Newsletter
Macdonald Drive Junior High, Summer 2022
Macdonald Drive Junior High
Email: macdonalddrivejrh@nlesd.ca
Website: mdjh.info
Location: 110 Macdonald Drive, St. John's, NL, Canada
Phone: 709-753-8240
Twitter: @mdjh
Dates to remember
June 20, 21, 22 - Ziggy’s Fries for Grade 9 students
June 20, 21, and 22 - Visits from our feeder schools (not virtual)
June 23 - Last day for students - Dismissal at 12:30
September 7 - First day of school
Important Information
COVID-19 Self Tests
Please see the attached memo from Dr. Janice Fitzgerald, CMOH, regarding suspension of the COVID-19 rapid antigen self-testing program.
What's Been Going On
50/50 winner!
Congratulations to Mary Young, the winner of our 50/50 contest! Mary is the grandmother of Zachary F., and she takes home $3884.00!
Brilliant Labs at MDJH
Recently Brilliant Labs has been visiting some of our classes at MDJH to hold some coding sessions with our students. Here are some pictures from the French Coding sessions with Brianna Stumpf.
Students at MUN and OSC
Students in our LEARN and ELL programs had an exciting visit to MUN and the OSC in Logy Bay on a recent Friday!
We learned about climate action and food security with the Fluvarium's Power Tower and staff! We toured the MUN library, the tunnels, the food court, and had the privilege of visiting the new Core Science building and seeing the amazing blue whale skeleton. We concluded our trip with a visit to the OSC in Logy Bay where we explored the touch tank full of Atlantic Ocean invertebrates, and visited the seals.
Thanks to all the students involved for representing MDJH with such mature behaviour and excellent, intelligent questions! Can't wait for the next trip!
MDJH Community Garden
We are braving the cold and getting the growing started at the MDJH Community Garden. We transplanted lettuce and parsley from our hydroponic garden this month and planted peas and kale seed! The chives are coming up from last year and the fall garlic is growing strong!
We already have 5 students interested in caring for and harvesting food from 5 of our 7 boxes, during the summer!
Field trip to Pippy Park
A great afternoon at Pippy Park for MDJH students in Ms. Lynne and Ms. Tara's classes
Outdoor Plaques
Thank you to everyone who purchased a “sitting stone” to help build our second outdoor classroom. Now that the weather has turned, it is getting a lot of use!
Thanks to Grace and Jane for placing the name plaques on the boulders.
Home-Ec treats!
The 8-6 class participated in some Project Based Learning (with a social justice component) on a very small scale with the 8-6 class… such an amazing group of students!!!
Students viewed a short video that features how the local MacMorran Centre is in need of some help with meals and snacks due to the rising cost of food: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrLMbAS9rGk.
We decided to keep it simple and help out the MacMorran Centre by making some treats for the after school program and the youth group. Students prepared brownies, two varieties of cookies, and pumpkin muffins.
Two students, Cheyanne Kearney and Cassandra Ingram, asked to stay late (until 4:30 pm.) to make more items… even though they had to participate in the band recital that night.
We are so proud of their efforts!
School wide breakfast
Comings and goings
Teachers moving on and retirements
These teachers will be leaving us at the end of this year:
Jenn Hanley, Kerri Bungay, Amanda Kennedy, Denise Hackett, Jessica Smith, Courtney Petten, Kim Osmond, Lisa Bagg are finishing up their replacement contracts at the end of the year.
Phillip Smith, Alice Hunt, Christin Watton, Laura Clemens-Brenton and Cheryl Coates, are all permanent teachers that have accepted positions at other schools.
We thank all these wonderful teachers for everything they have done for the school and our students. The school has been made a much better place with these people on our staff. We will miss you all very much and wish everyone the very best in their future positions.
And now for our retirements:
Ms. Pike
We would like to wish our Principal for the past 6 years, Ms.Christina Pike, a wonderful retirement.
Ms. Pike is a true leader who leads with a ‘student first’ philosophy. Her dedication to MDJH has created a wonderful learning environment for both students and teachers. Her excitement for ice cream Friday on the announcements will be remembered.
We will miss her dearly and wish her the happiest of days as she starts this new chapter in her life!
Madame Parsons
Thanks for your years of hard work and dedication. It’s great to see someone retire who is as deserving as you. Make sure you work just as hard at relaxing as you have in your career.
Congratulations on your retirement!!
Math Department
Mr. Connolly
Happy Retirement/ Bonne retraite!
Mr. Glen Connolly has been a French Teacher at MDJH since 1998. In his 24 years at MDJH, he has taught Core French, French Immersion, and English to many students. He has a passion for teaching and for young learners, which is evident in the many relationships he has built through his career.
Mr. Connolly is a good-hearted and generous man who enjoys life and all it has to offer. Each year at Christmas, he organised a Toy Drive (Food Drive last 2 years) for those in need. He promoted this event with prizes and performing unique raps over the PA that students and staff looked forward to. He is also knowledgeable in most facets of news, history, entertainment and sports, which comes in handy for trivia. Many students and colleagues have been the recipients of a sweet treat for giving the correct answer to a trivia question.
Mr. Connolly is a strong presence in our school community. We will certainly miss him and we wish him well in his next chapter. Félicitations Monsieur Connolly.
Mr. Lawton
All of us in the Macdonald Drive Social Studies Department, would like to send our sincerest congratulations to Mr. David Lawton as he lays down the history book for the last time to begin filling the future pages of a well-deserved, happy, healthy, retirement.
