Dear Parents and Guardians,

Although NNDSB utilizes many proactive measures to protect students, including advanced firewalls, spam, and URL filtering technologies to mitigate risks to both staff and students, we want to alert you to a phishing email that has recently circulated among students, titled��“17�Թ��� Job Announcement.”��The email promotes a part-time job opportunity and includes a link to apply, claiming it is affiliated with the 17�Թ���. Please note that this message is��not legitimate��and may pose a security risk.

Key details of the phishing email:

• Promises flexible, paid part-time work from home.
• Requests recipients to click an external link and engage with an unknown individual.
• Uses language intended to appear official but is fraudulent.

This is a clear example of a phishing attempt and should be treated as such. We ask that you:

• Inform your child immediately��not to click any links or respond to this email.
• Encourage students to delete the message if received.
• Use this as a��learning opportunity��to reinforce safe email practices, such as:
  • Never clicking on unsolicited links.
  • Verifying the sender’s identity before responding.
  • Reporting suspicious emails to the Help Desk.

Families are encouraged to use age-appropriate cyber safety resources to support their child’s understanding of online safety. NNDSB recommends the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, specifically their site: . Educators across our district have and will continue to embed cyber safety training into their lessons through age-appropriate resources related to the Ontario curriculum.

If you have any questions or notice further distribution of this phishing email, please contact your child’s principal. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our school community safe.

Sincerely,

17�Թ���

Dear Families and Community Members,

I am writing to you as the newly appointed Director of Education for the 17�Թ���. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve your children and to work alongside families and communities to support student success, safety, and well-being.

Over the past week, I have had the chance to visit several of our schools and meet with principals, staff, and members of our Board Office team. I was warmly welcomed everywhere I went and was impressed by the care, dedication, and commitment shown to students each day. I look forward to being in all of our schools by the beginning of February and continuing to build strong, positive relationships across the district.

Our shared goal is simple and important: making sure every student feels safe, supported, and able to learn and succeed. We know this work cannot be done by schools alone. When families, schools, and community partners work together, students benefit the most.

As we move forward, our decisions will be guided by what is best for students, using data, evidence, and a strong focus on both achievement and well-being. While we cannot change the past, we cannot stay there either. We must look ahead with care and intention.

I recognize that some families and community members may feel that trust has been broken. We own that. Rebuilding trust will take time, consistent actions, and open communication. We ask for the opportunity to repair that trust and to move forward together. This work cannot be done without families and communities as partners, and while it will take time, we are fully committed to doing this work thoughtfully and transparently.

There will be some changes as we look ahead. These changes will always be guided by our responsibility to provide safe, welcoming, and high-quality learning environments for students. Alongside this, we are committed to improving communication and transparency so families and communities feel informed, heard, and connected to the work taking place across the system.

Hearing from families is essential. I would welcome the opportunity to meet with any and all School Council Chairs who would like to connect. If you are interested in meeting, please speak with your school principal, who can then reach out to my office to help plan a time. I want to better understand your school communities’ strengths, as well as your worries, frustrations, and hopes for the future. Your voices matter, and they will help guide our work.

I am confident that by working together—listening to one another and keeping students at the centre of every decision—we can build a strong and positive future for all learners in Near North.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership. I look forward to meeting many of you in the weeks ahead.

Sincerely,

���������Ѳ��������Ա��
Director of Education
17�Թ���

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The monthly Letter to Families, distributed on the first Friday of the month, is intended to keep you apprised of news that affects all students and families of 17�Թ��� (NNDSB).

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As a complement to existing math lessons and practice, TVO Learn Mathify connects students in Grades 4-12 with free 1:1 online math tutoring. All tutors are Ontario Certified Teachers, and available to help the student(s) in your life better understand math concepts and questions, from the simple to the complex.

TVO Learn Mathify is designed to address a student’s individual learning style. It’s safe, secure and free for all Grade 4-12 students enrolled in Ontario’s publicly funded English-language schools. You can learn more about TVO Learn Mathify��.

Grade 1 and 2 NNDSB students have access to DreamBox Math, a high-quality and engaging digital tool that is personalized to their grade-level curriculum and skill level. Students can access this adaptive mathematics learning resource from their home computer or iPad.

�������������for more information about logging in to DreamBox, accessing family dashboards, and other tips and tricks. (Please note some of our NNDSB Grade 3 students also use DreamBox in their classrooms and can access it at home.)

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The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit reminds residents that seasonal flu and COVID-19 vaccines are available through primary care providers, participating pharmacies and upcoming community clinics.

For more information on clinics, visit of the health unit’s website.

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School Mental Health Ontario has provided webinars for families on a variety of topics, including substance abuse, addictive behaviours and youth mental health.

If you missed the webinars, they are now available on the By Your Side parent hub, which can be accessed .

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School Mental Health Ontario’s Thrive School Mental Health (Thrive SMH) is recruiting student and parent, and caregiver reference group applicants.

The student group is comprised of passionate students from school boards across the province who help to develop and review resources, share student perspectives and support or lead mental health promotion initiatives.

Students must be in Grades 7 to 10 and attending an English-language, publicly funded school board in Ontario. Applications will be open on the from Nov. 3-30.

The Parent and Caregiver Collaboration Group (PCCG) is a group of parents/caregivers who help to inform the work of SMH-ON by contributing to parent/caregiver mental health literacy through co-development of resources. The group offers perspectives, insights and ongoing input to assist in the advancement of identity-affirming resources and support.

To apply to PCCG, parents/caregivers must have a child in Grades JK-12 registered in an English-language publicly funded school board in Ontario. Applications will be open Nov. 3-30. Application information will be posted on the .

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�ճ������is Canada’s first personalized youth addiction program that provides team-based care to address many types of addiction. The program offers free and confidential treatment to youth aged 12 to 21 living in Ontario to help them develop healthy coping strategies, access specialized treatment, and build resilience in managing their addiction, either in-person or virtually. No referral is necessary.

Youth in the program will meet with a care coach who will listen and help them build a way forward to change their behaviours. They will get personalized treatment to manage cravings and triggers, and if needed, they will meet with a physician for medication.

To learn more and to get a youth started, visit��.

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The next meeting of the Board will be held Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 6:30 p.m. The meeting is open to the public, and you are welcome to attend in person or join via Zoom. Here is the The Meeting ID is 899 1167 8742; the Passcode is 859936, and the number for Dial in is 1-855-703-8985.

If attending in person, please confirm attendance by contacting Gerrilyn Cicciarelli at 705-472-8170 ext. 5028 or GerriLyn.Cicciarelli@nearnorthschools.ca.

Information about the Board, committees and their meetings can be found here.

*

In addition to staying informed via the board’s website, families can find NNDSB on and .

Sincerely,

17�Թ���

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The monthly Letter to Families, distributed on the first Friday of the month, is intended to keep you apprised of news that affects all students and families of 17�Թ��� (NNDSB).

*

The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) is offering two webinars for parents and guardians this month.

In this first live webinar, EQAO will present the results of the 2024-25 primary (Grade 3) and junior (Grade 6) assessments of reading, writing and mathematics. Participants will also learn about the latest research and resources available on . The session is approximately 45 minutes, followed by a live Q&A with EQAO staff.

The webinar takes place on Tuesday, Oct. 7, at 6 p.m. Here is the .In this second live webinar, EQAO will present the results of the 2024-25 Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) and the Grade 9 assessment of mathematics. Participants will also learn about the latest research and resources available on . The session is approximately 45 minutes, followed by a live Q&A with EQAO staff.

The webinar takes place on Tuesday, Oct. 14, at 6 p.m. Here is the .

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NNDSB invites families to participate in the����This survey will help measure the progress and implementation status of the 2021–2026 MYSP, which was developed through extensive consultation with stakeholders and launched in September 2021.

The MYSP focuses on four key pillars: Excellence in Teaching and Learning, Excellence in Innovation, Excellence in Relationships and Excellence in Communication.

The MYSP committee has created metrics aligned with these pillars to assess how well the plan is being realized. The MYSP survey continues the board’s commitment to inclusive engagement and will provide valuable benchmarks to guide future decisions.

We encourage all families to share their feedback and help NNDSB stay informed and responsive to community perspectives. The survey is available on the board’s website and will remain open until Dec. 31, 2025.

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October is Cyber Awareness Month, and school boards across Ontario are working with the Educational Collaborative Network of Ontario (ECNO) to provide resources for all age groups to help students and their families navigate the digital world safely.

NNDSB urges all families to visit the . Resources are available for educators and are also suitable for sharing at home, divided into categories for students in Grades K-8 and Grades 9-12.

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NNDSB has forged a new partnership with , with a goal of education about the hazards surrounding rail property and trains.

With consideration of the pending return of Ontario Northland passenger rail service through this area, NNDSB brought presentations to schools for Rail Safety Week.

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Nominations have opened for the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA) annual awards, with nomination packages due Nov. 17 at 11:59 p.m. Members of the public are welcome to submit nominations.

Categories include ,��, ,�������Ի���.

Details about each of the categories and instructions for nominating can be found on the OPSBA website.

