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Friday, June 7, 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 �鶹���� (NNDSB).

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We are nearing the completion of another school year. Director of Education Craig Myles wishes to thank students, their families and staff for their efforts and dedication during the 2023-2024 school year. Congratulations to students who are graduating this year – the Director is proud of your efforts, and wishes you well on the next stages of your journey.

The monthly letter to families will take a break over the summer. The next monthly letter will be distributed on Friday, Aug. 30, in advance of the 2024-2025 school year.

NNDSB wishes all students, staff and their families a safe and happy summer break.

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Did you know that NNDSB is working with the Lung Health Foundation to promote Quash, a judgement-free app that helps youth quit or reduce their vaping?

Teachers and principals are participating in a learning webinar on June 10, and family members will have the opportunity to participate in a stakeholder webinar on Wednesday, June 12 from 7-8 p.m.

The webinar, called Halt the Summer Haze, will boost knowledge about vaping and its dangers while preparing you to start a judgment-free dialogue with a teen you care about. The webinar will touch on the role of stress in your teen’s decision to vape.

Here is the to the webinar.

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Health units in Ontario are required to assess the vaccine records of all children who attend school, and summer is a great time for families to ensure students are up to date on their immunizations.

The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit has provided this information to families, so they know what requirements are for students.

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Student exchange companies MLI Homestay and YES Canada, in partnership with NNDSB, are seeking families in the district including North Bay, Parry Sound and surrounding areas to host international students from a wide range of countries and cultural backgrounds.

For these secondary school students, host families provide a home away from home in a safe and nurturing environment, three meals per day and the opportunity to become a family member. During their stay, students will live with a local family and experience daily life in Canada while developing their English language skills through this immersion experience.

A monthly stipend is provided to host families to offset the cost of hosting. Local coordinators and staff provide ongoing support for host families prior to and during a student’s stay.

Hosting opportunities are available throughout the 2024-2025 school year for possible durations of two, three, five, 10 and 12 months.

If you are interested in hosting an international secondary school student or would like to learn more about YES Canada’s homestay program, contact local coordinator Caitlin Hill, at caitlin.hill@youthedservices.ca or call 705-773-8638.

To learn more about MLI Homestay and their program, contact Kayla, the local coordinator in North Bay at 587-222-7172 or��kknight@mlihomestay.com.

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The NNDSB math team is excited to share a number of ideas that will support your child’s math learning over the summer and build the skills to support them as they transition back into school in September.

Everyday summer activities like gardening, shopping, and camping easily become math learning opportunities. Check out our��Mathematics for Families webpage��for a variety of resources that will help build fluency and understanding. In addition to digital tools and online activities, we’ve included a number of games that are easy and fun to play as a family.

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Ontario Public School �鶹����s’ Association (OPSBA), to which NNDSB belongs, is working in partnership with to conduct a survey.

The survey will help coalition members understand what families need and want when it comes to resources to support them, improve their awareness and support mental health and well-being in children and youth. The results will be used to develop new resources, designed to meet the identified needs.

The deadline for the survey is June 17. Click to access the survey.

In addition to the survey, there is also the opportunity for some parents/caregivers and students to participate in a focus group intended to explore this topic in greater detail. The plan is to host up to six focus groups – four for parents/caregivers and two for students.

Focus groups will be held virtually in late June. Participants will receive a gift card for their time. Anyone interested to know more or who wants to confirm their participation can connect with the Coalition at CoalitionSurvey@opsba.org.

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Families that have elementary students from JK to Grade 7 who are not already in Virtual School and who are looking to register for Virtual School for the 2024-25 school year need to reach out to robert.roy@nearnorthschools.ca by June 16.

Elementary Virtual School will operate through the Toronto District School �鶹���� (TDSB) and registration is happening at specific NNDSB locations the week of June 17. Parents and guardians will need to travel to one of those NNDSB locations with original documents (as requested) at a specific time. Those that miss this deadline may be able to register by booking an in-person appointment in the TDSB area.

