Friday, June 20, 2025

Women in welding event sparks passion in Northern Secondary students

Northern Secondary School technology teacher Kevin Baker has been trying to organize an experiential learning activity for female students interested in the trades for years. Specifically, Baker was looking for an “activity or event with a welding focus where a woman in the trade would share their knowledge and experience with students.”

Just such an opportunity presented itself during an impromptu visit to Motion Industries Canada, a community partner in North Bay, where he met welder-fitter Caitlin Hickey.

“I asked Caitlin if she would be interested in coming into our school and working with our students. Not only did she say yes, but she was quite excited about the idea. The project just took off from there,” says Baker. “Motion Canada was also excited by the idea, as they like to help students grow through co-op placements and other activities. They granted Caitlin the time off with full pay for the day to come join us.”

Hickey herself didn’t discover welding until after secondary school, where she predominantly focused on arts classes. After studying aircraft structures in college, she discovered her love for working with metals while helping build the Bombardier CL-415 water bombers, where she was the first and only woman to work on the floor. She then decided to expand her love of metalwork and go back to college for the welder-fitter program.

Now working with Motion Industries, Hickey says that “they have continuously encouraged growth through equal opportunity and training” and would “love to see more workplaces like this, the men and management here, so encouraging to all the women entering into the trades.”

Hickey says she was excited to visit Northern because of her “love of welding and love of encouraging youth, especially women, towards working in the trades.”

Hickey spent the day working with the exclusively female class, helping them improve their welding and layout skills as well as talking about her experiences as a woman in the trades.

“We have our own challenges working in the trades, as women represent only about three per cent of the workforce,” says Hickey. “We’ve actually come a long way, and I think it’s really great seeing their enthusiasm. Women do well at welding with our attention to detail and patience.”

With Hickey’s guidance, students built pet food bowl holders out of steel.

“Caitlin shared her knowledge of welding techniques and ran the women through the process of developing such a product. The students made drawings, fit and prepped materials, then welded the units up utilizing the skills they had developed,” says Baker. “All of the students involved were able to keep the project and take it home when completed,” he adds.

Northern student Hailey says she is very interested in pursuing a career in welding and was inspired by Hickey’s story.

“I know it’s going to be hard and people say it’s a ‘man’s job’ but I want to defeat that. I think it should be regular for women to work in the trades,” says Hailey.

Hickey’s example makes Hailey “feel like [she] has a shot and working in the trades.” She would encourage any girl or young woman to “give the trades a shot.”

Hickey impressed upon the students that “it’s your work that pays off, if you’re passionate about what you do, your work will prove itself.”

“I don’t hide that I am a very feminine woman, but I still do this work as well. So, you don’t have to hide who you really are just because you’re in the trades. You can still do the job just as well or better than men”, says Hickey.

Baker thanks Caitlin Hickey for her essential contribution to his students’ learning and Motion Industries Canada for facilitating the event. He also acknowledges Northern Secondary School’s community welding partners, OCW Metal Works Inc. and A to Z Welding for sharing their knowledge, services and support for co-op students through the years.

“These opportunities are priceless for students. It’s not every day that they can work alongside licensed tradespeople and ask questions,” says Baker. “Having a female tradesperson work with them in a comfortable setting makes the learning experience that much more valuable.”

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Thursday, June 19, 2025

Near North math team members honoured

Two educators from the Near North District School Board have been recognized for their outstanding contributions to math education. Gail Dégagné and Laurie Clayton won the Ontario Mathematics Coordinators Association (OMCA) Award for Excellence and Innovation in Mathematics Education.

Collectively, Dégagné and Clayton have contributed immensely to the development of central key resources, which play an instrumental role in unifying how teachers approach mathematics planning and teaching across the board.

NNDSB Assistant Superintendent Kim Pauli says she is very proud of Dégagné and Clayton for their outstanding contributions to math education across the province.

“The resources, professional learning opportunities, and experiences they have provided both in and out of the classroom have had a huge impact on student achievement and mindset in mathematics,” says Pauli.

Pauli goes on to say that in her role as special education math lead, “Gail has been a huge advocate for students with barriers to learning math. She has supported educators to find ways all students can learn grade-level material in a way that is accessible and meaningful.”

Dégagné says the math team has re-examined special education processes, particularly as they relate to mathematics.

“This collaborative effort led to the development of a more robust, tiered mathematics strategy designed to better meet student needs, boost engagement, and ultimately foster student success,” says Dégagné. She adds that staff worked to understand learners, ensuring that every intervention and support was both relevant and responsive.

Learning strategies included small group interventions both inside and outside the classroom, grounded in sound pedagogy and effective resources.

