Friday, Oct. 3, 2025

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The monthly Letter to Families, distributed on the first Friday of the month, is intended to keep you apprised of news that affects all students and families of Near North District School Board (NNDSB).

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The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) is offering two webinars for parents and guardians this month.

In this first live webinar, EQAO will present the results of the 2024-25 primary (Grade 3) and junior (Grade 6) assessments of reading, writing and mathematics. Participants will also learn about the latest research and resources available on eqao.com. The session is approximately 45 minutes, followed by a live Q&A with EQAO staff.

The webinar takes place on Tuesday, Oct. 7, at 6 p.m. Here is the link to register.In this second live webinar, EQAO will present the results of the 2024-25 Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) and the Grade 9 assessment of mathematics. Participants will also learn about the latest research and resources available on eqao.com. The session is approximately 45 minutes, followed by a live Q&A with EQAO staff.

The webinar takes place on Tuesday, Oct. 14, at 6 p.m. Here is the link to register.

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NNDSB invites families to participate in the 2025 Fall Multi-Year Strategic Plan (MYSP) survey. This survey will help measure the progress and implementation status of the 2021–2026 MYSP, which was developed through extensive consultation with stakeholders and launched in September 2021.

The MYSP focuses on four key pillars: Excellence in Teaching and Learning, Excellence in Innovation, Excellence in Relationships and Excellence in Communication.

The MYSP committee has created metrics aligned with these pillars to assess how well the plan is being realized. The MYSP survey continues the board’s commitment to inclusive engagement and will provide valuable benchmarks to guide future decisions.

We encourage all families to share their feedback and help NNDSB stay informed and responsive to community perspectives. The survey is available on the board’s website and will remain open until Dec. 31, 2025.

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October is Cyber Awareness Month, and school boards across Ontario are working with the Educational Collaborative Network of Ontario (ECNO) to provide resources for all age groups to help students and their families navigate the digital world safely.

NNDSB urges all families to visit the Cyber Awareness Month website. Resources are available for educators and are also suitable for sharing at home, divided into categories for students in Grades K-8 and Grades 9-12.

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NNDSB has forged a new partnership with Operation Lifesaver, with a goal of education about the hazards surrounding rail property and trains.

With consideration of the pending return of Ontario Northland passenger rail service through this area, NNDSB brought presentations to schools for Rail Safety Week.

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Nominations have opened for the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA) annual awards, with nomination packages due Nov. 17 at 11:59 p.m. Members of the public are welcome to submit nominations.

Categories include Outstanding Service Award (School Board Staff and Volunteers), Student Achievement Pathways Awards (Student), Alumni Award (Trustee), Good Governance Award (Board of Trustees) and Emerging Leader Award (Trustee).

Details about each of the categories and instructions for nominating can be found here on the OPSBA website.

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Schools will be sending home forms for families, including a permission form that deals with Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL). If parents and guardians do not agree to receive electronic messages, neither the school nor the board will be able to communicate electronically.

If you want to ensure that you receive messaging from the school and board, complete this consent form and send it to your child’s school.

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The Ministry of Education has a new webpage that shows students how their volunteer hours can help them build their future.

Secondary school students need to volunteer at least 40 hours to graduate. A new Minister’s Certificate of Recognition for Community Involvement recognizes students who go above and beyond in their community hours. There is a bronze certificate for 50 to 99 volunteer hours, a silver certificate for 100 to 199 volunteer hours and a gold certificate for 200 or more volunteer hours.

The webpage also shows students how highlighting volunteer experience on a resumé shows the skills that you have gained, and can also help with post-secondary applications.

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The next meeting of the Board will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 14, at 6:30 p.m. The meeting is open to the public, and you are welcome to attend in person or join via Zoom. The meeting ID is 899 1167 8742 and the passcode is 859936. To attend by phone, dial in 1-855-703-8985.

Information about the Board, committees and their meetings can be found here.

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In addition to staying informed via the board’s website, families can find NNDSB on Facebook and Instagram.

 

Sincerely,

Near North District School Board

Thursday, June 26, 2025

Dear Students, Parents and Caregivers,

As we wrap up this 2024-2025 school year, I want to take the time to express my gratitude to our students and their families for their efforts this year.

We hope that all children have enjoyed a rewarding, fulfilling and successful experience this past year within Near North District School Board (NNDSB) and that they have a safe and happy summer. Your support of your children is critical to their success, and the team at NNDSB is grateful for your involvement.

Congratulations to all students who have completed milestones this past year. Your dedication to your goals will help you in all endeavours, now and into the future. Congratulations to NNDSB students who are graduating and moving on to work, post-secondary school or wherever your plans take you. I am confident that your education at NNDSB has prepared you for the steps you are about to take. Albert Einstein said, “The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.” Your curiosity has brought you here. Remember to stay curious and keep learning. Curiosity drives success.

To all our students and their families, I wish you a wonderful summer break, full of relaxation and time spent doing things you love. Stay safe, stay healthy, and I look forward to welcoming students back to class on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025.

Sincerely,

Craig Myles,

Director of Education

Thursday, June 19, 2025

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Minister of Education Paul Calandra has provided a letter to students and families as the 2024-2025 school year comes to a close. The Minister’s end-of-year video message is available on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.

