Please distribute the letter below to your Grade 6 students that are coming to SJAM next year. We have also attached a word document if that is easier for you to organize the communication.
Thanks, take care and be safe!
Darren, Andrea and Cat
Hello future SJAMMER Families,
We would like to take this opportunity to introduce ourselves. Sir John A MacDonald is a unique and culturally diverse Gr. 7-9 learning community. Our school family consists of four programs. They are: Community Program, Adapted Learning Program, Paced Learning Program, and TASC Program.
Below we have provided information that will be presented in the Virtual Open House. Join SJAM’s Virtual Open House on May 6th at 5:00 if you would like further information. To obtain the link please email Ms. Byrne at albyrne@cbe.ab.ca or Ms. Gammell at crgammell@cbe.ab.ca with the subject title “Grade 7 Open House”. A link will be sent to parents an hour before the meeting begins.
The 2020-2021 school year certainly looks different than other years since we are fighting a global pandemic. Measures are in place to ensure staff and students’ safety and well-being, including students remaining in the same cohort throughout the day. Our complementary courses, such as Art, Music, Drama and the Career and Technology classes, are offered within each cohort as well. Next year may be similar depending on the safety precautions required, or we may have greater flexibility and less need for strict cohort adherence, with the ability for students to change classes and be with different people in their complementary courses.
Experiential learning is important at SJAM. During a typical year, students have opportunities to take part in many field trips including:
Improving student achievement and school culture by setting high expectations for students’ academic success and character development is a strong focus of our school.
Complementary Courses:
Students will have the opportunity to select their top 6 choices. The students will be selecting their courses through PowerSchool. Course descriptions are included below along with instructions on how to select the complementary courses when the link turns live on Friday May 7th. The Link for complementary selections will be open from Friday, May 7th to Friday, May 14th.
2021-2022 Sir John A. Macdonald Grade 7 Option Course Descriptions
Food Basics
Students learn safe and sanitary food handling procedures, equipment care, comprehension of recipes and the importance of efficient work habits.
Students will discover basic recipes with a focus on breakfast foods and the different food groups. Grade sevens will also prepare some light snacks and baking. Please Note: All basic materials and supplies are covered by the Food Basics Course Fee of $25.
Band
Band at SJAM involves learning to play a musical instrument in a Concert Band setting! Music students learn about the elements of music by performing a variety of musical genres (pop, rock, classical, jazz), through playing woodwind, brass and percussion instruments. Annual activities that students will enjoy performing in winter and spring concerts, a field trip to hear the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, performing for elementary students and band camp! Please Note: All basic materials and supplies are covered by the Band Course Fee of $15. There is also a $100 instrument rental fee.
Construction and Fabrication
The Construction and Fabrication program at Sir John A. Macdonald school, provides students the opportunity to work with their hands to design and construct objects of personal interest. Students will work independently and cooperatively to apply elements of design, experiment with different materials (wood, metal and plastics), and explore various woodworking and metalworking techniques.
After completing a mandatory machine and hand tool safety unit, students will work for the remainder of the term on their individual creations. Students will design and construct personalize solutions to specific design challenges. They will learn about the construction process and how to plan and build projects in a logical and sequential fashion.
As students progress in the course, they will be challenged to take on more complex projects that will further challenge their abilities and develop their technical skills. The ultimate goal for CTF - Construction and Fabrication course, is to challenge students to focus on their interest in designing and creating, develop technical skills related to those areas of interest, and expose them to careers in the fields of Construction and Fabrication.
Please Note: All basic materials and supplies are covered by the Construction Course Fee of $25. Additional fees may be required if students wish to complete advanced projects, use exotic hardwoods, or require specialized materials.
Computer Technologies- Creative Apps
Working independently and in groups, students will experience the creative process through project-based assignments. Students will utilize interesting and relevant technology as a means to meet the challenge of using computer applications and understanding network processes to create products and develop skills applicable to everyday and/or workplace practices. This includes typing skills, creating and formatting spreadsheets, manipulating photos, making presentations, and more, through engaging projects like creating a personal class schedule, Photoshopping a self image, and producing a narrated video on a famous Canadian.
Drama and Cinematic Theater
The drama program at SJAM fosters a positive self-concept in students by encouraging them with a wide variety of creative and expressive opportunities. The basic skills of concentration, discipline, teamwork, communications and self-esteem are established in this introductory year. Classes are designed to focus on individual improvement in the disciplines of movement, voice, character development, scene study and structure. Further venture into tech, improvisation, and minimal script work is also developed within the course. The basic skills of performing and audience awareness are explored in this hands-on, creative course.
