Near North District School Board

Staggered Re-Entry

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Wednesday August 26, 2020

As we approach the new school year, we are working hard with the Ministry of Education and the Local Health Units to adequately prepare for the safe reopening of our schools. Building a safe, effective learning experience with new parameters for our students who come with diverse learning needs and identities is a key priority. Given the complex nature of the planning required and the focus on keeping students safe, we are planning a staggered start for our schools this year.

As health guidelines and information continue to be shared with schools, we are staggering the first day of school for students to give our staff time to familiarize themselves with new policies and ensure proper implementation to avoid making mistakes once students return. This means that different grades will return to school on different days (see chart below). A staggered response is essential for students to have the space and flexibility to practice their new routines and familiarize themselves with how to safely move around the school without every other student doing so simultaneously.
We understand that there are urgent requests for normalcy and a simple return to the old status quo. However, to ensure our community is as prepared and confident as possible, we ask for patience and support during this year’s reopening. We are all eager to see our students back in the classroom and reconnect with their friends and peers, but we must take extra steps to prioritize everyone’s health and well-being.

Staggered Entry Start Schedule

Day K-6-School K-8 School 7-12 School 9-12 School
Tues. Sept. 8 – – – –
Wed. Sept. 9 SK-2 SK-2 7-8 9
Thurs. Sept. 10 3/4 3/4/5 9-10 10
Friday Sept.11 5/6 6/7/8 11/12 11/12
Schools have the option to stagger JK re-entry with all students in attendance by Tues. Sept 15.

Launch of NNDSB Back to School Guideline

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Dear Parents and Guardians, it is with great anticipation that we look forward to welcoming students back for the start of the 2020-2021 school year. It will be wonderful to see students in our hallways once again.

The purpose of this communication is to share with you the Return to School Guidance Document prepared to guide staff and families as they prepare for Startup. To access (through the NNDSB website) please follow this link: Return to School Guidance Document

The information contained within this Guidance Document falls within the Ministry of Education's current parameters and meets both provincial and local health authorities' regulations.  It is critical to note that information and directives are in a state of frequent change. The material on the website document will be updated once received to reflect the most recent Ministry directives and public health recommendations.

As well, this material covers broad issues that impact all of our schools in the District. Please look for specific information, unique to your school communities, to come from your principals shortly.

Before highlighting a couple of items in the document, we would like to express our appreciation for reaching out with questions and concerns about sending your children back to school this September. This information has informed our research, planning and decisions over the last months.

Here are a few important items for parents and guardians as you prepare your children for the new school year (for the full document, and considerably more information, please access the link above).

  • The NNDSB will use the "Conventional Model" with enhanced public health protocols directed by the Ministry of Education. This model will have students attending school five days a week, in direct or indirect contact with a maximum of 50 (Elementary) or 100 (Secondary) students daily.
  • Parents and Guardians continue to have the option through completion of the NNDSB Survey (link below) to request their child(ren) not attend school physically but participate through At-HOME Distance Learning. (An extended deadline for the closing of pre-registration by completing the survey is Monday, August 24, 2020, at 4 p.m.. Suppose you have already preregistered your child(ren) but have changed your mind regarding your selections. In that case, you may register again, and it will automatically replace the previous information with your most recent entries).  NNDSB Survey
  • Student safety and well-being are the number one priority as we return to our school. Self-screening your children at home prior to them coming to school each day is critical for our school communities to be pro-active in preventing and reducing the spread of Covid-19. The following is a link to the Health Unit's Self-Screening Assessment: covid-19.ontario.ca.  Students in Grades 4-12 will be required to wear a mask indoors.  Students five years and older will also be required to wear a mask to board a school bus and for K-Grade 3 students wearing a mask while in NNDSB school buildings is highly recommended. Hand-washing/sanitizing and physical distancing is required of all individuals entering our buildings, and training will be provided on these and other safety measures to both staff and students. Cleaning protocols of the building and the spaces used by students and staff is significantly enhanced.
  •  A staggered entry for all students to begin school is being considered to support the necessary health and safety processes and protocols required. Once a decision is made it will be immediately shared out with families.

