October Newsletter
To view the PDF Copy of Newsletter click HERE
Message from the Principal:
Dear Nantyr Families,
As we move beyond the first month of the school year, I want to thank our students, staff, and families for helping create a positive and productive start to the semester. Establishing strong routines early in the year is one of the most important factors in student success, and now is the time to recommit ourselves to those expectations.
Regular attendance and punctuality matter. At Nantyr Shores, our first bell rings at 8:10 a.m., and students should be in their classrooms, prepared and ready to learn when instruction begins. Arriving after the bell means missing important learning opportunities and can disrupt both the student's learning and the learning of others.
More importantly, punctuality and attendance are life skills. Time management is not something that can simply be turned on when it becomes convenient. It is a habit that is developed over time through practice, consistency, and personal responsibility. Learning to manage time, meet commitments, and follow through on responsibilities are skills that will serve our students well in post-secondary education, the workplace, and throughout life.
Students must also be willing participants in their learning, even when courses become challenging. Learning is not always easy, and growth often occurs when we persevere through difficulties. We encourage students to support one another, respectfully listen to different perspectives, and contribute positively to their classroom communities.
The ability to stay focused, manage multiple responsibilities, and bounce back from setbacks helps develop important qualities such as leadership, resilience, and perseverance. Balancing classes, assignments, extracurricular activities, part-time employment, family commitments, and social responsibilities can be challenging. Developing the skills to navigate those challenges and push through adversity is an important part of becoming a successful and responsible young adult.
As we move further into the semester, students will need support from home and school. When students are encouraged to meet expectations, learn from challenges, and remain accountable for their responsibilities, they develop the resilience and confidence needed for long-term success.
We ask families to continue communicating with the school when a student will be absent. We also encourage students to take responsibility for staying current with their learning and completing any work missed during an absence.
As we approach the Thanksgiving long weekend, I encourage everyone to enjoy the time with family and friends. Looking ahead, cooler mornings are just around the corner, and before long we will be navigating snow and ice during the winter months. Please begin planning accordingly to ensure students arrive safely and on time each day.
Thank you for your continued partnership and support.
Sincerely,
Brian MacIsaac
Principal, Nantyr Shores Secondary School
Upcoming Events:
October 5-9 Shores Wars
October 12 Thanksgiving Day (school closed)
October 15 Academic Awards Assembly
October 29 Parent/Guardian Teacher Conferences
For a complete list of 2026/2027 holy days and days of awareness, please visit the SCDSB website at:www.scdsb.on.ca/about/equity_and_inclusion
Absence reporting:
To report a student absence, please call 1-888-885-8065 or email [email protected] Callers
will be prompted to identify the school before leaving a message.
Please include the student’s name, dates and reason for absence.
If
you need to pick up your student during school hours, please provide as
much advance notice as possible. This helps us ensure your student is
ready and available for a timely and smooth pickup. Thank you for your
cooperation!
Honour Role Celebration:
Nantyr's Annual Academic Awards assemblies are on Thursday October 15, 2026. Students are being recognized for honour roll with an average of 80% and above or honour's distinction with an average of 90% and above. Students would have received an invitation to the assemblies first week of October.
Grade 10 - 8:30am
Grade 11 - 9:15am
Grade 12 - 10am
SPC Cards
Nantyr Shores is selling SPC cards again! The Student Price Card, also known as SPC Card, is a student loyalty
discount program offering discounts and deals on items such as fashion, food, shoes, and travel and more. Students
show their SPC Card at participating locations to receive instant savings every time they shop. The cards are valid
for 1 year from the date of activation. To learn more visit: https://www.spccard.ca/ Find them on schoolcash
online!
Auto Shop Returns this Fall
The Nantyr Auto Shop will be starting seasonal tire changes. We are offering this service for a small fee $25 for tires on rims and $55 for tires that need to be mounted. If you are interested, please contact us at [email protected]
Information and updates from the SCDSB:
This month, the SCDSB is sharing information related to the below topics. To read this information, visit the SCDSB website.
1. Inclement weather and bus cancellation information reminder
2. School bus transportation information available from the SCSTC
3. Digital safety and citizenship resources for parents/guardians
4. See what high school in the SCDSB is all about - info nights happening this fall!
5. Online math resources for families
6. Learn a new language for free with the SCDSB!
7. DELF registration is now open!
8. Eat Well to Excel Day takes place on Nov. 19
9. Child visual health
10. Looking for a family doctor or nurse practitioner?
Guidance Department Update:
For the latest information, follow us on Instagram: @NantyrGuidance @wetheshores, or visit our website @ [email protected].
Students should be checking their school email frequently for the latest updates and information from Guidance. We also have a Guidance D2L Shell that all students have access to.
Visit it for information about all post-secondary destinations, college and university applications, scholarships and bursaries, much more!
Post-Secondary Planning for Potential Graduates
Many Colleges and Universities have created ‘virtual’ campus tours and information session that students can sign up for on their websites. As well, most post-secondary campuses host ‘in-person’ campus tours. These can also be booked through their websites. We encourage students to start this process early.
