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News and Announcements

NNDSB 鶹 Highlights – June 10, 2025

June 13, 2025 By Brett

Friday, June 13, 2025

The following are the highlights of the 鶹 (NNDSB) meeting of Tuesday, June 10, 2025.

Guideline regarding volunteers being updated

The 鶹 agenda included a report that addresses revising the administrative guideline that addresses volunteers at NNDSB. The current guideline needed review to mitigate potential risks and ensure information is current and accurate.

Proposed changes include an annual offence declaration process for volunteers, streamlined data collection processes, a fulsome screening process, consistent practices and revised training procedures.

The draft revised guideline will now undergo a 30-day consultation process.

Director thanks staff for student success

In his written report to the 鶹, Director of Education Craig Myles noted that as the school year comes to a close, the focus is on student success, graduations, staff retirements, 25-year employee milestone recognition and summer learning. Myles thanked staff who continue to go above and beyond to contribute to student success and school experiences.

Myles also thanked NNDSB students for their hard work all year and wished them all a safe and happy summer break.

The Director’s report acknowledged Indigenous Peoples Day on Saturday, June 21. The day will be honoured in schools on Thursday, June 19 and Friday, June 20 with resources provided by the Indigenous Education Team.

Schools and staff were also mentioned in the report. Chippewa Secondary School teachers Jamie Carruthers and Craig Nodwell were acknowledged; Carruthers spearheaded a fundraising concert for stage/theatre equipment for the school, and Nodwell was recognized by Village Media with a BayToday Community Builder Award for Education. The West Ferris Parade for Cancer took place May 27, with $51,000 raised for the North Bay Regional Health Centre. Vincent Massey Public School was gifted with nine trees by Clean, Green, Beautiful North Bay for the lower school yard. Alliance French Immersion Public School achieved gold Healthy Schools Certification for the 2024-2025 school year, for participating in a range of impactful initiatives that promoted well-being, leadership and inclusivity.

Indigenous Student Trustee’s report

Indigenous Student Trustee Riley Trudeau reported that last month, students participated in a land-based learning workshop at Nbisiing Secondary School, which included teachings, powwow dancing, trapping, maple syrup making and hide scraping.

NNDSB students have been hosting their school powwows – celebrations of laughter, dance, language and culture.

The Indigenous Youth Circle (IYC) held its retreat at Nipissing University on June 5 and 6. The retreat provides a space for students to participate in cultural activities, and gives students from different schools the chance to connect after a year of hard work.

Trudeau said IYC has been the highlight of many students’ secondary school experiences, and expressed how proud she is of these students who continue to inspire. She also thanked NNDSB’s Indigenous Education Team for their support of the students and IYC.

Student Trustee’s report

Student Trustee Nanak Sidhu reported that several spirit weeks, community events, advocacy and fundraising activities and competitions have been held across the district.

He noted the West Ferris Secondary School event that raised $51,000 to support cancer research and patient programs at North Bay Regional Health Centre.

In sports, three Almaguin athletes advance to OFSAA in track and field, and Chippewa’s mixed doubles tennis pair earned NOSSA gold.

West Ferris student Jiya Savsani earned a bronze medal at the Canada-Wide Science Fair.

Sidhu reported that the Student Senate held its last meeting of the year, at which they brainstormed advocacy priorities and improvement ideas. He and the incoming student trustee will collaborate on a plan to ensure an impactful term.

The final Ontario Student Trustees’ Association (OSTA) leadership team meeting is scheduled for July. The session will focus on the incoming team for success, including sharing knowledge, advocacy tools and strategies to keep OSTA strong.

As this was Sidhu’s last 鶹 meeting, he thanked staff and the 鶹 for his experience as a student trustee for NNDSB.

鶹 approves updated Special Education Plan

Trustees approved the updated Special Education Plan 2025-2026 as presented to the Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC).

Changes noted in the plan include those related to roles and responsibilities, revised language/definitions from the Ministry of Education and revised descriptions of special education placement options.

Also added to the plan was additional, focused professional development for several categories of staff.

SEAC had presentations on several topics throughout the year, including the student achievement plan, the central behaviour team, math interventions and programming for special education students, RISE by LearnStyle and emotion coaching.

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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.