The above items are a small fraction of the information you will find in the full Return to School Guidance Document (link provided above).

Finally, we believe this Guidance Document supports the Board's position that students' and staff's health and well-being is critical at this time, and that in combination with effective teaching and learning, is the correct stance as we welcome students and staff back to school.

Reopening Message to Parents

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August 11, 2020

Dear Parents/Guardians:

As we awaited the Ministry of Education announcement outlining the provincial plans to return students to school, the Near North District School Board maintained vigilance in creating plans that would align with Ministry and more importantly with our vision of student achievement and success for your children. We thank you for your patience as all schoolboards across the province align their plans to the shifting landscape of Covid-19. We thank you also for your responses to enrollment surveys that helped us to keep your needs in mind as we navigated the ministry directives.

The July 30 Ministry of Education (MOE) announcement has designated the NNDSB as a board that will engage in the full reopening of all publicly funded secondary and elementary schools five days a week all day. The NNDSB has developed plans that meet the requirements as set out by the ministry reopening plan that must now be revised with the most recent announcement to ensure that we are doing our utmost to provide the best of learning while providing a safe and healthy school environment for students, teachers and staff, and safeguarding our community.

Please know that we will leave no stone unturned as we ensure that these plans meet the recently announced expectations of the ministry and more importantly the safe return of students and staff to our schools. You will be informed the moment the plan is solidified.

In the mean-time you will be receiving an information sheet via school messenger, providing answers to the key questions that you may have. This information will also be posted on the NNDSB website at www.nearnorthschools.ca.

Please understand that in order to keep your children safe and secure and to ensure their success and well-being we must stay current with emerging information. Rest assured we have a thorough and extensive plan prepared that is constantly updated based on the latest Ministry, Provincial Government and local and Provincial Health Authority updates.

We are ready to support your children’s success. We look forward to seeing you and your children in September.

Craig Myles, Director Jay Aspin, Chair

Ministry of Education Unveils Re-entry Plan

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August 5, 2020

Dear Parents/Guardians,

On July 30, 2020 the Ministry of Education (MOE) unveiled their plans to return students to school safely in September. The NNDSB is identified as a non-designated school board. Therefore, with guidance from public health officials the MOE outlined the following guidelines:

  • The full reopening of all publicly funded secondary and elementary schools five days a week;
  • Ensuring families have a choice for in-class or online learning, and the latitude to change that decision throughout the year, and;
  • Providing a safe and healthy school environment for students, teachers and staff, and safeguarding the broader communities in which they live.

The NNDSB continues to work diligently to develop our plans for the safest and most effective return for students and staff.  This includes consultation with our local health unit, the Ministry of Education, our community stakeholders and parents/guardians.  The intent of our reopening plan is to remain vigilant to ensure safety while endeavouring to support all students and families with learning opportunities that best suit each circumstance.

A survey was sent through email last week to request information of families regarding their child/children’s return to school preferences.  The purpose of the survey is to gather initial data regarding students’ return to school and transportation requirements.  At this time, the information will be used for board level planning purposes.  The NNDSB is committed to supporting the learning needs of all students’ and families with a safe re-opening.  If you did not receive an email please follow the link below to access the survey.

https://forms.office.com/FormsPro/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=sKPKifIHuUa3UOlzFotsTrKBO_IFcRhCnCgBO0otPJ9UMFlVS003N1U2TkVRUkdZSThXOVFGMVhJRC4u

The NNDSB will continue to update our website with the most up-to-date information.  Please continue to monitor our website at www.nearnorthschools.ca.  For more specific information regarding your child/children’s return to school please contact your school principal.

Letter to Parents from the Minister of Education

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Dear Parents –

I hope you and your families are continuing to stay healthy and strong as the province continues to fight against the COVID-19 virus.

