Parent Newsletter
Macdonald Drive Junior High, September 2021
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
- September 23, Thursday - Curriculum Night
- September 28, Tuesday - Orange Shirt Day
- September 29, Wednesday - Fall Closeout for Teacher PD - No school for students
- September 30, Thursday - Federal Holiday - National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
- Friday, October 1 - Picture Day
Welcome new students and returning students!
School Hours
We open our doors at 7:45am. Please be in the school before 8:00am as homeroom starts at 8:05am. Dismissal time will be 2:10pm, with the busses leaving the parking lot by 2:20pm.
School Calendar
Our new calendar for the 2021-2022 school year is available at: https://mdjh.info/school-information/calendar/
Bussing
Please check the online bus portal for information about the location of school bus stops. Make sure your child knows the route number of the bus they will be taking at the end of the day. The last two digits of the run number as listed in the portal will be the route number. For example, the run number might be 18-062-13, which means the route number is 13. There is a sign in the window of each bus with the run number. The busses park in the same order each day so the students will quickly get to know where to find their bus.
Network User Accounts
Students should all have their Google account information. In order to be able to log on to computers within the school, all Grade 7 students, and any Grade 8 and 9 students who are new to the school this year need to submit this Network Access User Agreement/Media Consent Form. Your child has been given one by their homeroom teacher, but if you need an extra copy you can print it yourself, fill it out, sign it, and return to the school - you can either take a picture, scan it and email it, or bring the paper version to your homeroom teacher, or Ms. Power.
Please see Ms. Power in the library to reset Google passwords.
Student Chromebooks
Information about chromebooks can be found in this Chrome Areement Cover Letter. In order to receive one, students must fill out the Loan Agreement Form and bring it back to their Homeroom Teacher or Ms. Power. To allow time for processing school information, please have the agreement form handed in by Wednesday, September 22. The assignment and distribution of the Chromebooks will take place sometime after this date.
Check out our school web page for all the latest info on what is going on at MDJH!
School Council Elections
Welcome back! We are now ready to begin the process of starting up our School Council at MDJH. We need two positions:
- Parent Representative
- Community Representative
For more information and a nomination form, check out the information on our school website.
Grade 7 Math is moving to Standards-Based Grading
Macdonald Drive Junior High is pleased to join other schools in the district in moving to Standards-Based Grading for Grade 7 Math students this school year.
Standards-Based grading (SBG) is a system which focuses on student learning, growth and academic achievement. Students will be provided with clearly defined learning targets called learning standards, which provide the baseline that is consistent across all students at this grade level and help guide teacher instruction. Students will receive feedback based on their demonstrated understanding of these specific learning standards, concepts and skills.
Instead of a single numerical grade, feedback is provided on each standard so students and their guardian(s) can easily see which concepts they understood well, which they need to improve on, and allows for teachers to modify or adjust instruction as needed.
Here is a document that outlines what to expect.
What's Been Going On
MDJH Duke of Edinburgh Program
Congratulations to 35 MDJH students on receiving their Bronze Award this year. Students were presented with their certificates and pins by the Honourable Judy May Foote at Government House in August. These students showed determination and commitment throughout the year as they navigated COVID restrictions. Their success through these challenging times, demonstrates the spirit of the Duke of Edinburgh program. Congratulations once again. We wish you all the best.
MDJH Community Garden
Coming Up...
Orange Shirt Day - September 28
This day is set aside to recognize and honour indigenous children who were sent away to residential schools, and to learn about the history of the schools.
The “orange shirt” in Orange Shirt Day refers to the new shirt that Phyllis Webstad was given by her grandmother for her first day of school at St. Joseph’s Mission Residential School in British Columbia. When Phyllis got to school, they took away her clothes, including her new shirt. It was never returned. To Phyllis, the color orange has always reminded her of her experiences at residential school, and as she has said, “how my feelings didn’t matter, how no one cared, and I felt like I was worth nothing. All of us little children were crying, and no one cared."
Phyllis chose orange to remind us that the "Every Child Matters." This message promotes inclusivity and a message of anti-racism. This year, more than ever, we have felt the impact of how these schools affected indigenous people and our country as a whole.
MDJH is encouraging all students and staff to wear orange on September 28.
