Parent Newsletter

Dates to Remember:

Registration for Summer School: Tuesday, June 28th

First day of school - Wednesday, September 7th, 2016

Note: School starts at 8:05 am with dismissal at 2:10 pm

Curriculum Night: Wednesday, September 21, 2016 @ 7:00 pm

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On behalf of the administration

and staff of Macdonald Drive

Junior High, we would like to

wish our students and their

families a wonderful and safe

summer .

Best wishes to our Grade 9 stu-

dents as they transition into

high school. In the fall we look

forward to welcoming our new

Grade 7 students and our stu-

dents who will return for Grade

8 and 9.

MDJH

June 24 2016

Parent Information

Summer School 2016

Registration for Summer School

2016 will take place on Tues-

day, June 28th from 9:00am to

4:00pm at either the Mount

Pearl Senior High or Leary’s

Brook Junior High sites.

Classes are scheduled to take

place on Thursday, June 30th

from 9:00 am to 12:15 pm and

will finish on Wednesday, July

27th. There is a 15 minute re-

cess daily and no holidays will

be observed.

The registration fee is $185 per

course. A student can only at-

tend one course (Math, English

Language Arts or Science) and

if registration numbers are low

for a specific course at one site,

students will be requested to

transfer to the other site. No

transportation will be provided.

Students will not be permitted to

register after Monday, July 4th,

2016.

Textbooks will be provided to

students at each site.

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Congratulations to our 55 students in Grade 9 who received their bronze award on Wednesday, June 22nd at RCMP Head-quarters. These bronze level achievers ac-cepted the challenge and successfully com-pleted the criteria for this award. Special thanks to Mr. Porter, our teacher sponsor , Ms. Kathy Pollett, Ms. Denise Oates and a host of parent/teacher volunteers who helped to make this happen.

Parent

Volunteers 2016-2017

We will be seeking parents to help out with the breakfast program and School Council in the fall. .

Thanks to Ms. Catherine Shortall, our out-going School Council Chair for her dedica-tion to the MDJH School Community over the past six years. We look forward to our returning school council members.

New Grade 7 parents are welcome to join. Please contact the ad-ministration if you are interested in helping us out.

Christina Pike: christinapike@nlesd.ca or

Craig Squires: craigsquires@nlesd.ca

Europe 2017 Any student interested in going to France and Italy during Easter of 2017 should see Ms. Quann for information. Email Colette Quann at colettequann@nlesd.ca for details. There is a $100 discount offered to anyone signing up before the end of June.

Yearbooks

You can now pre-order yearbooks for the 2015-2016 school year. They are available at a cost of $20. Order forms are available at the office or from Ms. Quann or Ms. Sauvé .

ALL MDJH STUDENTS are included in the yearbook. It is not just a book for Grade 9. It is a nice keepsake for all junior high students that highlight school events and memories. Our yearbook includes all school events from September 2015- June 2016 and are deliv-ered next fall.

Yearbook Photos

Many school groups and activities ongoing. Anyone having a team or group photo to sub-mit to the yearbook can please email their photo to ColetteQuann@nlesd.ca.

Page 3 JU NE 1 7 20 16

Safety on and off School

Grounds

It is very important that all students exercise caution on and around school grounds at all times. We have a lot of on-going construction around our building.

Students need to use crosswalks, be aware of construction zones, act and behave accord-ingly when going off school property for lunch (parks and eating establishments), and refrain from using the MDE playground.

We strongly encourage you to be alert and be careful at all times. As well, to drivers, please adhere to speed limits in our school zone and be extra alert.

Music Donation

We are very please to an-nounce that the Tulk family has generously donated a bass guitar and amplifier to our music program in memory of their son , Blair, who interned with us last year. We are very apprecia-tive of their kind and gener-ous offer.

MDJH Breakfast Program

At this time we would like to thank all of our program volunteers as well as our many teacher volunteers. Added thanks extended to our key sponsor – Kids Eat Smart – and each of the other organizations and groups who made financial contributions to our breakfast program. Thanks to Dominion for coming out for our final Pancake breakfast and making smoothies for students. Through the support of our volunteers and funding organizations we are able to pro-vide a variety of breakfast items, free, to approximately 250+ students on a daily ba-sis.

