Board provides update on new JK-12 Parry Sound school

November 18, 2021 By Deb

Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021

Board provides update on new JK-12 Parry Sound school

With siding being installed this past weekend, the demolition at Parry Sound High School is 95 per cent complete.

The architect, the Ventin Group (+VG Architects), has reserved space for a design feature at the front of the building that will reflect Indigenous culture. In consultation with Trustee Nichole King, the First Nation representative on the Board, it was felt that students ought to have input into this space. Parry Sound High School Principal Dawn Buckland will work with students to ensure their thoughts and ideas are considered and incorporated into the build.

In meetings with the architect, NNDSB learned that the Parry Sound build is not immune from global supply chain challenges and significantly rising costs from the impact of COVID-19 resulting in overages. Administration is fully examining these challenges and results will be shared with stakeholders when the design is finalized.

Community members are invited to learn more via the Parry Sound Build Report page on the board’s website. The page is updated when required in order to answer questions from community stakeholders.

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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

Letter to Families: COVID-19 updates for Nov. 17

November 17, 2021 By Josh

Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Near North District School Board (NNDSB) updates you with a monthly Letter to Families. This letter is being sent specifically to share three pieces of information related to COVID-19.

The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit (NBPSDHU) has released a letter to families explaining its decision about optional testing for COVID-19 for students. The health unit has decided not to implement either of the testing strategies due to the low number of cases in the area. Please see the attached PDF for details.
NNDSB will be allowing spectators to Nipissing District Athletics (NDA) hockey games. Spectators must follow the processes in place at arenas, including QR codes, contact tracing and confirmation of self-screening.
There are increasing numbers of COVID-19 cases in the districts of Sudbury and Algoma, which is affecting NNDSB students.

NBPSDHU has recommended that teams not travel to or from the areas of Sudbury and Algoma. Until further notice, school teams from those districts will not be allowed to participate in tournaments in the NBPSDHU’s catchment area, nor will local students be able to travel to games and events in Sudbury or Algoma.

It will be the decision of Northern Ontario Secondary Schools Association (NOSSA) and Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) whether to hold the events without teams from all areas, whether to move the event, or to cancel it.

At NNDSB, the restriction on travel in and out of areas with very high COVID-19 includes field trips. This decision, like all others made by the board throughout the pandemic, has been made to protect the health and safety of staff and students.

If you have questions or concerns about the content of this letter, please follow up with your school principal.

Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,
Near North District School Board

West Nipissing General Hospital, Algonquin Nursing Home partner with Near North District School Board on PSW program

November 17, 2021 By Josh

Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021

West Nipissing General Hospital, Algonquin Nursing Home partner with Near North District School Board on PSW program

As a testament to the value of the program it is offering, Near North District School Board (NNDSB) has just created its third and fourth Memorandum of Understanding in two weeks. West Nipissing General Hospital (WNGH) in Sturgeon Falls and Algonquin Nursing Home in Mattawa plan to provide living classrooms in order to train Personal Support Workers (PSWs).

WNGH and Algonquin Nursing Home are the two most recent organizations to commit to working with NNDSB to provide a living classroom, in which students will learn theory in an on-site classroom, then apply those skills on the floor of the hospital. Students will do their clinical work on WNGH’s long-term care and complex continuing care units, and in the long-term care home in Mattawa.

Student costs of this program will be subsidized; tuition is covered by NNDSB.

Cynthia Dèsormiers, President and Chief Executive Officer of WNGH, says the hospital is eager to partner because, “there is a critical shortage of Health Human Resources (HHR) throughout Ontario and in our community as well. This is a program that allows us to think outside the box while fulfilling a need at WNGH and in our community. This program will provide a great opportunity for people in our community to kick start a new career in health care, and with the tuition being waived in the first year, it is like a gift for those who may have financial difficulties.”

NNDSB’s Director of Education Craig Myles says the board has worked hard to bring this hands-on learning opportunity to learners 18 years and older. “We’re excited to offer this training, which is accredited through the Personal Support Worker Professional Association. NNDSB will be training PSWs who will be ready to begin work upon completion of the course.”

The PSW program is a collaborative effort of the board, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and community organizations. The other partnerships will see living classrooms set up in Cassellholme in North Bay, and Belvedere Heights and Lakeland Long-Term Care in Parry Sound. (Hyperlinks are to media release about those partnerships.)

Dèsormiers says the program and partnership “is a win-win for both the hospital and the students. This is an opportunity for us to grow our own PSWs, which usually leads to recruitment and improved retention when they are from the community.”

Jay Aspin, Chair of the Board of Trustees of NNDSB, says the PSW initiative is a great way to re-engage adult learners while addressing a critical shortage of healthcare workers. “NNDSB is proud of its role in helping to educate and train skilled PSWs that are in high demand in all areas of the board. This innovative program serves so many purposes in our communities, including marvelous opportunities for our students.”

