May 4, 2021

Student Senate supports peers in pledge to be well

Near North District School Board (NNDSB) is pleased to announce the launch of a Wellness Together Pledge as part of the Student Senate’s focus on mental health.

During the week of Mental Health Week, May 3-7, NNDSB intermediate and secondary school students will unite to Pledge to Be Well.

Designed to increase mental health awareness and promote ways of coping with stress, pledging students will receive a wellness kit. There are three kits to choose from: mind, body, and spirit. All three contain items to help students stay active and fit; items to keep their brains engaged and focused; and items to help build inner strength and balance.

This mental health initiative is designed to acknowledge students who have adapted to the changes to the educational model throughout the pandemic and provide them with tools and resources to manage their stress and anxiety.

On a daily basis, NNDSB’s mental health leadership team has been inspired by the resiliency and perseverance of its students and are happy to support their efforts.

The wellness kits will be safely distributed during the week of May 17. This campaign can be found on NNDSB’s mental health campaign’s Instagram @ThriveNNDSB.

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Information about Near North District School Board:

Near North District School Board is an English-language public school board serving the North Bay – Parry Sound – Nipissing area. The Board consists of approximately 10,000 students in 27 elementary schools, seven secondary/senior schools and various alternative learning centres. For more information, please visit nearnorthschools.ca and follow Near North District School Board on social media.

For more information, please contact:
Josh Casey
Information/Communication Coordinator
Near North District School Board
P. (705) 472-8170, extension 5083
E. josh.casey@nearnorthschools.ca

Friday, April 30, 2021

Extended French program exclusive to NNDSB junior students

A second choice for French as a Second Language – Extended French – is an option that is offered locally only by Near North District School Board (NNDSB) with a Grade 5 entry point.

Extended French provides more French language instruction than core French but is not fully immersive, with approximately 60 per cent of instruction in French. It is designed for students who do not speak French at home. The program begins for students in Grade 5 and continues throughout secondary school.

Research shows that second language learning enhances students in the reasoning, problem-solving and creative-thinking skills necessary for 21^st century learners, as well as providing students with advantages in future career options as bilingual speakers.

Extended French is available in all areas of NNDSB. It is offered at Land of Lakes Public School, Parry Sound Public School, E.W. Norman Public School, Mattawa Public School and White Woods Public School. Students may continue Extended French at Almaguin Highlands Secondary School, F.J. McElligott Secondary School, West Ferris Secondary School, Northern Secondary School and Parry Sound High School.

Families interested in pursuing Extended French for their children are encouraged to visit this page, or call their nearest school that offers the program. Current NNDSB students need to register for the program, and students new to NNDSB must register with the board and select Extended French in the language program dropdown menu.

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

Wednesday, April 28, 2021

Funding supports installation of school ventilation systems

Near North District School Board (NNDSB) has applied and been approved for $6.2 million in joint federal and provincial infrastructure funding to improve air quality in classrooms. The funding, under the COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream: Education Related (CVRIS), is part of a larger project that provides upgrades to public infrastructure.

NNDSB’s application was for the evaluation of building systems, verification of performance, review and update of recommended maintenance measures for air handling systems. The funding covers the purchase and installation of ventilation equipment for 15 schools and will optimize air quality in a variety of spaces, including classrooms, offices and gyms.

The funding was announced earlier by the Province of Ontario, but the local announcement was made this morning by MPP Vic Fedeli and MP Anthony Rota, with participation from NNDSB Chair Jay Aspin.

“As Chair of the Board of Trustees, I express my gratitude to the provincial and federal governments for their support of NNDSB in our goal of providing education while keeping student and staff safety and well-being top of mind in these challenging times,” said Chair Aspin.

“Supporting air-quality and other infrastructure projects in Nipissing schools helps to protect our communities, making them stronger, healthier and safer today, and for years to come,” said MPP Fedeli. “These are extremely important investments that will upgrade our schools’ infrastructure and systems  – all part of the Covid-19 response,” added MPP Fedeli.

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

Monday, April 26, 2021

Highlights from April Board meeting

The following are the highlights of the Near North District School Board (NNDSB) meeting Tuesday, April 20, 2021.

New Parry Sound school update

Acting Superintendent Gay Smylie provided Trustees with an update on the new JK-12 school being built in Parry Sound.