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The Ontario government is for the first time in 25 years. The following information is drawn directly from the

Ontario will begin consultations this fall with parents and experts on what practical life skills students should learn in school to build a strong foundation that sets them up for success. This can include the mandatory inclusion of life skills like nutritious cooking, changing a tire, sewing a button, using first aid, personal responsibility, and basic economics, all of which can prove valuable throughout a student’s lifespan. This places an emphasis on personal development, decision-making and intrapersonal skills, all of which are in demand by employers across the economy.

Ontario will be introducing a new financial literacy assessment as a graduation requirement to ensure students have the skills and knowledge to create and manage a household budget, save for a home, learn to invest wisely, and protect themselves from financial fraud. Starting in 2025, students will be required to score 70 per cent or higher to meet the financial literacy graduation requirement in their Grade 10 math course. Furthermore, the province will standardize making EQAO Grade 9 Math scores 10 per cent or more of a student’s final mark, a practice already used by the majority of teachers.

The province is also investing in modernized career education programming in their schools with more exposure to the skilled trades and priority economic sectors. The government is investing up to $14 million in 2024-25 for career coaching for Grade 9 and 10 students in the publicly funded education system. In partnership with the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, this funding will also provide resources and tools to help at-risk youth, individuals in youth justice facilities, and students in other publicly funded educational settings outside of regular classrooms. Through shared agreements with school boards and other existing structures, this career coaching will help young people succeed and become positive members of their communities.

Click to read more from the ministry memo quoted in the information above.

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The �鶹���� has implemented early reading screening tools to help educators identify students who are experiencing difficulties with reading so they can receive the support they need to improve their reading proficiency and give them the best opportunity for success.

The Ministry of Education continues to work with federation partners, vendors and school districts to support the universal implementation of early reading screening tools. Individual student results for students in senior kindergarten to Grade 2 will be communicated as part of the 2024-25 elementary Term 1 Report Card. Should you have any questions or concerns about your child’s reading abilities, please contact your child’s teacher.

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The Ministry of Education has in classrooms and improve the safety of children with a standardized and strengthened plan to counter the rise of vaping and the negative impact of mobile devices and social media.

Vaping will be banned in all schools. Students caught using or carrying vapes or cigarettes will have to hand them in, and families will be notified. The government will be installing vape detectors and other security upgrades in schools.

Students in grades K-6 will have to keep their phones on silent and out of sight all day, unless explicitly permitted by an educator. For students in Grades 7-12, cell phones will not be permitted in class unless explicitly permitted by an educator. Social media websites will be removed from school networks and devices and report cards will include comment on students’ distraction levels in class.

In tandem with these changes, the Ministry of Education will be investing $17.5 million in wrap-around supports for student mental health and parent engagement.

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The next meeting of the �鶹���� will be Tuesday, June 11 at 6 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 �鶹����, 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,

�鶹����

 

Friday, May 17, 2024��

The following are the highlights of the �鶹���� (NNDSB) meeting of Tuesday, May 14, 2024.��

Ashley St. Pierre elected Chair of �鶹����

Indigenous Trustee Ashley St. Pierre was elected as Chair of the �鶹���� of Trustees at last night’s meeting. The position was left vacant after the resignation of Erika Lougheed in April. St. Pierre, who was elected as the Vice-Chair in the fall, has been serving as the Interim Chair since the resignation.

Zone 4 Trustee Howard Wesley was elected as the new Vice-Chair.

Chair St. Pierre commented that the election to the Chair’s position was meaningful. She said she is among the first Anishinaabe-kweg (Anishinaabe women) elected as the Chair of a �鶹���� of Education in Ontario, and may well be the first Anishinaabe-kwe Chair in the public system in the province.

