A Message From The Head of the Junior School – Friday, April 4, 2025

On By havergaljuniorschool

Dear Junior School Families, 

We started this week with an incredible Arts’ Week Prayers in the Junior School. It was truly a delight to see so many students showcase their visual art work, and to listen to them sing and play for us. Hearing them speak about the role that the arts play in their lives was inspirational, and a beautiful way to start our week together. 

Today, we also had the opportunity to learn more about the importance of the month of Ramadan and Eid, from students in both the Junior and Upper Schools. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar and is observed by approximately two billion muslims worldwide. It is a time where many fast from sunup to sundown, reflect and pray. Eid, is a festival that marks the end of Ramadan and the breaking of fast, at the end of the month. Thank you to all that participated in this special prayers.

Warmly,

Kate

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

Latest News

Reminders

LATEST NEWS

Upcoming Student-Led Conferences: Everything You Need to Know

We are thrilled to be hosting Havergal’s first Student-Led Conferences in the Junior School this year! This new initiative offers a wonderful opportunity for our students to take center stage in sharing their learning journey with you.

What Are Student-Led Conferences?
Student-Led Conferences showcase what students are currently learning in the classroom, and provide them with the opportunity to present their progress to you formally. Rather than showing you a final product, students will focus on the learning process and self-reflection. 

What is the Goal of Student-Led Conferences?

Student-Led Conferences are meant to empower students to take ownership of their learning, while also fostering a meaningful dialogue between students and parents. This is part of our ongoing commitment to incorporate student voice and reflection into our parent-teacher conferences and formal reporting, a key initiative in our strategic plan.  Rather than the traditional teacher-run parent-teacher conferences, this approach shifts the focus to the students themselves, allowing each child to actively engage in reflection, goal-setting, and metacognition.

We are confident that these conferences will allow for rich, reflective conversations that highlight not only what your child has accomplished, but also the ways in which they are thinking about and growing in their learning. We look forward to celebrating our students’ achievements and growth with you next week.

Please Note:

  • There will be NO school or Gator Care held on this day.
  • Students should dress in their regular Havergal uniform when coming into the Junior School for their conference.
  • If you have more than one daughter and are attending multiple student conferences, please note that the library will be available for students who are waiting to take their parents to a conference or who have already finished their student-led conference. This will be a supervised space.
  • If you are unsure of when you have signed up, please reach out to your child’s homeroom teacher.

Call Out for Participation – Pride Week

Havergal will once again be celebrating Pride Week from Monday, May 5 to Friday, May 9. Pride week is a  time when we come together as a school to learn more about the history and significance of Pride and the many contributions of members of the LGBTQ2S+ community.

Should you or your daughter wish to be involved in the planning for this week, please contact Liz Watt (lwatt@havergal.on.ca) 

What’s 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

ISM Parent Survey Is Now Open 

On Wednesday you should have received an email from Independent School Management (ISM) with an invitation to complete our parent satisfaction survey. We are working with ISM to gain a better understanding of your experience with Havergal and would appreciate receiving your honest feedback. 

The survey will take approximately 15 minutes to complete and is anonymous and confidential. The survey will close on Wednesday, April 16. For more information, please review our Frequently Asked Questions. We look forward to hearing from you!

Registration and Instructions for Founders’ Day: Tuesday, April 22 (Grades 1 – 12)

Families are asked to complete this linked registration by Friday April 11 at 9 am in order for their daughter to attend this important annual event at St. Paul’s Bloor Street. Please note that Kindergarten students will remain at school.

Departure Times from Junior School:

  • 8:00 am – Junior Choir members depart from Havergal College to St. Paul’s by bus.
  • 8:15 am – Junior Steel Pan Drummers depart from Havergal College to St. Paul’s by bus.
  • 8:45 am – Grades 1- 6 students depart from Havergal College to St. Paul’s by bus.
  • 11:00 am – Students Return to Havergal, in time for a regular lunch and celebratory ice cream 

If an extraordinary circumstance prevents your child from attending, please indicate the absence on Veracross by Friday April 11 at 9 am so we know not to expect a permission form for this event.

Grade 1 – 6 Optional (Virtual) Parent-Teacher Interviews Registration Opens April 14 

Our teachers work closely with families to ensure parents are current on their child’s progress throughout the year, providing key insights and a plan for continued growth. When teachers have concerns or feedback about a child, they contact parents. Parents can also reach out to teachers to discuss their concerns at any time throughout the school year. 

In addition to the report cards that went out on March 5th, and Student-Led Conferences which will take place Friday, April 11th, families also have the option to meet with any teachers who they may have specific questions for on Wednesday, April 30th. Please feel free to let the teachers know your questions prior to meeting, so that they can address them appropriately.

Optional Parent-Teacher Interviews for students in Grades 1 – 6 will take place virtually on Wednesday, April 30 (4:00 pm – 7:00 pm)

CO-CURRICULARS

Athletics

Clubs

  • JS Spring Clubs Schedule
    • Spring Clubs are off to a great start!
    • Remind your daughter(s) what club they’re enrolled in and remember to pick up your child from the club classroom (except Jr Choir which is dismissed from the driveway).

WHAT’S ON THE MENU NEXT WEEK?

NOTES FROM THE HCPA

A-mazing Race

  • A-mazing Race! Ticket sales are now open – Sunday, May 4. All Junior School students and an adult guest are invited to join us for the always popular A-mazing Race— PURCHASE TICKETS HERE!
  • Interested in volunteering? Please click here to sign up.

HCPA’s Moms’ Night Out

  • Mark your calendars for the HCPA’s Moms’ Night Out (MNO) at Taylors Landing on Thursday, May 22. Watch for the official invitation this month.

HCPA Nominations 2025-26

  • HCPA nominations for the 2025-26 school year are now open! Forms are due today at 9 pm.

Pre-loved Uniform Sales 

  • Monday, April 28 from 2:30 to 5 pm outside the Junior School Learning Hub.

KEY DATES ON THE HORIZON

Monday, April 7

  • Pizza Lunch

Tuesday, April 8

  • Passover Prayers (8:25 am – 8:50 am)
  • Parent Speaker Invitation:  Human Trafficking Speaker at 7:00 pm (Grades 5 – 12 in the Upper School)

Friday, April 11

  • JK & SK Parent Teacher Interviews (Homeroom Teachers Only; a link to register will be send to kindergarten families directly)
  • Student-Led Conferences (Grades 1 -6)
    • NO CLASSES

Monday, April 14

  • Registration for Optional Grade 1 – 6 Parent-Teacher Interviews Opens at 10 am

Tuesday, April 15

  • Easter Prayers (8:25 am – 8:50 am)

Thursday, April 17 

  • Grandpals’ Day (10:00 am – 11:15 am)

Friday, April 18 

  • Easter Friday (No Classes)

Saturday, April 19

Monday, April 21

  • Easter Monday (No Classes)

Tuesday, April 22

  • Founder’s Day (Gr 1 – 12 student event) at St. Paul’s Bloor Street

Wednesday, April 30 

  • Optional JS Parent-Teacher Interviews (4:00 pm – 7:00 pm Virtual)
    • JK/SK Specialist Teachers Only
    • Grade 1 – 6 Homeroom Teachers & Specialist Teachers

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