A Message From the Head of the Junior School – Friday, December 8, 2023

On By havergaljuniorschool

Dear Junior School Families, 

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:

LATEST NEWS

Junior School (Grade 1-6 ) Christmas Concert – Everything You Need to Know!

  • Location: St. Paul’s Bloor Street
  • 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: A permission 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.

JS Athletics Schedule 

Clubs and Arts 

  • 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.  
  • If you have any questions: please contact: srobertson@havergal.on.ca.

WHAT’S ON THE MENU NEXT WEEK

JS Menu for December 11 – December 15 

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 

Wednesday, December 13

  • Grade 1 – 6 Christmas Concert (3:00 pm at St. Paul’s Church on Bloor)
  • NO Gator Care in the afternoon for students (JK – Grade 6)

Friday, December 15 

  • JK and SK Christmas Concert (9:00 am in the JS Dining Hall)

Monday, December 18th 

  • JS House Dress Down Day

Wednesday, December 20

  • JS Festive Wear Day – Dress Down Day
  • Last Day of Classes 

Thursday, December 21 – Tuesday, January 9

  • Winter Holiday
    • Monday, January 8 – PD Day for Teachers; No Classes
    • Tuesday, January 9 – Classes Resume

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