Near North District School Board

Director of Education pens letter to bus drivers

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Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2021

To our valued bus drivers,

As we celebrate National School Bus Safety Week and School Bus Driver Appreciation Day, I want to let everyone at Nipissing Parry Sound Student Transportation Services (NPSSTS) know how valued you are by Near North District School Board (NNDSB).

Every day, we – along with thousands of NNDSB students and their families – put our trust in you to get the students to school, and back home at the end of the day. Bus drivers in this part of Ontario carry huge responsibility, transporting precious cargo through remote areas, often on treacherous roads.

NNDSB appreciates the partnership with the NPSSTS and the service it provides to the board and our students. We send all of you a hearty thank you today, School Bus Driver Appreciation Day.

Craig Myles
Director of Education

Outdoor classrooms created at Phelps Central Public School thanks to teacher and generosity of local businesses

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Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021

Learning can take place anywhere, including the outdoors. Many schools across Near North District School Board (NNDSB) have outdoors classrooms to enhance the student educational experience. With the initiative of a teacher and the support of a community, Phelps Central Public School now joins the list.

Ali Steer, a Grade 7/8 teacher at Phelps Central PS organized and led a team of volunteers and building supply donors who helped create two outdoor learning spaces where students can connect and be in nature while learning, all while adhering to public health measures.

Since their recent completion, both spaces have been used by most of the school community.

“This project’s completion is an exciting addition to our school and will set the tone for the importance of nature in the mental health and well-being of students, inspiring learning through nature, and getting our students outside more,” touted Steer.

Of course, these new learning spaces would not be possible without the generosity of local business: Richard (Pete) Renaud from R.J. Construction installed two four-season whiteboard structures; all supplies required for these structures were donated to the school by Paul Gagne from Carry All Home Building North Bay; and Jonathan Crockford at Eagle Tree and Landscaping Services generously donated the mulch flooring and log seating for both primary and junior/intermediate classrooms, which have slightly different designs.

“It was really moving to be met with such generosity from the community,” said Steer. “I was almost emotional hearing that these builders were just like, ‘yep, here you go’ and providing hundreds of dollars’ worth of supplies. To have 100 per cent of the time and materials donated was just fantastic. And I think it’s powerful for the students to also experience or understand the power of community coming together that people are willing to gift them this experience for their own education. That’s powerful, too.”

The recent completion of the project is just in time for Take Me Outside day, which is this Wednesday, Oct. 20. It’s a day that raises awareness about outdoor learning by encouraging teachers to take their students outside for at least an hour.

All school subjects can be taught outside.

“We’re doing all subjects outside. From language, math, geography, science, and certainly music,” said Steer. “Outdoor experiential learning is very powerful for most students because it taps into most learning styles. So, when we’re outside, we have more space to use movement, to use tangible objects and manipulatives in a way that’s freeing for the students outside of the four walls of the classroom. For example, we’ve had compass tutorials outside for a geography class where students can do pacing with their compass and understand direction, and orientation. Another example is that we’ve had art lessons where we’re out collecting and identifying species and then bringing those items either back to the classroom or creating arrays and tying in radial symmetry to our math lessons on fractions. There are a lot of opportunities for cross-curricular teaching as well, with the outdoors and it comes more naturally that way.”

Steer said her previous career has provided a unique perspective for student engagement.

“My background in outdoor education and wilderness therapy has prepared me for this because, for years, I’ve understood the importance of having children outside and the power of nature. So, their innate connection to being outside and how it makes them feel good mentally, spiritually, emotionally, and physically. There are so many benefits to learning outside, so why not just tie all the pieces of the curriculum into outdoor experiences to the best of my ability to enhance their learning opportunity? My experience as an outdoor facilitator means that I have a lot of back pocket activities and ways to gather attention, engage students, empower them and there are lots of leadership opportunities outside as well.

“Children want to be outside, they asked to be outside. So being able to facilitate that and link that outside time, which in their minds is usually linked to recess or play, to learning is powerful. They get the pleasure of being outside and all the benefits of having fresh air, sunlight, and tactile things to learn with. I think for students to see that they can be outside and enjoy their surroundings while learning is key,” said Steer.

