A Message From The Head of the Junior School – Friday, January 10, 2025

On By havergaljuniorschool

Dear Junior School Families,

Happy New Year and welcome back!

Our classrooms, hallways, and playground are buzzing with the energy and excitement that comes with reconnecting with friends, sharing stories of winter adventures, and diving back into learning. The New Year is a perfect time to set goals, try new activities, and continue building a strong, supportive school community where everyone thrives. Let’s make the most of this new beginning, embracing every moment as a chance to learn, grow, and to connect with one another. 

Warmly,

Kate

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

Latest News

Reminders

LATEST NEWS

Re-registration: January 27 – February 2, 2025

Re-registration for the 2025/26 school year will open on Monday January 27.  

Families will receive an email from the Board of Governors on that day with a link to reregistration and can also access reregistration through the Parent Portal Landing Page. Re-registration, which includes both completing the online forms and submitting the deposit,  is due on Monday February 2, 2025. We cannot guarantee a place for students who re-register after this date.  

While we are certainly hoping to be welcoming all of our students back next year, we recognize that family situations change and relocations occur.  If you are aware that your daughter is not returning to Havergal, please let us know by emailing Maggie Houston-White as soon as possible so we can ensure we have a fulsome admission process at all necessary years.   

Major Dates Calendar – Update on Date for JS Christmas Concert and US Carol Service 

Please note that there has been an update in the Major Dates calendar. The Junior School Christmas Concert, and the Upper School Carol Service will now take place on Wednesday, December 10, and NOT on Thursday, December 11, as previously communicated. Major School Dates Calendar 2025-26 

Dismissal from Clubs and Athletics

Primary Clubs: Run from 3:05-4:05 pm

  • Please pick your daughter up from the club classroom between 4:05 – 4:10pm. If your daughter is not picked up by 4:10pm, you can pick her up from Gator Care, which is located across from the KG classrooms on the 1st floor. Regular Gator Care fees will apply until you arrive. If your daughter is already registered for Gator Care, the club instructor will drop her off there.

Junior Clubs: Run from 3:15 – 4:15 pm

  • Please pick your daughter up from the club classroom between 4:15 – 4:20pm. If your daughter is not picked up by 4:20pm, you can pick her up from Gator Care, which is located across from the KG classrooms on the 1st floor. Regular Gator Care fees will apply until you arrive. If your daughter is already registered for Gator Care, the club instructor will drop her off there.

Finally, you should have received an email from your club instructor this week with important information. If your daughter requires any special accommodations or if there is anything the instructor should be aware of, please be sure to inform them directly.  If your daughter is going to be absent for a club session, please email the club instructor.

Call Out for Students Participation (Lunar New Year Assembly and Black Cultural Prayers)

We will be celebrating the Lunar New Year (Friday, January 31 ) and Black Cultural Prayers (Tuesday, February 4) during prayers from 8:25 am – 8:55 am. Both will be followed by a reception. 

If your child is interested in participating in either of these, please email Rev. Jillian Ruch (jruch@havergal.on.ca) by the end of the day on Sunday,  January 13th. For Lunar New Year prayers, we will be having a meeting Monday during the first recess to plan with the students in the STEM lab.  If your daughter is interested in participating in LNY prayers, please remind her to come on Monday morning.  If you, as a parent, would like to be involved in the planning of these prayers or in contributing, please also reach out to Rev. Jillian Ruch as she would welcome your input. 

For Black Cultural Prayers, a meeting will be set up in the next week and Rev. Ruch will share that information with the students who are interested in participating. 

Please note that while we will do our best to include all those students that volunteer, we may not be able to accommodate everyone in a speaking role. In this case, we will be sure to seek out other opportunities for them to participate in Prayers.

REMINDERS

JS Food Services – Registration

Please use the following link to register for JS Food Services for the Winter and Spring Terms.

 JS FOOD SERVICES REGISTRATION

This can also be done on the Parent Portal.

Students with Green Tags – Independent Dismissal

Please note that students with Green Tags, indicating permission for independent dismissal, should leave the school at dismissal time or after their co-curricular activity has concluded. For safety reasons, students are not permitted to stay in the Junior School past 4:30 pm, as they are not supervised during this time. 

Parents can sign up their child for independent dismissal through the Parent Portal Landing Page

Dismissal Procedures

  • 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 the times below and arrive in the correct time slot.
    •  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.
  • The dismissal times are as follows:
  • Group 1: JK & SK: Students will be dismissed at 3:00 pm.
  • Group 2: Grades 1 – 3:  Students will be dismissed at 3:05 pm.
  • Group 3: Grades 4 to 6:  Students will be dismissed at 3:15 pm. 
  • Late Arrivals/Early Dismissals
  • If a student will be late for arrival, or is required to leave school early (i.e., for a medical appointment), you must notify us through the “report attendance”tool in the Parent Portal.
  • Students who are late must sign-in, and students who are being dismissed early, must sign-out at the front desk prior to departing the Junior School. 

Dressing Appropriately for the Weather

The winter weather is here, and 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 sweatpants, mitts, hats, and boots should all be brought to school so that students can fully participate at recess.

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.

CO-CURRICULARS

Athletics

Clubs

  • Winter Clubs start next week so please make sure to check your child’s personalized calendar for their activities. This can be found on the Parent Portal
  • JS Clubs Schedule

WHAT’S ON THE MENU NEXT WEEK

NOTES FROM THE HCPA

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 pm – 9 pm

KEY DATES ON THE HORIZON

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)

Tuesday, February 4

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

Friday, February 14 

  • Mid Term Break – School Closed

Monday, February 17

  • Mid Term Break – School Closed

Friday, March 7

  • Last Day of Classes

Monday, March 10 – Monday, March 24

  • March Break

Tuesday, March 25

  • Classes Resume for Students

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