In our final edition of “The Weekly – Junior School,” I wanted to offer a sincere note of thanks to all of you for your partnership and support of Havergal this year. We have already accomplished so much together as a community, and we are excited to see all that 2024 has in store.
Our faculty and staff have been so blown away by the beautiful notes and gifts we have received throughout the week, including from the HCPA, sharing your appreciation with our amazing team. We are truly grateful for your generosity and kindness. Thank you.
I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday over the next few weeks, and a well deserved opportunity to rest, and spend time with family and friends. May the spirit of Christmas bring you all much joy, health and happiness.
We will look forward to welcoming everyone back on Tuesday, January 9.
Warmly,
Kate White
Today’s edition of “The Weekly” contains information on the following:
Please see the link to the Major Dates Calendar for 2024-2025. We send the link to this calendar out at this time to allow employees and families to plan for the upcoming school year. Please be aware that it is subject to change and from time to time we need to make adjustments to it.
A Message from the Health Center
This month, there has been an increase of students visiting the Health Centre for symptoms of headache, stomach ache, nasal congestion and body aches. Toronto Public Health has stated that 3 respiratory viruses are on the rise in our communities: Influenza, Covid, and RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus). As the Holiday Season approaches, we wish that you remain healthy and along with Toronto Public Health are advising:
Get vaccinated (Flu, Covid)
Wear a mask in indoor settings if you are at higher risk of getting sick
Stay home when sick or if you have symptoms of being sick (even if mild)
Wear a mask for 10 days after symptoms start (or test +)
It was a week that highlighted the hope, love, peace and joy of the holiday season! Thank you to everyone for coming out to support our students at both the Kindergarten and Grade 1 – 6 Christmas Concerts. It was the perfect opportunity to come together as a community, and set the tone for the holiday season. I am particularly grateful for the combined efforts of our faculty and staff for ensuring that it went off without a hitch.
For those that were unable to attend, or for those who would love to see it again, take a look at the recording of the Kindergarten Christmas Concertand the Grade 1 – 6 Christmas Concert. I also encourage you to visit Havergal’s social media pages, where you can find photos from both special events.
Warmly,
Kate White
Today’s edition of “The Weekly” contains information on the following:
All items from the JS Lost and Found have been put out on display just outside the Gymnasium doors. All labelled items will be returned to their owners. Students will have an opportunity to walk by the Lost and Found with their class next week, to claim any unlabelled items.
Parents and Caregivers are encouraged to come by and take a look at what is there, prior to 3:30 pm on Wednesday.
Anything that remains unclaimed will either be put in the “Pre-Loved Uniform” box, or donated.
REMINDERS
Locker/Cubby Clean-out
All students are asked to bring all personal belongings home for the holidays. This is so that our cleaners are able to do an extra deep cleaning during the break. Please send your child to school with extra bags to carry their things. Teachers will be on hand to support the students with this task.
Upcoming Dress Down Days
Please note that the Junior School will be having two dress down days in the final days of school. These are:
Monday, December 18th – JS House dress down day. All Junior School students are invited to show their spirit and dress in house colours.
Wednesday, December 20th – JS Festive Wear Dress Down Day – All Junior School students are invited to wear their favourite sweater, with pants, a skirt, or even PJ bottoms! Have fun with it!
CO-CURRICULARS
Athletics
Congrats to the swim team on their first meet of the season.
The U11 & U12 volleyball teams had their first games last week. This year we have 6 teams of Gr. 5&6 Volleyball. It is fantastic having over 60 participants in the sport.
Other than Badminton Squad there are no Athletics next week.
Save the date! The Grade 1 Breakfast will be held on February 21 and the Grade 5 Breakfast on February 22. Invitations and details will be sent out soon.
A sincere note of thanks to all of our families for your continued support of our longtime community partnership with New Circles! Your thoughtful contributions towards the Holiday Angels Program are sincerely appreciated, and will make the holiday season just a little brighter for a number of families in the Toronto Community!
Today we had the pleasure of learning all about Hanukkah as a Junior School. Junior and Upper School students who celebrate the holiday came together, and thoughtfully shared the story of Hanukkah and the many traditions they participate in with family and friends. To all those celebrating, Happy Hanukkah!
With just over a week to go before the winter break, please be sure to read the information below carefully, so that you are aware of all that is happening!
