A Message From The Head of the School – Friday, November 29, 2024

On By havergaljuniorschool

Dear Junior School Families,

Today marked our third “Thrive Day” in the Junior School. Students were welcomed to Prayers with three of our Grade 4 students singing “All Too Well” by Taylor Swift, accompanied by Mr. McLean and Ms. Barrett. It set a lovely tone as we learned more about some of the things that students in our community do to thrive. We learned about the “Wellbeing Kids’ Club,” which was started by several of our Grade 3 students.  The goal of the club is to create an inclusive, safe, happy space where we welcome all SK students to learn about wellbeing. They meet with the SKs once a month to teach them different techniques and tools to use to manage their emotions. This group also shared just some of the things they do to help them thrive, including spending time in nature, taking deep breaths, drawing, and getting hugs from their family. We also heard from a new to Havergal student in Grade 5, who shared that joining the basketball team was one of the ways that she started to feel more connected to our community.

Both the “Positivity Club” (Grades 1 – 3) and the “Beading Club” (Grades 4 – 6) invited students to spend lunch recess making Affirmation or other Bracelets, or some mindful colouring. It was truly incredible to see so many students turn up and participate. The Positivity Club even surprised teachers with kind and thoughtful notes that were delivered to classrooms throughout the day.

I encourage you to ask your children this weekend just some of the ways that they are learning to thrive!

Sincerely,

Kate

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

LATEST NEWS

Registration is open for JS Food Services for the REMAINDER of the YEAR

Please note that registration for JS Food Services is now open. Please register by logging into the Parent Portal, and accessing the form shown below.

Kindergarten Christmas Concert – Friday, Dec 6

Kindergarten Christmas Concert – Friday, Dec 6 (9:00 am – 9:30 am Concert in the JS Dining Hall; 9:30 am – 10:00 am Reception in the JS Dining Hall)

  • Location: Junior School Dining Room
  • Date: Friday, December 6
  • Time:
    • 9:00 am – 9:30 am (Performance)
    • 9:30 am – 10:00 am (Reception)
  • Parking:
    • Please note that parking is extremely limited. 
    • Families are invited to visit Spot Angels for suggestions on nearby free and paid parking & garages.
  • 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.

Grade 1 – 6 Christmas Concert – Thursday, December 12 (3pm – 4pm – St. Paul’s Bloor Street Church)

We are very much looking forward to our upcoming Christmas Concert for students in Grades 1 – 6.

Here is all the information you need to know!

Acknowledgement and Assumption of Risk Form (AAR) – ACTION REQUIRED

Please note the following:

  • Date: 
    • Thursday, December 12
  • Time: 
    • 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm (doors open at 2:30 pm) 
  • Location:
    • 227 St. Paul’s Bloor Street
  • Parking:
    • Families are invited to visit Spot Angels for suggestions on nearby free and paid parking & garages near the church. 
  • Tickets: 
    • Tickets are not required, all are welcome to attend. This includes grandparents and caregivers.
  • Transportation to the Church
    • Students in Grades 1 – 6 will travel to St. Paul’s, via chartered bus, (after lunch) for a rehearsal and then perform for their families at 3:00pm.
    • There is no transportation back to the school, nor Gator Care available for students in Grades 1 – 6 after the concert.
  • 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.
    • Students who bring their own lunch from home are asked to leave their lunch bag at school overnight. Families can also consider using disposable lunch containers made from recycled materials if they do not wish to leave a lunch bag overnight.
    • 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 12. This 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. Primary students will be dismissed from a class pew inside the church. Pews will be designated to each Primary class (Ex. 2A, 3B etc). 
    • Junior students (Grades 4, 5 and 6) will be dismissed from Cody Hall. Families can exit the church from the interior doors on the eastern side of the church and proceed across the atrium to Cody Hall. Parents must pick their daughter up from their class pew/Cody Hall and sign them out with the homeroom teacher. 
    • If you have more than one student, we ask that you pick-up your youngest child in the church before collecting older students from Cody Hall. 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.

Gator Care for JK/SK Students from 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm on Thursday, December 12

  • Please note that Gator Care is available for JK/SK students from 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm on Thursday, December 12, while students in Grades 1 – 6 are at the Christmas Concert at St. Paul’s Church
  •  Gator Care remains available from 7:30 am – 8:00 am on this day, for ALL Students.

Advent and Christmas Prayers

An amazing response to the call out for participants for both of these prayers has meant that 18 students will be participating in the Advent prayers and 31 students participating in the Christmas prayers!  Rev. Ruch will be emailing all the families involved, along with their teachers with all th information necessary. Due to the large numbers for the Christmas Prayers, we will be trying something a little different this year, in the form of a “scratch nativity”, which is an unpolished play where we go through the Christmas story together.  More information to follow as it draws near. 

What is New in Gator Care?

