Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2022

First Rider program initiates littlest learners on bus safety

Riding the school bus for the first time can be both a scary and exciting experience for the Near North District School Board’s (NNDSB) youngest learners. That’s why since 2012 Nipissing-Parry Sound Student Transportation Services (NPSSTS) has run the First Riders program.

NPSSTS Safety Officer Anna Leppinen said the First Riders program introduces students and families to the process of riding the school bus and what is expected of everyone involved. The roles of the bus driver, bus company, the consortium, families and students are all discussed.

The program is a wonderful introduction to how to ride the school bus safely, Leppinen said. Students watch a school bus safety video, receive a lesson on the rules of the school bus, and have the opportunity to ride on a school bus for the first time. Students learn safety tips, rules and expectations of their behaviour while riding the school bus and while waiting for the school bus to arrive at their stop.

After the video and discussion of bus rules students line up at several mock bus stops and safely board the bus as it makes the rounds. The First Riders then go on their first school bus ride all by themselves while families get their own lessons in school bus procedures.

First Rider hosts review the primary policies and procedures of student transportation with families. These include procedures around inclement weather days, arranging pick-up and drop-off locations, the process for locating a misplaced student and student behaviour management.

Parent Logane White said her daughter, Hali, had never been on a school bus and was nervous about riding for the first time. “We thought this was a great opportunity for her,” said White.

“She was very excited to participate in the First Rider program. She loved learning and asking questions, the bus ride and playing with the little demonstration buses. The package from NPSSTS with the colouring page and magnet were also a hit,” White said.

“I was happy about the safety video shown to the children and that my daughter was able to ride the bus alone. That really allowed her to have the full experience,” White said. “It is comforting to know she’s done it once before school starts.”

White feels it’s very important for both students and families to attend the program for many reasons. One being that the little riders are used to riding in car seats in personal vehicles.

“If we had not gone to this program, the first day would be very confusing for Hali to climb onto a giant bus that has no seat belts or car seats,” White said. “This helps ease the parents’ mind and children’s mind on that first day of school. It’s a big transition for little ones and this program helps with that transition,” she added.

Leppinen said bus drivers report overall satisfaction in young learners’ feelings of safety and comfort with loading onto the school bus for the first time. Families also seem to have a greater sense of direction in terms of who to approach for different requests for changes to transportation, she said.

The program has been popular and successful since its creation with participation numbers increasing steadily each year leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic. In-person sessions had been paused for the last two years but all areas of the program experienced steady participation numbers for its return in 2022.

Sessions ran in all areas served by NPSSTS and were offered in French and English. NPSSTS manages and coordinates all school transportation services for NNDSB and its four co-terminus school boards.

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For more information, please contact:

Brett Hanson
Communications Coordinator
Near North District School Board
P. (705) 472-8170, extension 5083
E. Brett.Hanson@nearnorthschools.ca

Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022

NNDSB app development co-op program gives students real industry experience in a competitive environment

An intensive month-long summer co-op program has two Near North District School Board (NNDSB) students developing a mobile app of their own creation while working with tech professionals and like-minded students from around the province.

The one- and two-credit virtual co-ops give Ontario students the opportunity to network with each other and learn from mentors from Apple Canada and Canadian skills training company Our Wave Hub. Students work to identify a problem and code a mobile app to solve that problem.

Students work collaboratively across a variety of mobile platforms and are taught about entrepreneurship, working in the tech industry and the finer points of mobile app programming.

At the completion of the co-op, students pitched their mobile app to their fellow students as well as tech professionals from Apple. They provided valuable feedback to students on what helps students be successful in their app ideas and their pitches. The most innovative app was selected to continue to the next round of the development process.

“Co-op is a great opportunity for students to really dive deeper into a potential career, helping them decide where their next move is towards obtaining the skills or education required to enter that career,” summer school principal Jamey Byers said. “In this specific co-op, there’s an added competitive flavour to motivate the students and resemble what it is like working on a project team in the information technology (IT) industry.”

