Near North District School Board

October Letter to Families

By

Friday, Oct. 3, 2025

Dear Parents and Guardians,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Sincerely,

Near North District School Board

Parry Sound High School students return to class Monday

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Parry Sound High School students return to class Monday

It was announced at last night’s (Sept. 9) meeting of the Near North District School Board (NNDSB) that the Town of Parry Sound has granted occupancy of Parry Sound High School to NNDSB.

Since then, the administration has been working with its partners to implement a plan for getting staff and students into classrooms.

We are pleased to share that the school will be ready to welcome students back to in-person learning on Monday, Sept. 15.

The transportation consortium has up-to-date busing information for all PSHS students on their BusPlanner Web Parent Portal. Details on how to access the portal can be found here. Please note that limited student parking is available in the student lot on Joseph Street.

Thank you for your patience as we worked through a number of challenges to ensure students can return safely to school. The administration and staff are very excited to welcome everyone back to the PSHS building on Monday.

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September Letter to Families

By

Friday, Aug. 29, 2025

Dear Parents and Guardians,

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

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Craig Myles, Director of Education for Near North District School Board, welcomes students and staff back to school for the 2025-2026 school year. An extra special welcome is extended to students and staff who are joining NNDSB for the first time.

We hope that everyone had a wonderful summer and is now ready to start a great school year.

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School transportation is provided by Nipissing Parry Sound Student Transportation Services (also called the consortium). The board does NOT operate the buses or make decisions about cancellations.

On Aug. 20, the consortium issued a media release about the availability of route information. As of Aug. 20, parents and guardians with portal accounts can go in and review the transportation details for their children.

All parents and guardians are encouraged to create a portal account and subscribe to NPSSTS Notifications to receive alerts through email and text messages. Instructions can be found on their website at www.npssts.ca.

The consortium suggests reviewing transportation details periodically leading up to the first day of school, as changes will continue to be made.

Any inquiries regarding changes to routing can be directed to the NPSSTS via email at info@npssts.ca. They will be reviewed and forwarded to the appropriate NPSSTS route planner or school board for processing.

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Educators from NNDSB were featured in a recent episode of the Reading Road Trip, a podcast of the International Dyslexia Association (IDA) of Ontario.

NNDSB educators are leaders in literacy, and last year, the literacy team was chosen as one of the recipients of the Dyslexia Canada Educational Excellence Awards by the Dyslexia Canada Board of Directors.

NNDSB educators Lisa Rogers, Courtney Berger and Kristen Roy participated in the IDA Ontario podcast that launched Monday, Aug. 18. The podcast is hosted by Kate Winn, classroom teacher and host of IDA Ontario’s podcast Reading Road Trip. The podcast is for “travellers” on the road to evidence-based literacy instruction.

The episode discusses how the board’s literacy team transformed reading outcomes for intermediate students through a targeted, data-driven, structured literacy intervention.

The podcast can be found here.

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Looking for a unique cultural experience for your family? Try hosting an international high school student this coming school year!

Student exchange organization, YES Canada, in partnership with NNDSB, is welcoming international students from a wide range of countries to study at local high schools in North Bay, Parry Sound, Mattawa, Sturgeon Falls, South River and surrounding areas. Students are arriving to begin programs in November, January and April and will be staying for a range of durations, so apply now to ensure your family is considered to welcome a student.

Host families provide a home away from home in a safe and nurturing environment, three meals per day and the opportunity for the student to become a family member. A monthly stipend to offset the cost of hosting is provided, as well as ongoing guidance and support from the experienced YES Canada team before and during a student’s stay.

Hosting is a fantastic way to experience another country and culture in your own home, and it is also a great way to establish life-long friendships and connections.

Hosting opportunities are available for possible durations of two, three, five, 10 and 12 months.

For more information or to become a YES Canada Host Family, email homestay@youthedservices.ca or call 416-624-6220 ext. 410 or visit the YES Canada website.

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NNDSB’s Parent Involvement Committee (PIC) is holding its first meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 24, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. All families are welcome and encouraged to attend. You can join the PIC meeting with this link.

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

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

NNDSB accepting applications for Zone 1 trustee

By

Friday, Aug. 29, 2025

NNDSB accepting applications for Zone 1 trustee

Julie Bertram resigned as the Zone 1 Trustee of the Near North District School Board (NNDSB) yesterday (Aug. 28, 2025), effective immediately.

As there are no runners-up to invite to fill the vacancy, NNDSB is seeking applicants to fill the role for the balance of the term, which will be until November 2026.

Eligible candidates can find the application information here.

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NNDSB updates contingency plan, moves PSHS to remote learning

By

Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025

NNDSB updates contingency plan, moves PSHS to remote learning

After thoughtful consideration, Near North District School Board (NNDSB) has decided to move Parry Sound High School (PSHS) to remote learning. Though the list of unresolved items at PSHS is small, administration made the decision in order to give staff, students and families time to prepare for a remote start to the school year.

