Parent Newsletter
Macdonald Drive Junior High, June 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 9 - Spring Concert
- June 9 - Draw date for Summer Splash 50/50 tickets
June 20, 21, 22 - Visits from our feeder schools
June 23 - Last day for students - Thursday, 12:30pm dismissal
September 6 - 2022-2023 School Year: First day for students
June is Pride month!
Don't ever be afraid to show off your true colours! Happy Pride Month!
Important Information
Student absences/family vacations
We have had inquiries from parents wishing to take students out of school during regularly scheduled class time. We realize that many of the excursions that families have can be very educational. However, when school is in session it can be very difficult for a student to catch up with their classmates, and it is our preference that the student not miss any school.
If you do have plans to take your child out of school for an extended period of time for whatever reason, it is the responsibility of the parents to send a written notification of the planned absence (preferably email) to the school principal requesting permission for your child to be away. Ms. Pike will consider the reasons for this absence and provide information and advice accordingly. Otherwise, the absence may be considered unexcused.
When a student misses school for a family vacation or other non-school-related activity, they are responsible for any work missed while away, and they are also responsible for getting this missed work from a classmate when they return. Teachers are not required to prepare work in advance for a scheduled vacation/non-school activity, or to spend time re-teaching something that the student misses. This responsibility falls to the student and their family.
The homework website and Google Classrooms are updated daily and students can avail of these while away to keep up to date, or to catch up when they return. Any assignments that would be due when a student is on vacation must be completed before they leave. Any tests or projects completed while a student is away will be given to the student upon return, or prior to leaving.
A copy of the School Calendar is available at www.nlesd.ca
What's Been Going On
Alpita Patro medals at the National Science Fair!
Congratulations to the students of Science Team NL who represented our province at the 2022 Virtual Canada Wide Science Fair hosted by the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton from May 16 to 20. Six students were selected from the 40th annual Cenovus Energy Eastern Newfoundland Science Fair, including MDJH's Alpita Patro and Gonzaga's Tanish Bhatt (former MDJH student) to participate in the national virtual fair.
The Canada-Wide Science fair celebrated its 60th year, and included over 300 virtual projects from junior and senior high students from across the country, including all provinces and territories.
MDJH student Alpita Patro won bronze (junior division) and the Sanofi BioGENEius Canada Award (junior) for her project: “Algae: The Future of Biofuels”.
All the students of the 2022 Science Team NL represented the province with pride. They are to be commended for their hard work and perseverance in successfully completing a science project in these challenging times. More information can be found at enstf.ca
Documentary Filmmaking at MDJH
Homeroom 7-6 recently produced and launched a short documentary entitled "Stolen Bravery," thanks to the support of Artsmarts funding and the technical support of NIFCO. Inspired by the true story of local hero, Edward Duff, and his lost bravery medals, the class worked with Brad Gover, a local filmmaker to learn about filmmaking. The students learned about video and sound through the process of interviewing three people about this 'good news' story. Ms. D. Mills can share the link with interested members of the school community soon. Overall, it was a fabulous and unique experience for the class.
Chess News
This past May, grade seven student Millie Janes participated in the Provincial Chess Tournament. Millie won 1st place for her grade and will represent the province at the nationals. Congrats Millie!
50th Anniversary Logo design contest
MDJH will be celebrating our 50 year anniversary next year. Last month, we had a logo contest where students submitted logos for consideration to be used on merchandise. There were a number of great submissions! We would like to thank all students for their interest and participation. The winner was Shalom Alemu from 9-2.
Heritage Week Postage Stamp Design Contest 2022 Awards
Omair Billah and Benjamin Rogers of 7-7, both participated in the Cupids Museum/Cupids Legacy Centre's 26th Annual Postage Stamp Design Contest. Congratulations to Omair who won 2nd place!
Fun times in Ms. Gambin's class!
For the last few weeks Ms.Gambin’s class has been learning about traditional Newfoundland and Labrador food, music and culture.
Webinar with Math Expert Jo Boaler
Ms. Kennedy's 8-1 class enjoyed participating in a webinar with world-renowned mathematics expert, Dr. Boaler. The 8-1 class engaged in an interactive learning opportunity with Dr. Boaler, who reinforced and promoted the power of equity, growth mindset and collaborative problem-solving.
Coming Up...
Summer Splash 50/50 ticket draw
Please get those tickets sold because there are numerous gift card prize draws happening daily for students who return their ticket stubs and money to the office!
The student who sells the most tickets will receive a $200 Best Buy gift card. You can get extra tickets at the office. If you have any unsold tickets, please return them to the office ASAP.
The draw date for this fundraiser is Thursday, June 9, 2022
Thanks once again for your wonderful support.
Student Leadership Award
Are you a grade 9 student at MDJH? Are you active and involved in the school community and/or the community at large? If so, this award might be for you!
Every year, we award outstanding Grade 9 students with the Student Leadership Award. This is for students who:
- Are positive role models in the classroom
- Are positive role models in any school-based activity
- Take a leadership role in curricular and co-curricular activities
- Maintain a good attendance/punctuality record
- Maintain a good academic standing
- Work to their academic potential
If you think this is you (or someone you know at the school!), application forms are available at the office. Applying students must also write a 500 word essay on why they should be considered for this award referencing the above criteria.
