June 4, 2021

Winning a medal in the prestigious Skills Ontario Competition is incredibly difficult – it takes dedication, perseverance and passion. All the necessary ingredients came together for three Parry Sound High School hospitality students.

The trio, Hazel Joy Downey, Sarah Hardie, and Keegan Love, each brought back a medal in their respective categories: baking and culinary arts.

“I was so excited to get out there on May 4 and do the best I could and show off all my hard work for those judges. I was so happy and pleased with my dishes. I have said it before and I’ll say it again, I am very thankful to be given this opportunity and what helped me get through this whole experience was everyone who cheered me on from day one, especially my teacher Blair Cousins,” said Hardie, who earned silver in the culinary arts category. “When it came time for the awards ceremony, I could barely look at the screen as I was so nervous. I saw Keegan Love’s name pop up on the screen for the bronze medal and I thought for sure I was in at least fourth place; I was not expecting to see my own name on the screen for silver when I looked back up. I am very honoured to be the student holding the silver medal this year; it is way better than I could have imagined and I am beyond grateful!”

The Skills Ontario Competition is Canada’s largest skilled trades competition and traditionally hosts more than 2,400 students each May in Etobicoke. This year, the competition took place virtually. Due to the stay-at-home order and shift to virtual learning, students adapted to prepare and compete virtually in front of judges from their own kitchens.

“Leading up to the competition, I went from confident to terrified of doing the competition. Skills don’t only test your culinary skills, it also tests your mental and physical state, and how you work under pressure and stress, like real-world situations in the field,” explained Love, who earned bronze in the culinary arts category. “On the day of the ceremony, I was nervous but still hopeful. The baking category was first, and I was excited that Hazel Joy Downey, a friend of mine, placed third in baking that I was celebrating a bit, then heard my name called and freaked out and then my competitor Sarah Hardie won silver, so it was a rollercoaster of excitement that kept building. I hope to do better next year,” Love said.

Parry Sound High School is home to the prestigious Specialized High Skills Major (SHSM) tourism and hospitality program and state-of-the-art industrial kitchen.

A proud Blair Cousins, the school’s Tourism and Hospitality teacher, reflected on the competition.

“It was so exciting to share this experience with Hazel Joy Downey in her last competition at PSHS. Downey achieved her goal of earning a medal after finishing sixth in her Grade 10 year (Culinary) and losing her internet while trying to compete from the Philippines last year,” said Cousins. “It was also the school’s first baking medal at Skills. For Sarah Hardie and Keegan Love, it reinforced their efforts and sets a goal for them to become our school’s first two-time medal winners next year. Sarah and Keegan overcame many obstacles and I am so proud of them.”

With an ambitious plan, Downey, who earned bronze in the baking category, said planning and careful execution were extremely important.

“Baking was difficult to accomplish in my own kitchen especially with the big ideas I wanted to execute – from the fragile French macarons to the povitica bread and the Enchanted Forest bar cake. But careful planning and time allowances allowed me to get everything done on time.”

Upon seeing her name on the screen during the awards ceremony, Downey ‘couldn’t believe it.’

“I screamed in disbelief that I had just placed third for Skills Ontario. I rushed to call my coach and mentor, Mr. Cousins to share my excitement,” she recalled.

Of course, the success of any program can’t happen without the dedication and support of staff.

“While the students were successful, none of it happens without the support of NNDSB Director (Craig) Myles, Lisa Spencer, Liana Blaskievich and Roy Desjardins. The support of the PSHS administration Dawn Buckland, Heather Hickey and Wesley Baxter is crucial to our ability to prepare our students to take on the best in the province,” said Cousins. “We also were fortunate to access former student Cody Wallace, chef de cuisine at Cut Steakhouse in Halifax, N.S. who helped the students with a TEAMS workshop where he showed a sesame seed tuile that Sarah used in the competition and just settled the students’ nerves and helped them focus.”

Cousins noted that Chef Fintan Flynn of Canadore College and Chef Monique Cousins also provided suggestions and advice to the students.

