A Message From the Head of the Junior School – Friday, October 20, 2023

On By havergaljuniorschool

Dear Junior School Families,

This week, we welcomed over 400 visitors on Tuesday as prospective families came to learn more about the Havergal experience at our Junior School Open House. Our Grade 6s did an exemplary job of touring families through the school, and sharing their personal experiences as Havergal students. It was so lovely to note the number of parents who were blown away at how confident, thoughtful, and welcoming they were! 

Then, this afternoon we welcomed students in Grades 1 – 3 from neighbouring schools to participate in a “Fun Run” as part of the Cross-Country Programme. It was so lovely to see all the students running, with huge smiles on their faces, despite the muddy conditions.

I wish you all a lovely weekend, and look forward to welcoming our students back on Monday.

Warmly,

Kate White

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

LATEST NEWS

Dress Down Green and Gold Day – Thursday, October 26

Please note that students are invited to wear Green and Gold on Thursday, as a show of support for our Fall Athletic Teams.

Halloween in the JS!

Halloween is just around the corner and the JS community is very excited!!  As the day approaches, we would like to share some details with you.

Costumes and Accessories:

  • Students are welcome to come to school in their costumes 
  • Should leave any accessories (masks, broom sticks, etc…) for their costume in their lockers or cubbies, until it is time for the JS Halloween Parade in the afternoon.

What NOT to bring:

  • Students are not permitted to bring in any gifts or candy to share with their classmates. Our JS Prefects and their Council will be bringing in treats to hand out at the Junior School

Activities

12:40 pm – 2:10 pm

  • Halloween Activities Run by the Halloween Committee (Crafts, Halloween Read Alouds, Pumpkin hunt, Halloween Just Dance, Kahoot games and more!)

2:15 pm – 2:30 pm

  • JK- Grade 6 Halloween Parade Through the School

2:30 pm – 2:50 pm

  • “Halloween Assembly” in the Junior School Gym, all parents are welcome to join us!

3:00 pm – 3:30 pm

  • Regular dismissal procedures

Please note: 

  • All Co-curriculars, with the exception of Primary Choir, will still run as per usual on Tuesday, October 31st

Learning Skills Report Cards – Available for viewing on Wednesday, November 1 (Grades 1 – 6) 

Your daughter’s Learning Skills Report Card is available through a link on your Parent Portal on Wednesday, November 1 at 4 pm.  Please follow the instructions outlined in theJS Learning Skills Report Card Information Letter  from Dr. Seonaid Davis, Vice Principal of Teaching & Learning. 

If you have any questions please reach out to your daughter’s homeroom teacher as the first point of contact.

Junior School Parent-Teacher Interviews 

The first Junior School Parent/Teacher Conferences of the school year will take place virtually via Zoom on:

  • Thursday, November 16 from 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm 
    • There will be an early dismissal on this day
      • JK- Gr. 3: 1:30-1:45 pm
      • Gr.4-6: 1:45-2:00 pm
      • Gator Care will run from 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm; billing begins at 2:00 pm and be sure to register for Gator Care by Monday, November 13th, so that we can ensure we have the appropriate staffing.
  • Friday, November 17 from 8:00am – 3:00pm 
    • Please note there are NO CLASSES on this day.

Zoom links will be made available for the interviews in “The Weekly – Junior School,” on Friday, November 10  

Havergal’s online booking system – PickAtime

The online conference booking system used by Havergal College is called PickAtime. A link for this will be included in next week’s edition of “The Weekly – Junior School.”

  • PickAtime OPENS:  Thursday, November 2 at 6:00 pm
    • If you have any last changes, please contact Sarah Robertson (srobertson@havergal.on.ca) 
    • Please note that PickAtime does not permit the scheduling of back-to-back appointments 
    • Student Support Team Members (formerly Learning Support) will join homeroom teachers for as many of these interviews as possible
  • PickAtime CLOSES: Thursday, November 9 at 6:00 pm

Registering and Signing into pickAtime:

Already have a pickAtime account?

  • CLICK HERE  to sign into your pickAtime account with your password.

Need to register for an account?

  • If you do not have a pickAtime account, please create a pickAtime link in advance of the online opening. 
  • Please be sure to select the “Junior School” option in the drop down menu (not the “Upper School” or “Green and Gold”).