The students are excited about the outdoor learning spaces.

“The fresh air really helps me concentrate because I feel very grounded and relaxed. It really helps me clear my thoughts,” said Lilly-May, a Grade 8 student.

Echoing their classmate, Rylli noted, “The outdoor classroom is very nice and calming.”

“I think the outdoor classroom is amazing because students get to take off their masks and get some fresh air. And, because I take mental breaks outside which are great,” noted Marcus, a Grade 7 Student.

NNDSB extends a big thank you to all donors and community members who continue to support student learning across the district.

NNDSB Alumnus making splash as filmmaker, credits specialized secondary school programming for his continued success

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Friday, Oct. 15, 2021

Near North District School Board’s (NNDSB) Arts Nipissing and Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) Arts and Culture programs are receiving high accolades from an alumnus.

North Bay local Darren Summersby’s, short film What Comes Next – The Musical recently won Best Canadian Student Film at the Ontario International Film Festival. The film was created as part of Summersby’s final project in Sheridan College’s four-year baccalaureate degree program.

Graduating from Near North District School Board in 2016, participation in unique media arts programs led Summersby to find his passion for the film industry.  Summersby took part in Arts Nipissing and SHSM Arts and Culture programs.  These programs are offered to current WFSS students who, like Summersby can explore their passion for the arts by taking the Arts Nipissing program and can complete their arts path by entering the SHSM program in their senior classes. The SHSM program allows students to receive curricular and experiential programming fine-tuned to their career pathway of choice. It is one of six Specialist High Skills Major programs offered at WFSS and one of 17 programs in varied career sectors offered at secondary schools throughout the board.

Arts Nipissing and SHSM Arts and Culture provide students with an interest and passion for the arts with an opportunity to complete their secondary school graduation requirements, along with an opportunity to study arts disciplines in-depth, and explore post-secondary and career opportunities in a chosen arts career path.

“You know, if it wasn’t for these programs, I don’t think I would be where I am today. It’s really introduced me to this whole industry that I knew nothing about before going into it. A lot of the things that we did in this program were some of the stuff I did at Sheridan College where I went to post-secondary.”

“I went to Sheridan College for their film and television program and a lot of people in the program had nothing like this in their high school. A lot of them weren’t sure if this is what they wanted to do because they weren’t exposed to this type of programming in high school. I was really lucky being from the north, and yet to have such a unique program for us to be able to experiment in this type of field,” Summersby said.

In Grade 12, supported by NNDSB’s Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program and SHSM programs, Summersby competed at the Skills Ontario Competition in the Film and Television Production category representing NNDSB, winning gold. He went on to represent Team Ontario at the national level.

Summersby noted a lot of the assignments that he did while in his first year at college were quite similar to the ones offered in the SHSM film classes.

“Seeing what I was doing in my first year of college, is what we’re already doing in high school. So, I was kind of already familiar with it and a step ahead. That felt good knowing that I was prepared, going into college, and I knew what I was doing.”

WFSS Vice-Principal Marg McDiarmid stated “There have been many upgrades to the school infrastructure including a new dance studio, innovation lab and enhanced theatre. As a result, we are able to offer exceptional programming that meets industry standards in the disciplines of dance, visual arts, vocal music, culinary arts, dramatic arts, media arts/film and video and instrumental music.”

“The Arts Nipissing and SHSM Arts and Culture programs foster creative expression, problem-solving and communication skills. Our staff are passionate about the arts and are committed to helping students develop deeper cultural understandings, self-confidence and awareness and resilience through innovative opportunities for growth and development,” noted McDiarmid. “We look forward to when we can welcome back audiences to support our students in celebrating their artistic achievements.”

Summersby’s film, What Comes Next made its way into 11 film festivals internationally and has gone on to win best film awards at the New York Movie Awards, Europe Film Festival, Best Shorts Competition, and the Berlin Flash Film Festival, and has been a finalist at several others.

