Tuesday, April 12, 2022

Workshop explains how executive skills promote school success

Near North District School Board’s (NNDSB) Parent Involvement Committee is hosting a workshop with Dr. Peg Dawson, who will discuss how executive skills can affect students’ ability to learn and student success.

The online session for families takes place Monday, May 2 at 7 p.m.

Dr. Dawson and her colleague, Dr. Richard Guare, have co-authored the books Smart but Scattered and Smart but Scattered Teens, as well as several books on this topic for educators, mental health professionals and families. She is a school psychologist with expertise in the assessment of learning and attention disorders.

Dr. Dawson’s workshop for educators introduces the 11 executive skills featured in the Smart but Scattered model and provides school-based strategies for strengthening each skill across the grade levels.

The workshop for families describes how these skills develop throughout childhood and suggest strategies that can be used to help children acquire the critical skills they need to be successful students.

The Smart but Scattered website says executive skills “refer to the brain-based cognitive processes that help us to regulate our behaviour, make decisions and set and achieve goals.” They include task initiation and follow through, planning and organization, working memory, performance monitoring, inhibition of impulses and self-regulation. Dr. Dawson believes these skills are “absolutely critical to school success.” Learn more about how Dr. Dawson defines executive skills here.

She is past president of the National Association of School Psychologists, the International School Psychology Association and is a recipient of NASP’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

NNDSB invites members of the community to attend Dr. Dawson’s using this link. People can also attend by phone. Find your local dial-in number here, then use Meeting ID: 833 3486 5926 and Passcode: 020746.

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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

Monday, April 4, 2022

Program offers free Intro to Trades dual credits at Canadore College

Near North District School Board (NNDSB) is taking registrations for a program that will see re-engaged learners earn up to two credits towards their secondary school diploma and up to two college course credits towards a Trades Fundamentals certificate at Canadore. The program is called Introduction to the Trades.

Alysha Young, NNDSB’s re-engagement lead and a dual-credit teacher, says this course is for adult learners aged 21 and older who have not earned their Ontario Secondary School Diplomas.

Learners will attend the Commerce Court Campus of Canadore College in North Bay from April 25 to June 10 for half days (9 a.m. to approximately 12:30 p.m.). Students can take an introduction to carpentry and/or introduction to plumbing course. There is no cost to attend the program and students will receive financial assistance with equipment and transportation.

The introduction to carpentry course introduces students to a variety of hand and power tools, with an emphasis on identification, selection and safe operating procedures. Skill building will focus on residential construction.

The introduction to plumbing course introduces student to plumbing theory, safety, tools and materials. Students will work through the Ontario Building Code sections that relate to plumbing. Practical experience will be gained working in the program’s shop.

“This program is an excellent opportunity to attend Canadore and explore the trades as a career while earning high school and college credits,” says Patricia Jackson, project leader at Canadore College. “Past students have gone on to complete the certificate at Canadore, and work in the trades.”

Young says the dual-credit program is a collaborative effort between all four co-terminus school boards, Canadore College and the Ministry of Education. They work with partners in the community and tackle labour market shortages, creating programs that give learners a head start to an education that will address labour needs in the community.

“The objective of the dual-credit program,” she says, “is to aid students who have the potential to succeed.” In addition to the college instructor, students will have the support of a secondary school staff member in the student success role. “The students have more support than they would in a regular college class,” says Young.

“The goal is to help students land jobs,” she says. This is an example of NNDSB’s commitment to Excellence in Innovation, and Excellence in Teaching and Learning, two of the pillars of the board’s multi-year strategic plan.

For more information, contact Alysha Young at Alysha.Young@nearnorthschools.ca or 705-472-5419 ext. 4066.

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Cutline information (Trades-1, Trades-2):

Students in the dual-credit Introduction to the Trades course can earn up to four credits; two towards their secondary school diploma, and two college course credits.

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

Friday, March 25, 2022

The following are the highlights of the Near North District School Board (NNDSB) meeting of Tuesday, March 22, 2022.

Board recognizes outstanding students 

The Board of Trustees will be acknowledging outstanding students and members of school communities who have gone “above and beyond” and whose achievements exemplify the board’s strategic commitments outlined in the Multi-Year Strategic Plan (MYSP).

Guests will be invited to Board meetings to share how they are illustrating the four pillars of the plan: Excellence in Innovation; Excellence in Teaching and Learning; Excellence in Relationships; and Excellence in Communication.

