Near North District School Board

Thank You! – 2018 Kindergarten Parent Survey

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Thank you to all the parents and caregivers who participated in the 2018 Kindergarten Parent Survey.

The ten winners of a $50 gift card have been contacted.

The information gathered will assist community organizations and school boards to better tailor community programs and services and reduce barriers to access.

A report to the community will be available in late Fall 2018.

Thank you to all parents and caregivers who participated in the 2018 Kindergarten Parent Survey.

REEL Writers East Hosting Film Festival

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The REEL Writers program is an NNDSB 3-week summer film camp that offers students in grades 5 to 8 engaging, creative and collaborative learning experiences through scriptwriting, photography, and cinematography.

REEL Writers East, which is held at Almaguin Highlands Secondary School this July, is hosting a film festival to showcase their learning and their finished films. The festival will take place on Friday, July 20, 2018 at 10:45 a.m. and will be held at the Burk's Falls Theatre in Burk's Falls. Families are invited to attend the screening of these young director's films.

For more information please contact:
Pamela Marshall Gray
Principal, Evergreen Heights Education Centre
Tel: (705) 636-5955
Email: Pamela.MarshallGray@nearnorthschools.ca
 
 

Local Teacher Earns Award

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​Congratulations to local educator, Laurie Clayton, who has earned the 2018 Schulich School of Education Associate Teacher Award.   

Calle Mady, Associate Dean of the Schulich School of Education, with Laurie ClaytonClayton has been teaching with the Near North District School Board since 2000.  This past school year, she taught grades 5/6 at Silver Birches Elementary School. 

She was nominated by the Nipissing Education student she supervised.  She was selected for the award out of 11 nominations by a committee of professors at Nipissing University.

Clayton’s extensive community work, fundraising efforts, coaching, and other extracurricular organizational activities were cited in her letter of nomination, as was her use of technology and hands-on activities to engage her learners in and outside of the classroom. The letter also stated, “this class was without a doubt the busiest class I have been in, but it was certainly the most rewarding.”
 
“I volunteer as an associate teacher to provide a safe environment for Nipissing students to make mistakes and grow while in return learning from their knowledge, personality and experiences,” said Clayton.

For more information, please contact:

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

Board Approves 2018-2019 Budget

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NNDSB Approves 2018-2019 Budget

The Near North District School Board approved the 2018-2019 Budget at the June 26, 2018 Board Meeting.    Board of Trustees and Senior Administration undertook a rigorous budget process in order to develop the compliant in-year budget with a planned deficit of $482,609.  The planned deficit is a direct result of declining enrollment, full implementation of financial reforms which include elimination of top-up funding for "non-enhanced" facilities, increased costs associated with Workers' Compensation legislation, increased costs associated with escalating absenteeism, increased transportation costs and increased costs associated with electricity and snow removal.

As always, the focus continues to be on protecting the classroom as much as possible and the supports that are provided to our students.  During development of the Budget the NNDSB's Multi-Year Plan Priorities were kept at the forefront of all decisions to ensure continued support to:

  • Ensuring equity;
  • Promoting well-being;
  • Ensure safe and healthy learning environments;
  • Aligning resources to where they are needed, or at a minimum, to maintain existing resources where they are needed to support equitable outcomes for all students.

The 2018-2019 Budget will result in no layoffs and in fact the Board has been able to plan for some staffing enhancements as a result of additional funding provided by the Ministry of Education.

Staff have continued to demonstrate their ability to monitor expenses and identify areas of reductions for recovery purposes as well as to effectively "manage" in-year deficits.

2018 NNDSB Budget Overview

For more information, please contact:

Mairghread Knought
Information/Communication Officer
Near North District School Board
705-472-8170 ext. 5010
mairghread.knought@nearnorthschools.ca

Northern SS School Teacher Shortlisted for Prestigious Award

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Northern SS Teacher Shortlisted for Prestigious Award

Northern Secondary School Teacher Kevin Baker was chosen from hundreds of nominees across Ontario by the Ontario Teachers' Federation (OTF) and Ontario Teachers' Insurance Plan (OTIF), as a teacher who makes a difference and inspires students.  He is one of six teachers province-wide to receive an honourable mention, after being nominated by colleague Parker Robinson.

Kevin Baker is a shop teacher at Northern Secondary School and was nominated under the new teacher who has less than 5 years of experience category.  During his time at Northern Secondary School Mr. Baker has undertaken many innovative projects with the students, from a welding club to a robotics club, bringing in many students from elementary schools and engaging them as well. Mr. Baker is known for student engagement and being respected by the students.  Prior to beginning his teaching career Baker spent 30 years as an automotive mechanic in southern Ontario.

