Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We wanted to share an important update about a cyber incident experienced by Near North District School Board (NNDSB) involving PowerSchool – the application used by NNDSB and many school boards across North America to store a range of student information and a limited amount of staff information.

On Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, PowerSchool notified the board and other school boards in Ontario and across North America that they had experienced a data breach between Dec. 22-28, 2024.

Our cybersecurity team promptly activated our response plan, taking immediate steps to ensure that our critical systems remain operational.

Working with PowerSchool, we are conducting a thorough investigation to understand the nature of the incident and what personal information may have been affected. At this point in time, we are still assessing the exact information that may have been accessed or exported from the application. PowerSchool has informed us that it has received confirmation that the data accessed by an unauthorized user has been deleted and that no copies of this data were posted online.

When we determine what personal information has been impacted, we will let you know as soon as possible. In the meantime, we have proactively notified the Ontario Information and Privacy Commissioner of this incident.

We know this news may be concerning, but please know that we are doing everything possible to learn more from PowerSchool about what occurred and will share that information with you.

Many of you will have questions as a result of this news, but given the ongoing investigation into what occurred, we do not yet have more information to share at this time.

We will continue to update the community as more information becomes available.

Sincerely,

Near North District School Board

 

Friday, Oct. 4, 2024

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.

Students in Grades 7-12 and their families are invited to Level Up! at a skilled trades career fair presented by Skilled Trades Ontario. The fairs are taking place across the province, with one being held at Nipissing University, 100 College Dr., North Bay on Wednesday, Oct. 16.

The event runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., with an evening open house from 3 to 7:30 p.m. Local Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP-PAJO) recruiters are also hosting OYAP-PAJO breakout information sessions at the event.

Many NNDSB schools will be sending students to learn more about the skilled trades, and families are welcome to attend, too. This is a great opportunity to explore the potential for a career in the skilled trades.

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The NNDSB Parent Involvement Committee (PIC), alongside the NNDSB math team, is sponsoring a virtual presentation called Supporting Your Children in Learning Math (Grades 1 to 8) with Educational Leader Dr. Marian Small.

The presentation will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 6 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Dr. Marian Small is the author of many Ontario and Canadian classroom math resources, and is an expert on student learning in mathematics. In her very clear and approachable manner, Dr. Small will address how and why math teaching has changed in the last 20 years and how parents/caregivers can best support their children to build their math confidence and math success.

To register for this event, please click here.

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The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) has released the board- and school-level results of the testing done in the 2023-2024 school year. These results are the Grades 3 and 6 assessments of reading, writing and mathematics, the Grade 9 mathematics, and the Grade 10 Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT).

Schools are required to share this information, so families can expect to get individual results for students who wrote the tests last year. Please note that only students who fully participated in the assessments of reading, writing and mathematics (primary and junior divisions) will receive individual results.

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NNDSB supports its students all year long!

The board was able to provide summer learning supports for students with special education needs and offered them in coordination with NNDSB’s program team. Seven virtual summer assistive technology learning camps were offered during the summer of 2024, including assistive technology and literacy, studying and test taking skills, high school transitions and social coding and robotics.

As well, August transition supports were offered to NNDSB students with special education needs during the last two weeks of the month prior to the start of school. Transition visits were planned and coordinated wherein individual students and groups of students were welcomed into our elementary and secondary schools. Staff provided school tours and program overviews. They joined together for both formal and informal transition meetings to support and facilitate successful entry to school for students with special education needs/considerations.

Staffing supports included school administrators, teachers, early childhood educators, educational assistants and support staff. At each participating school, individual school program offerings were determined, and transition activities were planned in response to individual student needs.

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The next meeting of the Board will be held Tuesday, Oct. 8 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.

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

Monday, Sept. 30, 2024

To Near North District School Board families, staff, and community partners,

Today is National Truth and Reconciliation Day – recognized across the country as a day on which Canadians pause, acknowledge and reflect upon the truths of the history of settlement. European-based history, while praising the efforts of the settlers that came to this land, overlooked the incalculable toll that settlement took on the Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island.

Among the injustices done to Indigenous Peoples was the implementation of the residential school system, which took children from their homes to attend schools far from home. Thousands of those children never returned, and tens of thousands more were never the same. The generational trauma caused by residential schools continues to this day.

