DCJA Newsletter

At Donald C. Jamieson Academy we are so happy to have our staff and students back to school for another fun filled year!

Everyone has certainly settled into the 2026-2027 school year and lots of learning and fun has already taken place.

Please take some time to check out our September 2026 Newsletter. It contains some important information for families, staff and students!

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. On Friday, September 25, 2026, our school will be going gold in support of Childhood Cancer Awareness!

Each year in Newfoundland and Labrador about 30 children are diagnosed with cancer. Candlelighters NL is a provincial charity that supports children with cancer and their families through the whole journey - from diagnosis, through treatment, and beyond. They offer many kinds of help, including financial support, family programs and events, scholarships, peer support, a special snack cupboard at the Janeway, birthday surprises, and Camp Delight, the provincial summer camp for children with cancer, survivors and siblings.

Candlelighters NL invites all students and staff to wear gold or yellow on Friday, September 25, 2026, to show support for children in our province who are facing cancer, including children here in our community.

To learn more about Candlelighters NL, or to make a donation, visit www.candlelightersnl.ca or www.facebook.com/candlelightersnl.

Please note that families will need to arrange transportation to and from this event and that the required permission forms are now available on RYCOR.

The Provincial Government is observing the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Wednesday, September 30, 2026. This includes the closure of all NLSchools offices and schools. This observance is being held to honour survivors and raise awareness of the tragic legacy of residential schools in Canada.

Staff and students are encouraged to wear orange on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, to mark the importance of this day.

When staff and students return to school on Thursday, October 1, 2026, it will be Day 1 on the schedule.

World Cerebral Palsy Day is a worldwide movement that takes place very year on October 6. On this day millions of people come together to recognize, celebrate, and take action for the 50 million people living with CP.

On Tuesday, October 6, 2026, we invite our school community to wear green in support of this day!

There will be no classes for students on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, due to teachers participating in Professional Learning. When students return to school on Thursday, October 8, 2026, it will be Day 6 on the schedule.

On Thursday, October 8, 2026, our staff are excited to welcome students and their families to our annual DCJA Family Welcoming Event!

From 6 PM to 7 PM, families can join us for an evening of fun, connection, and community. There will be an opportunity to meet your child's teachers and learn more about DCJA.

We look forward to seeing you all!

The DCJA Breakfast Program serves approximately 200 students each day, costing the DCJA Breakfast Program approximately $200 daily. To help ensure that students at DJCA can continue to receive breakfast each morning, families are invited to join us for our annual Walk to Breakfast Fundraiser on Friday, October 9, 2026. Following a walk around the Salt Pond Trial, students, families and staff will be treated to a healthy breakfast in the cafeteria.

Donations can be made online at this link. Families can designate their donation to the DCJA Breakfast Program by noting our school name in the "private message" box.

There will be no classes for staff and students on Monday, October 12, 2026 in recognition of Thanksgiving! When students return to school on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, it will be Day 8 on the schedule.

School photos will be taken on Friday, October 16, 2026!

Students in Grade 3 have been getting their hands dirty this September learning all about soil!

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all the families who have set up their RYCOR accounts and completed the required Social Media Consent, Acceptable Use of Technology, and Core Digital Tools forms. These forms are mandatory for all students and we are pleased to report that roughly 70% of our school community has completed them so far.

If you have not yet created an account or still have outstanding forms to finish, we kindly ask that you do so as soon as possible. Additionally, RYCOR is where you will find registration and permission forms for many of our grade specific and after school activities throughout the year. Families are asked to check their RYCOR account to see what options are open for your child!

Should you have any questions or require assistance setting up your account, please call the school office at 891-1431.

On Friday, September 11, 2026, we hosted our annual Welcome Back to School Breakfast. Students celebrated their school spirit by wearing blue and white while enjoying a healthy and fun breakfast of waffles, fruit, and yogurt.

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the many volunteers whose efforts made this event possible. From setup and food preparation to serving and cleanup, your generous donation of time and energy ensured a great morning for our entire student body. Thank you for making our school community so special!

Behind every smiling face and filled plate at our Breakfast Program is a community of generous supporters who make it all possible.

We want to extend our deepest gratitude to the many donors who support our Breakfast Program. Without your generosity and belief in our students, this vital program simply could not run.

Our Breakfast Program has officially begun at DCJA. Each day our students are enjoying fresh items prepared by our amazing volunteers!

We would like to take this opportunity to thank the volunteers who returned to our Program this year. Their dedication to the program is certainly appreciated by each and every one of our students! A special shout out goes to the DCJA Breakfast Program Coordinators, Ms. Millie Lundrigan & Ms. Dawn Brushett, for their steadfast work in organizing and planning the meals and events associated with the DCJA Breakfast Program.

At this time, we are seeking volunteers to assist with this valuable program. Individual and group volunteers are welcome! If you or someone you know is interested in this rewarding opportunity, please reach out to the DCJA Breakfast Program Coordinators by emailing DCJABreakfastProgram@gmail.com.

Please note that DCJA is a scent-aware building. We have students and staff who are significantly impacted and severely affected by scented products. For these individuals, exposure to everyday scents can make it difficult to learn and work comfortably.

Due to the serious impact on student well being, your close attention to this matter is very important.

We kindly ask that all staff and students refrain from using scented items, including:

• Perfumes, aftershaves, and colognes

• Scented hairspray, hair gels, or other styling products

• Scented face/body creams, lotions, and body sprays

• Scented deodorants

Thank you for your understanding and partnership in maintaining a safe learning space for all of our school community.

Within our school community we have several students and staff who experience severe, life-threatening allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) when exposed to specific foods.

To ensure a safe, inclusive environment where all students can thrive, we kindly ask that families refrain from sending foods containing the following items to school:

• Peanuts (or products containing peanuts)

• Tree nuts (e.g., almonds, cashews, walnuts, hazelnuts, pecans, pistachios, pine nuts, Brazil nuts, macadamia nuts)

• Kiwi

• Fish

Thank you for your care, attention, and partnership in protecting the health and wellness of our entire school family!

We kindly ask that all stuffed animals, fidgets, and other personal toys be kept safely at home. These items are not allowed at school or on the school bus as they can easily be lost or cause distractions during the day.

We appreciate your support in reminding your child to leave their personal treasures at home before heading out the door each morning!

As part of our ongoing commitment to school safety, we want to remind our school community that video surveillance is in use in and around our school facility.

We are pleased to share that we have recently received approval to install 4 additional security cameras on school property. These new cameras will enhance our existing system and help us maintain a secure and safe environment for all students, staff, and visitors.

Also, please note that all visitors to DCJA are asked to check in at the main office upon arrival at our school.

Thank you for your continued support as we work to keep our school community safe!

Earlier this month students at DCJA participated in Bus Evacuation Drills that taught them what to do on the bus in the case of an emergency. Thank you to our dedicated bus drivers for helping with these important drills! Check out the picture below to see our students putting their safety training into practice!

In addition to these drills, we ask that you please take a few moments to review these School Bus Safety Tips with your child/children. Also, please note that students are reminded that toys, food and personal electronic devices are not permitted on the bus.

Cross Country Practices will take place for Grade 3 through Grade 7 students on Thursday's after school from 2:30 PM until 3:30 PM. Practices will begin on Thursday, September 24, 2026. RYCOR permission forms are required for students wishing to participate and rides must be arranged for 3:30 PM.

Students from Grade 3 through Grade 7 are invited to participate in Choir after school on Monday's from 2:30 PM until 3:30 PM. The first practice will take place on Monday, September 28, 2026. RYCOR permission forms are required for students wishing to participate and rides must be arranged for 3:30 PM.

Students from Grade 5 through Grade 7 are invited to participate in Volleyball after school on Thursday's from 2:30 PM until 3:30 PM. The first practice will take place on Thursday, October 8, 2026. RYCOR permission forms are required for students wishing to participate and rides must be arranged for 3:30 PM.

Students from Grade 4 through Grade 7 are invited to participate in Cheerleading after school on Wednesday's from 2:30 PM until 3:30 PM. The first practice will take place on Wednesday, October 14, 2026. RYCOR permission forms are required for students wishing to participate and rides must be arranged for 3:30 PM.

As we settle into the rhythm of the new school year, we are reminded daily that our school is so much more than just a building. It is a vibrant community built on kindness, partnership, and shared goals. Whether you volunteered at our breakfast, ensured your child arrived safely to school or helped reinforce our school guidelines at home, your support makes DCJA a wonderful place for our students to learn and grow.

Thank you for being such an active, caring part of our school family. Have a great month ahead!