Month: September 2021

A Message from the Head of the Junior School: Friday, September 24, 2021

On By havergaljuniorschoolLeave a comment

Dear Junior School Parents,

It’s hard to believe, but Wednesday, September 22 marked the first day of fall! The air has turned crisp, and the leaves are starting to turn, and it is lovely to see our students making use of the beautiful Havergal grounds at recess, in Phys Ed, and other parts of the day. As we finish the second full week of school, I am happy to report that our students are continuing to form meaningful relationships with their teachers and classmates, which is such an important foundation to a positive school environment. We are off to a great start!

A quick word of thanks to all of our Junior School Grade Reps who gathered together for the first time this year. As ambassadors of the school, we are appreciative of your positive and enthusiastic support, and your commitment to understanding school routines, protocols and events. Please note that Grade Rep meetings are open to all JS families, and you are welcome to join us at the next meeting on October 20.

This blog contains information on the subjects below. Please note that you can click on these links to take you directly to the section you wish to see, rather than having to scroll down.

Sincerely,

Kate

Latest News

Truth and Reconciliation Week and Orange Shirt Day

  • Students from JK to Grade 12 will be acknowledging Truth and Reconciliation week from Monday, September 27 – Friday, October 1. 
  • Orange Shirt Day falls within this week, and will be observed on Thursday, September 30. This is a day when we come together as a community in the spirit of reconciliation and hope because every child matters.  In preparation for this, prayers on Monday will focus on the story of how Orange Shirt Day came to be, and reflecting on what it looks, sounds and feels like to matter.  As part of this, we are pleased to welcome Havergal parent Kathleen Padulo to prayers on Monday as a guest speaker. Ms. Padulo will share how she honours Orange Shirt Day, as well as how she connects with her Indigenous culture.
  • Thursday, September 30th is a non-uniform day. All students are invited to wear an orange shirt with grub clothing.

Dashboard Signs

  • Earlier this week, we issued dashboard signs to the households of our Grade 1 – 6 students as well as “authorized pick-up” cards (wallet-sized”) to the households of our kindergarten students. 
  • This streamlined means of affirming that we can, indeed, release your children to specific adults. The orange cards include the crucial “carpool” number associated with your children. 

Thursday, October 7: Harvest Festival and Terry Fox Run

Harvest Festival and Non- Perishable Food Donations (8:30 am – 9:00 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. 
  • Students are to wear their Number One Dress for the service, and will then change into their Phys Ed Uniform for the afternoon when they participate in the Terry Fox Run.
  • This year, we will once again be collecting non-perishable food items. All will be donated to the North York Harvest Food Bank, a long-standing Community Partner. We have connect with the organization, and they have indicated an urgent need for the for the following:
    • cooking oil
    • canned fish (i.e. tuna, salmon)
    • canned tomatoes (whole or diced)
    • dry pasta
    • canned vegetables
    • canned legumes (i.e. kidney/black beans)
    • baby formula
  • Students will not be making baskets this year, as they have in the past, as this generated a huge amount of waste, and was not aligned with Havergal’s commitment to sustainability. Instead, boxes will be placed near the Learning Hub and Ms. Walker’s office: students are invited to drop off their donations as they arrive each morning. The Food Drive will start on Thursday, September 30 – Thursday, October 7
  • Our Grade 6 Leaders will be sharing more information about this at our first house meeting next week.  
  • Families are welcome to join us for the service. A link will be provided next week.

Terry Fox Run 

  • We are thrilled to once again be participating in the Terry Fox Run this year!
  • Cohorts will run at different times throughout the day in a manner consistent with our COVID protocols. 
  • Parents who are interested in making donations are asked to do so via the Havergal College Junior School Fundraising link, at the Terry Fox Foundation’s website, rather than sending in cash donations; this site is a helpful resource for those not yet familiar with Terry Fox’s story.

REMINDERS

Use SchoolPass to Manage Early Dismissals and Late Arrivals

Parents are asked to log all early dismissals and late arrivals via the SchoolPass app: entries can be made up until 2 p.m. for the date in question

JS Food Services

  • Lunch orders for the week of Monday, October 4 – Friday, October 8 must be placed by Wednesday, September 29, using the online Junior School Ordering Form
  • Please use the same link every week, the menus within the link will update on a weekly basis. It is helpful to save the link as a favourite in your browser (Chrome is best).
  • Ordering deadlines will be Wednesdays at 12 noon every week
  • Please direct any questions to chartwellsfood@havergal.on.ca

Gator Care Pick-Up Routine

  • For after-school care, we ask that families register their children by sending an email to gatorcare@havergal.on.ca and that they communicate their plans to their children.
  • All students being picked up from Gator Care after 4 pm are to be collected by an adult from the Gator Care entrance as demarcated on this map. Siblings can pick up from Gator Care until 4 pm.

