NPSS News
- Thank you to all the members of the DEA, Mrs. Pabani, Ms. Cormier and Mrs. Whittingham for all their work on our Black Excellence Assembly and their work throughout the month of February with our Black History Celebrations.
- We wish Mr. Manson luck as he moves to a new role with our SCDSB Student Achievement Department in Experiential Learning. We will miss you.
- March 21 is a big day here at NPSS.
- Staff vs Student Hockey during period 4. Buy-out tickets are available on School Cash Online for $2. Students are also asked to bring 2 canned food items to the arena. All money and food will be given to the Angus Food Bank.
- School Council meeting @ 6:00 pm, all parents are welcome.
- Spring semi formal dance 7-10 pm. Tickets available on School Cash Online
- Parent teacher interviews will be held Tuesday, March 26, 2024 at the school. Interviews will take place between 5:30 – 7:30 pm. The link to sign up for interview will be posted here on the website and sent via school messenger after the March Break.
Wishing all our students and staff a safe and happy March Break.
News from Simcoe County District School Board
Please note that March 11 to 15 is March Break for all SCDSB students. Please refer to the 2023-24 School Year Calendar on the SCDSB website for more information: www.scdsb.on.ca/elementary/planning_for_school/school_year_calendar.
During the month of March, all students in Grades 4 to 12 will be asked to complete an anonymous and confidential online SCDSB School Climate Survey about their school experience. Participants will not be asked to provide their name or any other identifying information because all surveys are anonymous. The survey results will provide valuable feedback to staff related to the SCDSB Strategic Priorities. Similar to prior SCDSB school climate surveys, the questions cover a range of topics, such as:
- excellence in teaching and learning;
- mental health and well-being;
- diversity, equity, and inclusion;
- community; and,
- experiences of school safety and bullying.
A sample version of the student survey is available on the SCDSB website. The online survey is completed while students are at school and takes 15 minutes or less to complete.
We understand that some students in the SCDSB may not be able to complete their school climate survey on their own and may require the help of staff. A modified version of the survey is available for students who require this assistance to complete their survey.
Questions? School staff will be available to answer any questions or concerns a student may have. Questions about the 2023-24 SCDSB School Climate Survey can also be directed to [email protected].
The information that is collected will be used to help guide our schools in creating and maintaining safe and supportive learning environments for all students. Thank you for your support!
- Subscribe to Community Connects
The Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) is excited to launch Community Connects, a new bimonthly newsletter for the SCDSB community. Our shared goal with this new tool is to keep our community partners and stakeholders informed while nurturing relationships that are built on accountability, trust, and transparency.
To learn more and subscribe, visit the Community Connects page on the SCDSB website: www.scdsb.on.ca/community/community_connects.
- Join us! A learning series for parents/guardians with Pine River Institute
Mental health and well-being continues to be a key strategic priority within the SCDSB. We are pleased to continue our partnership with the Centre for Family Initiatives at Pine River Institute (CFI@PRI) to provide several curated learning sessions focused on student mental health and well-being to SCDSB families.
There are eight webinars specifically planned for parents/guardians and other caregivers during this school year. The remaining webinars are:
March 28, 2024 - Building parents' resiliency
April 18, 2024 - Vaping, weed, and alcohol
We hope you save these dates in your calendar and join us for these learning opportunities. For more information and to register, please visit the SCDSB website: https://bit.ly/3jGaC74.
Pine River Institute is a live-in treatment centre and outdoor leadership experience for youth aged 13 to 19 struggling with addictive behaviours and often other mental health issues. Combining therapy with a fully-accredited education program, PRI reinforces the healthy life skills required for a successful future. CFI@PRI extends PRI’s knowledge, experience and evidence-informed treatment approach to families and care providers in the community to support youth mental wellness and prevent the need for more intensive interventions. Learn more about PRI by visiting their website at www.pineriverinstitute.com.
- Interested in learning more about the ways that the SCDSB supports students with special education needs and their families?
Join us for a virtual special education information series During the 2023-24 school year, the Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) is hosting virtual special education outreach sessions to assist parents/guardians in learning more about programs, supports, and ways that we work together to support students with special education needs.
- Reading strategies
March 19
6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
- Supporting students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
April 16
6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
- Every day mental health strategies
May 14
6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Participants are asked to register in advance. Information to access the sessions will be shared via email with individuals who have pre-registered. Learn more about each session and how to register on the SCDSB website: www.scdsb.on.ca/elementary/special_education/special_education_outreach_sessions.
- Registration now open for summer eLearning!
Create flexibility in your timetable and earn a credit! The Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) is offering summer school eLearning courses in July 2024 for current high school students or adult learners who are interested in creating flexibility in their schedule, earning a new credit, or upgrading a previous mark. Students can advance online learning skills, earn missed credits, or fast-track preparation for graduation or post-secondary in just four weeks.
Summer school program details can be found on the Learning Centres website at www.thelearningcentres.com/programs/summer_school.
The SCDSB also supports secondary students in participating in a variety of EDUTravel credit programs in July and August. EDUTravel programs are offered in a variety of destinations including Canada, USA, and Europe. For more information including costs, destinations, credits, and dates of commitment, visit: www.edutravelforcredit.com.
- Looking for ways to support your child in learning math? Check out the SCDSB’s new Math at Home resource!
The Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) is committed to supporting students in understanding and doing mathematics. The SCDSB has developed the Math at Home resource, a compilation of family-friendly, accessible, and engaging math resources and tools designed to engage families in supporting their children’s learning.
