Jimmy Sandy Memorial School

Location

Jimmy Sandy Memorial School is located on the Naskapi territory of Kawawachikamach, approximately 15km away from Schefferville, Québec. As a remote, northern community, there are no roads connecting Kawawachikamach to the rest of the province. Visitors must either arrive via train that departs from Sept-Îles, or take the airplane.
 

Mission

ᐅᔅᑯᐎᑕᐤ (Uskuitau): Is a Naskapi word meaning "Let's work harder together". 

Vision

Jimmy Sandy Memorial School is the Naskapi school of Kawawachikamach. We commit to building relationships of trust and respect so that our students are culturally proud and confident. By working together our students will be successful in their goals and dreams.

Values

• Respect
• Safety
• Success
   

Our Story

Jimmy Sandy was born on March 1, 1965, the youngest of fourteen children born to late Reverend Joseph Sandy and Elizabeth Sandy. Jimmy was a wonderful and pleasant boy whom many befriended. He had a lot of love for people especially children. His parents, who raised their children in the Christian faith, instilled fine qualities in Jimmy. He was a quiet-spoken boy who enjoyed his short life to the fullest.

Tragically, on March 1, 1978 (Jimmy's 13^th birthday), he perished in a house fire along with his mother and father. The community was in shock.

In 1985, the Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach built their first school. The community made a decision to name the school in Jimmy's honour.

Jimmy Sandy Memorial School (JSMS) provides English education to the communities of Kawawa, as well as Naskapi beneficiaries that reside in Schefferville. Uniquely, JSMS offers Naskapi immersion to students from Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 2, at which point students begin English instruction and Naskapi becomes a subject. While Naskapi is the mother tongue for most students in Kawawa, students coming from Schefferville frequently speak Innu and French before coming to JSMS to learn Naskapi and English. For this reason, students participate in a Grade 3 enrichment  year, to better facilitate language acquisition. While classes are offered up to Secondary V, JSMS also offers students the Work-Oriented Training Path: Pre-Work Training.

With an average population of around 250 students, JSMS class sizes range from around 20 students in some elementary classes to some secondary classes with as few as 8 students.

Annual Events

• Diane's Day: Diabetes Awareness Day in September
• Diabetes Walk: May
• Community Cookout: June / August
• Christmas Concert
• Graduation Ceremonies: Kindergarten, Grade 6, Secondary V and Pre-Work Training

Special Projects

• Joé Juneau's School Based Hockey Program: A youth hockey program that helps build a love for the sport while emphasizing the importance of education.
• McGill Youth Study Team (MYST): For over a decade the MYST team has been working with the school, collecting student data, and assisting in early indication of students at risk allowing for early intervention.
• Naskapi Culture Program: A local course allowing students to practice, deepen and preserve their cultural practices, knowledge and heritage.
• Response to Intervention: A daily block of time allowing staff the opportunity to ensure student learning.