Warmly,
Kate White
Today’s edition of “The Weekly” contains information on the following:
Junior School (Grade 1-6 ) Christmas Concert – Everything You Need to Know!
Location: St. Paul’s Bloor Street
For more information about the site location, click and scroll down to view map & directions.
Date: Wednesday, December 13
Time: 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm (doors open at 2:30 pm)
Tickets: Tickets are not required, all are welcome to attend. This includes grandparents and caregivers
Permission Form: Apermission form was sent out this week for all Grades 1-6 students who are attending the Christmas Concert. We ask that parents complete this permission form by 4pm on Monday, December 9th. Please note that members of the Primary and Junior Choir are not required to complete this form as they have already signed one at the start of the school year.
Please note:
Kindergarten
Will have a regular day at school, and will be dismissed as usual.
Kindergarten will not be attending the concert, unless they are with their family, and have an older sibling
There is NO afterschool Gator Care for Kindergarten students
Transportation to the Church
Students in Grade 1 – 6 will travel to St. Paul’s, via chartered bus, from 11:45 am- 1:15 pm for a rehearsal and then perform for their families at 3:00pm.
There is no transportation back to the school and NO after school Gator Care is available on this day.
Lunch and Snacks:
We have arranged to have an early lunch on this day, so that we can start to depart Havergal at 11:45 am.
All students from grades 1-6 will be provided an afternoon snack and drink prior to the performance at St. Paul’s. All allergies have been taken into consideration.
What to wear:
Number 1 Concert Dress is expected for the full school day on December 13.
Number 1 Concert Dress consists of:
White long-sleeve dress shirt
Tie
Tunic (JK-Grade 4) and Kilt (grades 5 and 6)
Tights, not socks (if you do not have tights, please arrange with your family to order some from the Green and Gold shop)
Black shoes
Hair back from face with minimal hair accessories that are the same colour as your hair or the HC official hair accessories
Dismissal from the Church
Students will be dismissed to their families after the concert is concluded. Every pew will be designated to a class (Ex. 2A, 3B etc). Parents must pick their daughter up from their class pew and sign them out with the homeroom teacher. Instructions will also be given at the conclusion of the concert.
Please note that students will need to come to school in their black shoes on Thursday, December 12, as their winter boots will have been left at school.
Kindergarten Christmas Concert – Friday, Dec 15
Location: Junior School Dining Room
Date: Friday, December 15
Time:
9:00 am – 9:30 am (Performance)
9:30 am – 10:00 am (Reception)
What Students Should Wear:
Number 1 Concert Dress consists of:
White long-sleeve dress shirt
Tie
Tunic
Tights, not socks (if you do not have tights, please arrange with your family to order some from the Green and Gold shop)
Black shoes
Hair back from face with minimal hair accessories that are the same colour as your hair or the HC official hair accessories
Who can come? All kindergarten families are welcome to attend. This includes grandparents and caregivers.
Locker/Cubby Clean-out
All students are asked to bring all personal belongings home for the holidays. This is so that our cleaners are able to do an extra deep cleaning during the break. Please send your child to school with extra bags to carry their things. Teachers will be on hand to support the students with this task.
Upcoming Dress Down Days
Please note that the Junior School will be having two dress down days in the final days of school. These are:
Monday, December 18th – JS House dress down day. All Junior School students are invited to show their spirit and dress in house colours.
Wednesday, December 20th – JS Festive Wear Dress Down Day – All Junior School students are invited to wear a festive top, with pants, a skirt, or even PJ bottoms! Have fun with it!
Skate Donations
If you have skates that are size 3 or over, or a hockey helmet that you no longer use, please consider donating them to the JS HPE dept. Any donated skates or helmets can be dropped off at the clear bin underneath the stairs in the JS. Thank you! ~ HPE dept.
REMINDERS
Registration for Food Services (January – March)
Registration for Food Services for the Winter Term is now open!
Please visit the Parent Portal, and go to the “Registration” section in order to sign up. All prices, as well as dates are listed there for your reference.
CO-CURRICULARS
Athletics
Good luck to the Swim team at their first meet and the U11 and U12 volleyball teams at their first game on Thursday.
As most clubs wrap up this week, a huge thank you to all the faculty and instructors who lead them and especially to our students who participated! Our Clubs and Arts programming wouldn’t be the huge success that it is without all of you.