This move to remote learning affects secondary students (Grades 9-12) at PSHS only. Students in Grades JK-6 will attend school at McDougall Public School, and students in Grades 7-8 who would have attended the new JK-12 school will attend school at Nobel Public School.

NNDSB will post an updated contingency plan and revise the JK-12 Parry Sound school page on Aug. 27 to reflect this information.

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Chair commits to strengthening governance practice

By

Monday, Aug. 25, 2025        

Chair commits to strengthening governance practice

The Near North District School Board (NNDSB) Board of Trustees wishes to address recent events concerning the unfair treatment of NNDSB administration.

As trustees, our foremost responsibility is to serve students, families and our communities with integrity and respect. In this instance, our actions created uncertainty and concern among staff and the public. We recognize that the way in which this matter was handled did not reflect the standards of fairness, professionalism and collaboration that our communities expect of us.

On behalf of the Board of Trustees, we extend a sincere apology to our NNDSB administration, to all employees of NNDSB and to the public. We deeply regret the impact this has had on trust and confidence in the important work of our school system.

Moving forward, the Board is committed to strengthening our governance practices. Our collective focus remains on providing safe, supportive and high-quality learning environments for all students.

We thank our staff, students, families and communities for their continued dedication and support.

Ashley St. Pierre

Chair of NNDSB

NNDSB releases PS JK-12 school contingency plan

By

Friday, Aug. 15, 2025       

NNDSB releases PS JK-12 school contingency plan

Near North District School Board (NNDSB) has prepared and published a comprehensive contingency plan as it continues to respond to the delay in the completion of the JK-12 school in Parry Sound. The plan for parents, caregivers and students is now posted.

The board acknowledges that this delay and the resulting confusion have affected students and their families. The plan ensures student safety and well-being and the continuation of learning, which are of paramount importance.

Since the news of the delay was confirmed, NNDSB staff have been working diligently behind the scenes to create a contingency plan that meets the needs of not only its students and staff, but also the board’s partner organizations. A contingency plan of this magnitude involves a variety of the board’s departments, as well as outside organizations, which have many roles in ensuring safe learning environments for students and staff.

Because of its nature, the contingency plan is fluid, and at times, changes may need to be made. Changes may be communicated via the board, the school, and/or the webpage.

The plan and FAQs can be found on the board’s website, on this page.

NNDSB will release Parry Sound JK-12 school contingency plan for students and families on Aug. 15

By

Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025

NNDSB will release Parry Sound JK-12 school contingency plan for students and families on Aug. 15

Near North District School Board (NNDSB) has prepared and is implementing a comprehensive contingency plan as it continues to respond to the delays in the completion of the JK-12 school in Parry Sound. Staff are diligently working to prepare welcoming and appropriately resourced learning environments for students, and will be ready to welcome students to school Sept. 2, 2025.

The board acknowledges that these delays and resulting confusion have affected students, families and staff. The plan has been carefully designed to consider all aspects of student safety and well-being. It will be released on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025.

The ongoing delays have resulted in a contingency plan that meets the needs of students, staff, families and board partner organizations. A contingency plan of this magnitude must consider all board departments and outside organizations which contribute to the success of NNDSB.

The contingency plan will remain fluid, and changes may be required at which time communication will be shared. Information will be included on the webpage, and we will endeavour to keep it updated.

Update on Parry Sound JK-12 school construction

By

Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025                              

Update on Parry Sound JK-12 school construction

Near North District School Board (NNDSB) is providing an update regarding the construction of the new JK-12 school in Parry Sound.

It has now been confirmed that the new facility will not be completed in time for the first day of school in September 2025. While this is not the outcome we expected, NNDSB is implementing short-term solutions to ensure a smooth and safe start to the school year for all students.

JK-Grade 6 students who were set to attend McDougall Public School for September will attend that school location as originally planned. Students in Grades 9-12 will begin the school year at the current Parry Sound High School building. All Grades 7-8 students will attend the Nobel Public School site.

Once the new school building is complete, students and staff will transition to their new home.

Further updates for the public will be shared through the board’s website and social media channels. Families directly impacted by this delay will receive more detailed information via email.

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Parry Sound K-12 school update

By

Thursday, August 7, 2025

Parry Sound K-12 school update

While construction issues with the new Parry Sound K-12 school continue to present timeline challenges, Near North District School Board (NNDSB) remains committed to advancing the project in collaboration with the Town of Parry Sound and the Ministry of Education. At this time, NNDSB is unable to confirm when the new school will be ready to welcome students.

In light of this uncertainty, contingency plans are being developed to ensure that all students, families, and staff begin the school year in safe, supportive learning environments.

NNDSB will share additional information as soon as the next steps are finalized.

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Biindigen

Mii gwi Anishinabek wewena nkenmaaminak dependajig maa kiing.
"We acknowledge in a good way, the original people of the land here"
We value the cultures, histories and relationships with the Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island (North America)

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Near North District School Board
963 Airport Road, P.O. Box 3110, North Bay, ON P1B 8H1
[P] 705-472-8170   [TF] 1-800-278-4922   [F] 705-472-9927