Friday, June 7, 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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We are nearing the completion of another school year. Director of Education Craig Myles wishes to thank students, their families and staff for their efforts and dedication during the 2023-2024 school year. Congratulations to students who are graduating this year – the Director is proud of your efforts, and wishes you well on the next stages of your journey.

The monthly letter to families will take a break over the summer. The next monthly letter will be distributed on Friday, Aug. 30, in advance of the 2024-2025 school year.

NNDSB wishes all students, staff and their families a safe and happy summer break.

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Did you know that NNDSB is working with the Lung Health Foundation to promote Quash, a judgement-free app that helps youth quit or reduce their vaping?

Teachers and principals are participating in a learning webinar on June 10, and family members will have the opportunity to participate in a stakeholder webinar on Wednesday, June 12 from 7-8 p.m.

The webinar, called Halt the Summer Haze, will boost knowledge about vaping and its dangers while preparing you to start a judgment-free dialogue with a teen you care about. The webinar will touch on the role of stress in your teen’s decision to vape.

Here is the link to the webinar.

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Health units in Ontario are required to assess the vaccine records of all children who attend school, and summer is a great time for families to ensure students are up to date on their immunizations.

The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit has provided this information to families, so they know what requirements are for students.

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Student exchange companies MLI Homestay and YES Canada, in partnership with NNDSB, are seeking families in the district including North Bay, Parry Sound and surrounding areas to host international students from a wide range of countries and cultural backgrounds.

For these secondary school students, host families provide a home away from home in a safe and nurturing environment, three meals per day and the opportunity to become a family member. During their stay, students will live with a local family and experience daily life in Canada while developing their English language skills through this immersion experience.

A monthly stipend is provided to host families to offset the cost of hosting. Local coordinators and staff provide ongoing support for host families prior to and during a student’s stay.

Hosting opportunities are available throughout the 2024-2025 school year for possible durations of two, three, five, 10 and 12 months.

If you are interested in hosting an international secondary school student or would like to learn more about YES Canada’s homestay program, contact local coordinator Caitlin Hill, at caitlin.hill@youthedservices.ca or call 705-773-8638.

To learn more about MLI Homestay and their program, contact Kayla, the local coordinator in North Bay at 587-222-7172 or kknight@mlihomestay.com.

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The NNDSB math team is excited to share a number of ideas that will support your child’s math learning over the summer and build the skills to support them as they transition back into school in September.

Everyday summer activities like gardening, shopping, and camping easily become math learning opportunities. Check out our Mathematics for Families webpage for a variety of resources that will help build fluency and understanding. In addition to digital tools and online activities, we’ve included a number of games that are easy and fun to play as a family.

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Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA), to which NNDSB belongs, is working in partnership with Ontario Coalition for Children and Youth Mental Health to conduct a survey.

The survey will help coalition members understand what families need and want when it comes to resources to support them, improve their awareness and support mental health and well-being in children and youth. The results will be used to develop new resources, designed to meet the identified needs.

The deadline for the survey is June 17. Click this link to access the survey.

In addition to the survey, there is also the opportunity for some parents/caregivers and students to participate in a focus group intended to explore this topic in greater detail. The plan is to host up to six focus groups – four for parents/caregivers and two for students.

Focus groups will be held virtually in late June. Participants will receive a gift card for their time. Anyone interested to know more or who wants to confirm their participation can connect with the Coalition at CoalitionSurvey@opsba.org.

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Families that have elementary students from JK to Grade 7 who are not already in Virtual School and who are looking to register for Virtual School for the 2024-25 school year need to reach out to robert.roy@nearnorthschools.ca by June 16.

Elementary Virtual School will operate through the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) and registration is happening at specific NNDSB locations the week of June 17. Parents and guardians will need to travel to one of those NNDSB locations with original documents (as requested) at a specific time. Those that miss this deadline may be able to register by booking an in-person appointment in the TDSB area.

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The Ontario government is modernizing the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) requirements for the first time in 25 years. The following information is drawn directly from the Ministry news release.