Guidance will still be conducting our ‘Graduation Checks’ this Fall which are one-on-one meetings with a counsellor to discuss the student’s future and to assist them with the planning for this.
Researching College, University, Apprenticeship & Workplace Options
Parents and students are encouraged to consult the following websites to help with post-secondary planning:
Programs and entrance requirements for Ontario colleges: www.ontariocolleges.ca
Programs and entrance requirements for Ontario universities: www.ouinfo.ca
Information about Apprenticeships and the skilled trades: www.oyap.com and www.apprenticesearch.com
Exploring workplace opportunities: http://www.barriecareercentre.com
Want to learn more about careers that match with your interests and abilities? Explore all that www.myblueprint.ca/simcoe has to offer! Click “log in with school account”, students then enter their school login and password, then give MyBlueprint’s “Who am I” surveys a try or explore options under the “post-secondary” menu.
Scholarships, Bursaries and Financial Planning for Post-Secondary Education
It is never too early to start your scholarship search! Students should check out the ‘Scholarship/Bursary’ section on post-secondary website and are encouraged to visit the following websites to create profiles and be matched with scholarships / bursaries:
https://yconic.com/
https://www.scholarshipscanada.com/
www.schoolfinder.com
www.studentscholarships.org
https://www.grantme.ca/
In addition, further scholarship and bursary opportunities arrive in the guidance office regularly. Scholarship information will be emailed to all grade 12 students as we receive it as well as posted in the ‘Scholarship’ section of the Guidance D2L Shell and in the Guidance section of our website here: https://nss.scdsb.on.ca/departments/guidance/scholarships
OSAP: Ontario Student Assistance Program
https://www.ontario.ca/page/osap-ontario-student-assistance-program
The Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) is a financial aid initiative that helps eligible students in Ontario cover the costs of postsecondary education through grants and loans. It considers factors like income, family size, and tuition fees to determine support, and some portions of the aid may not need to be repaid. OSAP is available to both full-time and part-time students attending approved institutions. Students cannot apply for OSAP until the Spring, but there is an ‘aid estimator’ on the OSAP site that can provide a rough estimate of how much a student may qualify for.
Community Service Hours!!
Every student must complete 40 hours of community involvement to receive their diploma.
Students can start accumulating community involvement hours in the summer before they enter Grade 9. Students are encouraged to choose activities that interest them or explore a potential career. Some students
may complete more than 40 hours. Please note: community service does not just mean not getting paid to do something! If someone would
normally be paid to do it, it does NOT count as community service. Please check with a guidance counselor BEFORE you start.
A full list of ineligible activities can be found on SCDSB: https://www.scdsb.on.ca/secondary/planning_for_high_school/community_involvement
New!
The Ministry of Education has announced a new Certificate of Recognition for Community Involvement opportunity for graduating students. This is detailed on the Ministry’s website: Use High School Volunteer Hours to Build Your Future. The certificate program recognizes students who complete 50 or more community involvement hours, awarding distinctions at three levels: Bronze (50-99 hours), Silver (100-199 hours), and Gold (200+ hours). Students will receive their certificates at graduation.
New Graduation Requirements for Students starting Grade 9 in 2024 and later
- 17 Compulsory Credits
- 4 credits in English (1 credit per grade)
- 3 credits in mathematics (Grade 9, Grade 10 and 1 credit in Grade 11 or 12)
- 2 credits in science
- 1 credit in technological education (Grade 9 or Grade 10)
- 1 credit in Canadian history (Grade 10)
- 1 credit in Canadian geography (Grade 9)
- 1 credit in the arts
- 1 credit in health and physical education
- 1 credit in French as a second language
- 0.5 credit in career studies
- 0.5 credit in civics and citizenship
- 1 credit from the STEM-related course group**(STEM-related course group: business studies, computer studies, cooperative education, mathematics in addition to the 3 compulsory, science in addition to the 2 compulsory, technological education in addition to the 1 compulsory)
- 13 Optional Credits - Optional credits may include up to 4 credits earned through approved dual credit programs
- Literacy Graduation Requirement - For most students this means passing the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT). If you do not pass the OSSLT there are other ways to meet this requirement. Contact guidance to find out these options.
- Online Learning Graduation Requirement * This requirement also applies to adult learners who entered the secondary school system starting in the
2023-24 school year or later. *Exemption form (see guidance) must be completed for students opting out of the online learning graduation requirement. Parents can also complete an ‘opt-out’ form online here: https://www.scdsb.on.ca/secondary/planning_for_high_school/online_learning_graduation_requirement
- Community Involvement Activities * 40 volunteer hours (connect with guidance for eligible volunteer activities) *Students may start collecting volunteer hours in the summer before beginning grade 9
- Financial Literacy Graduation Requirement - Starting with students who entered Grade 9 in the 2025–26 school year, completing the Financial Literacy Graduation Requirement (FLGR) is mandatory to earn an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD).