Dear JS Parent:

It hardly seems possible that we are about to embark on another school year!  For some of you, your daughter is entering Junior Kindergarten and this marks her very first year at Havergal; for others, you are undoubtedly pinching yourself that after 7 years in the Junior School, your daughter is about to start Grade 6 and will soon be on her way to Middle School!  Wherever you are on this journey, please know that we are here to support, care, and challenge your daughter.

At our final prayers in June, I spoke about each school year starting as a blank canvas, and shared the following quote:

There is something beautiful about a blank canvas, 

the nothingness of the beginning 

that is so simple and breathtakingly pure.

 It’s the paint that changes its meaning 

and the hand that creates the story. 

Every piece begins the same, 

but in the end they are all uniquely different.

I know that I speak on behalf of our entire faculty and staff when I say, that we could not be more excited about the canvas your daughter will paint this year.  We look forward to working alongside you to ensure that this will be an exceptional year.

We will see you next week!

Sincerely,

Kate White

In this message, read about:

• Family Handbook
• Opening  Week Schedule
• Registration Information
• Construction Update – Parking, Drop-off and Pick-up, etc.
• Athletics
• Links to Bookmark
• Dates on the Horizon

Family Handbook

• Please take time to review the Havergal Family Handbook

Opening Week Schedule

Monday, September 2

• School Closed

Tuesday, September 3 – Orientation for New to Havergal Students & Grade 6 Leadership Workshop PLEASE NOTE RETURNING STUDENTS DO NOT ATTEND SCHOOL ON THIS DAY!

• No Gator Care (Before and After Care Program)
• Students do not need to bring anything with them, but may choose to bring a snack and a water bottle.
• Regular Uniform
  • JK – Grade 4
    • short or long sleeve golf shirt or turtleneck or dress shirt with tie + junior skirt or dress pants, black velcro shoes or black lace-up Oxfords; optional: green sweater or green ¼ zip (not to be worn with #1 Dress).
  • Grade 5 – 6
    • Short or long sleeve golf shirt or turtleneck or dress shirt with tie  + summer skirt or dress pants or tunic, black lace-up Oxfords ; optional: green sweater or green ¼ zip (not to be worn with #1 Dress); please note: Grade 6 students are permitted to wear their “hoodies” Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Hoodies are not be worn on Thursdays or any other Special #1 Dress days.    
• Non-Cycle Day

Kindergarten 

• Group A – 9:30 am – 10:30 am
• Group B – 11 am – 12 pm

New to Havergal Students in Grade 1  – 5 

• 9:30  am- 10:30 am: Introduction to classroom teachers and specialist teachers. Tour of the Junior School. Meet and greet other new students. 

All Grade 6 Students

• 9:30 am – 12 pm
• Introduction to leadership roles.  Small and whole group work on leadership.

New Parents

• Are invited to the Learning Hub for optional Veracross Training (HC’s online forum) and to meet with other new parents. 
• Please bring your personal devices to fully engage in the training.

Dismissal:

• JK and SK parents are asked to collect their daughter directly from the classroom.
• If you have a daughter in Grade 1 – 5, and choose to stay for the Veracross Training Session, you are welcome to pick up your daughter directly from the classroom.  If you are picking up your daughter by car, she will be brought outside,  and we will bring her to you. There will be HC faculty and staff on hand to guide you.
• Students in Grade 6 will be picked up from the JS driveway.  They will be called by a member of the HC faculty and sent to your car.

Wednesday, September 4 – First Day of School for ALL Students

• First Day of Gator Care (Before and After Care)
  • Students can be dropped off as early at 7:15 am for our morning Gator Care Program.  There is no registration required for this service.
  • Our After-School Gator Care Program runs from 3:15 pm – 6:00 pm.  Registration is required for this program.  To learn more please review the following: Gator Care 2019-20
• Regular Uniform
• Non-Cycle Day
• Rose Reisman Hot Lunch Program begins today
  • Rose Reisman Hot Lunch Program

Kindergarten

• 8:30 am– 11:00 am – All JK/SK students at school

Grades 1 – 6

• Students can be dropped off at school anytime between 7:15 am and 8:20 am. 
• Students go directly to their classrooms between 8:00 am – 8:20 am. Prior to 8:00 am, students go to Gator Care.
• Please note:
  • All Grade 6 students will have a swim test today in preparation for the overnight excursion to Camp Onondaga. As such, they need to come to school with their swim uniform.

Dismissal:

• JK and SK parents are asked to collect their daughter directly from the classroom.
• We use a staggered dismissal process in the Junior School.  Please review the guidelines carefully.
  • Gr.1-2 Dismissal: 3:25-3:45 pm. 
  • Gr. 3-6 Dismissal: 3:35-3:45 pm
• If you have daughters who are dismissed at different times, please come at the later time.