NNDSB students Ty Hall and Patience Gilbank, who participated in the co-op, learned a new coding language called Swift, how to work in a professional setting with experts, and how to present their concept to a group of their peers. Hall created an exercise app that allows users to target specific muscle groups. Gilbank’s productivity app helps high school students make schedules, manage their workload and prevent procrastination.

“Our cohort mentor worked at IBM, and she guided us through the steps and processes of developing anything. She taught us how to focus our ideas into building an app, how to pitch our ideas, and gave feedback on everyone’s project,” Hall said.

Hall said the experience taught him things he can’t learn in school such as how to work in a true professional environment.

“It taught me the ways to focus my ideas and really get my point across using professional vocabulary and speaking with confidence. It’s like an actual work environment, it teaches you useful things about the world of business.” Hall said.

Hall said the collaborative environment of the co-op helped to quickly move projects from the idea stage to a fully realized app. The hardest part was presenting his project to the group.

“I have never been so nervous and excited to present my idea because I really believed in it,” he said. “Although I did not win and go to the final round, I still think that in the future I can use the information that I have gained with this co-op and put my best foot forward.”

For Gilbank, the exposure to new people, new ideas and new programs was a highlight of the co-op.

“It was nice to see and hear the ideas of other students. Working with a completely new integrated development environment and programming language allowed me to step out of my comfort zone by doing something different,” Gilbank said.

Gilbank said the co-op has unlocked her creativity and made her confident in her career choices.

“I learned much more about design thinking during the co-op. I also learned first-hand about what a future career for me might look like, such as being given certain tasks to finish that day and having to join a video call daily. I would like to be a video game developer, so enjoying working with code and user interfaces has solidified my future career choice,” she said.

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For more information, please contact:

Brett Hanson

Communications Coordinator

Near North District School Board

1. (705) 472-8170, extension 5083
2. Brett.Hanson@nearnorthschools.ca

Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022

NNDSB summer learning programs boost skills in a fun and supportive environment

NNDSB summer learning camps offer students a wide range of learning opportunities to help them improve their literacy and numeracy skills to support their future success.

Elementary program coordinator Stephanie Underwood said Power Learning Camps are offered to current students in Grades 1 to 4 who may benefit from joyful, focused literacy and numeracy instruction.

The REEL Writers Summer Camp gives students in Grades 5 to 8 the opportunity to explore their own ideas and bring them to life through an authentic filmmaking process. Students learn how to work as part of a team and learn new skills for success in school and life.

The summer learning programs facilitate small group learning experiences that promote resilience, well-being, and social interaction, while growing literacy and numeracy skills through fun and engaging activities. A team of camp instructors lead by an experienced certified teacher run each program.

Underwood said small group settings allow educators to focus on students’ specific skills and needs. Teachers can assess the students’ needs and provide additional instruction in a fun and nurturing environment.

On an average day, Power Learning students engage in small group and one-on-one instruction in reading and math with games and activities based on the students’ areas of need.

The Power Learning Camp also worked with Science North which provided virtual visits, coding lessons and Ask a Scientist sessions. Underwood said students had three one-hour sessions with a presenter where they participated in age-appropriate activities about the environment and landscape of Northern Ontario.

Other unique opportunities included in-person visits with local representatives from the community Friendship Centre to learn about Indigenous teachings and traditions, and Nipissing University’s Books for Brook program.

Books for Brook is a literacy initiative established in memory of Brook Doseger, a 2016 graduate of Nipissing University’s Bachelor of Education program. The program gives away donated age-appropriate books to readers of all ages. The initiative collects books through on campus book drives and distributes thousands of books at literacy camp, events and school visits.

This year the summer learning camps saw a total of 121 students take part at various locations across the school board district.

“Students love coming to summer learning camps. Although the program is only three weeks long, we see student improvement in literacy, mathematics, and overall well-being,” Underwood said.

