Parent Newsletter
Macdonald Drive Junior High, April 2021
Macdonald Drive Junior High
Email: mdjh@nlesd.ca
Website: mdjh.info
Location: 110 Macdonald Drive, St. John's, NL, Canada
Phone: 709-753-8240
Twitter: @mdjh
Dates to Remember
- April 2-11 - Easter Vacation
- April 12 - School starts again, Day 5
- May 24 - Victoria Day Holiday
- June 24, Thursday - Last day of school
Important Information
Memo from the District - Extracurricular
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR
Chair: Goronwy Price
C.E.O./Director of Education: Anthony Stack March 29, 2021
Dear Families,
On Wednesday, March 24, we learned during the Provincial Government’s Covid-19 briefing that organized community-based sports/recreational activities would be permitted for children/youth under Alert Level 2 as of Saturday, March 27. The Chief Medical Officer of Health also indicated, however, that the latest medical advice has not changed with respect to K-12 education.
Essentially, this means the vast majority of our high school students cannot access in-class instruction at this time. We recognize the detailed planning of administrators, and the creativity and hard work of teachers, in the provision of high caliber virtual learning these past months. However, we also recognize the pressures on teachers, students and families operating in an ongoing online learning scenario.
We believe that in-school instruction offers the optimal environment for learning and well-being for the vast majority of our students.
Extracurricular activities are highly valuable for many reasons, but these are not normal times. The District continues to stress the importance of making in-school learning a priority over non-essential activities and champions the notion of a safe community being a key factor in ensuring a safe school. To that end, there will be no change to the current prohibition on all extracurricular activities, including school sports. Any altering of this prohibition will only occur after careful consideration and consultation with our school communities. This is certainly not something that would be contemplated while we have thousands of high school students throughout the province unable to access in-school learning.
Again, thank-you to you for your patience and support during these unusual times. Student learning, well-being, and preparedness for the next grade level or post-secondary pursuits remain our primary areas of focus.
Sincerely,
ANTHONY STACK CEO/Director of Education
Final exams
Be on time for class
Here is the school bell schedule:
- 7:45 - Doors open
- 8:00 - Warning bell
- 8:05-8:12 - Homeroom
- 8:13-9:10 - Period 1
- 9:11-10:08 - Period 2
- 10:08-10:23 - Recess
- 10:24-11:21 - Period 3
- 11:21-12:14 - Lunch
- 12:10 - Warning bell
- 12:15-1:12 - Period 4
- 11:13-2:10 - Period 5
- 2:20 - Busses leave
What's been going on...
MDJH Virtual Museum
The 8-9 Virtual Museum was a project that was designed to connect the pieces of our current reality... in a Covid-19 lockdown at home and in a virtual classroom... with the history curriculum that we are studying in Grade 8. The students were tasked with asking members of their family about artifacts they might have at home and with gathering information and pictures that they could then present virtually as a part of our MDJH virtual museum. With our classes being virtual and the students being home, it was the perfect time and place to bring everything together. The variety of artifacts that they found and the stories they told were incredible.
The result is a fantastic collection of artifacts from around the world that highlight our history and who we are as a society. The project has allowed students to connect with their families, their community, and each other. They became the teachers of history, and they have done their job exceptionally well.
To visit the Virtual Museum, click here.
Happy Holi
Holi is an important Hindu celebration that welcomes the arrival of spring. It signifies the victory of good over evil and is celebrated as a day for spreading happiness and love.
Happy Holi to those who celebrated Holi on March 29.
Happy Passover
Mr. Thorne took advantage of the nice weather outside to use the outdoor classroom
Mr. Stengelin discussed French expressions
A picture taken by Julia Marsh's (7-7) dad
Other scoop!
Active outdoors challenge
Active Schools is partnering with SSNL, and Parks Canada to launch an incredible challenge for the month of April that we would like you to share with all students, staff and families. The Active Outdoors Challenge is beginning on April 1st through April 30th. See attached flyer for details and registration link.