The winning students will be presented with a certificate and have their name permanently inscribed on the school Student Leadership tableau in front of the main office.
Don’t delay! The deadline for application is Tuesday, June 7!
Grade 9 Legacy Project
Next year marks MDJH’s 50th anniversary!
Imagine… over 40,000 students have spent their junior high years here. Countless MDJH students have become successful and done amazing things in all corners of the world, including here at home in St. John’s. Many of our former students are even parents of current students. We thought this year would be a great opportunity to start an annual legacy project that the grade 9 students could leave as a memento of their time spent at MDJH.
We are going to start this legacy project by purchasing a wheelchair accessible picnic table to add to our outdoor classroom. The cost of a 3 sided, wheelchair accessible table similar to the picture below would be $3,095.00. It will be anchored on a cement pad and will be inscribed with a plaque dedicated to this year’s graduating class. To date, we have $425 raised. We still have a way to go. Please consider a donation to help with this project.
Other Info
Trail of the Caribou Essay Contest
WIN A TRIP FOR 2 ON A PILGRIMAGE TRACING THE WORLD WAR ONE ACTIONS
OF THE NEWFOUNDLAND REGIMENT IN GALLIPOLI, TURKEY
Trail of the Caribou Essay Contest Rules and Application
Contest Rules:
● Students in Grades 7 to 12 at a Newfoundland and Labrador school are eligible to enter.
● By entering, you acknowledge that you are interested in taking part in the pilgrimage
during mid-September, in either 2022 or 2023 with a parent/guardian, in collaboration
with the Trail of the Caribou Research Group (TCRG). Please note, the exact dates of
the trip may be changed depending on the plans of the Government.
● To enter, students must complete the application form below and write a
short essay (800-1200 words) on the theme of:
a) the Gallipoli Campaign; or
b) A Newfoundlander who served at Gallipoli (list can be provided).
*Please note, up to five (5) pictures or charts are allowed to be included
● Entries may be featured on the Trail of the Caribou Research Group website
(https://trailofthecaribou.ca/) and applicants can indicate below whether their name
should be credited publicly.
● Competition will close on Wednesday, June 15.
● A draw will take place near the end of June for all eligible entries. There will be one grand prize winner who will be awarded a trip for two (which will include the student and a parent/guardian) to the TCRG Pilgrimage to Gallipoli, anticipated for September, 2022 or 2023.
● All successful applicants will be contacted, and a public announcement is anticipated to take place Friday, July 1, 2022.
● All expenses will be covered, such as passports, travel insurance, Turkish Visa, etc as
required.
More information can be found here.
Student Council News
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 and how much they have grown.
We will display each student’s grade 9 school picture (we have copies of that) and a picture from you of them as a baby, (toddler or early school years is fine as well).
Even though the carnival is over, you can still send in a picture to include in the slideshow which will be shown to our grade 9 students on June 23. Please select one picture only and email to colettequann@nlesd.ca.
Yearbooks 2021-2022
You can now place your order for the 2021-2022 yearbook.
Orders can be placed online by going to ybpay.lifetouch.ca. If ordering online, the Yearbook ID code is 11573722. The cost is $25.
Orders can also be placed using an order form available in homeroom and at the office. Please submit order forms and payment (cash or cheque made out to MDJH) to Colette Quann. The deadline for ordering is June 10, 2022. Yearbooks will arrive in September. They will be delivered to Gonzaga and Holy Heart for our current grade 9 students who have moved on to those schools.
There are still 2020-2021 yearbooks available. If you are interested in purchasing one, please contact colettequann@nlesd.ca
MDJH Music
Spring Concert
Our annual Spring Concert will take place Thursday, June 9, at 7:00 pm in the school gymnasium. Tickets are on sale now in the office and are $5.00 each. Tickets must be purchased in advance and are not available at the door.
Our music students have been working so hard on this program and are very excited to present this show to family and friends.
See you at the show!!
Feeder School Tour
Our jazz band and string ensemble will be hitting the road on June 20 and 21, to perform an action-packed concert for our elementary feeder schools.
This is the first time we've been able to visit our feeder schools since 2019, so we will be performing at all 5 elementary schools! Our concert program highlights what our MDJH music program has to offer. We will feature a variety of tunes from Disney favourites to jazz standards, movie music to pop hits, and will even have some audience and staff participation thrown in for some fun!
MDJH Sports
Girls Grade 8 Basketball
The Girls Grade 8 Basketball team won the Grade 8B Provincial Tournament the first weekend in June!
Running news
MDJH represented at the @ANDRunning Club School Mile on May 15. MDJH students took top honours in the junior high male group taking 1st, 2nd, and 3rd! We are so proud of you!
Junior High Track and Field Championships
Lots of winners all around on June 4, at the Junior High Track and Field championship. Sawyer Leblanc got his qualifying time for nationals and broke the junior high record in the 2000m! And MDJH won the relay! Congratulations!
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