Before/After School Co-curriculars

  • Please review the table which starts on Page 3 in this document to ensure you are clear when your child has before/after school activities
  • For Arts activities, if your child is on a wait list for an Arts activity, Ms. Goodridge will be in touch should another child drop out and adequate space is made available.

DATES ON THE HORIZON

Thursday, September 30 – Thursday, October 7

  • Food drive in support of the North York Food Bank

Thursday, September 30

  • Orange Shirt Day 
    • This is a non-uniform day, and all students JK – 12 are invited to wear an orange shirt on this day.

Thursday, October 7 

  • Virtual Harvest Festival – 8:30 am (link to come)
  • Terry Fox Run

Friday, October 8

  • No classes
  • PD day for faculty and staff

Monday, October 11

  • Thanksgiving Monday – No classes

A Message From the Head of the Junior School – Friday, September 17, 2021

On By havergaljuniorschoolLeave a comment

Dear Junior School Parents,

We’ve done it! Today marks the end of our first week back at school! It has been such a pleasure to see our students back in the building, learning and playing together. We are excited for the year ahead and look forward to what is to come.

I would also like to say thank you all for your continued patience and support as we have launched both School Pass and our Food Services Program. Your feedback has been invaluable in our efforts to continually improve. As always, do not hesitate to reach out with any questions you may have.

This week’s blog contains information on topics below. Each of these have been included as anchor links, so that you can jump ahead to each section.

Sincerely,

Kate. White

Your Carpool Number! – Dashboard Signs

  • Starting next week, we will be issuing dashboard signs, much like the signs we used last year, so that parents can display their “carpool numbers” in order to make our routine more efficient.
  • Until then, please have your “Carpool Number” ready on the SchoolPass app, so that your child’s teacher can be alerted to your arrival promptly
    • Here is a screenshot of where this can be located:

Lunch Services Update

Further to our message from Wednesday, September 15, we are pleased to announce that we have made some important changes to our ordering process for the Food Services program.

Effective immediately, the CaterTrax platform will be disabled and will no longer be in use. Any orders that were placed on CaterTrax for the coming weeks will be cancelled. Today we are launching a simpler, less time-consuming method of ordering. You will need to reorder using the new ordering form going forward. Our new order form is intuitive, easy to use, accessible on mobile and can be found HERE. Please note that the order form is best accessed using Google Chrome as your browser.

Your feedback this week has helped us to better shape our offering and process. Below are the key changes to the Food Services program:

  • We are starting the program with a simplified menu of options. We will continue to revise our menus, keeping both seasonality and your feedback in mind. 
  • Menu items are now offered at a fixed price: $6.50 per meal for JK to Grade 2 students; $8.50 per meal for Grades 3 to 6 students.
  • Lunch consists of an entrée, drink and snack.
  • Orders can be placed one week at a time on a single order form per child. You will receive an email confirmation once your order has been placed. 
  • The deadline to order for next week (September 20 to 24) is Sunday, September 19 at noon.
  • Ordering deadlines for subsequent weeks will be on Wednesdays at noon.
  • For order cancellations, please use the email address at the bottom of the order form in the Contact Us section.

Thank you again for your patience this week. Your support is appreciated as we make the necessary adjustments to our process and system. We will share further updates with you as they arise, as we strive to continually improve our Food Services program at Havergal in collaboration with our partner, Chartwells.

  • If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Chartwells, who would be happy to assist: chartwellsfood@havergal.on.ca

Rapid Antigen Screening

Due to government changes, Havergal needs to pause the rapid antigen screening pilot in the Junior School. We are hopeful that we will get more clarity in the coming week and that we can continue, as planned, with this added health and safety measure for our youngest learners.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work out the details of the pilot program.

Athletics and Performing Arts Registration Information 

  • We are reintroducing before and after school athletics and arts co-curriculars: please review the options and how to register here.

People and Program Night Recordings and Feedback Form

  • Thank you for your participation in People and Program Night. This is always such a wonderful opportunity for us to gather as a community, and learn about the year ahead. We really value your feedback, and would love the opportunity to hear from you about this night. Please use the  JS People and Program Night Parent Feedback form to share your thoughts with us!
  • If you were not able to attend, please feel free to watch the Opening Webinar by a member of the SLT, as well as the recordings of the homeroom presentations, which can be found on your child’s class website.

Terry Fox Run – Thursday, October 7

This year, the Junior School will be conducting the Terry Fox Run on Thursday, October 7.  Cohorts will run at different times throughout the day in a manner consistent with our COVID protocols. Parents who are interested in making donations are asked to do so via the Havergal College Junior School Fundraising link, at the Terry Fox Foundation’s website, rather than sending in cash donations; this site is a helpful resource for those not yet familiar with Terry Fox’s story.