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17�Թ��� will be sending home forms for families, including a permission form that deals with Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL). If parents and guardians do not agree to receive electronic messages, neither the school nor the board will be able to communicate electronically.

If you want to ensure that you receive messaging from the school and board, complete this consent form and send it to your child’s school.

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The Ministry of Education has a that shows students how their volunteer hours can help them build their future.

Secondary school students need to volunteer at least 40 hours to graduate. A new Minister’s Certificate of Recognition for Community Involvement recognizes students who go above and beyond in their community hours. There is a bronze certificate for 50 to 99 volunteer hours, a silver certificate for 100 to 199 volunteer hours and a gold certificate for 200 or more volunteer hours.

The webpage also shows students how highlighting volunteer experience on a resumé shows the skills that you have gained, and can also help with post-secondary applications.

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The next meeting of the Board will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 14, at 6:30 p.m. The meeting is open to the public, and you are welcome to attend in person or join via . The meeting ID is 899 1167 8742 and the passcode is 859936. To attend by phone, dial in 1-855-703-8985.

Information about the Board, committees and their meetings can be found here.

*

In addition to staying informed via the board’s website, families can find NNDSB on and .

Sincerely,

17�Թ���

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The monthly Letter to Families, distributed on the first Friday of the month, is intended to keep you apprised of news that affects all students and families of 17�Թ��� (NNDSB). The September letter is issued on the Friday prior to the start of the first day of school.

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Craig Myles, Director of Education for 17�Թ���, welcomes students and staff back to school for the 2025-2026 school year. An extra special welcome is extended to students and staff who are joining NNDSB for the first time.

We hope that everyone had a wonderful summer and is now ready to start a great school year.

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School transportation is provided by Nipissing Parry Sound Student Transportation Services (also called the consortium). The board does NOT operate the buses or make decisions about cancellations.

On Aug. 20, the consortium issued a media release about the availability of route information. As of Aug. 20, parents and guardians with portal accounts can go in and review the transportation details for their children.

All parents and guardians are encouraged to create a portal account and subscribe to NPSSTS Notifications to receive alerts through email and text messages. Instructions can be found on their website at .

The consortium suggests reviewing transportation details periodically leading up to the first day of school, as changes will continue to be made.

Any inquiries regarding changes to routing can be directed to the NPSSTS via email at info@npssts.ca. They will be reviewed and forwarded to the appropriate NPSSTS route planner or school board for processing.

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Educators from NNDSB were featured in a recent episode of the Reading Road Trip, a podcast of the International Dyslexia Association (IDA) of Ontario.

NNDSB educators are leaders in literacy, and last year, the literacy team was chosen as one of the recipients of the Dyslexia Canada Educational Excellence Awards by the Dyslexia Canada Board of Directors.

NNDSB educators Lisa Rogers, Courtney Berger and Kristen Roy participated in the IDA Ontario podcast that launched Monday, Aug. 18. The podcast is hosted by Kate Winn, classroom teacher and host of IDA Ontario’s podcast Reading Road Trip. The podcast is for “travellers” on the road to evidence-based literacy instruction.

The episode discusses how the board’s literacy team transformed reading outcomes for intermediate students through a targeted, data-driven, structured literacy intervention.

The podcast can be found .

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Looking for a unique cultural experience for your family? Try hosting an international high school student this coming school year!

Student exchange organization, YES Canada, in partnership with NNDSB, is welcoming international students from a wide range of countries to study at local high schools in North Bay, Parry Sound, Mattawa, Sturgeon Falls, South River and surrounding areas. Students are arriving to begin programs in November, January and April and will be staying for a range of durations, so apply now to ensure your family is considered to welcome a student.

Host families provide a home away from home in a safe and nurturing environment, three meals per day and the opportunity for the student to become a family member. A monthly stipend to offset the cost of hosting is provided, as well as ongoing guidance and support from the experienced YES Canada team before and during a student’s stay.

Hosting is a fantastic way to experience another country and culture in your own home, and it is also a great way to establish life-long friendships and connections.

Hosting opportunities are available for possible durations of two, three, five, 10 and 12 months.

For more information or to become a YES Canada Host Family, email��homestay@youthedservices.ca or call 416-624-6220 ext. 410 or visit the website.

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NNDSB’s Parent Involvement Committee (PIC) is holding its first meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 24, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. All families are welcome and encouraged to attend. You can join the PIC meeting with .

*

The next meeting of the Board will be held Tuesday, Sept. 9 at 6:30 p.m. The meeting is open to the public, and you are welcome to attend in person or join via Zoom.

Information about the Board, committees and their meetings can be found here.

*

In addition to staying informed via the board’s website, families can find NNDSB on and .

Sincerely,

17�Թ���

Dear Students, Parents and Caregivers,

As we wrap up this 2024-2025 school year, I want to take the time to express my gratitude to our students and their families for their efforts this year.

We hope that all children have enjoyed a rewarding, fulfilling and successful experience this past year within 17�Թ��� (NNDSB) and that they have a safe and happy summer. Your support of your children is critical to their success, and the team at NNDSB is grateful for your involvement.

Congratulations to all students who have completed milestones this past year. Your dedication to your goals will help you in all endeavours, now and into the future. Congratulations to NNDSB students who are graduating and moving on to work, post-secondary school or wherever your plans take you. I am confident that your education at NNDSB has prepared you for the steps you are about to take. Albert Einstein said, “The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.” Your curiosity has brought you here. Remember to stay curious and keep learning. Curiosity drives success.

To all our students and their families, I wish you a wonderful summer break, full of relaxation and time spent doing things you love. Stay safe, stay healthy, and I look forward to welcoming students back to class on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025.

Sincerely,

Craig Myles,

Director of Education

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Minister of Education Paul Calandra has provided a letter to students and families as the 2024-2025 school year comes to a close. The Minister’s end-of-year video message is available on��,��,����and��.

The Honourable Edith Dumont, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, has also provided a letter of congratulations to the graduates of 2025 and a message via this .

Sincerely,

17�Թ���

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The monthly Letter to Families is intended to keep you apprised of news that affects all students and families of 17�Թ��� (NNDSB) and is distributed on the first Friday of the month.

*

Monday, June 9 is a PA Day. Enjoy the long weekend, and we’ll see students back in class on Tuesday, June 10.

Here is a link to the PA day schedule for educators on Monday.

*

Keep math learning going all summer!

Find engaging summer math ideas, including hands-on practice, easy games, online links, and more on the NNDSB ��. These activities will keep kids engaged and excited about math while exploring some key math concepts and building math fluency in creative ways.

*

The first day of kindergarten is an exciting time, but it can also be a little nerve-wracking for students and families alike.

To help ease families into the transition, the Ministry of Education has prepared some new story and activity books. These are fun, engaging tools to help children get familiar with what to expect and build excitement for the big day.

Heartwarming stories that gently walk children through what to expect at school – making friends, meeting teachers and exploring their classroom. These books are available in PDF and ePub formats.

Additionally, the Ministry has created an interactive activity book, a playful resource filled with colouring, drawing and reflection activities that encourage young learners to talk about their feelings, routines and hopes for kindergarten. This activity book is available in PDF for easy printing. You can find these new resources on .

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MLI Homestay is looking for friendly host families to welcome secondary school students from Europe and Asia. Share your culture, create lasting memories, and enjoy a global experience, right from home.

Host families are expected to provide three meals a day, a private bedroom (with a bed, desk, window and door) and a warm and inclusive home environment.

Hosts receive a stipend to help with costs. Families of all types are welcome! For more information, contact Kayla at 587-222-7172 or kknight@Mlihomestay.com.

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This will be the last monthly letter to families for the 2024-2025 school year. NNDSB wishes you and your family a safe and happy summer, and we will welcome students back to class on Tuesday, Sept. 2 for the 2025-2026 school year.

*

The next meeting of the Board will be held Tuesday, June 10 at 6:30 p.m. The meeting is open to the public, and you are welcome to attend in person or join via Zoom. The and login information can be found at the top of the Board and committee meetings page.

*

In addition to staying informed via the board’s website, families can find NNDSB on and .

Sincerely,

17�Թ���

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We are writing to inform you of a recent development related to the cybersecurity incident PowerSchool experienced in December 2024.

PowerSchool is aware that a threat actor has reached out to multiple school district customers in an attempt to extort them using data from the previously reported December 2024 incident. PowerSchool does not believe this is a new incident.

Please be assured that both PowerSchool and 17�Թ��� (NNDSB) are taking this situation very seriously. PowerSchool has informed us they are working with cybersecurity experts to thoroughly assess this development and have reported it to law enforcement in both Canada and the United States.

To date, NNDSB has not been contacted by the persons responsible for this attack.

As a reminder, as we shared with you on February 7, 2025, PowerSchool also offered and made widely available credit monitoring and identity protection services for a period of two years to NNDSB students and faculty regardless of whether they were individually involved. We encourage all those who were offered these services to take advantage of them:

• For individuals in Canada:��

As was reported earlier this year, PowerSchool made the decision to pay a ransom because they believed it to be in the best interest of their customers and the students and communities they serve. As is always the case with these situations, there was a risk that the bad actors would not delete the data they stole, despite assurances and evidence that were provided to PowerSchool.

