Dear Junior School Parents,

As is often the case, we have been using prayers as an opportunity to share important messages with our community.  This week, Ms. Watt has been focusing on the importance of “choosing to be kind.”  First, she shared a powerful picture book entitled “Be Kind” by Pat Zietlow Miller.  The story explores what it means to be kind, from asking someone to play, to standing up for someone being bullied. It invites the reader to think about how any act, big or small, can make a difference.  In addition, Ms. Watt shared a video that addressed how one act of kindness, can lead to many others.  Finally, the poetry of our Grade 4 students, was highlighted as they have been exploring this topic in class as well. As part of this conversation,  we also investigated how conversely,  one unkind word or action can leave a mark on someone not just in the moment, but for years to come. Our message is, was, and will continue to be “choose kind.”  

Sincerely,
Kate White

In this message, read about:

• Christmas Concert Tickets
• Holiday Giving
• Havergal 125th Anniversary
• Pick-up and Drop-Off Procedures
• Athletics
• Winter Clubs and Athletics – Registration Now Open!
• Important Links
• Important Dates on the Horizon

Christmas Concert Tickets

On Friday December 14th we invite you to attend the JK/SK Christmas concert from 2:00-3:00 pm in the JS Gym. Tickets ARE NOT required for this event.  We warmly welcome parents, family members and friends to come join us for this festive event.

On Tuesday December 18th at 4:00 pm, we invite you to attend the JS Grades 1-6 Christmas Concert in the Brenda Robson Hall. The girls are sure to leave you in a festive mood as they perform songs for the holiday season.

Two concert tickets will be given to your daughter in her Core Class on December 3rd. We’d ask that if you have extra tickets , you return them to the JS Office for re-distribution.

On December 3rd, you may contact the Front Office to request up to 2 extra tickets. These seats will be given out on a first come first served basis.

As tickets become available you will be notified by the front office the week of December 10th.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Holiday Giving

As in previous years, we will be collecting gently used outdoor winter gear (coats, snowpants, boots, hats, mitts, etc…)  for New Circles , a long-time Havergal Community Partnership.  Drop-off bins will be placed in front of the Learning Hub.

In addition, as part of our Day 9 initiative, students in Grade 5 have been learning about the food needs of people in our community, with an organization called the  “Canstruction Design Challenge.”  To learn more about the work that they have been doing: CLICK HERE

The Grade 5 students would like to involve our community in their work with the “Bring a Can to School Day” initiative.   

• Each student (and faculty/staff member) is asked to bring in a can of food with a label that is coloured primarily green, (if other colours they will be used as “ornaments”).
• Each class will then use the cans to construct a “Christmas Tree” to raise awareness around the need for food banks in our city.  The cans will then be donated to the North York Community Food Bank, another long time community partnership.  
• The Grade 5s will be explaining their work to the Junior School students at an upcoming prayers, so they have an understanding of what this initiative is all about.
• We ask that all cans are brought in to school by December 14.

Havergal’s 125th Anniversary

In 2019 Havergal will mark a significant milestone: our 125th anniversary. We will commemorate the occasion with a special performance to celebrate Havergal’s 125 years of academic excellence.

We invite you to join us on Friday, May 3, 2019 at Roy Thomson Hall at 7 pm for Past, Present, Future, an evening of dance, drama and musical performances.

Tickets for this evening occasion will be released in mid-January 2019 and we will share additional details with you in the coming months. Please note that this performance will replace our spring music concerts for this year and will be mandatory for students in Grades 4 to 12. Similar to Carol Service, students will be seated with their peers and teachers in their Houses. We are excited to embark on this journey together and the year of celebrations to come!

Pick-up and Drop-off Procedures

A reminder that adherence to our Pick-up and Drop-off procedures is necessary for the safety of all members of our community.  Please refer to the Junior School Traffic flow procedures and traffic flow map:

Junior School Traffic Flow Map
Junior School Traffic Flow Procedures

Important Dates on the Horizon

Wednesday, December 12

• JS/US Full Report Available to Parents @ 4:00pm

Friday, December 14

• JK/SK Christmas Concert, 2:00-3:00 pm (JS Gym)

Tuesday, December 18

• Christmas Concert Grade 1-6, 4:00-5:00 pm (Brenda Robson Hall – Upper School)

Wednesday, December 19

• Carol Service – St. Paul’s Cathedral, 7:00-8:30 pm

Thursday, December 20

• Early Dismissal

Thursday, December 21 – Sunday, January 6

• Christmas Break

Monday, January 7

• Classes resume