Filed Under: Media Releases, News and Announcements, NNDSB Featured, NNDSB Shared News

NNDSB accepts the resignations of Trustees Fuscaldo and Phillips

June 11, 2025 By Deb

NNDSB accepts the resignations of Trustees Fuscaldo and Phillips

Wednesday, June 11, 2025

At the regular meeting of 鶹 last night, Zone 3 Trustee Jeanie Fuscaldo announced her resignation, effective June 11.

At May’s meeting of the 鶹 of Trustees, Zone 1 Trustee Chantal Phillips announced her resignation, effective at the end of June.

Chair St. Pierre thanked Trustees Fuscaldo and Phillips for their contributions to public education.

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Filed Under: Media Releases, News and Announcements, NNDSB Featured, NNDSB Shared News

June Letter to Families

June 6, 2025 By Brett

Friday, June 6, 2025

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The monthly Letter to Families is intended to keep you apprised of news that affects all students and families of 鶹 (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 .

*

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.

*

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 鶹 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 鶹 and committee meetings page.

*

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

Sincerely,

鶹

Filed Under: Letter to Families, Media Releases, News and Announcements, NNDSB Featured, NNDSB Shared News

NNDSB 鶹 Highlights – May 16, 2025

May 16, 2025 By Deb

Friday, May 16, 2025

The following are the highlights of the 鶹 (NNDSB) meeting of Tuesday, May 13, 2025.

Resignation of Trustee Chantal Phillips announced

鶹 Chair Ashley St. Pierre announced the resignation of Zone 1 Trustee Chantal Phillip, effective June 30, 2025.

Trustee Phillips noted that she has appreciated the work, but is moving out of the region.

Trustees vote to divide funds among schools

Trustees voted to support a notice of motion put forward by Trustee Jeanie Fuscaldo and Vice-Chair Howard Wesley to divide the funds in the Trustee Initiative Fund equally between all NNDSB schools.

Discussion took place about whether the funds would be divided on a per capita basis or by school. It was decided that since rural schools don’t have as large a student population, which affects funding, funds would be split equally between all schools.

Incoming Student Trustee introduced

In his written report to the 鶹, Director of Education Craig Myles welcomed incoming Student Trustee Dev Bassi, who attended the 鶹 meeting. Dev will be sworn in at the September 鶹 meeting. The report also noted that Indigenous Student Trustee Riley Trudeau is serving a two-year term, and the Director looks forward to her continued hard work, contributions and successes.

Other items in the Director’s report included an ALS-inspired ice bucket challenge at Chippewa Secondary School to raise awareness, break the stigma and support mental health education. The staff encouraged their colleagues at West Ferris to participate.

West Ferris Secondary School students in the personal life management program were recognized by The Gathering Place during Volunteer Appreciation Week. Every Tuesday, student volunteers assist with folding laundry, rolling cutlery and packaging snacks.

Parry Sound High School students had great success at the Skills Ontario Competition 2025 in Toronto. Rachel Nobel placed second and Miya Rochon placed third in the restaurant service competition, and Makayla Strydom and Ashlyn Belanger finished first in TV and Film Production. They will be travelling to the Skills Canada National Competition in Regina on May 29-30.

The report also notes that school boards will receive funding to support students in summer 2025, to provide consistent and reliable mental health services. This will ensure continuity of services over the summer months.

Indigenous Student Trustee’s report

Indigenous Student Trustee Riley Trudeau reported that the Indigenous Youth Circle (IYC) has been busy with Red Dress Day, the Moose Hide Campaign and powwows. IYC has been raising awareness of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) while fundraising to support the Ojibwe Women’s Lodge in Nipissing First Nation.

IYC members attended a visit by Ted Nolan, who spoke about being a member of the Garden River First Nation community and his journey into the National Hockey League as a player and coach.

Teachings and powwows have started at schools, including events at which feeder school students attend secondary school events as a transition activity. Indigenous perspectives are connected to classroom topics such as art, literacy, social studies and history. IYC is grateful for the Niigan Gdizhaami (NG) fund, which supports events in collaboration with Dokis First Nation.

Schools are preparing for their powwows, including the first teaching and learning powwow at Almaguin Highlands Secondary School.

