Welcome to the 2018 – 2019 School Year!

Parents, Caregivers and Students,

We hope that you’ve had a restful summer and are ready for a great year of learning together!

Fast facts about MJ:

• We are a Grade 1 to Grade 8 French Immersion School with 276 students.
• Our school day begins at 8:50 am and ends at 3:10 pm and features a Balanced Day schedule.  
• There are two nutrition breaks. First nutrition break is 10:30 am – 11:10 am and second nutrition break is 12:50 pm – 1:30 pm.  Lunches are eaten in classrooms.

Announcing
We extend a warm welcome to our new staff members:  Mlle Cugino, M Jouini, Ms Slater, Mme Letchford, M Strong, Mme Strong, Mme Runco-Falco, Mme Cantwell.  For a 2018 – 2019 MJ staff list, please visit the school website – https://www.hwdsb.on.ca/michaellejean/staff/

A reminder:  Our playground continues to be closed due to the construction and is fenced off for safety.  Please refer to this letter: Construction Update for École Élémentaire Michaëlle Jean Families that was posted on our website on August 27, 2018.

First Day Entry & Classes
Staff supervision begins at 8:35 am.  Students will be greeted as the busses arrive and escorted to the south side of the school for entry at 8:50 am by the double doors near the Learning Commons.  See the map: here.  Parents, please say goodbye to your child on the playground.

Upon entry through the doors, staff will direct students to these locations by grade:

• Grade 1 students will meet in the Learning Commons carpet area
• Grade 3/4 students will meet in the Learning Commons floor area
• Grade 2, 5,6,7 & 8 students will meet in the gym

Class lists are posted on the walls, students will find their name on the list and their teacher will be close by. Staff will guide & help students in the both area to find their teacher and class.  

What to Bring
To make your child’s school experience the best it can be, please plan to have your child bring:

• a nutritious, nut-free lunch that can be easily divide between our two nutrition break times.  Please note that students do not have access to a microwave.
• indoor shoes that can be used for students for phys ed and classroom activities.  

Recommendation:  Label all of your child’s possessions and clothing clearly to avoid items being lost forever.

Check your child’s backpack!
Look for a communication from your child’s homeroom teacher!
Find the forms for review and completion:

• Parent Guardian Consent Form
• Student Emergency Medical / Contact Information Form
• Media Consent Form
• Emergency School Closure Arrangements – Read, select option for emergency closure and sign.

These forms are very important as they ensure parental consents, accurate data and provide direction to us re: emergency closure procedures.  We appreciate your time in completing and returning them this week to your child’s homeroom teacher.

Please RETURN completed forms by Friday September 7, 2018 to your child’s homeroom teacher.

For your reference coming home:
Insure My Kids Pamphlet – an option to purchase insurance for your child.

Safe Arrival & Attendance
All absences from school must be justified by parents/caregivers. Parents / Caregivers must keep the school informed of any absences, lates, or early dismissals to school by either a phone call or a note delivered to the office.

Absences and Lates? Call us at 905.692.5436 before 8:45 am. The line is open 24 hours.

When reporting an absence by phone or note, please include: your name and relationship to the student, student name and homeroom class, reason for absence and late arrival.

NOTE:  All unexplained absences will result in an automated call home.

The First Month at  MJ, students and staff will be:

• spending time getting to know each other in many different ways
• co-constructing together classroom agreements and norms to support how learning and collaboration will happen in our learning spaces
• sharing and establishing classroom and school-wide routines that support creating a safe, nurturing and orderly environment
• discussing and understanding the MJ Student Code of Conduct

An update on how it is going will be shared on the MJ website alongside with teacher communications and newsletters as the first month of school unfolds.

Let’s Stay Connected at MJ!  Communication is key!

In the office, you will find Mrs.Osmond and Mme Neale.
Need to reach the office?  Phone: 905.692.5436 (voicemail 24/7)  E-Mail: [email protected]

Subscribe to the Michaelle Jean website.   Links go directly to your e-mail inbox!

Using your e-mail address https://www.hwdsb.on.ca/michaellejean/subscribe/

You will then receive a notification via e-mail with a link to each news item that has been posted.

Follow us on Twitter: @EcoleMJ_HWDSB
Short bursts of information, reminders and happenings are shared via our school twitter account.

Important Dates:
School Council Meeting – Thursday September 20th, 2018 – 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Meet the Staff  – Thurday. Sept. 27, 2017 at 5:30  pm – 7:00 pIf you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the school at 905.692.5436 or e-mail me at [email protected].

BUS DRIVER SHORTAGE: We have been informed of a bus driver shortage. We anticipate a number of school bus delays which means your child may be up to an hour late getting home. Please be patient as transportation department works through this during the month of September.  We have 3 buses picking up students daily. If you have any transportation concerns, please contact transportation directly, as we will unlikely have any information for you regarding this problem. Please subscribe to Hamilton Wentworth Student Transportation Services  for timely updates on your child’s bus.  Or call 905 523 2318.

Looking forward to meeting everyone, especially the students!

Exciting times ahead.

Mme Neale
Principal