Sir John A. Macdonald Secondary School

Semester 1 Exams

Posted January 6, 2020

Semester 1 final exams are scheduled for January 24th to 30th, 2020.

TUTORIAL DAY – Thursday, Jan. 23rd
A: 8:30-9:05
B: 9:10-9:45
D: 9:50-10:25
E: 10:30-11:05
LUNCH: 11:05-12:05
TUTORIAL TIME: 12:05-2:40

Friday, Jan. 24th – Period A Exams
Monday, Jan. 27th – Period B Exams
Tuesday, Jan. 28th – Period D Exams
Wednesday, Jan. 29th – Period E Exams

All exams are scheduled to begin at 9:00am

For details and exam policies/information, click the link below.

Read more about Semester 1 Exams »

Grade 9 Pre-Advanced Placement Application Site NOW OPEN

Posted December 10, 2019

Grade 8 students wishing to apply for SJAM’s pre-advanced placement grade 9 courses – our application website is NOW OPEN. Click the link below for details on how to apply. Deadline for equal consideration to the grade 9 Pre-AP program is January 16th, 2020 (common date for ALL WRDSB magnet/special programs).

Please note – SJAM Pre-AP is NOT a magnet program. To apply, you must be in the SJAM boundary area and provide proof of address (if applicable).

Pre-AP/AP applications for current SJAM students will open in the new year.

Sem 1 Only Students Leaving SJAM/WRDSB

Posted January 17, 2020

Chromebook Returns/Google Account Closure for Semester 1 Students Not Returning to SJAM/WRDSB

If you are a grade 12+ student finishing that fifth year lap or moving out of WRDSB school system to another board, then we need you to return your Chromebook. Like a textbook, Chromebooks are issued on loan to WRDSB students for the time that they are in working towards achieving their course and/or graduation requirements.

Please return your Chromebook and charger on the morning of your last exam between 8:30 and 9:00 AM to Mr. Brenner who will be set at a desk on the first floor foyer to receive your Chromebooks. If you have completed all your course requirements but do not have any exams you should return your Chromebook before the exam days by going to the to the library during the first half of any lunch hour before exams begin.

Note that if you are returning for semester 2 to SJAM, or moving to any other WRDSB school, you do not need to hand in your Chromebook until your final June courses are complete and you are graduating.

Finally be prepared to return your library books, textbooks and any other resources on loan by following your teacher’s directions and make sure to cleanout and/or clear out your locker especially if you are not returning for Sem 2.

Thanks for helping us recover these resources so that other students may use them and best of luck on your end of Semester transition.

Students should also be aware that WRDSB issued Google accounts will close shortly after you leave our board. Make sure you back up any important documents and/or emails from your accounts BEFORE the end of the semester as you will no longer have access to this data.

Educational Assistant and Child & Youth Worker Appreciation Day

Posted January 17, 2020

Today, the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) marks the third annual Educational Assistant and Child & Youth Worker Appreciation Day. Educational Assistants (EAs) help to deliver educational programs in our schools, while Child & Youth Workers (CYWs) are mental health professionals who work with children who face a variety of emotional, behavioural or physical […]

WRDSB secondary schools remain open on January 21

Posted January 15, 2020

The Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) has announced that its members (teachers and education workers) will participate in another one-day full withdrawal of services (strike-action) at a number of school boards across the province on Tuesday, January 21, 2020. This one-day strike action does not impact WRDSB schools. Our schools will be open to […]

Pre-AP/Advanced Placement Review – Community Survey Extended

Posted January 15, 2020

PRE-AP COMMUNITY SURVEY – EXTENDED TO JAN. 31st

SJAM was opened in 2004, and has offered the AP program as a grade 9 to 12 pathway since 2013. In 2015 we became one of the first schools in the WRDSB to pilot the 1:1 Chromebook initiative and have most recently in 2019 we have developed our Highlander Innovation Lab program which students apply to at Grades 11 and 12. We hope to remain at the leading edge of educational opportunities in the WRDSB.

During the 2019-2020 school year we are actively engaged in a vision process as a school. Our school culture is one of high expectations for all learners, and we value inclusive and innovative education opportunities for all students.

As a part of our process we are reviewing our AP programs in Math, English and Science. We have very few students (less than a dozen a year) who complete the ultimate goal of the AP program, which is the standardized exam at the end of the grade 12 year. We also struggle to maintain full classes of AP students in our grade 11 and 12 program, depending on course, which means other sections must have more than 30 students to compensate. Some AP classes have had to be cancelled for low numbers in the last few years. Additionally, the AP curriculum focus is provided for us , thus allowing for little content creativity from its teachers and a very traditional evaluation method.

We do know that there are many positive aspects of the AP program that our staff, students, and parent community value. Any school specialized programs SJAM offers should support the type of education our community wants but also meet the needs of all learners. We are considering whether or not our school specialized program opportunity should be AP in all 3 current subject areas or in all grades.

This survey will help us understand the opinions of the school community as we consider our future school program options. The survey will stay open until January 31st, 2020 (extended deadline) and the results will be shared with the community on our website. We are grateful for your feedback and we thank you for your participation in this important consultation process.

Sincerely,
SJAM School Improvement Planning Team

Potential Grand River Transit Strike – Information for Students

Posted January 13, 2020

The Region of Waterloo is advising that labour action may cause disruption to local Grand River Transit, Bus Plus and MobilityPLUS operators starting tomorrow, Tuesday, January 14, 2020 if an agreement is not reached today. This strike action is not linked to the negotiations between the Ministry of Education and education sector workers. However, it […]

Course Selections for 2020-2021 Coming Soon

Posted January 10, 2020

Current SJAM students take note – course selections for next year are coming soon! Information assemblies are planned for the start of semester 2 and MyWay will open the first week back after exams. Students are encouraged to speak with their guidance counsellor ASAP if they have questions about course options for next year (as appointment schedules book up quickly once course selections begin).

Tuesday, Feb. 4th – Course Selection Info Assemblies & SJAM MyWay Opens
Thursday, Feb. 20th (3:00pm) – SJAM MyWay Course Selections Close
Friday, Feb. 21st – Course Selection Printout Collections

UPDATED 2020-2021 COURSE CALENDAR AVAILABLE NOW

SJAM COURSE DESCRIPTIONS/INFORMATION

NEW COURSES FOR 2020-2021:
HHD3OI – Dynamics of Human Relationships/Wellness
HHG4MI – Human Growth & Development
NDW4MI – Contemporary Indigenous Issues & Perspectives in a Global Context
SNC4MI – Medical Science
TMJ4MI – Manufacturing Technology (U/C Level)

WRDSB schools remain open on January 15, 2020

Posted January 10, 2020

The Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) has announced that its members (teachers and education workers) will participate in another one-day full withdrawal of services (strike-action) at a number of school boards across the province on Wednesday, January 15, 2020. This one-day strike action does not impact WRDSB schools. Our schools will be open to […]

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