Ontario will begin consultations this fall with parents and experts on what practical life skills students should learn in school to build a strong foundation that sets them up for success. This can include the mandatory inclusion of life skills like nutritious cooking, changing a tire, sewing a button, using first aid, personal responsibility, and basic economics, all of which can prove valuable throughout a student’s lifespan. This places an emphasis on personal development, decision-making and intrapersonal skills, all of which are in demand by employers across the economy.

Ontario will be introducing a new financial literacy assessment as a graduation requirement to ensure students have the skills and knowledge to create and manage a household budget, save for a home, learn to invest wisely, and protect themselves from financial fraud. Starting in 2025, students will be required to score 70 per cent or higher to meet the financial literacy graduation requirement in their Grade 10 math course. Furthermore, the province will standardize making EQAO Grade 9 Math scores 10 per cent or more of a student’s final mark, a practice already used by the majority of teachers.

The province is also investing in modernized career education programming in their schools with more exposure to the skilled trades and priority economic sectors. The government is investing up to $14 million in 2024-25 for career coaching for Grade 9 and 10 students in the publicly funded education system. In partnership with the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, this funding will also provide resources and tools to help at-risk youth, individuals in youth justice facilities, and students in other publicly funded educational settings outside of regular classrooms. Through shared agreements with school boards and other existing structures, this career coaching will help young people succeed and become positive members of their communities.

Click here to read more from the ministry memo quoted in the information above.

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The Near North District School Board has implemented early reading screening tools to help educators identify students who are experiencing difficulties with reading so they can receive the support they need to improve their reading proficiency and give them the best opportunity for success.

The Ministry of Education continues to work with federation partners, vendors and school districts to support the universal implementation of early reading screening tools. Individual student results for students in senior kindergarten to Grade 2 will be communicated as part of the 2024-25 elementary Term 1 Report Card. Should you have any questions or concerns about your child’s reading abilities, please contact your child’s teacher.

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The Ministry of Education has announced a plan to reduce distractions in classrooms and improve the safety of children with a standardized and strengthened plan to counter the rise of vaping and the negative impact of mobile devices and social media.

Vaping will be banned in all schools. Students caught using or carrying vapes or cigarettes will have to hand them in, and families will be notified. The government will be installing vape detectors and other security upgrades in schools.

Students in grades K-6 will have to keep their phones on silent and out of sight all day, unless explicitly permitted by an educator. For students in Grades 7-12, cell phones will not be permitted in class unless explicitly permitted by an educator. Social media websites will be removed from school networks and devices and report cards will include comment on students’ distraction levels in class.

In tandem with these changes, the Ministry of Education will be investing $17.5 million in wrap-around supports for student mental health and parent engagement.

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The next meeting of the Board will be Tuesday, June 11 at 6 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

 

Monday, June 3, 2024

West Ferris Car Show puts student careers into high gear

The First Annual West Ferris Car show delighted car enthusiasts and fueled an already burning passion among teacher Craig Steward’s students.

Steward, who worked in the automotive industry for many years, strives to give his students hands-on skills that will benefit them throughout their lives and possible careers. He thought a car show would be a great way to further encourage his student’s passion for automobiles and give them exposure to work in the industry.

“Students helped plan and organize all aspects of the day, it has been a yearlong project to organize and work with the community to arrange this event,” Steward said. “There were many student-led ideas included in the show such as Hot Wheels races for the younger kids, face painting, and penny tables to engage a wide audience of attendees.”

With 197 cars registered, the show brought a wide range of remarkable cars and students gained exposure to the broader automobile community, with many of the car owners being mechanics and working in the trades.

Students spent the day asking questions and engaging in conversations with owners to learn about each car. One student was even offered a job interview.

“We make connections with our local automotive service businesses and dealerships, so we have contacts for placements for the next step,” Steward said. “In the auto classes, students have been learning the basic skills like oil change, seasonal maintenance, and brake work. This is what shop owners are looking for. I focus on building the skills they need in industry; they gain a sense of what it is like to work in a real shop.”