Rock Painting Club
Rock Painting Club will take place every Day 7 at lunch! Our first meeting will be next Thursday, September 16, in Room 223. Bring a small rock of your choice. Paint markers will be provided. See you there!
Other Info
Save Time, Skip the Line
Chartwells Cafeteria is now Online Ordering. Chartwells is now using Nutrislice as a pre-order, pre pay solution for parents, accessible through its interactive website and free smartphone app. Go to http://chartwellsk12.ca to sign up. Here is a brochure for more information.
Student Council News
Student Council Elections
Student council president and vice-president elections will be held Friday, September 17. Any student interested in running for president or vice president of MDJH’s 2021-2022 student council must see Madame Quann (room 221) or Madame Sauvé (room 222) for a nomination form.
Candidates should have strong leadership and communication skills. They should also demonstrate a good work ethic, respect for school policies, and a commitment to student council activities. Students who are up for this commitment are encouraged to put their names forward.
Elections for class rep will take place Monday, September 20, during homeroom.
Canadian Student Leadership Conference 2021
Five students from MDJH will be attending a virtual national leadership conference for grade 9-12 students from October 21- October 23. This is a wonderful experience and provides opportunities for students to participate in leadership workshops and activities. The theme this year is Unmuting Generation Z. Students will participate in various leadership activities such as keynote speeches, leadership workshops, volunteer opportunities and cultural experiences.
2020-2021 Yearbooks
The 2020-2021 yearbooks should arrive any day. When they arrive, we will distribute them to our current students, and former students will be able to pick them up after school hours. They will be dropped off at Gonzaga and Holy Heart for distribution a couple of weeks after they arrive.
Celebrate Student Successes
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 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.
MDJH Music
MDJH Music Program
Happy new school year! We are so excited to be making music together again. We would like to welcome our MUN music intern Mr. Daniel Browne who will be with us until the first week of December and Ms. Jennifer Hanley who will be teaching classroom music and choir. We are looking forward to meeting all our new grade 7 students and welcoming back our returning musicians.
New! Beginning Band Reboot
New this year is a beginning band program for grade 7 students or those who feel they've missed out on learning an instrument due to COVID. If you encountered gaps in learning an instrument because of COVID restrictions and want a second chance at being a musician, this ensemble is for you. Please complete a registration form and return it before Friday, September 17.
Music Ensembles
Our program offers students a variety of ensembles. Students can join the Grade 7 Concert Band, Grade 8 & 9 Symphonic Band, Concert Choir (all grades), String Ensemble (all grades), or the Jazz Ensemble (8 & 9 - auditioned ensemble). To register, please complete our registration form and submit to Ms. Comerford by Friday, September 17.
MDJH Sports
Team Tryouts
Jr. Girls Soccer (Grades 7 and 8) Tryouts:
Monday, Sept. 13: 2:30-4:00pm
Wednesday, Sept. 15: 2:30-4:00pm
Sr. Girls Soccer (Grades 8 and 9) Tryouts:
Tuesday, Sept. 14: 6:00-7:30pm
Thursday, Sept. 16: 6:00-7:30pm
Sr. Boys (grades 8/9) Soccer Tryouts:
Monday, Sept. 20: 4:00-5:30pm
Wednesday, Sept. 22: 4:00-5:30pm
Grade 7 Girls Volleyball Tryouts:
Tuesday, Sept. 14: 2:30-4:00pm
Thursday, Sept. 16: 5:30-7:00pm
Grade 8 Girls Volleyball Tryout:
Thursday, Sept. 16: 2:30-4:00pm
Grade 9 Girls Volleyball Tryouts:
Tuesday, Sept. 14: 7:30-9:30pm
Thursday, Sept. 16: 7:30-9:30pm
Grade 8 Boys Volleyball Tryouts:
Tuesday, Sept. 21: 2:30-4:00pm
Thursday, Sept. 23: 4:00-5:30pm
Grade 9 Boys Volleyball Tryouts:
Thursday, Sept. 16: 4:00-5:30pm
Sunday, Sept. 19: 11:00am-12:30pm
Tuesday, Sept. 21: 5:30-7:30pm
Coaches needed!
Grade 7 Boys Volleyball
Grade 8 Boys Basketball
Jr Boys Soccer
Sr Boys Soccer
If interested, please contact Scott Mercer (scottmercer@nlesd.ca) or Donald Mackey (donaldmackey@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