Student Trustee’s report

Student Trustee Nanak Sidhu reported that student life across the district has been busy, with cultural celebrations, athletic excellence, artistic flair and community-minded service.

At Chippewa, students participated in the Special Olympics North Bay Fun Run, and delivered 150 pounds of non-perishable food to the North Bay Food Bank. A group of West Ferris Trojans completed the North Bay Fire and Emergency Services Firefighter-in-Training camp, gaining first-hand experience in emergency response teamwork.

At the Kiwanis Music Festival, Chippewa’s Grade 7/8 band earned silver, the secondary concert band earned silver and gold, the Jazz Ravens struck gold, and the guitar ensemble earned silver.

West Ferris hosted the regional DramaFest North, at which Almaguin’s Tartan Theatre advanced to the provincial showcase with Failure and Fortitude: The Female Edison.

Jiya Savsani of West Ferris attended the Renfrew Regional Science Fair, winning gold in Engineering and Computer Science. She won the OACETT/OPG Award and the grand award, earning a spot at the Canada-wide Science Fair in Fredericton.

Newly elected Student Senators were provided with foundational information about meetings. The upcoming meeting will focus on strategic planning.

Later this month, Student Trustee Sidhu will represent NNDSB at the Ontario Student Trustees’ Association annual general meeting in Toronto. This will be his final conference as president.

Trustees seek meeting with Education Minister

Trustees voted to request a meeting with Education Minister Paul Calandra, at which they would like to discuss the new JK-12 Parry Sound school and the 鶹’s decision to keep McDougall Public School open for one more year.

There have been several letters written between 鶹 Chair Ashley St. Pierre and the Minister of Education about the decision. The 鶹 wants a meeting in which they wish to discuss past decisions, including minutes of past meetings.

The 鶹 seeks a meeting with Minister Calandra, Parry Sound-Muskoka MPP Graydon Smith, and delegates of NNDSB (including Chair St. Pierre, other trustees and board staff).

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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.

Filed Under: Media Releases, News and Announcements, NNDSB Featured, NNDSB Shared News

Hockey great Ted Nolan shares message of perseverance and respect with NNDSB students

May 12, 2025 By Brett

Monday, May 12, 2025

Hockey great Ted Nolan shares message of perseverance and respect with NNDSB students

Hockey legend Ted Nolan visited a large group of NNDSB students at West Ferris Secondary School auditorium to share stories from his book Life in Two Worlds: A Coach’s Journey from the Reserve to the NHL and Back and his message of hard work, perseverance, and respect.

Nolan was the third youngest of 12 children in Garden River First Nation near Sault Ste. Marie and lived in a house without plumbing or electricity. From those humble beginnings, he went on to play in the NHL for the Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings. After a back injury ended his playing career at the age of 26, he coached the Buffalo Sabres, New York Islanders and Latvian national team. He also established the Ted Nolan Foundation, which provides scholarships to First Nation women across Canada and the 3NOLANS First Nation Hockey School with his sons Brandon and Jordan.

NNDSB students in the Grade 11 English Understanding Contemporary First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Voices classes (NBE) studied Nolan’s book as part of the curriculum, and his visit was made possible as part of a collaboration between NNDSB, theKinoomaadziwin Education Body (KEB) and Dokis First Nation.

Students from across the board attended the presentation both in person and virtually which included the Indigenous Youth Circle, NDE students from all Near North secondary schools, Nbisiing Secondary School students, Oshki Shkode students from Parry Sound High School, 7 Stones Learning Centre students and staff as well as Near North Sports students from West Ferris.

Nolan spoke to the assembled students about his life growing up in Garden River, his sports career and the challenges he faced as an Indigenous person. Afterward, he spent time answering students’ questions, taking photos and have one-on-one conversations.

Woven throughout his talk was a message of hard work and perseverance.

“The only thing we could control growing up was to work with what we had. We didn’t have too much but that didn’t make us give up. I kept that mentality my whole life. I didn’t have the best skates, I didn’t play in the best leagues but that didn’t stop me from being the best I could be,” Nolan said.

When asked why he devotes his time to speaking to and inspiring youth, Nolan said that there weren’t too many people in his community growing up that were giving a message of hope and he resolved to change that from an early age.

