Ferris students grow connections with peer support

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Wednesday, July 28, 2021

Community is built when people invest their time in organizations, and in each other. (NNDSB) supports the building of school communities by giving staff and students the opportunity to share talents while developing leadership skills.

At West Ferris Intermediate and Secondary School, several opportunities exist for participation in mentorship and leadership, some of them for credit.

Principal Andy Gagné says having students reach out to support other students

means an approach in a different and more comfortable way, that is often well received. An example of this is the iCoach program in which students in the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) program work with and assist with technology in a class.

One of the many goals of the STEAM program is to help students master the 21st century competencies that will help them to successfully navigate the job market of the future. STEAM students become resilient, self-sufficient learners that can quickly adapt to changing situations using the skills that they have learned in the program.

West Ferris is an Apple Distinguished School, recognized for being a centre of leadership and educational excellence. Apple supports the school’s vision as students’ creativity, collaboration and critical thinking are inspired with Mac products. It has helped STEAM students with their understanding and knowledge of technology and their understanding of collaboration and mentoring through such initiatives as iCoach.

Grade 11 STEAM student Kennedy Kerr was an iCoach for a Grade 10 academic English class. Though COVID altered the way she interacted with the class, she was easily able to help the teacher and students in a virtual mode.

In a video she created, Kennedy says, during the octomester as an iCoach, “I am not able to work with the students and the teacher one-on-one. My knowledge from the STEAM program has allowed me to adapt to this unexpected curve in my education with only a few challenges.” Kennedy was able to present work to students and the teacher with iMovies, trailers and Keynotes “in a way that can be shared and presented via online classroom meetings.”

The iCoach position provides unique leadership opportunities for the student, peer support for students in the class, and educational technology assistance to the staff.

Gagné says other mentorship positions occur in the school; within the four self-contained personal life management classrooms (one intermediate class, three secondary school classes). These are mentorship opportunities for which students can earn a credit.

As COVID created the need for cohorts, student leaders were only able to help in one class. Post-COVID, students will be able to support several classes.

At West Ferris, there are also non-credit programs that give students the opportunity to provide leadership, including in academics, physical education and sports, where secondary students mentor younger students.

These are some of the many ways NNDSB works to develop good citizenship in its students.

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For more information, please contact:

Deb Bartlett
Communications Officer

P. (705) 472-8170, extension 5010
E. Deb.Bartlett@nearnorthschools.ca

 

 

Letter to Families – Seeking homestay families

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Wednesday, July 28, 2021

Dear Parents and Guardians,

student exchange is seeking families to host international secondary school students from countries around the world who are scheduled to attend schools inthe this fall. We are welcoming students fromArgentina, Belgium, Chile, Denmark, France and Japan for durations ranging from two months to the full school year.

Host families are responsible for providing three meals a day in a safe and nurturing environment. Host families are compensated with a monthly stipend of $500.

These international students have planned their study abroad program months in advance and are excited to learn more about the exchange country’s culture and language.

Students are required to comply with all Government of Canada and Public Health requirements during COVID-19 including any testing and quarantine requirements both prior to departure and upon arrival in Canada. Additionally, protocols and expectations regarding COVID-19 safety are provided to both the student and host family throughout the process – including prior to arrival and throughout the program. The YES Canada team are available to answer questions and provide information.

These exchanges are important as they connect individuals and cultures and remindus of thecommon interests, passions and goals. It is also a great way to establish life-long friendships and connections.

If you are interested in hosting an international secondary school student or would like to learn more about YES Canada’s homestay program, please contactscott@youthedservices.caor call 416-623-6220 ext. 403.

To review program details, click.

Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

 

Students from across Ontario join NNDSB in summer

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Wednesday, July 23, 2021

Students from across Ontario join NNDSB in summer

For six weeks every summer, students from across Ontario come to the in Mattawa and that are granted by the (NNDSB). The partnership between the board and the Centre has been going for approximately 30 years and has seen thousands of students learn in the “School of Experiential Education” over the summer months. Students attend for a two-week session, earning a secondary school credit (in an in-residence setting) through experiential learning. Courses from Grade 9-12 in geography, science, biology, physics and kinesiology are offered each summer.

Laura Kielpinski is the Director of Operations and Education at the Centre. In a non-COVID year, the Centre would be running four high school courses concurrently, with 80-90 students attending for a two-week session. Because of COVID, the Centre is running at 50 per cent of capacity, and some of the courses are blended, with some online and some in-person.

Kielpinski says the summer credit courses connect outdoor learning to academics, enriching the learning experience for students, whose classroom is primarily the outdoors, located within Samuel d Champlain Provincial Park. For example, the Grade 11 biology students came to a cold-water stream and monitored how heart rates changed in cold water. Kielpinski says the Centre “inspires intrigue and inquiry in learning.”

The students live on-site, experiencing a camp-like environment with cabins, campfires and canoes. “Students live here, learn here, eat here, play here,” she says. The teachers that are hired for each two-week course are outstanding educators who can bring creativity to their students; they aren’t confined by buildings and time.

The Centre is usually full by the end of the calendar year for the next summer’s program, says Kielpinski. Some students come because they are “reach aheaders” – they want to get a credit under their belt early, enabling more flexibility for options the next school year. Others just learn better outdoors and away from books. Many students are surprised to learn there are no textbooks for courses at the Canadian Ecology Centre.

NNDSB’s secondary summer school principal Jamey Byers says, “We are grateful that we have such a long-standing relationship with the Canadian Ecology Centre; it benefits students in so many ways and is a great facility. The educators and staff there have passion for what they teach, and the students are the beneficiaries of that passion.”

The first week of the 2021 summer program saw two classes – Grade 9 geography and Grade 11 biology.

Maya Yemm and Taryn Wozney are Grade 9 students, attending the Centre for the first time. Maya attends Ashbury College in Ottawa, and Taryn is a student at West Ferris in North Bay.

Maya liked being outside in nature and found there was a lot of cooperation among students in the course, it was not independent study. She said that helped her understand her peers better. She also thought that seeing things – such as an aquifer – made the lessons more real.

Taryn liked that the course was hands-on, and not just delivered from textbooks. She would recommend the summer course for anyone who likes being outside, and not confined to a classroom. She took the summer course to give her more flexibility to take courses she was interested in when school resumes in September.

Students Sebastian Altamirano and Liam Ferrell are both heading to Grade 11 in September. They met this summer in the biology class at the Canadian Ecology Centre.

Sebastian says he has difficulty concentrating and going to school online “didn’t work. I was distracted.” This is his first year taking the summer course and he loves going to school in the outdoor setting, where the class moves around a lot. Although there was an adjustment period, he likes the fast pace of the day, and the learning.

This is Liam’s third summer at the Canadian Ecology Centre. He loves that his classes are enriched with nature, are creative and that his two weeks is a unique blend of school and camp.

Located several hours north of his London, ON home, Sebastian likes the environment that he has not seen before. The rocks and forests are different than what he’s used to, and he saw red squirrels and a black bear during his session at the Centre.

Liam likes taking his mandatory course in the summer which allows him to take the electives he wants at his secondary school in Milton.

Sebastian says the teachers at the Centre have helped him to learn about himself. Students complete journals in which they reflect on course material and their day and their experiences. He says he has learned much about himself and how he manages; his newfound self-awareness will serve him well as he can communicate to his teachers about how he learns best.

Liam says students will love coming to school at the Centre. He describes how lessons come to life when the learning takes place outdoors, and that the education is delivered in ways that can’t be in a typical classroom.

Students interested in pursuing summer credit courses should contact their secondary school guidance counsellors and or visit the for more details and upcoming courses.

