Sir John A Macdonald Junior High School

Sir John A Macdonald Junior High School (SJAM) is a middle school in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It was founded in 1967 and named after the first prime minister of Canada Sir John Alexander Macdonald. [ [http://www.cbe.ab.ca/schools/view.asp?id=59 School Profiles: Sir John A. Macdonald School] ]

Community

SJAM has a diverse community and is designated for several different areas of Calgary. The school is highly charitable with most of its events. It is said that almost half or more of their proceeds go back to the community and back to the school.cn|date=December 2007SJAM is involved with community programs including UNICEF, the Terry Fox Run, local/international fundraising and volunteering, "Circle of Courage", "Lions Quest", "Safe and Caring Schools", Peer Mediation, Conflict Resolution, "In My World", "Roots of Empathy", and the "Virtues Program". [ [http://schools.cbe.ab.ca/b652/pdf/june.pdf School newsletter June 2007] ]

Facilities

In 2000 the School facility evaluation project found that the buildings in the school were in need of major renovation. [ [http://www.infratrans.gov.ab.ca/INFTRA_Content/docType354/production/Sir-John-A-Macdonald-cal-sum.pdf School Facility Evaluation Project] ]

Health and nutrition

A school survey in 2001 revealed that the students were making their nutrition break into a junk food break. The school worked to remove food with poor nutritional value and instituted "Fitness Fridays" into their physical education program. [ [http://www.achsc.org/download/Winter2002.pdf ACHSC Newsletter] from The Alberta coalition for Healthy School Communities, Winter 2002] Starting in 2005 the school participated in a Calgary region health program for schools, designed to show the importance of proper diet and an active lifestyle to students. [ [http://www.canada.com/globaltv/calgary/healthbeat/story.html?id=987c496b-05d2-48d9-9d1c-bee94231cba8 Students thrive in some of Calgary's healthiest schools] by Michelle Schurman, Global Calgary] The school even placed timers on their vending machines so that only healthy food was available during the mornings. [ [http://www.crha-health.ab.ca/hecomm/nal/ProgramsServices/SchoolNutritionProgram/2005-Introduction.pdf Feed the Future: 2005] School Nutrition Advisory Coalition. Feeding The Future:School Nutrition Handbook p.9] [cite news |first=Andrea |last=Radke |title=Smart eating makes grade |url=http://www.calgarysun.com/perl-bin/niveau2.cgi?s=Lifestyles&p=93390.html&a=1&supress=1 |publisher=Calgary Sun |date=2005-03-22 |accessdate=2007-12-23 |archiveurl=http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:9x_jL8RyVOYJ:www.calgarysun.com/perl-bin/niveau2.cgi%3Fs%3DLifestyles%26p%3D93390.html%26a%3D1%26supress%3D1 |archivedate=2007-12-04 ]

The group "Action on Smoking and Health" visited the school in 2006 to warn the students about the dangers of smoking. There was concern about the visibility of tobacco displays for children, which they called Powerwall advertising. [ [http://www.canada.com/topics/bodyandhealth/story.html?id=970e545e-f1d9-4aba-b0e0-f931ff640e18 "Powerwall" advertising of cigarettes targets teens] by Julia Johnston, CanWest News Service, April 23, 2006]

Controversy

In 2007 William Seto, an instructor at SJAM, was charged with sexual assault on a student at a previous school. The instructor was suspended when the charges were brought. [ [http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/2007/10/26/teacher-charge.html Calgary teacher charged with sexual assault] CBC, October 27, 2007] ["Rash of sex abuse cases not a trend: experts" by Sarah McGinnis and Eva Fergusson, Calgary Herald, November 5, 2007] ["Abuse charge highlights hiring policies" by Sarah McGinnis, Calgary Herald, October 27, 2007]

References

External links

* [http://schools.cbe.ab.ca/b652/default.htm Official site]