The first presentation occurred at Tuesday night’s Board meeting, when Madison Moore of Chippewa Secondary School and Fionna Truong of West Ferris Secondary School were recognized. They are the 2022 recipients of the Rotary Club of North Bay’s Service Above Self Award, presented to students who exemplify warmth and caring towards their peers and others. The award program is intended to promote the values of the Rotary Club’s motto Service Above Self, to ensure youth are aware of the benefits of volunteerism.

More information about the presentation can be found in this media release.

Updated guidelines follow public consultation

After approval by executive council of the multi-year French as a Second Language (FSL) plan in December, three Administrative Guidelines (AG) were approved for review.

The Extended French AG, French Immersion AG and Core French AG were posted on the board’s website from Feb. 1 to March 5, 2022. Public feedback was incorporated into the final version of each AG, which were presented for approval at the exec council meeting on March 8, 2022.

Amendments focused on inclusion of the full-day kindergarten document and, revised FSL curriculum and including best practices that allow for flexibility to support school timetables, schedules and staffing strengths.

Director’s update

Director of Education Craig Myles presented a lengthy report to the Board, following the March Break.

He addressed the lifting of many COVID-19 restrictions and noted how the changes have resulted in mixed feelings as we move along in pandemic recovery. Myles expressed gratitude to the staff, students, families and community partners who have provided safe learning environments for students since March 2022.

There was also a mid-year update that detailed progress in the four areas of the MYSP. For each pillar in the plan, the Director’s goals are listed with indicators of achievements to date that show forward momentum in realizing the goals of the plan. Trustees were appreciative of the update, expressing pride and satisfaction in the work being done by staff.

Board Vice-Chair John Cochrane noted that with the launch of the personal support worker program, “we are leaders”. The program in smaller communities provides a service to both students and the partner healthcare facilities. Trustee Bill Steer said it was gratifying to be able to see how far the board has come in implementing the MYSP. Director Myles agreed, calling the amount of work and growth that has taken place throughout a pandemic “amazing”.

The complete mid-year update can be found beginning on Page 36 of the agenda package.

MYSP committee launches survey

Trustee Bill Steer, who chairs the MYSP committee, updated trustees on the committee’s on-going work. Following approval by trustees in June, and implementation beginning in September, the committee’s next step is to assess the plan’s effectiveness with the development of metrics.

To measure that, the committee launched a survey and is seeking responses from a variety of stakeholder groups. The survey opened March 11 and will remain open until April 15. Once the survey closes, the committee will meet to review the data and establish metrics in order to present a report to the Board at its May meeting.

Trustee Steer called the measurement, “the last piece of the puzzle in this long process,” referring to the development and implementation of the MYSP.

Distribution and Determination Report approved

A Trustee Determination and Distribution report was presented, along with supplementary information from the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC). Before every municipal election, school boards are required to review and recommend the number of trustees and the areas they represent, in order to ensure fair and equitable representation of all public school supporters.

Following discussion in Committee of the Whole, a resolution was brought forward to approve that no changes would be made to trustee determination, and that trustee distribution will remain status quo.

NNDSB’s Board of Trustees is comprised of nine trustees; eight elected trustees and one First Nations trustee who is appointed to represent all First Nations who are NNDSB education partners.

Projects receive Trustee Initiative Fund support

Trustees approved supporting two projects through the Trustee Initiative Fund.

The Journey into Learning program of NNDSB will receive $7,520 to purchase 600 copies of the book This is What I’ve Been Told to be included in the Journey into Learning (JIL) kit for kindergarten students. The book was written by a NNDSB teacher and introduces the local Anishinaabemowin language and culture. The funding request noted that the book reflects the peoples, languages and cultures of this area, not other parts of Ontario or Canada, and that its inclusion in the JIL kit indicates the commitment of NNDSB to focus on Indigenous education.

The second request, for $7,500, was approved for the Festival of the Sound’s Music Scores program. The funding will see Music Scores programming in 10 NNDSB schools in the Parry Sound area over a two-week period. This year’s program will

encourage mastery of the creative process and critical thinking through Indigenous and sound-based storytelling. Three artists, led by Samantha Whelan-Kotkas of the National Arts Centre, will help students conceive, compose and present original works.

The two-week virtual residency will culminate in a final performance on April 8 feature music created together with students and the visiting artists.

