A Message from the Head of the Junior School – Friday, September 8, 2023

On By havergaljuniorschool

Dear Junior School Families,

It has been such a lovely week, as we have welcomed our new and returning students to the Junior School. We are all loving getting to know your daughters, and to what we are confident will be a wonderful year of learning and community building.

Today, we held our very first prayers for the 2023-2024 school year, for our students in Grades 1 – 6. Prayers has been an integral part of the Havergal College tradition since we first opened in 1894, close to one hundred and twenty nine years ago!

This much loved tradition serves to bring our community together. It is a place to ask questions, to learn not only about the school’s rich Anglican traditions, and also to celebrate other religions, cultures, and traditions. It is where we come together  to share thoughts and ideas, to challenge our thinking, to reflect and to grow. 

I encourage you to connect with your child about what this experience was like for her today. What did she like best? What questions does she have about prayers this year? How might she use this time to reflect about herself as a learner and a member of the Havergal community?

We are very much looking forward to spending time together in prayers again on Tuesdays and Fridays each week. Families are always warmly invited to attend. Please note that our students in JK and SK join us on Fridays for Prayers, but not on Tuesdays.

Wishing you all the very best this weekend! We are very much looking forward to seeing everyone next week.

Sincerely,

Kate

Today’s edition of “The Weekly” contains information on the following:

LATEST NEWS

Second Step Social-Emotional Skill Building Program

This year, the Junior School will be continuing its implementation of the Second Step program to support the wellbeing of all our students. Second Step is a research-based program that provides explicit instruction and practice of key social-emotional skills considered necessary for students to effectively navigate social situations and build positive relationships with their peers. Lessons will support our students to develop skills in the following areas:

  • Empathy
  • Impulse Control
  • Problem Solving
  • Emotional Regulation
  • Social Awareness
  • Relationship Skills
  • Responsible Decision Making
  • Positive Self-Talk

The Second Step program will be taught by Child and Youth Worker, Holly Fournier, in collaboration with your child’s classroom teacher. If you have any questions about the Second Step program, please reach out to Holly Fournier at hfournier@havergal.on.ca. 

REMINDERS

How You Can Support a SAFE and EFFICIENT Arrival and Dismissal Process

Join us in ensuring that our Junior School remains a consistently safe environment for everyone in our community. Our amazing team of teachers and security professionals are here to support in this process, please follow their directions!

Parking

  • Only JK/SK Parents/Guardians are permitted to park in the Junior School Parking Lot, so that they can pick up their child from the  JK/SK door, at the rear of the building.
  • No other families are permitted to park in the JS parking lot during dismissal.
  • Please note that there cars must NEVER be left unattended along the driveway, as this impedes traffic flow during both arrival and dismissal.

Arrive for Dismissal at School During Your Child’s Designated Time 

  • 3:00 pm and 3:15 pm (JK and SK)
    • Please pick up at the rear kindergarten doors 
  • 3:00 pm – 3:15 pm (Grades 1 – 3)
    • Please pick up your child from the carline, or from the front of the school; have your laminated dismissal card clearly visible.
  • 3:15 pm – 3:30 pm (Grades 4 – 6)
    • Please pick up your child from the carline, or from the front of the school; have your laminated dismissal card clearly visible
  • Please NOTE
    • If you are early, you may be asked to temporarily leave the Junior School driveway.If you have more than one child, please arrive during the time slot assigned to your eldest child.

When Using the Carline

  • Stay in the “cue,” rather than driving ahead and around other vehicles, unless instructed otherwise by one of our security professionals.
  • Have students ready to exit, curbside, as soon as your car stops alongside the curb (backpacks, water bottles, etc, should be easily accessible). Stay in your car, if at all possible. If you need to exit your car to assist your child to get out of a car seat or booster, please do so quickly. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR CAR UNATTENDED AT ANY TIME!
  • Abide by the signage both on and off school property. This includes: driving 10 km along the driveway, not parking along the driveway during peak times, no double parking, or stopping in restricted zones on Rosewell Ave. 