Later in the meeting, during the Chair’s remarks, Chair St. Pierre shared that the Anishinaabe phrase mino-bimaadiziwin means living in a good way. She said that she would like to see the �鶹���� moving forward in a good way, and building trust with each other.

Trustee Caren Gagne sworn in

One of the first items of business at Tuesday’s �鶹���� meeting was the swearing in of Zone 2 Trustee Caren Gagne.

Trustee Gagne, who was the runner-up in the 2022 election to Erika Lougheed, agreed to step in after Lougheed’s resignation.

Trustee Gagne has as long history of community service, and has previously served as an NNDSB trustee.

Literacy team acknowledged at �鶹���� meeting

Members of NNDSB’s literacy team were acknowledged at Tuesday’s meeting, in recognition of being a recipient of the��.

The awards celebrate exceptional dedication within school communities in supporting students with dyslexia. According to Dyslexia Canada’s website, the award recognizes the contributions of a variety of school staff who showcase, “remarkable commitment and innovation in ensuring equitable education for students with dyslexia.”

Among the initiatives of the literacy team to support their work is the creation and curation of an internal K-12 literacy site (which has been used by almost 600 different NNDSB educators), a literacy lending library to support educators, system professional development sessions, book clubs and engagement in literacy professional development to support work across the district.

Alicia Smith, executive director of Dyslexia Canada, attended the �鶹���� meeting to present the award in person. She also brought congratulatory letters from Dyslexia Canada and the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC).

Smith said there were 120 nominations for the excellence awards, and only three were entire school boards. She said NNDSB’s nomination stood out because the literacy team was so proactive; they had started their work before the Ontario Human Rights Commission’s Right to Read inquiry report was released.

Trustee Initiative Funds to be shared among schools

Trustees approved a motion that will see the Trustee Initiative Funds shared equally among all schools.

The motion was brought to committee of the whole by Trustee Howard Wesley. His motion acknowledged the staff crisis being experienced by staff, the extra work staff tackle and the fundraising that takes place to support school supplies, events and activities. The motion called for the allocation of the Trustee Initiative Fund equally among all schools to provide financial assistance as deemed appropriate by the principals.

Director welcomes incoming student trustees

In his report to the �鶹����, Director of Education Craig Myles welcomed the incoming student trustees, who attended as observers. The incoming student trustee is Nanak Sidhu of Chippewa Secondary School, and the incoming Indigenous student trustee is Riley Trudeau of Northern Secondary School.

Myles shared recognition of school and student achievement with trustees. Chippewa Secondary School has been recognized as one of the top secondary schools in the province for Terry Fox fundraising. West Ferris student and multi-sport competitor Riley Bell has been named the recipient of the Special Olympics Award of Excellence for 2023. Chippewa will be hosting the AA OFSAA boys’ soccer championship June 6-8, with games being held at Nipissing University, the Omischl Sports Complex and Cundari Field.

In promoting excellence in teaching and learning, Myles pointed out the virtual family math night sessions held for primary and junior students and their families, as well as the award presented to the board’s literacy team. More about this award can be found in this media release.

NNDSB staff, working with colleagues at two other boards and the North Bay Society of Architects, supported by Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program engaged in a month of planning to offer the second annual climate change challenge. The goal was for students to create and construct a model of a shelter using only a few provided materials.

Work of NNDSB acknowledged at OPSBA ��

Trustee Bill Steer, who is the NNDSB delegate at the Ontario Public School �鶹����s’ Association (OPSBA), presented a report to trustees.

Highlights include that the �鶹����’s letter (discussed at April’s meeting) was in the OPSBA agenda package, and was highlighted within the correspondence section. The proposed Living Consciously course (also discussed at the April meeting) was presented, with a resolution that the items be referred to the Education Program Work Group for discussion.

Student Trustee Chen’s report to the �鶹����

Student Trustee Dora Chen’s report highlighted the opportunities available to students to equip them with life skills and insights into future opportunities. At Almaguin Highlands Secondary School, life skills workshops were held where students visited four employers, providing graduating seniors with valuable insights. F.J. McElligott also held a career day with 12 presenters.