Breakfast program will resume in late Sep-tember. Date to be announced.

Awards Assembly – JUNE 23

In celebration of our students’ accomplish-ments in a variety of academic, cultural and athletic endeavours, an awards assembly was held on Thursday, June 23 starting at approximately 11:00 a.m. in the school gymnasium. At this time, a variety of acco-lades in the form of scholarships, plaques, trophies, medals and certificates were pre-sented to our very deserving students. Con-gratulations to all our students on another successful year!

Things to note for September 2016

Important Dates for the Fall

School Reopens: Sept. 7

Coaches Meeting: Sept. 15

Curriculum Night: Sept. 21

School Photos: Sept. 22

School Council Meeting: Oct.3

Thanksgiving Holiday: Oct. 10

Intermediate PD Day: Oct. 21

New School Start Times

for September

DAILY SCHEDULE 7:45 Doors Open 8:04 Warning bell 8:05 - 8:12 Homeroom 8:12 - 9:10 Period 1 9:11- 10:09 Period 2 10:09 - 10:24 Recess 10:25 - 11:23 Period 3 11:23 - 12:13 Lunch Break 12:13 Warning bell 12:14 - 1:12 Period 4 1:12 - 2:10 Period 5

2:10 Dismissal

Allergy Alert

We have a number of students with life-threatening allergies to various products. See the list below:

No nuts

No peanuts

No latex

No Fish

No Shellfish

No strong scents

Update in September

Page 4 JU NE 1 7, 201 6

Allergy Alert

We have a number of students with life-threatening allergies to various products. See the list below:

No nuts

No peanuts

No latex

No Fish

No Shellfish

No strong scents

Update in September

Soy Butter Products

Parents and students are advised that soy but-ter products/peanut butter replacement prod-ucts are not permitted within our school envi-ronment. Due to the presence of students with anaphylactic allergies to peanuts/peanut prod-ucts and the difficulty for teachers on duty to distinguish between the products we ask for the cooperation of students and parents to pack an alternative snack/lunch items. And while we recognize that peanut butter replace-ment products do not present risk of an ana-phylactic allergy, the presence of these prod-ucts in our school will undermine our capacity to enforce our restriction on peanut butter.

Page 5 JU NE 1 7, 201 6

Student Drop Off / Pick Up

Student Entrance

There are two lanes going in one direction; one for MDJH (right) and the other for MDE (left)

Stay to the right in a single line as you enter the parking lot.

Busses proceed to the far right closest to the building.

Drivers are asked to proceed as far as possi-ble to the right closest to the cement divider before dropping your children off.

Please wait for the vehicles in front of you to drop off students before exiting. DO NOT

PULL INTO THE LEFT LANE.

Through traffic (going to MDE) stays to the left.

The administration/Teachers will be out (rain or shine!) each day to help direct traffic.

Do not turn right onto the parking lot in front of the main entrance.

Note: Only staff and alternate transporta-tion should travel around the building ex-cept after school has started or for ap-

pointments during the day.

Things to note for September 2016

September 7: Day 1

Regular day for all students

Grade 7 students

Proceed to the gym at the 8:05 bell

Grade 8 /Grade 9 students

Check Homeroom lists at the student en-trance /main entrance and proceed to your homeroom at the 8:05 am bell.

Suggested School Supplies

Pencils (2 packages)

Pens (1 package)

Loose leaf paper

Binders (no more than 2)

Exercise Books (10-16)

Calculator

Ruler

Markers/Colored pencils (1 package)

Duo-tangs (12)

Change of clothing /Sneakers (gym) if possi-ble

Protractor (Grade 7)

Geometry set (Grade 8-9)

Eraser (2)

Glue stick (1)

Highlighters (2)

Things to note for September 2016

Electronic Devices

Electronic devices (ipads, ipods, phones) are not permitted for use during instructional/classroom time unless under the direction of a teacher. and permission has been given to use the device. All phones should be turned off during class time and placed in the appro-priate place (Basket/shelf) as directed by the teacher. These devices are only permit-ted to be used in the morning prior to class starting, during recess, lunch period, and af-

ter school.