We wanted to share this update as part of our ongoing commitment to transparency. We remain committed to working closely with PowerSchool and law enforcement to provide support in any way we can.

Sincerely,

17�Թ���

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The monthly Letter to Families is intended to keep you apprised of news that affects all students and families of 17�Թ��� (NNDSB) and is distributed on the first Friday of the month.

*

Monday, May 5 marks the start of Education Week, which runs until May 9.

This week celebrates the contributions of students, parents and education workers, and is a great opportunity to celebrate all the initiatives taking place throughout NNDSB and to acknowledge accomplishments made this school year.

*

Between May 7 and June 11, Grade 3 and 6 students will take part in the provincial assessment of reading, writing and mathematics, primary division (Grades 1–3) or junior division (Grades 4–6). These assessments, developed by Ontario teachers and assessment experts, are administered to all Grade 3 and Grade 6 students in Ontario’s publicly funded school system by the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO).

Each assessment includes a language and mathematics component, along with a voluntary student questionnaire. During the assessment, students will complete four language sessions and four mathematics stages that each take approximately 30 minutes to complete. Each session or stage will be completed in one continuous sitting, and the sessions and stages may be administered throughout the administration dates. Students will have the opportunity to become familiar with the types of questions on the assessment and its platform through EQAO’s online sample test.

The EQAO assessment questions are directly based on the expectations set out in the Ontario curriculum for reading, writing and mathematics, which are what teachers teach in the classroom every day. Therefore, your child does not need to prepare in any special way. For more information, please reach out to your child’s teacher or go to the .

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This is a reminder of the five-part webinar series for parents and caregivers focused on substance abuse, addictive behaviours and youth mental health. The series is presented by School Mental Health Ontario (SMHO).

One webinar was held last month. The remaining sessions include:

• recognizing signs of substance use and addictive behaviours (English language session May 7 from 7 to 8 p.m., French language session May 13 from noon to 1 p.m.);
• how to talk about substance use at home (English language session May 14 from noon to 1 p.m., French language session May 21 from noon to 1 p.m.);
• current trends in student substance use in Ontario and what parents/caregivers need to know (May 22 from noon to 1 p.m., English language session with simultaneous French translation);
• technology overuse and problematic gaming (June 4 from noon to 1 p.m., English language session with simultaneous French translation).

Parents and caregivers can for the sessions.

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The Ministry of Education has approved the NNDSB 2025-2026 school year calendar. Here is a link to download the calendar from the board’s website.

*

The next meeting of the Board will be held Tuesday, May 13 at 6:30 p.m. The meeting is open to the public, and you are welcome to attend in person or join via Zoom. The and login information can be found at the top of the Board and committee meetings page.

*

In addition to staying informed via the board’s website, families can find NNDSB on and .

Sincerely,

17�Թ���

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The monthly Letter to Families is intended to keep you apprised of news that affects all students and families of 17�Թ��� (NNDSB) and is distributed on the first Friday of the month.

*

Today is a professional activity (PA) day. As required by the Ministry of Education, notice of the activities taking place must be posted by school boards.

At NNDSB, this is the link to the page where PA day activities can be found. Here is the schedule for today’s PA topics.

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School Mental Health Ontario (SMHO) is presenting a five-part webinar series for parents and caregivers focused on substance use, addictive behaviours and youth mental health.

The webinars will be hosted by parent/caregiver peer consultants from the SMHO team, and have been informed by the SMHO parent-caregiver collaboration group. The sessions will feature a short presentation by a leading expert in addictions prevention and literacy on the following topics:

• the intersection of addictions and mental health (April 22 from 7 to 8 p.m., English language session with simultaneous French translation);
• recognizing signs of substance use and addictive behaviours (English language session May 7 from 7 to 8 p.m., French language session May 13 from noon to 1 p.m.);
• how to talk about substance use at home (English language session May 14 from noon to 1 p.m., French language session May 21 from noon to 1 p.m.);
• current trends in student substance use in Ontario and what parents/caregivers need to know (May 22 from noon to 1 p.m., English language session with simultaneous French translation);
• technology overuse and problematic gaming (dates and more information coming soon)

Parents and caregivers can for the sessions.

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NNDSB secondary schools are planning open houses for prospective students and their families.

Below is a list of upcoming open houses:

West Ferris Secondary School (WFSS) will be holding a Grade 7 information night on Thursday, May 1 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Chippewa Secondary School (CSS) is planning its Grade 7 information night for May 1 from 6 to 8 p.m. More information will be available closer to the event.

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The next meeting of the Board will be held Tuesday, April 8 at 6:30 p.m. The meeting is open to the public, and you are welcome to attend in person or join via Zoom. The and login information can be found at the top of the Board and committee meetings page.

*

In addition to staying informed via the board’s website, families can find NNDSB on and .

Sincerely,

17�Թ���

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The monthly Letter to Families is intended to keep you apprised of news that affects all students and families of 17�Թ��� (NNDSB) and is distributed on the first Friday of the month.

*

EQAO is offering a free live webinar in which EQAO staff will discuss math questions that Ontario students encounter when they participate in Ontario’s large-scale assessments. These assessments are taken by all Ontario students in Grades 3, 6 and 9.

During the webinar, EQAO staff will show how these math questions help assess the skills students are learning in their math classes. Staff will also share valuable insights from the past three years of assessment results, which can help parents and guardians support their children’s math learning.

This webinar is scheduled for Wednesday, March 26��from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. You can .

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The Ontario Coalition for Children and Youth Mental Health is seeking parents and caregivers to be part of a focus group.

Last spring, the group asked for ideas for resources to help parents and caregivers support their children’s mental health. Based on feedback, several resources were created, which are available at the and .

The coalition is seeking parents and caregivers who have used two or more of the resources. Sessions are being held Monday, March 10 from 4 to 5 p.m., Tuesday, March 11 from noon to 1 p.m. or 4 to 5 p.m., Monday, March 17 from 4 to 5 p.m. in French, and Tuesday, March 18 from noon to 1 p.m.

Email coalitionsurvey@opsba.org if you are interested in participating.

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Many NNDSB secondary schools are planning open houses for prospective students and their families.

Below is a list of upcoming open houses:

West Ferris Secondary School (WFSS) will be holding a Grade 7 information night on Thursday, May 1 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Chippewa Secondary School (CSS) is planning its Grade 7 information night for May 1 from 6 to 8 p.m. More information will be available closer to the event.

*

We hope everyone has a wonderful March Break. The break begins today, and we will welcome everyone back to school on Monday, March 17.

*

The next meeting of the Board will be held Tuesday, March 18 at 6:30 p.m. The meeting is open to the public, and you are welcome to attend in person or join via Zoom. The and log in information can be found at the top of the Board and committee meetings page.

*

In addition to staying informed via the board’s website, families can find NNDSB on and .

Sincerely,

17�Թ���

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The monthly Letter to Families is intended to keep you apprised of news that affects all students and families of 17�Թ��� (NNDSB) and is distributed on the first Friday of the month.

*

We are excited to announce that kindergarten registration is now open at all of our schools for the upcoming academic year. Families can choose from our engaging English programming or our exceptional French Immersion programming, designed to provide young learners with a strong foundation for their educational journey.

Parents and guardians can register their child for kindergarten by calling their local school directly or by completing the online registration form available at this link.

Early registration ensures families have access to essential information about kindergarten readiness and programming options. NNDSB is committed to creating inclusive and supportive learning environments where every child can thrive.

We look forward to welcoming your child to one of our schools and beginning this exciting journey of learning together.

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The NNDSB math team is hosting a math night for parents/caregivers of Grade 7-12 students. The event will include information about TVO Mathify (a free online tutoring support), an overview of secondary math courses and pathways, sharing of virtual resources and tools for students and information about the Grade 9 EQAO math assessment.

The event will be held over Microsoft Teams on Wednesday, Feb. 19��from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Here is the .

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School Mental Health Ontario (SMHO) launched a new called By Your Side, designed to meet the needs of Ontario’s families.

The resource was created by Ontario parents/caregivers and school mental health professionals and includes information and supports in many formats, including web content, PDFs and videos to make sure families can easily access information and strategies that promote mental health and well-being at home.

Key topics include understanding mental health, promoting mental health at home, supporting mental health at school, stress and anxiety management, substance use prevention, navigating digital technology use and reaching out for help.

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Nominations are now open for the . Presented by the Ontario Teachers Insurance Plan (OTIP) and the Ontario Teacher’s Federation (OTF), the awards recognize the excellence of teachers in publicly funded education.

There are three categories of awards: elementary teacher, secondary teacher and beginning teacher (in the first five years of teaching). Teachers may be nominated by professional colleagues, students, parents or the public.

The deadline for nominations is March 31, 2025.

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Many NNDSB secondary schools are planning open houses for prospective students and their families.

Below is a list of upcoming open houses:

West Ferris Secondary School (WFSS) is advising students that specialized program applications are open until Feb. 14, 2025. In addition to its full slate of course offerings, WFSS has several specialized programs, including STEAM, Arts Nipissing, Near North Sports, Extended French and French Immersion.