Dèsormiers says WNGH is “grateful for the opportunity to partner this year and in future years to fill a huge need in healthcare, while providing great employment opportunities and careers for people in West Nipissing and surrounding areas.”

Spaces in each program are limited. Anyone interested should plan to attend the information session on Thursday, Nov. 18 at 6 p.m. online. (Meeting is hyperlinked.)

Students who do not yet have their Grade 12 are eligible to apply. They can earn up to six credits towards their diploma while taking this training.

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. Here, a PSW at WNGH is seen with a patient.

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

Trustees offer congratulations to retiring MPP Norm Miller

November 16, 2021 By Deb

Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021

Trustees offer congratulations to retiring MPP Norm Miller

The Board of Trustees of Near North District School Board (NNDSB) has sent a congratulatory letter to Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) Norm Miller, who recently announced his retirement. Miller will complete his term and will not run in next year’s general election.

The Conservative MPP has represented Parry Sound-Muskoka for 21 years.

Board Chair Jay Aspin and Vice-Chair John Cochrane, who represents students and families in the Parry Sound area, signed the letter, which notes MPP Miller’s influence has shaped the future of a generation of students and will continue to shape students due to support for the new JK-12 Parry Sound school that NNDSB is building.

“Inspired by his predecessor, his father Premier Frank Miller, Norm has always been a stalwart for the educational system in the Muskoka-Parry region,” said Chair Aspin. ”Our schools have been a key beneficiary of his service as his advocacy for the people of his riding and his diligence at Queen’s Park is reflected in the projects and legislation that have come to fruition during his tenure.”

Vice-Chair Cochrane said it has been a pleasure working with Miller and acknowledges the contribution of the MPP to many facets of life in the Parry Sound area. “Norm’s retirement is well-deserved,” he said.

During Miller’s terms in office, his private member’s Bill 228 Keeping Polystyrene Out of Ontario’s Lakes and Rivers Act was passed and became law, the Parry Sound Airport Industrial Park was expanded and its infrastructure upgraded, and students from Parry Sound High School were acknowledged in the House for their trip to France to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge and for leading the Community Remembrance Project.

The letter from NNDSB recognizes the collaboration that has taken place between NNDSB and Miller to align the board’s vision for students with the needs of the community.

Miller announced his retirement on Nov. 2, noting he is looking forward to spending more time with his family.

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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

Letter to families: Inclement Weather Notice

November 16, 2021 By Josh

November 16, 2021

Inclement Weather Notice to NNDSB Families;

With winter weather starting to settle in, the following communication outlines the Near North District School Board’s response to inclement weather days when school transportation is cancelled due to student safety concerns.

The Nipissing-Parry Sound Student Transportation Services (NPSSTS) manages and coordinates transportation for our district, in addition to three of our co-terminus boards. On inclement weather days, when buses are cancelled due to unsafe travelling conditions, schools will remain open to students who can safely make their way to and from school without the use of school bus transportation. We remind parents/guardians that any students dropped off must be picked up at regular school dismissal time.

In some circumstances, the Board will decide to close a school. This decision could be due to the severity of the weather, loss of power or water, and in rare cases the school’s inability to maintain or follow other COVID-19 protocols which might place students in an at-risk position.

Critical to this is the following of ministry and health authorities’ guidelines regarding the number of permissible student contacts and cohort sizes. If schools are closed for the day, parents will be notified through their school, board and local media communications. Our primary concern is always the safety of our students.

If buses to your school are either cancelled for the day and/or schools closed, instruction and related student activities will be provided for your child to complete at home. These activities may include online or offline activities that every child can access.

We understand that because each school and community is unique, plans will vary across the Board in response to local contexts. However, we plan to ensure that the learning continues for students, despite the weather outdoors.

Sincerely,
Gay Smylie
Superintendent of Education

Letter to families: Elementary progress reports

November 16, 2021 By Josh

Nov. 16, 2021

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, students, families, and educators have encountered unprecedented challenges. Disruptions to learning have understandably resulted in increased concerns related to student achievement and well-being. And yet, students, educators and families have demonstrated resiliency and flexibility in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and students have continued to learn and grow.

As we look ahead to the 2021-22 school year (and beyond), we share a commitment to supporting the health and safety, mental health, well-being and achievement of all students. This includes building on the skills and capacity students and educators have gained during the pandemic, both in the classroom and during periods of remote learning. As staff have welcomed students back to school this fall, they have honoured a variety of starting points for learning and continue to be responsive to the needs of all learners. As part of a system-wide commitment to learning recovery and renewal, staff have prioritized student well-being, engagement in learning, and growing meaningful partnerships with families.

