Spirit Week in the Junior School – Monday, Feb 1 to Friday, Feb 5

Students from JK to Grade 12 will be celebrating Spirit Week next week. Please note the following “Dress Down Theme Days” for the Junior School:

• Monday – “Wear What You Like Grub Day”
• Tuesday – “Green & Gold”
• Wednesday – “Athletic Wear Day” (favourite team shirt or jersey)
• Thursday – “PJ Day”
• Friday – “House Colour Day”

Our JS Prefects are also hard at work creating some optional after school content (3:30 pm – 4:00 pm) which will be shared on Monday.

Lunar New Year – Video Submissions Requested

Rev. Douglas is inviting families who celebrate Lunar New Year to send photos of their daughter and their families celebrating Lunar New year. 

She will be compiling a video for Lunar New Year Prayers next week. 

Parents can send their photos to Rev Douglas at sdouglasbowman@havergal.on.ca   

Dear JS Parent,

Thank you for your continued support as we navigate through the Continuous Learning Plan. As well as our students and teachers have transitioned, it is not without challenges. Time spent outdoors, regular breaks, and connecting with friends, virtually are all important in maintaining Wellbeing. If you haven’t had an opportunity to check out some of the asynchronous co-curricular activities we have suggested, we encourage you to do so!  They provide a great opportunity for students to connect with one another outside of class, or together as a family, in fun and engaging activities. Check them out HERE! If you or your child has any further suggestions to add to the list, please send them to our Interim Assistant Head, Andrea Charlton (acharlton@havergal.on.ca).

As always, should you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Kate White

Reminders

The Havergal College IT Service Desk Team is here for you!

As you and your child use digital tools in the course of their schoolwork, you may encounter difficulties and require assistance. The first step is for your or your child to notify their teacher, who may be able to provide support for websites or applications that are specific to that course/class/grade. It is important for them to be aware when their students are experiencing technical difficulties.

If their teacher is unable to resolve your issue or if the problem is with a laptop or tablet issued by the school to your child, your next step is to contact the Havergal College IT Service Desk Team. They are available to help with systems and equipment provided by the school.

The IT Service Desk Team is available Monday to Friday, 8:00am-4:00pm, and can be teached by email at servicedesk@havergal.on.ca or by calling 416-483-3843 x6663.

Ongoing Student Support During Remote Learning

As we continue with remote learning, please be reminded that your child’s homeroom teacher is your first point of contact. Should you have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s overall wellbeing you are encouraged to reach out to them directly.

Dear Junior School Parents,

Please read below for several updates in the JS this week.

Sincerely,

Kate White

Head, Junior School

Library Curb Side Pick-up & Online Reading Resources

• Thank you to the families who arranged a time for book exchange, unfortunately with the recent stay at home order we will NO LONGER be offering curb side pickup. This applies to students in JK to Grade 6.

• Online Reading Resources
  • For your reference, here is a link to the SORA/OVERDRIVE APP. This will allow you and your child to access ebooks and audiobooks from Havergal’s library collection on any device. It is also possible to connect your personal public library account on Sora, for access to an even greater number of books. If you do not have a public library card, many libraries are offering digital cards that you can register for online. 
  • Here is the sign-in  information you need:
    • Students are able to simply use their Havergal username and password.
    • This  SET-UP GUIDE may also be helpful.

Co-Curriculars

Please note the following updates to the co-curricular updates, effective next week:

Grade 1 – 4

• Starting next week, co-curriculars in Grade 1 – 4 will be asynchronous. Homeroom Teachers, will also share this link on Seesaw and Google Classroom. These continue to be optional.

Grades 5 – 6

• Synchronous Co-Curriculars will continue for the next several weeks for students in Grades 5 & 6. In addition, we have created a list of list of asynchronous co-curricular options that students can also choose to participate in.

Prayers

It has been absolutely wonderful to see so many members of our community continue to attend prayers. It will continue on Mondays and Fridays, however the timing will now be from 3:30 pm – 3:50 pm.

Dear JS Parents,

Happy New Year!  

It has been such a genuine pleasure to reconnect with our students this week! When I think back to last March, and our very first experience with Remote Learning, I am in awe of the astounding strides we have made together. I have been privileged to have the opportunity to “pop-in” to each class, and have seen firsthand the tremendous productivity and learning that is occurring from JK to Grade 6.

It would be remiss of me not to acknowledge the hard work, deep care,  and exemplary efforts of the faculty and staff who have been preparing for this eventuality all year. It has resulted in an incredibly smooth transition.  

While yesterday’s announcement from the Ontario Government that we are to continue with remote learning until January 25th may have brought about mixed emotions, I have every confidence that our students will continue to thrive.  As always, should you have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s academic or social-emotional wellbeing, please connect with their homeroom teacher. 

Thank you to you as well for your continued support.  We’ve got this, Havergal!

Sincerely,

Kate White

Latest News

Co-Curriculars

Students  in Grades 1 to 6 will have the OPTION to participate in co-curricular programming next week as part of the Continuous Learning Program. These are available between 3:30  pm and 4:00 pm as follows:

• Tuesday: Grades 1 & 2
• Wednesday: Grades 3 & 4
• Thursday: Grades 5 & 6

Zoom links and program details will be sent to families via homeroom teachers.

Junior School Library 

Reading remains an integral part of the Havergal learning experience. As such, we are pleased to share the following: 

JK to Grade 2

• “The Book Bag” Program will continue for students in JK to Grade 2. 
• Book Bags can be exchanged, via curbside pick-up.

Grade 3 – 6

• Students will have access to the JS Library Catalogue and will be able to request books on-line. Ms. Marino will be visiting classes next week to go over login procedures, and how to make requests. Instructions will also be sent home.  Students are encouraged to request at least three books.

Safety considerations have, as always, been thoroughly considered in our planning. Books returned to the school will continue to be quarantined for seven days, before being put back into circulation or lent out to another student. This length of time is based on the “Reopening Archives, Libraries and Museums (REALM) Study, which recommends that library books be quarantined between three to seven days. 

Safe Curbside Pick-Up Instructions: 

• Curbside Pick-up is available for JK to Grade 6 on Mondays between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm, starting on Monday, January 18.
• Please contact Ms. Marino (amarino@havergal.on.ca by Thursday to indicate what time on Monday you will be coming to pick-up/drop-off books.
• If you have more than one child who you are picking-up/dropping-off for, please indicate this in your email, so that it can be coordinated.
• Upon arrival, at the pre-arranged time, please have ONE person exit the car (wearing a mask), and place any books to be returned on the table outside. 
• Ms. Marino will have new books ready to swap out for  students in JK to Grade 2, and the requested books ready for students in Grades 3 – 6. 

Rose Reisman 

• For those families who participate in the hot lunch program, through Rose Reisman, please be advised that your accounts have been credited for any meals that have been ordered throughout the campus closure.  Any questions regarding this, should be directed to Rose Reisman Catering.

Reminders:

• Catherine Misson’s communication regarding the extended school closure, can be found HERE.