“Receiving this award is not just a personal honour, it’s a celebration of the collective effort, passion, and commitment of everyone who joined in this mission to create positive change for our students,” says Dégagné. She adds this recognition is the perfect way to close this chapter as she heads into retirement next year.

Pauli says that Clayton, in her role as central math facilitator, “has been instrumental in developing tools and assessments to ensure students are on track with their learning outcomes. Working alongside teacher colleagues, Laurie has shared ‘best practices’ and high impact teaching strategies to support a more responsive and deliberate approach to math instruction.”

Clayton says in working with the NNDSB math team for two years, she knows educators are “committed to meeting the diverse learning needs of their students, and they’re looking for practical, sustainable strategies to do so.”

The team has implemented strategies to support educators. The addition of resources like Knowledgehook and MathUp has “created a common language for instruction, enabled focused professional development, and encouraged collegial dialogue,” she says.

Clayton notes that she’s witnessed a noticeable increase in student engagement, a reduction in behavioural challenges during math lessons and improved student achievement. Equally important, teachers are feeling more confident in their ability to use the tools and strategies to move each learner forward.

“This work matters because every student deserves to feel successful in math,” says Clayton.

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Wednesday, June 18, 2025

Sunset Park’s Mighty Gardeners project grows well-being through community, creativity, and care

At Sunset Park Public School, a small classroom initiative has grown into a vibrant, school-wide movement that connects student well-being, environmental stewardship, and community partnership in powerful, lasting ways. This inspiring transformation is embodied in the school’s Mighty Gardeners project, which highlights how creativity and community can nurture both young minds and the environment.

Last year, educators Jessica Blais and Deanna Riching launched a classroom project focused on community partnerships. During this project, Warren Lindsay from C.G.B. North Bay visited and offered a tree donation. In a light-hearted moment, Blais and Riching jokingly suggested a full garden makeover, and to everyone’s surprise, the idea blossomed. That spontaneous moment sparked what would become a school-wide transformation.

The vision expanded further in the fall as Sunset Park engaged in the work of The Third Path, a student well-being framework developed by Dr. David Tranter. Tranter’s eight conditions of well-being, safety, regulation, belonging, positivity, engagement, identity, mastery, and meaning became the foundation for a new school-wide initiative. Blais and Riching created The Mighty Gardeners to bring those eight conditions to life. In this program, each condition is transformed into a “superpower,” embodied by a unique superhero character. These playful, empowering characters help students connect deeply with important concepts like safety, belonging, regulation, and more.

To make these ideas accessible to children of all ages, Blais and Riching use creative storytelling and visual imagery. Each condition has been translated into simple, relatable language and brought to life in ways that engage and inspire students. This imaginative approach has created a common language of well-being throughout the school, sparking joy, excitement, and a strong sense of connection among students and staff alike.

At the heart of the project is the school-wide Peace Snake, a vibrant pathway of student-painted rocks winding through two large garden spaces. Students from Kindergarten through Grade 6 were placed in one of eight cross-grade “superpower” teams. Together, they have painted their rocks in colours representing their team’s well-being theme, cleared and prepared the garden beds, and helped plant all of the new plants and flowers.

The flowers and plants all came from Laporte’s Nursery, Sunset Park’s official nursery partner. Their support and generous donations, which included several beautiful flower baskets, have brought colour, beauty, and life to every corner of the garden.

The project’s success would not have been possible without the dedication and support of community members. Shawn Blais, owner and operator of Blais & Sons Electric, has spent countless hours helping construct the Peace Snake and assisting with planting throughout the garden. His hands-on commitment and generous support have been vital to bringing this vision to life.

The Mighty Gardeners initiative has also been entered into the national Communities in Bloom competition and will serve as an official site for the City of North Bay’s Centennial celebrations.

This initiative is already opening doors to rich cross-curricular learning in science, literacy, art, environmental studies, and social-emotional development. As a living classroom, the garden will provide meaningful, hands-on experiences that foster connection, responsibility, and creativity in students for years to come.

An official opening ceremony will take place on Monday, June 23 at 3:30 p.m. at Sunset Park Public School. The school looks forward to welcoming Mayor Peter Chirico, community partners who made the project possible, and all members of the public who would like to come celebrate and explore this inspiring new space.

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Friday, June 13, 2025

The following are the highlights of the Near North District School Board (NNDSB) meeting of Tuesday, June 10, 2025.

Guideline regarding volunteers being updated

The Board agenda included a report that addresses revising the administrative guideline that addresses volunteers at NNDSB. The current guideline needed review to mitigate potential risks and ensure information is current and accurate.

Proposed changes include an annual offence declaration process for volunteers, streamlined data collection processes, a fulsome screening process, consistent practices and revised training procedures.

