School Profile 2013-2014
John McCrae Secondary School
Grades 9 to 12
Address:
103 Malvern Dr.
Nepean, Ontario
K2J 4T2
Phone: (613) 823-0367
Fax: (613) 823-3755
School hours:
9:05 a.m. - 3:20 p.m.
School Website1
Principal
Tom Schultz
Vice Principals
Marion Verhallen
Chris Noxon
Office Administrator
Helen Cote
Chief Custodian
Todd St. Amour
School Council Chair
Kim MacAulay
Superintendent of
Instruction
Peter Gamwell
School Trustee
Donna Blackburn
Chair of the Board
Jennifer McKenzie
Director of
Education/Secretary of the
Board
Jennifer Adams
General Board
Information:
Phone: 613-721-1820
OCDSB Website2
Accessibility Information3
Our School
John McCrae Secondary School is a comprehensive community
school dedicated to meeting the needs of all learners according to
their individuality. We provide students with an established safe
environment in a modern facility. Large spacious classrooms, modern
computer labs, updated technology shops, art studios and open
science laboratories provide students with an excellent environment in
which to develop skills and interests. Additional facilities are provided
by our community partnership with the adjacent Walter Baker Centre.
Students at J.M. utilize the resources of the public library and have
access to the sports facilities housed in this area. Academic classes
benefit a great deal from these extended resources while physical
education classes and teams are able to participate in activities not
normally available in secondary schools (aquatics, hockey, squash,
fitness facilities, to name a few). John McCrae is an all-encompassing
caring school nurturing the educational, emotional and social growth
of all its students. “We Care”!
Our Students
Our goal is to provide every student with a supportive, challenging
academic and formative program in which to grow to their full
potential. Students who graduate from John McCrae will have both
the academic and moral character to contribute constructively to the
world in which they will live. A JMSS graduate:
 is a creative problem solver.
 is a responsible, accountable citizen.
 makes wise personal decisions.
 makes effective use of personal management skills in a variety of
settings.
 is an able communicator.
 displays the values and skill that promotes success.
Our Staff
The staff at John McCrae is committed to providing a quality
education to every student according to their need. A highly educated
diverse group of individuals have molded themselves into
developmental program teams to provide academic excellence in all
facets of the curriculum. Integration, diversity and differentiation are
the norm at J.M. and all students are treated with dignity and respect.
Extra help and remediation are provided by all classroom teachers
and when necessary by our Student Success Teacher Initiative so
that no student is left behind. The “Math Homework Club” is of special
interest to many of our students. This after school program provides
support to students who require additional tutoring in this difficult
subject area. The journey to success is the responsibility of all staff
at J.M. and we accept the challenges that creates
“Our School, Our Students, Our Responsibility”
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Our Community
Parents and Community
The JMSS School Council meets on the third Monday of each month at 7:00 pm (see our
school website for specific dates). Our School Council is an integral part of our education
team. Their support is valued by the teachers and staff of John McCrae.
Our School Council annually produces a fashion show put on by our students. The funds
raised are available to support students who may be in financial difficulty. View the “Strut”
page at JohnMcCrae.ca.
Mission Statement
Bulldog Pride is a way of life at John McCrae
P
R
I
D
E
Prepared and Punctual
Respect for Yourself and Others
Involved in Learning
Drop the Distractions
Effort Every Day
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Programs and Services
Academic Programs
John McCrae offers a full range of courses including French Immersion, Advanced
Placement Opportunities, Cooperative Education, Outdoor Education, Business Studies,
Spanish, Integrated Technology, and Communications Technology programs. There is an
extensive integration of technology into all curriculum areas with broadband
communication and computer access for all classes. Our computer-related courses
include: Integrated Multimedia, Web Page Design, Flash Animation, and Computers and
Information Science. There is also a wide array of Arts offerings including Drama,
Instrumental Music, Guitar, Visual Arts, Photography, Media Studies, Film Studies, and
Creative Writing. Our Interdisciplinary Studies courses include Outdoor Education and
Yearbook which integrate a multiplicity of curricular areas that are approved by the Ministry
of Education. Special programs include Advanced Placement, French Immersion, High
Performance Athletes, Co-op, Outdoor Education, Peer Teaching
Classroom Organization
JMSS is a 9 – 12 English composite school. Classes are offered through seven different
department groupings:
 Mathematics
 Science
 Language Studies
 Social Sciences and Business Studies
 Physical and Health Education
 Technology
 Fine Arts
 Student Services
Special Education and ESL Programs
Special Education support for students with learning exceptionalities is offered in a variety
of ways to meet the needs of the individual student.