Visual Art
Visual Art will focus on creating Art using various 2D and 3D materials and processes. The SJAM Art course will allow for a deeper understanding and focus on drawing processes. Students will also have the opportunity to explore painting, using either acrylic or watercolor paint. An introduction to Printmaking will also teach you about how to make different types of prints. Throughout the second half of the course students will have the opportunity for a more in-depth exploration of sculpture, using various materials such as clay, wire, plaster, and fiber art. Art is all about experimenting; please don’t feel like you need to have “artistic talent” or experience in order to take Art! Please Note: All basic materials and supplies are covered by the Art Course Fee of $20.
Outdoor Education
Sir John A. MacDonald’s Environmental Education and Outdoor Pursuits course is designed with a natural progression of knowledge, skills, and activities to promote a smooth transition from one level to the next.
SJAM’s objectives for the Environmental Education and Outdoor Pursuits programs are:
- to facilitate students in developing the necessary knowledge and skills for safe and responsible enjoyment of the outdoors,
- to create a greater awareness and appreciation of our environment,
- to introduce students to a variety of outdoor activities in hopes to encourage them to be active in exploring different environments through active living,
- to develop and enhance personal life skills including communication, co-operation, group work, leadership, trust, decision making, and problem solving.
Design Studies
“Students are the artists, scientists, thinkers, innovators and leaders of the future. They will be tasked with solving the problems of today, while imagining and creating a new tomorrow” (Alberta Education, 2016). In this course, students will have opportunities to explore the design thinking process, from conception through development. They will be presented with various challenges and problems to solve, through the utilization of a variety of hands-on materials such as LEGO, Little Bits, sewing machines, maker space materials, etc. Students will have the opportunity to participate in a SAIT field trip, connecting their interests and passions to potential careers. This course is for the student who enjoys solving logic problems, building challenges, escape room scenarios and more.
Leadership
This exciting course will prepare you to successfully work with people and help you to make a positive impact in your school and home community. The course blends aspects of community volunteerism, mentorship, and leadership into one course that:
- Encourages you to be a leader at SJAM! As part of this course you will engage in pitching ideas for spirit days and planning for dances, promoting our school events and executing them! Be prepared to get involved!
- Examines the role of volunteers in a community and performs as volunteers themselves!
- Supports learning about the characteristics of positive mentoring relationships in their personal lives and society. Students will prepare to engage in a mentoring relationship which could include things like reading buddies or serving as mentors to incoming grade 6 students
- Explore basic principles of leadership and create a plan for personal growth- Who do you want to be!?
Film Studies
The purpose of this course will be to further students’ analytical, literacy and communication skills, through the use of film. In addition to watching a number of films in this course, students will be able to demonstrate their learning in a variety of ways: participation in both small and large group discussions, written personal responses as well as other projects related to the films we study. This course is ideal for students who enjoy watching a variety of movies, who want to look deeper into the plot lines of a film and who would enjoy discussion, debate about some of their favourite characters!
2021-2022 Sir John A. Macdonald Grade 7 Option Course Registration
Go to the MyCBE/Powerschool website https://sis.cbe.ab.ca/public/home.html
This link will be open from 5pm on May 7th to noon on May 14th.
Log in with either your child’s student credentials or your parent credentials (if you’ve set it up).
Click on the CLASS REGISTRATION section on the left under Navigation.
A page for Class Registration will load. It will have some brief instructions you should make note of. Otherwise, the only thing you need to select is in the Grade 7 Options row. Click on the edit button (pencil icon) found on the far right of the row (it will have an ! icon beside it because it is incomplete at this time).
A window will open and give you the options available for selection. It will also provide you with descriptions for each course, which you can also find on the back of this sheet. Select your 6 choices by clicking the checkbox matching the desired option. When completed, click OKAY.
Disclaimer: You are not guaranteed 4 of the 6 options you pick, but we will do our best to ensure you get 4 of them. Please note, that there is a possibility that you get an option you did not select in place of one you did, due to class availability. Classes are dependent on enrollment numbers.
If you want Band, make sure you select Band, in which case it will be our priority to place you in it. You will then pick 5 other options and we will do our best to give you 2 of them.
If you did not select 6 choices, you will still see the ! icon and will not be able to submit. Please click the edit button to fully complete your selection.
If you selected 6 choices correctly, you will see a checkmark icon. You are now able to click SUBMIT.
It will then take you to a page that confirms your course requests. This does not confirm what options you will actually end up with. You are able to change your course requests as many times as you like during the dates we have class registration for options open. Once it closes, you will only have access to the course requests confirmation page when you navigate to the CLASS REGISTRATION section. This is how you can confirm your selections anytime afterwards.
Reminder: Class registration for Grade 7 options is open from 5pm on May 7th to noon on May 14th.