Facilities Study Committee seeks name change

The North Bay Facilities Study Committee, an ad-hoc committee tasked with reviewing the board’s use of property assets in North Bay, received Board approval to be renamed the North Bay Consolidation Committee. The name change more accurately reflects the scope of the committee’s work.

The committee also presented a draft terms of reference, which was approved by the Board.

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Note: the full agenda package is posted on the website prior to meetings, and official minutes are posted after they are approved at the next board meeting.

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

 

Wednesday, March 23, 2022

Outstanding NNDSB students recognized at Board meeting

At last night’s meeting of Near North District School Board (NNDSB), trustees heard the first of what will be a series of presentations that recognize students who go “above and beyond”.

The Board will welcome students and members of school communities who embody the board’s strategic commitments established within the Multi-Year Strategic Plan (MYSP). Invited guests will explain how their actions exemplify the MYSP pillars of Excellence in Teaching and Learning, Excellence in Innovation, Excellence in Relationships and Excellence in Communication.

By hearing presentations, the Board of Trustees will be able to recognize students and support the entrenchment of the board’s MYSP priorities within school communities.

Board Chair Jay Aspin said, “It is significant that our Board of Trustees recognize outstanding students and members of the school community that go ‘above and beyond’ to fulfill the commitments set out in our strategic plan.”

The first of the presentations acknowledged the work of students Madison Moore of Chippewa Secondary School and Fionna Truong of West Ferris Secondary School. The pair was recently honoured by the Rotary Club of North Bay as recipients of the 2022 Service Above Self award. The award criteria include how students demonstrate warmth and caring towards peers or others. The Rotary Club’s student awards program is intended to promote the values of the club’s motto, Service Above Self, and ensure students know of the benefits of volunteerism.

Madison Moore was recognized at the Board for embodying Excellence in Relationships. A Grade 12 student, Madison has accumulated almost 400 volunteer hours since 2018. She is an athlete who recognizes the value of dedication and teamwork. Most of her volunteer hours were acquired in the sport of hockey and at tournaments such as the boys’ OFSAA tournament.

Fionna Truong is a Grade 11 student in the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) program. She was recognized by the Board for illustrating Excellence in Innovation because of being an integral part of the robotics world in North Bay. She has been a team captain for FIRST Robotics, a build captain for Team 1305 and volunteers as a mentor with FLL (Lego) team at West Ferris. She has also worked with other student on a UV Cube Development Project that addressed the healthcare challenge of sterilizing personal protective equipment. Fionna is a team member working on a business plan to move the project into the production phase.

“These two students are shining examples that permit us to realize that commitment and I am very pleased our Board of Trustees has formally recognized their accomplishments,” said Chair Aspin.

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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

Tuesday, March 15, 2022

Student project aims to use education to eradicate racism

Spearheaded by two Grade 11 students, a mural being unveiled at Chippewa Secondary School commemorates Black history and the power of education to eradicate racism.

The project was designed and coordinated by Rainat Salako and Omobola Agboola as their Creativity, Activity Service (CAS) project in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program.

Rainat says, “This project began because I wanted to think of a way to bring cultural awareness to the school. As a student of colour, I felt as if I was not being represented in the art around me. I wanted to change that and help others feel welcomed and acknowledged at our school. I believe this project will help to accomplish that.”

“I wanted to do this project because I believed that our school needed some more representation from the Black community, not just during Black History Month but also throughout the year and the years to come. I believe this mural is a great way to leave a legacy and to give a friendly reminder to people about the Black community, not just once a year but every day,” says Omobola.

She and Rainat said the project had a few challenges, which were overcome with support from their project sponsor, staff and students.

The project came to fruition with the help of Ashley Oszytko, an intermediate art teacher at Chippewa who took the lead on supporting the students. Oszytko says,
“Representation in our schools is so important and this mural will be a reminder that all Chippewa students are beautiful, strong, and important. We embrace different cultures, races, genders, and beliefs here at Chippewa, and the raised clenched fist will now be a permanent reminder that anti-racism begins here in the hallways of our schools.”

Stephanie Silverthorn, the IB CAS coordinator, helped the girls develop their idea, coordinate the logistics of sourcing materials and arranging working sessions with volunteers. She says, “The purpose of the CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) project is to enable students to work collaboratively in a leadership capacity to enact positive change. Rainat and Omobola have done a beautiful job of identifying a concept that is of importance both to them individually and to our school community as a whole. Their vision and teamwork have resulted in a powerful piece of art that will have a lasting impact on the students and staff within our building. I am so proud of them.”

