Good Afternoon NTHS Families,

Welcome to semester 2! It's hard to believe that we are now halfway through the school year. Here is some important information about events and activities happening within our school and larger community. 

Last night Key Club hosted its first winter formal. There were about 200 students who attended the dance. Proceeds from the dance were fundraised in support of Mary's Meals (focused on eliminating world hunger) and the NINA Project (focused on mental health).  

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Parent Council for organizing a Teacher Appreciation breakfast yesterday. Thank you to all the parents who contributed food and/ or their time to the event.  

Today, North Trail will be hosting a volleyball feeder tournament, and, over the weekend, we have a number of clubs involved in various competitions. The NTHS Robotics Team will be competing in the City Championships at Nelson Mandela, while the wrestling team is at Rundle College. The speech club is competing at Webber Academy in the Provincial Speech Tournament. 

Lunar New Year 

Happy Lunar New Year! This event is celebrated amongst many East Asian countries (China, Vietnam, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Mongolia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, and more) and is dedicated to the arrival of spring, and the beginning of the new year on the lunisolar calendar. This celebration is known as Tết in Vietnam and Seollal in Korea. 

The Lunar New Year is a time to celebrate with family. Some traditions include elders giving red envelopes, cleaning the home, making offerings to ancestors, visiting family, and eating traditional foods such as (but not limited to) - crispy whole fish, dumplings, rice (rice balls, rice dumplings, rice cakes, rice noodle soup), oranges (for luck), noodles (represents longevity), and a variety of desserts.  

Lunar New Year is often associated with a zodiac sign, depending on the culture. Although this year is known as “Year of the Snake” for the Chinese zodiac cycle, it should be acknowledged that different regions of Asia celebrate Lunar New Year in many different ways and may follow a different zodiac cycle. 

Black History Month 

February also marks Black History Month. This year's theme is “Black Legacy and Leadership: Celebrating Canadian History and Uplifting Future Generations.”The month of February gives us all the chance to celebrate the diversity and achievements of Black people in Canada. However, it is also a time to reflect on Canada’s painful history and the distinct challenges that Black people in Canada continue to face in their daily lives, such as systemic barriers, racism and discrimination. 

Spare Stickers 

Spare stickers for Semester 2 will be handed out in the Moyis, during the upcoming week. Students, please ensure that you have your school ID, as the spare stickers will need to be attached to it. 

Cafeteria Temporary Closure 

With start of Semester 2, the new culinary classes are busy being trained in the safe and hygienic handling of food and tools. As a result, the cafeteria will not re-open until February 11. With the upcoming cold weather this week, please plan accordingly by bringing a lunch and snacks. 

Reminders 

Traffic Safety Reminder 

Students, please remember to cross at the intersection and obey traffic signals. We have had a number of complaints from the community as sometimes students continue to cross when cars have the green light. 

Student Fees and Graduation 

Preparations are being made for our very first graduating class and commencement. The graduation ceremony will take place from 9am-12pm on May 28, 2025 at the BMO Centre. The evening reception will be held on the same day and location from 7-11pm. In order to participate in the ceremony, students must have 75 credits at the end of Semester 1 and have all of their fees paid. In February, administration will post a graduation list that will confirm which students have met these criteria. Students with outstanding fees will be asked to create a plan with the business office to ensure that their fees are fully paid before they are added to the graduation list. In anticipation of this date, please log in to your MyCBE account to ensure that your account is up to date.  

Upcoming Dates