It has been just over four months since I first wrote to you after the government’s decision to close schools and protect the lives of students, families, and the communities where they live and work.  A lot has changed in these past four months.  However, the one constant is the united effort of parents, students, and families to keep our communities and province safe.

…

Please click here for full message to parents from the Honourable Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education

Director of Education and Board Chair Message to NNDSB Families

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Year-End Message From Director of Education and Board Chair

Dear NNDSB Families,

As we come to the end of this unprecedented school year, we want to thank our students and families for their support and understanding during school closures. Our staff worked extremely hard to provide engaging and relevant learning to support our students. Regardless of what September will bring, we know that all of our students have the foundation to learn and thrive next year.

To all our graduates and their families, congratulations! It was great to see the students and families at their virtual graduations and to celebrate the accomplishments of our graduates. We want to congratulate all students, in the Near North District School Board for their resilience and continued commitment to learning.

We continue to work diligently on our continuity of learning plan including the return to learning in the fall. Updates will be posted at www.nearnorthschools.ca.

Have a wonderful summer. Take care of yourselves and each other and stay healthy.

Craig Myles                                                               Jay Aspin
Director of Education                                             Chair, Board of Trustees

West Ferris Students Receive Vale COVID-19 Challenge Grant

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June 19, 2020 –West Ferris Secondary School (WFSS) STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) program students have received one of eleven worldwide Vale COVID-19 challenge grants for their construction and distribution of the UV Cube sterilizer box. The Vale challenge was launched earlier this year to expand solutions against COVID-19, including risk monitoring and prevention and patient monitoring.

Tessa Summers, Fionna Truong, Ella Kelso and Emily Yates built the UV Cube at the request of Fionna’s father, Dr. James Truong, to assist with the sterilization of Personal Protective Equipment at the North Bay Regional Health Centre. The UV Cube is a do-it-yourself sterilizer, about the size of a small oven, made from materials found at the local hardware store. Using high-intensity ultraviolet light, the cube can sterilize everything from medical masks to mobile phones to shoes.

The students are all members of FIRST Team 1305 Ice Cubed, a competitive robotics team consisting of kids from across North Bay. They used their contacts with other FIRST Teams across the country to facilitate the construction and delivery of UV Cubes to health care providers. The funding from Vale will enable the production of fifty kits, which will be donated to small and medium medical clinics in Canada. In North Bay, the UV Cubes will be distributed to the North Bay Regional Health Centre, Casselhome, Easthome, LIPI, Lakeshore Dental and Northern Shores Pharmacy.

To learn more about the STEAM program visit the WFSS website at https://www.nearnorthschools.ca/west-ferris/academics/steam/

For more information, please contact:

Mairghread Knought
Information/Communication Officer
Near North District School Board
(705) 472-8170, extension 5010
Mairghread.Knought@nearnorthschools.ca

NNDSB RECOGNITION OF RETIREES AND 25 YEARS OF SERVICE EMPLOYEES

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Congratulations to the NNDSB employees who will be retiring at the end of this year. We thank you for your hard work and dedication to our students, families and school communities. Congratulations also to those employees who have dedicated 25 years of service in the Near North District School Board (NNDSB).

This year has presented our employees with unexpected challenges. All NNDSB employees, including school administration, educators, and support staff, worked tirelessly using creativity and innovation to support our students in their educational and emotional journey.

Unfortunately, one of the challenges that came to light now is that due to the current social and physical distancing restrictions and health and safety requirements to reduce the spread of COVID-19, we are unable to celebrate our employees as we traditionally would have.

We recognize that the work of those who have dedicated 25 years of service and the NNDSB retirees is invaluable to our students and our system.

Congratulations on your milestone accomplishment. Thank you for your years of hard work and dedication to the Near North District School Board family.

Craig Myles                                                   Jay Aspin
Director of Education                                  Chair, Board of Trustees

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