Friday, Oct. 6, 2023

Sundridge Centennial Public School event brings community together

It was more than just an open house at Sundridge Centennial Public School (SCPS) last week. Billed as a “Welcome Back BBQ and Community Safety Event,” the gathering was attended by about 112 families who enjoyed a barbecue prepared by SCPS parent council and met with a variety of community partners to receive valuable information.

SCPS principal Jill Cooper said that Sundridge Centennial works hand in hand with the Village of Sundridge and Strong Township to support families. Together they realized they could combine the school’s traditional open house with community partnerships to amplify important safety messaging in a fun and engaging way that is convenient and informative for parents and entertaining to students.

In addition to the 350 guests, representatives from the fire department, OPP, Wilson Bus Lines, District of Parry Sound Social Services Administration Board (DPSSAB) and physical literacy researchers from Nipissing University were all on hand to share important information with families.

“Guests were encouraged to engage in our community partners’ presentations by circulating with a “Sundridge Centennial Safety Passport.” Each community partner had a meaningful topic to present and discuss including take away packages of pamphlets, flyers, or items,” Cooper said. “Once parents and students had visited a presentation, they were given a sticker to add to their passport. After gaining six out of a possible eight stickers families could put their passport into a draw for our door prize, a donated new bicycle from Nipissing University’s Physical Literacy Research Department and North Bay Cycle Works.”

OPP officer Melissa Thomas engaged with students as they explored her cruiser and discussed cyber safety and bullying prevention. Officer Thomas also reviewed online safety tips with parents and reminded them to monitor children’s online activities.

The Sundridge Strong Fire Department brought their pumper truck to the event for children to explore and discussed fire safety including the importance of having working carbon monoxide detectors and how to create effective fire evacuation plans.

One of the highlights of the evening was a presentation by Nipissing University researcher Dr. Brenda Bruner, in which she shared the results of a collaborative research study conducted with SCPS over the course of the past few years. The study focused on how to improve physical literacy knowledge with families and staff and ultimately support student’s in developing healthy balanced lifestyles.

The presentation included the sharing of data from the self-reported habits of students’ screen time, physical activity, and sleep schedules.

SCPS parent Lisa Rogers said, “I think it’s great to have that research about our own area and our kids. We know that movement and sleep is absolutely a key ingredient in their being successful learners. This information is so powerful, we can look at it and figure out what to do next to do their very best every day.”

Anita Skilliter, whose children also attend SCPS said, “I think the data makes sense. For younger kids, movement is so important but so is sleep. As they get older, we kind of forget about that, and that not only affects them physically but mentally and that starts to affect sleep and other aspects of life as well.

“We try to avoid screens as much as we can. As much as they love it, it slowly starts to affect every aspect of their lives. Then they may not live up to their potential,” Skilliter said.

Fellow parent Susan Kotkowski said the data wasn’t necessarily surprising. “You kind of anticipate the effect of social media and electronic devices but seeing the concrete numbers come out of it is intriguing. I’m interested to see how they apply the information to school activities,” said Kotkowski.

Cooper highlighted how events like this embodies Near North District School Board’s multi-year strategic plan’s goals of excellence in communication and excellence in relationships both with families and community partners.

“Our school community works collaboratively to support each other and the healthy development of our children,” Cooper said. “By providing larger scale events in collaboration with these important services, families have the opportunity to connect with various providers, become informed of current information and research and engage with each other in making connections and building constructive relationships.”

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Friday, Sept. 15, 2023

Board Highlights – September 2023 meeting

The following are the highlights of the Near North District School Board (NNDSB) meeting of Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023.

Student trustees take oath of office

Trustees welcomed the 2023-2024 student trustees to the Board at its meeting last night. Both student trustees attend Chippewa Secondary School.

Student Trustee Dora Chen says she ran for office because, “I believe students should have a say in their own education.” She has been a member of student council, a student senator and is the student representative on the Chippewa renaming committee.

Indigenous Student Trustee Albany Benson has a history of involvement at school and in the community. She wants to ensure Indigenous youth “feel comfortable and heard at school.”

Trustee Louise Sargent said the student trustee positions are valuable as they bring the viewpoints of students to the Board. She said she looked forward to working with Student Trustee Chen and Indigenous Student Trustee Benson. “The students are very fortunate to have you,” said Trustee Sargent. 

Strategic plan progress review

A comprehensive progress review of the multi-year strategic plan was presented to trustees in the agenda package. The review updates stakeholders on the work to date of the 2021-2026 plan, with a focus on the progress achieved in the 2022-2023 school year, and the goals for the 2023-2024 school year.