We wear orange today in honour of the survivors and lost children, and to bring further awareness to the history and legacies of the residential school system.

The Honourable Justice Murray Sinclair, who chaired the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, stated that “Education got us into this mess and education will get us out of it.”

Near North District School Board is committed to ensuring that the board, its schools, and staff are actively engaged in responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action, specifically 62 and 63.

We are grateful for the partnerships of First Nations and community organizations that support Indigenous Peoples. Mino Bimaadiziwin – the concept of living a good life, and/or having a good mind – is central to the work that settler Canadians must continue. Together, we will continue to move forward in a good way.

The board supports all students, staff, and community members in learning about the truth and devastating legacy caused by residential schools. We wear our orange shirts to show our commitment to reconciliation and trust that our schools will provide education that is relevant and meaningful to their communities.

Sincerely,

Ashley St. Pierre
Chair of the Board

Craig Myles
Director of Education

Friday, May 3, 2024

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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Today is the deadline to apply for NNDSB’s skilled trade bursary program. This program provides a $1,000 bursary to students who wish to pursue a post-secondary skilled trades pathway.

This bursary is open to candidates enrolled at an NNDSB secondary school, who are currently in Grades 11 or 12.

Click here for more information, selection criteria and to apply.

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If your family is moving over the summer months, you may be in a different school zone. Check your school zone here.

If you will be moving into a different school zone, we recommend contacting the new school in May to register your child for September. If bus transportation is required, make sure to also complete a transportation form, available from the school.

If you are moving over the summer but remaining in the same school zone, let your school know your new home address as soon as possible.  You will need to provide proof of address (new address) to confirm school zone eligibility. You may also need to complete a new transportation form, also available from your school.

Advising your school of an address or school change prior to the end of this school year helps ensure that your child has bus transportation in place for the first day of school.

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The school climate survey, which is mandated to take place every two years, is open until May 17.

The links to each of the surveys can be found here. There are surveys for students in Grades 4-6, Grades 7-8, and Grades 9-12, and a separate survey for parents and guardians.

The survey is anonymous, and the information gathered will be used at the school and district level to set goals and measure progress towards creating accepting, safe, and inclusive learning environments.

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Virtual school update: Course selections for secondary remote learning have taken place. Students will be attached to home schools and students will have a variety of in-person and online courses.

Elementary students not currently enrolled in elementary virtual learning and looking to attend virtually must contact virtualschool@nearnorthschools.ca by June 7 to be considered for virtual learning.

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The Ministry of Education released the province’s education budget last week. The new funding model identifies key funding pillars which support students.

The Ministry has created a two-page document to provide families with an overview of how Ontario funds schools.

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The next meeting of the Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) will be held Thursday, May 23 from 1-3 p.m.

Here is the link to join the Zoom Meeting. The meeting ID: 837 4122 7806 and the passcode is 601612.

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The next meeting of the Board will be Tuesday, May 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. Here is the link to the meeting. The meeting ID is 899 1167 8742; the passcode is 859936 and the number for dial in is 1-855-703-8985.

If attending in person, please confirm attendance by contacting Maureen Egan at 705-472-8170 ext. 5028 or maureen.egan@nearnorthschools.ca.

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

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We would like to invite you to participate in a Parent and Guardian School Climate Survey available online between April 29 and May 17, 2024.  The purpose of this anonymous survey is to find information related to your participation and experiences at your child’s school. We know that a safe, inclusive, and accepting school environment is essential for student success and well-being.

The information gathered from student, parent/guardian and staff School Climate Surveys will be used at the school and district level to set goals and measure progress towards creating accepting, safe, and inclusive learning environments. We value your input and parent /guardian voice. Please be assured that your answers are confidential.

If you have children attending more than one Near North school, you are welcome to complete the survey for each school. If you are unable to complete this survey online and would like a paper copy to complete, please contact your child’s school and we would be happy to provide you with a paper copy. All paper copies also need to be completed and returned to the school by May 17, 2024, so that the data can be inputted.

The Parent and Guardian School Climate Survey can be accessed from the Near North District School Board’s website https://www.nearnorthschools.ca/ or by using the QR code below.

Thank you so much for taking the time to complete this important survey.

Sincerely,

Gay Smylie

Superintendent of Education

Near North District School Board

Friday, April 5, 2024

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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Families have one more opportunity to register for a free live webinar to learn about Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) and primary and junior assessments of reading, writing and mathematics.