When Walking

  • Cross at the designated crosswalk with the crossing guard and flashing pylons, and NOT across the driveway exit.

To learn more, please refer to our Junior School Arrival and Dismissal  Protocols.

People and Program Night – Tuesday, September 12

Please join us for People and Program Night! This is an opportunity for us to gather as a community, hear whole school messages about the year ahead, meet your daughter’s teachers and learn about what to expect this year. It is also a chance for you to connect with other families in your child’s grade. The schedule is as follows:

  • 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm Preloved Uniform Sale 
  • 5:30 pm – 6:00 pm Reception in the JS Dining Hall
  • 6:00 pm – 6:30 pm Whole School Presentation in the JS Gym
  • 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm – Classroom Presentations

Student Photos

  • We will be having student photographs taken on two different dates:
    • Wednesday, September 13, 2022  (JK – Grade 3)
    • Thursday, September 14, 2022 (Grades 4 – 6)
  • Students are asked to wear their #1 Dress both on Tuesday, as well as on the day that their photo is taken.

Celebration Saturday

Celebration Saturday is just around the corner! Watch for an email on Monday with details about purchasing wristbands and tickets. We can’t wait to see everyone on Saturday, September 23.

JS Food Services and Pizza Lunch Registration

A friendly reminder that in order for your child to participate in the Food Services program or in Pizza Lunch, they must be registered. While registration is now closed, via the Parent Portal is now closed, you can still register using the following links:

Should you require any assistance, please contact our partners at Chartwells directly: chartwells@havergal.on.ca 

Students with Allergies or Dietary Restrictions

If your daughter has an allergy or any dietary restrictions, we ask that you kindly let them know that their lunch will be served separately in an individual box rather than from the servery. Should you have any questions regarding this, please do not hesitate to connect with Chartwells directly. (chartwells@havergal.on.ca)

FALL CO-CURRICULARS

Registration for Fall Co-Curriculars (Clubs, Athletics, Arts) – FINAL REMINDER

Registration for Fall Co-Curriculars is still open. It will close on September 12 @ 8:00 pm. You can register via the Parent Portal. Click here for the fall catalog.

Athletics – Start Next Week (September 11)

Clubs and Arts start the week of September 18th

WHAT’S ON THE MENU NEXT WEEK

YOUR CHILD’S PERSONALIZED CALENDAR

Use this link to see a personalized summary of your child’s activities next week, on the Parent Portal.

KEY DATES ON THE HORIZON 

Monday, Sept 11 

Tuesday, September 12 

  • People and Program Night
    • 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm Preloved Uniform Sale 
    • 5:30 pm – Reception
    • 6:00 pm – 6:30 Whole School Presentation in the JS Gym
    • 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm – Classroom Presentations
  • Registration for Co-Curriculars closes at 8:00 pm

Wednesday, September 13

Thursday, September 14

Tuesday, September 19

  • Honouring the Jewish High Holidays  and Reception (8:30 am – 9:00 am in the JS Gym ; followed by a reception for families in the JS Dining Hall)
  • We would very much like to include photos from members of the Junior School community participating in events in honour of these two very special times in the Jewish Calendar. Should you wish to share any photos, please send them to our new Chaplain, Rev. Jillian Ruch (jruch@havergal.on.ca) so that they can be included in our slideshow. The photos should be submitted not later than Friday, September 15.

Monday, September 25 – Friday, September 29

  • Acknowledgment of Truth and Reconciliation Week & Orange Shirt Day
  • Students are invited to wear an orange shirt on Friday, September 29. Should your child wish to wear an orange shirt on this day, here is a list of vendors who sell orange shirts that are either designed by Indigenous artists, are sold at Indigenous-owned businesses, or whose donations are going to reconciliation efforts:

Saturday, September 23

  • Celebration Saturday (9:00 am – 1:00 pm)

Thursday, October 5

  • Harvest Festival (9:00 am – 9:30 am)

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