The update shows the board is in the recovery period and growth toward a change in culture and operational processes can be expected for another couple of years.

In his verbal report to the Board, Director of Education Craig Myles said the board must “stay the course with that plan on a constant, cyclical basis

The full progress review can be found here.

Committee meetings scheduled 

In addition to the committee-of-the-whole, there are several committees of the Board whose work helps to conduct business more effectively. The public is invited to attend public committee meetings.

As always, a calendar of upcoming meetings was included in the agenda package.

Upcoming public meetings include the audit committee on Sept. 19 at 3 p.m. and the special education advisory committee on Sept. 21 at 1 p.m.

Attendance details may be found on this page of the Board agenda.

Audit committee seeks community member

Trustee Shane Hall, Chair of the Audit Committee, mentioned in his report that the committee is looking to add a community member to the committee. This is a volunteer position.

For more information, please see the posting.

Two NNDSB schools are Eco champions

Two NNDSB schools were recognized with EcoSchools certification for environmental excellence this year.

Nobel Public School earned a platinum status for points achieved in alignment with eco-action and Silver Birches Elementary School earned gold status for points achieved in alignment with student well-being in the environment.

Participation in the EcoSchools program is just one way the NNDSB is furthering the goals of the multi-year strategic plan, particularly the pillars of excellence in teaching and learning and excellence in innovation.

Board meeting dates confirmed

The Board set the dates for its upcoming meetings.

The organizational meeting will be held Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023. The Board chose to move the March meeting from the proposed date of March 12 to March 19 because the 12^th falls during March Break.

Virtual attendance will be facilitated via Zoom, and the meetings will be hosted in person from the North Bay Board room.

Trustees support SBO’s OSBIE nomination

Trustees voted in favour of supporting the nomination of NNDSB’s Superintendent of Business, Seija Van Haesendonck, to the board of directors of Ontario School Board Insurance Exchange (OSBIE) Northeast Region.

SBO Van Haesendonck is currently a director, and Director Myles said he hoped trustees would “support her serving her second term.” Myles added that it reflects well on NNDSB to have a superintendent on that board.

The elections for OSBIE directors take place in early November.

PIC continues to support NNDSB families

The Board agenda package contains a year-end report from the Parent Involvement Committee (PIC) which summarizes the committee’s activities.

In the 2022-2023 school year, NNDSB’s PIC provided three presentations which resulted from the previous year’s survey to school councils. There was a session on

mental health, a session on bullying prevention and a session on equity and inclusion.

The committee also provided opportunities for school council reps to attending virtual networking sessions.

The committee also received $19,500 in Parent Reaching Out funds to support 14 approved projects.

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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, Sept. 15, 2023

New year kicks off with two new student trustees

Near North District School Board (NNDSB) Chair Erika Lougheed and Director of Education Craig Myles welcomed trustees back after summer break and warmly greeted two new student trustees at Tuesday’s Board meeting.

Student Trustee Dora Chen and Indigenous Student Trustee Albany Benson were appointed following their recommendation by the Near North Student Senate (Chen) and the Indigenous Youth Council (Benson). Both students attend Chippewa Secondary School.

Chen has been a member of student council, a student senator and is the student representative on the Chippewa renaming committee. She ran for office because she wants to “give students in NNDSB a voice at the Board table, as I believe students should have a say in their own education.” She also wants to advocate for initiatives that will benefit students.

Chen says she is most passionate about French language education, as well as education funding, especially creating opportunities for students interested in the arts.

Benson has a history of community involvement, including being a figure skating coach, organizing donations for Fort Albany, raising money for the food bank and organizing events for Indigenous students at school.

She wants to act as a voice for all Indigenous youth in NNDSB, and to “ensure they feel comfortable and heard at school. I aim to fulfil the needs and rights of Indigenous students.”

Chair Lougheed encouraged the student trustees to “get in and ask questions”. Trustee Julie Bertram welcomed them, and said she was looking forward to their participation which is “important in these types of rooms.”

The organizational Board meeting, in which trustees elect the year’s Chair and Vice-Chair and select the committees they would like to work on, will be held Nov. 14, 2023.

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Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023

TOROS return a ‘totally awesome’ success

After a three-year hiatus, Near North District School Board’s (NNDSB) Theatre Outreach On Stage (TOROS) made a triumphant return this month with its production of Back To The 80s: The Totally Awesome Musical.