SHSM supports students in planning for a career in the skilled trades. The hospitality and tourism program allows students to build a foundation of sector-focused knowledge and skills before graduating and entering apprenticeship training, college, university, or an entry-level position in the workplace.

Students learn about food preparation and hospitality services, connect with hospitality employers, participate in training and certification in customer service and safe food handling and gain apprenticeship opportunities upon graduation.

Earlier this year, PSHS welcomed Minister of Education Stephen Lecce and Member of Provincial Parliament Norm Miller to the school for a virtual tour of the program. Both expressed their amazement with the skill and hands-on learning taking place. In his visit, Lecce noted PSHS’s hospitality and tourism program is the “gold standard of practical skills training.”

“We have seen our incredible teachers, students, and administrators move to meet the needs of program this year. We see resilience in our students as they charge ahead, focused on gaining experience and skills that are integral to their future. Supported by teachers who prioritize the interests and goals of their students, we have been able, as a system to continue with activities that enrich educational experiences and of course, the lives of students,” said Lisa Spencer, coordinator of student success, gap closing, secondary program and SHSM.

In a typical year, former PSHS competitors would come back to coach students, mock judge or talk about their own experiences.

“This continuity of alumni who have set the standard of success and now share it with others is what makes PSHS successful,” noted Cousins.

“I am very proud of all the students that participated in the Skills 2020-21 competitions. It takes an abundance of dedication, determination, and perseverance to prepare and participate in these challenges,” said Roy Desjardins, OYAP coordinator and dual credit teacher. “Mr. Cousins, and the PSHS team, remain dedicated to helping students achieve their personal goals and strive for excellence. It is no wonder that three members of this team received awards. My hat is off to this amazing team, they are truly an inspiration to others.”

Congratulations, Hazel, Keegan, and Sarah. You have made PSHS and NNDSB proud!

May 31, 2021

I write this message with deepest respect and profound sadness. The discovery this week of the remains of 215 children at Kamloops Indian Residential School is a glaring reminder that we have a great deal of work to do to educate our society on the tragic wrongs we have committed and continue to commit towards the people whose land we occupy. Any act of reconciliation seems insignificant when faced with such tragedies. Let us consider our own acts of reconciliation as a move toward a more positive and inclusive future for all.

Let us also be diligent in the care of our students and each other and remember that there are supports available through our mental wellness teams. Reach out to your immediate supervisor should you or your students require support.

Please find below a media release which will be sent today to inform the public of the NNDSB decision to lower all flags to half-mast for 215 hours from May 31 to June 8.

The Near North District School Board community is saddened by the news of the discovery of the remains of 215 children on the grounds of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School in British Columbia.

Our thoughts are with the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation, the surrounding First Nations of this area, and all Indigenous Peoples across Turtle Island.

This disturbing discovery reinforces our commitment to make reconciliation a priority in our school board. We commit to transform our education system to decolonize our practices and our minds and to honour Indigenous histories, cultures and perspectives today and every day.

All Near North District School Board buildings will lower their flags for 215 hours to honour the 215 lives lost in remembrance of all Indigenous children who never made it home and in acknowledgement of residential school survivors and their families. Flags will fly at half-mast from May 31 to June 8.

Sincerely,
Craig Myles
Director of Education

Friday, May 28, 2021

Dear Parents and Guardians,

 The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit released information today regarding the safety and eligibility of COVID-19 vaccines for youth.

Health Canada has authorized the use of Pfizer-BioNTech has been authorized for use by youth 12 and older, and Ontario youths aged 12-17 are now eligible to register for vaccination.

Below are links and a brief description of the communication from the health unit.

Email to Parents – COVID-19 vaccine clinics for youth

Youth messaging – COVID-19 vaccine clinics for youth

Child and Youth COVID-19 fact sheet

Child and Youth COVID-19 poster

Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

Near North District School Board

Friday, May 28, 2021

Dear Parents and Guardians,

In-Person Learning or Technology-Enabled Remote Learning:

an important choice for NNDSB families for the 2021-2022 school year

Near North District School Board (NNDSB) will be excited to welcome students and staff back to school in September 2021. The following information is important for families to review as you make the important decision about the mode of learning for your child(ren) for September.