Summersby recently offered his expertise in filming and editing the school’s highly acclaimed theatre production Pippin. Offering advice to current and future students, Summersby said secondary school is the time to explore options and see what potential career avenues there are.

“Take risks. Go and take that film class, explore and know that’s your chance to figure out if this is what you’re interested in. See if this is what you’re into. Don’t be afraid. Not a lot of school boards offer programs like we are in the Near North District School Board.”

TOK Exhibition

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By: Astra Vainio-Mattila

students learn at TOK Exhibition has chippewa secondary schoolThe IB class of 2022 has recently completed their culminating tasks for the new and improved Theory of Knowledge course, and there’s no better way than this exhibition to see how much they have improved over the course of the past month. Theory of Knowledge is a course which is mandatory for all full IB students, and involves thinking about the ways in which we as a society acquire, pass on, and use knowledge. This is done by studying the ways different subjects interact with knowledge, as well as several written papers. Even without the traditional year long course, Ms. Skorich has made the TOK class has been a joy to participate in, and this exhibition is a fantastic example of that.

Each student was tasked with choosing three objects of either personal or societal importance, and was challenged to relate eachTOK Exhibition has chippewa secondary school of these objects back to questions surrounding the concept of knowledge and other topics discussed in class. The whole class participated, along with a few teachers, and they all learned about several different topics as well as their social and personal impacts on the students. This was a fantastic way of showing how IB students have to expand their horizons and go out of their comfort zones while still having a good time and being creative, and it proves how essential TOK is to the IB experience.

Board Highlights for October Meeting

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Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021

Board Highlights for October Meeting

The following are the highlights of the Near North District School Board (NNDSB) meeting of Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021.

Elder Beaucage opens meeting with prayer

Elder Peter Beaucage, a retired Canadore College professor, was invited to open the Board meeting with a prayer. Elder Beaucage spoke in the Nipissing dialect of Anishinaabemowin, then interpreted his words.

He requested that the Great Spirit give participants in the meeting positive guidance to do their work in a positive way.

Zone 2 Trustee Gagne sworn in

Caren Gagne, appointed as the Zone 2 Trustee, was sworn in at the Oct. 12 meeting of the Board of Trustees.

Trustee Gagne, a resident of Zone 2, was a business owner for 40 years and has an extensive history of volunteerism in her community.

Province to provide menstrual product access

Last year, former Student Trustee Madelaine Paradis brought the issue of access to menstrual products to the Board. The initiative was part of a provincial campaign of the Ontario Student Trustee Association. The intent is to reduce “period poverty” which occurs when women cannot afford or lack access to menstrual products.

The initiative, which has been supported by school boards across Ontario, is also supported by all four of Ontario’s main teacher unions.

On Oct. 7, the provincial government announced a partnership with Shoppers Drug Mart to donate menstrual products to access in school washrooms to school boards across the province.

NNDSB Director of Education Craig Myles and Board Chair Jay Aspin complimented former Student Trustee Paradis and current Student Trustee Cecelia Darling on their work on this initiative.

Fricker tender awarded to local company

The Board accepted the recommendation of the Fricker Build Committee and awarded the tender for the new Fricker build to Venasse Building Group Inc. of North Bay. The group’s bid was $17,580,000.

Tenders were evaluated using the Broader Public Sector procurement guidelines.

The Board is excited for the consolidation of three schools that will enhance elementary education in this section of North Bay and ensure that students experience the modern features of a contemporary elementary school.

The school will accommodate students in Grades JK to 6, a four-room childcare centre and an EarlyON Child and Family Centre.

Summer program supports elementary students

Trustees received a report from the program team, under the leadership of Superintendent Melanie Gray, about the 2021 Summer Learning Program for students in Grades 1-8. The program was held virtually from July 5-23 with three hours of teacher-led instruction daily.

The programming is designed to help students acquire math and literacy knowledge and skills. This summer, programming was also designed to prepare intermediate students for success as they enter the secondary panel and the new de-streamed Grade 9 math curriculum.