“I thought I would share my story with kids coming up behind me. Not how to be a professional athlete, just be a good human being, a good citizen. I recognized that from the beginning,” Nolan said. “I saw a lot of elders in our community who were a little down and out, maybe had a bad hand dealt to them, and things just didn’t work out. I wanted to find out why and how to overcome and get through some of the obstacles. It’s just passing out your knowledge to the next generation, so they become stronger and better.”

Almaguin Highlands Secondary School NBE teacher Courtney Berger said that Nolan’s book was a great tool for her students to connect to the broader themes of the class.

“Ted Nolan’s book was the entry point for this group of students. Ted’s perspective as an athlete written as a memoir, made the teachings accessible. It paired the students love for hockey while addressing some very important issues surrounding racism and discrimination in the world of professional sports, and well beyond,” Berger said. “His honest and authentic writing detailing his journey from the Sault Ste. Marie area to the NHL, and back, helped the students engage with the course in a meaningful way.”

Hayley, one of Berger’s NBE students, said Nolan “showed real emotion when sharing his experiences. I liked his messaging about the importance of hard work. He seems like the kind of coach who really cares about the well-being of his players.”

Northern Secondary teacher Nathan MacLean hopes Nolan’s visit will inspire his students.

“I hope that students will have a chance to recognize that no matter their circumstances, if they are true to themselves, trust those who are willing to help them and support them, that they can achieve success, whatever that may look like for them,” MacLean said.

“Class discussion is a big part of my group and brings about many great ideas and questions, so naturally we will discuss what we were able to learn from Mr. Nolan’s keynote. This will include both new learning, clarifications from his book as well the value of engaging in a live presentation from an author,” Maclean said.

The message that Nolan hopes students receive from his visit is a simple one:

“That we are all special human beings, whether your skin is brown or black or white it doesn’t really matter. It’s the spirit inside, we should all be treated with respect,” Nolan said. “Growing up as a First Nation person on reserve, I didn’t think I was any better than anyone else, but I didn’t think anyone outside the reserve was any better either. I think we are all God’s children, and we all deserve respect.”

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Filed Under: Media Releases, News and Announcements, NNDSB Featured, NNDSB Shared News

West Ferris Secondary School revving up for 2nd annual car show

May 12, 2025 By Brett

Monday, May 12, 2025

West Ferris Secondary School revving up for 2nd annual car show

West Ferris Secondary School is excited to announce that it will be hosting the West Ferris Car Show on May 31, 2025.

The primary goal of this fundraising car show is to acquire new tools and equipment for the school’s technology classes while actively engaging students in a hands-on learning experience. This event not only provides financial support but also fosters a sense of community and education among participants.

West Ferris student volunteers will take on the important role of judging the vehicles, utilizing criteria they have developed in class. This process allows them to apply their skills in a real-world setting. Additionally, they will have the opportunity to interact with car owners, enhancing their people skills while learning valuable information about vehicle maintenance and care.

Beyond the car judging, the dedicated student volunteers will oversee various engaging activities, including registration, a BBQ, a penny sale, a thrilling Hot Wheels race, face painting, and even pampering from the esthetics class offering nail painting and hand massages.

This year, there will be three incredible items in the silent auction: a beautifully crafted six-seater picnic table made by West Ferris construction students; and two stunning hand-made car-themed quilts generously donated by Melissa Steward.

The West Ferris Car Show will award 30 unique trophies, crafted by students from both the construction and manufacturing classes, celebrating the outstanding vehicles on display.

The goal of the West Ferris car show is to engage and inspire students while creating a successful community event that brings everyone together. At last year’s event, there was an impressive turnout with 197 registered cars, and optimism is high for an even larger crowd this year.

Attendance is free of charge, but donations to the North Bay Food Bank will be accepted. The rain date for the West Ferris Car Show is Saturday, June 7. Check the for details.

