You must have 30 credits to receiver your OSSD:  18 Compulsory Credits and 12 Elective Credits.  You must also complete 40 hours of community service and complete your Ontario Literacy requirement.  For greater certainty check your Credit Counselling Summary.  This year, the Counsellors have booked individual information sessions with each of the graduating students to assist with research, the application process and to discuss future financial considerations etc.  The Guidance Department has been hard at work preparing students for the application process! 

University-bound students must have six grade 12 U or M level courses including prerequisite courses.  University-bound students can do their research at www.electronicinfo.ca.  A PIN number is needed to complete an OUAC application.  An announcement will be made when the PIN numbers become available at the end of November.  PIN numbers must be picked up and signed for in the Guidance office.  Students can complete the application on-line at www.ouac.on.ca.  The deadline for university applications is January 13^th, 2010 for special consideration.  The cost is $115.00 for three university/program choices.  Students applying to universities outside the province of Ontario should speak with the Guidance secretary, Ms. Ramdhani and complete the “Blue Form of Intention”.  

College-bound students may apply to colleges now!  Applications can be completed on-line at www.ontariocolleges.com.  The deadline for colleges applications is February 1^st, 2010 for equal consideration.  The cost is $95.00 for 5 college/programme choices.  This website also provides a “one-stop-shopping” opportunity for planning, researching colleges/programmes and applying to OCAS.  Just log on and follow the link.  It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3, 4!!

More University and College News:By the end of November, Northern will have hosted recruiters from over 60 universities and colleges offering “brown-bag-lunch” presentations that focused on criteria for admission to programmes, residence information, scholarships, campus life and graduate studies and more.  “Ivy League Night” (Sept. 30^th) was attended by students and parents of NSS, as well as other events - “The Quebec Universities Evening” (Oct. 20^th) and “The Atlantic Universities Lunchtime Fair” (Oct. 8^th).  Northern arranged for an SAT presentation (Oct. 2^nd) as well as many other specialty U.S. and Canadian    University presentations.  On Tuesday, Nov. 3^rd, the School Council in conjunction with the Guidance office held an information night for the parents of graduating students.  “Preparing for Post-secondary Education Night” provided parents with valuable information about the application process.  Special thanks to the School Council for hosting the evening, as well as Janet Hurd (U. of T. rep) and Elisabeth Henriques (George Brown College rep) for helping to make this a most successful and informative event! 

Scholarships and AwardsDid you know that a student can win more than one monetary award? Did you know that students can often continue to receive money throughout their undergrad career if the required average is maintained?  The Scholarship and Award season has been under way for over a month! For more information on upcoming awards, application criteria and deadlines please speak with Mr. Chihrin or Mr. Thompson.  You can’t win if you don’t apply. 

Grade 9 Anti-Bullying Assembly:  SHOWDOWNOn October 1^st, all grade 9 students had the opportunity to see the Mixed Company Theatre production entitled Showdown.  This anti-bullying play helped our students recognize the different forms bullying can take:  name-calling, exclusion, extortion, threats and physical violence.  It called attention to discriminatory attitudes that might motivate a bully’s behaviour (such as racism, sexism and homophobia) and examined bullying from a power perspective.  There was a successful interactive component to the presentation and our students were empowered with strategies to deal with bullying.   

SMARTRISK:  PROJECT IGNITIONCongratulations to Northern’s SMARTRISK injury prevention team on winning a $2000.00 grant in the Project Ignition contest sponsored by State Farm Insurance.  The peer leaders are focusing activities around the issue of distracted driving (stemming from cell phone use, friends and loud music) while also promoting driving sober (relating to alcohol and drug consumption).  All students attended the MADD Canada production of WASTED on September 22^nd and witnessed a graphic and emotionally-driven presentation.  Some upcoming SMARTRISK events include a curriculum integration contest, resource fair, classroom visits and video game competition.  Be sure to drop by the SMARTRISK booth at Parent/Teacher interviews and meet some of the peer leaders.   Did you know?

• In Canada, automobile crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers between the ages of 15 and 19.
• Approximately 40% of all fatally injured occupants are unrestrained.
• The risk of collision when using a cell phone is four times higher than when it is not being used.
• 29% of the 15-20 year old fatally injured drivers had been drinking (males account for 85.7% of this group).

REMEMBER:  BE AWARE, BUCKLE UP, AVOID DISTRACTIONS, DRIVE SOBER Study Hall:  Room 108 is open Monday to Thursday from 3:15 - 4:15 p.m. for all students wishing to have a quiet, supervised, distraction-free place to begin their homework.  All are welcome.  Feed Hungry Students:  October 5^th – 9^th was Feed Hungry Student week in Toronto.  Twelve enthusiastic, generous Northern students “took over” the Eglinton Subway Station on Tuesday and Thursday from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. receiving $1,543.43 from gracious TTC users.  All money collected went towards supporting nutrition programs throughout TDSB.  Congratulations and thank you to our students.   Evening for Parents:  Dec. 2^nd from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.:  Please join us for this informative evening.  The Youth Peer Speaker is a former Northern student who “lost” 3 years to excessive gaming and is now happily pursuing university studies at the University of Toronto. 

Catherine Goldsmith, Curriculum Leader

Contributing Counsellors: Jim Solomon, Valerie Walsh, Karen McIntyre   

The Gifted Advisory Committee is an advocacy group which supports and promotes gifted education and the gifted program at Northern.  It is attended by parents and guardians of designated gifted students.  This sub-committee of the School Council meets approximately six times a year.  The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 3^rd at 7:30 p.m. in the Heritage Room (114).  To receive information, sign up for the e-newsletter at http://gac.neighboursnews.ca.

Students in the gifted program who are in grade 9 and 10 have finished their first Interdisciplinary Studies unit and have just begun their second unit.  Also, the students have handed in a Topic Selection Sheet to present their idea for the Independent Enrichment Study.  Students will be paired with their IES facilitators on December 16^th.

Leonila Liko, ACL Gifted Department