Chippewa’s principal, Krista Tucker Petrick, is grateful for the legacy created by Rainat and Omobola. “They generously shared their vision to showcase Black brilliance during Black History month and to ensure that there was artwork in the school that reflected African, Caribbean and Black identifying students. The dedication of Omobola and Rainat is evident in the wonderful mural that has been created and will be hung in the halls of the school. Staff here are appreciative of the effort and care that went into the organization and painting of the artwork and the daily information that was shared by these students on the announcements during February.

“I am grateful to Rainat and Omobola for being such amazing leaders in the school. I would also like to express my thanks to Dr. Julius Agboola for sponsoring the mural,” says Tucker Petrick.

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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

 

Friday, March 11, 2022

Survey will measure MYSP implementation status

Near North District School Board’s (NNDSB) Multi-Year Strategic Plan (MYSP) committee is seeking survey responses to measure the implementation status of the 2021- 2026 MYSP. The five-year plan was approved by the Board in June 2021 and implementation began in September 2021.

The MYSP was developed after extensive consultation with a variety of stakeholder groups, which identified key priorities for the board. Now that the plan has been operationalized for several months, the committee is keen to measure both status and progress. The metrics for measurement are aligned closely to the MYSP goals.

The MYSP committee, chaired by Trustee Bill Steer, has developed metrics for each of the four pillars of the MYSP (excellence in teaching and learning, excellence in innovation, excellence in relationships and excellence in communication).

Committee Chair Steer says, “We recognize how our MYSP is an organic document, so this survey is intended to keep us informed on how our community feels about our progress. Data collection is essential to measuring our progress, so we are looking for feedback from all stakeholders, as part of our ongoing data collection strategy.”

“In June of last year, our board completed an extensive participatory process which culminated in our five-year MYSP to serve as our roadmap over the years 2021-2026. To be consistent with this process, this survey will continue to engage the participation of all stakeholders. Just as importantly, it will provide us with valuable benchmark metrics that will assist our board in assessing the progress of this strategic plan from year to year,” says Board Chair Jay Aspin.

The survey can be found on the board’s website and is open from March 11 until April 15, 2022.

Once the data is collected, it will give the MSYP committee an indication of which areas are successfully moving ahead according to the plan. The committee plans to review data and present a report to the Board at its May meeting.

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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

 

 

Monday, Feb. 28, 2022

PSW students heading to class for the first time today

Thirty new students packed their bags and headed to school today as they engage in the inaugural personal support worker (PSW) courses being offered by Near North District School Board (NNDSB). The courses are being held in Parry Sound and North Bay.

In a unique educational opportunity, NNDSB partnered with healthcare facilities to provide living classrooms, in which students learn theory in a classroom then apply the knowledge on the floor of a long-term care home.

Today, 18 students headed to class at Cassellholme in North Bay, and 12 started class at Belvedere Heights in Parry Sound. The board intends to start a PSW program in September in West Nipissing and Mattawa.

Gracie Liritzis is one of those students. She’s been out of school for six years and admits to being hesitant to apply for the program. “Do I remember how to study? I’m an adult with adult responsibilities – will I be able to manage my time?” she asks. On the flip side, Liritzis says, “I’ve had a lot of life experiences. I’m not as scared of failure or have a fear of being wrong. I’m able to handle constructive criticism and learn from it.”

She applied to the program after working in several fields but wanted an active role in her community and to feel fulfilled at the end of the day. “It is really important for me to feel like I’ve contributed to something, and I wasn’t getting that in other professions,” says Liritzis.

NNDSB Board Chair Jay Aspin notes that the development and launch of the PSW program demonstrates the board’s commitment to the pillars of excellence in its recently developed Multi-Year Strategic Plan. “This program embodies excellence in innovation and excellence in relationships, two of the four pillars of that plan. It is through this type of work that NNDSB staff are reshaping what public education can look like and how the board can contribute to the communities it serves.”

Upon completion of the program, Liritzis and her classmates will be fully trained PSWs with experience on the floor of a long-term care home. For program partners, seeing the students develop every day is like a months-long job interview; many students will wind up with employment offers. Across the province, there is a PSW shortage, which programs like this can address.

Director of Education Craig Myles says the board’s ability to help fill that employment gap was a major impetus for developing the program. “NNDSB has the opportunity to grow stronger community relationships while encouraging learners to come back to school. Our staff live and work in communities throughout the district, and we are proud to be able to contribute to educating the workforce that will support us and our families in healthcare.”