Power Learning student Emily Whittington said, “I wish this camp wasn’t only three weeks, I wish it was forever because it is so much fun. Thank you, summer learning camp staff!”

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For more information, please contact:

Brett Hanson

Communications Coordinator

Near North District School Board

(705) 472-8170, extension 5083

Brett.Hanson@nearnorthschools.ca

Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022

NNDSB drop-in wellness hubs use fun to build stress management skills

Near North District School Board (NNDSB) is running drop-in wellness hubs for students in North Bay, Parry Sound and Burk’s Falls again this summer. These drop-in hubs run until Aug. 18 and are places where students can connect in person, engage in fun activities and learn tips to cope with stress.

At the wellness hubs, NNDSB child development counsellors and educational assistants take a complete approach to well-being, providing support and tools for physical, mental, emotional and social well-being.

NNDSB acting mental health lead, Lana St. Louis, said the staff at the drop-ins build stress management skills into fun activities, like journaling and mindfulness. Students learn life skills such as easy and healthy meals and snacks they can make at home to nourish their bodies. Stress management skills are often illustrated through fun activities that we each enjoy doing.

Some of the fun activities happening at the wellness hubs include journaling, creating healthy meals and physical activities to aid with healthy bodies and healthy minds. At the Burk’s Falls hub, students and staff take advantage of the sensory room available at Land of Lakes Public School to promote stress management. The sensory room is outfitted with soft chairs, mats, soft lighting, a large swing and fidget toys.

St. Louis also noted that one of the ways the pandemic has impacted many older children and adolescents’ mental health is through “social malnutrition”. The wellness hubs provide an opportunity for outside of the school year for students to be with peers, make new friends and practice social skills with the support of a trained counsellor.

Even though they drop-in and leave anytime, St. Louis said most students stay for the whole day. All are welcome to drop in at the hubs at any time, however, students under the age of 12 require a signed parental consent form.

“This is the second year the program is running. The students who attended last year enjoyed the program and the staff were able to make connections with students that continued into the school year,” St. Louis said.

In North Bay, the hub is operated at OUTLoud, 123 Delaware Ave. Tuesdays to Thursdays from 11:30 to 3 p.m. for ages 10 to 18. For more information, email brianne.macdowell@nearnorthschools.ca.

The Parry Sound wellness hub is located at The Drop, 80 James St. Tuesdays to Thursdays from 1 to 4 p.m. for ages 12 to 18. For more information, email penny.moffat@nearnorthschools.ca.

The Burk’s Fall hub is at Land of Lakes Public School, 92 Ontario St. Mondays to Fridays from 11 to 3 p.m. for ages 10 -18. For information, contact Dorothy.haggartdavis@nearnorthschools.ca.

Monday, July 25, 2022

NNDSB students take control of their future and soar to new heights through new summer school program

An innovative new summer learning program teaches coding and other practical 21^st century skills as students take control of robots and drones.

At STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) camp students in Grades 7 to 10 gain skills in modern technology as they improve their literacy and numeracy. Summer Program Principal Jamey Byers says students develop coding skills and engage in hands-on activities that involve a variety of robots including drones, LEGO robotics and programable robots called Spheros which helps students grasp fundamental STEM concepts.

“Students use their experiences to work through challenges designed to promote problem solving. Working with these challenges promotes perseverance and an understanding of the development process in technological areas. This allows students to work towards solutions to real-world problems,” Byers says. “Throughout the program students continue to improve their literacy and math skills.”

STEM Camp teacher Jason Henstridge explains how students are able to turn their imagination into reality using 3D printers and design software.

“Students have created items such as can openers, personalized jewelry and custom video game interfaces. Others have used the design and printing to augment other projects they are working on,” Henstridge says. Depending on the size and complexity of the creation, printing can take anywhere from 10 minutes to 14 hours to complete. “Most of the materials that we are using in the printers are derived from plant-based crops such as corn and it is biodegradable.”

