Dear JS Parents,

Congratulations to all of our students, families and teachers for another end of the school year! It was so lovely to join together at our Closing Ceremony on Wednesday, as we gathered to celebrate our year, reflect on the challenges, say goodbye, and wish each other well for the summer.

I am very much looking forward to welcoming people back in September, and wish our Grade 6s who are crossing the bridge all the best in this next exciting chapter of their lives.

All the best for a happy and healthy summer.

Sincerely,

Kate

LATEST NEWS

Final Blog – Upcoming Summer Communications

Today marks our final blog for the 2020-2021 school year. 

Please note that you will receive two key communications from Havergal over the summer. 

• The first mailing will come on July 7 and will provide information on the schedule for September, Major Dates, a “Save the Date”for People and Program Night, Gator Care Information, and BYOD for Grades 5  & 6. 
• The second maining will come on August 25 and will contain further important information about the start-up of school, COVID protocols, orientation week and sharing vaccination information with Havergal. 

Summer Reading Challenge and Summer Reading Recommendations

A huge thank you to Ms. Marino (our Librarian) and Ms. Tulli (our Literacy Coordinator) for creating this year’s Summer Reading Challenge, as well as carefully curating a list of summer reading recommendations. 

To learn more be sure to check out our JS Library Website 

Vaccinations

While students in JK – Grade 6 are not currently eligible for vaccinations, we wanted to be sure to share the message that was included in the US Blog today regarding this:

Vaccination is one of our best tools for protection against COVID-19. We are strongly encouraging all students to get a full series of COVID-19 vaccinations as soon as they are eligible, to help maximize individual and collective safety in our community.

In late-August, instructions will be sent to you regarding how to share your child’s COVID -19 vaccination receipts with the Health Centre. In the meantime, please hold onto these records.

Please note that our vaccination policies are currently being reviewed and may be updated over the summer as we await further direction from Toronto Public Health and the Ministry of Education regarding vaccinations. 

REMINDERS

Report Cards – Available Online on Thursday, June 24th at 9:00 am 

To access your daughter’s report card: 

• Log in to the Havergal College Parent Portal via the Community Login located at https://www.havergal.on.ca/login.
• Click on myhavergal (Veracross) link to access your personalized Parent Portal.
• Once on the Veracross Parent Portal landing page, look for the “Reports” tab under “My Children” and click on the September – June link.
• Be sure to save/print a copy of your daughter’s report. Look for the ‘Print to PDF’ link in the upper right hand corner of the report. 

For more information on report cards: 

• June Report Card (Kindergarten) 
• June Report Card (Grades 1 – 6) 

Dear JS Parents,

As we come to the last full week of the academic year, I wanted to take a moment to say thank you. It has been a year with so many challenges, and I am grateful for your many contributions. I look forward to Monday, when we will wish our Grade 6s well before they cross the bridge and begin Middle School in the fall, and to our Closing Ceremony on Wednesday.

Sadly, this afternoon in prayers, we had to address another tragedy as we acknowledged the killing of the Afzaal family in London. A special note of thanks to Yusra, a Grade 11 student from the Upper School, who contributed to this message. Her words are powerful, and provide an invitation for reflection and action.

“What makes Canada and the HC community so beautiful is the support available within. At the end of the day, the small amount of hate that exists within people does not overpower the immense amount of love and acceptance. It is your responsibility coming from a place of privilege to do your part. To do your part in educating yourself and others, to do your part in addressing something if you see it’s wrong, and to do your part in standing in solidarity with those affected by this act of hate. To conclude, I pray that the family and friends of the Afzaal family find peace and comfort with the support they are receiving and that action is taken by political leaders to ensure that this will be the last time something like this happens.“

Wishing you peace.

Sincerely,

Kate

LATEST NEWS

Virtual Gator Week

It’s Virtual Gator Week in Phys-Ed Classes at the Junior School. The Phys-Ed teachers and the Grade 6’s have created instructional videos for the girls in each class to face off against each other. Within these mini challenges they try to get points for their house. Currently Mary Dennis (Check link) is ahead. 

Here is the link for up-to-minute results: Gator Week Results 

Tech Inventory Form – To be completed by Wednesday, June 16

• If you have not already done so, please complete this Tech Inventory Form by Wednesday, June 16. 

End of Year Celebrations

Monday, June 14

• 4:45 pm – 6:00 pm Grade 6 Leaving Ceremony
  • Zoom Meeting
    • Meeting ID: 916 6762 9677
    • Passcode: 415427

Wednesday, June 16

• Individual Virtual Class “Goodbyes” (these will occur before the Closing Ceremony)
  • Students will have an opportunity to meet with their teachers and classmates virtually one last time as a group on this day.
  • Please refer to your child’s Seesaw or Google Classroom page for the pertinent details
• 10:30 am – 11:30 am JS Closing Ceremony 
  • JS Closing Zoom Link 
  • Meeting ID: 938 4148 5101 
  • Passcode: 570566

Wednesday, June 16 – Friday, June 18 – Drop-Off and Pick Up Information

• Drive by “Drop-off” and “Pick-up”
  • Students and their families are invited to sign up for a time to come to the school, using the Pick-A-Time Link to drop by the JS. 
    • This links is OPEN NOW, and CLOSES TUESDAY, JUNE 15th at 6:00 pm
  • Times Available include:
  • Wednesday, June 16  (12 pm – 4 pm)
  • Thursday, June 17  (9 am – 4 pm)
  • Friday, June 18 (9 am – 4 pm)