The update notes the board’s project team has met with architects from the Ventin Group and established the basic criteria for the new school, including the project schedule as well as conceptual site and floor plans. Conceptual plans are being refined, and it is expected that a report with designs will be presented at the May 2021 Board meeting.

Trustees were provided with the project schedule that would see the demolition of a small portion of the school this summer, in preparation for new construction beginning March 2022. The schedule allows for an opening date of September 2023.

 

Surplus items available for sale online

Several departments of NNDSB have collaborated over the past few months to put a process in place for the distribution of surplus items resulting from the consolidation of North Bay secondary schools. A new Administrative Guideline for Surplus Furniture and Equipment was created, accompanied by a process to distribute relevant material to schools, then to offer the materials to outside sources if required.

To date, more than a dozen NNDSB schools have taken advantage of the new online inventory processes, and items were shipped to sites over the Spring Break, ready for use when in-person learning resumes.

Items are declared surplus if they are not required for use in schools, already exist in sufficient amount or are not suitable to support 21^st century learning. As per the Administrative Guideline, after items have been distributed to schools, any remaining surplus items will be auctioned on www.govdeals.ca. Members of the public will be able to bid on items and if successful, pay online.

Most NNDSB items will appear under the Furniture/Furnishings category, although there are items to be found in other categories.

Successful bidders will be contacted by staff in the Finance Department to arrange pick up their items. The public is encouraged to view the board’s guideline and terms and conditions before placing a bid.  

 

Summer Learning program recognized provincially

Director of Education Craig Myles shared with Trustees that NNDSB was recognized provincially by the Council of Directors of Education (CODE) for the successful work of last year’s Summer Learning Program.

The board’s outcomes were combined with those from eight other school boards for a report submitted to the Ministry of Education by CODE. The report showed how summer learning successfully supports Ontario’s vulnerable students and their families from all regions of the province.

Last summer, and for several years previous, NNDSB facilitated a technology-enabled distance learning program combined with small group learning experiences that promoted resilience, well-being and social interaction, while improving literacy and numeracy skills through fun and engaging activities.

If the Summer Learning Program is approved to run this summer, identified students will be invited to participate.

 

Executive team offered PD in human rights

The board’s executive team has been invited to participate in the Intensive Program in Human Rights for School Board Leaders offered through Osgood Professional Development. Similar to the sessions for trustees that were offered earlier this year, the session will provide a foundational understanding of human rights standards and equity relevant to Ontario’s publicly-funded school boards, and principles of the province’s Human Rights Codes, with a focus on addressing systemic inequality.

Each session features a keynote presentation by a human rights expert followed by facilitated small group discussions and case studies, designed to help integrate a human rights and equity-based approach to the work of school board leaders

Virtual information sessions held for stakeholders

The Multi-Year Strategic Plan Committee has organized six information sessions for stakeholders to learn more about the improvement plans that will support student achievement and well-being. The sessions are held from 6 to 7 p.m. beginning April 27 and will be held in all regions of the board. The schedule and Zoom links to all meetings can be found here.

 

Mental wellness webinars organized by PIC

NNDSB’s Parent Involvement Committee (PIC) has organized a three-webinar series to support students and their families in mental health and well-being. The sessions are being held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on three consecutive Wednesdays.

The series kicked off April 21 with the board’s mental health lead, Susan Lessard, on the topic of Strategies to Help Your Child with Mental Wellness. On April 28, the board’s mental health team presents a companion webinar on How to Help a Friend with mental Wellness and What to Do if You or Your Child Are Struggling. (Participating with your teen is highly recommended for this session). The final webinar on May 5 will be led by Justin Hawn, education technology program coordinator and Andy Rogers, technology-enabled learning and teaching contact. The session will show how parents and students can connect to the school through various technology spaces to enhance learning and well-being whether remote or in-person.

More information about NNDSB’s PIC and links to the webinars can be found here. The webinars are free of charge and are open to anyone in the community.

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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.

Information about Near North District School Board:

Near North District School Board is an English-language public school board serving the North Bay – Parry Sound – Nipissing area. The Board consists of approximately 10,000 students in 27 elementary schools, seven secondary/senior schools and various alternative learning centres. For more information, please visit nearnorthschools.ca and follow Near North District School Board on Social media.

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