Dear Parents,

We have just completed the first two weeks of school! Whether your child is on campus, or learning remotely, it has been energizing to be together again. A huge note of thanks to all members of our community as we adjust to our new routines, and adapt to school life once again.

In an effort to clarify, simplify and improve communication from the school, we are making several changes to the College Blog: Junior School . It will now be published once every other week, and will contain “Latest News” and “Reminders.”  

Regular information about your child’s classes or the school calendar can be accessed through Veracross. Please be sure to visit the parent portal: Veracross Login.  To learn how to subscribe to HC calendars, so that they appear on your digital calendar, see below:

• Calendar_Subscriptions_Parents_Google
• Calendar_Subscriptions_Parents_Apple
• Calendar_Subscriptions_Parents_Outlook

Sincerely,

Kate White

LATEST NEWS

Remote Students vs. Absent Students

Please see the linked document that clearly outlines the distinction between remote learners, absence and when temporary remote learning is possible.

Research Program

We are excited to announce that Havergal College will embark on a research program for the current academic year to assist in planning and evaluation of the new learning environment.  Your participation in this research is critical to our continued success. Havergal is collaborating with Elizabeth Lorenzin, a market research consultant, to conduct the research using a mix of surveys and focus groups.  Throughout the research project, any data collected will only be used for the purpose of the study and it will remain confidential.

A survey will be administered to students in grades 5 to 12 the week of October 5th.  If you do not wish your daughter to participate in our research studies, please send an email to lorenzinresearch@gmail.com by no later than the end of day Wednesday, September 30th  to ensure that you and/or your daughter are not contacted for research purposes.

REMINDERS

Wellbeing Program

The Wellbeing Program is well underway in the Junior School. This month we are focusing on Health and Safety Protocols, the Roles and Responsibilities of students, and on the importance of Making Connections.

For a more comprehensive understanding of the importance of our Integrated Wellbeing Program please review the Junior School Wellbeing Parent Handbook.

Co-Curriculars Start Next Week

The purpose of the Junior School Co-curricular Program is to provide students with an opportunity to participate in a variety of activities that foster and enhance student Wellbeing. These will take place on Tuesdays, Wednesday, and Fridays, within the school day for students in Gr. 1 to Gr. 6. 

No sign-up is required; students will participate within their cohort; there are no changes in uniform to be considered; and there is no additional charge for participation in the program.

Activities vary between a focus on Athletics and the Arts.  Examples of what students will be participating in include: skipping, playing tennis, running a kilometer challenge through the Lisa Hardie Trail, practising yoga, learning to draw, making crafts and acting.

Orange Shirt Day – Wednesday, September 30

Havergal is recognizing Orange Shirt Day on Wednesday, September 30th.

Orange Shirt Day is designed to promote the message that every child matters and to commemorate the residential school experience, honour the journey of survivors and their families, and commit to the ongoing process of reconciliation. We will be sharing the purpose of the day, in developmentally appropriate ways, with the students next week.

Students are invited to wear an orange shirt on this day.

Virtual Harvest Festival – Friday, October 9 (8:30 am)

Harvest Festival is a much beloved service that takes place in the Junior School before the Thanksgiving Weekend. It is an opportunity to give thanks as a community and to share our many blessings. This year we will be celebrating the “Art of Giving.”

Each student has been given a white ceramic tile, and is creating a picture of what giving means to them. Each tile will be used to create an art installation which will be hung in the front foyer. This will be unveiled at Harvest Festival. Thank you to Mr. MacLean, Ms. Mastri, and Ms. Read for overseeing this meaningful project.

In lieu of baskets and canned food donations, we are asking each family to kindly donate $10. You will receive a form from your child(ren)’s homeroom teacher next week, with further instructions. All funds will be donated to the North York Harvest Food Bank.

To join us for our very first Virtual Harvest Festival, please use the Harvest Festival Zoom Link (Passcode: 430436).  Feel free to share this link with your extended family, as they would be most welcome to attend.

People & Program Evening

Thank you to those of you who joined us virtually for People & Program evening last week. If you missed any of the sessions please visit your child’s class Veracross page for the recording or related information. Here is the recording of the JS People and Program Webinar that was also held in the evening.