Mr. Lawton has been with us for close to twenty years since returning home from Ontario, where he first began his teaching career. A passionate teacher and Department Head, David brought his love for history, culture, and community into the classroom to create a dynamic and supportive learning environment for all students who were lucky enough to make it into his class. Without question, his retirement is going to leave us with a lot of incredible memories, but also with a legacy of personal dedication to education and a void that will never be filled as a teacher, as a colleague, and as a friend.
"History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it." Winston Churchill
Coming Up...
Honours, Principal's list, Academic Achievement Awards
Due to the new Standards Based Assessment in Grade 7 Math, the criteria for these awards have been adjusted. Grade 8 and 9 remain the same as last year.
Grade 8 and 9
Honours Status will be granted to any Grade 8 and 9 student at MDJH who meets the following criteria:
- Is on a prescribed program (Pathway 1 or Pathway 2)
- Achieves an 80% in ALL subjects (except Band)
Principal’s List will be granted to any Grade 8 and 9 student at MDJH who meets the following criteria:
- Is on a prescribed program (Pathway 1 or Pathway 2)
- Achieves a 90% in ALL subjects (except Band)
Students receiving either of these awards will also receive a certificate with their final report card in June.
Academic Achievement Award for Grade 8 and 9:
Awarded to the students with the three highest averages in Grade 8 and 9. Eligible students must be on a Prescribed Curriculum and obtain a minimum of 80% in all subject areas. The calculation for highest average will be made using the five core subjects (ELA, Science, Math, Social Studies, and French).
Students will be presented with a certificate for first, second, and third place and their name will be placed on the Permanent Academic Excellence Plaque outside the office.
Grade 7
For the 2021 & 2022 school year, there are no number grades in Grade 7 Math due to Standards Based Assessment. Information about Standards Based Assessment was communicated during curriculum night by Math teachers and can be found on the school website. Students get multiple opportunities to rewrite assessments to make sure they attain excellence in each Learning Goal. As a result, the equivalent will be used:
Honours Status will be granted to any Grade 7 student at MDJH who meets the following criteria:
- Is on a prescribed program (Pathway 1 or Pathway 2)
- Achieves an 80% in ALL subjects (except Band). For Math, this will mean achieving an A, A+ or M in ALL 10 outcomes.
Principal’s List will be granted to any Grade 7 student at MDJH who meets the following criteria:
- Is on a prescribed program (Pathway 1 or Pathway 2)
- Achieves a 90% in ALL subjects (except Band). For Math, this will mean achieving an A+ or M in ALL 10 outcomes.
Students receiving either of these awards will receive a certificate with their final report card in June.
These criteria will be reviewed again, in 2022-2023 as Standards Based Assessment (SBA) moves into Grade 8 Math next year, followed by Grade 9 the year after.
Academic Achievement Award for Grade 7:
Awarded to the students with the three highest averages in Grade 7. Eligible students must be on a Prescribed Curriculum and obtain a minimum of 80% in all subject areas. The calculation for highest average will be made using four core subjects (ELA, Science, Social Studies, and French) and for Math, students must also achieve an M in ALL TEN Outcomes.
Students will be presented with a certificate for first, second, and third place and their name will be placed on the Permanent Academic Excellence Plaque outside the office.
School Supply list 2022-2023
Here is the recommended school supply list for the 2022-23 school year:
- Loose Leaf paper
- Duotangs, different colours
- HB Pencils
- Pens
- Exercise books, preferably not coil
- Liquid paper
- Scissors
- Coloured leads
- Graphing paper
- Erasers
- Math Set
- Scientific Calculator
- 1 inch binders for Core Subjects
For French Immersion students, it also recommended they have:
- French-English Dictionary
- L’Art De Conjuguer – Bescherelle
50th Anniversary of MDJH
September, 2022, marks 50 years since MDJH opened its doors and we are planning a year full of events!
- In September, we will open the 25th anniversary time capsule and reveal its contents.
- In October, we are planning an Open House with MDE.
You will have to sign up and stay tuned to find out what else is happening…
If you know of any past alumni who would like to take part in our celebrations, please send them this link to sign up for updates.
At this time, we are asking for any past graduates/teachers/parents of MDJH to send along their contact information and a little info on where they are now and what they have been doing.
By filling out the contact information form, you will be added to a mailing list to receive updates. You give permission for any information you share to be used as part of the celebration, and shared with the school community. It could also be used in future school publications like the website. This information is being collected in compliance with ATIPPA, 2015.
Other Info
New bus routes for 2022-2023
Families of students who will be attending MacDonald Drive Junior High in September, 2022, and who utilize transportation services, please see the attached bus route documents for further details. The new bus route information can be viewed in your BusPlanner Web Parent Portal account, available at nlesd.mybusplanner.ca as of late August, 2022. To create an account, you will need information regarding the student’s Student Number, Birth Date, School Name and Grade for the current school year.
Bus route documents can also be obtained from the school’s profile page on the District’s website, http://www.nlesd.ca.
Student Council News
Yearbooks 2021-2022
Yearbooks will arrive in September. They will be delivered to Gonzaga and Holy Heart for distribution to our current grade 9 students.
There are still 2020-2021 yearbooks available as we received an extra shipment. If you are interested in purchasing one, please contact colettequann@nlesd.ca
Macdonald Drive Junior High
Email: macdonalddrivejrh@nlesd.ca
Website: mdjh.info
Location: 110 Macdonald Drive, St. John's, NL, Canada
Phone: 709-753-8240
Twitter: @mdjh