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Frank Roberts
Junior High School
Telephone: 834-8002 or 834-9847 www.fris.k12.nf.ca January 2011
END OF SEMESTER COURSES
Semester I will end on January 28. Semesterized courses are as follows: Grade 7 – Art/Music, Grade 8 – Home
Ec/Tech. Ed. and Grade 9 – Art/Tech. Ed. and Home Ec./Music. The alternate course will begin on Monday, January
31, ex. if your child in grade 7 is currently taking music they will switch to Art in semester 2. All French Immersion
students in grade 7 and 8 will switch from Santé to Religion. Grade 9 French Immersion students will switch from
Religion to Health. The marks received in these courses will be reflected in a course report sent home in February.
The marks will also be reported in the Term Two report card sent home on March 19.
SAFETY REMINDER – PARKING LOT
It has been brought to our attention that drivers are passing by school busses on the Foxtrap Access Road when
these busses have their flashing lights operating. This creates a major safety issue as small school children are
loading the school busses at this time.
This has occurred as drivers are entering the Frank Roberts Junior High parking lot at the start of the school day.
Please note that when the lights are flashing, you are not permitted to drive past the bus to enter the school parking
lot. Wait until after the lights have been turned off before driving past the bus to enter the parking lot. It is important
that we all work hard to ensure students’ safety.
In an effort to keep students and staff safe as they enter the school, parents are reminded to use the drop-off lane. If
it is necessary for you to wait and watch as your child enters the building, you are asked to park your car in the
parking spaces available at the end of the school nearest the basketball court. It is hoped that by doing this, we can
avoid the buildup of traffic entering the school parking lot in the morning and the eventual overflow of traffic onto the
Foxtrap Access Road.
FAMILY LITERACY DAY
Family Literacy Day takes place annually on January 27 to celebrate adults and children reading and learning
together, and to encourage Canadians to spend at least 15 minutes enjoying a learning activity as a family every day.
In 2011, Canadians will Play for Literacy! Playing games that encourage literacy and numeracy - such as board
games, card games and word games - is a great way for parents and children to practice their literacy skills and have
fun. On January 27, grab your family and play at home, attend a local event, or host an event in your community!
NEW STAFF/TEACHING INTERNS
This year we are fortunate to have three student interns from Memorial University with us. Mr. Allan Hicks is paired
with Mr. Mike Butler in the gymnasium and Mr. Thomas Sheppard in the tech. ed. Lab, Ms. Tiffany Hawco is paired
with Mme. Benson in 7-7 teaching Early and late French Immersion and Ms. Tracey Merrill is paired with Ms. Skinner
in 8-8 teaching Language Arts. I wish to welcome them to the Frank Roberts Junior High School community.
HOMEWORK CLUB
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Homework club started again on Monday, January 10 for all students. Homework club is Monday and Thursday
afternoons from 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM. Students must go to the library with work to complete and have rides arranged
for 4:00 PM. There are tutors and teachers available at that time. It is open to all students.
PARENT SESSION IN ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY
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There will be an assistive technology training session for parents on Thursday evening, January 13 in the Tech Ed.
Lab. The session will focus mainly on the use of WORD Q which is the most used software by our students on IEP’s.
Any interested parents are invited to attend.
KIDS AND DRUGS
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On Wednesday, January 19 , the RNC will be offering a parent information session on Kids and Drugs. The session
will take place at Frank Roberts Junior High beginning at 7:00 PM. Parents must pre-register for the session as there
is a minimum number of participants required to offer this session. You can register by contacting the main office
either by phone 834-9847 or via email at helensimmons@esdnl.ca .
TV VIDEO WORKSHOP
MCast, the multi-media broadcasting group, will be holding a TV Video Workshop at our school on Saturday,
February 12. The focus of the workshop is video journalism and production. Students will learn to write, shoot, and
edit their own videos. Special guest presenters include Erin Sulley (Rogers TV), Gary Quigley (CBC TV), and Tom
Donovan (NL Skills Canada).
APPLE LEARNING EXPERIENCE
Frank Roberts Junior High has been successful in getting accepted for the Apple Learning Experience. Apple
Education will be loaning us 10 MacBook computers and 10 iPod Touches for the month of February. This is part of
their program to support the use of digital technology in education.
BREAKFAST PROGRAM
We wish to thank the CBS Lions Club for their generous donation of $1000.00 to be used towards our school
breakfast program. It is through such efforts that we are able to offer a healthy and nutritious breakfast on Mondays,
Wednesdays and Fridays. I also wish to thank our parent volunteers Ms. Porter, Ms. Tremblett, Ms. Pye, Ms.