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For more information, please contact:

Deb Bartlett
Communications Officer

P. (705) 472-8170, extension 5010
E. Deb.Bartlett@nearnorthschools.ca

Experiential learning offers value beyond the classroom

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Wednesday, July 21, 2021

Experiential learning offers value beyond the classroom

Experiential learning providesstudents the time and space to participate in the process of learningby engaging in real life situations via hands-on activities and reflection.

At (NNDSB), it’s a process that is valued and that educators are encouraged to use. Students learn by doing and reflect on the experience. It builds on student curiosity and empowers them to drive their own learning and make meaning from the work they are doing.

Examples of this take place in all schools in NNDSB, frequently in the outdoors. One example of this multi-faceted learning is the paddle-making exercise that Grade 6 students at Mattawa District Public School experience every year. Students incorporate math lessons using fractions and measurement. They learn technology safety procedures (working with tools) and incorporate social studies and history, in learning the historical and contemporary contributions of First Nations, Metis and Inuit Peoples.

The paddle-making exercise results in students graduating from the school with a custom, hand-made canoe paddle.

Pre-COVID, the exercise took place in the wood shop of F.J. McElligott Secondary School as a means of supporting the transition from elementary to intermediate school, which is in the secondary school building. Although the tradition was paused during COVID, the Outdoor Education Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) students at F.J. McElligott look forward to once again teaching the Mattawa students how to use their paddles, the parts of canoe and boat safety. In the process of instructing the elementary students, in the annual paddle dip, the secondary students complete their practical canoeing exam.

This is one of the many ways learning and mentorship takes place in NNDSB schools every day.

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For more information, please contact:

Deb Bartlett
Communications Officer

P. (705) 472-8170, extension 5010
E. Deb.Bartlett@nearnorthschools.ca

Federal funding for schools’ energy improvement costs

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Tuesday, July 20, 2021

Federal funding for schools’ energy improvement costs

Funding through the federal government’s Climate Action Incentive Fund (CAIF) has paid for almost $300,000 worth of work that has been completed at two (NNDSB) schools.

CAIF is designed to help school boards make energy efficiency improvements and retrofits that reduce energy use, costs and carbon pollution. The funding covered projects that were federally approved and already completed.

Funding covered the installation of a rooftop HVAC/ERV and controls at Chippewa Secondary School ($116,844), which will improve energy efficiency, and roof and insulation replacement at Mattawa District Public School ($175,060), which will reduce heat loss. The $291,904 investment in NNDSB schools will create cost savings for the board.

The work was completed in the fall of 2020, and the board, with the assistance of the Ministry of Education, applied for CAIF when the new funding was announced.

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For more information, please contact:

Deb Bartlett
Communications Officer

P. (705) 472-8170, extension 5010
E. Deb.Bartlett@nearnorthschools.ca

NNDSB initiatives enable students to be role models for younger students

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Wednesday, July 14, 2021

NNDSB initiatives enable students to be role models for younger students

Traits like being generous, compassionate, cooperative and considerate aren’t just being talked about in (NNDSB) schools, they’re being modelled. Staff carefully plan initiatives that are designed to build character and create role models in schools. The initiatives provide the opportunity for leadership by older students, while giving younger students people to look up to.

The projects that Parry Sound High School Construction Technology students made this year for their young peers at McDougall Public School are great examples of mutually beneficial activities. Mr. Buckland’s students made picnic tables and portable chalkboards that will be used this fall at McDougall Public School’s outdoor learning spaces. The portable boards can be used in any outdoor space and stored inside when not in use. They can be used at the new Parry Sound JK-12 school’s outdoor learning spaces in future.

These projects bring together many aspects of education that are important in NNDSB. In addition to the above-mentioned character building that takes place, the initiative at Parry Sound High School contributes to outdoor learning that schools in the district are fortunate to be able to provide, while at the same time creating role models of the secondary school students and very happy young learners.