These programs are available to students across North Bay, with busing available. Here are the programs with application information hyperlinked: STEAM; ; ; Extended French/French Immersion.

There will also be a Grade 7 information night being held Thursday, May 1 from 6 to 8 p.m.

F.J. McElligott will be hosting an information night/dinner event for Grade 6 and Grade 8 students and their parents on March 4, 2025, beginning at 6 p.m. (the snow date will be March 5).��This information night will be an opportunity to see the school, hear about the programs offered at F.J. McElligott at both the intermediate and secondary levels, and enjoy a dinner that will be prepared by the Grade 6 and Grade 8 students earlier that��day, as part of a transition day activity. Families are asked to call the school at 705-472-5720 to RSVP for the dinner.

Chippewa Secondary School (CSS) is planning its Grade 7 information night for May 1 from 6 to 8 p.m. More information will be available closer to the event.

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A reminder that Monday, Feb. 17 is the Family Day statutory holiday. All schools and the board office will be closed. We hope you enjoy the long weekend, and we will welcome students back to school on Tuesday, Feb. 18.

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The next meeting of the Board will be held Tuesday, Feb. 11 at 6:30 p.m. The meeting is open to the public, and you are welcome to attend in person or join via Zoom. The and login information can be found at the top of the Board and committee meetings page.

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In addition to staying informed via the board’s website, families can find NNDSB on and .

Sincerely,

17�Թ���

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Every year,��the four local��school boards��collaborate��to establish a school-year calendar which aims to promote student learning, success and well-being, and to minimize the impact on the��schedule of their families, staff and members of the school community, all while respecting Ministry of Education standards.

The school-year��calendar must consist of 194 compulsory teaching days, a maximum of seven (7) professional activity days��(pedagogical days) and a maximum of ten (10) exam days for secondary schools.

Carefully selected to provide professional development opportunities which align with Ministry of Education priorities, the proposed��2025-2026 school-year calendar includes the following seven (7) professional activity days:

The number of school days available between Sept. 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026 are limited, consequently we are not able to offer our school communities many options.��We invite you to indicate your preferences in the School-Year Calendar Survey between��Jan. 17 and 24, 2025. The survey will open on Jan. 17 at 8 a.m. and close on Jan. 24 at 4 p.m.

Please note that��a total of 10��secondary school exam days will be subsequently added to the calendar.��Preferences and comments received will be taken into consideration in developing the final version.

Trustees from every school board will adopt the recommended��2025-2026��school��year��calendar prior to submitting it to the Ministry of Education for approval by March 1, 2025.

Thank you for your participation and collaboration.��Your feedback is greatly appreciated!

Board Holiday

Please indicate your preference between the 2 options below:

Option 1: Start of the school year on September 2, 2025, a board holiday on March 13, 2026, before the March Break and end of the school year on June 26, 2026.

Option 2: Start of the school year on September 2, 2025, and end of the school year on June 25, 2026, with a board holiday on June 26, 2026.

Kindly indicate your preference using this link:

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We wanted to share an important update about a cyber incident experienced by 17�Թ��� (NNDSB) involving PowerSchool – the application used by NNDSB and many school boards across North America to store a range of student information and a limited amount of staff information.

On Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, PowerSchool notified the board and other school boards in Ontario and across North America that they had experienced a data breach between Dec. 22-28, 2024.

Our cybersecurity team promptly activated our response plan, taking immediate steps to ensure that our critical systems remain operational.

Working with PowerSchool, we are conducting a thorough investigation to understand the nature of the incident and what personal information may have been affected. At this point in time, we are still assessing the exact information that may have been accessed or exported from the application. PowerSchool has informed us that it has received confirmation that the data accessed by an unauthorized user has been deleted and that no copies of this data were posted online.

When we determine what personal information has been impacted, we will let you know as soon as possible. In the meantime, we have proactively notified the Ontario Information and Privacy Commissioner of this incident.

We know this news may be concerning, but please know that we are doing everything possible to learn more from PowerSchool about what occurred and will share that information with you.

Many of you will have questions as a result of this news, but given the ongoing investigation into what occurred, we do not yet have more information to share at this time.

We will continue to update the community as more information becomes available.

Sincerely,

17�Թ���

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The monthly Letter to Families is intended to keep you apprised of news that affects all students and families of 17�Թ��� (NNDSB) and is distributed on the first Friday of the month.

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Director of Education Craig Myles extends warm holiday wishes to all students, staff and their families.

The Director hopes students, staff and families will take time to enjoy what is important to them over the break and wishes everyone a safe and happy holiday.

The two-week winter break begins on Monday, Dec. 23 and students will return to school on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025.

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NNDSB’s special education department’s psychology team will be providing participating schools with an opportunity for their Grade 7 and 8 students with learning disabilities to become more informed, supported and encouraged to better understand their unique learning profiles.

Through in-person and virtual sessions, participating students will be provided with information intended to empower them to understand themselves as capable learners, to self-advocate during transition years into secondary school and to choose high school academic and extra-curricular areas of interest and ability to help ensure future success.

Parents/guardians are encouraged to contact their children’s respective schools’ Differentiated Learning Resource Teachers for more details/information.

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School Mental Health Ontario, a Ministry of Education partner that assists schools in supporting student mental health, is running a survey for students in Grades 7-12. It is a research study approved by Western University Research Ethics Board.

The survey, called #HearNowON24, wants to hear students’ perspectives on mental health learning needs, how to make services and resources more accessible for students, and how to address mental health stigma in your schools.

Students can find the online survey here. Please note this is not an NNDSB survey; the board is not controlling or keeping the information shared.

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The next meeting of the Board will be held Tuesday, Dec. 10 at 6:30 p.m. The meeting is open to the public, and you are welcome to attend in person or join via Zoom. The link and login information can be found at the top of the Board and committee meetings page.

Upcoming committee meetings include the Parent Involvement Committee (PIC) on Wednesday, Dec. 11, and the Special Education Advisory Committee will meet on Thursday, Dec. 19 at 1 p.m.

Here are the links to join the SEAC meeting and the PIC meeting.

Information about the Board, committees and their meetings can be found here.

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In addition to staying informed via the board’s website, families can find NNDSB on Facebook and Instagram.

Sincerely,
17�Թ���

The monthly Letter to Families is intended to keep you apprised of news that affects all students and families of 17�Թ��� (NNDSB) and is distributed on the first Friday of the month.

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NNDSB’s Parent Involvement Committee (PIC), alongside the NNDSB math team, is sponsoring a virtual presentation by Dr. Marian Small called Supporting Your Children in Learning Math. The presentation will be held Wednesday, Nov. 6 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

This presentation is geared towards parents/guardians of children in Grades 1 to 8. To register for this event, .

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Elementary school report cards will be available online through Edsby. This includes all kindergarten communication of learning reports, Grades 1-8 progress reports and Grades 1-8 term 1 and term 2 reports. Students and parents/guardians will be able to access progress reports by 3 p.m. on Nov. 13, 2024.

Please visit our parent portal to access Edsby. You can also reset your password for your Edsby parent account from the parent portal. If you require an Edsby account, please contact your child’s school.

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NNDSB’s annual Bullying Awareness and Prevention week is happening Nov. 18-22, 2024. This year’s theme is Call It Out! Students will engage in a variety of activities to support them in identifying and responding to incidents of racism, discrimination and bullying. By teaching students how and when to call it out, we can empower them to hold each other, and themselves, accountable to creating inclusive spaces for all learners.

We are thankful to community partners including the North Bay Battalion, North Bay Police Services and Amelia Rising for supporting us in this work. Pink Shirt Day will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. We look forward to everyone’s participation in this important week of learning.

The safe schools team will also be hosting a parent and caregiver workshop��on addressing harmful and discriminatory language on Tuesday, Nov. 19 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. More information will be forthcoming from your child’s school.

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The nomination period for the 2025 is now open, and families are encouraged to submit nominations. The awards celebrate educators who empower Canada’s youth, and celebrate educators for the leadership and exemplary education practices.

The three categories of nomination are Teaching Excellence, Teaching Excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, and Excellence in Early Childhood Education.

More information about nominations can be found in the link above.

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Have you ever considered hosting an international student?

There are four Japanese students arriving and staying for only six weeks from Feb. 1 until March 8. They will be attending West Ferris and Chippewa Secondary 17�Թ���, and are eager to experience life in our community. They are looking for fun, welcoming families to stay with. Make a difference in their lives while enriching your own family’s experience!

If you’re interested or would like more information, please contact local coordinator Kayla Knight at kknight@mlihomstay.com. Open your home, share your culture, and create unforgettable memories!

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The next meeting of the Board will be held Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 6:30 p.m. The meeting is open to the public and you are welcome to attend in person or join via Zoom. The and login information can be found at the top of the Board and committee meetings page.

Information about the Board, committees and their meetings can be found here.

*

In addition to staying informed via the board’s website, families can find NNDSB on and .

