Napanee District Secondary School

Hawks Family Update

As we head into March Break, we want to extend our appreciation to our students, staff, and families for the hard work, resilience, and positive spirit you have shown throughout the winter months. This has been a busy stretch at NDSS, and everyone has earned a well‑deserved pause.

March Break is a great time for students to rest, recharge, and return with renewed energy for the final part of the school year. Whether your family is travelling, spending time close to home, or simply enjoying slower days, we hope the week ahead provides moments of connection and relaxation.

We look forward to welcoming students back on Monday, March 23 ready to continue their learning and finish the year strong.

Wishing all our Hawks a safe and enjoyable break!

The NDSS Admin Team

Parent/Guardian Conferences

Families will receive an Early Report update for students in grades 9 and 10, as will parents for Grade 11 or 12 students who may be struggling in their current course(s). Parents/guardians can expect to receive this update either by paper, email, or via a phone call by Friday, March 13th. If you have any questions or concerns about your student’s progress, please contact their teacher directly (see our website). Families are also invited to book a Parent Teacher Interview through School Day for our upcoming Parent Teacher Conferences scheduled for Wednesday, March 25th, from 6:00-8pm. Bookings are open now on School Day.

Hawks In the News

NDSS School to Community student wins pair of art contests

Hawks defeat cops, raise $2,200 for charity

NDSS snowboarding team closes out successful season on a high note

Golden Hawks mixed curling team captures EOSSAA bronze

NDSS Hawks girls hockey team repeats at KASSAA champions

Hawks Sr. girls volleyball team secures OFSAA berth

Welcome to Our Semester 2 Staff

Staff

NDSS Student Council

StuCo 2025-2026

Congratulations to the incoming members of StuCo for the 2025-2026 school year:

Front to back:

Austin Marquette

Nara Rickard

Isabelle Koktan

Sadie Lupton

Vienna Ballance-Hinch

Troy Daines

Weekly Announcements

Please click below:

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Hawks Shine at Skills Competition

Hawk of the Week

Student Insurance

School Climate

Respect. Everyone would agree that this is an important shared value. As outlined in the Ontario School Code of Conduct, NDSS Code of Conduct, LDSB Code of Conduct, and LDSB Safe and Caring Schools, we must respect and treat others fairly, regardless of their race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, creed, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, family status or disability. We all need to consider the audience and impact of our words and actions and to remember that schools are places that must feel safe for everyone.

For September, our school community will be focused on kindness to help our new and returning Hawks feel welcomed!

Classroom Routines and Attendance. In our school community, it is critical that we respect and observe the routines necessary to maximize learning. Students are expected to attend school regularly and to attend all classes. Frequent absences from class may affect a student’s grades. This September a focus will be on students arriving at each class on time and minimizing disruption to the learning environment.

ATTENDANCE MATTERS!

We want to emphasize the importance of attendance as it is fundamental to your success. Regular attendance builds a strong foundation for learning and contributes to a vibrant school community and academic success. Your active participation not only enhances your understanding of the curriculum but also fosters meaningful connections with peers and teachers.

When Absent:

• If students are under 18 years of age, verbal notification, or notification through School Messenger/Safe Arrival by the parent/guardian, each time the student is absent.

• Students 18 years of age and older must submit a written and legitimate reason for absence to the Attendance Office. Reasons for signing out or for absence will be monitored and a doctor’s note may be requested at the student’s expense. A doctor’s note must be provided for absence on Examination days.

Legitimate reasons for absence from school are:

• Illness or other unavoidable cause

• Music instruction not exceeding one-half day in any week

• Suspension or expulsion

• Holy Day for religious denomination to which student belongs

A student who has signed out or been signed out by a parent/guardian must leave the school property. A student may not be signed out from class in order to work in another area of the school.

Education Act – School Attendance - Education Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. E.2 (ontario.ca)

Attendance Middle High Handout

2025-2026 LDSB School Year Calendar

A PDF version of the 2025-2026 School Year Calendar is available online.

Daily Schedule

Vaping and Washroom Conduct

At NDSS, vaping and spending excessive time in washrooms is prohibited. Vaping can pose significant health risks, and students found vaping on school grounds may be subject to consequences. If necessary, we will keep parents, guardians, and public health officials informed. We kindly ask that you remind your children that staff will continue to supervise washroom common areas as needed.

Classroom Expectations and Cell Phone Guidelines

The staff at NDSS are excited to start the new school year and to receive your children on September 3rd. As the Admin Team, we also want you to know how grateful we are and look forward to enhancing the relationship we have as we support your children for the 2025-26 school year.

