Local schools to celebrate their graduates and end of year

June 10, 2021 By Josh

Thursday, June 10, 2021

Local schools to celebrate their graduates and end of year

North Bay, ON –

In consultation with the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit, the four local school boards – Conseil scolaire catholique Franco-Nord, Conseil scholaire public du Nord-Est de l’Ontario, Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic District School Board and Near North District School Board – are confirming that school administrators will move ahead with virtual ceremonies with the opportunity of a drive-by component in order to provide graduates and a few immediate family members a safe yet unique celebration. Elementary school administrators are invited to offer virtual ceremonies to their graduating students with the possibility of a drive-by element if it is feasible and safe.

All scheduled drive-up components will be done with all safety precautions in place and in alignment with the approach outlined in the recently released Guide to End of School Year Celebrations by the Province of Ontario.

Principals will be communicating the final details of their ceremonies with families as it will be left to their discretion to organize the most secure event. Any year-end ceremony that involves physically attending a location will be held with the support and recommendations of the Health Unit, whose oversight will address requirements such as COVID pre-screening and masking. We would also like to provide a reminder that gathering before or after any in-person year end celebration is not permitted by the provincial COVID-19 measures.

Parents are invited to contact their school administrator should they have any questions related to their specific school’s plan.

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For more information, please contact:

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

Guylaine Scherer, Communications Officer, 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

Letter to families: Health unit issues updated information on youth COVID-19 vaccinations

June 9, 2021 By Josh

Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit released updated information today for clinic dates and times for youth to book their COVID-19 vaccines. Free transportation is now available.

Youth aged 12-17 are eligible to begin receiving their COVID-19 vaccine on June 14. Health Canada authorized the use of Pfizer-BioNTech for use by youth 12 and older.

Below are links and a brief description of the communication from the health unit.

Email to Parents – COVID-19 vaccine clinics for youth

Youth messaging – COVID-19 vaccine clinics for youth

Transportation for youth-specific clinics

Child and youth COVID-19 fact sheet

Child and youth COVID-19 poster

Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

Near North District School Board

Local businesses support SHSM students’ certifications

June 7, 2021 By Josh

June 7, 2021

Local businesses support SHSM students’ certifications

Near North District School Board (NNDSB) offers a wide range of programming options for students across the district. One program, the Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM), allows secondary school students in the pathways of apprenticeship, college, university or workplace to focus on sector-specific skills. Students gain specialized training and certifications while completing the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) requirements.

In past years, students benefited from many in-person trainings and certifications, but COVID-19 and the resulting lockdowns and shut-downs made accessing the certifications challenging, as in-person training is no longer an option.

Lisa Spencer, coordinator of student success, gap closing, secondary program and SHSM, says that students in the SHSM program complete their secondary school diploma requirements while also earning two coop credits, and between four and seven certifications. There are mandatory certifications, such as automated external defibrillator (AED) training, cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS), along with at least one sector-specific certification.

The orders in place around COVID meant that no one was able to come and teach those components.

NNDSB’s Health and Safety and Maintenance Coordinator, James Coventry, was able to access and post content through the board’s Safe Schools portal that enabled students to get some safety-related certifications.

Meeting some of the sector-specific requirements was more difficult, says Spencer. Trainers weren’t able to come to the schools, yet “we want them (students) in touch with the sector,” says Spencer. The benefits include businesses knowing about NNDSB students and their training, which opens doors for coop placements and employment, and exposes students to professionals in the sector.

SHSM students must spend six hours in a sector-partnered experience, which traditionally (pre-COVID) meant one day at the location of a business partner. COVID has altered how that is done; it means that students can no longer attend in-person, but it also means students had access to a wider pool of partners thanks to technology.

One such connection made was with Anita Brisson, a local business owner, project management professional and a certified LEAN Six Sigma Black who has been providing professional development since 2006. The SHSM business students at both Chippewa and West Ferris Secondary Schools took her Project Management for Beginners course, in which they learned about time management, task breakdown and budgeting.

“The project management course gave students perspective about project scope and goals, and other skills that are valuable in the workplace,” says Spencer.

Other partnerships that developed because of COVID include Nipissing University, which created a sports/nutrition program for SHSM health and wellness students, and Inksmith, which worked on modules for SHSM students in the areas of math, coding, and innovations, creativity and entrepreneurship (ICE).

Spencer notes the relationships with leaders, sector entrepreneurs and partners in the community has not waned through the pandemic, and in fact, the partners have been helping to solve the problem of meeting the needs of the hours students need to meet their educational requirements.

These partners, she says, “align with our vision for learning”. The priority is always “what’s best for kids”, and other initiatives that have resulted in learning opportunities for students include a sector-partnered experience in coding and workshops for students on musical instrument care.