The summer program had three camps whose staff was made up of teachers, educational assistants and child development counsellors.

Several community partners also contributed to student engagement, including Perry McLeod-Shabogesic who shared Indigenous stories, Science North which delivered online workshops and presentations, an NNDSB all-female innovator team, a Métis perspective on the innovation of fire building and staff from Canadore College who helped with several presentations and pre-recorded sessions.

The report adds that the summer learning program helps students’ learning trajectories while promoting positive parent-school relationships, professional development and leadership opportunities for all educators.

Partnership with C3P outlined

A report from Superintendent Gay Smylie outlined how a partnership with the Canadian Centre for Child Protection (C3P) is training educators about sex trafficking and helping to implement prevention strategies. The partnership is a result of the requirement that all Ontario school boards establish and follow a protocol for the response to suspected sex trafficking occurrences

Through C3P, staff will receive training to identify the signs of sex-trafficking, respond to disclosures, be responsive to diverse student populations and support the immediate physical and emotional safety needs of students. Staff will also learn how to avoid certain actions that could make an individual’s situation worse.

A 2.5-hour certificate level training called Commit to Kids: Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Training will empower all adults who work with children and youth to become protective adults. NNDSB will also be provided with guidance, resources and templates from C3P to support the creation of child protection policies.

Staff were given an overview of C3P resources as well as information about the government initiative. Superintendent Smylie’s report noted that because educators have daily contact with children, they are well poised to identify the cues and safely intervene if they suspect a student is involved in trafficking.

C3P will host a virtual parent information night Nov. 17 during Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week. There will also be publications available for parents.

The resources are made available through funding of the Ontario Provincial Strategy to Protect Children from Sexual Exploitation on the Internet and support from the Ontario Provincial Police.

NNDSB policy implementation lauded

Director of Education Myles addressed NNDSB’s successful implementation of a vaccination policy using a third-party app, ThriveHealth.

The app provider has recognized the board for developing a procedure that is one of the most effective across Canada. ThriveHealth has reached out to see if NNDSB would support the Government of the Northwest Territories by sharing the board’s approach.

Director Myles says the work demonstrates the board’s strategic commitment to excellence in innovation. He expressed his thanks to the human resources and information technology departments under the leadership of Superintendent of Business Seija Van Haesendonck for their work that has brought national recognition to the board.

Student Trustee reports full slate of activities

Cecilia Darling, NNDSB’s Student Trustee, reported that students are demonstrating their enthusiasm for the return of extra-curriculars. Band and drama clubs, as well as basketball, volleyball, cross-country, golf and soccer teams have drawn students to participate.

Secondary schools have held their elections, and the new student leaders are planning spirit weeks, Halloween events, and focusing on mental health and wellness.

The Student Senate has begun setting its goals for the year and are starting initiatives that address the interests and needs of students.

Student Trustee Darling also requested and received the support of the Board to attend the Ontario Student Trustee Association fall general meeting Nov. 4-7.

Board supports nomination of SBO to OSBIE

The Board approved the nomination of NNDSB Superintendent of Business Seija Van Haesendonck to the Ontario School Boards’ Insurance Exchange (OSBIE) Board of Directors, representing the Northeast Region.

During the committee-of-the-whole meeting (held just before the Board meeting), Director of Education Myles said the position with OSBIE “aligns with her portfolio and the work she does on a daily basis”. He added NNDSB would be “honoured to have a rep at that table” which would also align with the multi-year strategic plan’s pillars of Excellence in Relationships and Excellence in Communication.

Administrative Guidelines open for consultation

Last month the Board approved that NNDSB administrative guidelines could proceed to public consultation once reviewed by Executive Council. In order to keep Trustees apprised of which guidelines are open for consultation, it was requested that the guidelines that are available for stakeholder input be listed in the agenda as a standing item.

There are currently five administrative guidelines that are open for consultation. They can be found on this page of the board’s website (in the first text box).