Sincerely,

17�Թ���

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The monthly Letter to Families is intended to keep you apprised of news that affects all students and families of 17�Թ��� (NNDSB) and is distributed on the first Friday of the month.

Students in Grades 7-12 and their families are invited to at a skilled trades career fair presented by Skilled Trades Ontario. The fairs are taking place across the province, with one being held at Nipissing University, 100 College Dr., North Bay on Wednesday, Oct. 16.

The event runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., with an evening open house from 3 to 7:30 p.m. Local Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP-PAJO) recruiters are also hosting OYAP-PAJO breakout information sessions at the event.

Many NNDSB schools will be sending students to learn more about the skilled trades, and families are welcome to attend, too. This is a great opportunity to explore the potential for a career in the skilled trades.

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The NNDSB Parent Involvement Committee (PIC), alongside the NNDSB math team, is sponsoring a virtual presentation called Supporting Your Children in Learning Math (Grades 1 to 8) with Educational Leader Dr. Marian Small.

The presentation will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 6 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Dr. Marian Small is the author of many Ontario and Canadian classroom math resources, and is an expert on student learning in mathematics. In her very clear and approachable manner, Dr. Small will address how and why math teaching has changed in the last 20 years and how parents/caregivers can best support their children to build their math confidence and math success.

To register for this event, please��.

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The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) has released the board- and school-level results of the testing done in the 2023-2024 school year. These results are the Grades 3 and 6 assessments of reading, writing and mathematics, the Grade 9 mathematics, and the Grade 10 Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT).

17�Թ��� are required to share this information, so families can expect to get individual results for students who wrote the tests last year. Please note that only students who fully participated in the assessments of reading, writing and mathematics (primary and junior divisions) will receive individual results.

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NNDSB supports its students all year long!

The board was able to provide summer learning supports for students with special education needs and offered them in coordination with NNDSB’s program team. Seven virtual summer assistive technology learning camps were offered during the summer of 2024, including assistive technology and literacy, studying and test taking skills, high school transitions and social coding and robotics.

As well, August transition supports were offered to NNDSB students with special education needs during the last two weeks of the month prior to the start of school. Transition visits were planned and coordinated wherein individual students and groups of students were welcomed into our elementary and secondary schools. Staff provided school tours and program overviews. They joined together for both formal and informal transition meetings to support and facilitate successful entry to school for students with special education needs/considerations.

Staffing supports included school administrators, teachers, early childhood educators, educational assistants and support staff. At each participating school, individual school program offerings were determined, and transition activities were planned in response to individual student needs.

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The next meeting of the Board will be held Tuesday, Oct. 8 at 6:30 p.m. The meeting is open to the public and you are welcome to attend in person or join via Zoom. The and login information can be found at the top of the Board and committee meetings page.

Information about the Board, committees and their meetings can be found here.

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In addition to staying informed via the board’s website, families can find NNDSB on and .

Sincerely,

17�Թ���

To 17�Թ��� families, staff, and community partners,

Today is National Truth and Reconciliation Day – recognized across the country as a day on which Canadians pause, acknowledge and reflect upon the truths of the history of settlement. European-based history, while praising the efforts of the settlers that came to this land, overlooked the incalculable toll that settlement took on the Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island.

Among the injustices done to Indigenous Peoples was the implementation of the residential school system, which took children from their homes to attend schools far from home. Thousands of those children never returned, and tens of thousands more were never the same. The generational trauma caused by residential schools continues to this day.

We wear orange today in honour of the survivors and lost children, and to bring further awareness to the history and legacies of the residential school system.

The Honourable Justice Murray Sinclair, who chaired the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, stated that “Education got us into this mess and education will get us out of it.”

17�Թ��� is committed to ensuring that the board, its schools, and staff are actively engaged in responding to the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action, specifically 62 and 63.

We are grateful for the partnerships of First Nations and community organizations that support Indigenous Peoples. Mino Bimaadiziwin – the concept of living a good life, and/or having a good mind – is central to the work that settler Canadians must continue. Together, we will continue to move forward in a good way.

The board supports all students, staff, and community members in learning about the truth and devastating legacy caused by residential schools. We wear our orange shirts to show our commitment to reconciliation and trust that our schools will provide education that is relevant and meaningful to their communities.

Sincerely,

Ashley St. Pierre
Chair of the Board

Craig Myles
Director of Education

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The monthly Letter to Families, distributed on the first Friday of the month, is intended to keep you apprised of news that affects all students and families of 17�Թ��� (NNDSB).

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Today is the deadline to apply for NNDSB’s skilled trade bursary program. This program provides a $1,000 bursary to students who wish to pursue a post-secondary skilled trades pathway.

This bursary is open to candidates enrolled at an NNDSB secondary school, who are currently in Grades 11 or 12.

for more information, selection criteria and to apply.

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If your family is moving over the summer months,��you may be in a different school zone. Check your school zone .

If you will be moving into��a different school zone, we recommend contacting the new school��in May��to register your child for September. If bus transportation is required, make sure to��also��complete a transportation form,��available from the school.

If you are moving over the summer but remaining in the same school zone, let your school know your new home address as soon as possible.�� You will need to provide proof of address (new address) to confirm school zone eligibility.��You may also need to complete a new transportation form, also available from your school.

Advising your school of an address or school change prior to the end of this school year helps ensure that your child has bus transportation��in place��for the first day of school.

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The school climate survey, which is mandated to take place every two years, is open until May 17.

The links to each of the surveys can be found here. There are surveys for students in Grades 4-6, Grades 7-8, and Grades 9-12, and a separate survey for parents and guardians.

The survey is anonymous, and the information gathered will be used at the school and district level to set goals and measure progress towards creating accepting, safe, and inclusive learning environments.

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Virtual school update: Course selections for secondary remote learning have taken place. Students will be attached to home schools and students will have a variety of in-person and online courses.

Elementary students not currently enrolled in elementary virtual learning and looking to attend virtually must contact virtualschool@nearnorthschools.ca by June 7��to be considered for virtual learning.

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The Ministry of Education released the province’s education budget last week. The new funding model identifies key funding pillars which support students.

The Ministry has created a two-page document to provide families with an overview of how Ontario funds schools.

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The next meeting of the Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) will be held Thursday, May 23 from 1-3 p.m.

Here is the the Zoom Meeting. The meeting ID: 837 4122 7806 and the passcode is 601612.

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The next meeting of the Board will be Tuesday, May 14 at 6:30 p.m. The meeting is open to the public and you are welcome to attend in person or join via Zoom. Here is the . The meeting ID is 899 1167 8742; the passcode is 859936 and the number for dial in is 1-855-703-8985.

If attending in person, please confirm attendance by contacting Maureen Egan at 705-472-8170 ext. 5028 or maureen.egan@nearnorthschools.ca.

Information about the Board, committees and their meetings can be found here.

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In addition to staying informed via the board’s website, families can find NNDSB on and .

Sincerely,

17�Թ���

We would like to invite you to participate in a Parent and Guardian School Climate Survey available online between April 29 and May 17, 2024.�� The purpose of this anonymous survey is to find information related to your participation and experiences at your child’s school. We know that a safe, inclusive, and accepting school environment is essential for student success and well-being.

The information gathered from student, parent/guardian and staff School Climate Surveys will be used at the school and district level to set goals and measure progress towards creating accepting, safe, and inclusive learning environments. We value your input and parent /guardian voice. Please be assured that your answers are confidential.

If you have children attending more than one Near North school, you are welcome to complete the survey for each school. If you are unable to complete this survey online and would like a paper copy to complete, please contact your child’s school and we would be happy to provide you with a paper copy. All paper copies also need to be completed and returned to the school by May 17, 2024, so that the data can be inputted.

The Parent and Guardian School Climate Survey can be accessed from the 17�Թ���’s website / or by using the QR code below.

Thank you so much for taking the time to complete this important survey.

Sincerely,

Gay Smylie

Superintendent of Education

17�Թ���

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The monthly Letter to Families, distributed on the first Friday of the month, is intended to keep you apprised of news that affects all students and families of 17�Թ��� (NNDSB).

*

Families have one more opportunity to register for a free live webinar to learn about Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) and primary and junior assessments of reading, writing and mathematics.

Participants will learn about the purpose of the assessments, and EQAO staff will explain the format, highlight resources and answer questions. The session is approximately 45 minutes, followed by a live Q and A session.

The third of three webinars will be held Wednesday, April 10 at 6 p.m. .

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NNDSB’s skilled trade bursary program provides a $1,000 bursary to students who wish to pursue a post-secondary skilled trades pathway.

This bursary is open to candidates enrolled at an NNDSB secondary school, who are currently in Grades 11 or 12.

for more information, selection criteria and to apply. The deadline to apply is Friday, May 3, 2024.

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On Thursday, April 25��the NNDSB math achievement action team will be hosting a virtual family math night. The first session is for students in JK to Grade 3 and will take place from 6 to 6:30 p.m. The second session is for students in Grades 4 to 6 and will run from 6:30 to 7 p.m. At these sessions, caregivers and their children will take part in games and activities that will support math learning at home in a fun and engaging way.

Please register using this .

