A Message from the Head of the Junior School – Friday, January 21, 2022

On By havergaljuniorschool

Dear Junior School Parents,

What a tremendous week it has been! From snowstorms, to a delay in return to campus, frigid temperatures and traffic jams, the JS community has made it through. It has brought us so much joy to see our students playing in the snow, and reconnecting with their classmates. It has been amazing to watch how seamlessly students have switched back to life on campus. It is no exaggeration to say that they will remember these days forever.

This week’s blog contains information on the following:

Sincerely,

Kate

UPDATES

Major Dates Calendar for 2022-2023

  • The Major Dates Calendar for the 2022-2023 school year is linked here. 
  • We have looked strategically at the planning for Professional Development days and have aligned them with holidays when there is a natural synergy with family time as well as what works well for faculty professional development. 

Sharing COVID-19 Data

  • We will be posting a daily update about COVID-19 positive cases (rapid antigen and PCR), that are reported to the College, through Thrive Health. The data will be identified by cohort and will include the student’s last known date on campus.
  • Updates will be posted to the Parent portal under the Parent Resources area on the link named “Thrive Test Reporting”.
  • The information for Thursday, January 20, 2022 can be found here. Note that only cases after January 10 2022 are reported here, and that last dates on campus in December are approximations, as the Upper School was in remote learning.

JS Before/After School Co-curriculars

  • The re-start of Athletics has been postponed until Jan 28th however the season will extend until the March Break. 
  • When we return students will participate with 1 cohort at a time and you will receive an email from your coach early next week as to when you will be participating. 
  • Swimming will be postponed until further notice.
  • Arts activities will resume next week according to the schedule Ms.Goodridge has shared with parents.
  • There will be no Homework Club for now

Dressing for the Weather

  • We have had several students come to school without adequate outdoor winterwear.
  • Please ensure your child has mitts, a hat, and snow pants as we anticipate this will remain a very cold winter.

REMINDERS

Chartwell’s Ordering Form

  • For the week of January 31, you are invited to submit your lunch orders by Wednesday, January 26 at 12 noon: Chartwell’s Order Form 

Dismissal Times

  • We have had traffic problems due to caregivers arriving too early for their children’s pick-up times at the end of the day. 
  • Those with children in Grades 4 – 6 are asked to delay their arrival until at least 3:40 p.m.  Caregivers are welcome to pick up along the driveway anytime before 4:00 p.m.
  • Younger siblings will wait indoors with their duty teachers until this window.
  • At 4:00 p.m., children who remain will be taken to Gator Care.
  • Please review the dismissal times once more:
    • JK—Students will be dismissed at 3:00 pm.
    • SK—Students will be dismissed at 3:15 pm.
    • Grades 1-3—Students will be dismissed at 3:25 pm. 
    • Grades 4-6—Students will be dismissed at 3:40 pm. 
    • Students in Gator Care—Please arrive from 4 pm onwards
  • With your help, we are confident the traffic flow will improve.

Masks – Sending “Extras”

  • Please send extras with your child with several masks either in a ziplock bag or small  tupperware container. They often get wet at recess, and need to be changed when they return inside.  

Skating Forms Due 

  • Parents with children in Grades 3 – 6 are invited to check their inboxes for email sent out recently by the Health and Physical Education teachers regarding skating.
  • A form which outlines the risks involved needs to be signed before students can participate.
  • Skating starts next week, so we would appreciate prompt completion 
  • Parents who would prefer that their children not skate are asked to communicate this to their child’s HPE teacher in writing, clarifying that their child has permission to go on the excursion but that they will not skate

Vaccine Documentation

  • As you are aware, the COVID-19 vaccine was approved for children aged 5-11 at the end of November 2021. The College encourages parents to get their children aged 5-11 vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine to prevent serious illness, to make our school and activities safer, and to reduce the risk of outbreaks or disruptions at school. The Health Centre has begun to collect vaccination documentation for children aged 5-11. You can reference our Upper School Student Vaccine Policy for further information on how vaccine documentation is confidentially stored. 
  • If your child has received their COVID-19 vaccine please let us know by:
    • Emailing the Health Centre at covid@havergal.on.ca
    •  Subject line: COVID-19 Vaccination Student Name 
    •  Include a screenshot or copy of the student’s official COVID-19 vaccination receipts, or a letter from a health care provider confirming the student has received a full series of the COVID-19 vaccination. 

Travel Outside of Canada 

DATES ON THE HORIZON

Online Re-enrollment

  • Commences online Thursday, January 27 @12 noon; closes Tuesday, February 8

Midterm Break

  • Friday, February 18 – Monday, February 21 

“Update” Report Cards

  • Available to parents on Thursday, March 3 @4:00 p.m.

March Break

  • Friday, March 11 – Sunday, March 27
  • Monday, March 28: classes resume

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