Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2021

Convenor grateful for colleagues’ support of OFSAA event

Many hands make light work, and Craig Nodwell is grateful for all the hands that have helped him put together this year’s Ontario Federation of School Athletic Association (OFSAA) Boys’ AA volleyball championship.

Nodwell is a teacher-coach at Chippewa Secondary School and the convenor of the championship, being held tomorrow through Saturday in North Bay. COVID-19 caused the cancellation of last year’s championship (which was scheduled for North Bay) and the virus continues to affect day-to-day operations. Near North District School Board (NNDSB) and OFSAA have protocols that must be followed that caused modifications to typical OFSAA championships.

Nodwell says area secondary schools – even those located outside of North Bay – are making some sort of contribution to the championship. The tournament’s home team is Chippewa, but the principal of West Ferris Secondary School offered gyms for games to be held, the principal of F.J. McElligott Secondary School in Mattawa provided two staff members to act as convenors to run two of the gyms, staff at Northern Secondary School in Sturgeon Falls convened the Nipissing District Athletics (NDA) league this year, which provided a direct route to hosting OFSAA and a staff member at Laurentian Learning Centre was released to help with photography and media projects for the championships.

The executive team at NNDSB has been supportive of Nodwell’s efforts, the COVID-19 management team has guided him in the processes to safely run the tournament and some students are getting optional certifications towards their Specialist High Skills Majors.

“There are so many cool, collaborative projects at Near North,” says Nodwell.

Students have missed out on organized sports for almost two years. Nodwell says there are five students on Chippewa’s team who returned for a fifth year at secondary school just to play volleyball and “it meant a lot to finish their athletic careers on the right note (by participating in a provincial tournament).” Despite the challenges caused by COVID-19, as a convenor and coach, Nodwell wants to put on “the best championship we can…I want it to be a show for these student athletes.”

NNDSB’s Director of Education, Craig Myles, says “As a life-long athlete, coach and teacher, I am so encouraged to see the return of sporting competitions. OFSAA is the pinnacle of sports in Ontario secondary schools. My hope is that these opportunities for students will continue to resurface as we navigate through the changing COVID-19 environment.”

The COVID-19 protocols caused the cancellation of the usual banquet, but the committee has created a red-carpet registration night featuring semi-formal attire, swag bags and team photos. Student volunteers are helping out to welcome teams to the city and the school.

The championship will feature team and player introductions, and there will be signage around the facilities to acknowledge the achievement of the visiting teams.

Fans will be absent from the championship because of the protocols of both NNDSB and OFSAA, but games will be streamed. YourTV will broadcast the quarter-final and semi-final games from Chippewa, and Sunday’s championship final at 1 p.m.

Nodwell notes that the stringent protocols are in place to keep everyone safe and following them means that student athletes are able to play and compete.

“The health and safety of our staff and students is paramount,” says Myles, “so I would like to recognize everyone who is going above and beyond to organize these events for students amidst the health and safety considerations, with a special thanks to Craig Nodwell. Best of luck to the athletes!”

Visit OFSAA’s page for more information about the championship, including the schedule.

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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, Nov. 19, 2021

Board Highlights for November Meeting

The following are the highlights of the Near North District School Board (NNDSB) meeting of Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021.

Board updated on Indigenous Youth Circle

Allen Lewis Trodd, a student at Parry Sound High School, gave Trustees an update on the work of the Indigenous Youth Circle. That group will be meeting to ensure Indigenous student voices are part of the conversation at NNDSB.

Lewis Trodd introduced himself as Anishinaabe and Coast Salish, and said he is involved in the Indigenous Youth Circle because he and his peers “are trying to make school a nice place”.

He said his school provided a safe cultural space, in which students can gather and spend time together, “which makes people happy”. He noted not all schools have space and opportunity for Indigenous students, and the group wants to change that.

Lewis Trodd said he was happy to be at the meeting, and said it was important to have Indigenous voices at the (Board) table. He wrapped up his presentation saying that if you listen, you can learn.

The Indigenous Youth Circle is in the process of determining what the role of Indigenous Student Trustee will look like and how they want to select an Indigenous Student Trustee on the Board.

Revised administrative guidelines presented

The Board received a report about updated administrative guidelines, which are operational protocols that ensure a best practice approach to operations. The public has 30 days in which to provide input.

Three administrative guidelines that have been revised following the 30-day public consultation were shared with Trustees.