“We are grateful for all the support of those in industry who have donated equipment and continue to find employment and learning opportunities for West Ferris tech students,” Steward said.

The partnerships with industry continue even as the school year draws to a close, later in June, Kelly’s Auto Glass is scheduled to come to the school and demonstrate a windshield replacement for the class.

In addition to industry support, trades classes also get other help keeping up with the rapid rate of technological advancement in the industry.

“We are grateful for events like this car show that showcase our top-notch trades programs. Mr. Steward created an authentic learning experience for the students. Technology programs provide authentic trade learning for students,” West Ferris Principal Gillian Kajganich said. “While the specialized equipment in trades can be expensive and difficult to replicate in the classroom it is foundational learning for all students. As technology continues to expand at an incredible rate, it can be hard to keep up.  Every little bit helps, like this car show. The community really showed up to support the school’s automotive program. Recently, West Ferris’ manufacturing program has been awarded a sizeable grant through the Canadian tooling and machinists association (CTMA).”

Those students who want to pursue careers in the industry also have opportunities to advance their learning in a high-tech professional setting through co-op placements and the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP.)

Not all students aspire to careers in the auto industry however they still get valuable life skills that will benefit them in the future. Steward also hopes events like the car show will help inspire a love and passion for cars and all things automotive.

“Students learn basic car maintenance so that if and when they get a vehicle, they are able to care for their car,” Steward said. “There is value in students learning these skills in their personal lives as they will be better equipped to select and maintain their own future vehicles.”

Armed with the skills they learned in class students developed the criteria for judging each of the 25 car categories and served as judges. Students in various shop classes in the school even designed the hardware that winners will be taking away.

The entrants were impressed by the student’s attention to detail and judging skills and with so many exceptional cars it was difficult to decide on a winner.

“The barbecue was well received and the hot wheels races and prizes were a highlight for younger attendees,” Steward said. “We are so grateful to the incredible turnout from the community near and far to support the tech program and creating authentic learning opportunities for students.”

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Wednesday, May 22, 2024

Members of Sunset Park class are the 2024 Redpath Rotary4Kids fundraiser ambassadors

The Redpath Rotary4Kids annual fundraiser is coming May 30 and 31, and this year’s student ambassadors are members of an entire Sunset Park Public School class.

The fundraiser begins on Thursday, May 30 at 5 a.m. on Vista Radio with the Kev’s Kids 29-hour radio marathon with host Kevin Oschefski.

Gisele Lynch of Rotary Club of North Bay explains that every year the event includes a special needs ambassador to be the face of the fundraiser.

“This year, we approached Sunset Park teacher Jennifer Stewart and thought that it would be neat if the whole class was involved rather than just one student,” Lynch said. “We are providing t-shirts for all the students and staff. The students will also be at the flag-raising ceremony at North Bay City Hall on May 30 at 10 a.m. and with Mayor Chirico. They will also be taking part at the wrap-up event at the YMCA on Friday, May 31. One of the things Jennifer has been wanting is to get her students more involved in the community, and this seemed to be a good way of doing it.”

Of the class, Stewart said, “Our junior developmental disabilities students at Sunset have very personalized learning goals and programs that are specific to them. I’ve always had a main goal for the group to integrate into the school community and into the North Bay community to develop the life skills necessary for day-to-day life.”

Stewart added, “When we were approached by Rotary4Kids, I was so excited as this felt like a natural next step. We hope that our students will enjoy these outings and gain the confidence and skills necessary in navigating new settings and relationships. We hope that these interactions develop their personal sense of identity as well as their identify as a class and team.”

During the marathon, Oschefski will interview recipients of funds and appeal to businesses, schools, and individuals to support this fundraiser. He will also be visiting schools and businesses to accept donations. Listeners will hear about the children, families and programs that Rotary supports, and hear personal stories from recipients about how much the financial support benefits them.