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The Ministry of Education has launched the parent’s guide to Ontario’s education system. This resource provides information that allows parents and families to have a stronger role and to actively participate in their children’s education.

The guide covers a number of subjects such as��knowing how their child is doing in school, learning about suspension and expulsion processes, attending a school council meeting or parent involvement committee meeting, and knowing about specialized supports to help all children succeed.

The full guide can be found .

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The annual Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP-PAJO) information night is planned for Thursday, April 25��from 6 to 8 p.m. at the West Ferris Arena. (42 Gertrude St. E., North Bay)

Guests will include employment service providers, colleges, community employers and OYAP-PAJO youth mentors. This year, representatives from several local unions have been invited to speak about the role they play in supporting the apprenticeship pathway and encouraging young people to explore the skilled trades as valuable and rewarding career opportunities.

Admission to this event is free, and anyone interested in OYAP is invited to attend.

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Lived Experience and Recovery Network (LERN) is offering a youth peer support training program for youth ages 12-24 that reside in the districts of Nipissing or Muskoka-Parry Sound.

Sessions for youth aged 12-18 take place May 25 and 26. Sessions for youth aged 18-24 take place June 8 and 9. Youth aged 18 can choose which cohort they want to be in. It is mandatory to attend all sessions.

For more details and a link to apply, visit .

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A reminder that the PA day that had been scheduled for April 26 has been moved to Monday, April 8 due to the solar eclipse.

Here is a link to the NNDSB staff learning that will be taking place during Monday’s PA Day.

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Do you have a student ready to start intermediate or secondary school in North Bay? West Ferris Secondary School (WFSS) and Chippewa Secondary School (CSS) are both holding information nights on Thursday, April 11 from to 6 to 7:30 p.m.

WFSS’s session is for anyone zoned for West Ferris and interested in getting more information about Grades 7 and 8 at WFSS.

The session will start at 6 p.m. in the auditorium with brief presentation followed by small group tours of the school. This is not a drop-in format, but if you can’t make it for 6 p.m., then come when you can. They will be closing up shop at 7:30 p.m.

The session at CSS is for anyone zoned for Chippewa and interested in getting more information about Grades 7 and 8 at Chippewa.

The evening will start at 6 p.m. with a tour of the various curriculum spaces in the school so you can see and meet some of our staff. There will then be a brief information session in the auditorium at 7 p.m. and the evening concludes at 7:30 p.m.

If you are zoned for a different NNDSB school, then you should attend that school’s information session, as neither WFSS nor CSS are accepting out of zone students.

If you are from outside of the NNDSB you are encouraged to attend this Grade 6 information night as well. You can also connect with the school for information about how to register and become a student at our school or to book a tour and info session.

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The next meeting of the Board will be Tuesday, April 9 at 6:30 p.m. The meeting is open to the public and you are welcome to attend in person or join via Zoom. Here is the . The Meeting ID is 899 1167 8742; the Passcode is 859936 and the number for Dial in is 1-855-703-8985.

If attending in person, please confirm attendance by contacting Maureen Egan at 705-472-8170 ext. 5028 or maureen.egan@nearnorthschools.ca.

Information about the Board, committees and their meetings can be found here.

*

In addition to staying informed via the board’s website, families can find NNDSB on and .

Sincerely,

17�Թ���

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The monthly Letter to Families, distributed on the first Friday of the month, is intended to keep you apprised of news that affects all students and families of 17�Թ��� (NNDSB).

*

Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) is hosting a number of webinars for parents, guardians and caregivers of elementary school students in Ontario to��learn more about EQAO’s primary and junior assessments of reading, writing and mathematics. These provincial assessments will be administered to all Grade 3 and 6 students this spring.

Participants will learn about the purpose of Ontario’s large-scale assessments. EQAO staff will explain the assessment format, highlight resources to support students, and answer questions from participants. Each session is approximately 45 minutes, followed by a live question and answer session with EQAO staff.

Sessions take place March 19 at 6 p.m., April 3 at noon and April 10 at 6 p.m. The date of choice will be selected during .

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If your family has need for school-aged childcare, NNDSB asks that you take a few minutes to complete a survey to help better understand childcare program needs for school-aged children.

An will be open from March 4-29, 2024.

More information can be found here.

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Just a reminder that March Break is around the corner!

The first day of the break is next Friday, March 8, and students and staff return to class on Monday, March 18. We wish everyone a safe and happy break!

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At its February meeting, the Board of Trustees approved the 2024-2025 school year calendar. It will be submitted to the Ministry of Education for approval.

*

Did you know that NNDSB has a math achievement action plan?

You can learn more about the plan, NNDSB’s math highlights, curriculum links and digital tools to use at home via this page of our website.

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NNDSB is aware of fundraising calls taking place in the area in support of school lunches. While the organization is a registered charity and has confirmed a telephone campaign, we want residents to know that NNDSB has no relationship with the organization soliciting for donations. Neither the board nor NNDSB schools solicit for donations for school lunches.

As with any organization that does fundraising, the potential donors need to ensure that the call is legitimate. As a rule, ask organizations to send you some information if you wish to donate. Always conduct your own research prior to donating to any organization.

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The next meeting of the Board will be Tuesday, March 19 at 6:30 p.m. The meeting is open to the public and you are welcome to attend in person or join via Zoom. Here is the . The Meeting ID is 899 1167 8742; the Passcode is 859936 and the number for Dial in is 1-855-703-8985.

If attending in person, please confirm attendance by contacting Maureen Egan at 705-472-8170 ext. 5028 or maureen.egan@nearnorthschools.ca.

Information about the Board, committees and their meetings can be found here.

*

In addition to staying informed via the board’s website, families can find NNDSB on and .

Sincerely,

17�Թ���

Friday, Feb. 2, 2024

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The monthly Letter to Families, distributed on the first Friday of the month, is intended to keep you apprised of news that affects all students and families of 17�Թ��� (NNDSB).

*

Today is a PA Day. Here’s a link that outlines what school-based staff will be doing today.

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The Ministry of Education is shining a light on student mental health and has provided this information sheet supporting the new mental health modules being taught in Grades 7 and 8.

The resource is called Exploring Mental Health Together and outlines what students will be learning, signs of mental health problems, stigma related to mental health, how to manage stress, where to go for help and how to continue the conversation at home.

Although the resource is designed specifically to align with the Grade 7 and 8 health and physical education curriculum, the information may be of interest to all families.

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The Director’s Annual Report, which outlines highlights of the 2022-2023 school year, is now published on the NNDSB website.

The report outlines the progress made in meeting NNDSB’s multi-year strategic plan (MYSP) priorities of excellence in teaching and learning, excellence in communication, excellence and relationships and excellence in innovation.

Among the highlights are:

• the implementation of literacy and math diagnostics and literacy screeners to better understand student strengths and needs;
• the launch of tutoring supports to ensure success in literacy and math;
• the launch of the Hockey Skills Canada program in Parry Sound;
• the expansion of the personal support worker program to Mattawa;
• the launch of a custodial services worker program.

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Would you like to recognize an amazing teacher?

Sponsored by the Ontario Teacher Insurance Plan (OTIP) and the Ontario Teachers’ Federation (OTF), the OTIP Teaching Awards recognize teachers in three categories – elementary school teacher, secondary school teacher and beginning teacher in the first five years of teaching.

The awards recognize excellence of teachers in publicly funded education, and a teacher may be nominated by anyone – a colleague, student, families or the public.

The deadline for receipt of nomination is March 31, 2024. More information can be found at .

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There is a new Near North student well-being newsletter that will be created and published monthly.

Families can find the newsletter at as well as in the Edsby news feed.

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The next meeting of the Board will be Tuesday, Feb. 13 at 6:30 p.m. The meeting is open to the public and you are welcome to attend in person or join via Zoom. Here is the . The Meeting ID is 899 1167 8742; the Passcode is 859936 and the number for Dial in is 1-855-703-8985.

If attending in person, please confirm attendance by contacting Maureen Egan at 705-472-8170 ext. 5028 or maureen.egan@nearnorthschools.ca.

Information about the Board, committees and their meetings can be found here.

*

In addition to staying informed via the board’s website, families can find NNDSB on and .

Sincerely,

17�Թ���

School Year Calendar Survey 2024-2025

consultation/survey message

Every year,��the four local��school boards��collaborate��to establish a school year calendar which aims to promote student learning, success and well-being, and to minimize the impact on the��schedule of their families, staff and members of the school community, all while respecting Ministry of Education standards.

The school��year��calendar must consist of 194 compulsory teaching days, a maximum of seven (7) professional activity days��(pedagogical days) and a maximum of ten (10) exam days for secondary schools.

Carefully selected to provide professional development opportunities which align with Ministry of Education priorities, the proposed��2024-2025 school year calendar includes seven (7) professional activity days.

The number of school days available between Sept. 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025 are limited, consequently we are not able to offer our school communities many options.��We invite you to indicate your preferences in the School Year Calendar Survey between��Jan. 19 and 26, 2024. The survey will open on Jan. 19 at 8 a.m. and close on Jan. 26 at 4 p.m.