Revisions to the Student Conduct Management, Emergency Response Plan and Bear Protocol administrative guidelines were presented.

Board in compliance with elementary class size

In her report to the Board, Superintendent of Business Seija Van Haesendonck confirmed NNDSB is in compliance with the government’s limits on class size.

The board is required to maintain 100 per cent of its primary classes below 23 and 90 per cent of the classes below 20. Board must also maintain a maximum board-wide average class of 23.3 for Grades 4-8.

Highlights of Superintendent Van Haesendonck’s report that 91.5 per cent of primary classes have 20 or fewer students, and that 100 per cent of primary classes have 23 and fewer students. The average junior/intermediate class size is 23.29.

District-wide PSW program launched

In his report to the Board, Director of Education Craig Myles spoke of the launch of the personal support worker (PSW) living classroom program, which has now secured partners in Sturgeon Falls, North Bay, Mattawa and Parry Sound.

The program will see participants 18 and older train to become PSWs in a classroom that is located in a healthcare facility. Rather than having to wait for placement modules to practice theoretical learning, students will be able to move between the theoretical and practical application of knowledge regularly.

Participant intake is taking place, with program registration taking place in January. The program will begin in March 2022.

In addition to becoming a fully-trained PSW, students who have not yet completed their Grade 12 can earn up to six credits towards their Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD).

Chair Jay Aspin, who also sits on the Board of Directors of Ontario Health, noted the need for PSWs in the province, and called the program “a real winner. I can see nothing but growth and goodwill.”

This collaborative program exemplifies the dedication of the board to align all decisions with the pillars of the Multi-Year Strategic Plan. The PSW program can be situated within the board’s commitment to Excellence in Innovation and Excellence in Relationships.

Environmental working group will be established

Director Myles, via his report to the board, shared that NNDSB’s program department will be establishing an environmental education/environmental stewardship working group during the 2021-2022 school year. The group will be comprised of educators from both elementary and secondary panels, administrators and system leaders.

Staff and students are already participating in several environmental initiatives, including the walking school bus (planned to start soon with Nipissing Parry Sound Student Transportation Services), a whole-school focus on electronic communications as an environmental strategy and recognition for Take Me Outside Day.

NNDSB has also been communicating with Forestry Ontario about a tree-planting initiative in the spring of 2022, in which students in the Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) Environment programs will mentor students in feeder schools about the benefits of planting trees to improve the environment.

COVID-19 management updates

Superintendent Tim Graves provided Trustees with an update on board management of COVID-19. He acknowledged the work of NNDSB and its collaborative work with the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit (NBPSDHU) and the co-terminus boards, noting no schools in the district have been in an outbreak.

Chair Jay Aspin congratulated Superintendent Graves and his team on the work being done since the return to in-person learning. Despite pressure on the board to allow spectators to attend sports events, Chair Aspin noted NNDSB and the co-terminus boards stuck to their guns about protocols. Chair Aspin said the work done by NNDSB is “putting our students and staff first.”

Director Myles also thanked staff, the senior team, union partners and Trustees for their support of the COVID-19 management strategy. He said NNDSB has seen low numbers of COVID-19 cases “because of our strict adherence to protocols.”

Those protocols also include not permitting community use of schools to ensure to reduce the risk of transmission by reducing the number of people in buildings.

Effective Nov. 10, the Ministry of Education is requiring individuals who are subject to rapid antigen testing requirements must now provide negative test results three times a week (it had been twice weekly). Staff to whom the policy applies have been given a testing schedule and access to additional test kits.

Although new testing approaches were made available to public health units, the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit has opted not to implement them, citing low case counts and strong testing measures already in place.

NNDSB is working with Nipissing District Athletics (NDA) to allow spectators at school hockey games. The facilities’ COVID-19 policies and practices will be enforced.

Northern school boards identify challenges

In the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA) report to the Board, a research project that detailed unique challenges facing Northern boards was shared.

OPSBA’s Northern Region meeting earlier in November saw the release of a report that identified four priority areas that require greater support from the Ministry of Education – Indigenous education, special education, experiential learning and mental health and well-being. The research, conducted by three Master of Applied Politics students, found that funding and staffing were the two greatest challenges facing the research participants.

The report’s final recommendations were: for the Ministry of Education to consult with Northern Boards and Authorities when determining funding packages, to address unique needs of communities in the North; to implement needs assessment for each Board or Authority to ensure equitable access to services for all students, regardless of where they live; implement flexibility in teaching qualifications for specialized staff in Northern regions, to ensure hiring based on relevant skills.