Participants will learn about the purpose of the assessments, and EQAO staff will explain the format, highlight resources and answer questions. The session is approximately 45 minutes, followed by a live Q and A session.

The third of three webinars will be held Wednesday, April 10 at 6 p.m. Register here.

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NNDSB’s skilled trade bursary program provides a $1,000 bursary to students who wish to pursue a post-secondary skilled trades pathway.

This bursary is open to candidates enrolled at an NNDSB secondary school, who are currently in Grades 11 or 12.

Click here for more information, selection criteria and to apply. The deadline to apply is Friday, May 3, 2024.

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On Thursday, April 25 the NNDSB math achievement action team will be hosting a virtual family math night. The first session is for students in JK to Grade 3 and will take place from 6 to 6:30 p.m. The second session is for students in Grades 4 to 6 and will run from 6:30 to 7 p.m. At these sessions, caregivers and their children will take part in games and activities that will support math learning at home in a fun and engaging way.

Please register using this link.

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The Ministry of Education has launched the parent’s guide to Ontario’s education system. This resource provides information that allows parents and families to have a stronger role and to actively participate in their children’s education.

The guide covers a number of subjects such as knowing how their child is doing in school, learning about suspension and expulsion processes, attending a school council meeting or parent involvement committee meeting, and knowing about specialized supports to help all children succeed.

The full guide can be found here.

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The annual Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP-PAJO) information night is planned for Thursday, April 25 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the West Ferris Arena. (42 Gertrude St. E., North Bay)

Guests will include employment service providers, colleges, community employers and OYAP-PAJO youth mentors. This year, representatives from several local unions have been invited to speak about the role they play in supporting the apprenticeship pathway and encouraging young people to explore the skilled trades as valuable and rewarding career opportunities.

Admission to this event is free, and anyone interested in OYAP is invited to attend.

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Lived Experience and Recovery Network (LERN) is offering a youth peer support training program for youth ages 12-24 that reside in the districts of Nipissing or Muskoka-Parry Sound.

Sessions for youth aged 12-18 take place May 25 and 26. Sessions for youth aged 18-24 take place June 8 and 9. Youth aged 18 can choose which cohort they want to be in. It is mandatory to attend all sessions.

For more details and a link to apply, visit LERN.

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A reminder that the PA day that had been scheduled for April 26 has been moved to Monday, April 8 due to the solar eclipse.

Here is a link to the NNDSB staff learning that will be taking place during Monday’s PA Day.

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Do you have a student ready to start intermediate or secondary school in North Bay? West Ferris Secondary School (WFSS) and Chippewa Secondary School (CSS) are both holding information nights on Thursday, April 11 from to 6 to 7:30 p.m.

WFSS’s session is for anyone zoned for West Ferris and interested in getting more information about Grades 7 and 8 at WFSS.

The session will start at 6 p.m. in the auditorium with brief presentation followed by small group tours of the school. This is not a drop-in format, but if you can’t make it for 6 p.m., then come when you can. They will be closing up shop at 7:30 p.m.

The session at CSS is for anyone zoned for Chippewa and interested in getting more information about Grades 7 and 8 at Chippewa.

The evening will start at 6 p.m. with a tour of the various curriculum spaces in the school so you can see and meet some of our staff. There will then be a brief information session in the auditorium at 7 p.m. and the evening concludes at 7:30 p.m.

If you are zoned for a different NNDSB school, then you should attend that school’s information session, as neither WFSS nor CSS are accepting out of zone students.

If you are from outside of the NNDSB you are encouraged to attend this Grade 6 information night as well. You can also connect with the school for information about how to register and become a student at our school or to book a tour and info session.

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The next meeting of the Board will be Tuesday, April 9 at 6:30 p.m. The meeting is open to the public and you are welcome to attend in person or join via Zoom. Here is the link to the meeting. The Meeting ID is 899 1167 8742; the Passcode is 859936 and the number for Dial in is 1-855-703-8985.

If attending in person, please confirm attendance by contacting Maureen Egan at 705-472-8170 ext. 5028 or maureen.egan@nearnorthschools.ca.