Many sports are in full play, with soccer, tennis, baseball and track underway. Badminton teams participated at the NDA championship, which was held at Chippewa and West Ferris Secondary Schools.

Several arts activities are underway, including band performances with the 22 Wing Band, and local representation at drama fest. Chippewa placed first with its performance of Complaints Department and Lemonade.

Student Senate welcomed its new Student Senators at the April meeting, and Student Trustee Chen was able to provide guidance to incoming members on their future roles. Student Trustee Chen also gave a presentation on the expectations of the student trustee.

Within the Ontario Student Trustees’ Association (OSTA), Student Trustee Chen participated and presented at the first ever virtual town hall meeting, with more than 40 student trustees from across Ontario. She presented on the mission statement and priorities of advocacy for Northern Ontario’s Student Trustees. She is excited to be attending the annual general meeting, which will conclude her work as a member of OSTA.

Indigenous Student Trustee Benson report to the �鶹����

Indigenous Student Trustee Albany Benson’s report covered updates from the Indigenous Youth Circle. The primary focus at Parry Sound High School has been preparation for the community powwow in the summer. At West Ferris, an Instagram account has been created to post information about what is happening at the Indigenous Centre, and

students will be attending a staff meeting to talk about what it was like coming from their communities to WFSS. Students at Chippewa have drumming sessions for men and women, prepared a ceremony and acknowledgement of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG), and are preparing for the Moose Hide campaign. Members of OKIMAKAN are working on a presentation that explains different dances to support students’ understanding. Northern has finished presentations to students in Grades 7 and 8, and are also organizing something to honour MMIWG. Almaguin continues to plan for the celebration of National Indigenous People’s Day at the school, MMIWG and the Moose Hide campaign. At F.J. McElligott, the student success hub has been creating an Indigenous banner and preparing for National Indigenous People’s Day with four sessions of Indigenous arts and sports.

IYC is holding its end-of-year retreat at Nipissing University, and the four-board powwow (taking place May 30) was discussed.

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Note: the full agenda package is posted on the website prior to meetings, and official minutes are posted after they are approved at the next �鶹���� meeting.

Friday, Sept. 15, 2023

�鶹���� Highlights – September 2023 meeting

The following are the highlights of the �鶹���� (NNDSB) meeting of Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023.

Student trustees take oath of office

Trustees welcomed the 2023-2024 student trustees to the �鶹���� at its meeting last night. Both student trustees attend Chippewa Secondary School.

Student Trustee Dora Chen says she ran for office because, “I believe students should have a say in their own education.” She has been a member of student council, a student senator and is the student representative on the Chippewa renaming committee.

Indigenous Student Trustee Albany Benson has a history of involvement at school and in the community. She wants to ensure Indigenous youth “feel comfortable and heard at school.”

Trustee Louise Sargent said the student trustee positions are valuable as they bring the viewpoints of students to the �鶹����. She said she looked forward to working with Student Trustee Chen and Indigenous Student Trustee Benson. “The students are very fortunate to have you,” said Trustee Sargent.��

Strategic plan progress review

A comprehensive progress review of the multi-year strategic plan was presented to trustees in the agenda package. The review updates stakeholders on the work to date of the 2021-2026 plan, with a focus on the progress achieved in the 2022-2023 school year, and the goals for the 2023-2024 school year.

The update shows the board is in the recovery period and growth toward a change in culture and operational processes can be expected for another couple of years.

In his verbal report to the �鶹����, Director of Education Craig Myles said the board must “stay the course with that plan on a constant, cyclical basis

The full progress review can be found here.

Committee meetings scheduled��

In addition to the committee-of-the-whole, there are several committees of the �鶹���� whose work helps to conduct business more effectively. The public is invited to attend public committee meetings.

As always, a calendar of upcoming meetings was included in the agenda package.