The draft revised guideline will now undergo a 30-day consultation process.

Director thanks staff for student success

In his written report to the Board, Director of Education Craig Myles noted that as the school year comes to a close, the focus is on student success, graduations, staff retirements, 25-year employee milestone recognition and summer learning. Myles thanked staff who continue to go above and beyond to contribute to student success and school experiences.

Myles also thanked NNDSB students for their hard work all year and wished them all a safe and happy summer break.

The Director’s report acknowledged Indigenous Peoples Day on Saturday, June 21. The day will be honoured in schools on Thursday, June 19 and Friday, June 20 with resources provided by the Indigenous Education Team.

Schools and staff were also mentioned in the report. Chippewa Secondary School teachers Jamie Carruthers and Craig Nodwell were acknowledged; Carruthers spearheaded a fundraising concert for stage/theatre equipment for the school, and Nodwell was recognized by Village Media with a BayToday Community Builder Award for Education. The West Ferris Parade for Cancer took place May 27, with $51,000 raised for the North Bay Regional Health Centre. Vincent Massey Public School was gifted with nine trees by Clean, Green, Beautiful North Bay for the lower school yard. Alliance French Immersion Public School achieved gold Healthy Schools Certification for the 2024-2025 school year, for participating in a range of impactful initiatives that promoted well-being, leadership and inclusivity. 

Indigenous Student Trustee’s report

Indigenous Student Trustee Riley Trudeau reported that last month, students participated in a land-based learning workshop at Nbisiing Secondary School, which included teachings, powwow dancing, trapping, maple syrup making and hide scraping.

NNDSB students have been hosting their school powwows – celebrations of laughter, dance, language and culture.

The Indigenous Youth Circle (IYC) held its retreat at Nipissing University on June 5 and 6. The retreat provides a space for students to participate in cultural activities, and gives students from different schools the chance to connect after a year of hard work.

Trudeau said IYC has been the highlight of many students’ secondary school experiences, and expressed how proud she is of these students who continue to inspire. She also thanked NNDSB’s Indigenous Education Team for their support of the students and IYC.

Student Trustee’s report

Student Trustee Nanak Sidhu reported that several spirit weeks, community events, advocacy and fundraising activities and competitions have been held across the district.

He noted the West Ferris Secondary School event that raised $51,000 to support cancer research and patient programs at North Bay Regional Health Centre.

In sports, three Almaguin athletes advance to OFSAA in track and field, and Chippewa’s mixed doubles tennis pair earned NOSSA gold.

West Ferris student Jiya Savsani earned a bronze medal at the Canada-Wide Science Fair.

Sidhu reported that the Student Senate held its last meeting of the year, at which they brainstormed advocacy priorities and improvement ideas. He and the incoming student trustee will collaborate on a plan to ensure an impactful term.

The final Ontario Student Trustees’ Association (OSTA) leadership team meeting is scheduled for July. The session will focus on the incoming team for success, including sharing knowledge, advocacy tools and strategies to keep OSTA strong.

As this was Sidhu’s last Board meeting, he thanked staff and the Board for his experience as a student trustee for NNDSB.

Board approves updated Special Education Plan

Trustees approved the updated Special Education Plan 2025-2026 as presented to the Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC).

Changes noted in the plan include those related to roles and responsibilities, revised language/definitions from the Ministry of Education and revised descriptions of special education placement options.

Also added to the plan was additional, focused professional development for several categories of staff.

SEAC had presentations on several topics throughout the year, including the student achievement plan, the central behaviour team, math interventions and programming for special education students, RISE by LearnStyle and emotion coaching.

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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.

Monday, May 12, 2025

Hockey great Ted Nolan shares message of perseverance and respect with NNDSB students

Hockey legend Ted Nolan visited a large group of NNDSB students at West Ferris Secondary School auditorium to share stories from his book Life in Two Worlds: A Coach’s Journey from the Reserve to the NHL and Back and his message of hard work, perseverance, and respect.

Nolan was the third youngest of 12 children in Garden River First Nation near Sault Ste. Marie and lived in a house without plumbing or electricity. From those humble beginnings, he went on to play in the NHL for the Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings. After a back injury ended his playing career at the age of 26, he coached the Buffalo Sabres, New York Islanders and Latvian national team. He also established the Ted Nolan Foundation, which provides scholarships to First Nation women across Canada and the 3NOLANS First Nation Hockey School with his sons Brandon and Jordan.

NNDSB students in the Grade 11 English Understanding Contemporary First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Voices classes (NBE) studied Nolan’s book as part of the curriculum, and his visit was made possible as part of a collaboration between NNDSB, the Kinoomaadziwin Education Body (KEB) and Dokis First Nation.