Students who work with a special education teacher may do so through a withdrawal or
monitoring model. Our Educational Assistants work mainly with individual students in their
integrated classes.
The Student Success program combined with our progress report enables students who
are experiencing difficulties to be identified and receive the support they require.
At the present time there is no ESL Program at John McCrae
Clubs and Activities
Interscholastic sports teams represent the school in football, hockey, basketball, field
hockey, volleyball, soccer, golf, lacrosse, baseball, rugby, cross-country running,
swimming, track and field, and water polo. The school’s reputation for championship
excellence is grounded in the success over several seasons of our ice hockey, field
hockey and girls’ soccer, volleyball teams and track and field.
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Other student extracurricular activities include Link Crew, students' council, athletic
council, the multicultural group, drama club, music ensembles, the concert band,
badminton club, Live It Up and many others. Student leaders from these groups are
involved in a student/principal consultation process giving students direct input to how the
school operates.
Safe Schools Initiatives
Students at JMSS can expect to come to a school that provides a safe learning
environment free from discrimination and harassment. Working closely with the Walter
Baker staff and our neighbouring elementary schools John McCrae staff coordinate
programs and emergency response procedures to ensure a safe school learning
environment.
Special attention this year will be paid to empowering students to deal with issues of
bullying. This ongoing community difficulty is of interest to all parents and students. By
cooperatively approaching these difficulties we can make our school and our community a
better place for everyone. See our webpage: JohnMcCrae.ca for more details.
Facilities and Resources
The facility at John McCrae is unique to the area and to the province as a whole. We are
part of an educational campus that includes being connected to the Walter Baker Center
and the Ruth E. Dickinson Public Library. This partnership allows for extended
possibilities for students to use educational and recreational resources beyond the
traditional high school.
JMSS places great emphasis on the use of technology in teaching, learning and
assessment. Our recent addition of Smart Board Technology in Math and Science has
enabled us to enhance our education tools for student success. Our recent development
of an interactive website (OCRI award winner for High School Innovation in Technology –
2010) continues to be developed to provide superior educational resources for all
students.
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Achievement and School Improvement Planning
Measures of Student Achievement and Success
Student achievement and success are measured by numerous criteria at JMSS. Students
at JMSS write the EQAO Grade 10 Literacy test, the EQAO Grade 9 Mathematics test, the
board-wide Grade 12 College and University level English examinations and the boardwide Grade 11 University and University/College Mathematics examinations.
Performance based assessment is an integral part of our evaluation scheme. Below is
some of our student achievement for the 2012-2013 school year.
 40 students from all grades were Silver Award winners with averages over 90%
 255 students in all grades achieved Honour Roll status with averages over 80%
 186 students were successful graduates of JMSS.
 68 of our graduates were Ontario Scholars.
 EQAO Grade 9 Mathematics our school was ranked #1 in Ottawa.
Our graduates are regularly accepted in a variety of prestigious programs in Universities
and Colleges across Canada.
The annual Arts Show is recognized in the community as a showcase of excellence. In
recent years the musical groups and the guitar ensemble have received recognition from
music educators for their unique arrangements and entertaining performances.
JMSS’s annual student leadership camp is planned and run by students and staff.
The Link Crew Program provides student support to our grade 9 students during their
transitional year.
Advanced Placement courses provide students with the opportunity to pursue university
level studies while in secondary school.
The High Performance Athlete program provides additional educational supports for the
education of young people who are aspiring to provincial and national teams.
School Improvement Plans and Initiatives
Our Link Crew Program which enables our grade twelve students provide our new grade
nine students with a senior mentor as they make the transition to secondary school.
The continuing development of a dynamic web-page program, which will provide current
information to our community and enable teacher access to a personal wiki space and
calendar to improve communications with students and parents.
The continuing growth of Advanced Placement credits enabling senior students to achieve
university credits while still in secondary school. Our major focus this year will be to work
with our grade nine and ten students focusing on their ability to read a selection, to think
what it means to them, and then to write descriptively about the topic (communicate). The
integration of these three key components of critical thinking will strengthen their ability to
learn in all subject areas. This initiative will be a cross-curricular approach developing
literacy in all areas of study.