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

Indigenous language studies at NNDSB

June 4, 2021 By Josh

The following interviews were conducted and the feature was written in mid-May for publication in early June to acknowledge and celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day on Monday, June 21. The discovery of the remains of 215 Indigenous children on the grounds of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School in British Columbia brings to the fore the importance of support for Indigenous students, and the study of Indigenous issues for all.

Indigenous education is an important part of student learning for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous. Learning about Indigenous history, culture, and worldview is the foundation of truth and reconciliation.

While Indigenous education has numerous learning aspects, this feature will focus on Near North District School Board (NNDSB)’s language studies programming. While the Ministry of Education calls this programming NSL, at NNDSB the preferred name is Anishinaabemowin or Nishnaabemwin.

NNDSB offers Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe language) classes to students in 13 schools. With 10 language teachers and 365 students enrolled, students have the opportunity to learn Anishinaabemowin to develop a better understanding of Indigenous culture and benefit from cross-cultural education.

“Learning about Indigenous language and culture is very important for all students and staff,” said Tracy Hendrick, NNDSB’s Indigenous Education Lead. “Infusing Indigenous worldview in the classroom and curriculum, in a good way that appreciates the culture, not appropriates it, should be happening regularly and not just on special days of recognition.”

All students, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, can take Anishinaabemowin classes in lieu of French. Anishinaabemowin ensures Indigenous students can learn about and embrace their cultural ways, and sharing what they already know enhances their sense of identity and pride. Non-Indigenous students gain a better understanding of and appreciation for Indigenous culture and worldviews.

Anishinaabemowin classes often take the lead in helping all students and staff develop an awareness and appreciation of Indigenous cultures and languages. This can include organizing school powwows, school drum groups, and incorporating Ojibwe language throughout the school in several ways including word of the day and signage.

Wanda McQuabbie has been an Anishinaabemowin teacher at Britt Public School for almost 20 years.

“I’m fortunate to have my First Nations background that helps and supports our learners who are Indigenous and non-Indigenous,” explains McQuabbie. “At Britt, the learning has really flourished. Even though we’re a small school, our language is strong at the school and across the school. It’s really progressed over the years.”

Common Ojibwe words and phrases you may see or hear around the school or in a meeting are:

boozhoo – more formal hello
aaniin – more casual hello
kina weyaa – everyone
<name> ndizhnikaaz – my name is
<place> ndoonjibaa – I’m from
mno gizhep – good morning
mno giizhgat – it’s a nice day
mno bmaadziwin – a good life
biindigen – welcome
miigwech – thank you
baamaapii – until later (used when parting, similar to a good-bye)
ahow, nahow – ok (often used to acknowledge a thank you)
weweni – take care, be careful
binoojiinyag – children
Anishinaabe – Ojibwe/Pottawatomi person
Anishinaabeg or Anishinaabek – plural of Anishinaabe
Anishinaabe kwe – Anishinaabe woman
Anishinaabe kwewag or kwewak – plural Anishinaabe women
Anishinaabemowin or Nishnaabemwin- Ojibwe language

Depending on the individual or community, there may be spelling differences.

“I’m proud to be part of Near North and proud to say the language is strong here. I’m part of a great team that tries to fulfill that portion of that Native language program,” said McQuabbie. “At Britt, we have a drum, teepee put up – it’s visible in our school. We are sharing our knowledge with the other NSL teachers. We’ve come a long way as an NSL group.”

NSL was first introduced in Ontario’s education curriculum in 1987.

The first school within NNDSB to offer NSL was Britt Public School. Since then, several other schools began offering these classes and programming.

“When my students graduate, I give them an Eagle feather. And there are teachings that go along with that Eagle feather, which is a major accomplishment when they receive it – it’s a high honour. I tell my students what it represents and they carry that for life,” said McQuabbie.

When asked, McQuabbie says her favourite part of teaching students the language is having them learn and understand it.

“My favourite part of the job is hearing the kids speak the language and having them repeat it back to me as well as carry on a conversation. It’s a real joy for me.”

For McQuabbie, the first language she learned was Ojibwe and she learned English as a second language.

“If you have all the appropriate resources and tools in place, it makes it easier and fun for the kids to learn the language,” she stated. “I put pride in everything that I make for my kids. And for them to use it and utilize it and learn it and to have for them to use and speak the language. That’s the golden moment for me.”

Hard work, dedication, and skill pay off for Parry Sound High School students at Skills Ontario competition

June 4, 2021 By Josh

June 4, 2021

Winning a medal in the prestigious Skills Ontario Competition is incredibly difficult – it takes dedication, perseverance and passion. All the necessary ingredients came together for three Parry Sound High School hospitality students.

The trio, Hazel Joy Downey, Sarah Hardie, and Keegan Love, each brought back a medal in their respective categories: baking and culinary arts.

