NEW: School Start/Closing Times for September

École Intermédiare

Macdonald Drive Junior High School

110 Macdonald Drive, St. John’s, NL A1A 2K9

T: (709) 753-8240 F: (709) 753-1243

April 27^th, 2016

Dear Parents and Guardians,

This correspondence is to advise you of planned changes to our student transportation schedule and school opening and dismissal times commencing in September for the 2016-17 school year.

The Newfoundland and Labrador English School District (NLESD) is in the process of preparing tenders for new busing contracts. The current busing contracts are expiring this year resulting in opportunities to look for efficiencies. Where possible, double runs are to be utilized, and this will require some bell time adjustments to schools with shared busing arrangements. Some schools have to begin their day earlier while some have to begin later in order to achieve and accommodate shared busing arrangements. The end time of the instructional day will also change as a result with some schools finishing earlier than current times and other schools later.

Busing costs have risen more dramatically than any other facet of education expenditures in recent years and a double run model is one way to focus educational funding on the core responsibilities of teaching and learning. The District recognizes that altering opening and closing times may involve significant changes to personal daily routines for students, parents/guardians, and staff and that early communication of such changes is important so that adjustments can be planned in advance. The District apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause to some families. The new opening and closing times for Macdonald Drive Junior High is as follows:

Opening Bell: 8:05 a.m.

Closing Bell: 2:10 p.m.

First Pick-ups: 7:15 a.m. – 7:35 a.m.

(Length of bus runs and distance from school will dictate pick up times)

Arrive School: 7:55 a.m.

Depart School: 2:18 p.m.

Last Drop-Off: 2:35 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.

Please note, new busing route information will be communicated as soon as it is available. If there are any questions please contact the school administration.

Sincerely,

Sarah Osmond

School Principal