Number One Dress on Fridays

  • We would like to remind families that students in Grades 1 – 6 should be wearing their Number One Dress uniform each Friday. This aligns with Friday Prayers.

Gator Care is Open! 

  • Please note that entry to and exit from Gator Care is via the dining doors which face the ravine, as illustrated by this map; we have changed this arrangement for safety reasons
  • Morning Gator Care 
    • No Charge
    • Registration required by 8 pm the evening before (gatorcare@havergal.on.ca)
    • Hours of operation: 7:30 am – 8:00 am
  • Afternoon Gator Care
    • $15/hr; this will be charged to your Havergal account
    • Registration required by 9 am the day you would like your child to attend  (gatorcare@havergal.on.ca)
    • Open until 6:00pm
    • Children are to be picked up after 4:00 p.m.

Dates on the Horizon

Thursday, September 30

  • Orange Shirt Day (All students JK – 12 are invited to wear an orange shirt on this day.
  • To learn more about this day, or to order a shirt, visit: Orange Shirt Day

Thursday, October 7 

  • Virtual Harvest Festival – 8:30 am (link to come)
  • Terry Fox Run

Friday, October 8

  • No classes
  • PD day for faculty and staff

Monday, October 11

  • Thanksgiving Monday – No classes

A Message From the Head of the Junior School – Friday, September 10, 2021

On By havergaljuniorschoolLeave a comment

Dear Junior School Parents,

What an absolute pleasure it has been to see your children back at school! Our new and returning students have spent their first day at school developing relationships, building classroom culture, and understanding the rights and responsibilities of being a Havergal student. 

We are very much looking forward to the weeks ahead, and settling into classroom routines, and starting our work together as learners and contributing members of the school community. As a reminder, please be sure to reach out to your child’s homeroom teacher, as a first point of contact, with any questions or concerns. Our partnership with you is important, and we value these opportunities to connect. 

Wishing you all the best for a happy and healthy weekend ahead.

Sincerely,

Kate

LATEST NEWS

Safe Arrival and Dismissal of Students

A huge note of thanks to our families for remembering to complete the Wellness Check, on SchoolPass, for your child(ren) prior to their arrival at school! This is a critical piece of our health and safety protocols. Each student was provided with a QR code earlier this week that has been attached to their backpack. This enables us to check each child in upon arrival.

Updating Your SchoolPass Account

Please review all of the tips provided in this quick reference guide so that you know how to add drivers and make other changes as necessary; if you need assistance to change who has been designated as “Parent 1”, please email jsoffice@havergal.on.ca to request that we facilitate that change

In order to expedite the arrival and departure of students, we ask the following:

Drop-off  (8:00 am – 8:20 am)

  • Only families with children in JK or SK are permitted to park on school property and accompany them to the JK/SK door. If you have a child in Grades 1 – 6, you are not permitted to park on property during drop-off.
  • If you are driving your child to school, stay in your vehicle. A Havergal employee will be on hand to provide assistance and to walk-in those students that are not yet ready to do so independently.
  • Have your child exit the vehicle on the curbside only, rather than onto the driveway.
  • Have your child’s backpack and school materials in the backseat, and not in the trunk, ready for a quick drop-off.

Pick-Up

  • In order to manage traffic, the JS has a staggered dismissal system.  Please adhere to your child’s dismissal time. If you have children with different dismissal times, please come at the later time. 
    • 3:00 pm – JK
    • 3:15 pm – SK
    • 3:25 pm – Grades 1 – 3
    • 3:40 pm – Grades 4 – 6 
    • Grade 1 – 6 students can be picked up between their dismissal & 4:00 p.m.

  • Upon arrival at the school, please have your “Carpool Number” ready on the SchoolPass app, so that it can be inputted quickly into our system and your child’s teacher can be alerted to your arrival. 
  • Here is a screenshot of where this can be located:

Independent Dismissal for Students in Grades 4 – 6

  • If you plan to pick up your child(ren) by car, and they have been given a green tag indicating they have been registered to leave the school property independently, please collect them from the northern side of Rosewell, across from the school (there is a crosswalk available for students to use), OR from a location a block or two away from Havergal. This will assist us in alleviating congestion on school property.
  • If your would like to grant your child this permission, please register as soon as possible, using the following link: Independent Dismissal Registration

Rapid Testing for the Entire JS Community: 

  • An email will be issued from Shemina Ladak, Director Administration Department about the Thrive website; please ensure you reply by Tuesday, September 14 to sladak@havergal.on.ca to clarify which email address you would like the invitation from Thrive to go to. This email will serve as the basis of your Thrive account.
  • If your child has had an infection in the last 90 days, they should not participate. Please contact covid@havergal.on.ca to share your child’s name and/or if you have specific questions about whether or not they are to be included.
  • We are in the process of planning a Webinar for parents to further explain how to complete Rapid testing in conjunction with your Thrive account. Stay tuned!