Please note that��a total of 10��secondary school exam days will be subsequently added to the calendar.��Preferences and comments received will be taken into consideration in developing the final version.

Trustees from every school board will adopt the recommended��2024-2025��school��year��calendar prior to submitting it to the Ministry of Education for approval by March 1, 2024.

Thank you for your participation and collaboration.��Your feedback is greatly appreciated!

Board Holiday

Please indicate your preference between the 2 options below:

Option��1:�� Start of the school year on September 3, 2024, a board holiday on March 7, 2025, before the March Break and end��of the school year on June 27, 2025.

Option��2:��Start of the school year on September 3, 2024, and end of the school year on June 26, 2025, with a board holiday on June 27, 2025.��

Kindly indicate your preference using this link: or the QR Code below:

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The monthly Letter to Families, distributed on the first Friday of the month, is intended to keep you apprised of news that affects all students and families of 17�Թ��� (NNDSB).

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A new year – a new look! NNDSB is excited to be launching a new homepage on the website, as well as some updated landing pages. It is the start of a process that will see streamlined content and easier navigation throughout the site.

Links will remain functional but the layout and buttons are updated. Please share this with students, who may be surprised by a new look when they login to their student accounts.

The updated website will launch on Wednesday, Jan. 10. There is also an online form for users to send feedback regarding the site. Users can submit feedback .

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This fall, the Ministry of Education introduced a series of three modules per grade to support the existing mental health literacy expectations within the Grades 7 and 8 health and physical education curriculum. This series of three, 40-minute modules per grade will be delivered by educators to support mental health. The modules are not new learning – they offer ways to enhance the delivery of the existing curriculum and focus on mental health literacy.

This learning will help equip students with inclusive, culturally responsive, evidence-informed knowledge, skills and strategies to support their mental health and well-being. They align with and support the work we do in NNDSB to support student mental health.

The modules were informed by extensive consultation with parents/caregivers, students, cultural and community organizations.

There are important reasons to bring these modules into the classroom:

• students more about mental health at school;
• this learning helps students develop skills that support positive mental health;
• mental health learning supports learning in all other areas;
• this learning can encourage conversations and help students in need reach support;
• as caring adults in the lives of young people, we want students to be well!

Here is a that provides more information.

As always, students will be made aware that there are many adults at school they can talk to, should they have additional questions about the learning, and opportunities for follow up support and will be provided. If you have questions about these modules or mental health supports, please reach out to your school principal or the mental health lead, Lana St-Louis lana.stlouis@nearnorthschools.ca or 705-472-7015 ext. 4524.

You are an important part of supporting your child’s learning about mental health and well-being.

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The next meeting of the Board will be held Tuesday, Jan. 9 at 6:30 p.m. The meeting is open to the public and you are welcome to attend in person or join via Zoom. Here is the . The Meeting ID is 899 1167 8742; the Passcode is 859936 and the number for Dial in is 1-855-703-8985.

If attending in person, please confirm attendance by contacting Maureen Egan at 705-472-8170 ext. 5028 or maureen.egan@nearnorthschools.ca.

Information about the Board, committees and their meetings can be found here.

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In addition to staying informed via the board’s website, families can find NNDSB on and .

Sincerely,

17�Թ���

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Please find below a link to a holiday greeting video from Minister of Education Stephen Lecce.

Sincerely,

17�Թ���

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The monthly Letter to Families, distributed on the first Friday of the month, is intended to keep you apprised of news that affects all students and families of 17�Թ��� (NNDSB).

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Our NNDSB math team has developed a new webpage that will provide parents, guardians and caregivers with information and resources related to learning mathematics.

The page includes math curriculum links for Grades 1 to 8, information about the Grade 9 de-streamed math curriculum, as well as links for digital math tools such as DreamBox Learning.

Families can also use this page to connect to TVO Mathify, which offers free tutoring supports for Ontario students in Grades 4 to 12. We will continue to add content and links throughout the school year to support mathematics learning across our district.

You can find the NNDSB Mathematics for Families webpage here.

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The next meeting of the Board of Trustees will be held Tuesday, Dec. 12 at 6:30 p.m. The meeting is open to the public and you are welcome to attend in person or join via Zoom. Here is the . The Meeting ID is 899 1167 8742; the Passcode is 859936 and the number for Dial in is 1-855-703-8985.

If attending in person, please confirm attendance by contacting Krista Messenger at 705-472-8170 ext. 5028 or krista.messenger@nearnorthschools.ca.

• Upcoming committee meetings are as follows:
• Finance Committee – Dec. 5 at 11 a.m. Join the meeting online with The Meeting ID is��814 7862 2749, the passcode is 717652 and the number to dial in toll-free is 1-855-703-8985.
• Multi-Year Strategic Plan (MYSP) Committee – Dec. 8 at 10 a.m. Join the meeting online with . The Meeting ID is 852 4654 1236, the passcode is 454750, and the number to dial in toll-free is 1-855-703-8985.

Information about the Board, committees and their meetings can be found here.

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MLI Homestay��is looking for short- and longer-term host families for international secondary school students from Europe and Asia��who are in��North Bay��attending Chippewa and West Ferris Secondary 17�Թ���.

Hosts gain an unforgettable opportunity to learn about a new culture and have an international experience.��The requirements are that families provide three meals a day, a private room with a door, a window, a bed and a desk, and include the student in your family home life.

Hosts are compensated to offset costs, tax-free.��Students are enthusiastic to learn about life in Canada and be a part of life here.��Please consider this opportunity!��For more information, please contact Kayla at kknight@mlihomestay.com or 587-222-7172 or visit��.

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Director of Education Craig Myles extends warm holiday wishes to all students, staff and their families.

The Director hopes students, staff and families take time to enjoy what is important to them over the break, and wishes all a safe and happy holiday.

The two-week winter break begins on Monday, Dec. 25 and students will return to school on Monday, Jan. 8, 2024.

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In addition to staying informed via the board’s website, families can find NNDSB on , and .

Due to declining engagement, NNDSB will be keeping its account but it will be used for urgent or emergency situations only.

Sincerely,

17�Թ���

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The monthly Letter to Families, distributed on the first Friday of the month, is intended to keep you apprised of news that affects all students and families of 17�Թ��� (NNDSB).

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17�Թ��� in NNDSB will be acknowledging Indigenous Veterans’ Day (Nov. 8) and Remembrance Day (Nov. 11) next week.

Anyone interested in learning more about Francis Pegahmagabow, a soldier from Wasauksing First Nation in the First World War is invited to watch . Grade 11 students from across the board attended this live performance last year.

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Beginning this September, all publicly funded school boards were required to adopt provincial student achievement priorities and metrics to help students improve EQAO scores in reading, writing and math. To further support students facing challenges with math, Ontario launched the math action achievement plan, a strategy to boost math competence in the classroom and improve board accountability. This includes:

• one��math lead��per school board with the focus of helping improve math outcomes for students. These leads will be responsible for curriculum implementation and standardized training and lead board-wide actions to meet targets;
• more than 300 math coaches��province-wide, who��will provide direct support in classrooms;��
• new math action teams��working��directly with school boards to identify and recommend targeted strategies to improve student achievement.

NNDSB has allocated school-based math facilitators in our priority schools to support the province’s math achievement action plan. System-wide, we are working to implement professional learning, assessment and instructional resources, and planning tools to support quality��math learning in our schools.

Families are��important partners in students’��learning, and we look forward to hosting��math information events and sharing new tools and resources to our school communities throughout the 2023-24 school year.

Here are some key digital resources that can support a home/school connection in math:

DreamBox Learning – Grades 1-3: DBL is an adaptive tool that NNDSB has provided for primary students over the last several years. This engaging digital platform provides opportunities for gamified math learning based on each student’s unique needs. Students have access to interactive math tasks and tools that connect to resources they use at school. Students are encouraged to continue this learning at home through the Clever portal, found on the��.

Knowledgehook – Grades 4-10: This digital tool is new to NNDSB, and we are excited to see the benefits of its integration in our junior and intermediate math classes through “game shows” and “missions”. If your child has used this tool in their math classroom, they can continue to explore grade-appropriate practice questions at home by accessing Knowledgehook through Clever on the��. They will log in using the same username and password they use at school.

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The annual Bullying Awareness and Prevention week is happening Nov. 19-25, 2023. Students will engage in a variety of activities to support conflict resolution, building and maintaining healthy relationships, cyber safety and more.

Pink shirt day (Nov. 22) is dedicated to addressing bullying awareness��and promoting initiatives to prevent it.

Each school will make its own plans for the week, so watch for details from your child’s school.

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The board’s mental health team engaged in two days of cultural mindfulness training to work towards the department’s multi-year strategic plan (MYSP) goal of providing culturally responsive mental health supports. The staff received training in the history of and continued impact of colonialism on Indigenous Peoples, and cultural traditions and practices.

A mental health and addiction MYSP priority is equitable and inclusive supports that help address the barriers that reinforce marginalization and oppression and ensure that mental health services are culturally response to the unique mental health and well-being needs of each student and family.

The training (attended by 28 staff and five Bachelor of Social Work practicum students) provided��base knowledge of historical issues and how they continue to impact upon First Nations, Métis, and Inuit (FNMI) communities and individuals as well as cultural practices to support our work with students.

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On Friday, Sept. 20, approximately 85 French as a Second Language (FSL) teachers from NNDSB met for a professional development session featuring a keynote address by Katy Arnett, professor at St. Mary’s College of Maryland and author of Accès au Succès. Her expertise in the field of FSL education is widely recognized; she delivered an inspiring speech that left a lasting mark on the attendees.

She shared her experiences and insights from her book, which has become a valuable resource for FSL educators seeking to help their students achieve success in language learning. This event, organized in conjunction with Nipissing University, was a remarkable opportunity for FSL teachers to enhance their skills, gain fresh insights, and connect with fellow educators in a collaborative setting.

It’s through events like this that we can collectively work to elevate the quality of French language education in NNDSB.

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A reminder about inclement weather days: can be found on Nipissing Parry Sound Student Transportation Services’ website. Delays and cancellations will also be posted on NNDSB’s as early as possible (usually by 6 or 6:15 a.m.), and local radio stations broadcast this information. Families are encouraged to create an so they can access information via the parent portal. NPSSTS has a tip sheet that can help families prepare for inclement weather days.

When buses are cancelled, schools usually remain open for students who can safely make it to school. We kindly remind you that transportation is cancelled for the whole day, so students who are dropped off in the morning must also be picked up at school at the regular dismissal time.

If buses to your school are either cancelled for the day and/or schools closed, instruction and related student activities should be provided for your child to complete at home. These activities may include online or offline activities that every child can access. We understand that because each school and community is unique, plans will vary across the board in response to local contexts. However, we endeavour to ensure that the learning continues for students, despite the weather outdoors. For more information visit this page of the website.

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The public is invited to all committee of the whole and Board meetings, which can be accessed via . The meeting ID is 899 1167 8742, the passcode is 859936 and the number to dial in is 1-855-703-8985.

The next meeting of the Board will be held Tuesday, Nov. 14. The committee of the whole meeting takes place at 5 p.m., the annual organizational meeting will take place at 6 p.m. and the business portion of the Board meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m

The audit committee will be meeting on Nov. 27 at 3 p.m. Here is the . The meeting ID is 836 2983 5030, the passcode is 672917 and the number to dial in is 1-855-703-8985.

For more information on board and committee meetings, visit this page of the website. Open the accordions of each section to find membership and meeting information.

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In addition to staying informed via the board’s website, families can find NNDSB on , and .

Sincerely,

17�Թ���

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The multi-year strategic plan (MYSP) serves as a compass point which guides 17�Թ��� (NNDSB) toward the achievement of the four strategic priorities, excellence in teaching and learning, excellence in communication, excellence in relationships and excellence in innovation.

NNDSB would like to invite all families to join us on Thursday, Oct. 26 at 6:30 p.m. for a 2023-2024 MYSP family information session.

This virtual information session will provide an overview of the board’s plans and the associated spending required to meet its goals in achieving excellence in its four key priorities during the 2023-2024 school year.

To , follow the onscreen instructions and enter the passcode 214568. For dial-in option call 1-855-703-8985.

Sincerely,

17�Թ���

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The monthly Letter to Families, distributed on the first Friday of the month, is intended to keep you apprised of news that affects all students and families of 17�Թ��� (NNDSB).

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A Board motion on Dec. 13, 2022 to rename and rebrand Chippewa was followed by the establishment of the Chippewa Renaming Committee to make a recommendation of a new name to the Board of Trustees.��Knowing that changing the name was going to elicit strong emotions from the community, both for and against the change, the board felt it was necessary to undertake this work, given our mandate to create safe spaces that are inclusive and accepting to all pupils.

Similarly, all schools have a “legal duty to provide students with an education environment free from harassment and other forms of discrimination” because of . Under these mandates, the name must be changed to protect all students.

The Chippewa Renaming Committee has grappled with various issues related to this renaming process and, as a result, has had to extend its original timelines for when a new proposed name would be brought forward to the Board of Trustees.

The committee has tackled a number of issues to date:��understanding the connection and obligation to the Human Rights Code��(HRC), ensuring the administrative guideline applicable to this process is up to date and��supports the HRC, and ensuring that��the committee’s terms of reference��align with the appropriate administrative guideline.

Additionally, there has been��a need for further consultation��to��increase understanding related to the context and complexities of this work.��Committee meetings will resume once the administrative guideline update is approved and received by the Board of Trustees.

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It’s only the first week of October, but it’s never too early to remind NNDSB families about what happens during inclement weather.

Transportation services for NNDSB students is provided by Nipissing Parry Sound Student Transportation Services (NPSSTS). This is a third-party provider – NNDSB does not provide the transportation services to our schools.

If NPSSTS believes weather makes it is unsafe to transport students, bus cancellations will be announced. Sometimes the cancellations are for all areas and sometimes they are for “corridors”, or some areas of the board. NPSSTS’s has a search option to find out what corridor your student is in; you must know your student’s bus route number to use this search option.

can be found on NPSSTS’s website. Delays and cancellations will also be posted on NNDSB’s as early as possible (usually by 6 or 6:15 a.m.), and local radio stations broadcast this information.

Families are encouraged to create an so they can access information via the parent portal.

When buses are cancelled, schools usually remain open for students who are able to walk to school, or who have alternate transportation. Transportation is cancelled for the whole day, so students who are dropped off in the morning must also be picked up at school at the regular dismissal time.

In some circumstances, NNDSB may decide to close a school. This decision could be due to the severity of the weather, loss of power or water.��If schools are��closed��for the day, parents will be notified through��​their��school, board, and local media communications. Our primary concern is always the safety of our students.

If buses to your school are��​either��cancelled for the day​ and/or schools closed, instruction and related student activities will be��provided for your child to complete at home. These activities may include online or offline activities that every child can access. We understand that because each school and community is unique, plans will vary across the board in response to local contexts. However, we plan to ensure that the learning continues for students, despite the weather outdoors.

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NNDSB is a member of the Education Collaborative Network of Ontario (ECNO) which finds and executes effective IT solutions for Ontario school boards. ECNO helps NNDSB promote cyber awareness through its K-12 awareness campaign during the month of October.

NNDSB students, families and staff are invited to learn more about cyber security with posters, games and videos. There is a different focus each week of October.

For more information about cyber awareness month, as well as resources, visit the . There is also information posted in Edsby.

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is seeking families within the NNDSB area to host international students. Host families provide a home away from home in a safe environment. They are expected to provide three meals a day and the opportunity for the student to become a family member.

Host families can learn about another country and culture while building relationships that span oceans and the world.

Families receive a monthly stipend to offset the cost of hosting. There are also local coordinators and the YES Canada team to provide guidance and on-going support to host families prior to and during the student’s stay.

Hosting opportunities are available now, as well as in November, February and April for two, three-, five-, 10- and 12-month terms. For more information contact homestay@youthedservices.ca or call 416-623-6220 ext. 410.

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In addition to staying informed via the board’s website, families can find NNDSB on , and .

Sincerely,

17�Թ���

To 17�Թ��� families, staff, and community partners,

Sept. 30 is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, which honours the children who did not return home from residential schools, the survivors of residential schools and their families.

17�Թ��� (NNDSB) is acknowledging the day tomorrow (Sept. 28) as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation falls on a Saturday, and Friday is a PA day. It is of utmost importance to NNDSB that staff and students have time together to honour truth and reconciliation.

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is held the same day as Orange Shirt Day, an Indigenous-led initiative that raises awareness of the impacts of residential schools. We encourage members of our school communities to wear orange on Sept. 28 (in school) and on Sept. 30.

17�Թ��� (NNDSB) understands the important role it has in truth and reconciliation. This is something we work towards every day. We continue to learn from Indigenous staff, students and community, and support all staff and students in their journey of learning more about residential schools and their lingering effects.

Upon the conclusion of its work, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission released its report and 94 Calls to Action. Several of those Calls to Action address education for reconciliation. NNDSB continues to respond to the 94 Calls to Action through offering language programs, providing safe spaces for Indigenous youth, programming, events and culturally responsive training and activities.

We hope you take time to reflect upon the solemnity of what truth and reconciliation means, and the impact it had, and continues to have, on our friends and neighbours.

Here are some ideas on how families can honour the day at home:

• visit the Indigenous Education Truth and Reconciliation resource page;
• read a book together that shares the truth about residential schools in Canada;
• learn about Phyllis Webstad and the origins of Orange Shirt Day;
• talk about what truth and reconciliation means;
• visit an Indigenous community near you;
• visit an Indigenous community website;
• attend a local event in your community.

Sincerely,

Erika Lougheed�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Craig Myles

Chair of the Board�������������� ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Director of Education

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Minister of Education Stephen Lecce has provided 17�Թ��� (NNDSB) with this letter, and asked that it be sent to our school communities.

He has also recorded a in which students, families and staff are updated on what’s new for the 2023-2024 school year. Minister Lecce extends his gratitude and best wishes for students as the new school year begins.

Sincerely,

17�Թ���