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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)
Communications Officer
Near North District School Board
P. (705) 472-8170 ext. 5010
E. Deb.Bartlett@nearnorthschools.ca

Fricker tender awarded to Venasse Building Group Inc.

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Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021

Fricker tender awarded to Venasse Building Group Inc.

Near North District School Board (NNDSB) is pleased to announce that Venasse Building Group Inc. of North Bay has been awarded the contract for the new Fricker build. The group submitted a tender of $17,580,000.

The Request for Proposals (RFP) closed on Sept. 23, and an evaluation committee met to discuss the bids that were submitted. The tenders were evaluated using a scoring matrix that follows the Broader Public Sector procurement guidelines.

The Fricker Build Committee, chaired by Trustee Bill Steer, met on Oct. 5 and unanimously agreed to support the recommendation of the evaluation committee. Both committees had agreed to award the tender to the top-scoring applicant.

Board Chair Jay Aspin said, “The new Fricker school which will consolidate three schools and enhance elementary education in this section of North Bay. This school will ensure that more students in the city will experience the modern features of a contemporary elementary school.  As this has been a key priority of our board, our Fricker Build Committee has worked effectively with administration to make it happen.”

“This project underpins the Board’s commitment to innovation under the new Multi-Year Strategic Plan, in that we look forward to providing future-oriented learning experiences that promote excellence in student achievement and well-being” stated Trustee Steer.

NNDSB Director of Education, Craig Myles said, “We look forward to working with contractors and architects to get this project underway, in the best interest of our staff, families and most importantly, our students.”

Trustee Louise Sargent, who sits on the Fricker Build Committee, noted that it was gratifying to see the tender awarded to a local company.

Funding from the Ministry of Education will cover the cost of demolition of the former W.J. Fricker Senior Public School and the construction of a replacement school, which will accommodate students in Junior Kindergarten to Grade 6, a four-room childcare centre (one infant, one toddler and two pre-school rooms), and an EarlyON Child and Family Centre.

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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

Modification to Nipissing District COVID-19 Protocol for Inter-school Extracurricular Activities, Sports and Clubs

By

Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021

Modification to Nipissing District COVID-19 Protocol for Inter-school Extracurricular Activities, Sports and Clubs 

The four co-terminus boards (Conseil scolaire catholique Franco-Nord, Conseil scolaire public due Nord-Est de l’Ontario, Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic District School Board and Near North District School Board) and the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit have been working collaboratively and diligently to introduce extra-curriculars as quickly as possible while keeping staff and students safe.

We know the decision of spectators not being permitted at practices or games has not been favourable in the community. As the protocol for inter-school extra-curricular activities is fluid and can be modified as needed and when required, a decision has been made to allow media to cover and/or broadcast school board events in our community, so the events may be shared with students’ families and friends, as well as the broader public. We are pleased to announce this comes into effect immediately.

Extra-curricular Media Protocol

  • Media will be permitted at school extra-curricular events both indoors and outdoors, to provide the opportunity to broadcast events and results to the community.
  • The co-terminus boards have developed a media pass that must be displayed to gain entry to an event.
  • To obtain a pass, members of the media must show proof of being fully vaccinated.
  • Media contacts must register prior to the event.
  • Upon arrival to the game/event, member of the media verifies self-screening and signs in visitor log (as per usual process).

We are diligently working on viable solutions to enable the attendance of spectators, which will follow all required provincial health and safety processes, including maintaining spectator logs for contact tracing, as a next phase of our extra-curricular protocol. Please watch for further news.

We thank you for your understanding and patience.