Home and school communication is an essential component to learning recovery and student success. On Nov. 17, 2021, your child will receive their first formal “progress report”. The fall progress report card is designed to encourage early and on-going communication between you and your child’s teacher. Teachers’ early assessments and feedback will allow you to understand how well your child is developing learning skills and work habits we know are essential for success. The progress report provides a measure of “progress” for all academic subjects – such as language, math, social studies, science and technology – but instead of assigning a grade or mark, it will tell you how well your child is progressing: “very well”, “well” or “with difficulty”. This early assessment and communication will highlight strengths and areas to improve before evaluations are completed – for example, during end-of-term report cards.

It is important to note that levels of progress do not equate to letter grades of “A, B, C, D” and do not necessarily lead to report card grades in any specific range. As we move through this year, students will continue to access opportunities to practice and develop the knowledge and skills required to achieve the curriculum expectations. If your child receives a “progressing with difficulty” it is our expectation that the teacher would have already contacted you to create a collaborative plan that focuses on next steps and how those steps will be achieved through both home and schools supports.

The progress report is followed by an opportunity for parents/guardians to meet with their child’s educator(s). Parent/Guardian and Teacher interviews provide families with an opportunity to identify additional ways to support their child effectively and help to foster home and school partnerships. When families, educators and caregivers work as partners they develop a meaningful relationship and share valuable communication that can help to grow a student’s sense of trust, belonging, well-being and success as a learner.

Gay Smylie
Superintendent of Education

Sundridge Centennial PS students mark Remembrance Day with student-led event

November 15, 2021 By Josh

Monday, Nov. 15, 2021

Honouring and remembering veterans has been and will always be an important part of education for students, staff and communities. Each year, students and schools across Near North District School Board (NNDSB) mark the day in various ways.

At Sundridge Centennial Public School, Grade 7 and 8 students in teacher Jamey Sollman’s class led Remembrance Day events at the school to honour and show respect and admiration for those who sacrificed so much to protect our country.

“My great-grandpa fought in the war and made it back,” said student Corbin Stenning. “Learning in class about some of the things he would have gone through gave me a new perspective of what he went through and what the war was like,” he said.

Classmate Declan Mullins shared that he learned the true meaning of being a hero.

“I was able to reflect and remember my great-grandpa and how heroic he was as a soldier and police officer,” said Mullins.

Multiple projects and tasks to understand and teach the importance of honouring veterans took place last week, and on Remembrance Day, in a community-wide display of respect and admiration for veterans, students placed large poppies as memorial markers within the front gardens of the school.

Sollman’s students prepared a virtual ceremony for staff and students inside the school, and outside, veterans and members of the Sundridge Branch 467 Legion attended to speak to students on the touching display and work they did to show respect.

“Isn’t this amazing? Sundridge Centennial Public School students did an incredible job,” said Rena Lang, co-chair for the local poppy committee and Legion member. Eleven years ago, Lang was a barber for troops in Afghanistan. “Seeing this display makes us feel great because the students took the time to do this, when they didn’t have to.”

“As a staff, we put a strong emphasis on encouraging students to investigate and learn the significance and importance of Veteran’s Week and specifically Remembrance Day,” said Sollman, “We feel there is a great significance in developing and maintaining our close community connection with the local Legion Branch 467 with regards to education and participation in shared community events like our Remembrance Day Ceremony.”

Lest we forget.

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

November 12, 2021 By Josh

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.”

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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

Students explore Indigenous art at White Woods Public School

November 9, 2021 By Josh

Students in Grades 4-8 at White Woods Public School recently explored Indigenous art styles and artists the week leading up to and including Truth and Reconciliation week.

While learning about Indigenous art styles, students received teachings from Marilyn Armstrong, a White Woods PS teacher, Ojibwe artist, and Nipissing First Nation member, who shared with students her knowledge and journey of art.

Students studied Ojibwe artists and their work before taking their inspiration to their blank canvas. Under the guidance of Armstrong, students increased their appreciation and understanding of aspects of Indigenous culture.

In addition to creating art and learning about Indigenous culture, students participated in an oral presentation on an Indigenous tradition or custom.

To see more of the amazing photos, visit the Student Voice page.

School Climate Survey available November 15

November 8, 2021 By Josh

November 8, 2021

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We would like to invite you to participate in a Parent School Climate Survey available online between November 15 and December 3, 2021. The purpose of this voluntary survey is to find information related to: (1) equity and inclusive education, (2) bullying/harassment, and (3) health and well-being among students 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 and staff surveys will be used by your child’s school staff to help them promote an environment of respect, safety, and belonging for all students. We value your input and parent voice.

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 December 3, 2021, so that the data can be inputted.

Your input is very important to ensuring that our schools are safe and welcoming environments for all students and staff. Please be assured that your answers are confidential.

The Parent School Climate Survey can be accessed from the Near North District School Board’s website www.nearnorthschools.ca.

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

Sincerely,

Gay Smylie
Superintendent of Education
Near North District School Board

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