The project involved a contribution from community partner Gray’s Paint & Flooring, that donated chalkboard paint and supplies.

These initiatives are subtle yet effective ways to help build character in students. By encouraging them to develop positive character traits, NNDSB staff enrich students’ lives outside of academics. These character traits help develop young adults, and give them a framework to make mindful, important decisions in life. They create a sense of community whereby our elementary students feel connected to the secondary school.

Other opportunities that are usually on the go in a non-COVID world include Iron Chef competitions for Grade 7 and 8 students hosted and mentored by the Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) Culinary Arts students and school-organized community pow wows, to which the five local First Nations are invited.

We look forward to the opportunities ahead.

For more information contact:

Deb Bartlett
Communications Officer

P. (705) 472-8170, extension 5010
E. Deb.Bartlett@nearnorthschools.ca

NNDSB says Thank you

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Child superhero collage (NNDSB)’s multi-media Thank You presentation is now available!

In order to make this presentation as accessible as possible, we have made this a PDF with multi-media images and video incorporated. Please download the presentation and open it in Adobe Acrobat. For the embedded videos, please click on the play button and a yellow banner on the top will pop up saying “Multimedia and 3D content has been disabled. Enable this feature if you trust the document.” Select Options on the far right and click one of two options. Next, click the video and it will play.

 

 

Click the above image or here for the Thank You presentation.

 

 

Board provides mental health services this summer

By

Friday, July 9, 2021

Board provides mental health services this summer

(NNDSB) is pleased to offer mental health services throughout the summer.

The mental health team is providing on-going counselling to students and families who have already connected with the team and will be accepting new referrals throughout July and August.

Three youth drop-in wellness hubs are operating this summer for youth aged 10-18:

A virtual group for students aged 7 to 11 will be held that teaches strategies to cope with anxiety, anger and impulsivity. Sessions will be held July 13, 20 and 27 and August 3, 10 and 17 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., and students are expected to attend all sessions.

The team is also offering webinars for students and families beginning July 14, and virtual drop-in sessions for parents. A wellness camp is being planned in August, with times and locations to be determined.

Families are asked to register for all summer services at . To see what NNDSB’s mental health team does, visit this page of NNDSB’s website. Learn more about all summer supports and services here.

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For more information, please contact:

Deb Bartlett
Communications Officer

P. (705) 472-8170, extension 5010
E. Deb.Bartlett@nearnorthschools.ca

NNDSB’s Student Trustee position

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What is a Student Trustee and what do they do? A Student Trustee is a representative of the students in their board at the Board table. They express the opinions of the students and strive to make change using the student voice. There are four main responsibilities for Student Trustees: running Student Senate; attending Board meetings; and attending the ’s (OSTA) conferences, plus being an active OSTA member.​

At (NNDSB), there is one Student Trustee and an Indigenous Student Trustee position representing all regions of the board. As a representative for student voice, Student Trustees can become members of the OSTA, enables students to provide input on Ontario youth needs to those who set up the education mandate.

Madelaine Hall-Paradis is NNDSB’s 2020-2021 Student Trustee.

“As a Student Trustee, you’re in a really neat position. You have the opportunity to bring student voice to the Board level. So, it’s really important to recognize the significance of this role, that you have a duty to the students who have elected you and entrusted you to voice their opinions and concerns,” Hall-Paradis said. “You have to do your due diligence to make sure their voice is heard. For me, that means I’m very reliant on my Student Senators to keep me in the loop on what’s happening in their schools. Having an open line of communication and keeping in touch with other members of Senate throughout the board is especially important.”

Any student entering Grades 11 or 12 who attends an NNDSB school full-time is eligible to apply and be appointed to the position of Student Trustee.

