Dear Mustang Families:  

Please forward this weekly message to your child's personal email! We have also started posting these messages on our website. 

PATs continue this week for Grade 9 learners.  Please see schedule below.  If your child is absent/late, Alberta Education expects us to ensure the exam is still written.  Thank you for encouraging your child to be on time for these assessments.

Please have your child look through all the lost and found to claim any belongings. This includes, clothes, shoes, binders, ear buds, jewelry, phones, house keys, eyeglasses, etc.  Items not claimed by the end of Thursday, June 27 will be donated or recycled.  This includes items left in hall lockers and gym lockers. Locker clean-out will take place on Friday (11:00 – 12:00 pm) - students are encouraged to gradually take personal items home this week. 

On Friday June 21, CN Gunn, John Diefenbaker High School, Sir John A. Macdonald and the City of Calgary are hosting a community celebration for National Indigenous Day from 1:00 – 3:00 pm at the Infinity Garden. All families are encouraged to join us! Community Celebration Poster 

This past week, Grade 7 and 8 students also enjoyed a day focusing on indigenous ways of knowing. The event was possible due to the generous donation of $5,000 from Education Matters. Students learned from Kyle Logan Snow, Gina One Spot, Pearl White Quills, Shauna from Experience Metis, Joey Big Snake, and Tyson and Aisha from Indigesteam. This rich day of learning was organized by Ms. Bethany, our Indigenous Education Strategist. 

Thank you to our SJAM School Council for surprising staff with tasty treats at our June Staff Meeting.   They also joined JDHS’s School Council in funding the highly popular petting zoo for students this past Thursday at lunch. We value and appreciate the ongoing leadership from our dedicated parents: Ms. Llewellyn, Ms. Wood, Ms. Razzo, Ms. Payne and Ms. Lewis-Wilcox. 

Further support for our Grade 9 Farewell fundraising efforts was led by Olivia G. and Taylor K. with a Texas Donut sale. We extend gratitude to Ms. Kezema who picked up many, many, many boxes of donuts to support this school event.  

A shout out to Jacky L. (91) who placed 35th in a recent U of C math contest and in the top 25 of the University of Waterloo’s Fryer Math Contest. Congratulations on your outstanding accomplishment Jacky - we are very proud of you! 

Parent Learning Session: This YouTube episode features Dr. Jonathan Haidt, Ph.D., professor of social psychology at New York University and bestselling author on how technology and culture impact the psychology and health of kids, teens, and adults. The session discusses the dramatic rise of suicide, depression, and anxiety from replacing a play-based childhood with smartphones, social media, and video games.   He explains how a screen-filled childhood leads to challenges in psychological development that negatively impact learning, resilience, identity, cooperation, and conflict resolution — all of which are crucial skills for future adult relationships and career success. The episode also discusses how phones and social media impact boys and girls differently and the underlying neurobiological mechanisms of how smartphones alter basic brain plasticity and function.   

Athletics Update

Mr. Jones (sdjones@cbe.ab.ca)  

Track and Field Athletes and Parents:  Our track meet is Monday June 17.  

We are still missing some risk forms for the track meet that have not been handed in. Athletes will not be allowed to attend the event without documentation signed by parents / caregivers.  

  • Please pack more clothes than you think you will need. As of this writing, the overnight low is projected to be 3 degrees which means the morning could be cool. Dressing in layers is vital for both athletic performance and comfort in between events. It is a LONG day if athletes get cold.  
  • Athletes are encouraged to bring their own food and water. Food access is limited and not ideal for athletic performance.  
  • Athletes that are going early because of the early track events, please note that Mr. O’Lain will be at Foothills Athletic Park by 7am.  
  • All athletes are welcome to take the buses back to SJAM at the end of the day. Athletes are asked to notify teachers/coaches if they are being picked up from the track and NOT going on the bus back to SJAM.  
  • We look forward to hopefully a dry and exciting day of athletic competition.  

Leadership Update

Ms. Hudson and Ms. Ralph (nahudson@cbe.ab.ca; ledawson@cbe.ab.ca)  

Important June Dates: 

  • June 24 – Alex Munro fieldtrip – some of our grade 8s are off to volunteer at Alex Munro sports day.  We are always proud to mentor these awesome younger students  
  • June 25 – Culture Day – a collaboration with Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.  Students are invited and encouraged to wear cultural outfits. Students who have asked to perform, please see Mrs. Hudson at lunch or after school on Monday, June 17.  
  • June 26 – Grade 9 farewell.  There is no cost to families.
    Grade 9 Farewell June 26

Mustang of the Week

Students would like to formally recognize Mr. Todd Shea as the Mustang of the Week. He has taught at SJAM for the last 20 years, while making significant contributions to our school community. Mr. Shea’s shop is amongst the best in the CBE due to the pride he has in his instructional space. Extra hours have also been invested as a Cross-Country Coach, creating the skateboard rack in the main office, designing props for drama performances, and building cabinets. As a teacher, Mr. Shea helps learners achieve their goals while nurturing excitement for a career in the trades. As a master tradesman in woodworking, welding, metal and bending plastic, student projects are exemplary. Students congratulate Mr. Shea on his upcoming retirement.

Community Events 

  • ‘Youthful Saturday’: June 22 – Free event for 12-17 year olds at Thornhill Aquatic and Recreation Center from 1:00 – 3:00 pm. Please see poster 
  • Dance Scholarships for free: please see link for full details. 

Upcoming SJAM events:  

Ongoing:  

  • Parent Society Fun Lunches - lunch almost every Wednesday; digital order needs to be in by the prior Friday.  
  • School Clubs.  
  • School fees: past due. 

Monday June 17:  SJAM Track and Field Meet  

Tuesday June 18:  PAT: Math Part B (9-10:20 am, max time 11:40)  

Wednesday June 19:  PAT: Social Studies (9-10:20 am, max time 11:40)  

Thursday June 20:    

  • PAT: Science (9-10:15 am, max time – 11:30 am)  
  • Soup Sisters  last one of the year! 

Friday June 21:   

Monday June 24:  Grade 9 Field Trip – Moh-kin-stsis and the Zoo  

Tuesday June 25:    

  • Culture Day  
  • Yearbook Distribution:  afternoon  

Wednesday June 26:  Grade 9 Farewell – Short Program and Grade 9 Dance  

  • Doors open at 5:40 pm; Program at 6:00 pm; Evening ends at 9:00 pm  

Thursday June 27:  Year End Assembly – students dismissed at the nutrition break (10:52 am) 

Back to School: First day back in the fall – Thursday August 29  

Together we make a difference!