Dear NHS Families and Students,
3 Weeks in, and the 2026–2027 school year is well underway!
September was filled with new routines, new relationships, and plenty of opportunities to reconnect as a school community. From welcoming our Grade 9s to Meet the Teacher, school clubs, athletics, classroom learning, and our Truth and Reconciliation learning, it has been a busy start.
More importantly, we are seeing students settle in, build relationships, and begin finding their rhythm.
At NHS, we continue working to create a school Where Everything CLICKS – a place where students feel known, supported, challenged, and proud to belong.
Thank you to our families for the trust you place in us and for continuing to partner with us. Strong schools are built when home and school communicate openly and work together.
Culture & Community
Our two guiding priorities continue to shape our work:
Culture – A school rooted in respect, empathy, inclusion, pride, and high expectations.
Community – A place where students, staff, families, and our broader community feel connected, supported, and united through meaningful relationships.
These are not simply words we revisit at meetings. They show up in how we treat one another, how we respond when someone needs help, how students participate in school life, and how we celebrate one another.
October gives us plenty of opportunities to continue building both.
Interim Progress Reports – October 20
Interim reports will be available for all students (new this year) through the HSD Parent Portal on Tuesday, October 20.
This is an important early checkpoint in the semester.
We encourage families to sit down with their child and ask:
- What is going well?
- What are you proud of?
- Where might you need some help?
- What is one goal you can set for the next few weeks?
Interim reporting is not simply about a mark. It is an opportunity to pause, reflect, and adjust while there is still plenty of time to make progress.
If something on the report surprises you or you have questions, please reach out to the teacher. We want those conversations.
Semester 1 Assessment Dates – Please Plan Ahead
Although January may feel a long way away, we want to provide families with our Semester 1 assessment / final exam dates now so everyone has plenty of time to plan.
Please mark these dates on your family calendar:
- January 12–15, 2027 – Grade 12 ELA Provincial Test
- January 26, 2027 – Grade 12 Applied Math Provincial Test
- January 27, 2027 – Grade 12 Essential Math Provincial Test
- January 28, 2027 – Grade 12 Pre-Calculus Math Provincial Test
- January 29–February 4, 2027 – Final Assessments for All Students
We are asking families to please refrain from booking holidays or travel during these assessment periods.
Final assessments are an important part of demonstrating learning, and having students present on their scheduled assessment days helps us maintain consistency and fairness for everyone. Missed assessments can also create additional stress for students as they try to complete important coursework outside of the regular assessment schedule.
We know families often need to plan travel months in advance, which is exactly why we are sharing these dates early. Thank you for helping us protect these important learning and assessment days.
These dates are also posted on the main NHS website at nhs.hsd.ca, where families can refer back to them throughout the semester.
Attendance Matters
Thank you to families for helping us make regular attendance and punctuality a priority.
Every day in class provides opportunities that are difficult to recreate – teacher instruction, discussion, feedback, collaboration, and connection with classmates.
As shared at the beginning of the year, we will communicate early when absences begin accumulating:
- 3 absences – Teacher contact
- 5 absences – School Admin attendance notification
- 6 absences – Teacher follow-up
- 9 absences – Teacher follow-up
- 10 absences – Parent/caregiver meeting and attendance support plan
These contacts are intended to be supportive, not punitive. If something is affecting your child’s ability to attend regularly, please talk to us. The earlier we understand a barrier, the sooner we can work together.
A reminder that students arriving late should sign in at the office so attendance records remain accurate. Families can report or excuse absences through the Parent Portal, by phone, or by email.
Planning for Life After High School
NHS Career & Post-Secondary Fair – October 13
On Tuesday, October 13, NHS will host a Career and Post-Secondary Fair for grade 11 and 12 students alongside students from Grunthal and Landmark.
Opportunities like this are important because students don’t need to have their entire future figured out, but they should have opportunities to explore.
We want students asking questions, learning about different pathways, considering possibilities they may not have thought about before, and beginning to understand what education, training, or experiences may help them get there.
Families can continue that conversation at home by asking students what interested them, surprised them, or made them curious.
Class of 2027
Our Grad Student and Parent Meeting takes place on Wednesday, October 7 at 6:00 p.m.
