Northern Secondary School is off to another successful, busy and exciting year.  Northern’s OSSLT and EQAO results continue to show strong achievement.  Northern’s Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test results showed that 91% of students participating were successful! These results are well ahead of both TDSB at 81% and the Province at 84%.  Northern’s Grade 9 EQAO Assessment of Mathematics showed a strong improvement in the academic results.  Northern’s percentage of students achieving at or above the provincial standards was 84%, compared to 72% for TDSB and 75% for the Province.  We are proud of our students’ success and the dedicated teachers who help all Northern students reach for high academic standards.

The Arts are off to a busy start at Northern.  Northern’s band performed beautifully at Commencement, and the Choir, the Orchestra and our Dance Troup were all outstanding at our Remembrance Day Assembly.  The New York Music Trip offered our students an exciting time.  From a trip to the New York Philharmonic Orchestra at the Lincoln Centre to Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Museum of Modern Art and The Apollo Theatre, Northern students experienced the world of art and music in New York.  Northern music students experienced this year’s historical Presidential election results in Times Square!  Mark your calendar for excellent drama at Northern.  Grade 12 docudramas run from December 8^th to 15^th and the “One Act Festival” runs from February 10^th to 12^th.   Our Mainstage Production takes place April 23^rd to 25^th.  Dracula will be presented as an adapted stage production written by students Kaitlin Bryski and Maddie Ingles.  You will not want to miss any of these outstanding productions!

Northern’s Business and Co-op departments make the world of work an exciting area for students. Northern’s Business students are participating in Junior Achievement’s “Company Program”.  Guest speakers and after school programs have brought the issues of the business world alive this fall.  This year, for the first time, Northern students participated in the DECA international student competition.

Northern’s extra curricular program and school spirit continue to be remarkable!  Northern teams reached City and Provincial Championships competition levels.  Golf, Cross Country Running, Tennis, Volleyball, Soccer, Girl’s Basketball and Football kept us busy cheering for Northern teams all fall.  Thank you to the many parents that came out to join us at events.

Norhern’s Guidance Department have started the year strong with the continued and growing Homework Club.  SMARTRISK, which is a program that helps our students make smart choices, will be visiting grade nine and ten classes to promote key safety messages.  University and College representatives have been visiting Northern to offer our students important knowledge about post secondary programs.  Over 900 parents and students attended “Ivy League Night” and the School Council partnered with Guidance for “Preparing for Post Secondary Education”.     

The new grade nines are quickly becoming part of the Northern community.  The Northern Student Council and Buddies sponsored the Hallowe’en Dance which was a huge hit.  Terry Fox, United Way and Students Against Impaired Driving all engaged students in fun activities which raised funds and supported healthy communities.

Northern School Council has been very active and has sponsored several events including the New Parent B.B.Q., the “Preparing for Post Secondary Education” and Indigo Night, a fundraiser at the Yonge and Eglinton store.  Thank you to our very supportive School Council and parents for your ongoing support.  We look forward to seeing all of you at Parent-Teacher Interviews on November 27th.  Your participation is important.

Supporting a Safe Learning environment is a priority at Northern.  This year our ESP student partnership has been working with our School Watch police officers.  All of Northern’s grade nine students attended workshops presented by 53 Division Officers concerning school safety and street proofing.  Northern’s Administration Team, ESP, the School Council and the Northern Safe School Committee all work with and appreciate our strong relationship with Metro Police Services.  ESP has recently promoted “DON”T JUST WALK ON BY” and asked all students to be part of helping to make Northern a safe community.  Phone numbers of the “TDSB Tip Line” are posted and students are given the option of anonymously reporting to guidance, teachers, coaches or administrators.  There were some Safe School incidents in the fall.  Through working as a community, those responsible were reported and suspended.  Lanyards have made a difference in being able to quickly identify intruders and we greatly appreciate your support of this initiative. ESP students have recently conducted a Safe School Survey of all the grade nine students. Copies of the results of this survey will be available at Parent-Teacher Interviews.

Northern’s fundraising for the Clarke Pulford Field continues and we are optimistic we will reach our goal this year.  Many Northern students and their families have made outstanding contributions to the school in some way.  Our Fundraising Committee has developed a number of ways you can help Northern support the field, including Private Donations, Shop and Support, Buy a Yard,  A Knight Out, and Taste of the Town.  Watch for these events and come out and enjoy being part of the team that built the Clarke Pulford Field.  

Special thanks to all the staff, coaches, volunteers, students, the buddies, Student Council, the GAA, the BAA and the parents for the energy and commitment that create a very special kind of learning environment and school spirit that are so much a part of Northern.  It is because of all of you that there are so many success stories here at Northern.

Varla Abrams

Principal