“Money raised during our annual campaign is allocated to the Children’s Committee of the Rotary Club of North Bay to provide assistance and support to children with extraordinary needs and families,” Lynch said. “Support can be to provide medical or other devices or support rehabilitation or other needs. Since the pandemic, needs for individual families have risen, and the cost of different items or services can be very expensive for some of the families within the community.”

Rotary encourages community organizations to participate. “We want you to be involved with the radio show. Organize a fun-d-raising event with your friends, co-workers, class at school, and raise some money,” Lynch said. “Drop by the CFCH studio on Thursday, May 30 or join us on Friday morning at the YMCA of North Bay. We can send a Rotarian or, if time allows maybe Kevin himself to your business to pick up the donation.”

Stewart said that as ambassadors, the Sunset Park class will be doing a lot of exciting things within the community.

“Our main role is being the ‘faces’ of Rotary4Kids and we will also run a few of our own fundraisers at Sunset to help earn money for this great cause,” Stewart said. “We will be having an assembly at Sunset Park at 9 a.m. on May 30 to talk about Rotary4Kids and how it helps the community. We will be introducing our students. Another class in the school will be performing a rap about our students.”

On Friday, May 31 from 7 to 10 a.m., the Kev’s Kids marathon will wrap up at YMCA North Bay where the grand total will be announced. Rotarians will be on hand to accept in-person donations and you can stick around to enjoy coffee and a muffin while celebrating another successful fundraiser.

For more information email fun-d-raising@rotary4kids.ca or visit www.rotary4kids.ca to donate.

 

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Tuesday, May 21, 2024

St. Pierre proud to be Anishinaabe-kwe Chair of NNDSB

Indigenous Trustee Ashley St. Pierre is proud to be Indigenous Trustee and now Indigenous Chair of Near North District School Board (NNDSB). She was elected to her position at the Board meeting on Tuesday, May 14, 2024.

It has come to our attention that there have been other Indigenous school board chairs, and we are proud to count her among them.

Chair St. Pierre shared the Anishinaabe phrase mino-bimaadiziwin, which means living in a good way. She said that she would like to see the Board moving forward in a good way and building trust with each other.

Trustee Howard Wesley was elected as Vice Chair. Vice Chair Wesley previously served in this position in 2022 – 23.

“I am thrilled and honored to accept the position of Vice Chair for our school board,” Wesley said. “Under the leadership of our Chair, Ashley St. Pierre, I am confident that our board can encourage staff and trustee initiatives that contribute to our school district in meaningful ways, particularly in advancing student achievement and well-being.

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Friday, May 17, 2024 

The following are the highlights of the Near North District School Board (NNDSB) meeting of Tuesday, May 14, 2024. 

Ashley St. Pierre elected Chair of Board

Indigenous Trustee Ashley St. Pierre was elected as Chair of the Board of Trustees at last night’s meeting. The position was left vacant after the resignation of Erika Lougheed in April. St. Pierre, who was elected as the Vice-Chair in the fall, has been serving as the Interim Chair since the resignation.

Zone 4 Trustee Howard Wesley was elected as the new Vice-Chair.

Chair St. Pierre commented that the election to the Chair’s position was meaningful. She said she is among the first Anishinaabe-kweg (Anishinaabe women) elected as the Chair of a Board of Education in Ontario, and may well be the first Anishinaabe-kwe Chair in the public system in the province.

Later in the meeting, during the Chair’s remarks, Chair St. Pierre shared that the Anishinaabe phrase mino-bimaadiziwin means living in a good way. She said that she would like to see the Board moving forward in a good way, and building trust with each other.

Trustee Caren Gagne sworn in

One of the first items of business at Tuesday’s Board meeting was the swearing in of Zone 2 Trustee Caren Gagne.

Trustee Gagne, who was the runner-up in the 2022 election to Erika Lougheed, agreed to step in after Lougheed’s resignation.

Trustee Gagne has as long history of community service, and has previously served as an NNDSB trustee.

Literacy team acknowledged at Board meeting

Members of NNDSB’s literacy team were acknowledged at Tuesday’s meeting, in recognition of being a recipient of the Dyslexia Canada Educational Excellence Awards.

The awards celebrate exceptional dedication within school communities in supporting students with dyslexia. According to Dyslexia Canada’s website, the award recognizes the contributions of a variety of school staff who showcase, “remarkable commitment and innovation in ensuring equitable education for students with dyslexia.”

Among the initiatives of the literacy team to support their work is the creation and curation of an internal K-12 literacy site (which has been used by almost 600 different NNDSB educators), a literacy lending library to support educators, system professional development sessions, book clubs and engagement in literacy professional development to support work across the district.

Alicia Smith, executive director of Dyslexia Canada, attended the Board meeting to present the award in person. She also brought congratulatory letters from Dyslexia Canada and the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC).

Smith said there were 120 nominations for the excellence awards, and only three were entire school boards. She said NNDSB’s nomination stood out because the literacy team was so proactive; they had started their work before the Ontario Human Rights Commission’s Right to Read inquiry report was released.

Trustee Initiative Funds to be shared among schools

Trustees approved a motion that will see the Trustee Initiative Funds shared equally among all schools.

The motion was brought to committee of the whole by Trustee Howard Wesley. His motion acknowledged the staff crisis being experienced by staff, the extra work staff tackle and the fundraising that takes place to support school supplies, events and activities. The motion called for the allocation of the Trustee Initiative Fund equally among all schools to provide financial assistance as deemed appropriate by the principals.

Director welcomes incoming student trustees

In his report to the Board, Director of Education Craig Myles welcomed the incoming student trustees, who attended as observers. The incoming student trustee is Nanak Sidhu of Chippewa Secondary School, and the incoming Indigenous student trustee is Riley Trudeau of Northern Secondary School.

Myles shared recognition of school and student achievement with trustees. Chippewa Secondary School has been recognized as one of the top secondary schools in the province for Terry Fox fundraising. West Ferris student and multi-sport competitor Riley Bell has been named the recipient of the Special Olympics Award of Excellence for 2023. Chippewa will be hosting the AA OFSAA boys’ soccer championship June 6-8, with games being held at Nipissing University, the Omischl Sports Complex and Cundari Field.

In promoting excellence in teaching and learning, Myles pointed out the virtual family math night sessions held for primary and junior students and their families, as well as the award presented to the board’s literacy team. More about this award can be found in this media release.

NNDSB staff, working with colleagues at two other boards and the North Bay Society of Architects, supported by Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program engaged in a month of planning to offer the second annual climate change challenge. The goal was for students to create and construct a model of a shelter using only a few provided materials.

Work of NNDSB acknowledged at OPSBA  

Trustee Bill Steer, who is the NNDSB delegate at the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA), presented a report to trustees.

Highlights include that the Board’s letter (discussed at April’s meeting) was in the OPSBA agenda package, and was highlighted within the correspondence section. The proposed Living Consciously course (also discussed at the April meeting) was presented, with a resolution that the items be referred to the Education Program Work Group for discussion.

Student Trustee Chen’s report to the Board

Student Trustee Dora Chen’s report highlighted the opportunities available to students to equip them with life skills and insights into future opportunities. At Almaguin Highlands Secondary School, life skills workshops were held where students visited four employers, providing graduating seniors with valuable insights. F.J. McElligott also held a career day with 12 presenters.

Many sports are in full play, with soccer, tennis, baseball and track underway. Badminton teams participated at the NDA championship, which was held at Chippewa and West Ferris Secondary Schools.

Several arts activities are underway, including band performances with the 22 Wing Band, and local representation at drama fest. Chippewa placed first with its performance of Complaints Department and Lemonade.

Student Senate welcomed its new Student Senators at the April meeting, and Student Trustee Chen was able to provide guidance to incoming members on their future roles. Student Trustee Chen also gave a presentation on the expectations of the student trustee.

Within the Ontario Student Trustees’ Association (OSTA), Student Trustee Chen participated and presented at the first ever virtual town hall meeting, with more than 40 student trustees from across Ontario. She presented on the mission statement and priorities of advocacy for Northern Ontario’s Student Trustees. She is excited to be attending the annual general meeting, which will conclude her work as a member of OSTA.

Indigenous Student Trustee Benson report to the Board

Indigenous Student Trustee Albany Benson’s report covered updates from the Indigenous Youth Circle. The primary focus at Parry Sound High School has been preparation for the community powwow in the summer. At West Ferris, an Instagram account has been created to post information about what is happening at the Indigenous Centre, and

students will be attending a staff meeting to talk about what it was like coming from their communities to WFSS. Students at Chippewa have drumming sessions for men and women, prepared a ceremony and acknowledgement of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG), and are preparing for the Moose Hide campaign. Members of OKIMAKAN are working on a presentation that explains different dances to support students’ understanding. Northern has finished presentations to students in Grades 7 and 8, and are also organizing something to honour MMIWG. Almaguin continues to plan for the celebration of National Indigenous People’s Day at the school, MMIWG and the Moose Hide campaign. At F.J. McElligott, the student success hub has been creating an Indigenous banner and preparing for National Indigenous People’s Day with four sessions of Indigenous arts and sports.

IYC is holding its end-of-year retreat at Nipissing University, and the four-board powwow (taking place May 30) was discussed.

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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.

Friday, May 3, 2024

Caren Gagne, Zone 2 trustee runner-up, appointed to Board

Caren Gagne, who was the runner-up in the 2022 election for Zone 2 trustee, will be appointed to the Near North District School Board pending the official swearing in May 14 Board meeting. She served a partial term as the Zone 2 trustee when she was appointed in September 2021 to replace a former trustee that moved out of area.

The decision to appoint the runner-up, Ms Gagne, was made by the Board at a special meeting held Monday, April 22, 2024.

At that meeting, Trustee Howard Wesley thanked Director of Education Craig Myles for the report, noting that “the province created (trustee) roles to be elected,” so Trustee Wesley was in support of the recommended option.

Trustee-elect Gagne, who has an extensive history of community service, says, “I am honoured to be back on the NNDSB. I have a readiness to work hard for good, solid, educational policies with a focus on collaboration and equity for the diverse needs and abilities of all our students.”

 

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Wednesday, May 1, 2024

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Minister of Education Stephen Lecce has provided Near North District School Board with this letter and asked that it be sent to our school communities.

Sincerely,

Near North District School Board

 Monday, April 29, 2024 

Conference Promotes School Emergency Preparedness 

Principals representing the four local school boards – Conseil scolaire catholique Franco-Nord, Conseil scolaire public du Nord-Est de l’Ontario, Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic District School Board, and Near North District School Board – convened with the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and North Bay Police Service (NBPS) for a Safe Schools Conference held on April 24 and 25 at the Best Western in North Bay. 

During the conference, the OPP and NBPS provided invaluable insights into board/police protocols, prioritizing emergency preparedness. Their contributions aimed at ensuring that school leaders are equipped with the most current information to effectively train staff in areas pertinent to emergency preparedness, including bomb threats and lockdown procedures. 

The Safe Schools Conference spanned two days and featured various sessions dedicated to student safety and well-being to over 125 participants. Attendees had the opportunity to learn from Constable Alison Haras, a member of the OPP’s Threat and Behaviour Analysis Team, and Constable Chris Fox from the Durham Regional Police, who shared insights on violence threat assessments. These assessments serve as crucial tools in bolstering violence prevention efforts both within our communities and educational institutions. Additionally, participants engaged in mental health training facilitated by School Mental Health Ontario resources. 

This initiative was spearheaded by Éric Foisy, Superintendent of Education at Conseil scolaire catholique Franco-Nord. Foisy emphasized, “Ensuring safe schools isn’t merely a goal; it’s a fundamental promise to every student, parent, and educator. Our conference aimed to unite voices and strategies, establishing a comprehensive framework for fostering safe, inclusive, and empowering learning environments where every child can thrive.” 

All school boards express their gratitude to the OPP and NBPS for their invaluable support in disseminating this vital safety information to our local school leaders. 

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