“To be eligible to run for the role of Student Trustee, you first have to be elected as a Student Senator for your school. So, this means you’ll have to submit a short application to your school’s administration followed by an interview. If you are one of the successful two Student Senators for your school, within the week, you will have the chance to apply for the role of Student Trustee. What that looks like is you can either submit a written speech or video to the current Student Trustee and administrative lead, detailing why you’re a good fit for this role, what skills you bring any past experience, anything that really contributes to making you a solid candidate,” Hall-Paradis shared.

The process to become a Student Trustee is completely different from the way traditional Trustees are voted in. Board trustees are voted in to represent taxpayers during municipal elections, whereas the Student Trustee is appointed annually to represent the school board’s student body. The job of the Student Trustee is to ensure that student voice is heard by the Board and beyond.

At the school level, Student Trustees work closely with Student Senate, which is a group of students made up of delegates from schools across the Student Trustee’s board. These groups are the first step in beginning student-led board-wide initiatives; meetings allow students to collaborate in pursuing change in their board.

At the Board level, the Student Trustee serves as the voice of the greater student population. By sharing ideas and participating in meaningful conversations at the Board table, Student Trustees advocate for the needs and wants of their constituents. Board meetings are also crucial opportunities for Student Trustees to bring ideas, questions, and initiatives to elected trustees and administration.

“Student Senate is the backbone to the role of Student Trustee,” Hall-Paradis said. “Without my senators, I would not be able to complete this role and give it the time and attention it deserves. Having a student or two elected from each secondary school ensures that student voice from all across the board is heard, not just from the area which the Student Trustee represents.”

Outside of school and Board, Student Trustees interact with each other through OSTA. This association is comprised of Student Trustees from all across Ontario who work together to amplify student voice and work with provincial partners such as the Ministry of Education.

Throughout the school year, OSTA holds several conferences: Fall General Meeting, Board Council Conference and Annual General Meeting. Student Trustees from both public and Catholic boards come together to learn about their roles and work to improve the educational experience of Ontario’s students.

It’s not uncommon for Student Trustees from other boards to bounce ideas off each other.

“I speak with my fellow Student Trustee from the District School Board Ontario North East. It’s very helpful because they have similar student numbers and recognize the unique challenges both rural and northern schools (or school boards) face,” Hall-Paradis said.

“Not only do we have to represent student voice, but we have to work really hard to keep students interested and involved given the vast geography of the region we represent, in comparison to that of an urban board. We’re constantly talking and going back and forth about ways we can find to keep students engaged, which has been especially important this year, given how much of the year has been online.”

Similar to trustees, Student Trustees also have the opportunity for professional development.

“I had the opportunity to partake in some human rights workshops that were hosted by Osgoode Hall Law, which is out of York University,” Hall-Paradis shared. “One of the sessions was focused on human rights in school in relation to education. Another session focused on minorities in school and how we can make sure that everyone has an equitable school experience. This last session was predominantly focused on Indigenous and people of colour and how we can make sure their experience in school is one of that is equitable and recognizing the extra hurdles they may face.”

Each month, the Student Trustee presents a report to the Board of Trustees at the regular meetings.

“Before a Board meeting, I will have a Student Senate meeting two or three weeks prior and during that meeting, I take notes of what’s happening and updates between the group, whether it be that we’re just wrapping up an initiative, or that a school has just finished wrapping up an initiative,” Hall-Paradis shared.

“Senators send me updates that they would like outlined and reported on at the Board meeting. Once I have information from all the schools and complete further research myself, I am able to put all these pieces together in the format of a report. Then read it through a few times, revise it and lots of times I’ll have a fellow senator read it through just to ensure that each school is equally represented, or if there’s something we didn’t touch on that should be,” she said.

While the Student Trustee is not a voting member, they are an important part to the Board meetings. At NNNDSB, Student Trustee’s serve a one-year term.

Biindigen

Mii gwi Anishinabek wewena nkenmaaminak dependajig maa kiing.
"We acknowledge in a good way, the original people of the land here"
We value the cultures, histories and relationships with the Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island (North America)

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