January 7, 2021

Dear Parents/Guardians:

The Government of Ontario has declared that elementary and secondary schools in the North, including those in the Near North District School Board, will be open for in-class learning beginning Monday, Jan. 11, 2021. The status of in-person learning at MacTier Public School (which is under the authority of another health unit) will be determined tomorrow, at which time further communication will be provided.

The area, along with the rest of the province, remains under lockdown as it pertains to businesses and other restrictions for a further two weeks.

At NNDSB, the health and safety of our students, staff, and community is our number one priority. Our schools continue to implement every measure as outlined in the NNDSB Return to School safety protocols.

I know the new year has already seen a challenge with the mandated province-wide shutdown, which saw students learn virtually for the week. I understand your frustrations but rest assured that NNDSB staff are doing their best to address the needs of students amid the COVID-19 challenge.

If you have any questions regarding your child(ren)’s learning, please reach out to their principal. They are best suited to address any questions that you may have.

Also, please monitor the board’s website nearnorthschools.ca for updates and follow our Facebook and Twitter accounts. We will continue to share accurate and timely information, Ministry correspondence, and resources with you as they become available.

Additional resource material, including learning, mental health, and supports, can also be found on our website’s menu sections. The Province’s news release can be found here.

Thank you for your continued support and understanding during this time. Stay safe and I wish you a healthy and prosperous 2021.

Sincerely,

Craig Myles
Director of Education

December 31, 2020

Dear NNDSB Parents/Guardians,

We hope that you are enjoying some much-deserved rest and relaxation during the winter break. As we look forward to the start of the new year, we would like to take this opportunity to share additional information with you related to the reopening of schools in January 2021.

As you know, on December 21, the Ontario government announced changes to return to school plans for all schools following the break. Further to the information shared on December 23, 2020, we would like to share some additional details.

Elementary and Secondary Students Attending In-Person School

As mentioned previously, for the period of January 4-8, 2021, learning for all students will take place virtually and schools will be closed to students, with the exception of special education students in system classes and specialized classes. School staff will meet the morning of January 4 and educators will check-in with families before the end of the day. Virtual instruction will begin on January 5, 2021.

Based on current information from the ministry, students attending school in-person for face-to-face (F2F) learning will return to in-person learning at schools on January 11, 2021.

Elementary and Secondary Students Attending Virtual School

As a reminder, for students in virtual school, teaching and learning will continue as previously planned without changes. Your regular learning timetable will be followed beginning January 5, 2021.

Special Education – System classes/Specialized Program classes 

All high-needs, special education students in system classes/specialized program classes will attend remotely on January 4th, 5th and possibly the 6th. Teachers of specialized class programs will be contacting families who had previously selected in-school learning to determine if they would like to return to in-school learning or to continue remote learning until all in-school learning resumes. Parents/guardians, and students where appropriate, are encouraged to select the option that would best meet the needs of their youth and family. Efforts will be made to ensure that regular transportation will be available for in-school learners in fully self-contained specialized programs K-12 classes commencing on the date agreed upon by the school, family and transportation consortium (if required).

More information regarding the return to in-person learning for students in special education programming will be shared by your child’s teacher.

Technology Distribution

We realize that some of our students will need to borrow a device from the school in order to learn from home.  If your child has no other access to a device for at-home learning, please mention this to your child’s teacher or principal. We will do our best to distribute available devices as soon as possible. We recognize many of our families will be sharing one home device, and we are planning with this in mind.

Online Learning Resources

Please continue to refer to our Near North Passport to Learning website which offers a variety of resources and tools that cover a range of grades and subjects that may be helpful for students and parents during this time. Resources will continue to be updated and expanded upon on an ongoing basis, including mental health supports for students and families.

Click here to access our Near North Passport to Learning website: https://www.nearnorthschools.ca/learning-at-home/

The Ministry of Education recently announced the launch of two new portals, TVO Learn and TFOIDÉLLO, apprendre à la maison, which provide supports for students learning remotely by accessing additional educational resources developed by Ontario certified teachers.

In addition, secondary students can continue to access TVO’s Independent Learning Centre (ILC) Open House and Portes ouvertes pour les cours TVO ILC in French-language, which provide access to 144 Grade 9 to 12 courses. These ILC resources are designed to provide flexible learning opportunities to help students keep up with their learning or deepen their understanding of a specific subject.

Please continue to visit https://www.nearnorthschools.ca/  for updates.

Thank you for your ongoing support for public education and cooperation as we all do our best to minimize the transmission of COVID-19.

Sincerely,

Craig Myles
Director of Education

December 23, 2020

Dear NNDSB Parents/Guardians,

Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced on Monday that a province-wide shut down will begin on December 26th. This means both elementary and secondary schools will be closed to students, with the expectation of “in-class” learning resuming on January 11th.