• Items to DROP-OFF
  • EVERYONE
    • Laptops and iPads with corresponding chargers borrowed from IT
    • Please note that you do NOT need to return art supply kits and pencil cases with stationery supplies provided by the school
  • Grade 4 & 6
    • Musical instruments 
  • Grade 5
    • Do NOT need to bring their musical instruments back to school, as they will use them again in the fall

• Items to PICK-UP
  • Any labelled unclaimed items still at the school
  • This year’s copy of the Havergal Yearbook (Ludemus)
  • A Class Composite Photo
  • Promotion Certificates
  • A sweet treat to say thank you for the year!

Dear JS Parents,

It has been a week filled with emotions, as we have learned of the decision to not have classes return to on-campus learning until the fall. While I know this is difficult, please be assured that we have been planning for this eventuality. It is important, despite the circumstances, that we end the year in a way that provides closure, and that is both meaningful and celebratory.

We are almost there, and we have done it together! I continue to be in awe of all that we have accomplished together, and look forward to an exceptional end to the year. Thank you for everyone’s ongoing support.

Please be sure to read this week’s blog in its entirety, as it contains important information regarding the last two weeks of school.

Should you have any questions, please reach out to your child’s homeroom teacher, or to me. 

Sincerely,

Kate

LATEST NEWS

Manager of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion – An Introduction

• Junior School students had the opportunity to meet Raagini Appadurai in prayers this afternoon. Ms. Appadurai will be working with our teachers and students to help us to make sure that people understand their own identities, and the identities of others, so that every member of our community feels included, respected, and valued. We are so excited for the work that we will do together!

Prayers – Monday, June 7: National Indigenous People’s Day (3:00 pm – 3:30 pm; link can be found on Seesaw or Google Classroom)

• One week ago, we learned the heartbreaking news that the remains of 215 Indigenous children were found buried at the location of the former Indian Residential School on Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc territory in Kamloops, BC. 
• As a community, we continue to learn more about the Indigneous People’s experience in Canada, grieve this tragic loss and advocate for truth and reconciliation with Indigneous People.
• National Indigenous People’s Day is on June 21st. While we will not be at school on this day, it was important to honour this important day. 

• Prayers on Monday will include:
  • Messaging delivered by some of our Grade 5 students, highlighting some of their learning on Indigenous communities prior to settlement; the lack of appreciation of those cultures by white settlers; a description of “Jordan’s Principle, connected to their unit on government, which describes ongoing issues of racism;
  • A description of the importance and purpose purpose of Indigenous People’s Day;
  • A Message from a guest visitor, Michelle Boudrias, who will share what National Indigenous People’s Day means to her, and how she and her family celebrate;
  • A moment of silence
  • Smudging by Michelle Alexander, accompanied by blessing by Rev. Stephanie Douglas-Bowman

We hope that you will be able to join us.

End of Year Preparations:

Friday, June 11

• 3:00 pm – 3:30 pm Final Prayers
  • Zoom Meeting
    • Meeting ID: 931 6344 7113
    • Passcode: 055571

Monday, June 14

• 4:45 pm – 6:00 pm Grade 6 Leaving Ceremony
  • Zoom Meeting
    • Meeting ID: 916 6762 9677
    • Passcode: 415427

Wednesday, June 16

• Individual Virtual Class “Goodbyes” (these will occur before the Closing Ceremony)
  • Students will have an opportunity to meet with their teachers and classmates virtually one last time as a group on this day.
  • Please refer to your child’s Seesaw or Google Classroom page for the pertinent details
• 10:30 am – 11:30 am JS Closing Ceremony * Please note the change in time!
  • JS Closing Zoom Link 
  • Meeting ID: 938 4148 5101 
  • Passcode: 570566

Wednesday, June 16 – Friday, June 18

• Drive by “Drop-off” and “Pick-up”
  • Students and their families are invited to sign up for a time to come to the school, using the Pick-A-Time Link to drop by the JS for a final goodbye of the year. 
    • This links is OPEN NOW, and CLOSES TUESDAY, JUNE 15th at 6:00 pm
  • Times Available include:

• Wednesday, June 16  (12 pm – 4 pm)
• Thursday, June 17  (9 am – 4 pm)
• Friday, June 18 (9 am – 4 pm)

• Items to DROP-OFF
  • Any Havergal issues device in use during the CLP (i.e., Laptop and/or iPad and any corresponding chargers)
  • Grade 4 & 6 students are asked to drop off their musical instruments (Grade 5s should keep theirs for Grade 6)
  • Any other items belonging to Havergal College
• Items to PICK-UP
  • Any labelled unclaimed items still at the school
  • This year’s copy of the Havergal Yearbook (Ludemus)
  • Your child’s “composite class photo”
  • A sweet treat to say thank you for the year!

REMINDERS

Dr. Robyne Hanley Dafoe – Recording and Survey

On Thursday, May 27 we were fortunate to host Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe for an engaging and informative parent webinar on resilience and wellbeing. To view the recording of the event, click HERE. 
We would appreciate it if you could take a few minutes and complete this survey to share your thoughts on the presentation and provide feedback for planning future events.