How to Optimize your Experience on Zoom

In order to have the best possible experience at the upcoming event, it is strongly recommended that your Zoom application be updated to the latest version. 

The following information and links have been provided by our IT department for your use:

Need any Further Help?

For assistance with pickAtime, please contact the Service Desk at servicedesk@havergal.on.ca (416) 483-3843 ext. 6663 and they will assist you. Their hours of operation are from Monday – Friday 7:30 am to 5 pm.

REMINDERS

Junior School Book Fair with Ella Minnow Children’s Bookstore! Oct 23 – 27

Havergal Junior School will be coordinating a book fair with Ella Minnow Children’s Bookstore from October 23 – 27.  Such events provide kids the chance to choose what they want to read from a wide selection of bestselling titles, series, and beloved characters.  Students of all ages and reading levels can connect with stories that entertain, inspire, and delight. We invite you to enhance your home library and help us instill a lifelong love of reading. Wishlists during that week will be brought home to be reviewed by parents and guardians. 

FALL CO-CURRICULARS

Athletics – JS Athletics Schedule

Congratulations to our Gr. 1 – 3 Cross Country Runners today for participating in the Havergal fun run. We had over 320 runners through the finish line! 

Our Swim team went to their 3rd meet of the season. This team has 32 swimmers and every swimmer has had the opportunity to test their skills at a swim meet.

Our U10 Basketball Squad Team had their first basketball game ever on Thursday. Congratulations to both the Green and Gold team for their tremendous growth throughout the game. It was fun to watch as their confidence developed as they were swishing their way to success. 

Finally our U11 Basketball teams went to BVG on Tuesday and had a successful experience. 

Good Luck to all of the teams at their championships this week. This will finalize the Fall Athletics Season. Winter registration opens on Nov. 3rd. 

Clubs and Arts

NOTES FROM THE HCPA

Junior School Grade Rep Meeting

Be sure to join us at our next JS Grade Rep meeting – Wednesday, October 25 at 8:45 am (JS Dining Hall). All parents are welcome! Nicole Cozier, Executive Director, Equity Diversity and Inclusion at HC will be our special guest. 

Ivy Market – Tuesday, November 21

Save the date for this fantastic holiday market and cocktail party. More details will arrive in your inbox on October 30.

HCPA Coffee Mornings at HC

Join us for coffee and conversation in the beautiful Biowall/Student Commons space at the Upper School from 8 – 9:30 am! (RSVP to hcpa.parentevents@gmail.com). 

  • Friday, October 27: JK to Grade 3 Parents
  • Friday, December 1: Grades 4 to 6 Parents

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 

Thursday, October 26

  • An Evening with Joanna Griffiths (HC ‘01) – The Knix Entrepreneurial Journey       (7:00 pm – 9:00 pm in the JS Dining Room)

Friday, October 27 (8:00 am – 9:30 am at the Upper School Bio Wall)

  • HCPA Coffee Morning for Parents in JK to Grade 3 

Tuesday, October 31 

  • Halloween is celebrated in the JS. We welcome all parents to our Halloween Assembly, which begins at 2:30pm in the JS gym. 

Wednesday, November 1

  • Student Progress Reports available for viewing at 4pm on the Parent Portal

Friday, November 3 

  • Diwali Prayers (8:25 am – 9:00 am) and Reception (9:00 am – 10:00 am)

Thursday, November 9 – Monday, November 13

  • November Break – No Classes
  • Thursday, November 9 – Professional Development Day for Faculty

Tuesday, November 14 

  • Classes Resume

Thursday, November 16

  • Parent Teacher Interviews 3 pm – 7:00 pm 
  • Early Dismissal
    • JK- Gr. 3: 1:30-1:45 pm
    • Gr.4-6: 1:45-2:00 pm

Friday, November 17

  • Parent Teacher Interviews (8:00 am – 3:00 pm)
  • No Classes

Tuesday, November 21

  • Ivy Market & Cocktail Party

Friday, December 1 (8:00 am – 9:30 am at the Upper School Bio Wall)

  •  HCPA Coffee Morning for Parents in Grades 4 to 6

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