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Filed Under: Media Releases, News and Announcements, NNDSB Featured, NNDSB Shared News

NNDSB – Letter to Families – Important Update Regarding PowerSchool Data Security

May 7, 2025 By Brett

Wednesday, May 7, 2025

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 鶹 (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,

鶹

Filed Under: Letter to Families, News and Announcements, NNDSB Featured, NNDSB Shared News

Chippewa Secondary School makes history with gold at Hennessy Cup Mock Trial Competition

May 7, 2025 By Brett

Wednesday, May 7, 2025

Chippewa Secondary School makes history with gold at Hennessy Cup Mock Trial Competition

Chippewa Secondary School’s Criminal Justice Team has made history by claiming gold at the prestigious 2025 Hennessy Cup Mock Trial Competition held in Sudbury. The event brought together nearly 70 students from the Rainbow District School 鶹 (RDSB) as well as the Chippewa team to compete in a full day of courtroom trials, culminating in a championship match judged by Madam Justice Patricia C. Hennessy herself. It is the first time a school outside of RDSB has won the event.

The team from Chippewa impressed judges and spectators alike with their exceptional preparation, courtroom presence, and legal acumen. Its victory marks a milestone for both the school and the competition, highlighting the talent and leadership of the young women in the field of law. The case tried, His Majesty the King v. Jo Silip, involved allegations of criminal harassment under the Criminal Code of Canada.

Two Chippewa students earned individual honours. Ellie Liddle received the Best Advocate – Defence award for her commanding cross-examinations and well-structured arguments, while Sydney Bruner was named Most Valuable Player, recognized for her exemplary leadership and courtroom confidence.

This win was not the result of individual performance alone – it was a true team triumph. Each student contributed skill, determination, and countless hours of preparation to build a cohesive, confident, and well-rounded legal team. Their collaboration, support for one another, and shared commitment to excellence exemplify the very best of student achievement. From opening statements to closing arguments, the Chippewa team delivered a powerful, unified performance that earned them the top spot in this competitive field.

Adelaide Murton, a Grade 11 student, said, “The mock competition felt realistic; they took us very seriously. It felt respectful of our intelligence, and it was an actual challenge, not something that was meant to be easy for kids. Our whole team was very consistent across the board, we had a very unified strategy. We all had the same through-line in our arguments. After the championship round, we were very confident that we had done well. Nothing the other team threw at us undermined our arguments or made us change course. No one had a tricky time making the points they wanted to make or getting their words out, so it went really well.”

The team was guided by a dedicated coaching staff comprised of Dawn McCaig, Zachary Huywan and Pierre Lambert-Belanger from the Crown Attorney’s Office, and Rory Currie of Perrin Ahmad LLP. Their expertise and mentorship helped empower students to develop courtroom strategy, legal knowledge, and advocacy skills to a high standard.

The Hennessy Cup, now in its 21st year, is named in honour of Madam Justice Patricia C. Hennessy, who launched the competition in 2001. A long-time advocate for experiential legal education, Justice Hennessy has continued to support and judge the event annually. The tournament provides secondary school students with an unparalleled opportunity to step into real courtrooms, argue real cases, and be evaluated by real judges. Since its inception, the Hennessy Cup has grown into a cornerstone of legal education in the region and has inspired many students to pursue careers in law.

The competition is part of the Ontario Justice Education Network and the Ontario Bar Association (OJEN/OBA) Competitive Mock Trials, a province-wide initiative. With the support of the Sudbury and District Law Association, local judges, and volunteer legal professionals, the program gives students access to hands-on learning that bridges classroom theory with real-world legal practice.

Judges presiding over the event included Ontario Superior Court Justice Patricia Hennessy, Justice Alex Kurke, Justice Susan Stothart, Justice Julie Lefebvre, and Justice of the Peace Erin Olesen-Schinke.

Chippewa law teacher Andrea Lefebvre said, “The success of this event reflects not only the students’ efforts but also the vital role that mock trial competitions play in developing public speaking, critical thinking, and civic understanding in young learners.”

Members of the 2025 Chippewa team are Adelaide Murton, Aila Van Haesendonck, Breanna Dumond, Ellie Liddle, Jaidyn Embrack, Molly Robertson, Sydney Bruner and Yeva Korotkykh.

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Filed Under: Media Releases, News and Announcements, NNDSB Featured, NNDSB Shared News

May Letter to Families

May 2, 2025 By Brett

Friday, May 2, 2025

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The monthly Letter to Families is intended to keep you apprised of news that affects all students and families of 鶹 (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 .

*

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.

*

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 鶹 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 鶹 and committee meetings page.