We look forward to Clubs and Arts programming reconvening after the winter break during the week of January 15.
Dr. Damour shared that being “mentally well” is not about being in a “happy” place at all times. Rather, it is about having a wide range of feelings that fit the context of a situation, and the skills to regulate them in an adaptive manner. She also outlined several ways that we, as adults, can act as a source of “steady calm” for our children, even when it is hard! Here are three examples, from Dr. Damour, that I invite you to take a look at that can support you in navigating some typical challenges many families face:
In recent weeks, we have been noticing an increase in unsafe behaviours that put the safety of our community members and neighbours at risk. We need your collective support in remedying this.
This is How You Can Help Keep Everyone Safe:
Do NOT stop in designated “No Stopping” zones on Rosewell Avenue. This blocks visibility for cars and pedestrians alike. In addition, it can often force drivers to move into oncoming traffic, in order to get by.
Use the Crosswalk, where our Crossing Guard is stationed, to cross the street;
Do NOT walk across the south exit lane to drop-off or pick up your child. Exiting cars may not see you;
Stay in the line while dropping off or picking up. “Jumping the Cue,” unless otherwise advised by a member of our security team is NOT permitted;
The Accessible Parking Spaces are exclusively reserved for those who require them, and who have an appropriate permit to park there;
Finally, as a reminder it is illegal to turn left from Lawrence onto Rosewell between 0700-0900 am. We have been alerted that there will be a greater police presence there over the next several weeks.
How You Can Help to Reduce the Spread of Respiratory Viruses(COVID 19, RSV, and the Flu)
If your child is ill, please keep them at home to help reduce the spread of viruses!
Everyone has a role to play to reduce the spread of respiratory viruses. The actions you take will protect you, loved ones and those most vulnerable in our community.
As per guidelines from Toronto Public Health students who have been away due to illness, should stay home until they have no fever, and their symptoms are improving for 24 hours (or 48 hours if nausea/vomiting/diarrhea).
As an extra measure, students are asked to:
Wear a well fitting mask, in all public settings, including at school for ten days;
Avoid any non-essential activities, where they take off their mask (e.g, playing an instrument in music class, or during sports);
Not visit people or settings (e.g., hospitals, long-term care homes) at higher risk, including where there are seniors or those who are immunocompromised.
Please also be sure to review the following:
To Reduce virus spread
Stay home if sick or have symptoms of being sick, even if they are mild.
Jack Frost has made his debut for the season, and will be here for the next several months! We want our students to make the most of their time outdoors to play, engage with friends and to have fun. To do this, it is essential that they come to school with the appropriate outdoor clothing. Coats, snow pants or sweat pants, mitts, hats, and boots should all be brought to school so that students can fully participate at recess.
As the colder weather comes, we also wanted to provide a reminder of Havergal’s Extreme Weather Guidelines.
Please note that in Cold Weather:
Environment Canada advises that wind chill temperatures of -28°C to -39°C pose a high risk of frostbite and hypothermia, and exposed skin can freeze in 10 to 30 minutes.
When these conditions exist it is recommended that recess be shortened or that students are kept indoors for their recess period, consistent with many school boards in Ontario.
REMINDERS
Registration for Food Services (January – March)
Registration for Food Services for the Winter Term is now open! Please visit the Parent Portal, and go to the “Registration” section in order to sign up. All prices, as well as dates are listed there for your reference.
New Circles Holiday Angel Program – Last Calls for Donations (Monday, December 5)
A huge thank you for you to all of those who have brought in your donations for the New Circles Holiday Angel Program! Please note that we have extended the final date to bring in gift cards to Monday, December 5.
Here is everything you need to know:
Your daughter must bring back the same envelope she was given, with the label completed.
Tape the envelope closed with following items inside it:
Last week we enjoyed the teacher vs student Basketball game. Students were able to showcase their skills amongst the teachers – very impressive. Yet every year the team with an average height over 5’5 seems to dominate. A good time was had by all. We had a ball!
Clubs and Arts
Please note that Clubs and Arts programming begin the week of January 15.
A huge thank you to the entire parent community for supporting the delicious breakfast we served to staff and faculty during Thrive Week. We received many notes and verbal messages of thanks—it was appreciated by all!
The Weekly: Junior School 