“I was so excited to get out there on May 4 and do the best I could and show off all my hard work for those judges. I was so happy and pleased with my dishes. I have said it before and I’ll say it again, I am very thankful to be given this opportunity and what helped me get through this whole experience was everyone who cheered me on from day one, especially my teacher Blair Cousins,” said Hardie, who earned silver in the culinary arts category. “When it came time for the awards ceremony, I could barely look at the screen as I was so nervous. I saw Keegan Love’s name pop up on the screen for the bronze medal and I thought for sure I was in at least fourth place; I was not expecting to see my own name on the screen for silver when I looked back up. I am very honoured to be the student holding the silver medal this year; it is way better than I could have imagined and I am beyond grateful!”

The Skills Ontario Competition is Canada’s largest skilled trades competition and traditionally hosts more than 2,400 students each May in Etobicoke. This year, the competition took place virtually. Due to the stay-at-home order and shift to virtual learning, students adapted to prepare and compete virtually in front of judges from their own kitchens.

“Leading up to the competition, I went from confident to terrified of doing the competition. Skills don’t only test your culinary skills, it also tests your mental and physical state, and how you work under pressure and stress, like real-world situations in the field,” explained Love, who earned bronze in the culinary arts category. “On the day of the ceremony, I was nervous but still hopeful. The baking category was first, and I was excited that Hazel Joy Downey, a friend of mine, placed third in baking that I was celebrating a bit, then heard my name called and freaked out and then my competitor Sarah Hardie won silver, so it was a rollercoaster of excitement that kept building. I hope to do better next year,” Love said.

Parry Sound High School is home to the prestigious Specialized High Skills Major (SHSM) tourism and hospitality program and state-of-the-art industrial kitchen.

A proud Blair Cousins, the school’s Tourism and Hospitality teacher, reflected on the competition.

“It was so exciting to share this experience with Hazel Joy Downey in her last competition at PSHS. Downey achieved her goal of earning a medal after finishing sixth in her Grade 10 year (Culinary) and losing her internet while trying to compete from the Philippines last year,” said Cousins. “It was also the school’s first baking medal at Skills. For Sarah Hardie and Keegan Love, it reinforced their efforts and sets a goal for them to become our school’s first two-time medal winners next year. Sarah and Keegan overcame many obstacles and I am so proud of them.”

With an ambitious plan, Downey, who earned bronze in the baking category, said planning and careful execution were extremely important.

“Baking was difficult to accomplish in my own kitchen especially with the big ideas I wanted to execute – from the fragile French macarons to the povitica bread and the Enchanted Forest bar cake. But careful planning and time allowances allowed me to get everything done on time.”

Upon seeing her name on the screen during the awards ceremony, Downey ‘couldn’t believe it.’

“I screamed in disbelief that I had just placed third for Skills Ontario. I rushed to call my coach and mentor, Mr. Cousins to share my excitement,” she recalled.

Of course, the success of any program can’t happen without the dedication and support of staff.

“While the students were successful, none of it happens without the support of NNDSB Director (Craig) Myles, Lisa Spencer, Liana Blaskievich and Roy Desjardins. The support of the PSHS administration Dawn Buckland, Heather Hickey and Wesley Baxter is crucial to our ability to prepare our students to take on the best in the province,” said Cousins. “We also were fortunate to access former student Cody Wallace, chef de cuisine at Cut Steakhouse in Halifax, N.S. who helped the students with a TEAMS workshop where he showed a sesame seed tuile that Sarah used in the competition and just settled the students’ nerves and helped them focus.”

Cousins noted that Chef Fintan Flynn of Canadore College and Chef Monique Cousins also provided suggestions and advice to the students.

SHSM supports students in planning for a career in the skilled trades. The hospitality and tourism program allows students to build a foundation of sector-focused knowledge and skills before graduating and entering apprenticeship training, college, university, or an entry-level position in the workplace.

Students learn about food preparation and hospitality services, connect with hospitality employers, participate in training and certification in customer service and safe food handling and gain apprenticeship opportunities upon graduation.

Earlier this year, PSHS welcomed Minister of Education Stephen Lecce and Member of Provincial Parliament Norm Miller to the school for a virtual tour of the program. Both expressed their amazement with the skill and hands-on learning taking place. In his visit, Lecce noted PSHS’s hospitality and tourism program is the “gold standard of practical skills training.”

“We have seen our incredible teachers, students, and administrators move to meet the needs of program this year. We see resilience in our students as they charge ahead, focused on gaining experience and skills that are integral to their future. Supported by teachers who prioritize the interests and goals of their students, we have been able, as a system to continue with activities that enrich educational experiences and of course, the lives of students,” said Lisa Spencer, coordinator of student success, gap closing, secondary program and SHSM.