Who can enter: This challenge is open to all K-12 students, their families, as well as all staff! You can enter this challenge as a class, or virtual groups, or as an individual. If entering as a group please add the group’s combined active minutes.
What can you win??? By entering this challenge you will have the chance to win fantastic prizes including cross country skis, snowshoes, and other great prize packs - just for enjoying the outdoors!
How to enter: Register by following the link to the Google Form (which can be found in the attached flyer)
At the very end of the form you will find the "Physical Activity Log" section. You may return to this form each week on Friday (April 9th, April 16th, April 23rd, April 30th) to enter your total minutes of physical activity for the week. We encourage you to challenge yourselves to meet the Canadian 24 hour movement guidelines:
Ages 5-17 : An accumulation of at least 60 minutes per day of moderate to vigorous physical activity involving a variety of aerobic activities.
Ages 18-64: Add movement throughout your day, including a variety of types and intensities of physical activity. At least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week
All activities can be included! Skiing, snowshoeing, going for a walk or hike, building a fire for a boil up, let’s get creative!
Please share this with staff, students, families (on your website/social media, email etc). We encourage you to support students to register for this challenge before they leave for Easter Break to ensure all students have equal opportunity to register.
Note: Please continue to follow all public health guidelines relating to the covid-19 pandemic.
For any further questions or information please contact the Active Schools Coordinator (coreysamson@nlesd.ca) or myself (susanbarry@nlesd.ca).
Easter Coding Camps - Brilliant Labs
Brilliant Labs Newfoundland and Labrador is pleased to announce that we will be offering Easter Coding camps during the Easter Break.
Some of these camps will be virtual dealing with 3D design/printing and scratch coding. Space is limited so please register soon.
All of our camps are appropriate for ages 8-14.
- Our 3d Design/Printing virtual camp will be held on Tuesday, April 6th at 10:00 am. Students can register at https://forms.gle/Qky5EvCm9j8wYTVk6
- Our Scratch coding virtual camp will be held on Thursday, April 8th also at 10:00 am. Students can register at https://forms.gle/Rh688pNUEJEsqg9f8
We also are holding in-person camps in St. John's, Grand Falls and Stephenville. Once again these camps are appropriate for ages 8-14.
Due to COVID 19 rules we are limiting these camps to 15 students per session, students have to be masked, and physical distancing requirements will be adhered to.
- Students can register at https://forms.gle/tYqMpAB2HAzmHRJr8
We are also happy to announce a new partnership with Keyin College. It is their campus classrooms we will be using for the in-person camps.
If you want any further information please contact me via email
MDJH Music
Student Council News
MDJH Spirit Week
March 29 to April 1 was Spirit Week at MDJH. We wore team or school jerseys to show school spirit, dressed alike, wore pink and wore Easter accessories. Thank you to all students for showing your spirit this week.
Grade 9 baby picture slideshow
As part of our grade 9 leaving celebrations, we would like to show a slideshow of all of our grade 9 students. We will show their grade 9 school picture, and another picture of them as a baby, a toddler or and early school picture. To be included in this slideshow, please email one picture only to colettequann@nlesd.ca.
Yearbooks 2020-2021
Details on ordering this year’s yearbook will be communicated after the Easter Break. Online orders are encouraged if possible. Stay tuned for more information in the next newsletter.
Yearbooks
There are still a few 2019-2020 yearbooks available for purchase. The cost is $25. Please contact colettequann@nlesd.ca if you wish to purchase a yearbook from last year.
Yearbook photos
Thank you to everyone who has submitted pictures for the yearbook. Please send any pictures to colettequann@nlesd.ca. If sending from a cell phone, please select "actual size" to ensure the quality is good for uploading to the yearbook.
Celebrate student success
We want to acknowledge and celebrate the accomplishments of the students of MDJH. We have a wall of celebration where we will 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 some 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.
Macdonald Drive Junior High
Email: mdjh@nlesd.ca
Website: mdjh.info
Location: 110 Macdonald Drive, St. John's, NL, Canada
Phone: 709-753-8240
Twitter: @mdjh