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The school’s vision statement “Learn and Lead” describes our belief in the purpose of
education at JMSS:
 To provide a safe and orderly learning environment where students are challenged to
learn continually;
 To maintain rigorous standards that allow graduates maximum opportunity to achieve
their post-secondary potential;
 To help each student become a responsible citizen in our global society;
 To provide an educational program which promotes creativity, critical thinking and
logic;
 To help each student develop an awareness, appreciation and understanding of the
diversity of cultures;
 To offer opportunities for leadership, recreation, service and personal development
through a wide range of activities.
We believe that each student is unique and can learn. Additional information may be
obtained on our website.
Google Map of John McCrae Secondary School
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Leadership Recognition
“Leadership in the OCDSB is the demonstration of personal initiative
to achieve a positive outcome.”
Students
This year on November 11th our students will dedicate a cenotaph to Canada’s war
veterans. This monument is located in front of the school and reminds all of us of the debt
we owe those who have fought for our country and world peace. At John McCrae “Lest
We Forget” becomes “We Remember”. This is a mission our students and staff live every
day.
John McCrae students demonstrate their leadership talents every day in the life of the
school. This begins in the classroom where they develop skills in problem solving, in time
management and communications.
Many of our students, having gained the confidence in class, expand their leadership role
in the school by becoming involved in non-athletic organizations such as Student Council,
Link Crew, the Earthcare initiative, the Multi-Cultural Club, Guitar, Free the Children Club
and others too numerous to mention (see website). These students organize events in the
school or participate in fundraising activities. In recent years students have spearheaded
successful drives to raise money for causes such as Breast Cancer Research Operation
Veterans, or have run Food Drives for the benefit of the Barrhaven Emergency Food
Cupboard. Last year our Relay for Life group raised $42,700 for cancer research. We
plan to improve on that this year.
Other students join an interscholastic team and provide leadership on the field, court or
ice. Our championship teams, in such sports as Volleyball, Hockey, Basketball, and
Baseball, were all successful due to the skill, commitment and dedication of the team
members.
Each year our Student Council along with school staff helps to organize the JMSS Student
Leadership Camp. This off-campus event is attended by up to 80 students from all grades
who are introduced to a variety of leadership skills while participating in team-building
exercises.
Staff
The teaching staff at John McCrae brings a diverse background to our Barrhaven school.
We have teachers that were born and raised in 9 of the 10 provinces with 7 or more
coming from other countries. Their educational studies have taken them to almost every
major university in Canada. In addition, several have business/work experience in various
fields and trades that they acquired before entering teaching. Others have pursued
athletic careers with at least one competing on our Canadian National Team in her sport.
The McCrae teaching staff is committed to lifelong learning. They are recognized across
the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board as leaders in developing assessment and
evaluation tools that reflect current recommended practices.
They all join in the vision of the school to make technology an integral part of both
teaching and learning.
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These skills and attributes have been recognized beyond our local Board. Two teachers
are serving on the provincial executives of their subject-based teacher organizations while
others have been invited to conduct workshops to other teachers around the province.
Three of our teachers developed our dynamic Google Apps website – john.mccrae.ca,
(OCRI Award for High School Innovation 2010) which has now become a Board wide
standard for communications.
Parents/Guardians/Volunteers
Parents who attend our monthly School Council meetings provide timely and useful
feedback to the John McCrae administration as the school makes refinements to school
operations, adjusts policies and procedures, and improves communication with parents.
Many of our community members volunteer within the school either in the main office or
library. These people help us to create a community partnership environment.
Community
John McCrae Secondary School is fortunate to have many community partners in
Barrhaven and the broader Ottawa area. Our active Co-operative Education Program has
reached out to organizations and businesses in the retail trades, food services, medical,
educational, and technological fields plus in the automotive and other skilled trades.
We always welcome and appreciate our local businesses who continue to provide prizes
for fundraising events.
Working with our community partners:
 John McCrae Secondary School
 Longfields Davidson Heights High School
 St. Joseph’s High School
 Ottawa Police Service
 Ottawa Public Health
 South Nepean Community Health Centre
 Nepean, Rideau & Osgoode Community Resource Centre
 Youth Services Bureau
 Rideauwood Addiction
We are identifying the needs of youth in the Barrhaven Community for mental health
supports. The goal of this inclusive team is to provide resources within our community for
youth and their families that are easily accessible.
John McCrae has always had a special interest in the arts. Recently our school working
with community groups created the “Red Poppy” gallery. Our gallery provides a venue for
our students and our community to display their creative genius. See JohnMcCrae.ca for
more about our gallery.
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URL References
1
http://johnmccraess.ocdsb.ca/
2 http://www.ocdsb.ca/
3 http://www.ocdsb.ca/ab-ocdsb/
4 http://www.eqao.com/
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