April 5/2011 In keeping with the Ministry of Education and Near North District School Board’s Safe Schools Act, West Ferris Secondary School will be holding a mock lockdown this week.  In preparation for this event, we have partnered with the North Bay City Police to provide training to staff and have held an assembly with the student body to review our expectations.  In addition, we have reviewed the protocol with our School Advisory Council and you will receive a voice mail message tonight indicating our procedure. As the lockdown scenario unfolds, police actors will enter the school as intruders.  The school will be placed into lockdown and the North Bay Police Emergency Response Team will arrive and quickly get the situation under control.  Afterwards, there will be a debriefing meeting with our administration and staff with the aim of improving our actions and being prepared for such an event If you have any questions or concerns about this endeavour, please contact Sean Ruddy ruddys@nearnorthschools.ca     [Lockdown procedures]

April 2/2011 - Congratulations, once again, goes out the The Near North Student Robotics Initiative (NNSRI) Team, as they competed this weekend in the Toronto Regionals.  The team placed 4th out of 36 teams! Ms. Blair found it an absolute pleasure to see our students in action; they demonstrated such character traits as teamwork, support, creativity, composure, confidence, and enthusiasm! The NNSRI also earned the “Gracious Professionalism” award at this competition, and Martin Gagne, a student from CSS and Ms. Gagne's son, was named to the Dean’s List! Congratulations to the entire NNSRI team! Trojans participating in Toronto included: Faith Blahut, Anthony Chartrand, Meghan Clout, Hailey Croswell, Courtney Edmundson, Darren Stahl, Emma Westerlund, and Coach Nadia Gagne. Outstanding! [1305 Website]  Also check out their very own [YouTube Channel] for great videos!!!

Friday, April 1 All proceeds go to the Japan Relief Effort

The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) is being written Thursday, March 31, 2011 at 9am.  Click [here] for more information about writing the test. Students: Click [here] for resources Parents: Click [here] for resources

Tuesday, March 29/2011 - Bottle Drive The WFSS Anime Club is gearing up for another trip to the Anime North convention in May. On Tuesday, March 29 (5-8 p.m.), we will be holding a bottle drive to help raise funds. If you have any empty alcohol containers, we would appreciate you donating them to our cause. On behalf of the WFSS Anime Club and the Anime Coaches ---  thank you in advance for your support!

Mar 25/2011 - The Near North Student Robotics Initiative (NNSRI) competed this weekend in the FIRST Robotics regional competition in Waterloo, Ontario. The event featured 29 teams from Ontario and Michigan high schools and was hosted at the University of Waterloo. NNSRI has been hard at work since January to meet the 6 week deadline to build its 11th robot, “Duke” and complete other requirements necessary for the multi-faceted competition. They were honoured to earn the most prestigious award, the Chairman’s award, which recognizes a role-model team that effectively inspires respect and enthusiasm for science and technology.[1305 Website] [Nugget] Congratulations to all involved!!!  Also check out their very own [YouTube Channel] for great videos!!!

The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) is being written Thursday, March 31, 2011 at 9am.  Click [here] for more information about writing the test. Students: Click [here] for resources Parents: Click [here] for resources

At 8:30 PM on Saturday 26th March 2011, lights will switch off around the globe for Earth Hour and people will commit to actions that go beyond the hour.

March 23/2011 - Mike Gorda, and partner Chihiro Kitayama of West Ferris Secondary School claimed top spot in the senior mixed doubles event, beating Northern's Erik Lachance and Sophie LaBelle in the final match at Chippewa Intermediate and Secondary School, Wednesday. Other winners on the day included Ryan Daley and Lauren Hutchings of Chippewa (junior mixed doubles), Katie Jodouin and Kalinas Gelinas of Franco-Cite (senior girls' doubles) and Jake Tougas and Charlie Hancock of West Ferris (senior boys' doubles)

Mar 23/2011 -   Evening of Applause at Nipissing University in the theatre; Tyler Lebel is receiving a “Student Who Makes a Difference” award! Congratulations Tyler!

Tougas Honoured - Last Monday evening at the OFSAA Banquet, Larry Tougas was presented with an OFSAA Leadership in School Sports Award. This award is presented at each OFSAA championship to a teacher-coach who has made a significant contribution to the educational athletic program. Larry's involvment in basketball at West Ferris spans 28 years, including 12 as a midget coach, 3 seasons as a junior coach and 14 as an assistant or head coach at the senior level. He has also spent 28 years coaching football and a dozen years coaching baseball in the community, while also spearheading numerous fundraising campaigns for various West Ferris athletic endeavours. "I'm proud of it because it's a team award", he said. "I look at my family and how much they've had to endure. The players who have done all the travelling and the coaches I've worked with - that's what gives me pride because they're the ones who've shared all this with me and spent all the time". [Ken Pagan, The Nugget]

Alpine Skiing Video - Watch the video Stephen Courtney captured and processed of the Flying Trogan's Ski team at NDA. Great work Stephen and congratulations to the members of the team!

Triple Crown!!! NDA     Mar 2/2011-  Trojans take NDA Championship in two straight games. The regular season champions West Ferris Trojans took the Algonquin Barons in two games to claim the NDA Championship. Winning the second game 4-2 over the Barons in the closest game they had this season, that didn’t result in overtime.[BayToday]. White one-timed a feed from Sam Barber with 47 seconds left to break a 2-2 tie and added an empty-netter to seal the deal as the Trojans completed a 2-0 sweep of the Algonquin Barons with a 4-2 win to capture the Nugget Shield as NDA hockey champions. [Nugget]. Congratulations Boys!!!!