As you are likely aware changes to Personal Mobile Device legislation have now been put in place and I want to provide you with what that will look like in our school:

Policy/Program Memorandum 128 - Restrictions to Student Personal Mobile Device Use

At NDSS, we strive for our students to be healthy, happy, and fully engaged in their learning journey. We encourage them to pursue growth and always aim to be the best version of themselves. To support student learning at NDSS, we have developed guidelines for the use of personal mobile devices (cell phones).

Personal Mobile Device Definition

Any device that has internet access, texting, music, or gaming capabilities.

Personal Mobile Device Guidelines

• Personal mobile device is in your bag, in your locker, or the space provided by your teacher (not on your person).
• Headphones/earbuds are not in use during teacher instruction and class time.
• No personal mobile devices in washrooms or changerooms.
• Smart Watches notifications are turned off during instruction and class time.
• Teachers will indicate if there are specific learning situations that support personal mobile device use.
• Students are welcome to access their devices during breaks and/or lunch.

Teachers will reach out to parents to work together to help your child understand the new guidelines. Teachers will connect with administrators for support if some students continue to struggle.

We believe (and research supports) that cell phone use is having a negative impact on student learning, engagement, mental health, and social and emotional development.

We believe in implementing these guidelines with care and compassion. We want to support our students in understanding how cell phones impact their learning and wellbeing. We also want to teach our students how to use cell phones appropriately and in a healthy way. Thank you for your support!

(CTIP)

Policy/Program Memorandum 128 | Education in Ontario: policy and program direction

Read the Ministry of Education's direction and expectations for district school boards and school authorities. Direction is issued as policy documents called Policy and Program Memoranda (PPM), which are all given a specific number.

ontario.ca

Hawks Have Character!

As we kick off the 2025-2026 school year, we are excited to announce that we will be focusing on the “Hawks Have Character” traits each month throughout the year. This initiative is designed to foster a positive and supportive school environment where every student can thrive.

Throughout the year, we will celebrate and embrace valuable character traits such as Perseverance, Good Judgement, Courage, Respect, Integrity, Self-Discipline, Responsibility, and Kindness. These traits are essential in shaping not only individual character but also the character of our entire school community.

We have seen these qualities displayed daily by our students and staff, creating an environment where everyone feels valued and supported. Your commitment to embodying these traits has made NDSS a place where strong character thrives and where we can all be proud to belong.

As we begin this year’s focus, we encourage everyone to carry these values forward. Let’s continue to support one another, creating an environment where these important traits thrive, and where every member of our community feels empowered to contribute positively.

Your efforts have made a significant impact on our school, and we are grateful for your commitment to building a strong and vibrant NDSS community. Together, we will make this school year a memorable and successful one.

Wishing you all a wonderful start to the school year. Let’s build on the foundation of strong character that we have established together.

Human Rights Reporting

A poster with information on the human rights reporting tool is displayed in our halls and classrooms. If someone experiences or witnesses a violation of these rights, we encourage them to report it to a trusted adult or use the human rights reporting tool by scanning the provided QR code. We are committed to ensuring our school is a safe environment for everyone. Slurs, epithets, discrimination, bullying (verbal, social, physical, or cyber), and symbols of hate are all violations of the Human Rights Code. If you or your child have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

School Messenger

SchoolMessenger App: Download the SchoolMessenger App to stay connected. Use your mobile device to download and install the free SchoolMessenger blue app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store, the SchoolMessenger website portal, or from within the LDSB mobile app. *New families will be able to create their account after the first day of attendance.

The first time you use the app, you must select Sign Up to create your account. Please ensure you use the same email address your student’s school has on file. If you do not use that same email address, you will not be able to create an account.

How do I report an absence?

Please use the Safe Arrival system to report your child's absence; do not call the school to report an absence. If your child is going to be absent from learning, please ensure you use the Safe Arrival system to report the absence. If your child will be late, please report a full day absence and then we will sign them in when they arrive. You cannot indicate a half day absence.

How to report your absence:

1. Toll-free telephone

• Call 1-855-257-9349 toll-free to report an absence using the automated phone system.

2. School Messenger App

• Use your mobile device to download and install the free SchoolMessenger blue app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store, the SchoolMessenger website portal, or from within the LDSB mobile app.
• The first time you use the app, you must select Sign Up to create your account. Please ensure you use the same email address your student’s school has on file. If you do not use that same email address, you will not be able to create an account, or may not be able to see the "Attendance" option. You may have already created an account when we introduced the Communicate broadcast system.
• Select Attendance, then select Report an Absence and follow the prompts.

3. SchoolMessenger SafeArrival Website Portal

• Visit the SchoolMessenger website portal.
• The first time you use the app, you must select Sign Up to create your account. Please ensure you use the same email address your student’s school has on file. If you do not use that same email address, you will not be able to create an account, or may not be able to see the "Attendance" option. You may have already created an account when we introduced the Communicate broadcast system.
• Select Attendance, then Report an Absence and follow the prompts.