*

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

Sincerely,

鶹

Filed Under: Letter to Families, Media Releases, News and Announcements, NNDSB Featured, NNDSB Shared News

NNDSB 鶹 Highlights April 11, 2025

April 11, 2025 By Brett

Friday, April 11, 2025

The following are the highlights of the 鶹 (NNDSB) meeting of Tuesday, April 8, 2025.

Director’s report highlights PA Day activities, plans

Director of Education Craig Myles’ written report to the 鶹 expressed a welcome to the new Minister of Education, Paul Calandra. Myles noted he looks forward to the minister’s leadership in the board’s continued commitment to providing the highest quality education for every NNDSB student.

The report included details of the April 4 PA Day, which saw teachers engaged in a variety of learning opportunities. Myles thanked the system principals for their work in the planning of a productive PA Day.

The spring Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) assessments will be held between May 7 and June 25. Primary and junior division assessments will be held from May 7 to June 11, and the Grade 9 mathematics assessment will take place between May 28 and June 25.

Indigenous Student Trustee’s report

Indigenous Student Trustee Riley Trudeau’s written report noted that the Indigenous Youth Circle (IYC) plans to meet virtually this month on April 22. The meeting will allow IYC to discuss upcoming meetings, powwows, and events, as well as organize the retreat at Nipissing University.

Trudeau noted the activities of Indigenous students at all the secondary schools in NNDSB, including activities to support fundraising for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.

Among the impacts of IYC students are the first-ever powwow at Almaguin Highlands Secondary School and a contest for students to submit and vote on art to be featured on IYC hoodies for this year’s youth group.

Student Trustee’s report

Student Trustee Nanak Sidhu reported on the status of sports, arts and experiential learning events taking place throughout the district. Highlights include Chippewa’s senior concert band and the Jazz Ravens who earned a Silver Plus rating at the Northern Ontario Music Festival and have been invited to Nationals. Almaguin performed at the Huntsville Festival of Music, earning three gold standings.

A board-wide spirit day was held recently with Almaguin Secondary School placing first with 86 per cent of students participating.

Motion to move meetings to afternoon withdrawn

After being discussed at the February and March 鶹 meetings, Trustee Jeanie Fuscaldo withdrew her motion at the committee of the whole meeting to move 鶹 meetings from evening to afternoon.

Trustee Fuscaldo and Vice-Chair Howard Wesley brought the notice of motion forward to move the committee of the whole meetings to 1 p.m., and 鶹 meetings from 6:30 to 2:30 p.m. Among the reasons for requesting the change were aligning the meetings with standard working hours and minimizing late-night travel, reducing the burden on staff by eliminating the need to work late into the evening and improving work-life balance, enhancing safety by limiting night-time travel for trustees and staff and leveraging research showing improved decision-making and cognitive performance during daytime hours.

A report prepared by the Director’s office noted that school 鶹 meetings “historically and consistently” take place in the evenings in Ontario to ensure public transparency, equitable accessibility, security of the staff workspace and public engagement. The Ontario Public School 鶹s’ Association (OPSBA) is not aware of any school boards in Ontario that schedule daytime 鶹 meetings and the organization cautions boards against daytime meetings to ensure accessibility for the public. The report further notes that the board office is a busy and confidential workspace where all staff carry out the day-to-day operations of NNDSB. Evening meetings enable staff attendance without impacting operations and without the disruption of physical and privacy considerations for staff.

After much discussion and proposed amendments, there was consensus that too many options had been discussed, moving away from the initial motion.

鶹 seeks meeting with North Bay mayor

Trustees voted to send a letter to North Bay Mayor Peter Chirico asking for a meeting to discuss continuing concerns about the low-barrier shelter located across the street from Chippewa Secondary School.

The letter outlines the growing number of risks and expenses incurred by NNDSB and explains that funding ongoing expenses is not sustainable for the board. Further, Chippewa students, staff and school community members experience distress and trauma when interacting with clients of the shelter.

Signed by Chair Ashley St. Pierre, the letter requests a meeting with the mayor and NNDSB leadership to hear how the City of North Bay plans to work with the District of Nipissing Social Services Administration 鶹 (DNSSAB) and other organizations to address the issues, and their plan for the future with NNDSB.

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Filed Under: Media Releases, News and Announcements, NNDSB Featured, NNDSB Shared News

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