Marc Morin appointed to audit committee

The Board accepted the recommendation of the Audit Selection Committee and approved of the selection of Marc Morin of Mattawa to fill the external member vacancy on the Board’s audit committee, following a public application process.

Morin is a professor in the School of Business at Canadore College and has supported other boards in a similar audit committee capacity.

His three-year term is effective immediately and will end Nov. 16, 2024.

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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

Friday, Nov. 12, 2021

NNDSB expands PSW opportunity in living classroom program to Belvedere Heights, Lakeland Long-Term Care in Parry Sound

Near North District School Board (NNDSB) is excited to announce the expansion of the Personal Support Worker (PSW) training opportunity and a promising partnership in the Parry Sound region. The partnership with Belvedere Heights and Lakeland Long-Term Care are welcome news in an area where PSWs are in high demand.

NNDSB will provide PSW training on site at Belvedere Heights and Lakeland Long-Term Care in a living classroom environment. Participants in the program will do their theoretical learning in a classroom at Belvedere Heights, then be able to apply those skills on the floor of both long-term care homes, without having to wait for theory work to end before experiencing placement.

NNDSB hopes to help fill a growing demand for trained PSWs across the Near North region and to provide people 18 years of age and older with an exciting career path. NNDSB will work closely with community partners to establish a hands-on program, inclusive of placements, in partnered long-term care facilities.

A PSW looks after the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of someone who is not able to do so themselves, frequently in the elderly population. The main responsibilities of a PSW include ensuring the patient has healthy and nutritious meals, helping with daily tasks and working with an interdisciplinary team to ensure the best quality of care.

People who do not currently possess their Grade 12 are also eligible. This unique program allows NNDSB to support students in completing their OSSD in tandem with this program. If you are interested, you can request an educational assessment by contacting Trina Nelson in student services at Parry Sound High School, 705-773-7979 extension 8438.

NNDSB Director of Education Craig Myles, who has been instrumental in seeking opportunities for the board to provide this innovative programming states, “NNDSB is thrilled to expand this opportunity to the Parry Sound region. The program contributes to an emergent and vital need for the Near North region. We are proud to offer a program that supports adults (18+) to find a rewarding career path in the health care industry and respond to a community need.”

Supported by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health, the student costs of this specialty program will be subsidized. Successful students of this program will become fully qualified as PSWs. The PSW program can be only the beginning of a journey into many healthcare opportunities. PSWs are employed in many care sectors such as homecare and assisted living and in various care facilities.

NNDSB’s partners in this program, are “excited by this awesome opportunity,” says Belvedere Heights Home for the Aged Administrator Kami Johnson.

“Our homes in Parry Sound are incredibly fortunate to work with a partner like our local high school,” says Steve White, administrator of Lakeland Long-Term Care. “Kami and I believe the Near North District School Board is not only going to make a difference in the lives of adults learning a new career, but in the daily lives of our seniors and most vulnerable.”

NNDSB is in the process of hiring qualified instructors for North Bay and Parry Sound. Instructors will be RNs or NPs with experience working in this field.  Please refer to www.nearnorthschools.ca  and select Join Our Team in the top right corner for employment information. NNDSB is excited by the expansion and still aiming for the new year to begin both programs. Registration is planned for January with an expected start of February 2022.

Spaces are limited. Anyone interested should plan to attend one of the two following information sessions: Nov. 16 at 1 p.m. online or Nov. 18 at 6 p.m. online. (Meetings are hyperlinked.)

NNDSB Chair Jay Aspin says, “The partnership in Parry Sound and the expansion of this programming is exactly what we aimed for. The alignment with the Board goals of excellence in innovation and excellence in building relationships is clear. We are eager to work in partnership with Belvedere Heights and Lakeland Long-Term Care on a sustainable pipeline of PSW students choosing highly rewarding programming in Northern communities.”

NNDSB is seeking partnerships with local long-term care homes in all regions of the board to re-engage learners who are 18+ interested in training to become a PSW. Any long-term care home interested in partnering should contact Liana Blaskievich, NNDSB’s Officer Corporate Affairs at 705-472-8170 ext. 5056 or liana.blaskievich@nearnorthschools.ca.

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Cutline information:

PSWs are often referred to as the backbone of healthcare. Halle Stringer is a recent PSW grad working at Lakeland LTC, seen here with resident Dorothy O’Rourke.

