Thursday, Feb. 17. 2022

NNDSB committed to Indigenous Education in schools

At Near North District School Board (NNDSB) our approach in supporting Indigenous Education priorities and initiatives focuses on equitable outcomes for learners.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission made 94 calls to action; 12 of them involve education. Specifically, we are called to action in education on numbers 62 and 63. This includes all students having diverse learning opportunities to gain understanding of First Nation, Métis and Inuit language, history, culture and perspectives throughout all curriculum areas.

Annually, a board action plan is developed alongside of the Indigenous Education Advisory Circle. We implement this plan through four pillars: supporting students; supporting teachers; awareness and engagement; and using data to support student achievement.

Through this lens, we are able to target resources and support ways that promote student success, engagement and well-being.

Learners are offered various opportunities throughout the curriculum including First Nation, Métis and Inuit studies and Anishinaabemowin courses. This is vitally important in the board’s reconciliation efforts; staff and students need to be aware of Indigenous perspectives, ways of knowing and the history of the lands now known as Canada.

This year, in support of building this capacity for all staff, NNDSB has purchased a license for an unlimited number of learners to participate in 4 Seasons of Reconciliation, which is a 2.5-hour online session supporting cultural competency learning. The Indigenous Education team has set a goal of 70 per cent staff completion by December 2022.

This learning is meaningfully connected as we acknowledge our responsibilities to the TRC calls to action in education. We strive towards excellence in relationship building in recognition of our need to be continuous learners alongside of community and partners in Indigenous Education.

The Indigenous Youth Circle appointed Allen Lewis as Indigenous Student Trustee for the 2021-2022 school year at the Board’s January 2022 meeting. This role ensures student voice from the Indigenous Youth Circle is represented at Board meetings.

news about Indigenous Education at NNDSB will be forthcoming. Our Indigenous Education Team is working in partnership with staff, students and community partners to plan for the 2022-2023 school year.

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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

Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022

Chair expresses confidence in management of COVID-19

At last night’s Board meeting, trustees were given an update on COVID-19 processes and plans. They expressed confidence in the way senior administration is managing the pandemic in Near North District School Board (NNDSB).

Superintendent Tim Graves, the board’s COVID-19 lead, provided a fulsome report to trustees on a wide range of topics related to COVID-19 and how the board is managing everything from personal protective equipment (PPE) to reporting tools.

Board Chair Jay Aspin noted, “everyone knows what a hard job it has been, navigating these past two years through a pandemic.”

“On behalf of the board, I am obliged to give a special shout out to all members of our Near North team. With the continually disruptive program changes, this has been a very exasperating experience for all. Whether it’s been the provision of PPE equipment, rapid tests, screening tools, reporting tools or now vaccine clinics you have done an extremely commendable job of keeping our students and staff safe which is always our first priority,” said Chair Aspin. “As well, a sincere shout out to parents and guardians of our students and relatives of staff. Your understanding, patience and support have been exceptional and is much appreciated.”

Trustees heard that the board is working with the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit which is offering child vaccine clinics. Schools around the district have been the site of clinics, held outside of school hours.

Two new screening tools were discussed; the updated School and Child Care Screening Tool, which clarifies isolation periods and close contacts, and the absence reporting tool which is used by principals when the absenteeism rate is 30 per cent or higher for two consecutive days, when inclement weather and/or bus cancellations are not a factor.

When non-fit-tested N95 masks were sent to NNDSB in early January, there were only enough to last for eight days. Student-facing staff were prioritized, including daycare staff, special education staff and elementary teachers. The full allotment has since been received, and the board has a supply ready for all staff upon request. Additionally, there is an adequate supply of medical masks and three-ply cloth masks for students.

NNDSB has a supply of rapid antigen tests available. Initially, 17,280 tests were distributed to daycares, elementary students and staff; a second allocation was made available for secondary school students and occasional staff. The kits come in packages of 20 tests and are re-kitted and distributed to schools. Testing is voluntary, and people with symptoms who choose not to test are presumed positive and should isolate immediately.

Secondary schools in the board returned to the semester system on Jan. 31. An initial review of data shows students continued to be successful through the octomester model, and the report acknowledged the work of school staff throughout octomesters to supports student success.

The final report item detailed the status of athletics and extracurricular activities at schools. The winter sports season was paused in early winter, but Minister of Education Stephen Lecce announced that certain restrictions could be lifted as of last week. NNDSB works with the health unit and co-terminus boards to develop a local strategy for all aspects of COVID-19 planning; as of yesterday, high-contact/high-intensity sports and music and band activities were able to resume.

Director of Education Craig Myles acknowledged that managing the pandemic throughout the board has been a massive job, requiring coordination with many colleagues in health and education. “Under the leadership of SO Graves, and System Principal of Well-Being Kim Pauli, NNDSB’s COVID-19 management team has guided our staff through another difficult year. Their recommendations have mitigated the risk of COVID-19 to staff and students. I would again like to express my sincere appreciation to all those who have stepped to the plate to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of staff and students, which remains the number one priority in all of our decisions.”

COVID-19 news, guidance documents, testing instructions, letters to families, health unit information and links can be found on this page of the board’s website.

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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, Feb. 8, 2022

Kindergarten students can be enrolled in French Immersion

A virtual information session is being held for families who want to learn more about enrolling their kindergarten student in French Immersion with Near North District School Board (NNDSB). The session is being held Wednesday, March 23 at 6 p.m.