This decision is for the entire year.

NNDSB believes in-person learning best supports most students, however, we recognize that given unique circumstances, some families may want their child to learn remotely. In line with guidance from the Ministry of Education, NNDSB is offering a technology-enabled remote learning option in September.

Please review the information below to make an informed decision.

IN-PERSON LEARNING

Below are details of in-person learning which is subject to change based on the advice and direction of the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit and/or the Ontario Ministry of Education.

Teachers in both streams will continue to be expected to maintain a virtual learning environment in order to support a transition to remote learning should the need arise or where individual students are required to isolate for a limited time.

Elementary in-person learning

In-person learning for students in Kindergarten to Grade 8 will be modeled on current practice.

• Students will continue to be cohorted by class and staff will rotate from class to class as the schedule demands.
• There will be a continued focus on reducing the number of educator contacts who are delivering instruction to each homeroom/cohort.

Secondary in-person learning

In-person learning will begin with the current safety measures in place. As we move through the school year, we hope to be able to incrementally resume more regular activities and operations.

• We plan to organize our secondary schools into octomesters for at least the first semester.

If you are choosing this option for your child(ren), you are not required to do anything. It will be assumed that you are choosing in-person learning.

TECHNOLOGY-ENABLED REMOTE LEARNING (TERL)

NNDSB will offer technology-enabled remote learning for students who wish to learn virtually. With more students returning to in-person classes, our ability to offer a similar breadth of programs as was offered during the 2020-2021 school year will be limited. Students will be registered with the remote learning school for the entire school year and will not be attached to their current home school.

The remote school may be attended synchronously (in real-time, interactive with teacher and class) or asynchronously (with daily check-in but work done independently) but no paper packages will be made available.

Technology-enabled remote learning – elementary school (TERL-ES)

The TERL-ES will offer the full-day kindergarten program, the English program, Native Studies Language and Core French. NNDSB cannot guarantee French Immersion or Extended French programming for TERL-ES, pending registration numbers and given the limited availability of qualified teachers.

• Families wanting French Immersion or Extended French should select in-person learning.
• Like this year, TERL-ES will include multi-grade combined classes.
• Students enrolled in the TERL-ES will be registered with the TERL school and not attached to their current home school.
• Where Internet access is not possible, parents may request a technology-enabled asynchronous program that makes use of the Learning Management System and multi-media resources.

Technology-enabled remote learning – secondary school (TERL-SS)

The TERL-SS will offer a limited selection of courses in each grade level in all program pathways. Secondary students have already completed course selections for next year and for students and families opting to attend TERL-SS, every effort will be made to offer courses that students require for their chose pathways to graduation.

• If students have selected courses not available at TERL-SS, they will have the option to select from a catalogue of e-learning courses.
• System and school-specialized programs will only be available through in-person learning.
• The TERL-SS will follow the same calendar and daily schedule as in-person programming.

Special Education, specialized program classes and IEPs

Our experience this year has shown that in-person learning is the best format to support students with special education needs, particularly those in congregated classes and alternative educations programs. For this reason, in the 2021-2022 school year, congregated classes and alternative education programs will return in-person.

Other students with special education needs will continue to be supported with the necessary accommodations, modifications or alternative programs provided in their Individual Education Plan (IEP), whether their choice is for in-person or TERL.

If you are choosing this option for your child(ren) you must complete a remote learning program request formfor each student who will be assigned to the remote learning school for the 2021-2022 school year. Parents and guardians are asked to complete the form by end of day Sunday, June 6, 2021. We require time to ensure our schools and programs are resourced and staffed appropriately.

If you have questions, please see the Looking Ahead to 2021-22 page on NNDSB’s website. It contains a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section; parents and guardians who have questions that are not answered here are encouraged to leave their question, which will be answered on the page (thus increasing the FAQs which are available to all).

Thank you for helping us to prepare. We’re ready to welcome your children back to our safe, caring and inclusive classrooms in September 2021.

Sincerely,

Near North District School Board