The May newsletter is now available. Click here to view it.

Here’s the latest Math Problem of the Week. Contact Mr. Lambert with your answer for a chance to win!

Congratulations to our participating MDJH students, as they obtained great results from the the Eastern Newfoundland Regional Science and Technology Fair

Orpa Hawlader – Surface Tension on Floating Objects and Cheerios Effect

• Gold Medal – Junior Physical Science
• First Place Overall Junior Project – $250
• Canada Wide Science Fair Finalist 2021

Dipayan Dhar – Here Comes the Sun: The Potential of Solar Energy in NL

• Gold Medal – Intermediate Physical Science
• First Place Overall Intermediate Project – $250
• Canada Wide Science Fair Finalist 2021

Adhira Ganesh and Alpita Patro – Resistance is fruitile

• Gold Medal – Junior Life Science
• Second Place Overall Junior Project – $150

Honourable Mentions

• Arika Rahman and Meghna Saha
• Sheza Chowdhury and Nasarajswari Devarapalli

Way to go, Grizzlies!

On May 1, Chess Buddies Canada will be hosting the first ever Simul Event!

Daley Merrigan (current highest ranked chess player in NL) will be leading the event and will be taking on all challengers! It is a great opportunity to play a strong chess player! The only requirement is for players to have a Lichess.org account. It is free, and you only need an email address to register. The link to join the Simul Event is https://lichess.org/simul/52jMPXJ8.

If you have any questions, or want to learn more about how the Simul Event will work, please contact Tanish Bhatt at tbhatt_S@nlesd.ca.

For more information regarding the club and future events, visit our website at Chessbuddies.ca

This Q&A is to clarify points contained in a letter sent by the English School District on April 27, to families of MDJH students regarding the condensed day that will be implemented in certain junior high schools to limit mixing of cohorts outside of the school environment during the school day.

When is this starting?
The compressed day will start on Monday, May 3.

What is the new schedule?

The new schedule is as follows:

Period 1: 8:05 – 9:01

Period 2: 9:02 – 9:53

RECESS 9:53-9:58

Period 3: 9:59 – 10:55

LUNCH: 10:55 – 11:15

Period 4: 11:17 – 12:13 PM

Period 5: 12:14 – 1:10

Will there be a morning Homeroom?
No. A warning bell will sound at 8:00. Classes will begin at 8:05.

Will students still have Recess?
At the end of Period 2, we have a RECESS break when students will be permitted to eat at their desk.

Will students be permitted to leave at lunch?
No, students MUST remain in their classroom.

Will Chartwells be available for purchasing food?
Food can be purchased only through online ordering until 8am on the same morning, and will be brought to the class. Students will not be able to purchase food from Chartwells during the lunch period. Students can also bring a packed lunch from home.

Will students be permitted to move about?
During periods 1, 3 and 5, assigned classes will be scheduled for a “walk about” to get up and stretch. Staff are also encouraged to “get moving” in all other classes.

Will buses run an hour earlier in the afternoon?
Yes. Students will be dismissed at 1:10. Buses will take students home at 1:10. Morning bus times will not be affected.

Will all Junior Highs move to this model?
The decision to expand to other junior highs rests with the District and the Department of Education. At this point, only certain Junior Highs will begin with this condensed day. These junior highs are pure junior highs (Grade 7, 8 and 9 students), represent the larger schools, and busing was able to be accommodated.

Why is this being done?
A condensed day will allow our school to more effectively adhere to the latest Public Health recommendations and ultimately remain open as it will limit the potential for mixing of cohorts outside of the school environment during the school day.

Grade 9 students can apply for a bursary to attend a virtual summer program offered through Campus Notre-Dame-du-Foy. This one-week virtual program includes French classes and an opportunity to explore Quebec culture virtually. The Grade 9 program is open to all Grade 9 students, regardless of their level of French (beginner to advanced). Bursaries are paid directly to the institution and cover tuition and registration fees.

For more information, visit https://www.gov.nl.ca/education/k12/french/bursaries/#Grade9

Application deadline: April 30, 2021

April 26, 2021 Dear Families,

This letter is to advise families of an adjustment in the schedule for students attending select junior high schools in the St. John’s Metro region.

As of Monday, May 3, students attending Beaconsfield Junior High, Frank Roberts Junior High, Macdonald Drive Junior High, and St. Peter’s Junior High will see their school day compressed, resulting in a shorter lunch period and a dismissal time approximately one hour earlier than usual.

After consultation with the Department of Education, school administrators, and teaching staff at these schools, it was determined that this move would limit the opportunity for students to mix with other cohorts during the school day. During this condensed day, all students will be required to remain on school property at all times.

Individual schools will communicate changes to their specific schedules. It should be noted that administrators and teaching staff will work additional short breaks into the school day, and make every effort to bring cohorted classes outside for breaks and instruction whenever possible.

Beyond the timing adjustment in the afternoon, student transportation arrangements will remain unchanged. Bus runs will remain the same for morning pick-up, but will return students home approximately one hour earlier in the afternoon.

We recognize this has been a challenging school year for many students and families, and that this change to the school schedule may mean some personal adjustments for families. This will, however, help limit the potential for mixing of cohorts outside the school environment during the school day, thereby allowing your school to more effectively adhere to the latest Public Health recommendations and remain open.

We sincerely appreciate your continued help in protecting the safety of our schools at this time.

Regards,

Andrew Hickey Assistant Director of Education (Programs), Avalon Region

Part of making sure our students are their best selves and are ready to learn is to give them the opportunity for a breakfast. Our breakfast club is different in these Covid-19 times, but we still have volunteers helping out with a Grab-And-Go station in the mornings. Thanks to them, and to Kids Eat Smart!

On Saturday, April 17, Chess Buddies Canada hosted a nation-wide chess tournament, featuring 42 players! We would like to recognize MDJH student Emmett Booth for his participation in this tournament. Emmett faced some of the strongest players across Canada and scored a high performance rating of 1369! Congratulations Emmett!

For more information regarding upcoming tournaments, you can visit the Chess Buddies Canada website at http://chessbuddies.ca/ and you can join the club (https://lichess.org/team/newfoundland-and-labrador) for news and updates regarding the club.