Families can register for the session here.

Early French Immersion is offered in four of the board’s elementary schools: Alliance and Sunset Park Public Schools in North Bay; Mattawa District Public School and Parry Sound Public School.

Benefits of learning a second language include increased mental flexibility, improved problem-solving skills, a better understanding of aspects of different cultures and expanded career opportunities. More information about the benefits of French as a second language can be found in this framework document.

Information about French Immersion at NNDSB can be found here.

Families can learn more about French as a Second Language in NNDSB schools by downloading this brochure.

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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

Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022

Almaguin Highlands Secondary School students learn about being active citizens

Students across Near North District School Board (NNDSB) are active citizens in their communities every day. As part of a civics and citizenship class at Almaguin Highlands Secondary School (AHSS), students helped sweeten the holidays for local seniors.

Teacher Laurel Gough’s civics and citizenship class ran a Christmas cookie collection for a local initiative, Adopt a Senior for Christmas. The project is run by Meranda Wood, an AHSS graduate who works for the North Bay Police Service.

Gough says this all came together during a discussion about active citizenship within our communities. Students were wondering what kind of difference they could make.

“This provided an opportunity to discuss the various ways we can have a significant impact within our area, including running a holiday charity drive. We discussed the significance of thinking beyond ourselves, developing empathy and understanding the needs of others,” said Gough. “The students created their own promotional material for the Christmas cookie collection, and even wrote and read their own morning announcements. They are a wonderful group of caring individuals who will surely go forward to become excellent active citizens within their communities,” she said.

Though the project was spearheaded and organized by Gough’s class, all AHSS students were invited to donate contributions.

Adopt a Senior for Christmas helps seniors in the community who are alone for Christmas by collecting their wish lists and creating stockings for them, as well as organizing someone in the community to buy them a gift. The gifts are then distributed to the seniors.

“The Grade 10 students in Mrs. Gough’s civics and citizenship class learned the importance of active citizenship. We learned that being an active citizen is the responsibility to help out in your community, in the world and to be a person who volunteers or donates to local organizations” says student Charlie Hall. “We applied this knowledge, spearheading a Christmas goodie collection at Almaguin Highland Secondary School for the Adopt a Senior for Christmas Charity.

“The local charity program’s goal is to ensure that no senior feels alone at Christmas. We hope that our contributions created a feeling of Christmas cheer for the seniors who received some of our special treats,” adds Charlie.

A staggering 81 boxes of goodies were collected at AHSS and distributed to local seniors in the community.

Gough says the treats were delivered by community paramedics who ensured recipients knew their goodies came from students at AHSS.

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Cutline information:

Almaguin Highlands Secondary School students in Laurel Gough’s civics and citizenship class spearheaded a school-wide Christmas cookie collection to brighten the holidays for seniors.

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

Friday, Jan. 14, 2022

Board Highlights for January meeting

The following are the highlights of the Near North District School Board (NNDSB) meeting of Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022.

Public Education Symposium moves online

The pandemic has led to Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA) to move its annual Public Education Symposium online. The symposium is the association’s premier professional development for school boards.

This year’s event will be held Friday, Jan. 28.

Because boards will pay a flat fee based on student enrolment, all trustees plus five additional board staff will be able to participate in the symposium.

Anti-sex trafficking protocols introduced

A report was presented to the Board that outlined NNDSB’s administrative guideline for anti-sex trafficking protocols. The protocols are in response to a Ministry of Education requirement that all school boards in Ontario must have a protocol for the response to suspected sex trafficking occurrences.

The guideline creates community-centred anti-sex trafficking protocols, and outlines education for students, families and staff about sex trafficking, healthy relationships, safe and responsible use of technology, addressing high-risk behaviour and knowing when and how to seek help.

Accomplishments honoured in year-end review

The Board took time to honour the work achieved by staff last year. A year-end review was included in the agenda package, and Director of Education Craig Myles spoke to the work at the meeting.

In spite of being challenged by remote learning and continuing effects of COVID-19, NNDSB staff made strides in all areas of the organization. The Multi-Year Strategic Plan was approved and launched, the board was acknowledged by the Ombudsman of Ontario for implementing recommendations around transparency and governance, two new school builds are in the works in North Bay and Parry Sound, and relationships with stakeholders are being improved through communications and collaboration.

For more information, see this media release.

Indigenous Student Trustee sworn in

Allen Lewis Trodd was sworn in as NNDSB’s Indigenous Student Trustee at Tuesday night’s meeting.

Lewis Trodd is a Grade 11 student at Parry Sound High School who is from Magnetawan First Nation. He is a member of NNDSB’s Indigenous Youth Circle and Student Senate.

In his presentation to the Indigenous Youth Circle, Lewis Trodd said, “I’d love to be the student trustee to be able to talk about, explain, to show them the great ideas we make here…talk about our goals, what we plan to do, what we hope to do.”

For more information, see this media release.

Student Trustee highlights community engagement

In her presentation to the Board, Student Trustee Cecilia Darling spoke about the activities that secondary school students participated in prior to the winter break. Several of the schools participated in collecting items for charities and local food banks. Staff and students also participated in holiday-related events, like writing letters and donating small gifts to seniors in long-term care homes.

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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.

For more information, please contact:
Deb Bartlett (she/her)
Communications Officer
Near North District School Board
P. (705) 472-8170 ext. 5010
E. Deb.Bartlett@nearnorthschools.ca