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, Nov. 4, 2021

NNDSB launches innovative PSW living classroom program at Cassellholme North Bay

Near North District School Board (NNDSB) is excited to announce the first of what it hopes will be many sustainable partnerships with long-term care facilities in all regions of the NNDSB.

NNDSB is proud to partner with Cassellholme in North Bay to provide Personal Support Worker (PSW) training in a living classroom environment at Cassellholme. Participants in the program will do their theoretical learning in a classroom at Cassellholme, then be able to apply those skills on the floor of the long-term care home, without having to wait for theory work to end before experiencing placement.

NNDSB hopes to help fill a growing demand for trained PSWs and to provide people 18 years of age and older with an exciting career path. NNDSB will work closely with community partners to establish a hands-on program, inclusive of placements, in partnered long-term care facilities.

A PSW looks after the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of someone who is not able to do so themselves, frequently in the elderly population. The main responsibilities of a PSW include ensuring the patient has healthy and nutritious meals, helping with daily tasks and working with an interdisciplinary team to ensure the best quality of care.

People who do not currently possess their Grade 12 are also eligible. This unique program allows NNDSB to support students in completing their OSSD in tandem with this program. If you are interested, you can request an educational assessment  by contacting Vice-Principal Sarah Spence at Laurentian Learning Centre, 705-472-5419.

NNDSB Director of Education Craig Myles has been instrumental in seeking out opportunities for the board to provide innovative programming. He stated, “Providing this type of opportunity is extremely important to the Near North community in that it serves adult students who need that leg up to a diploma and a rewarding career with many opportunities for growth. The program supports an emergent and vital need for the Near North region. We are proud to offer programs that support students and respond to a community need.”

Supported by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health, the student costs for this specialty program will be subsidized. Successful students of this program will become fully qualified as a PSW. The PSW program can be only the beginning of a journey into many healthcare opportunities. PSWs are employed in many care sectors such as homecare and assisted living and in varied long-term care facilities.

NNDSB’s partner in this program, Cassellholme, has engaged employees in continued opportunities to learn as they earn and seek certification as Registered Practical Nurses (RPN), Registered Nurses (RN) or Registered Nurse Practitioners (NP). “Cassellholme is always looking for ways to be a community partner. By working with NNDSB, we can help foster a new generation of healthcare professionals which may very well be someone’s first step to a rewarding career,” said Cassellholme Chair Chris Mayne.

NNDSB is in the process of hiring a qualified instructor who is a RN or a NP with experience working in this field. Excited to start, NNDSB is aiming for the new year to begin this program. Registration is planned for January with an expected start of February 2022.

Spaces are limited. Anyone interested should plan to attend one of the two following information sessions: Nov. 16 at 1 p.m. online or Nov. 18 at 6 p.m. online. (Teams meeting information is hyperlinked.)

Near North District School Board Chair Jay Aspin said, “This is another proud moment for Near North District School Board in supporting our community. This innovative new program aligns with the Board goals of excellence in innovation and excellence in building relationships. We are enthused to work in partnership with Cassellholme and Ontario Health on what looks like just the beginning of highly rewarding programming in the North.”

“This partnership is a good example of increasing the accessibility of PSW training and education – a focus area of the North East Ontario Regional PSW Workforce Steering Committee,” said Michel O’Connor, Ontario Health North Eastern Region. The committee has come together to identify and to socialize some of the challenges affecting the retention, the recruitment and the sustainability of the PSW workforce. “We hope that the success of this collaboration will be sustained in the future and that the area will benefit from the investment in health human resources required to deliver healthcare services,” he said.

NNDSB is seeking partnerships with local long-term care homes in all regions of the board to re-engage learners who are 18+ interested in training to become a PSW. Any long-term care homes interested in partnering should contact Liana Blaskievich, NNDSB’s Officer Corporate Affairs at 705-472-8170 ext. 5056 or liana.blaskievich@nearnorthschools.ca.

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Cutline information:

PSWs are often referred to as the backbone of healthcare. Here, a PSW is seen with a resident of Cassellholme.

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, Nov. 3, 2021

Northern Secondary School receives generous donation from Caisse Alliance

Northern Secondary School’s (NSS) new Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) program in mining and the classes in manufacturing and transportation will soon see some additional equipment that will enhance the student learning experience, thanks to the generosity of Caisse Alliance’s Sturgeon Falls branch.