Bickford, and Ms. Bowers and our teacher volunteers Ms. Collins, Ms. Higdon, Ms. Tobin and Ms. Cook. It is
their efforts that ensure our students get their days off to a good start. Thank you!
SAFE AND CARING SCHOOLS
As part of the school’s initiatives to encourage a safe and caring school climate and support positive behaviours, the
“GOTCHA” program is utilized. Here, whenever a teacher observes a student demonstrating the Roberts ROLES
(Respect for Others, Learning, Environment and Self) that student is presented with a GOTCHA that they then place
in the Gotcha draw to be eligible for the weekly and monthly prize draws.
I wish to thank Ms. Scott of McDonald’s and the Town of Conception Bay South for their generous donations of
food coupons and skating/swimming passes. These items serve as rewards for those students who demonstrate
their desire to create and maintain a positive school climate. It is very much appreciated.
JANUARY NUTRITION NOTE
CURRICULUM UPDATES
Math Department - During the week preceding the Christmas break there was a Math Day for all students in their
respective math classes. All students received a Frank Roberts Math pencil and eraser. Students, in each class,
also had the chance to win one of five calculators that were awarded to students for various games and activities.
The math department also wishes to remind parents of the importance of completing homework to ensure student
success. All parents/caregivers are asked to ensure that their child's homework is completed on a nightly basis as it
is a key element in the success of students at the junior high level. Homework can be checked on the school's
webpage and is posted there nightly by your child's math teacher. If no homework is assigned, students should avail
of this opportunity to do review of previously completed work.
All grades will have a cumulative math test covering units one through three in the upcoming weeks. Please
follow the schedule below:
Grade 7 - Tuesday, January 18
Grade 8 - Monday, January 17
Grade 9 - Monday, January 17
Social Studies - Grade eight students are currently finishing the research portion of their Heritage Fair projects in
language arts. When these have been evaluated and returned to the students we will begin preparing for the
presentation portion of the projects in social studies. Students will be given an opportunity to utilize the computer lab
to get pictures and create titles and headings for their projects. In preparation for this parents should ensure students
have a tri-fold backboard which can be purchased at Walmart or Staples. Students should also begin collecting any
resources or artifacts they intend to use for their presentation. For further information you can visit our school’s
Heritage Fair website at http://mail.esdnl.ca/~jerrystringer@esdnl.ca/?OpenItemURL=S024BC4C1
The grade 8 French Immersion classes (8-6, 8-7, 8-8) recently had the wonderful opportunity to explore three
important historical sites in St. John's. On Friday, December 3, 2010, we left the school building at 8:45 and set out on
an incredible historical adventure. Our first stop was the Commissariat House, where we toured the beautifully-
restored home of a prominent merchant family. We then headed to the Newfoundland Railway Museum, where we
viewed two interesting films and learned what life was like aboard an authentic train. Our afternoon consisted of an
educational visit to the Rooms, where we explored the hidden depths of the archives, viewed the permanent collection
in the museum, and cultivated our artistic side at the art gallery. It was certainly an unforgettable day!
English - The English department would like to congratulate all students involved in the public speaking and drama
clubs for their wonderful performances during the Christmas concert and the Christmas assembly.
Grade 7 and 8 students completed their research projects before Christmas. All grade levels are working on an
indepth novel study during the month of January. Grade 9 classes will begin work on their research project after the
novel.
All English classes have begun working on prepared speeches. At the end of January, students will present their
speeches to their class. Class representatives will be chosen to present their speech to all students at that grade
level.
A school wide public speaking evening is planned for February. Watch for details!
ROBERTS RAVES
Volleyball – We wish to congratulate the Grade 8 girls volleyball team on winning the NLVA After School
League Championship in December. Members of the winning team are: Whitney Farrell, Olivia Pomroy,
Velvet Porter, Grace Williams, Lacey Harvey, Emily Butler, Jillian Byrne, Emily French, Katie Noseworthy
and Cassie Cable. Thank you to their coach: Ms. Ghaney.
DATES TO REMEMBER
January 13 Parent session – Assistive Technology
January 17 Cummulative Math Test (Units 1-3), Grade 8 and 9
January 18 Cumulative Math Test (Units 1-3), Grade 7
January 19 Parent session – Kids and Drugs (please pre-register with school
secretary at 834-9847 or helensimmons@esdnl.ca)
January 27 Family literacy Day
January 31 Semester 2 begins
February Public Speaking evening. Details to follow.
