be less than anticipated and/or unavailable.  While neither of these scenarios are anticipated, should either one occur, discussion would ensure with the Board of Trustees with respect to options and next steps.

 Programming Costs and Budgetary Implications

The Board of Trustees and our Senior Administration understand that there is a desire for firm numbers, costing details and specifics regarding the consolidation and specifically school transitions.  However as noted, that information has been prepared in a preliminary format only.  To release cost estimates at this stage would be irresponsible and could expose the Board and this project to unnecessary risk and exposure.

As with all capital projects, the final cost and expenditures will depend on the guidelines, templates, timelines and funding as determined by the Ministry of Education.

 Ongoing Communication

The Board and Senior Administration will continue to communicate with students, staff, and stakeholders through a variety of mechanisms including the Board website, school visits, face to face meetings and periodic updates when more information becomes available.

In order to address the concerns voiced by the community and to ensure a means of providing timely, accurate and updated information, the Board has designed a page on our website.  The information is accessible via Quick links on the Home Page and also under the Capital Planning page.  Moving forward we will be preparing a timeline of events to share.  The Board has also hired a new Information and Communications Officer, Mairghread Knought, who will be the communication point person on the 3:2 Consolidation.

 Project Timeline

There has been no change to the identified timeline and the Board and Senior Administration are moving forward in that respect.  However; should the timelines set by the Ministry with respect to funding opportunities impact our ability to meet the set completion date, the Board would need to explore the impact on students and adjust timelines accordingly.  The Widdifield Students will not be moved if the buildings are not appropriately ready to accept them.

UPDATE:  The Near North District School Board has confirmed that the proposed timeframe for the closure of Widdifield Secondary School and relocation of those students to Chippewa Secondary School and West Ferris Secondary School will be delayed.  It is anticipated that the closure will be delayed by a minimum of one year.

 Student Engagement and Rebranding

The Director of Education has begun a series of meetings with our secondary school students to discuss the 3:2 Consolidation to obtain feedback with respect to their concerns, thoughts and recommendations as the process moves forward.

Senior Administration is committed to working with students as the drivers behind what they need and want rebranding (then staff and parents, in that order). The intention is to hear from all students and then design a survey available to all students/staff for their input.  The data collected will be shared with parents through SAC.

The Near North District School Board is committed to ensuring that our students continue to receive the same high-quality education and support they have come to expect from us.

Jackie Young
Director of Education

Fore more information please contact:

Mairghread Knought
Information/Communication Officer
Near North District School Board
(705) 472-8170, extension 5010
Mairghread.Knought@nearnorthschools.ca

Humphrey Outdoor Learning Space Dedication and Celebration

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  On the evening of Tuesday, June 12th, Humphrey Public School had a grand opening and dedication of the Humphrey Outdoor Learning Space. The Outdoor Space is in honour of Fynn Bywater who was a student at Humphrey who passed away in 2015 when he was in grade 1.

There is a handmade bench in a central location in the space with the following inscription: “This Space is Dedicated to Fynn Bywater, Who Generously Shared with Us His Love of   Learning  Through Outdoor Exploration and Play.”

  The grand opening included a smudging of the space led by Dave Rice who is an Elder at Wasauksing First Nation on Parry Island. He also shared at   the event, about some of the work he has been doing with the students of Humphrey including work around the anishinabe medicine wheel.

The hope is that the space will inspire a natural curiosity, strengthen relationships and foster deep learning experiences. Along with a large platform for students to gather, present and learn, there is natural seating in a circular shape around the stage, re-purposed cable spools for tables and stumps for chairs. The teachers of Humphrey shared that the space can be used for rich learning opportunities across the curriculum and with students from Kindergarten to grade 8.

The students of Humphrey have created peace poles with colourful, inspiring messages and symbols scattered throughout the space. And finally, you enter and exit the space through eight “pollinator and local food” raised cedar beds which the students planted under the guidance of the Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve.
There were many local businesses who made generous donations to make this space an inspiring place to learn.  As Mr. Krause, the principal shared, it takes many people and community partners to help a project like this come to fruition.

For more information please contact:
Stephen Krause
Principal
Humphrey Public School
P: (705) 475-2321 ext. 8656
E. Stephen.Krause@nearnorthschools.ca

Woodland Public School Celebrates National Indigenous Peoples Day

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Woodland Public School is celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day with two educational and interactive events on June 11 and June 15, 2018.

On Monday,  June 11th, Woodland Public School hosted its second annual Woodland Teaching and Learning Powwow under the guidance of Aanmitaagzi, a company based in Nipissing First Nation, led by Sid Bobb and Penny Couchie and local artists, dancers, drummers, and singers.   Through this event students and others in attendance learned all about powwow and the different dances.

The primary classes enjoyed the powwow from 9:00-10:00 AM, while junior students participated from 11:10 AM – 12:10 PM.  Students and parents were encouraged to bring their dance regalia on this day.

On Friday, June 15th, junior students will be partaking in Woodland’s first National Indigenous Peoples Day run by Miss Allaire and grade 5 and 6 students registered in Native as a Second Language (Ojibwe).  Classes will move from centre to centre learning about all our Indigenous Peoples of Canada and participating in a wide range of activities. We are excited for all the new understanding and awareness this day will bring to our students and staff!

For more information please contact:
Joanne Delorme
Acting Vice Principal
Woodland Public School
P: (705) 475-2321 ext. 6150
E. Joanne.Delorme@nearnorthschools.ca
 
 

West Ferris to Host Apple Distinguished Schools Site Visit

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The Near North District School Board is excited to announce that on Thursday, June 7th, 2018 the West Ferris Intermediate and Secondary School STEAM program will be hosting staff from District School Board Ontario North East as part of a scheduled Apple Distinguished Schools site visit.  The Director of Education and representatives for the Board of Trustees will be in attendance at 8:45 a.m. on June 7th, 2018 to greet our distinguished guests.

The site visit will focus on showcasing student activities and highlighting how STEAM teachers have been successful creating engaging cross-curricular projects.  This visit will mark the beginning of an ongoing collaboration between the Near North District School Board STEAM program and both teachers and administrators from District School Board Ontario North East, as they work towards creating a STEAM program of their own.

Apple Distinguished Schools are centres of leadership and academic excellence that demonstrates APPLES’ vision for learning with technology and are considered by APPLE to be some of the most innovative schools in the world.  West Ferris Intermediate and Secondary School has been designated as an Apple Distinguished School due to staffs’ continued encouragement of students to be innovative and enthusiastic, while providing opportunities to explore cross-curricular relationships between math, science and technology.

For more information, please contact:

Andy Gagné
HBKin., MEd.
Principal
West Ferris Intermediate/Secondary School
P: 7054752333 x 8561
E: Andy.Gagne@nearnorthschools.ca

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)

Connect With Us

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