In a typical year, former PSHS competitors would come back to coach students, mock judge or talk about their own experiences.

“This continuity of alumni who have set the standard of success and now share it with others is what makes PSHS successful,” noted Cousins.

“I am very proud of all the students that participated in the Skills 2020-21 competitions. It takes an abundance of dedication, determination, and perseverance to prepare and participate in these challenges,” said Roy Desjardins, OYAP coordinator and dual credit teacher. “Mr. Cousins, and the PSHS team, remain dedicated to helping students achieve their personal goals and strive for excellence. It is no wonder that three members of this team received awards. My hat is off to this amazing team, they are truly an inspiration to others.”

Congratulations, Hazel, Keegan, and Sarah. You have made PSHS and NNDSB proud!

Invitation to Parry Sound build community presentation

June 3, 2021 By Deb

Thursday, June 3, 2021

Invitation to Parry Sound build community presentation

Near North District School Board (NNDSB) would like to invite you to a community review of the new JK-12 school project on Tuesday, June 8, 2021 at 7 p.m. Together with NNDSB, The Ventin Group Architects (+VG) will be presenting an early look at the preliminary site plans and the new school’s conceptual floor plan layout.

Opening remarks will be offered by the Board of Trustees and senior administration before inviting Principal Architect, Paul Sapounzi, to review a presentation. The presentation will be approximately 30 minutes in duration, followed by an opportunity to address design-specific questions.

This is an exciting new school build for Parry Sound and surrounding areas. Please refer to the board’s website for the link to join the virtual presentation.

Information about Near North District School Board:

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

Letter to Families – Premier announces remote learning to continue

June 2, 2021 By Deb

Wednesday, June 2, 2021

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Premier Doug Ford announced this afternoon that Ontario schools will remain closed to in-person learning for the remainder of this school year. Near North District School Board (NNDSB) students will continue to learn remotely until the end of the month.

While it is disappointing that staff and students won’t be able to see each other in person before the school year ends, the board looks forward to a return to face-to-face instruction.

If you have questions about your child’s learning, please reach out to their teacher.

NNDSB’s website features resources for families, including learning and mental health supports. The website, as well as the board’s Facebook and Twitter accounts, are updated regularly and are a great source of news and information for families.

We learned today that school boards are authorized, after consulting with public health units, to hold outdoor graduations. NNDSB will be reaching out to the health unit to discuss the possibility of outdoor graduations. If you have a student graduating, watch for communication from your child’s school regarding their graduation ceremony.

Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

Near North District School Board

2021-2022 School Year Calendar is available

June 1, 2021 By Josh

Director’s message to staff regarding tragic discovery at former Kamloops residential school

May 31, 2021 By Josh

May 31, 2021

I write this message with deepest respect and profound sadness. The discovery this week of the remains of 215 children at Kamloops Indian Residential School is a glaring reminder that we have a great deal of work to do to educate our society on the tragic wrongs we have committed and continue to commit towards the people whose land we occupy. Any act of reconciliation seems insignificant when faced with such tragedies. Let us consider our own acts of reconciliation as a move toward a more positive and inclusive future for all.

Let us also be diligent in the care of our students and each other and remember that there are supports available through our mental wellness teams. Reach out to your immediate supervisor should you or your students require support.

Please find below a media release which will be sent today to inform the public of the NNDSB decision to lower all flags to half-mast for 215 hours from May 31 to June 8.

The Near North District School Board community is saddened by the news of the discovery of the remains of 215 children on the grounds of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School in British Columbia.

Our thoughts are with the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation, the surrounding First Nations of this area, and all Indigenous Peoples across Turtle Island.

This disturbing discovery reinforces our commitment to make reconciliation a priority in our school board. We commit to transform our education system to decolonize our practices and our minds and to honour Indigenous histories, cultures and perspectives today and every day.

All Near North District School Board buildings will lower their flags for 215 hours to honour the 215 lives lost in remembrance of all Indigenous children who never made it home and in acknowledgement of residential school survivors and their families. Flags will fly at half-mast from May 31 to June 8.

Sincerely,
Craig Myles
Director of Education

Letter to Families: Youth COVID-19 vaccine information

May 28, 2021 By Deb

Friday, May 28, 2021

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit released information today regarding the safety and eligibility of COVID-19 vaccines for youth.

Health Canada has authorized the use of Pfizer-BioNTech has been authorized for use by youth 12 and older, and Ontario youths aged 12-17 are now eligible to register for vaccination.

Below are links and a brief description of the communication from the health unit.

Email to Parents – COVID-19 vaccine clinics for youth

Youth messaging – COVID-19 vaccine clinics for youth

Child and Youth COVID-19 fact sheet

Child and Youth COVID-19 poster

Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

Near North District School Board

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