Henstridge says students also do a lot of coding to operate a variety of small robots. Using “block coding,” students assemble code using “blocks” that direct a device to perform specific steps in a larger overall task. Robots are programmed to navigate obstacle courses, read, and respond to colour patterns on a piece of paper, and even play sounds and music.

“Students are exposed to a variety of technologies that they may not have spent time with before, each technology has its own attraction and students seem to be drawn to different types,” Henstridge says.

Students designed customized “armour” for their Spheros robots and then developed ways to remove the armour from other robots. Henstridge says this resulted in great problem-solving strategies as students pitted their robots against one another in battles.

One of the highlights of the camp is drone flying. Students once again use block coding to give the vehicles a set of flight path instructions and head to the school cafeteria with the drones to put their code to the test. For the first flight students had to make the drone take-off, fly in a square path and land. If students forgot a step, they would have to return to the code for adjustments.

Having mastered the basics students move onto to more complex maneuvers such as navigating a three-dimensional obstacle challenge featuring specific flight paths and objects requiring photos to be taken by the drone.

Henstridge points out that the heavy focus on developing and refining coding skills is sometimes challenging for STEM camp students.

“Persevering through the ‘almost there’ moments to get to the desired result is sometimes tough but, students have been great at supporting each other,” Henstridge says. “Relying on knowledge developed in the group and helping each other has been the key to a successful camp. When one person overcomes a challenge, seeing that it is possible is motivating to the rest of the group.”

Byers says students gain more than coding and robotics skills from STEM camp. They hone the necessary 21^st century skills of communication, collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, citizenship and character.

“All of this comes back to the core of what we do, enhancing student achievement and well-being,” Byers says. “These students will be able to use the STEM camp experience to enhance their learning moving into September.”

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For more information, please contact:

Brett Hanson

Communications Coordinator

Near North District School Board

(705) 472-8170, extension 5083

Brett.Hanson@nearnorthschools.ca

Tuesday, July 19, 2022

West Ferris culinary arts program gives students a taste of restaurant work

What began as an idea to recreate a commercially-made breakfast wrap has exploded into a weekly lunch program that serves 250 students and staff at West Ferris Secondary School in North Bay.

The West Ferris lunch program offers hospitality students the opportunity to get the full restaurant experience by working in every position from dishwasher to cook to server while delivering meals they planned and made from scratch.

Hospitality teacher Theresa Parise draws on her wealth of experience as a restaurant owner and operator to guide students through a practical introduction to the food industry.

“We began preparing lunches for the students participating in the lunchtime literacy workshops. The lunches were very popular and helped incentivize students to show up for some extra literacy support while being nourished at the same time,” Parise says. “One of my students suggested making a breakfast wrap. We brainstormed and planned the project.”

With the help of that student, who had restaurant experience, students began efficiently producing the breakfast wraps daily and from there began to explore the possibility of providing lunches to the entire student body. The class began a menu project which included market research using data collected from the entire school on their preferred types of lunch items. Once the data was collected students began to execute their ideas. Once the project took shape students were expected to create a menu consisting of one meal at a fixed price consisting of a main, a side and a dessert. They had to cost each piece of the menu, create a shopping list, and a plan for the creation and service of the meal. At the end of each week the class then decides on which meal to produce for the following week.

The hospitality classroom runs like a well-oiled machine with tasks being checked off each day of the week. The class needs to prepare for both pre-ordered lunches and cash orders at the counter.

“Our lunches are usually offered every Thursday. We build the menu by designating each day of the week to a component of the lunch,” Parise said. “Monday might be a baking day where students in Periods 1 and 2 make dough for buns for a sandwich.

The Period 3 class would shape, proof, and bake the bread. Tuesday and Wednesday would be prepping the rest of the components required. It is extremely busy; we serve an average of 200 students and 40-50 staff each week at $8 per lunch.”

