A Message From the Head of the Junior School: Friday, March 5, 2021

On By havergaljuniorschool

Dear Junior School Parents,

As we embark on a week of rest, I would like to thank you for your ongoing support this year. I was pleased to have had  the opportunity to meet with so many of you at Conversations with the Head of the Junior School events (JK- Grade 4), and at the Webinar with Phyllis Fagell (Grade 5 & 6). We will be sending out invitations for similar events in the Spring Term. In order to make these sessions as productive and meaningful as possible, please take some time to complete the survey form, which can be found in the “Latest News” section of this week’s blog.

Please note that students will be coming home today with all of their learning materials, as has been our protocol before any extended break.  

We very much look forward to welcoming everyone back on Monday, March 15th. 

Sincerely,

Kate  

LATEST NEWS

School Break

  • Havergal is closed from Monday, March 8 until Friday, March 12.
  • Havergal families are reminded to continue to follow all Toronto Public Health directives to ensure our community remains safe.
  • Daily screening will resume on Monday, March 15 and families are encouraged to read each of the questions carefully as Toronto Public Health continues to adjust the requirements for students attending school. Our updated Havergal COVID Screening and Return to School Protocol can always be found at the Havergal Return to Campus Webpage.
  • Families are reminded that students who have participated in interprovincial or international travel are required to self isolate for 14 days once they return to Ontario. After international travel and following the 14-day self-isolation, students must provide a negative COVID test result. Please use this LINK to submit negative covid test results prior to returning to school. 
  • Any questions about daily screening or students’ ability to return to school should be directed to the Health Centre at covid@havergal.on.ca.

Student Attendance/Remote Students 

  • If a student is not able to attend school in person and is not registered as a remote student, families must notify the Junior School Office and their child’s homeroom teacher of their absence.
  • Students physically absent from school must be marked as absent unless they are registered as a Remote student.
  • Only students who are registered as remote or have to be absent because of COVID protocols should expect to be able to Zoom into classes.  Teachers are not expected to be ready for these students immediately – there is a 24-48 hour lag period that is acceptable. 
  • Students who wish to zoom into classes for a temporary absence unrelated to covid, need to discuss that with their teacher and be prepared for that request to be denied.  For a teacher who already has a remote student, it may be easy for additional students to join in.  For a teacher who does not have a remote student, the teacher may need 24-48 hours to fulfill a request.  
  • Students who are not registered as remote should not expect to do assessments remotely unless the teacher has agreed to that request. 
  • Students who will be remote for longer than 2 weeks must complete the Remote Registration.

Conversations with the Junior School Head and Phyllis Fagell Webinar FEEDBACK Form

  • This week, parents in JK to Grade 4 had the opportunity to meet with the Head of the Junior School, the Associate Head, and the Assistant Head of the Junior School, and to ask questions in an informal setting. Parents with children in Grade 5 and 6, were invited to a webinar, with guest speaker Phyllis Fagell who spoke about how to support students in developing their resilience during the pandemic.  
  • As we look forward to future parent engagement events, your feedback continues to be important to us. Please take a moment to complete THIS SURVEY so that we can take your voice into consideration in our planning.

HC Social Worker Caitlin Parsons – A Presentation on Student Wellbeing During the Pandemic

SickKids POP UP COVID-19 Testing Site- Sunday, March 7

  • Havergal has been informed of another opportunity to access a pop-up COVID-19 testing location in our local community on Sunday, March 7 from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm at Bais Yaakov Elementary School, 15 Saranac Blvd, North York, ON M6A 2G4. 
  • For more details, please access this community letter from SickKids. 

REMINDERS

Dismissal Reminders

  • Please arrive at the appropriate time (3:20 or 3:40 pm – according to the oldest child being picked up) .
  • Take turns while manoeuvering around our parking lot.
  • Avoid parking too closely or blocking others in.
  • Check to ensure you have a school-issued orange sign for your dashboard or a bag tag for a student who has permission to leave independently.

Rose Reisman Lunch Orders

  • Please ensure you have adjusted your orders to reflect our revised school calendar.

Grade Rep Meetings

  • As a reminder, all parents are welcome to attend the Grade Rep Meetings held periodically throughout the year. Your invitation to attend can be found in the Grade Rep emails. The next Grade Rep Meeting will be on Wednesday, March 31 from 10:00 am – 11:30 am. 
  • Lindsay Norberg, Associate Head, will be one of the guest speakers. She will introduce herself, share how we work together, and her role in the Junior School. We hope you can make it.

HC Publications – Stay in the know!

If you have not yet had the opportunity to read this month’s editions of Gator Zone and Inside Havergal, I highly encourage you to do so!  

  • Gator Zone is HC’s athletic newsletter. Among other things, this edition provides key  information regarding how the Junior School has been keeping active during co-curricular times, as well as some of the athletic challenges that have been happening, with a little friendly House competition.
  • Inside Havergal is a monthly newsletter for parents, faculty and staff featuring important upcoming whole school events, updates on programs and biographies of our faculty and staff. This latest edition takes a deep-dive into how Wellbeing wraps around all that we do in the Junior School.

Dates on the Horizon

  • Please make note of the following important dates in the weeks to come.

Monday, March 8 – Friday, March 12

  • School Closed

Monday, March 15 (Day 3)

  • School Resumes
  • JS Pick-A-Time Registration for Parent-Teacher Interviews 

OPENS at 6:00 pm, Click here  

How to sign up:

Registration Opens:  Monday, March 15, 2021  @ 6:00pm

Registration Closes:  Wednesday, March 24, 2021 @ 8:00pm

  • Sign up: Pick-A-Time
  • Please note that this link will only allow you to register when registration opens on Monday, March 15, 2021  @ 6:00pm
  • If you have two or more students in the Junior School, and require back to back time-slots, please contact Calen Walker at 416-483-3843 ext.6608 by 12pm on Thursday March 18th. 
  • A ‘Forgot Password’ link is available on the Pick-a-time website if needed.    

For assistance with Pick-a-time, contact our Service Desk at 416-483-3843 ext.6663 between the hours of 7:30am -5:00pm, Monday to Friday.

Tuesday, March 16

  • Grade 5 & 6 Parent Conversation with Head of the Junior School  (6:30 pm – 7:00 pm)

Friday, March 19 

  • Professional Development for Faculty and Staff
  • School Closed for Students

Wednesday, March 24

  • JS Pick-a-Time Registration for Parent-Teacher Interviews CLOSES at 12:00 pm

Thursday, March 25 & Friday, March 26

  • Parent-Teacher Interview Days – School Closed

Wednesday, March 31 

  • JS Grade Rep Meeting (10:00 am – 11:30 am)

Monday, April 12 – Friday, April 16

  • School Closed

Monday, April 19

  • School Resumes

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