Caisse Alliance proudly donated $10,000 to support the purchase of two welding machines and an ATV/UTV/motorcycle lift.

“I cannot thank Caisse Alliance enough for their generous donation. It is refreshing and important to have community involvement,” said Kevin Baker, NSS’ technical education teacher and SHSM lead. “When communities are interested in assisting schools to develop student experiences which reflect real-world opportunities, everybody wins. The tooling we will be adding to our manufacturing lab and transportation lab will enable our students to develop their skills on up-to-date, industry-standard equipment.”

SHSM programs help students to explore careers that are relevant to their community and as a future career path. These funds support this exploration in a meaningful way in this community.

Caisse Alliance’s regional manager, Marcy Lemieux noted, “Our Regional Co-operative Committee recently approved various projects in schools in the region who will each receive a $ 10,000 donation through our Caisse Alliance Fund. This fund was created to help finance projects that will have a long-term impact for as many members of our communities as possible. We are proud to be able to help Northern Secondary School with the purchase of welding equipment and equipment for their mechanics class which will have a positive impact on the development of the school and students.”

NNDSB’s Superintendent of Education Gay Smylie expressed her enthusiasm for the excellent work that Baker does for students.“This is absolutely remarkable! When schools work together with their communities the students come out on top. Kudos to Mr. Baker at Northern Secondary for once again creating opportunities for his students to have access to the latest resources and technology to solidly prepare them for their futures.”

“Building and maintaining relationships in the communities of our schools is an important component in the success of student learning,” said Craig Myles, NNDSB’s Director of Education. “One of the main pillars of our new multi-year strategic plan is excellence in relationships. I cannot stress enough the importance that communities play in the lives of our students. Thank you, Caisse Alliance, for your generosity in helping enhance student learning opportunities at NNDSB and a sincere thank you to Kevin Baker for your strong passion for bringing new opportunities to students.”

Near North District School Board and Northern Secondary School extends a huge thank you to Caisse Alliance for its support of student learning.

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Cutline information:
(Left to right) NSS teacher Kevin Baker, Caisse Alliance Regional Manager Marcy Lemieux and NSS principal Laurent Paquette hold a cheque in the school’s manufacturing lab.

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:
Josh Casey (he/him)
Communications Coordinator
Near North District School Board
P. (705) 472-8170, extension 5083
E. josh.casey@nearnorthschools.ca

Wednesday, October 20, 2021

Nipissing District School Boards announce protocol for spectators at outdoor events

The four local school boards, with the support of the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit, are pleased to announce a protocol that allows spectators at school-related outdoor events, including sports games. This protocol is effective immediately.

School boards are responsible for managing contact tracing and COVID-19 safety measures; therefore, personnel will be at school-related outdoor events to assist in verifying that spectators have completed pre-screening and contact information requirements before entering the venue.

To attend events, spectators at school events are required to:

• Pre-screen for COVID-19 using this screening tool prior to the event.
• Upon entry, all spectators must scan the displayed QR code to complete the attestation form. The form collects the spectator’s name and contact information for contact tracing purposes, and attests that the spectator has completed the COVID-19 pre-screening; it is not a vaccination attestation.
• Masking is required during the event.
• Physical distancing is requested, unless members of the same household are together.

The four co-terminus boards continue to work together, and with the Health Unit, to maximize student experience while managing the legislated requirements due to COVID-19.

Please note that provincial capacity limits for respective outdoor recreational venues will be maintained.

We thank you for your support and assistance as we work together to keep our school communities healthy and safe.

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For more information, please contact:
Jacqueline Levesque, Marketing & Communications Officer, CSC Franco-Nord, levesquj@franco-nord.ca
Guylaine Scherer, Director of Communications, CSP du Nord-Est de l’Ontario, guylaine.scherer@cspne.ca
Victoria Johnson, Executive Assistant to the Director of Education, Nipissing-Parry Sound CDSB, johnsonv@npsc.ca
Deb Bartlett, Communications Officer, Near North DSB, Deb.Bartlett@nearnorthschools.ca

 

Le mercredi 20 octobre 2021

Les conseils scolaires du district de Nipissing annoncent un protocole pour les spectateurs lors d’événements en plein air.

Les quatre conseils scolaires limitrophes, (Conseil scolaire catholique Franco-Nord, Conseil scolaire public du Nord-Est de l’Ontario, Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic District School Board et Near North District School Board), avec l’appui du Bureau de santé du district de North Bay-Parry Sound, ont le plaisir d’annoncer un protocole qui autorise les spectateurs à assister à des événements parascolaires extérieurs, y compris des matchs sportifs. Ce protocole entre en vigueur immédiatement.