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For more information, please contact:

Jacqueline Levesque, Communications & marketing agent, Conseil scolaire catholique Franco-Nord, levesquj@franco-nord.ca

Guylaine Scherer, Communications Director, Conseil scolaire public du Nord-Est de l’Ontario, guylaine.scherer@cspne.ca

Victoria Johnson, Executive Assistant to the Director of Education, Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic District School Board, johnsonv@npsc.ca

Deb Bartlett, Communications Officer, Near North District School Board, Deb.Bartlett@nearnorthschools.ca

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Communiqué de presse

Pour diffusion immédiate

Le mercredi 6 octobre 2021

Modification au protocole COVID-19 pour les activités parascolaires interscolaires, les sports et les clubs du district de Nipissing

Les quatre conseils limitrophes (Conseil scolaire catholique Franco-Nord, Conseil scolaire public du Nord-Est de l’Ontario, Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic District School Board et Near North District School Board) et le Bureau de santé du district de North Bay-Parry Sound ont fait preuve de collaboration et de diligence pour lancer les activités parascolaires aussi rapidement que possible tout en assurant la sécurité du personnel et des élèves.

Nous reconnaissons que la décision d’interdire les spectateurs lors des entraînements ou des parties n’a pas été bien accueillie par la communauté. Étant donné que le protocole pour les activités parascolaires interscolaires est fluide et peut être modifié selon les besoins, une décision a été prise pour permettre aux médias de couvrir ou de diffuser les événements du conseil scolaire dans notre communauté, afin que les événements puissent être partagés avec les familles et les amis des élèves, ainsi qu’avec le grand public. Nous sommes heureux d’annoncer que cette décision entre en vigueur immédiatement.  

Protocole des médias relatif aux activités parascolaires

  • Les médias seront autorisés à assister aux événements parascolaires de l’école, tant à l’intérieur qu’à l’extérieur, afin de permettre la diffusion des événements et des résultats à la communauté.
  • Les conseils limitrophes ont mis au point un laissez-passer pour les médias qu’il faut présenter pour avoir accès à un événement.
  • Pour obtenir ce laissez-passer, les représentants des médias doivent présenter une preuve de vaccination complète.
  • Les représentants des médias doivent s’inscrire avant l’événement.
  • À l’arrivée à la partie ou à l’événement, le représentant des médias confirme son autodépistage et signe le registre des visiteurs (comme d’habitude).

Nous travaillons diligemment à trouver des solutions viables pour permettre la participation des spectateurs, tout en respectant les critères provinciaux en matière de santé et de sécurité, y compris la tenue d’un registre des spectateurs pour la recherche des contacts comme prochaine étape de notre protocole parascolaire. Veuillez surveiller les prochaines communications à ce sujet.

Nous vous remercions pour votre compréhension.

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Pour de plus amples renseignements, veuillez communiquer auprès de :

Jacqueline Lévesque, Agente des communications et du Marketing, Conseil scolaire catholique Franco-Nord, levesquj@franco-nord.ca

Guylaine Scherer, Directrice du service des communications, Conseil scolaire public du Nord-Est de l’Ontario, guylaine.scherer@cspne.ca

Victoria Johnson, Adjointe exécutive du directeur de l’éducation, Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic District School Board, johnsonv@npsc.ca

Deb Bartlett, Agente des communications, Near North District School Board, Deb.Bartlett@nearnorthschools.ca

West Ferris Secondary School Named Apple Distinguished School

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Friday, Oct. 1, 2021

West Ferris Secondary School Named Apple Distinguished School

West Ferris Secondary School is pleased to announce that it has been recognized as an Apple Distinguished School for 2021–2024 for its meaningful use of Apple products and programs such as Everyone Can Code in an effort to get students future-ready. Educators and students use iMac, MacBook Air and iPad to create innovative, personalized teaching and learning experiences.

Apple Distinguished Schools are centres of innovation, leadership, and educational excellence. They use Apple technology to connect students to the world, fuel creativity, deepen collaboration, and make learning personal.

Sean Ruddy, the interim Principal of West Ferris says “We are very excited to be continuing our journey as an Apple Distinguished School. This recognition reaffirms our deep commitment to a cycle of innovation that continues to be a driving force for positive growth at our school.”

Brent Yacoback, the coordinator of the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) program says, “The staff and students of West Ferris are thrilled that West Ferris has been recognized as an Apple Distinguished School for 2021-2024.  This recognition will help to inspire staff and students to continue to push the boundaries of what is possible with using technology in the classroom.”

