JOHN MARTIN JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
IMPORTANT DATES
April 2015
Message from the Principal
Now that the snow is finally melting revealing bits of green
sprouting out of the earth and the birds are chirping in the
early morning dew, we know that the real spring is truly in
the air. Spring is a time of new beginnings. That is also
true of school. Report cards have gone home and term 3
has begun. We are on the home stretch of the 2014/2015
school year. Students are setting new short term goals to
reach in their courses by the end of the year as well as
transitioning plans for the next school year. We encourage
parents/guardians to continue to have conversations with
their children around long term and short term goal setting
and the things that need to take place in order to reach
their goals.
In addition to our regular academic classes we continue to
have a number of special events and activities on the go at
JMJH as outlined in the paragraphs that follow.
We are very excited to announce the launching of the John
Martin Junior High Student writers. A group of six students
have stepped forward and are being mentored by
Dartmouth Echo journalist Suzanne Rent. These students
meet once weekly and discuss researching, viewing,
writing, copy editing and proofreading. They will eventually
get out into the community reporting on stories from
Dartmouth North. They are featured in the most recent
edition of the Dartmouth Echo. The students will also be
taking over the writing of our Newsletter turning it into an
actual School Newspaper putting their own creative spin on
the format and contents.
7 Brule Street, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia B3A 4G2
Tel: 902-464-2408
www:[email protected]
April 22 – AM school based PD
PM Parent/Teacher Interviews 1:00-3:00PM
and 5:00-7:00PM
April 23 – Art Show @ Darkside Café 3:00PM
April 24 – Band trip to Truro
April 30 – Mini We Day
May 6, 13, 20, 27 – Grade 7 Swim
May 12 – Grade 8 Trip – Shubenacadie Wild
Life Park
May 16 – Victoria Day (no classes)
May 20 – 5:30PM SAC Meeting
May 28 – Grade 9 Trip – Atlantic Play Land
May 29 – Grade 6 orientation
June 2 – 9:30-10:30AM Grade 6 Parent
Orientation Breakfast
June 2 – Night of the Arts
June 5 – Spring Fling
June 8 – Grade 7 Immunizations
June 23 – Year End Events
June 26, 29 – Assessment & Evaluation (no
classes)
June 30 – Last Day of School
John Martin Junior High School
JUNIOR HIGH ACADEMIC SUPPORT PILOT
There are still spaces open for students requiring extra help/tutoring in English Language Arts and/or
Mathematics. The BEA Junior High Academic Support Pilot is offered after school Mondays and
Wednesdays 3:00pm – 5:00pm by qualified ELA teacher Ms. McKenna and Math tutor Mr. Ajagbe.
Students who wish to improve their achievement in these subject areas are urged to attend.
LONG RANGE OUTLOOK
Nova Scotia school boards are required to share information about their schools, and their education
programs and services in a document called the Long-Range Outlook (Outlook). The purpose of the
Outlook is to help school boards and school communities have more informed discussions about the
future of their schools, and the programs and services they offer. School boards have until April 30,
2015 to complete this document and post it on their website for public feedback. For more information,
visit the Halifax Regional School Board website at:
http://www.hrsb.ca//about-hrsb/operations-services/long-range-outlook .
GETTING TO GREAT SURVEY
Welcome to another year of Getting to Great, Halifax Regional School Board’s continuous school
improvement survey. The purpose of this letter is to provide you with some details and information on
why completion of this survey is so important to the success of students within our board.
The Getting to Great survey provides an opportunity for students in grades 4-12, all parents/guardians,
and all teachers to share information that will help us improve schools. We are on a mission to make
every school a great school, but we cannot get to great without you. Your voluntary participation in this
survey will help us to identify the strengths and areas for growth at our school. This will enable us to
enhance the opportunities we provide for students to learn. Your input is valuable in helping us make
improvements that will directly impact your child’s learning and school experience.
The online survey is available from April 20th, 2015. Please visit the website: http://survey.hrsb.ns.ca
select John Martin to start the survey. You are welcome to complete a survey for each of your children
attending our school. Please remember, all survey information is anonymous and is not used to
evaluate individuals. At the end of the survey, you will find space to make any additional comments you
wish to share with us anonymously.
Thank you for your participation; your input is very important to us!
John Martin Junior High School
WE ACT
Three years ago John Martin got involved with Free the Children, a global organization enabling youth
to engage and actively participate social issues. If schools contribute throughout the year, they are
given We Day tickets.
We Day is an inspirational event where youth are rewarded for their hard work, motivation, and actions
that make a difference in the world. Unfortunately, John Martin is only given 25 tickets each year. That
leaves over 150 students unable to experience We Day. That is why a small group of students who are
members of the “We Act” group have decided to host their very own Mini We Day. This will allow
everyone in the school, the opportunity to have a similar experience of what it is like to attend the actual
event. The audience will be entertained with student performers, listen to the guest speakers and hear
stories about individuals whose actions made a difference both globally and locally.
As a member of the We Act group, I know that the most important thing to us is that everyone leaves at
the end of the day both happy and inspired! Our Mini We Day will take place April 30th.
