Happy New Year Mustang Families: 

We are excited to welcome students back to school tomorrow morning.  The weather forecast is predicting an outside lunch for our first week back.  If your child needs a warm winter coat, we do have some in Student Services.  Ms. Billeck, Ms. Bethany, Mr. Rachid, Mr. Jensen or Ms. Hornby can discreetly get your child one.  If students would like to stay inside at lunchtime, they are encouraged to join Homework Hotel in the Learning Commons or one of SJAM’s clubs.   Outdoor lunches are common to support an outside movement break unless the temperature (including wind chill) is lower than minus 20 degrees Celsius. 

Nation's Vision is pleased to provide free portable eye exams at Sir John A. Macdonald School! This district/board-approved program and has been operating since 2019.  During the 2023/2024 school year, Nation’s Vision provided free portable eye exams to over 5,000 students across 48 schools in the CSSD and CBE. These exams have significantly improved access to essential eyecare services, improved eyecare health literacy, and increased the number of students wearing glasses throughout the school district.  On Wednesday January 8 and Thursday January 9, there will be a 10-minute presentation to every homeroom.  Families are welcome to reach out to Mr. Jensen directly (lgjensen@cbe.ab.ca) with family specific questions because he is leading this initiative. 

Prior to the holidays, all Mustang students were encouraged to enter a draw for a $25.00 gift card.  Students have until 11:59 pm on January 10th to create PowerPoint slides illustrating ‘Dates of Significance’. Note: the 'Dates of Significance' were compiled by the CBE - Dates of Significance | Calendars | Registration | Calgary Board of Education.  On January 1, students were reminded to go to the SJAM D2L shell to enter the draw: 

  • In D2L students will go to Assignments and click on the link "Dates of Significance Contest" which will take you to a Google Doc with the contest details.    
  • Choose one of the “Dates of Significance” from the list.   
  • Next, click on the "Dates of Significance Contest Google Slide Template". It will prompt you to make a copy. Design the slide for your chosen "date of significance" and when you are finished, upload your Google Slide to the “Assignments” folder in SJAM Connections D2L.   

If you have any questions, please email Ms. Kwan (rskwan@cbe.ab.ca) or Ms. Hornby (mahornby@cbe.ab.ca). 

December Mustangs of the Week

Carter S. (9-4), Ruby B. (7-5) and Yiting Z. (8-1) were recognized as the Mustangs of the Week for the month of December.  They relentlessly enhance Mustang culture by offering ongoing support to school events and their classmates while striving for academic excellence in the classroom.  Students were recognized on our school TVs with a PowerPoint slide documenting their contributions.  Congratulations Carter, Ruby and Yiting! 

Athletics:  Mr. Jones 

Volleyball will be starting tomorrow (Monday January 6).  Please see the tryout/practice schedule for the first 3 ½ weeks.  Items to note: 

  • Morning practices will run from 7am-8am. 
  • Afternoon practices will likely run from 3pm – 4:30pm.  The number of students trying out could impact this end time.  
  • Should a grade 8 student wish to try out for the Sr team, they are welcome to do so.  They may be asked to also attend Jr tryouts when possible.   

To know if your family’s personal schedule (i.e. your child’s other extracurricular activities) conflict with the upcoming season, here is the league schedule.   

We encourage all parents to encourage their children to take a healthy risk and come out to Volleyball.  It is a great game that they could play for years and years to come.   

Community Events 

Wednesday January 15 (6 – 8 pm):  Senior’s Financial Literacy and Wellness Workshop presented by Carya.  City of Calgary Thornhill Office.  (6617 Center Street NW – enter through Thornhill Family Dayhome). Registration required:  chaniece.favell@calgary.ca. 

Tuesday January 21 (5:30 – 8:30 pm):  Basic Food Safety Course (Free – suitable for Ages 13 and up).  Georgina Thomson Building (772 Northmount Drive NW).  Registration required:  chaniece.favell@calgary.ca. 

School Calendar 

Ongoing:   

  • Homework Hotel – Monday to Thursday (your child can stay indoors at lunchtime)! 
  • YMCA Prairie Chickens for Indigenous students:  October 8 to June 6:  every Tuesday and Thursday afterschool at SJAM – contact is Jimmy (YMCA) and Ms. Bethany. Free. 
  • City of Calgary – Calgary Afterschool at Thornhill Aquatic and Rec Center:  Contact is Kirsten Pilger: kpilger@calgary.ca; Tuesday and Thursday afterschool (5:00 – 6:00 pm); September 17 – June 12.  Free.  
  • Chinese Academy:  every Saturday at SJAM 
  • Calgary Bridge Foundation for Youth (new Canadians) free afterschool program on Monday at SJAM.  Contact:  Sevim Kocak - SKocak@cbfy.ca  

January 6, 2025:  First day of classes after Winter Break 

January 8 and 9:  Nation's Vision mini presentations to homerooms

Friday January 10: CBE Dates of Significance Contest:  (https://d2l.cbe.ab.ca/d2l/loginh/).  For every entry received, students have their name entered in a draw for a $25.00 gift card.   

Thursday January 16:  Gr 9 SJAM students visit John Diefenbaker High School (8:15 – 10:00 am) 

Tuesday January 21:  In person SJAM School Council Meeting (6:30 - 8:00 pm):  agenda will be sent the day of the meeting

Thursday January 23:  Crescent Heights High School Open House, including Spanish Bilingual Program 

Friday January 24:  Dance-A-Thon – more details to follow... 

Together We Make A Difference!