Instructors for the courses are Nancy Corbett in North Bay and Nicole Robinson in Parry Sound. Both are Registered Practical Nurses (RPN) with backgrounds and experience in long-term care. That depth and breadth of knowledge in providing hands-on care will serve the PSW students well.

Corbett has worked as a RPN at Cassellholme for 25 years and has been a preceptor for RPN students completing their consolidation. She’s excited about teaching the PSW program in a living classroom. “Students will have the chance to learn in a very practical and hands-on setting, which I believe will provide the students with the skills and confidence to be successful in their new PSW career,” she says.

The healthcare sector has a need for PSWs that Corbett says is particularly great in the long-term care sector. She was interested in becoming a NNDSB instructor because “it is a great way to give back to the healthcare profession and Cassellholme. I want to help ensure the newly trained PSW’s are ready to provide excellent care for their residents/clients.” Her goal is to “show students how rewarding a career in healthcare is, and that what they do every day and the interactions they have with their residents/clients will have an enormous impact in their lives.”

Liritzis says her experience through the application process has been positive, and she’s felt supported through the process. To people who are unsure of applying to the PSW program, she says, “do it! It’s free.” She’s grateful for the opportunity to start a career in healthcare. “You’re so young in high school and expected to make big decisions that I just wasn’t ready for,” she says. She’s grateful for a second chance.

Anyone interested in applying for another course should submit this registration form and email it to alysha.young@nearnorthschools.ca.

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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

Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022

SAFER SCHOOLS! tool launched on Pink Shirt Day

Near North District School Board (NNDSB) is enthusiastically celebrating Pink Shirt Day today with several activities and initiatives. Across the district, students and staff are wearing pink in support of anti-bullying initiatives.

Elementary students at Woodland, Parry Sound and Vincent Massey Public Schools will be hearing from Travis Price, one of the founders of Pink Shirt Day, which started in 2007 after Travis and his friend David led their school in wearing pink after hearing about a Grade 9 student who had been bullied for the same thing. Price will be speaking to students across Canada in the Pink Shirt Day National Broadcast. His message will celebrate kindness and discuss how kids can reduce bullying and increase inclusion and positive relationships in their schools and communities.

This year’s Pink Shirt Day theme, Lift Each Other Up, reminds us all of the power behind making positive choices that support diversity and inclusion. When we lift each other up, we all feel safe, welcomed and valued. To further celebrate Pink Shirt Day, NNDSB is launching a new look for our SAFER SCHOOLS! Reporting Tool. The tool will ensure our schools are as safe, welcoming and inclusive as possible, as it can be used to report incidents related to bullying and/or discrimination.

“Bullying in the form of physical, verbal, social or cyber, is often found to be related to discrimination,” says NNDSB’s Principal of Safe Schools, Emily Samuel. “When someone treats another person badly or denies them a privilege based on a Human Rights Code such as race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or disability, it’s discrimination. In recognizing the relationship between acts of bullying and mentalities of discrimination, NNDSB schools are combating this issue using anti-racism education, culturally responsive and relevant teaching approaches, and whole-school anti-bullying initiatives to create spaces that value diversity.”

NNDSB is committed to the safety and well-being of students, staff, and all members of the school community and will ensure that programs are in place to educate the school community about discrimination and bullying and to respond to these incidents appropriately.

When schools become aware of these incidents, steps can be taken to assist all individuals involved to repair the harm and restore the relationship. When we support the rights of all, schools become safer places.

Learn more about the tool today by visiting the Safe and Accepting Schools page of our website.

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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

Thursday, Feb. 17. 2022

NNDSB committed to Indigenous Education in schools

At Near North District School Board (NNDSB) our approach in supporting Indigenous Education priorities and initiatives focuses on equitable outcomes for learners.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission made 94 calls to action; 12 of them involve education. Specifically, we are called to action in education on numbers 62 and 63. This includes all students having diverse learning opportunities to gain understanding of First Nation, Métis and Inuit language, history, culture and perspectives throughout all curriculum areas.

Annually, a board action plan is developed alongside of the Indigenous Education Advisory Circle. We implement this plan through four pillars: supporting students; supporting teachers; awareness and engagement; and using data to support student achievement.

Through this lens, we are able to target resources and support ways that promote student success, engagement and well-being.