Written by Cheyenne Hardy, assisted by Corey Saunders (Student Writers)
GUEST SPEAKERS AND PRESENTATIONS
We have had the following guest presenters during the months of March and April:
• Sgt. Craig Smith - responsible for Community Policing, Victim Services and Crime Prevention
for Halifax District RCMP, site manager of Cole Harbour detachment and well known author on
the subjects of African Nova Scotian history, culture and racism.
• The Shaw Family - living abroad on the SV Fluenta. Local Family selling their home and sailing
around the world experiencing culture.
• Ms. Cynthia Hellesoe – Social Studies teacher at, Graham Creighton Junior High and inventor
of the Self Esteem Game.
• Laing House - a peer support organization for youth with mental illness where members can
embrace their unique gifts and find their way in a caring and nurturing environment. They share
their stories of hope and success in the midst of despair.
• Grade 12 mentoring students will be giving a presentation on Alcohol.
• Neptune Theatre presentation of “Selfie”.
• Emily Pelley PhD Candidate, the Romeo Dallaire Child Soldier Initiative (coming May 5).
ART SHOW
John Martin Junior High students will participate in an Art show at Dartmouth’s Darkside café on
Windmill Road Dartmouth April 23rd at 3:30PM. Students have been working on art pieces derived from
topics in the news and making personal connections in their Art.
John Martin Junior High School
FUNDRAISING AND DONATIONS
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We Day Committee We Are Silent Campaign collected $274.00
Student leadership March fundraiser collected $278.60 towards Spring Fling expenses.
Prom Committee presently have tickets on sale for a Coupon Gift basket (valued at $300.00)
tickets will be on sale during Parent/Teacher this Wednesday
We received a donation of $250.00 towards our Spring Fling from Darren Fisher.
We received a $450 food and nutrition grant to support our Family Studies food garden initiative.
Over the course of the school year Sobeys Wyse Road has given a total of $750 in donations in
total towards the John Martin Junior High Breakfast Program.
SPORTS
JMJH finished off an outstanding season by making the playoffs in the boys basketball "A" league for
the first time in many years. The strong play and character of the team caught the eye of many coaches
and the team was invited to participate in an elite tournament playing the best schools in the province.
The boys took part in a shoot-a-thon fundraiser to prepare for next year where they hit 1500 baskets in
less than 2 hours. Fantastic job boys!! The JMJH Girls showed heart and sportsmanship on the court
and played their best season in years. Their league’s season was cut short due to number of snow
storms on their scheduled game days. We are looking forward to having another strong team next year.
Track and field will begin training for next month's meet at Beazley field on May 21st and 22nd. Magic
softball will also be starting up this month. Students are encouraged to come out and enjoy getting
involved in school sport! Congrats to Terrell and Kennedy on being selected to attend the Annual
NSSAF Celebration of School Sport Banquet at the World Trade and Convention Center on May 1st.
Terrell and Kennedy will enjoy an afternoon with other student athletes from around the province who
have also shown outstanding positive participation and dedication to school sport.
ACTION ZONE!!!
Our After School Physical Activity Grant programs continue under the leadership of coordinator Robyn
Gorman. Most recent activities have included yoga, breakdance Ping-Pong and cheerleading. Within
the next month we hope to have a trip to Titans Gymnastics & Trampoline Club and Laser Tag.
Students should listen for announcements so they don’t miss out on these great opportunities.
Activities usually take place Wednesdays and Thursdays each week.
John Martin Junior High School
LUNCHTIME CLUBS
Guitar Club: Fridays, music room
Games Club: Thursdays, Room 210
Drama Club: Fridays, Games Room
Chess Club: Chess Club
We Day/We Act: Tuesdays, Art Room
Book Club: Wednesdays, Room 204
COMMUNITY EVENTS
ABENAKI AQUATIC CLUB EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION: SUNDAY, APRIL 19 (1PM-5PM) @ IONA
CHURCH (90 LUCIEN DRIVE-WOODLAWN)**please visit 'www.abenakiclub.org' for all registration
dates, membership & registration information**
SuperNova’s Hands on science Camp for ages 5 – 18. Register online www.SuperNOVA.dal.ca or call
902-494-6220.
“The Take Action Society” and Clean Foundation invite you to a public litter clean-up Dartmouth North
on Saturday May 9th, 11:00am – 2:00pm (Rain date May 10th) starting at Harbour View Elementary
School 25 Alfred St. Dartmouth.
John Martin Junior High School
GRADE NINE PROM COMMITTEE IS SELLING
TICKETS TO RAISE MONEY FOR YEAR END
DINNER/DANCE
TICKETS AVAILABLE AT SCHOOL
APRIL 23, 2015 UNTIL APRIL 30, 2015
TICKETS
$2.00 EACH
$5.00 FOR 3
$7.00 FOR 5
1ST PRIZE – BASKET OF GIFT CARDS
(INCLUDING: SPORTSPLEX MEMBERSHIP, SOBEYS, TIM HORTONS,
ALEXANDRA’S PIZZA, MIC-MAC MALL, SUBWAY, iTUNES, DOLLARAMA
AND CINEPLEX)
2ND PRIZE - $25 CANDY BASKET