Welcome to Jonah Amitnaaq Secondary School (JASS) and the community of Baker Lake!
The true adventure of the North is difficult to put into words and is one that only first-hand experience can fully describe. However, teaching here is truly a rewarding experience!
Our school serves about 325 students between grades six and Twelve. School facilities include:
We also have a common area with a floor to ceiling glass wall that gives a spectacular view of the lake, and the Thomas Tapatai Public Library, which students have exclusive access to during the day.
Our school provides a welcoming, caring atmosphere where students come first and learning takes precedence. Our school strives to combine our rich history with the demands of the age in which we now live.
Again, we welcome you to our profile - whether you are a new hire, job seeker, parent or casual visitor!
Our mission is to prepare our students for lifelong learning and to provide a safe and caring environment that recognizes and respects the students’ cultural heritage, thereby helping them develop a strong self-concept.
In the spirit of Inuit Qaujimajajatuqangiit (IQ), we view the partnership between our school, student families, the DEA (District Education Authority) and the community as essential to the intellectual, physical, social, spiritual and emotional development of healthy and responsible students.
We have an enrolment of approximately 325 students between grades six and 12.
Many of our students take part in a variety of co-curricular and extracurricular activities. These activities and programs focus on students developing transferable skills and can include:
• painting
• cooking
• baking
• basketball
• volleyball
• soccer
• carpentry
• Inuit games
• hunting/land trips
• breakfast program
• student council
Our staff are hardworking, enthusiastic and committed individuals who offer an array of expertise and teachables to our students in both English and Inuktitut.
As a staff, our goal is helping our students succeed and meet their graduation requirements.
We currently have about 22 teacher/administrative positions in the school, along with about 9 support staff. However, these figures can vary slightly from year to year.
Jonah Amitnaaq School is a two-stream school with two classes for each grade level between grades six and 12. We offer our students a wide range of programs that allow our students to explore their interests and prepare them for future careers.
Our core programs required for graduation include:
• math
• science
• English language arts
• social studies
• fine art
• physical education
• aulajaaqtut
We also offer our students courses that allow them to explore various trades and fields such as:
• culinary arts
• sewing
• digital design
• mines and energy
• entrepreneurship
In partnership with local businesses, Agnico-Eagle Mines Ltd. and Nunavut Arctic College, we also offer introductory courses (weeklong) in:
• mechanics
• welding
• environmental conservation
• electrical
• plumbing
We also offer our students programs related to traditional Inuit culture such as Inuktitut, traditional sewing and project-based courses.
Here is a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) from teachers (in general) that you may want to discuss further with your principal or colleagues, some of this information may be readily available on this website, while for...
Check with your principal or vice-principal to find out if an orientation will be organized for new and returning staff.
The Department of Education and the Nunavut Teachers' Association are currently developing a formal mentor program. It will be available to new teachers at a later date.
If you are interested in a mentorship, please check with your principal to see if informal mentoring is a possibility.
