Parent Newsletter
Macdonald Drive Junior High, February 2023
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
- January 30 - Start of Term 2
- February 13-17 - Staff Appreciation Week
- February 20-24 - Spirit Week
- February 23 - Pink Shirt Day
- March 10 - PD Day (Upcoming: March 24, and May 29)
- April 6 - Last day of school before Easter Break
- April 17 - School Reopens after Easter Break
- May 22 - Victoria Day
- June 22 - Last Day of School
Important Information
Traffic Flow Concerns
Please be aware that traffic is designated one-way all around the school. Therefore, a right-hand turn after the student entrance toward the main entrance is not permitted. Turning the wrong way in to one-way traffic is a very serious safety concern.
- To access our school, you must enter the lot from the second Toronto Street entrance, the one farthest away from the elementary school. This is designated ENTER ONLY.
- The first turn off from Toronto Street, next to Macdonald Drive Elementary, is EXIT ONLY.
- If you require access to our main entrance, you must use ENTER ONLY from Toronto St., keep in the right lane, and drive around the back of the building to the main entrance.
- If require access to the student entrance, use the left lane off Toronto St. and stay in that lane in front of that entrance. The right lane is reserved for busses.
- When you are finished, turn left only after the stop sign and exit the parking lot next to the Elementary school.
What's Been Going On
Bell Let's Talk
On January 25, students and staff participated in Bell Let's Talk Day activities.
- Every student had a free breakfast provided by the Kids Eat Smart Foundation.
- We came together in an assembly in the gym, where Rachel Cousins spoke to our students about her experience with bullying while she was in junior high school. Rachel is also a very talented singer/songwriter and sang us a few songs.
- Students created speech balloons on actions they can take to help create positive change.
Rachel Cousins and our Assistant Principal, Ms. Parsons
MDJH Teachers
Even the bus driver got a hat!
Bethany Downer: MDJH Alumna
As part of Macdonald Drive Junior High’s 50th Anniversary celebrations, alumni have been invited to return to our school to share their stories and accomplishments.
For the month of January we present alumna Brittany Downer, who graduated from MDJH in 2009, continued on to Gonzaga high school, then post secondary at Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN). Following her graduation from MUN, Bethany received an Entrance Scholarship for her Masters in Science at the International Space University in France.
She is a role model and stellar example of where perseverance, diligence, and hard work can take you. Born and raised in St. John's, Newfoundland, where she currently lives and works, Brittany is a star in her chosen profession. She is the Chief Science Communications Officer for the European Space Agency and the Hubble Space Telescope and works closely with NASA. Her passion is sharing her love for “rocket science” and encouraging young women and men to become involved in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, Mathematics). Her education coupled with her dedication to Space has propelled Brittany to reach for the stars.
All of us here at MDJH who know Bethany know she has the will and the ability to achieve her goals! We can't wait to see her become an astronaut and take a trip to outer space!
Links:
https://www.bethanydowner.com/about-me
https://www.ted.com/talks/bethany_downer_cosmic_identity_the_impact_of_the_hubble_space_telescope
Meeting Soccer Star Felly Elonda
This month, Ms. Kelly’s 7-1 Health class as well as Ms. Tara and Ms. Lynne’s classes had the opportunity to meet Newfoundland’s budding soccer star, Felly Elonda.
Felly is originally from Democratic Republic of Congo and talked with the students about his journey that led his family to Canada. He compared his time in a Zimbabwean refugee camp to his first years in Newfoundland and Labrador. In both situations, he found himself in a country where he neither spoke the language of his peers nor understood the culture.
In his presentation, Felly discussed the importance of positive self-talk and of being grateful for opportunities. He stressed that even when a situation appears bleak, there is always hope. There is always opportunity. One of the main messages he wanted the students to hear was that “respect is never a waste”. He encouraged the students to believe in themselves and to always show others respect.
After his presentation, students asked questions and took photos before playing a little soccer with him.
Coming Up...
Virtual IB Session
Attention Grade 9 students! Holy Heart will be hosting a virtual information session regarding the IB, or International Baccalaureate program, on Wednesday, February 8th at 7 pm. Please visit the Holy Heart website for the link to join.
Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week
Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week is February 13-17. Our student council would like to ask our school community to show appreciation for the staff of MDJH by providing snacks at lunch. As in past years, we would like to have grade levels provide sweet or savoury treats on different days:
- Tuesday, February 14 - Grade 7
- Wednesday, February 15 - Grade 8
- Thursday, February 16 - Grade 9.
If you are able to send along a treat, please email colettequann@nlesd.ca or jodisauve@nlesd.ca
MDJH Quebec Trip 2024 – Enrollment Update
We have had so much interest in our Quebec/Montreal Trip in May 2024. We have confirmed spaces for 45 students. This is the maximum we can accommodate as the bus capacity for transport is 55, and we must account for chaperones and tour guides.
Students were selected based on the order in which they enrolled. It is the fairest way. It has always been a grade 8 trip, but COVID-19 did not allow us to offer it in the past couple of years. We decided to offer the trip to students who will be in grade 9 next year, but did not give preference to any student based on grade level. We do realize that some parents had access to the code earlier than others, but that was really unavoidable.
Details for the trip were not finalized until Wednesday, January 25, in the afternoon. There were an overwhelming number of emails requesting information that it was not possible to do before the meeting on Thursday, so on Thursday evening, responses went out to everyone.
If you enrolled your child for the trip, you would have received an email to confirm your child was selected for the trip. If this is the case, you must go to the EF Tour website, log in, and confirm your payment method and frequency. If you did not receive an email, your child is still on the waiting list. If spots open up on the list because a student that was selected opts not to go, we will move through the list in the order in which they signed up.
Student Council News
50th Anniversary - Where are they now?
As part of our 50th Anniversary celebrations, our committee is currently working on organizing a spotlight feature of MDJH Alumni. We want to contact MDJH Alumni, so we can highlight the success of our former students. We want to compile a collection of videos, Google Meets and in-person presentations. If you are a MDJH alumni or know someone you feel would fit our spotlight section, please reach out to the school. You can contact colettequann@nlesd.ca, sarahcomerford@nlesd.ca, meghangambin@nlesd.ca or jenniferriggs@nlesd.ca.
Spirit Week
The MDJH Spirit Week will be held February 20-24. Students and staff are encouraged to show their school spirit by participating in these activities.
Yearbook Photos
Any student, parent or coach with a group photo of any group from our school are asked to please email a picture to colettequann@nlesd.ca. If you send a picture from your phone, please be sure to select the option “actual size” to ensure good quality when uploading to the yearbook site.
Celebrate Student Success
We want to acknowledge and celebrate the accomplishments of the students of MDJH. We have a wall of celebration where we place a certificate of acknowledgement highlighting participation and success in a variety of activities.
We want to know if your child has participated in any plays, musicals or has been on a team that has won a title or has been recognized in any individual competition.
We need your help with this. Please let us know, so we can proudly display this on our wall. Please email colettequann@nlesd.ca with Celebrate YOUR CHILD’S NAME in the subject line.
MDJH Sports
Grade 7 Girls Basketball Team at Paradise Intermediate
Grade 7 Boys Basketball Team at Juniper Ridge Intermediate
MDJH Music
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