Thursday, September 4

• #1 Dress
  • JK – Grade 4
    • tunic + short or long sleeve dress shirt + tie + black modesty shorts + green knee socks or green tights + black velcro shoes or black lace-up Oxfords; 
  • Grade 5 – 6
    • kilt + short or long sleeve shirt + tie + black modesty shorts + green knee socks or green tights + black lace-up Oxfords

Day 1

• 8:00 am – 8:15 am – Drop-off and Outdoor Play
• 8:15 am – 8:25 am: Attendance in Core Classroom
  
• 8:25 am – 9:00 am: Welcome Prayers (Kate White – Head, Junior School)
  • Parents are welcome to attend!
    
• 8:25 am – 3:20 pm: Regular Schedule for JK – Grade 6
• 5:30 -pm- 5:55 pm: Gr. 6 Excursion Parent Information session in Grade 6L
  
• 5:30: JS Reception in Learning Hub (OPTIONAL)
  
• 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm: JS People & Program Event 
• Please note:
  • Swim: Gr. 3F – First day of swim. Students are required to bring their swim uniform.
  • Art: 3PR – First day of Art.  Students are required to bring in a smock to cover their uniform (old oversized button-down shirts and t-shirts work well)!

Dismissal:

• JK and SK parents are asked to collect their daughter directly from the classroom.
• Gr.1-2 Dismissal: 3:25-3:45 pm. 
• Gr. 3-6 Dismissal: 3:35-3:45 pm

Friday, September 5

Day 2

• Regular Uniform
• 8:00 am – 8:15 am: Drop-off and Outdoor Play 
• 8:15 – 8:25 am: Attendance in Core Classroom
• 8:25 am: Prayers  (Catherine Misson, Principal)
  • Parents are invited to attend
•  9:00 am – 10:00 am: Welcome Reception for JS parents (Come and say hello to Ms. Misson in the Learning Hub)
• 9:00 am – 3:20 pm: Regular Schedule for JK – Grade 6
• Please note:
  • Swim: Gr. 4P – First day of Swim. Students are required to bring their swim uniform.
  • Art: 4M -First day of Art. Students are required to bring in a smock to cover their uniform (old oversized button-down shirts and t-shirts work well)!

For a complete summary of the month of September, please use the link provided: JS September Schedule

Registration Information

• JS Fall Clubs Information
• JS Athletics (Squads, Squad Teams, Teams) 
• Zodiac Swim School Registration 
• Private Music Lessons: Registration 
• Pizza Lunch 
• Rose Reisman Hot Lunch Program

Construction Update – Parking, Drop-off and Pick-up

The Junior School was a busy place this summer, as construction continued on our facilities to build new spaces for art, STEM, music and health & well-being. Since your last visit in June, the school has transformed and we are excited for you to see the progress that has been made towards completing the project!

As part of the construction process, we have made some changes and improvements to operations that you should be aware of for your return next week:

• Parking – The Cohen Field parking lot remains available to parents, in addition to some new parking spaces along the Junior School driveway.
• Access to Cohen Field – The pathway to Cohen Field has changed, so please view our map and procedures to understand how to walk between Cohen Field and the Junior School.
• Drop-off and Pick-up – Our drop-off and pick-up process remains the same as last year, however we welcome you to review our traffic flow procedures. We will have security and staff on-hand to assist with daily drop-off and pick-up.
• Safety – Since we have active construction sites on our campus, we have considerable measures in place to keep safety as our top priority. You will notice construction hoarding, fencing and overhead protection has been installed to separate the school zone from the construction zone, in addition to safety signage. We ask that you please obey all signage and do not enter any construction zones. Please also reduce your speed and be mindful of your surroundings when travelling along the Junior School driveway, using Cohen Field and driving in the neighbouring school zone areas.

To see our build take shape in real-time, be sure to watch our construction live stream here.

Athletics

Important Dates on the Horizon

Sept 4: First Full day of School & first day of Gator Care

Sept 5: People and Program Night (5:30 – 7:30 pm)

Sept 9: Lice Checks

Sept 11 – 13: Gr.6 Excursion to Camp Onondaga

Sept 19: JS Photo Day

Sept 20: Day 9

Sept 28: Celebration Saturday (8:30 – 1:00 pm)

Oct 11: Harvest Festival (8:30 – 10:15 am)

Oct 14: Thanksgiving (School Closed)

Oct 24: Parent Teacher Conferences (4:00 – 7:30 pm)

Oct 25: Parent Teacher Conferences (8:00 – 3:00 pm)