The troupe put on four very well-attended performances at the West Ferris auditorium earlier this month; the show delighted audiences with its mixture of humour, dancing and hit songs from the 1980’s.

“TOROS has been legendary in our North Bay community since 1987, so it’s great to have it back in production after three years of being on pause. For many TOROS alumni, it has been a life-changing event. Some have gone on to work as professional artists or promote the arts within their own communities,” TOROS producer Shannon Falconi said.

Back to the 80s director and Chippewa Secondary School graduate Jessica Soule participated in numerous theatrical productions during high school.

“We chose to do the musical Back to the 80’s because it was fun and lively. The play is a jukebox musical, which means that it features popular songs, in this case, from the ‘80’s. It also featured a large cast with various speaking roles, so we were able to be inclusive while casting,” Soule said.

About 30 students ranging from Grades 8 to 12 were involved in the production, contributing their talents as both cast and stage crew. The troupe worked hard throughout the summer, rehearsing five days a week since the beginning of July.

First-time TOROS participant Simon Lawrence was new to musical theatre and played Feargal, the class geek and comic relief.

“I really enjoyed my drama classes and wanted to do more shows,” Lawrence said. “It was a challenge to be prepared with props and not thrown off when you can’t find them on stage, but the first performance was incredible, the audience was full of laughter and delight. I would love to do more productions.”

“The audience seemed to enjoy the performances and some even dressed up in their best ‘80s outfit. Opening night was a hit, with a nearly full house. This fueled a lot of excitement among the cast for their first show,” Falconi said.

“We are in a rebuilding phase of TOROS, most cast members have never been on stage or in a musical production before,” Falconi said. “This was a completely new experience for some of the students and we are very proud of their courage to step outside of their comfort zones to try something different. This production is all about the students and celebrating their talent.”

Seasoned performer Abby Alexander has participated in West Ferris’s last three productions, Sponge Bob The Musical, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, Pippin, as well as two summer challenge shows, Newsies and Chicago. Alexander played the lead female role of Tiffany Houston in Back to the 80s.

“The highlight of my experience was the cast. I had never had a cast that was so close-knit before. We became one big family, and I enjoyed coming to rehearsals to be with this group of people,” Alexander said. “The performances went well. The audience was very excited to be there and very lively. We had a very receptive audience.

“I plan on doing theatre for the rest of my life,” Alexander said. “It’s so worth it to meet people. In theatre it’s important to make connections. The more connections you have the more work you will get.”

“Programs like TOROS are important because they give students a sense of belonging. By the final show, we really became a family, and all the students had made lifelong friends. It’s a safe space for them to express their creativity. It also gives them career options, some of these students may go on to be professional performers,” Soule said. “The highlight for me has been seeing the growth in the students. Some of them have never done a production like this and most were terrified to audition. Together, we worked through their fears and in the end, everyone really came out of their shell to shine on stage.”

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Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We hope you and your students are enjoying the summer. We look forward to seeing your students on Sept. 5, the first day of the 2023-2024 school year.

This letter is being sent to advise you of the professional development activities that educational staff will be participating in on Wednesday, Aug. 30 and Thursday, Aug. 31. Notifying families at least 14 days in advance is a requirement of Provincial Bill 98 that came into effect July 27, 2023.

Below is a table that outlines what elementary and secondary educators will be covering, how the professional development is taking place and who is providing the training.

This letter is being sent in order to meet the 14-day window. For the rest of the school year, upcoming professional development activities will be included in the monthly letter to families, distributed on the first Friday of the month.

Professional development activities can be found here on the board website and will be posted at individual schools.

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

Sincerely,

Near North District School Board

Tuesday, July 18, 2023

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Student exchange company YES Canada, in partnership with Near North District School Board, is seeking families to host international secondary school students from Japan, Sweden, Italy and Australia in September 2023 who will study for three or 10 months.

Welcoming an international student to your home is a great way to learn about another country and culture, build lifelong relationships, and share your home, language and culture with a secondary school student. 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.

Host families provide a home away from home for these secondary school students, providing a safe and nurturing environment, three meals per day and the opportunity to become a family member. Host families are compensated with a monthly stipend to offset the cost of hosting. Host families are supported by a local coordinator and YES Canada staff during their student’s stay.

If you are interested in hosting an international high school student or would like to learn more about YES Canada’s homestay program and the benefits of becoming a host, please contact homestay@youthedservices.ca or call 416-623-6220 ext. 410.

Sincerely,

Near North District School Board