The Honourable Edith Dumont, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, has also provided a letter of congratulations to the graduates of 2025 and a message via this video link.

Sincerely,

Near North District School Board

Friday, June 6, 2025

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The monthly Letter to Families is intended to keep you apprised of news that affects all students and families of Near North District School Board (NNDSB) and is distributed on the first Friday of the month.

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Monday, June 9 is a PA Day. Enjoy the long weekend, and we’ll see students back in class on Tuesday, June 10.

Here is a link to the PA day schedule for educators on Monday.

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Keep math learning going all summer!

Find engaging summer math ideas, including hands-on practice, easy games, online links, and more on the NNDSB  “Mathematics for Families” webpage. These activities will keep kids engaged and excited about math while exploring some key math concepts and building math fluency in creative ways.

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The first day of kindergarten is an exciting time, but it can also be a little nerve-wracking for students and families alike.

To help ease families into the transition, the Ministry of Education has prepared some new story and activity books. These are fun, engaging tools to help children get familiar with what to expect and build excitement for the big day.

Heartwarming stories that gently walk children through what to expect at school – making friends, meeting teachers and exploring their classroom. These books are available in PDF and ePub formats.

Additionally, the Ministry has created an interactive activity book, a playful resource filled with colouring, drawing and reflection activities that encourage young learners to talk about their feelings, routines and hopes for kindergarten. This activity book is available in PDF for easy printing. You can find these new resources on this webpage.

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MLI Homestay is looking for friendly host families to welcome secondary school students from Europe and Asia. Share your culture, create lasting memories, and enjoy a global experience, right from home.

Host families are expected to provide three meals a day, a private bedroom (with a bed, desk, window and door) and a warm and inclusive home environment.

Hosts receive a stipend to help with costs. Families of all types are welcome! For more information, contact Kayla at 587-222-7172 or kknight@Mlihomestay.com.

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This will be the last monthly letter to families for the 2024-2025 school year. NNDSB wishes you and your family a safe and happy summer, and we will welcome students back to class on Tuesday, Sept. 2 for the 2025-2026 school year.

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The next meeting of the Board will be held Tuesday, June 10 at 6:30 p.m. The meeting is open to the public, and you are welcome to attend in person or join via Zoom. The link and login information can be found at the top of the Board and committee meetings page.

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In addition to staying informed via the board’s website, families can find NNDSB on Facebook and Instagram.

Sincerely,

Near North District School Board

Friday, May 2, 2025

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The monthly Letter to Families is intended to keep you apprised of news that affects all students and families of Near North District School Board (NNDSB) and is distributed on the first Friday of the month.

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Monday, May 5 marks the start of Education Week, which runs until May 9.

This week celebrates the contributions of students, parents and education workers, and is a great opportunity to celebrate all the initiatives taking place throughout NNDSB and to acknowledge accomplishments made this school year.

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Between May 7 and June 11, Grade 3 and 6 students will take part in the provincial assessment of reading, writing and mathematics, primary division (Grades 1–3) or junior division (Grades 4–6). These assessments, developed by Ontario teachers and assessment experts, are administered to all Grade 3 and Grade 6 students in Ontario’s publicly funded school system by the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO).

Each assessment includes a language and mathematics component, along with a voluntary student questionnaire. During the assessment, students will complete four language sessions and four mathematics stages that each take approximately 30 minutes to complete. Each session or stage will be completed in one continuous sitting, and the sessions and stages may be administered throughout the administration dates. Students will have the opportunity to become familiar with the types of questions on the assessment and its platform through EQAO’s online sample test.

The EQAO assessment questions are directly based on the expectations set out in the Ontario curriculum for reading, writing and mathematics, which are what teachers teach in the classroom every day. Therefore, your child does not need to prepare in any special way. For more information, please reach out to your child’s teacher or go to the EQAO website.

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This is a reminder of the five-part webinar series for parents and caregivers focused on substance abuse, addictive behaviours and youth mental health. The series is presented by School Mental Health Ontario (SMHO).

One webinar was held last month. The remaining sessions include:

• recognizing signs of substance use and addictive behaviours (English language session May 7 from 7 to 8 p.m., French language session May 13 from noon to 1 p.m.);
• how to talk about substance use at home (English language session May 14 from noon to 1 p.m., French language session May 21 from noon to 1 p.m.);
• current trends in student substance use in Ontario and what parents/caregivers need to know (May 22 from noon to 1 p.m., English language session with simultaneous French translation);
• technology overuse and problematic gaming (June 4 from noon to 1 p.m., English language session with simultaneous French translation).

Parents and caregivers can register here for the sessions.

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The Ministry of Education has approved the NNDSB 2025-2026 school year calendar. Here is a link to download the calendar from the board’s website.

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The next meeting of the Board will be held Tuesday, May 13 at 6:30 p.m. The meeting is open to the public, and you are welcome to attend in person or join via Zoom. The link and login information can be found at the top of the Board and committee meetings page.

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In addition to staying informed via the board’s website, families can find NNDSB on Facebook and Instagram.

Sincerely,

Near North District School Board