Learners are offered various opportunities throughout the curriculum including First Nation, Métis and Inuit studies and Anishinaabemowin courses. This is vitally important in the board’s reconciliation efforts; staff and students need to be aware of Indigenous perspectives, ways of knowing and the history of the lands now known as Canada.

This year, in support of building this capacity for all staff, NNDSB has purchased a license for an unlimited number of learners to participate in 4 Seasons of Reconciliation, which is a 2.5-hour online session supporting cultural competency learning. The Indigenous Education team has set a goal of 70 per cent staff completion by December 2022.

This learning is meaningfully connected as we acknowledge our responsibilities to the TRC calls to action in education. We strive towards excellence in relationship building in recognition of our need to be continuous learners alongside of community and partners in Indigenous Education.

The Indigenous Youth Circle appointed Allen Lewis as Indigenous Student Trustee for the 2021-2022 school year at the Board’s January 2022 meeting. This role ensures student voice from the Indigenous Youth Circle is represented at Board meetings.

news about Indigenous Education at NNDSB will be forthcoming. Our Indigenous Education Team is working in partnership with staff, students and community partners to plan for the 2022-2023 school year.

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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

 

Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022

Chair expresses confidence in management of COVID-19

At last night’s Board meeting, trustees were given an update on COVID-19 processes and plans. They expressed confidence in the way senior administration is managing the pandemic in Near North District School Board (NNDSB).

Superintendent Tim Graves, the board’s COVID-19 lead, provided a fulsome report to trustees on a wide range of topics related to COVID-19 and how the board is managing everything from personal protective equipment (PPE) to reporting tools.

Board Chair Jay Aspin noted, “everyone knows what a hard job it has been, navigating these past two years through a pandemic.”

“On behalf of the board, I am obliged to give a special shout out to all members of our Near North team. With the continually disruptive program changes, this has been a very exasperating experience for all. Whether it’s been the provision of PPE equipment, rapid tests, screening tools, reporting tools or now vaccine clinics you have done an extremely commendable job of keeping our students and staff safe which is always our first priority,” said Chair Aspin. “As well, a sincere shout out to parents and guardians of our students and relatives of staff. Your understanding, patience and support have been exceptional and is much appreciated.”

Trustees heard that the board is working with the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit which is offering child vaccine clinics. Schools around the district have been the site of clinics, held outside of school hours.

Two new screening tools were discussed; the updated School and Child Care Screening Tool, which clarifies isolation periods and close contacts, and the absence reporting tool which is used by principals when the absenteeism rate is 30 per cent or higher for two consecutive days, when inclement weather and/or bus cancellations are not a factor.

When non-fit-tested N95 masks were sent to NNDSB in early January, there were only enough to last for eight days. Student-facing staff were prioritized, including daycare staff, special education staff and elementary teachers. The full allotment has since been received, and the board has a supply ready for all staff upon request. Additionally, there is an adequate supply of medical masks and three-ply cloth masks for students.

NNDSB has a supply of rapid antigen tests available. Initially, 17,280 tests were distributed to daycares, elementary students and staff; a second allocation was made available for secondary school students and occasional staff. The kits come in packages of 20 tests and are re-kitted and distributed to schools. Testing is voluntary, and people with symptoms who choose not to test are presumed positive and should isolate immediately.

Secondary schools in the board returned to the semester system on Jan. 31. An initial review of data shows students continued to be successful through the octomester model, and the report acknowledged the work of school staff throughout octomesters to supports student success.

The final report item detailed the status of athletics and extracurricular activities at schools. The winter sports season was paused in early winter, but Minister of Education Stephen Lecce announced that certain restrictions could be lifted as of last week. NNDSB works with the health unit and co-terminus boards to develop a local strategy for all aspects of COVID-19 planning; as of yesterday, high-contact/high-intensity sports and music and band activities were able to resume.

Director of Education Craig Myles acknowledged that managing the pandemic throughout the board has been a massive job, requiring coordination with many colleagues in health and education. “Under the leadership of SO Graves, and System Principal of Well-Being Kim Pauli, NNDSB’s COVID-19 management team has guided our staff through another difficult year. Their recommendations have mitigated the risk of COVID-19 to staff and students. I would again like to express my sincere appreciation to all those who have stepped to the plate to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of staff and students, which remains the number one priority in all of our decisions.”

COVID-19 news, guidance documents, testing instructions, letters to families, health unit information and links can be found on this page of the board’s website.

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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