Should your daughter attend Gator Care on a regular basis, we encourage you to read the Gator Care Monthly Blast. This will provide you with a high-level overview of what is happening, and some quick reminders.

REMINDERS

Late Arrivals and Early Dismissals

A reminder that students are to arrive at school between 8:00 am and 8:20 am. On days when we have Prayers please note that it begins at 8:25 am. Attendance is taken between 8:20 am and 8:25 am on Prayers days, and between 8:20 am and 8:30 am on non-Prayers days.

It is essential that a student’s attendance and arrival/dismissal schedule is kept up-to-date by parents in the Veracross Student Logistics Request tool at all times. Calling the Junior School Office to update a child’s attendance (late arrivals/early departures/absences) should only be done in the case of an emergency.

To learn more about how to report attendance, please refer to our Reporting Attendance Document and use the link here to report your child’s absence.

New Circles Holiday Angel Program – Please Send in Gift Cards by Monday, December 2

A huge thank you to everyone for their generous donations in support of the families we are partnered with at New Circles. Please note that all gift cards should be brought to school by Monday, December 2, which is just after this weekend.

GradesGift Card Requests
JK, SK, Grade 1Walmart or No Frills
Grade 2 & 4AWalmart
Grade 3 & 4BWalmart
Grade 5Walmart, No Frills, Food Basics or Costco
Grade 6Walmart, No Frills or Costco

Tax Receipts

Should you require a tax receipt:

  • Print out and complete the Donor Tax Receipt Form 2024  and make sure to add your HAP # (This is the family you are donating to. It is located on the family information page.)
  • Attach the gift card, activation receipt and tax form together and send them into school
  • Please note that tax receipts can only be issued by New Circles for donations above $25 that have all the necessary components attached.

Monday, December 2 – Pizza Lunch

Students will enjoy the last pizza lunch of the term on Monday. Thank you to all of our parent volunteers and the Chartwells’ Team, who have helped this monthly treat to be so seamless.

Should your daughter not participate in Pizza Lunch, please remember to pack her a lunch on this day.

CO-CURRICULARS

Athletics

  • Please check the JS Athletics Schedule for specific details and future game times that may not be on your regular practice schedule. 
  • Good Luck to the U12 & U11 Volleyball Teams on their first games of the season. 

Clubs

  • Fall clubs have wrapped up for the term and winter clubs will start the week of January 13, 2025 so make sure to check your child’s calendar (instructions are below). The one exception is Ms. MacIntyre’s and Ms. Tulli’s Kids Lit club which has already started.
  • A tremendous THANK YOU to all the faculty and vendors who hosted clubs over the past term and I’m grateful for the variety and engagement you brought to our students.

WHAT’S ON THE MENU NEXT WEEK

NOTES FROM THE HCPA

Ivy Market

  • Thank you to everyone who supported Ivy Market! We hope you enjoyed the shopping, treats and chance to mingle and reconnect with others. Click here to view photos from the event.

Staff Appreciation

  • Donations for HCPA Staff Appreciation are due by Friday, December 6. Send via e-transfer to hcpatreasurer@gmail.com with your daughter’s name and grade/cohort in the message.

HCPA Marketplace

Parent Socials

Please save the date for the following evening parent socials:

  • Grades 4, 5 & 6: Thursday, February 20, 2025, 7 – 9 pm
  • Grades JK, 1, 2 & 3: Thursday, February 27, 2025,  7 – 9 pm

YOUR CHILD’S PERSONALIZED CALENDAR

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

KEY DATES ON THE HORIZON

Tuesday, November 19 – Monday, December 2

  • Holiday Angel Drive
  • All Gift Cards to be dropped off by December 2

Tuesday, December 3

  • No Prayers – Christmas Concert Rehearsal

Friday, December 6

  • Advent Prayers (8:25 am – 8:55 am in the JS Gym)
  • JK/SK Christmas Concert (9:00 am in the JS Dining Hall; Followed by reception in the Dining Hall at 9:30am)

Tuesday, December 10

  • Christmas Prayers (8:25 am – 8:55 am in the JS Gym)

Thursday, December 12

  • Grade 1 – 6 Christmas Concert (3:00 pm – 4:00 pm at St. Paul’s – Bloor Street)

Friday, December 13

  • House Assembly (Grade 6 House Leads Presenting)

Tuesday, December 17

  • Hanukkah Prayers (8:25 am – 8:55 am in the JS Gym)

Wednesday, December 18

  • First Full Report Card Available for Viewing on the Parent Portal at 4:00 pm

Thursday, December 19

  • Last day of Classes

Friday, December 20 

  • No Classes – School Closed for December Break

Monday, January 6

  • No school for students
  • Faculty Professional Development

Tuesday, January 7

  • Classes resume

Tuesday, January 28

  • Holocaust Remembrance Prayers (8:25 am – 8:55 am in the JS Gym)

Friday, January 31

  • Lunar New Year Prayers (8:25 am – 8:55 am in the JS Gym)

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