Welcome to the 2019 – 2020 School Year!

Bonjour et bonne année académique 2019 – 2020

Students, Parents and Caregivers,

As the summer comes to a close, we are excited to begin the 2019 – 2020 school year!  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 322 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.

2019 – 2020 École Élémentaire Michaëlle Jean Staff List:   https://www.hwdsb.on.ca/michaellejean/staff/

First Day Entry & Classes

Staff supervision begins at 8:35 am and will meet and greet busses directing students to our playground.  Playground supervision begins at 8:40 am.  

Transportation:  You should have received notification from Transportation in August, giving you a bus number, pick up and drop off times and bus stop location.  If you believe you are eligible but didn’t receive notification, please contact Transportation at hamiltonschoolbus.ca  or at 905.523.2318 . We encourage you to ensure your child knows their bus number information.  Transportation updates our lists throughout the first week of school, but you are the first to know specific busing information for your child. Please note that there may be transportation delays during start-up, your co-operation and understanding is greatly appreciated during this transition time.  To stay up to date with any delays or changes, bus student families are encouraged to create an account to receive updates: https://www.hamiltonschoolbus.ca/parents/default.aspx

A few key points to get you started:

First day entry:  Busses will be greeted by a staff member at the front of the school. Our grade 1 to 8 students will be directed from the bus to the playground.  The bell rings at 8:50 am.  Pylons will be set up indicating line numbers for each class. Classroom teachers will come out at 8:50 to greet their students at their line. For students who do not know their class assignment, a few staff members will be on the playground with class lists beginning at 8:40 a.m.  Once teachers have organized their line, they will take their classes into the school to begin the day. We do ask that parents and other well wishers remain outside the school so we can begin our school routines right away.

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:

• 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 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 13, 2019 to your child’s homeroom teacher.

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

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

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  Instagram:  @mjeanlions

Important Upcoming Dates:

School Council Elections  – Tuesday September 17th, 2019 – 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Photo Day – September 24th
Terry Fox Run – September 26
Meet the Staff – October 3rd at 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the school at 905.692.5436 or e-mail me at [email protected].
We look forward seeing everyone on the first day of school, especially our MJ Lions! Exciting times ahead.

Mme Neale, Principal