If a student does not follow rules pertaining to electronic devices in the classroom they will be sent to the office whereby home contact will be made. If the electronic device is not rendered, the student in question will be sent home. As well, a student using an electronic device dur-ing class time or at any other time throughout the day (hallways) during instructional time will have it confiscated and submitted to the office. Repeat offenders will require parents to collect the item from the office. We are not responsi-ble if these items are lost or stolen.

If you need to contact your child while he/she is in school, please call the school number at

709 753 8240

Parents are asked to monitor their child’s electronic devices to ensure that they are using their phones appropriately.

Note: There I no Wi-Fi access in school, as per school board policy.

Contact Information

It is very important that the school have up

to date contact information for all students

and parents. If any of your information has

changed since you completed the demo-

graphic profile sheet for your son/daughter

or should it change throughout the school

year please contact the school to update.

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Page 7 JU NE 1 7, 201 6

Things to note for September 2016

School Information /Homework

All junior high students should be doing home-work consistently throughout the year. Homework can consist of math practice, projects, studying for quizzes and tests, review. Parents can check our web site www.mdj.k12.nf.ca, for homework team tryouts, practices, band times, and other information including newsletters.

Parent Portal Information for

PowerSchool

All parents will have access to their child’s daily attendance and marks. You will receive this infor-mation in September. Please monitor you child’s attendance and check on marks to ensure that work is completed and submitted.

Please be advised that the following Pow-erSchool Mobile Apps have been enabled for the NLESD PowerSchool server:

• PowerSchool Mobile App for Parents

• PowerSchool Mobile App for Students

Medications

If your child requires medication while at school you must complete the necessary forms and have them signed by your family doctor before we can administer any medi-cation at school. If your child requires over-the-counter medication, please complete the required forms. Students are not permitted to have medication on their person.

Busing

Please check the NLESD.ca website for up-dated routes and new start times.

Cafeteria Service

Cafeteria Service should resume on Wednesday, September 7, 2016. Menu from Chartwells Compass Group to be post-ed when it becomes available.

Protocol for Signing In/Out

All students must sign in and out at the main office if late or leaving early. Parents are asked to provide a note, email or call .

Protocol for Visitors

In an effort to ensure safety and security at our school, all visitors will notice a renewed emphasis on checking in at the office prior to proceeding to any other point in the build-ing. Visitors will be asked to sign in and wear a visitor ID tag. Thank you for your co-operation with this initiative.

Things to note for September 2016

Student Absences/Tardiness

If your child is absent from school for any reason, please contact the office via phone or your child’s homeroom teacher via e-mail, prior to the start of the school day on the day of the absence and have your child bring a note explaining the absence to his/her homeroom teacher when he/she returns. Attendance is very important for your child’s academic success. If he/she is out for an extended period of time due to illness, please contact your child’s teacher to get any missed work and check the homework site regularly.

Students need to be in school by 8:05 am at the latest to ensure they are ready for their morning classes. After lunch they need to be back in school by 12:12 to ensure they are ready for af-ternoon classes.

Three unexcused lates will result in detention at lunch time or after school. Chronic lateness will not be tolerat-ed. We ask parents/guardians to support us in these efforts.

School Pictures

School pictures will be taken on Thursday, Sep-tember 22nd.. Details regarding ordering will be included in the picture package.

Green Apple

Alliance

All school activities fall under the banner of the Green Apple Alliance. Our guiding principles are about respect for self, others and the learning environment.

Code of Conduct

Available online

What Activities are available?

Macdonald Drive offers a host of activities throughout the year. Please encourage your child to participate in their areas of interest.

Page 8 JU NE 1 7, 201 6

Things to note for September 2016

Page 9 JU NE 1 7, 201 6

Sports

Grade Level Intramurals—lunch time in the Gym. Includes soccer, basketball, ultimate frisbee, ball hockey, etc.

Teams for Grades 7-9 Boys and Girls

Soccer

Volleyball

Cross Country Running

Basketball

Hockey

Baseball

Check school website for practice times.

Other

Art Club

Skills Canada

Math League

Video Game Club

Computer Club

Photography Club

Environmental Club

Recycling

Band

Choir

Jazz band

Duke of Edinburgh—Grade 9

Math Homework Haven

Student Leadership

Lego Robotics

ROV

Outreach Community Volunteers

SPCA Group

Community Garden

Book Club

Chess

LGBTQ

Arts and Letters

LRC—Our Learning Commons

Yearbook

Student Council

Drama

Improv

Spelling Bee

Check it out!

MDJH Digital FYI: What every parent should be aware of

Page 10 JU NE 1 7, 201 6

7 Things Kids Should Never Share on Social Media

Our constant need to be plugged in can lead us to weaken our sense of privacy and diminish our better judgment. So as your children being spending more time on social media, start teaching them the things they should never reveal (on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram)...no matter how tempting. Even if they have exclusive "friends only" settings on their social accounts, remind them to avoid sharing the info below for privacy and safety reasons.

1. Personal IDs. This seems like a no-brainer, but teach kids not to type social insurance numbers, credit card numbers, and account passwords of any kind (email, social media, bank) in any mes-sages. They should also not share photos or videos that show credit cards in them.

2. Mailing/home address. Street View on Google Maps is just a few clicks away. And tell your kids to avoid posting photos or videos of the house (or selfies with the house in the background), espe-cially with street signs in prominent view. You don't want too many people to know where your kids live.

3. Medical history. There have been amazing stories of kids being diagnosed and saved through Facebook, but like personal IDs, medical information (e.g. specific conditions, diseases, and aller-gies) should be kept private. You never know what people may do with the info.

4. Specific vacation days. Sure, your kids may be excited about going to Disney World or Hawaii, but it's probably best to avoid posting status updates that say, "Can't wait to see Florida in two weeks!", or posting photos with the caption, "I can't believe I'm in Hawaii right now!". Don't let oth-ers know when your house will be or is empty. Instead, encourage your kids to post photos and share stories after the vacation is over.

5. Problems with other people at home or school. It's easy to vent about some annoying parent, sibling, friend, teacher, etc., online but you never know who will see a Facebook, Instagram or Twitter status and be hurt. It may be hard, but it's best to wait and talk to someone in person (whether it's venting to an objective person or confronting the problem person). Embarrassment will be nixed and online fights and dramas will be avoided.

6. Improper photos or videos. These include any photos and videos that can be misconstrued or misinterpreted, including ones showing nudity or risqué looks, hard partying, smoking, drinking, drugs, etc. Basically anything that show your kids in compromising situations. And have your kids ask their friends (and vice versa) to grant permission before any photos or videos are posted and tagged.

7. Sensitive information attached to a court case. If your family is involved in or going to be in-volved in any court case, instruct your child not to reveal anything (even in person) before, during, or after the case...no matter the outcome. After all, no one wants two sentences, 140 characters, or a photo or video to be the cause of unhappiness (like, um, losing money) and unwanted media attention.

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Popular App Guide for Parents and Teachers

Page 12 JU NE 1 7, 20 16

Best wishes to our Retiring

Teachers

Ms. Dunsmore, Band

Ms. Kennedy, Support Services

Ms. McCue, Guidance

Ms. Osmond, Principal

Ms. Van Thiel, Support Services

Thank you to teachers who joined our staff for this year:

Ms. Bursey

Ms. Doulton

Mr. Dyer

Ms. Hackett

Mr. Lambert

Ms. Peddle

Ms. Pearcey

Ms. Perrin

Ms. Reid

Ms. Scurlock

Congratulations to

Ms. Christina Pike

New Principal

Macdonald Drive Junior High

Page 13 JU NE 1 7, 20 16

We’re on the web!

http://www.mdj.k12.

nf.ca

PARENT NEWSLETTER

Macdonald Drive Junior High

110 Macdonald Drive

St. John’s NL

A1A 2K9

Phone: 709-753-8240

Fax: 709-753-1243