Schools will be closed to students except for high needs special needs students. Students in special education classrooms as identified through the IPRC process and are currently placed in alternative programs in system classrooms will be able to continue to access face-to-face programming in their schools commencing on January 5th. Educators will reach out to the families of these students on January 4th to make the necessary arrangements.

Near North students will continue to be provided with remote learning opportunities from their educators starting January 4th, 2021. Your child’s teacher will be in contact on January 4 regarding the need for technology requests.

During this time, access to schools will only be permitted through the school’s principal for urgent circumstances.

Please refer to our Near North Passport to Learning website which offers a variety of resources and tools that cover a range of grades and subjects that may be helpful for students and parents during this time. Resources will continue to be updated and expanded upon on an ongoing basis.

Click here to access our Near North Passport to Learning website: https://www.nearnorthschools.ca/learning-at-home/

The Ministry of Education recently announced the launch of two new portals, TVO Learn and TFOIDÉLLO, apprendre à la maison, which provide supports for students learning remotely by accessing additional educational resources developed by Ontario certified teachers.

In addition, secondary students can continue to access TVO’s Independent Learning Centre (ILC) Open House and Portes ouvertes pour les cours TVO ILC in French-language, which provide access to 144 Grade 9 to 12 courses. These ILC resources are designed to provide flexible learning opportunities to help students keep up with their learning or deepen their understanding of a specific subject.

Student Transportation

Because both elementary and secondary students will be learning remotely the first week in January, no student transportation services will occur January 4-8, 2021. Once elementary ​and secondary schools resume in-class instruction ​scheduled on January 11, 2021, student transportation services will resume.

Child Care Centres in Schools

The ministry has directed us ​to continue to provide access to ​our childcare centres located within school sites and recreational and skill-building programs when those programs are ​permitted to operate.

Regular updates will be posted to NNDSB’s website: nearnorthschools.ca. As always, check with your school(s) principal.

NNDSB thanks you for your continued understanding as we navigate this storm together. As new information becomes available, we will share those with you.

Stay safe and enjoy the rest of your holidays.

Jay Aspin                                                                                                         Craig Myles

Chair of the Board                                                                                          Director of Education

December 22, 2020

The Ontario Government has expanded the Support for Learners program to include secondary school-aged students and have extended the deadline to apply.

For families whose child is 12 years old or younger or 21 and younger with special needs

This program is available to parents if their child is attending a publicly funded, private, First Nation operated or federally operated school (either in-person or online), is homeschooled, is enrolled in child care, or is at home.

Support for Learners funding is intended to assist parents with costs incurred during the second wave of COVID-19 for the 2020-2021 school year. Eligible parents or guardians will receive a one-time payment of:

• $200 for each child up to age 12
• $250 for each child or youth up to age 21 years with special needs

Parents or guardians, who are residents of Ontario, with eligible children will need to submit a new application for each child. To find out more information or to apply parents will visit Ontario.ca/SupportforLearners.

The application process will now close on February 8, 2021.

For families of students 13 years of age or older

Starting January 11, 2021, families of students 13 years of age and older will be able to apply for the Support for Learners program.

Parents or guardians will receive a one-time payment of $200 per eligible student to help offset education expenses. Support will be available for those who attend a public or private school or who are homeschooled.

• $200 for each child
• $250 for each child or youth up to age 21 years with special needs

Parents or guardians, who are residents of Ontario, with eligible children will need to submit a new application for each child. To find out more information or to apply parents will visit Ontario.ca/SupportforLearners.

The application process closes on February 8, 2021.

This investment is in addition to the initial $378 million investment the government provided in Ontario’s Action Plan: Responding to COVID‑19, released in March 2020, which assisted parents while Ontario schools and childcare centres were closed during the first wave of the COVID‑19 pandemic.

Dear NNDSB Family,

With the holidays upon us and 2020 drawing to a close, we are immensely proud of the work that is being done to improve the opportunities for all students in Near North District School Board. As you well know, this has been an unprecedented year. We learned social distancing, developed home/work routines, implemented Zoom and Team meetings. We are repeatedly washing our hands, and we wear masks to protect family members, peers, and strangers.

But through this collective experience, we’re all discovering a new strength. Community values are shining through in meaningful ways. We are responsible for making sure almost 10,000 students get to school, are safe and nurtured during school hours, and make it back to their families. The bright and passionate people that make up the NNDSB community are what make this possible.

On behalf of our Board, we acknowledge the strength in our team, who are constantly innovating because we know we are entrusted with the most valuable of human resources: the future.

As the Chair of the Board and the Director of Education, together we extend our very best wishes for the holiday season and a sincere appreciation to our staff and school community. Please continue to stay safe and healthy while you enjoy time with family and friends.