Les conseils scolaires sont responsables de la gestion de la recherche des contacts et des mesures de sécurité COVID-19 ; par conséquent, du personnel sera présent lors des événements parascolaires qui se tiendront à l’extérieur pour aider à vérifier que les spectateurs ont rempli les exigences d’avoir complété leur autodépistage et de fournir leurs coordonnées avant d’entrer sur le site.

Pour assister aux événements scolaires, les spectateurs sont tenus de :

• Effectuer un dépistage préalable de la COVID-19 à l’aide de cet outil de dépistage avant l’événement.
• À l’entrée, tous les spectateurs doivent balayer le code QR affiché pour compléter le formulaire d’attestation. Le formulaire recueille le nom et les coordonnées du spectateur à des fins de recherche de contacts, et atteste que le spectateur a effectué l’autodépistage de la COVID-19 ; il ne s’agit pas d’une attestation de vaccination.
• Le port du masque est obligatoire pendant l’événement.
• La distanciation physique doit être maintenue, sauf si les membres d’un même foyer sont ensemble.

Les quatre conseils de la région continuent à travailler ensemble, avec l’appui du Bureau de santé, pour maximiser l’expérience des élèves tout en gérant les exigences légales liées à la COVID-19. Veuillez noter que les limites de capacité provinciales pour les sites récréatifs en plein air respectifs seront maintenues.

Nous vous remercions de votre soutien et de votre appui alors que nous travaillons ensemble pour garder nos communautés scolaires saines et sécuritaires.

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Pour de plus amples renseignements, veuillez communiquer auprès de :
Jacqueline Levesque, Agente du Marketing et des communications, CSC Franco-Nord, levesquj@franco-nord.ca
Guylaine Scherer, Directrice du service des communications, CSP du Nord-Est de l’Ontario, guylaine.scherer@cspne.ca
Victoria Johnson, Adjointe exécutive du directeur de l’éducation, Nipissing-Parry Sound CDSB, johnsonv@npsc.ca
Deb Bartlett, Agente des communications, Near North DSB, Deb.Bartlett@nearnorthschools.ca

 

Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021

Board Highlights for October Meeting

The following are the highlights of the Near North District School Board (NNDSB) meeting of Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021.

Elder Beaucage opens meeting with prayer

Elder Peter Beaucage, a retired Canadore College professor, was invited to open the Board meeting with a prayer. Elder Beaucage spoke in the Nipissing dialect of Anishinaabemowin, then interpreted his words.

He requested that the Great Spirit give participants in the meeting positive guidance to do their work in a positive way.

Zone 2 Trustee Gagne sworn in

Caren Gagne, appointed as the Zone 2 Trustee, was sworn in at the Oct. 12 meeting of the Board of Trustees.

Trustee Gagne, a resident of Zone 2, was a business owner for 40 years and has an extensive history of volunteerism in her community.

Province to provide menstrual product access

Last year, former Student Trustee Madelaine Paradis brought the issue of access to menstrual products to the Board. The initiative was part of a provincial campaign of the Ontario Student Trustee Association. The intent is to reduce “period poverty” which occurs when women cannot afford or lack access to menstrual products.

The initiative, which has been supported by school boards across Ontario, is also supported by all four of Ontario’s main teacher unions.

On Oct. 7, the provincial government announced a partnership with Shoppers Drug Mart to donate menstrual products to access in school washrooms to school boards across the province.

NNDSB Director of Education Craig Myles and Board Chair Jay Aspin complimented former Student Trustee Paradis and current Student Trustee Cecelia Darling on their work on this initiative.

Fricker tender awarded to local company

The Board accepted the recommendation of the Fricker Build Committee and awarded the tender for the new Fricker build to Venasse Building Group Inc. of North Bay. The group’s bid was $17,580,000.

Tenders were evaluated using the Broader Public Sector procurement guidelines.

The Board is excited for the consolidation of three schools that will enhance elementary education in this section of North Bay and ensure that students experience the modern features of a contemporary elementary school.

The school will accommodate students in Grades JK to 6, a four-room childcare centre and an EarlyON Child and Family Centre.

