Dear Mustang Families: 

As our summer ends, we look forward to welcoming back your children for the 2024-25 school year.  We are proud to share welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environments is our grounding philosophy.  In our classes, we are also adding in a deeper understanding of empathy to help students and staff strengthen our school community.  As your child’s primary caregiver, you know them best.  Please view our relationship as a partnership as we work together to generate optimal learning conditions for your child.  

A few routines: 

  • A whole school weekly message is sent home every Sunday at noon.  
  • Student timetables: A great deal of time has been invested to provide students with their course requests.  It is impossible for students to get 100% of their top choices due to facility restraints and high demand in some classes.  Please help your child understand this. 
  • Over the summer, we had 18 new registrations; some students have also left the school creating openings in classes. 
  • Families will be able to see their child’s schedule starting on Thursday August 29.  Please make sure you look at semester one (August – January) and semester two (end of January – June) to see your child’s four complementary courses.  If there are ‘blanks’ in semester two, your child didn’t provide their course requests last year.  Administration will meet with your child later in the school year. 
  • Students are asked to please attend their assigned classes for the first two weeks.  We will see if there is room for changes after the initial start-up. 
  • School fees will be posted in mid-September.  Families will be notified when these can be accessed. 
  • We have new bell times: our start time is 2 minutes earlier than last year which results in our lunch being extended by 2 minutes. 
  • The best way to reach staff is through email.  If you aren’t getting a response, you are welcome to include: 
  • Ms. Hornby (Principal), Mr. Rachid (A – K), Mr. Jensen (L – Z) 

Back to School Information and School Supplies have been posted on the website for the summer.  You are welcome to review. 

This week (at-a-glance) 

If you prefer all of the details, please see this handout. 

Thursday August 29 

8:13 – 10:13 am: Grade 8 and 9 students only 

10:45 – 2:51 pm: Grade 7 students only 

  • Please have your child bring something to write with (pen, pencil) and a binder. 
  • All grades: Please join us in the main gym for an opening assembly. 
  • Students will sit in their homerooms. 
  • Homeroom teachers will be posted in the front foyer to support students. 
  • PowerSchool will also be available for students to check who their teachers are starting on Thursday August 29th.
  • Parents are asked to please stay outside. 
  • All Grades: Students will engage in homeroom for their schedules, lockers, school expectations, and to begin exploring ‘What is empathy?’ 
  • Additional time is spent with the Grade 7s to learn how to open and close a lock. 
  • Grade 7s will be provided with a light lunch: a hot dog (beef, halal, veggie), regular & gluten-free buns, a bag of chips and a bottle of water.  Students are welcome to bring additional food. 

Friday August 30:  regular bell schedule (8:13 – 11:58 am)  

Please note specialized classes (PLP and ALP) will attend full days on Thursday from 8:13 am –2:51 pm and Friday from 8:13 – 11:58 am 

Given your child may be experiencing some anxiety with the first day of school, this article might help.  We have intentionally created transitional support for 708 students as we begin our school year.

Mr. Rachid, Mr. Jensen and Ms. Hornby are very proud to lead Sir John A. Macdonald School.  We value and appreciate the support you provide to your children, as well as our staff, as we work in partnership to provide a safe and welcoming environment. 

Together We Make A Difference!