Examples of the meals produced by the program include a chicken club wrap with tomato bisque soup and strawberry parfait, panzerotti with classic Caesar salad and tiramisu cheesecake trifles and nacho taco salad with Mexican rice and butter tart bars. Almost all of the menu items are made entirely from scratch.

Throughout the semester students rotate through all the positions of a commercial kitchen and restaurant. Duties are categorized as either “front of the house” or “back of the house.”

Front of the house positions include servers who prep and bag lunches, set up tables and hand out orders, expediters who run orders, bag food or work the cook line if necessary, and cashiers.

Back of the house jobs are prep cooks, line cooks, a kitchen caller, who places the orders with the cooks, and last but not least, the dishwashers.

Students are expected to participate in all front of house and back of house positions at least once before the end of the semester and they must be present to work their own lunch project if it is chosen.

“The atmosphere is a healthy, tense vibe where everyone knows we have a job to do and a goal to meet,” Parise says. “I raise the bar quite high here as some students don’t realize how rewarded and accomplished they can feel at the end of the day.

“Everyone has a different personality, and some students are just going to be more suited to these kinds of quick, high-performance jobs than others. This a good place for students to learn that about themselves,” Parise says.

The West Ferris lunch program is open to all students and Parise says many have found employment in the food service industry as a direct result of their experience there. Others have gone on to post-secondary education in culinary arts and hospitality.

Monday, July 11, 2022

Fellowship provides opportunities for vice-principal, students

Cheryl Sheffield, vice-principal at Parry Sound High School, is about to embark on the “opportunity of a lifetime” working with naturalists, scientists, explorers and National Geographic photographers during a 10-day expedition to the Galapagos Islands.

Sheffield is one of 50 educators, and one of only six Canadians who are finally able to participate in the Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship for which she was selected two years ago; the pandemic put the expedition on hold. The fellowship is a professional development opportunity for pre-K-Grade 12 educators and is supported by Lindblad Expeditions and the National Geographic Society.

The fellowship will provide a unique learning opportunity for classes in the Near North District School Board (NNDSB), as Sheffield is hoping to be able to connect live with classrooms and other learners through live feeds and other online applications. “I would love student enquiry to guide my exploration of Galapagos, and I look forward to interacting with classrooms in our board to answer student questions and respond to wonderings they may have about this unique part of the world,” she says.

Sheffield is committed to returning home with an experience that will translate into reimagined curricula that will inspire students, colleagues and communities to care more deeply about the planet and act on global issues.

She will travel aboard National Geographic Endeavour II, a Lindblad Expeditions ship. Sheffield says, “I’m hoping to follow in the footsteps of Charles Darwin and come to know more about his theory of evolution, by exploring the incredible archipelago famed for its unique flora and fauna.” She is looking forward to encountering giant tortoises, blue-footed boobies, marine iguanas, playful penguins, and curious sea lions in their natural habitats among the Galapagos Islands.

The vice-principal is also hoping to better understand the conservation efforts in place within Galapagos to protect its wild spaces and wildlife, and how they might be similar to or align with that of the Georgian Bay Biosphere and other environmental efforts in our area.

Applicants were able to select their top five options for their expedition, and Galapagos was Sheffield’s top pick. Her fellowship shipmate is a teacher from Hawaii, and they are already working together to plan deliverables for their expedition.

Upon her return, she takes on a two-year leadership commitment to support National Geographic’s education initiatives. As a Fellow, she may be asked to conduct webinars, participate in meetups and mentor other educators, and she hopes to bring learning to life for students and educators here in our community.

Interested class teachers and individuals can connect with Sheffield on her expedition and learning journey via this Google form. She will reach out in late August with details about the learning connections, and with specifics about the online platforms that will be used during her expedition. She will also be available following her expedition to offer presentations and act as a resource to share her knowledge of the numerous resources and opportunities available through National Geographic.