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

Friday, March 1, 2024

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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Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) is hosting a number of webinars for parents, guardians and caregivers of elementary school students in Ontario to learn more about EQAO’s primary and junior assessments of reading, writing and mathematics. These provincial assessments will be administered to all Grade 3 and 6 students this spring.

Participants will learn about the purpose of Ontario’s large-scale assessments. EQAO staff will explain the assessment format, highlight resources to support students, and answer questions from participants. Each session is approximately 45 minutes, followed by a live question and answer session with EQAO staff.

Sessions take place March 19 at 6 p.m., April 3 at noon and April 10 at 6 p.m. The date of choice will be selected during online registration.

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If your family has need for school-aged childcare, NNDSB asks that you take a few minutes to complete a survey to help better understand childcare program needs for school-aged children.

An online survey will be open from March 4-29, 2024.

More information can be found here.

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Just a reminder that March Break is around the corner!

The first day of the break is next Friday, March 8, and students and staff return to class on Monday, March 18. We wish everyone a safe and happy break!

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At its February meeting, the Board of Trustees approved the 2024-2025 school year calendar. It will be submitted to the Ministry of Education for approval.

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Did you know that NNDSB has a math achievement action plan?

You can learn more about the plan, NNDSB’s math highlights, curriculum links and digital tools to use at home via this page of our website.

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NNDSB is aware of fundraising calls taking place in the area in support of school lunches. While the organization is a registered charity and has confirmed a telephone campaign, we want residents to know that NNDSB has no relationship with the organization soliciting for donations. Neither the board nor NNDSB schools solicit for donations for school lunches.

As with any organization that does fundraising, the potential donors need to ensure that the call is legitimate. As a rule, ask organizations to send you some information if you wish to donate. Always conduct your own research prior to donating to any organization.

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The next meeting of the Board will be Tuesday, March 19 at 6:30 p.m. The meeting is open to the public and you are welcome to attend in person or join via Zoom. Here is the link to the meeting. The Meeting ID is 899 1167 8742; the Passcode is 859936 and the number for Dial in is 1-855-703-8985.

If attending in person, please confirm attendance by contacting Maureen Egan at 705-472-8170 ext. 5028 or maureen.egan@nearnorthschools.ca.

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

February 2024 Letter to Families

Friday, Feb. 2, 2024

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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Today is a PA Day. Here’s a link that outlines what school-based staff will be doing today.

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The Ministry of Education is shining a light on student mental health and has provided this information sheet supporting the new mental health modules being taught in Grades 7 and 8.

The resource is called Exploring Mental Health Together and outlines what students will be learning, signs of mental health problems, stigma related to mental health, how to manage stress, where to go for help and how to continue the conversation at home.

Although the resource is designed specifically to align with the Grade 7 and 8 health and physical education curriculum, the information may be of interest to all families.

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The Director’s Annual Report, which outlines highlights of the 2022-2023 school year, is now published on the NNDSB website.

The report outlines the progress made in meeting NNDSB’s multi-year strategic plan (MYSP) priorities of excellence in teaching and learning, excellence in communication, excellence and relationships and excellence in innovation.

Among the highlights are:

• the implementation of literacy and math diagnostics and literacy screeners to better understand student strengths and needs;
• the launch of tutoring supports to ensure success in literacy and math;
• the launch of the Hockey Skills Canada program in Parry Sound;
• the expansion of the personal support worker program to Mattawa;
• the launch of a custodial services worker program.

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Would you like to recognize an amazing teacher?

Sponsored by the Ontario Teacher Insurance Plan (OTIP) and the Ontario Teachers’ Federation (OTF), the OTIP Teaching Awards recognize teachers in three categories – elementary school teacher, secondary school teacher and beginning teacher in the first five years of teaching.

The awards recognize excellence of teachers in publicly funded education, and a teacher may be nominated by anyone – a colleague, student, families or the public.

The deadline for receipt of nomination is March 31, 2024. More information can be found at this link.

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There is a new Near North student well-being newsletter that will be created and published monthly.

Families can find the newsletter at this link as well as in the Edsby news feed.

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The next meeting of the Board will be Tuesday, Feb. 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. Here is the link to the meeting. The Meeting ID is 899 1167 8742; the Passcode is 859936 and the number for Dial in is 1-855-703-8985.

If attending in person, please confirm attendance by contacting Maureen Egan at 705-472-8170 ext. 5028 or maureen.egan@nearnorthschools.ca.

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