Attendance and Schedules

Regular attendance at school and arriving on time play a role in your academic success. Attendance Policy and Procedures for students includes tracking and monitoring of student arrival and attendance, as well as implementing timely interventions that comply with Ministry policies and follow best practices. In line with the Education Act, all children from six to 18 must attend school.  Students are expected to attend classes every day, in every subject, on time.

MORNING ROUTINE

8:45 a.m. Classrooms are open and teachers are present to welcome students.      

8:50 a.m. 10-minute warning bell followed by NSS Air music selections.  All students proceed directly to their first period  classrooms at this time. 

8:55 a.m. 5-minute warning bell.  Students should be in their first period classroom.

9:00 a.m. School day begins 

students who are not in class when the bell rings at 9:00 a.m. are marked late.  Students who arrive after 9:00 a.m. will be counselled by their period one teacher.  If a pattern of lateness develops, students will be sent to their Vice-Principal.

PUNCTUALITY

Punctuality is an important life-long habit.  Persistent lateness will be addressed through an ascending scale of consequences.  This may include telephone calls home, an e-mail from a VP,  a VP interview, and/or detentions (served before or after school, or at lunchtime). Missed detentions and persistent lateness will result in a meeting with parent/guardian.

Note:

·         Persistent lateness and absence may seriously jeopardize a student’s extra-curricular involvement – For more information on Student Athlete expectations please visit our Northern Athletics Site

ABSENCES AND NOTES

Please note that as of the 2022-2023 school year, there will not be a synchronous learning option.  Students are responsible for missed work.  

If a student is absent from school, the parent/guardians are expected to call or email northern@tdsb.on.ca before 9:00 a.m. with the student name and reason for the absence.   

Note:  An absence which is not documented by a phone call, note or e-mail is viewed as an unacceptable absence.  

SIGNING IN / SIGNING OUT

Note:  Appointments should be made after school hours whenever possible.  Students who wish to be excused during the day must observe the following procedures:

·         Students must present a note or refer to an email from their parent/guardian to the appropriate attendance secretary  before 9:00 a.m.

·         Students who wish to go home during the school day because of illness must sign out in the VP’s office.  Students may not leave until a parent/guardian has been contacted.

·         If a student goes home for lunch and is unable to return, parent/guardian must contact the school by phone.

·         Students returning from an appointment must sign in at the VP office.

DETENTIONS

Occasionally a student may have to serve a detention before or after school for additional work as a consequence for lateness, undocumented absences, or for inappropriate student behaviour.  

Please see here for absences during examinations and final evaluations

Please note that family vacations are not considered a legitimate absence. Every effort should be made to avoid scheduling family vacations during school time. Holiday dates are published in the school calendar and on the TDSB website, http://www.tdsb.on.ca. In the event of a missed evaluation due to a family vacation, teachers are not required to provide an alternative form of evaluation. In the case of examinations, no make-up exam or alternative arrangements will be made. As well, this would extend to any self-isolation you need to undertake due to this planned vacation/travel.  

Note:  Appointments should be made after school hours whenever possible.  Students who wish to be excused during the day must observe the following procedures:

• Students must present a note from their parent/guardian to the Vice-Principal Office prior to leaving.

• Students who wish to go home during the school day because of illness must sign out in the VP’s office.  Students may not leave until a parent or guardian has been contacted.

• If a student goes home for lunch and is unable to return, parents/guardians must contact the school by phone or e-mail.

• Students returning from an appointment must sign in at the VP office.

Detentions

Occasionally a student may have to serve a detention before school, at lunch, or after school for additional work as a consequence for lateness, undocumented absences, or for inappropriate student behaviour.  

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

The Ontario Ministry of Education defines a “full-time pupil” as a pupil who is registered for classroom instruction for an average of 210 minutes or more per school day in the school cycle.  Using this formula, a “full-time” student at Northern is a pupil who is registered for six (6) day school courses over a two-day period.

“Part-time” students will not be eligible for school nominated scholarships and in-school award nominations.  Students must be registered full time to participate in varsity sports and clubs.

Students in grade 9 and 10 are required to take a full program of eight credits per year.  

Students in grade 11 with 16 credits earned are eligible to take a spare.  Grade 11 students are required to take a minimum of 7 subjects.  

Students in grade 12 are required to take a minimum of 6 subjects.   

 In order to minimize disruption to classes in session, students on spares who are remaining in the school are asked to be in the library or the cafeteria.  Students on spares should not be in the hallways or on school grounds outside classrooms.