The International Baccalaureate Program is best suited to students who are seeking to challenge themselves academically. The IB Learner Profile identifies students who are naturally inquisitive, motivated, self-directed, and open-minded risk-takers. It may be the highly motivated overachiever, but it may also be the student who is very intelligent and contemplative, but is not achieving to his or her ability because he or she seems bored in the regular program and would benefit from an accelerated or enriched program of study.
The IB Program does not require candidates to be straight-A students, but allows for a balance of strengths and weaknesses in different subject areas. The most important factors are the student’s own individual motivation and strong work ethic.
The deadline for applications to the IB Program is March 15, and the application as well as instructions for the application process can be found on the Holy Heart website at:

http://www.holyheart.ca/ib/

For the purpose of course selections for grade 10 pre-IB students, the following are some of the advanced courses of study that MUST be completed at the end of Grade 10:

• Math 1201
• Math 2200
• Canadian History 1201 or Fran 1201 & Hist Du Can 1231
• Science 1206
• Chemistry 2202 & Chemistry 3202 
• English 1201

The latest MDJH Newsletter has been posted. Click here to view it, or go to our Newsletters page for this and other earlier Newsletters.

Interested in finding out information on child health, healthy eating, or injury prevention? Talking to your teen about sexual or mental wellness? NLESD has a page filled with resources for parents and others looking for information on child and teen wellness. Click here to visit the site, or click on our link on the side menu.

Representatives from Gonzaga came to our school on Monday morning to help the Grade 9s do their initial course selection for next year. For any students who missed the sessions, or who need new worksheet/application forms, please click here to download them.

Reminder that these forms must be passed in to homeroom teachers by Monday, February 27th.

Holy Heart of Mary Regional High School will be hosting an information session on course selections and the IB Program at the Holy Heart Theatre on Tuesday, Feb 21 at 6:30 pm.

Gonzaga High School will be holding a Grade 9 parent orientation meeting on Wednesday, February 22 at 7:00 pm.

MDJH will be having an early dismissal on Monday, February 20th so that staff can attend a session on the District Strategic Plan. Students will be dismissed at 1:10 pm, and all students are to exit the building at this time. Regular busing will be available.

For more information, please see this memo from NLESD.

On behalf of the teachers and staff at Macdonald Drive Junior High, a big “THANK YOU!” for all the treats brought in for Teacher Appreciation Week. The week started with donations from the Grade 7 parents:

After our two snow days, the Grade 8 and 9 parents brought in even more:

As hard as it may be to believe, these pictures don’t show all of the treats we received (and some treats did not last long enough to be in the pictures!).

Once more, a big “Thank you” from all of us here at Macdonald Drive!

Congratulations to the Grade 9 Boys Basketball team, on winning Gold against St. Peter’s at the St. Paul’s Tournament this past weekend.

Big congratulations to the Grade 7 Girls Basketball team on Winning Silver at a tournament this past weekend. This was a Grade 8/9 tournament, and the MDJH team was one of only two Grade 7 teams in the mix. Well done, students and coaches!

Congratulations as well to the Grade 7 Boys Basketball team on their Silver medals at the Leary’s Brook Invitational!

As part of a WE school, our student council has been recognized for our local and global efforts. The WE Organization in partnership with WestJet have recognized our commitment to making positive contributions in our school, our community, our country, and our world. Some of our WE campaigns have included WE create change, WE bake for change, WE are Rafiki.

WE and WestJet have provided 13 of our student council members and two teachers with an all-expenses paid trip to Montreal to attend WE Day on February 24th, 2017.

On February 23, our students will travel to Montreal to attend this national leadership event. Students will receive round-trip flights, hotel accommodations, and be paired with a group from a host school in Montreal upon arrival. They will also participate in an action planning workshop with the host school led by a WE facilitator.

Our school was the only school in our area to receive the opportunity. Many thanks go out to our school community for your continued support of student council initiatives.

The first newsletter of February is ready for you! Click here to download it, or go to our Newsletter Page for this and earlier newsletters.