Athletics and Arts Registration Information 

  • We are reintroducing before and after school athletics and arts co-curriculars: please review the options and how to register here.

Orange Shirt Day – Thursday, September 30 

  • Havergal is recognizing Orange Shirt Day on Thursday, 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 on Monday, September 27. 
  • Students are invited to wear an orange shirt on this day, on top of their regular HC uniform.

REMINDERS

Gator Care Opens Next Week! 

  • Parents are asked to ensure they have completed the Wellness Check on SchoolPass before dropping off their children at Gator Care; 
  • Morning Gator Care 
    • No Charge
    • Registration required by 8 pm the evening before (gatorcare@havergal.on.ca)
    • Hours of operation: 7:30 am – 8:00 am
  • Afternoon Gator Care
    • $15/hr; this will be charged to your Havergal account
    • Registration required by 9 am the day you would like your child to attend  (gatorcare@havergal.on.ca)
    • Hours of operation: students’ dismissal time –  6:00pm
  • Please note that if you would like your child to attend Gator Care on a regular basis, simply indicate what the schedule is in one email.

People and Program Night – Tuesday, September 14, at 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm 

  • We are excited to be hosting the JS People and Program Night for parents on Tuesday, September 14th 
  • For all the information you need to know (including Zoom links and the agenda) click on the following link: People and Program Evening: Junior School 

Lunch Services

  • Lunch services commence on Monday, September 13. 
  • Please note that orders must be submitted each Wednesday by midnight for lunch service commencing the following Monday.
  • Here are the step-by-step instructions on navigating how to register and order.

Student Photos

Student photos will start to be taken next week. Your child’s photo day can be found on Seesaw, Google Classroom, and the Veracross calendar.

DATES ON THE HORIZON

Tuesday, September 14 

  • JS People and Program Night

Friday, September 17 

Wednesday, September 30  

  • Orange Shirt Day (JK – 12)

Thursday, October 7 

  • Virtual Harvest Festival – 8:30 am (link to come)

Friday, October 8

  • No classes
  • PD day for faculty and staff

Monday, October 11

  • Thanksgiving Monday – No classes

A Message From the Head of the Junior School – Friday, September 3, 2021

On By havergaljuniorschoolLeave a comment

Dear Junior School Parents,

A very warm welcome to all of our new and returning families! We were thrilled to have been able to host tours this week so that you had the opportunity to see our beautiful new spaces. Our team has been working hard this week to ensure that everything is ready for a smooth transition back to school. 

This is the first Junior School, College Blog of the 2021-2022. It is published each Friday. The blog will provide alerts for activities and events that are upcoming, as well as highlights from the week that may generate conversation with your child about her school life. 

I look forward to what I am confident will be another exciting and fruitful year of learning, and relationship building at Havergal!

LATEST NEWS

School Pass:

  • Installation & Update of SchoolPass is required before Tuesday, September 7: please follow these instructions carefully; if you have difficulty, please email jso@havergal.on.ca
  • Please ensure that “Parent 1” is the best person to authorize changes in your child’s schedule, add/remove “drivers”, and act as our contact should the school need to verify an unexpected request.
  • Please ensure that your daughter comes to school on her first day with her backpack; this will enable us to attach her SchoolPass bag tag safely.

Independent Dismissal:

  • Parents of students in Grades 4 – 6 who wish to arrange for their children to leave school independently are asked to register as soon as possible, using the following link: Registration for Independent Dismissal
  • This registration cannot be provided via SchoolPass; you can change your arrangements at any point during the school year

Student Photos:

  • We will be having student photographs taken on three different dates: Thursday, September 16, Friday, September 17, and Friday, October 1.
  • Please check your child’s class website as of Friday, September 10 to confirm which date will apply: we will be able to provide specific details shortly. Thank you for your patience.

Update from Rose Reisman Catering: 

  • those charged for meals their children did not receive in April/May, 2021, please contact Sheena at Kids Lunch at sheenas@rosereismancatering.com directly to arrange for a credit to be applied to your credit card

REMINDERS

Back to School Information:

Ordering Hot Lunches:

  • It’s time to prepare to place your first order for hot lunch with Chartwells:
    • Please review this document for all the relevant details
    • The sample menu currently posted will be replaced with our first customized menu of the year after Friday, September 3. 
    • Please ensure you order on Wednesday, September 8 for the week of September 13.

Reusing School Supplies: 

  • Students are invited bring the canvas supply pouches they received last year back to school
  • They include a pencil case, sketchbook and art supplies received last year  
  • Students will continue to use these this year; replacements will be provided during Art class