The Math at Home page on the SCDSB website, available at www.scdsb.on.ca/MathAtHome, includes a variety of math games, number talks, problem solving opportunities, and practice tasks for students from pre-Kindergarten to Grade 10. Families will learn about how to support the development of positive math mindsets in their children and discover activities with connections to math in the world. The resource also includes a variety of print and digital resources for students and their families.
- Math @Home parent and caregiver series
It’s back! The SCDSB math team is pleased to offer virtual sessions for parents and caregivers of SCDSB students. These sessions focus on practical and fun ways to support children with their mathematics learning and engagement at home. The first 200 registrants will receive a Math @Home kit of resources to use at home. Participants must pre-register for each of the sessions.
- Games to support your child’s math learning @Home
Thursday, April 4, 2024,
7 to 8 p.m.
This session is for parents, caregivers, and their children. Playing games at home is a great way to support child(ren)’s math development. In this session, several games will be explored, and participants will have the opportunity to try the games with their children during the session. The guided portion of the session will be 45 minutes in length followed by 15 additional minutes for further game play or to ask questions of our math facilitators. Bring your child(ren) and your math kit to this session!
Participants must pre-register. Registered participants will receive a kit of hands-on resources that will be sent to the school indicated on the registration form. Use this link to register: https://bit.ly/24MathAtHome. If you couldn’t attend the previous sessions, visit the Math at Home page on the SCDSB website to view past sessions: www.scdsb.on.ca/MathAtHome.
- Engaging in literacy during March Break
Local libraries offer many fun and engaging activities for families during March Break. Visit www.simcoe.ca/lists/locations/libraries.aspx for a list of libraries in Simcoe County. You will find a link to access each library's website to view their upcoming events. The Barrie Public Library is offering a puppet show at their downtown location. Make sure to check out what your local library has to offer during March Break!
- March cyber awareness topic: backup your data
Why does backing up your data matter? Data loss can happen unexpectedly due to various reasons: hardware failure, accidental deletion, or even cyber threats. By regularly backing up your data, you create a safety net that allows you to recover important files and memories.
Access the ECNO cyber awareness tip sheet to stay informed about this month’s topic and explore additional resources: https://ecno.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/ECNO-CAM-Calendar-23-Aug3023_BackupData.pdf
Let’s make March a month of digital preparedness!
- Mental health promotion strategy of the month - Tense and Relax
Well-being is a Strategic Priority in the Simcoe County District School Board, and our mental health and well-being department provides monthly strategies to support student and family well-being.
This month’s strategy is Tense and Relax. This strategy helps children and youth develop the skills to notice how their body feels when they are tense and relaxed, and to learn how to relieve tensions and to self-regulate.
To practice Tense and Relax at home, together with your child, model this relaxation practice and work your way down your bodies, slowly tensing and relaxing each of your muscles. Discuss with them how each area of their body feels before the exercise, and then discuss how it feels afterwards. Have your child get comfortable; this exercise can be done when standing, sitting, or lying down. Children can be encouraged to: bring their shoulders up to their ears, hold for a count of 3, slowly relax for a count of 3, and repeat; push their arms down towards to floor, hold for a count of 3, slowly relax for a count of 3 and repeat, squeeze their hands into fists, hold for a count of 3, slowly relax for a count of 3 and repeat; squeeze their stomach in as if trying to fit between a fence, hold for a count of 3, slowly relax for a count of 3 and repeat; push their feet down to the floor, hold for a count of 3, slowly relax for a count of 3 and repeat.
Visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4mQm0hux1Q&t=1s to watch a video that guides you through a Tense and Relax muscle relaxation exercise.
See our elementary (https://smho-smso.ca/online-resources/sel-posters/) and secondary (https://smho-smso.ca/online-resources/sel-posters-for-secondary/) social-emotional learning poster series for a tense and relax classroom poster than can be used at home.
Follow along the Mental Health and Well-being social media accounts (@SCDSB_MHWB) to see how well-being is being supported in our schools.
- Foster families needed in your community!
Children in our community need you! There is an urgent need for foster homes in Simcoe Muskoka. Simcoe Muskoka Family Connexions is looking for diverse foster care providers who understand children's needs. The needs are diverse and range from babies to teens. Open your home to a child/youth and receive training, support, and between $85 and $155 per child and per day. Do you know anyone who may be interested? Visit https://familyconnexions.ca/fosterconnexions/ to inquire, apply, and for more information. You may also call 705-726-6587 ext. 4.
Information provided by Simcoe Muskoka Family Connexions
Every child should have the opportunity to participate in programs such as dance, music, and sports – but we know not all families can afford the registration fees. YouthReach is a Simcoe County based charity that helps provide kids with the opportunity to get involved in the programs they want to participate in. For more information and to apply visit: www.youthreach.ca.
Information provided by YouthReach
Help your teen get the sleep they need by encouraging:
§ A consistent bedtime and wake-time (even on weekends) that allows for at least 8-10 hours of uninterrupted sleep each night.
§ A relaxing bedtime routine – showering, music, getting ready for the next day.
§ A sleeping space that is cool, dark, and quiet.
§ Them to put away technology in the hour before bed as it interferes with natural sleep cycles.
§ Them to limit their daily intake of caffeine as it may interfere with the ability to fall asleep.
For more information, call Health Connection at 705-721-7520 or 1-877-721-5720 to speak with a public health nurse or visit www.simcoemuskokahealth.org.
Information provided by the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit