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