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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

 

Tuesday, July 5, 2022

New outdoor classroom helps students connect to the land and traditional teachings

In education, the environment is often regarded as the “third teacher” after parents and educators. Throughout Near North District School Board (NNDSB), educators strive to include the environment in their lessons whenever they can. Now, after four years and the efforts of the entire community, Sundridge Centennial Public School finally has a classroom for its third teacher.

Sundridge Centennial’s new outdoor classroom was unveiled to a large gathering of students, parents and community members at a ceremony which lauded the considerable efforts of the community. Rodney Stanger of Timiskaming First Nation opened the ceremony by demonstrating Indigenous culture and encouraging students to continue connecting with nature. Stanger sang a traditional song to honour the work completed and to encourage the continued development of understanding of the world around us through varied perspectives.

“This classroom will be used by all age groups and our community partners as a safe space to enjoy the environment around us,” Principal Jill Cooper said. “All subject matter can be taught in this space from mathematics and science to literacy. We hope to add “wonder wagons” full of discovery tools, microscopes, magnify glasses, bug jars and more.”

Teachers Candy St. Onge and Cathy Russell founded the project five years ago and secured an initial grant from the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan. The project encountered considerable challenges and delays throughout the pandemic but was propelled forward thanks to the dedication of staff.

“Principal Cooper has been an excellent advocate and supporter of the outdoor classroom initiative. Jill has brought the project up at every staff meeting and parent council meeting to gather donations and volunteers,” Russell said. “She pushed through any challenges we faced with a positive attitude and even delivered construction materials in her own horse trailer to help keep our costs down.”

Cooper connected the project leads with NNDSB experts, including Indigenous education and experiential learning leads to ensure the project would be meaningful and create on-going learning opportunities for students, staff and community members.

Through the involvement of community partners and staff, the project evolved from a simple pole structure with sailcloth to protect students from the elements to a more permanent structure with trusses and a shingled roof.

One of the most prominent features of the outdoor classroom is the elaborately painted ceiling created by students and teacher Christine Charette who has experience working as a Métis artist in community art projects.

“The meaning and intention behind the painting is to honour nature, to foster a caring culture between all people, and to further our path toward Truth and Reconciliation while doing so,” Cooper said. “Because it is an outdoor classroom, it was a natural fit for students to have meaningful discussions around caring for the natural world and how we are all connected to it.”

The painting is anchored in a blue background, representing water. “Water is life” is a major theme. The painting includes the Seven Grandfather Teachings, which are Anishinaabe guiding principles passed down from generation to generation to lead people in living a good life in peace and without conflict.

The seven teachings of truth, love, respect, wisdom, courage, humility and bravery are represented in the painting by seven animals, painted in the Eastern Woodland style, and are the central focus of the ceiling. Around the animals, there are 300 fish swimming around in schools.

“Each student and teacher from Sundridge Centennial Public School painted their own fish, using the Métis dot art style. The students chose colours to represent someone special in their lives, or a special place in nature, so that each fish is symbolic of what they love,” Cooper said. “This means that the entire painting is not only a snapshot of traditional teachings, but also filled with individual stories that will linger in the memory of the project and will continue to bring layers of meaning to those learning in the outdoor classroom.”

The Sundridge Centennial Public School outdoor classroom was made possible through the support of the following community partners: Custom Home Designs; Phoenix Building Components; McLaren Bros. Construction; North Bay Home Depot; Wilson Transportation; Almaguin Highlands Community Living; Sundridge Lions Club; South River Planning Mill; EBL Groundworks; Retired Teachers of Ontario; Sundridge Home Hardware; Jeremy Bean Designs; Indigenous Education Partnership; Arborist Alliance; the Village of Sundridge; NNDSB experiential learning department and Almaguin Highlands Secondary School.

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For more information, please contact:

Brett Hanson

Communications Coordinator

Near North District School Board

1. (705) 472-8170, extension 5083
2. Brett.Hanson@nearnorthschools.ca