Graduation year moves quickly, and this meeting is an opportunity to begin conversations around important timelines, expectations, celebrations, and planning for what comes after NHS.
We look forward to partnering with our graduating students and their families throughout this milestone year.
Celebrating Our Students & Staff
October is a busy month for Panther athletics, with our hockey, soccer, cross-country, and volleyball programs all competing.
Thank you to our coaches, staff, parent volunteers, and families who make these opportunities possible. Extracurricular programs require an incredible amount of time behind the scenes, and we are grateful for everyone who contributes.
We are also incredibly proud to celebrate Mrs. Allison Aitken, who is being recognized with a Dyslexia Canada Award. Our staff will celebrate Allison after school on October 22.
Recognition like this is a wonderful reminder of the expertise, compassion, and commitment our staff bring to supporting students every day. Congratulations, Allison!
Celebrating Students Beyond NHS
Some of the most meaningful things our students accomplish happen outside the school building.
Sports. Music. Community service. Employment. Leadership. Personal milestones. Acts of kindness.
We want to hear about them here
Please continue sharing those moments with us so we can celebrate the many ways NHS students contribute to our broader community.
Cell Phones – A Quick Reminder
Thank you for your continued support of our cellphone expectations.
Students may use their phones during lunch and designated breaks, but during instructional time phones should be stored away unless a teacher has specifically asked students to use them for learning.
Cell phones are not permitted in school washrooms.
Our goal is simple: when students are in class, we want their attention available for learning, relationships, and participation.
Full school policies are available at nhs.hsd.ca under Students.
Important October Dates
School Events
- October 1–3 – Hockey Tournament @ Morris
- October 2–3 – JV Girls Black & Boys Volleyball Tournament @ John Taylor
- October 7 – Cross Country Zones @ St. Malo
- October 7 – Grad Student & Parent Meeting – 6:00 p.m.
- October 8 – Varsity Girls & Boys Soccer Zones @ Hespeler Park
- October 9–10 – JV Girls Red Volleyball Tournament @ Lorette
- October 9–10 – Varsity Girls & Boys Volleyball Tournament @ John Taylor
- October 9–10 – Hockey Tournament @ Springfield
- October 12 – Thanksgiving Day – No School
- October 13 – NHS Career/Post-Secondary Fair with GVS & LC
- October 14 – Cross Country Provincials @ St. Malo
- October 15 – Picture Retake Day
- October 16–17 – Varsity Girls & Boys Soccer Provincials
- October 16–17 – JV Boys Volleyball Tournament @ NHS
- October 16–17 – Varsity Girls Volleyball Tournament @ Linden Christian
- October 17 – JV Girls Red Volleyball Tournament @ Immanuel Christian
- October 20 – Interim Reports Available on Parent Portal
- October 22 – Celebration of Mrs. Allison Aitken’s Dyslexia Canada Award
- October 23 – MTS PD Day – No Classes
- October 23–24 – JV Girls Black Volleyball Tournament @ Altona
- October 28 – Grade 9 & 10 SWOT Presentations
- October 30–31 – JV Girls Black & Boys Volleyball Tournament @ Linden Christian
- October 30–31 – Varsity Girls & Boys Volleyball Tournament @ NHS
- November 4 – Grade 9 Take Our Kid To Work Day (no classes for grade 9s)
Stay Connected
Please continue to check nhs.hsd.ca and the HSD Parent Portal regularly.
The Parent Portal gives families access to:
- Attendance
- Interim reports and report cards
- Timetables
- Fees
- Permission forms
- Student information
If you have questions about your child’s progress, attendance, or experience at school, please don’t wait for the next report card or parent-teacher conference.
Reach out.
Sometimes a quick email or phone call is all it takes to clarify something, solve a problem, or get a student the support they need.
Final Word
September was about getting started.
October is about building momentum.
For our students, that means showing up, staying engaged, asking for help when needed, trying something new, and contributing positively to our school.
For our families, thank you for continuing to ask questions, encourage your children, celebrate their successes, and communicate with us when things aren’t going as planned.
That partnership matters.
Together, let’s continue building a school rooted in Culture and Community – one where every student has an opportunity to learn, belong, and shape their own legacy.
Yours in education,
Paul Grosskopf Holly Anderson
Principal Vice Principal / Learning Support Teacher
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