Summer program supports elementary students

Trustees received a report from the program team, under the leadership of Superintendent Melanie Gray, about the 2021 Summer Learning Program for students in Grades 1-8. The program was held virtually from July 5-23 with three hours of teacher-led instruction daily.

The programming is designed to help students acquire math and literacy knowledge and skills. This summer, programming was also designed to prepare intermediate students for success as they enter the secondary panel and the new de-streamed Grade 9 math curriculum.

The summer program had three camps whose staff was made up of teachers, educational assistants and child development counsellors.

Several community partners also contributed to student engagement, including Perry McLeod-Shabogesic who shared Indigenous stories, Science North which delivered online workshops and presentations, an NNDSB all-female innovator team, a Métis perspective on the innovation of fire building and staff from Canadore College who helped with several presentations and pre-recorded sessions.

The report adds that the summer learning program helps students’ learning trajectories while promoting positive parent-school relationships, professional development and leadership opportunities for all educators.

Partnership with C3P outlined

A report from Superintendent Gay Smylie outlined how a partnership with the Canadian Centre for Child Protection (C3P) is training educators about sex trafficking and helping to implement prevention strategies. The partnership is a result of the requirement that all Ontario school boards establish and follow a protocol for the response to suspected sex trafficking occurrences

Through C3P, staff will receive training to identify the signs of sex-trafficking, respond to disclosures, be responsive to diverse student populations and support the immediate physical and emotional safety needs of students. Staff will also learn how to avoid certain actions that could make an individual’s situation worse.

A 2.5-hour certificate level training called Commit to Kids: Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Training will empower all adults who work with children and youth to become protective adults. NNDSB will also be provided with guidance, resources and templates from C3P to support the creation of child protection policies.

Staff were given an overview of C3P resources as well as information about the government initiative. Superintendent Smylie’s report noted that because educators have daily contact with children, they are well poised to identify the cues and safely intervene if they suspect a student is involved in trafficking.

C3P will host a virtual parent information night Nov. 17 during Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week. There will also be publications available for parents.

The resources are made available through funding of the Ontario Provincial Strategy to Protect Children from Sexual Exploitation on the Internet and support from the Ontario Provincial Police.

NNDSB policy implementation lauded

Director of Education Myles addressed NNDSB’s successful implementation of a vaccination policy using a third-party app, ThriveHealth.

The app provider has recognized the board for developing a procedure that is one of the most effective across Canada. ThriveHealth has reached out to see if NNDSB would support the Government of the Northwest Territories by sharing the board’s approach.

Director Myles says the work demonstrates the board’s strategic commitment to excellence in innovation. He expressed his thanks to the human resources and information technology departments under the leadership of Superintendent of Business Seija Van Haesendonck for their work that has brought national recognition to the board.

Student Trustee reports full slate of activities

Cecilia Darling, NNDSB’s Student Trustee, reported that students are demonstrating their enthusiasm for the return of extra-curriculars. Band and drama clubs, as well as basketball, volleyball, cross-country, golf and soccer teams have drawn students to participate.

Secondary schools have held their elections, and the new student leaders are planning spirit weeks, Halloween events, and focusing on mental health and wellness.

The Student Senate has begun setting its goals for the year and are starting initiatives that address the interests and needs of students.

Student Trustee Darling also requested and received the support of the Board to attend the Ontario Student Trustee Association fall general meeting Nov. 4-7.

Board supports nomination of SBO to OSBIE

The Board approved the nomination of NNDSB Superintendent of Business Seija Van Haesendonck to the Ontario School Boards’ Insurance Exchange (OSBIE) Board of Directors, representing the Northeast Region.

During the committee-of-the-whole meeting (held just before the Board meeting), Director of Education Myles said the position with OSBIE “aligns with her portfolio and the work she does on a daily basis”. He added NNDSB would be “honoured to have a rep at that table” which would also align with the multi-year strategic plan’s pillars of Excellence in Relationships and Excellence in Communication.

Administrative Guidelines open for consultation

Last month the Board approved that NNDSB administrative guidelines could proceed to public consultation once reviewed by Executive Council. In order to keep Trustees apprised of which guidelines are open for consultation, it was requested that the guidelines that are available for stakeholder input be listed in the agenda as a standing item.

There are currently five administrative guidelines that are open for consultation. They can be found on this page of the board’s website (in the first text box).

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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.

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 (she/her)
Communications Officer
Near North District School Board
P. (705) 472-8170 ext. 5010
E. Deb.Bartlett@nearnorthschools.ca