Kendall Rosilius, a Grade 11 iCoach at the school says, “I was very excited to learn that West Ferris has been recognized as an Apple Distinguished school again.  I think it’s great that future students will be able to benefit from the same opportunities that I’ve had as an iCoach at West Ferris.”

At the school, students are co-learners with their peers and teachers. The STEAM program provides students with unique learning opportunities that help students to appreciate and develop a good understanding of the interrelationships amongst various disciplines. A priority of STEAM is to ensure that students learn digital agility and master 21st century competencies. Fundamental principles in the program develop students’ skills in problem-solving, analysis, experimentation, synthesis, and communication by integrating technology with project-based learning.

West Ferris students use MacBook, iMac and iPad to facilitate, enhance and redefine instruction of the curriculum in all STEAM courses. Learning is no longer defined by what is going on in the classroom but rather, has emerged as a 24-7 experience.

Staff are very excited to offer a new STEAM-focused construction SHSM pathway in September 2021. This extension of the program will leverage iPad, MacBook and iMac and link our existing coding continuum with our current construction SHSM. This new STEAM approach to the current SHSM will provide our students with opportunities to learn how to design, build and code robots.

For more than 29 years, the West Ferris STEAM program has to define “The Evolution of Learning” (the STEAM program’s motto).

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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

 

Letter to Families

By

Friday, Oct. 1, 2021

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The weekly Letter to Families was intended to help you learn how Near North District School Board (NNDSB) will support you in the return to school. We are hopeful that you and your child(ren) are settling into new routines. As a result, these letters will now be scheduled on a monthly, not weekly basis. The Letter to Families will be distributed on the first Friday of the month.

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The 2021-2022 school year is off to a great start at secondary schools with the kickoff of Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) programs.

This year, we add two additional programs: Mining at Northern Secondary and Hospitality and Tourism at West Ferris Secondary.

These two incredible programs join our 15 existing programs to support hands-on and experiential learning that relate to career pathways and sector-related experiences. Students enrolled in SHSM have the opportunity to participate in unique certifications as well as learning alongside NNDSB’s community partners.

There is a SHSM program to match any student pathway! Students interested in these programs can reach out to their school’s guidance departments for more information or, visit the SHSM page of the board’s website to learn more.

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We encourage families to take some time to become familiar with NNDSB’s virtual learning tools and resources to help prepare for any situation that results in your child(ren) being required to learn from home.

The Near North District School Board supports the use of virtual learning platforms that allow students to connect with learning resources in a secure environment. Three primary, board-supported platforms include Brightspace LMS, Edsby and Office 365.

Please familiarize yourself with these resources and tips to prepare for remote learning:

  • students are encouraged to confirm they’re able to sign into their classroom virtual learning platform (LMS, Edsby, Office 365). If you encounter any issues logging in, please email passwordreset@nearnorthschools.ca or during regular school hours please call: (705) 472-5169 (North Bay), (705) 773-7975 (Parry Sound)
  • use the following links for parent information regarding Brightspace LMS and Edsby. Contact your child’s teacher if you’re unable to login.  Click here to reset your parent password
  • the Learning at Home page hosts a variety of resources and helpful links to support at-home learning including access to various learning platforms as well as math and literacy resources
  • Microsoft Teams is a board-supported communication tool used to connect synchronously using audio, video and chat. Use the following link to learn how to join a Teams meeting across various devices: Microsoft Teams for Students
  • teachers will continue to integrate digital tools into classroom learning to ensure that students are prepared for a possible “pivot” to remote learning.

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NNDSB follows the direction of the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health and the public health unit when devising COVID-19 plans.

Thank you,

Near North District School Board

Biindigen

Mii gwi Anishinabek wewena nkenmaaminak dependajig maa kiing.
"We acknowledge in a good way, the original people of the land here"
We value the cultures, histories and relationships with the Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island (North America)

Connect With Us

Near North District School Board
963 Airport Road, P.O. Box 3110, North Bay, ON P1B 8H1
[P] 705-472-8170   [TF] 1-800-278-4922   [F] 705-472-9927