Students from across the board attended the presentation both in person and virtually which included the Indigenous Youth Circle, NDE students from all Near North secondary schools, Nbisiing Secondary School students, Oshki Shkode students from Parry Sound High School, 7 Stones Learning Centre students and staff as well as Near North Sports students from West Ferris.

Nolan spoke to the assembled students about his life growing up in Garden River, his sports career and the challenges he faced as an Indigenous person. Afterward, he spent time answering students’ questions, taking photos and have one-on-one conversations.

Woven throughout his talk was a message of hard work and perseverance.

“The only thing we could control growing up was to work with what we had. We didn’t have too much but that didn’t make us give up. I kept that mentality my whole life. I didn’t have the best skates, I didn’t play in the best leagues but that didn’t stop me from being the best I could be,” Nolan said.

When asked why he devotes his time to speaking to and inspiring youth, Nolan said that there weren’t too many people in his community growing up that were giving a message of hope and he resolved to change that from an early age.

“I thought I would share my story with kids coming up behind me. Not how to be a professional athlete, just be a good human being, a good citizen. I recognized that from the beginning,” Nolan said. “I saw a lot of elders in our community who were a little down and out, maybe had a bad hand dealt to them, and things just didn’t work out. I wanted to find out why and how to overcome and get through some of the obstacles. It’s just passing out your knowledge to the next generation, so they become stronger and better.”

Almaguin Highlands Secondary School NBE teacher Courtney Berger said that Nolan’s book was a great tool for her students to connect to the broader themes of the class.

“Ted Nolan’s book was the entry point for this group of students. Ted’s perspective as an athlete written as a memoir, made the teachings accessible. It paired the students love for hockey while addressing some very important issues surrounding racism and discrimination in the world of professional sports, and well beyond,” Berger said. “His honest and authentic writing detailing his journey from the Sault Ste. Marie area to the NHL, and back, helped the students engage with the course in a meaningful way.”

Hayley, one of Berger’s NBE students, said Nolan “showed real emotion when sharing his experiences. I liked his messaging about the importance of hard work. He seems like the kind of coach who really cares about the well-being of his players.”

Northern Secondary teacher Nathan MacLean hopes Nolan’s visit will inspire his students.

“I hope that students will have a chance to recognize that no matter their circumstances, if they are true to themselves, trust those who are willing to help them and support them, that they can achieve success, whatever that may look like for them,” MacLean said.

“Class discussion is a big part of my group and brings about many great ideas and questions, so naturally we will discuss what we were able to learn from Mr. Nolan’s keynote. This will include both new learning, clarifications from his book as well the value of engaging in a live presentation from an author,” Maclean said.

The message that Nolan hopes students receive from his visit is a simple one:

“That we are all special human beings, whether your skin is brown or black or white it doesn’t really matter. It’s the spirit inside, we should all be treated with respect,” Nolan said. “Growing up as a First Nation person on reserve, I didn’t think I was any better than anyone else, but I didn’t think anyone outside the reserve was any better either. I think we are all God’s children, and we all deserve respect.”

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Monday, May 12, 2025

West Ferris Secondary School revving up for 2nd annual car show

West Ferris Secondary School is excited to announce that it will be hosting the West Ferris Car Show on May 31, 2025.

The primary goal of this fundraising car show is to acquire new tools and equipment for the school’s technology classes while actively engaging students in a hands-on learning experience. This event not only provides financial support but also fosters a sense of community and education among participants.

West Ferris student volunteers will take on the important role of judging the vehicles, utilizing criteria they have developed in class. This process allows them to apply their skills in a real-world setting. Additionally, they will have the opportunity to interact with car owners, enhancing their people skills while learning valuable information about vehicle maintenance and care.

Beyond the car judging, the dedicated student volunteers will oversee various engaging activities, including registration, a BBQ, a penny sale, a thrilling Hot Wheels race, face painting, and even pampering from the esthetics class offering nail painting and hand massages.

This year, there will be three incredible items in the silent auction: a beautifully crafted six-seater picnic table made by West Ferris construction students; and two stunning hand-made car-themed quilts generously donated by Melissa Steward.

The West Ferris Car Show will award 30 unique trophies, crafted by students from both the construction and manufacturing classes, celebrating the outstanding vehicles on display.

The goal of the West Ferris car show is to engage and inspire students while creating a successful community event that brings everyone together. At last year’s event, there was an impressive turnout with 197 registered cars, and optimism is high for an even larger crowd this year.

Attendance is free of charge, but donations to the North Bay Food Bank will be accepted. The rain date for the West Ferris Car Show is Saturday, June 7. Check the West Ferris Secondary School Car Show Facebook page for details.

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