Feb 28/2011 - Trojans Strike First in Final - The Trojans took the first step toward capturing an elusive NDA crown since back-to-back titles in 2002-03 and 2003-04, holding off a late charge by the Algonquin Barons for a 6-3 win Monday night at Memorial Gardens. [Nugget]

Alpine NOSSA Skiing News - Click [here] for NOSSA Results. Canada Winter Games - Mike Whitney stepped on the podium taking gold in the Men's Alpine Skiing Slalom Para Male and silver in the Alpine Skiing Giant Slalom. Whitney, along with B.C. teammate Braydon Luscombe, is heading to Austria on Sunday as a part of the Canadian Para-Alpine Ski Team Prospect Program to compete in the Austrian Championships. Good Luck Mike! [Canada Winter Games News] [Nugget]

NOSSA Results Basketball: Unfortunately, the Senior Boys Basketball team lost NOSSA to the St.Basil Saints 57-41. As reported in the [Sault Star], Larry Tougas was frustrated over the officiating and reported, "This is the worst officiating I've ever seen in my 28 years of coaching. They didn't even give us a chance." Congratulations go out to the boys as they played a hard fought game. The Trojans will be playing in OFSAA tournament being held  March 7-9 (Monday-Wednesday), at West Ferris Secondary School in North Bay. See [Website] for more information, game times and ticket prices. Volleyball: The Junior Girls Volleyball played in Sudbury over the weekend and placed 4th. Congratulations to all members of the team and Dawn White for an outstanding volleyball season.

SAC News - Last Thursday, SAC hosted its third annual teachers vs. students charity dodgeball event, with this years' proceeds going to rais money for the MRI at the new hospital. To date (unofficially) $500 has been raised on the dress down day and over $600 on the dodgeball game. Thanks to everyone who supported these events. [Nugget]

Feb 22/2011- Trojans Win NDA Title!  The West Ferris Trojans wrapped up a perfect NDA season to claim the NDA senior boys' basketball title, but the Algonquin Barons didn't make it easy. [Nugget] [BayToday]

Feb 17/2011- Robotics Initiative FIRST Team 1305 - Team Captain Darren Stahl demonstrates the Team's Robot at a press conference yesterday. Al McDonald was so impressed, he is going to cheer them on at the Regional Event being held in Waterloo, Ontario next month. [Nugget] [NNDSB Press Release]

Trojans Stake series lead - The West Ferris Senior Boys basketball team won big to open the NDA championships series. Congratulations ! Come out and support the team Tuesday at 7:00 p.m as they try to make it 2 in a row. [Nugget Photo Gallery]

A Penny House.  Click [here] to read Mr. Hetherington's latest article.

Sneak preview of the new trojan chairs ...just in time for OFSAA Basketball

NDA playoffs: Basketball: Congratulations to the Senior Boys Basketball team as they advance to the NDA Sr. Boys Basketball finals beating Widdifield 64-30 and winning the series 2 straight. [BayToday][Nugget Photo Gallery]. The Trojans will play the winner of the Algonquin-Chippewa series beginning at West Ferris on WFSS Thursday night at 7:30. Volleyball: Congratulations to the Junior Girls Volleyball team as they force a third game with Scollard Hall after winning a nail biting game last night. They faced elimination, but the girls came through strong and steady. The match went to 5 sets (won 15-11 in the 5th). Next game: WFSS Wednesday night at 4:30.

New Show Case/Mural - Congratulations and many thanks to everyone involved in the new display case/welcome sign in the main foyer and for the awesome trojan head in the gym. Super job!

Donations Help - SAC News - All money raised from Dress Down Day, popcorn sales and the DodgeBall Tournament (stay tuned for more details)  will go towards supporting the Diagnostic Imaging Campaign at the North Bay Regional Health Center. Please show your support by donating $2.00. Click [here] for more information.

NDA playoffs: Basketball: Congratulations to the senior boys basketball team as they advance to the NDA Sr. Boys Basketball finals beating Widdifield 64-30 and winning the series 2 straight. [BayToday]. The Trojans will play the winner of the Algonquin-Chippewa series beginning at West Ferris on Thursday beginning at 7:30 p.m. Volleyball: Congratulations to the Junior Girls Volleyball team as they force a third game with scollard after winning a nail biting game last night.  they faced elimination, but the girls came through, strong and steady.  The match went to 5 sets (won 15-11 in the 5th).  Next game is at WFSS Wednesday night at 4:30.

Feb/2011 - Trojans Win Orillia Tournament! The West Ferris Trojans senior boys' basketball team captured their first Orillia Blackball basketball tournament championship over the weekend. [BayToday] [Nugget]

Feb 3/11- The defending-champion Trojans (13-0) exploded from the blocks in a foul-filled 51-42 victory over the Algonquin Barons to clinch the first senior boys' undefeated season since the 2009 Widdifield Wildcats. [Picture Gallery/Nugget Article]

Feb/2011 - West Ferris Trojans edged Ecole Catholique Secondaire Saint-Marie in the 'C' final at the Trojans Girls' Hockey Challenge, Wednesday [Hockey Page]

Twelve West Ferris Basketball players and 6 coaches/parents enjoyed 5 days of what university life has to offer as they travelled to the capital city of New brunswick, fredericton. Read Larry Tougas' account of a memorable journey [BayToday]