Upcoming public meetings include the audit committee on Sept. 19 at 3 p.m. and the special education advisory committee on Sept. 21 at 1 p.m.

Attendance details may be found on this page of the �鶹���� agenda.

Audit committee seeks community member

Trustee Shane Hall, Chair of the Audit Committee, mentioned in his report that the committee is looking to add a community member to the committee. This is a volunteer position.

For more information, please see the posting.

Two NNDSB schools are Eco champions

Two NNDSB schools were recognized with EcoSchools certification for environmental excellence this year.

Nobel Public School earned a platinum status for points achieved in alignment with eco-action and Silver Birches Elementary School earned gold status for points achieved in alignment with student well-being in the environment.

Participation in the EcoSchools program is just one way the NNDSB is furthering the goals of the multi-year strategic plan, particularly the pillars of excellence in teaching and learning and excellence in innovation.

�鶹���� meeting dates confirmed

The �鶹���� set the dates for its upcoming meetings.

The organizational meeting will be held Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023. The �鶹���� chose to move the March meeting from the proposed date of March 12 to March 19 because the 12^th falls during March Break.

Virtual attendance will be facilitated via Zoom, and the meetings will be hosted in person from the North Bay �鶹���� room.

Trustees support SBO’s OSBIE nomination

Trustees voted in favour of supporting the nomination of NNDSB’s Superintendent of Business, Seija Van Haesendonck, to the board of directors of Ontario School �鶹���� Insurance Exchange (OSBIE) Northeast Region.

SBO Van Haesendonck is currently a director, and Director Myles said he hoped trustees would “support her serving her second term.” Myles added that it reflects well on NNDSB to have a superintendent on that board.

The elections for OSBIE directors take place in early November.

PIC continues to support NNDSB families

The �鶹���� agenda package contains a year-end report from the Parent Involvement Committee (PIC) which summarizes the committee’s activities.

In the 2022-2023 school year, NNDSB’s PIC provided three presentations which resulted from the previous year’s survey to school councils. There was a session on

mental health, a session on bullying prevention and a session on equity and inclusion.

The committee also provided opportunities for school council reps to attending virtual networking sessions.

The committee also received $19,500 in Parent Reaching Out funds to support 14 approved projects.

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Note: the full agenda package is posted on the website prior to meetings, and official minutes are posted after they are approved at the next �鶹���� meeting.

Friday, Sept. 15, 2023

New year kicks off with two new student trustees

�鶹���� (NNDSB) Chair Erika Lougheed and Director of Education Craig Myles welcomed trustees back after summer break and warmly greeted two new student trustees at Tuesday’s �鶹���� meeting.

Student Trustee Dora Chen and Indigenous Student Trustee Albany Benson were appointed following their recommendation by the Near North Student Senate (Chen) and the Indigenous Youth Council (Benson). Both students attend Chippewa Secondary School.

Chen has been a member of student council, a student senator and is the student representative on the Chippewa renaming committee. She ran for office because she wants to “give students in NNDSB a voice at the �鶹���� table, as I believe students should have a say in their own education.” She also wants to advocate for initiatives that will benefit students.

Chen says she is most passionate about French language education, as well as education funding, especially creating opportunities for students interested in the arts.

Benson has a history of community involvement, including being a figure skating coach, organizing donations for Fort Albany, raising money for the food bank and organizing events for Indigenous students at school.

She wants to act as a voice for all Indigenous youth in NNDSB, and to “ensure they feel comfortable and heard at school. I aim to fulfil the needs and rights of Indigenous students.”

Chair Lougheed encouraged the student trustees to “get in and ask questions”. Trustee Julie Bertram welcomed them, and said she was looking forward to their participation which is “important in these types of rooms.”

The organizational �鶹���� meeting, in which trustees elect the year’s Chair and Vice-Chair and select the committees they would like to work on, will be held Nov. 14, 2023.

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