Kevin Barker has said of his teaching career "I'm just loving it.  I won the lottery.  I have a great rapport with the kids.  They come to me in Grade 9, I watch them mature and I know what to expect from them and the areas where I need push them.  It makes this job that much more special.  I love this job.  It's just so rewarding."

For more information please contact:
Laurent Paquette
Prinicipal, Northern Secondary School
175 Ethel Street, Sturgeon Falls
P: (705)472-5322 ext. 8067
E: Laurent.Paquette@nearnorthschools.ca

West Ferris student hopes to improve EQAO

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Madelyn Meighan knows what it's like to write Ontario's standardized tests, and all the stress, confusion and anxiety that can come with them. Now, she's got a chance to help make them better for students across the province.

Director of Education Update Report 3:2 Consolidation

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At the June 5, 2018 Committee of the Whole Private Session Meeting, the Board of Trustees requested that the Director of Education, Jackie Young, prepare an update report on the 3:2 Consolidation that could be shared with the community.

The information contained within this report is intended to provide parents, students and all stakeholders with an update on the 3:2 Consolidation process.

 3:2 Consolidation

The Board of Trustees, with the support of Senior Administration, will proceed with the 3:2 Consolidation identified in the Board Resolution Number: 17-09-12, as soon as is practicable. The next major milestone for the project will be the submission of a business case to the Ministry of Education to obtain the funding to complete capital and infrastructure projects, purchase equipment and address programming and student transition requirements.  While the funding timelines, eligibility requirements and process has not been identified by the Ministry of Education, Senior Administration with the support of the Board of Trustees, have proceeded with the preparation of a preliminary business case to ensure that the Board is able to capitalize and move quickly when funding opportunities are announced.

Meanwhile, logistics with scheduling and programming requirements are being considered on a regular basis by the Board, Senior Administration, school administration and staff.  While the project costs and timelines are all contingent on funding, all efforts are being made to ensure that the 3:2 Consolidation proceed in a fiscally responsible manner that focuses on the needs and comfort of our students.

As with any capital project contingent on ministry funding, there is the possibility that the funding will be less than anticipated and/or unavailable.  While neither of these scenarios are anticipated, should either one occur, discussion would ensure with the Board of Trustees with respect to options and next steps.

 Programming Costs and Budgetary Implications

The Board of Trustees and our Senior Administration understand that there is a desire for firm numbers, costing details and specifics regarding the consolidation and specifically school transitions.  However as noted, that information has been prepared in a preliminary format only.  To release cost estimates at this stage would be irresponsible and could expose the Board and this project to unnecessary risk and exposure.

As with all capital projects, the final cost and expenditures will depend on the guidelines, templates, timelines and funding as determined by the Ministry of Education.

 Ongoing Communication

The Board and Senior Administration will continue to communicate with students, staff, and stakeholders through a variety of mechanisms including the Board website, school visits, face to face meetings and periodic updates when more information becomes available.

In order to address the concerns voiced by the community and to ensure a means of providing timely, accurate and updated information, the Board has designed a page on our website.  The information is accessible via Quick links on the Home Page and also under the Capital Planning page.  Moving forward we will be preparing a timeline of events to share.  The Board has also hired a new Information and Communications Officer, Mairghread Knought, who will be the communication point person on the 3:2 Consolidation.

 Project Timeline

There has been no change to the identified timeline and the Board and Senior Administration are moving forward in that respect.  However; should the timelines set by the Ministry with respect to funding opportunities impact our ability to meet the set completion date, the Board would need to explore the impact on students and adjust timelines accordingly.  The Widdifield Students will not be moved if the buildings are not appropriately ready to accept them.

UPDATE:  The Near North District School Board has confirmed that the proposed timeframe for the closure of Widdifield Secondary School and relocation of those students to Chippewa Secondary School and West Ferris Secondary School will be delayed.  It is anticipated that the closure will be delayed by a minimum of one year.

 Student Engagement and Rebranding

The Director of Education has begun a series of meetings with our secondary school students to discuss the 3:2 Consolidation to obtain feedback with respect to their concerns, thoughts and recommendations as the process moves forward.

Senior Administration is committed to working with students as the drivers behind what they need and want rebranding (then staff and parents, in that order). The intention is to hear from all students and then design a survey available to all students/staff for their input.  The data collected will be shared with parents through SAC.

The Near North District School Board is committed to ensuring that our students continue to receive the same high-quality education and support they have come to expect from us.

Jackie Young
Director of Education

Fore more information please contact:

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

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