A Message from the Head of the Junior School – Friday, January 7, 2022

On By havergaljuniorschoolLeave a comment

Dear Junior School Parents,

I hope that the first few days of the term have started well. I have very much enjoyed visiting classes online, and see how well the students are adjusting, once again, to remote learning. Thank you all for your continued support, as we navigate this change. We will continue to follow the Toronto Public Health and provincial guidelines. Once we have further information, we will communicate any next steps.

This week’s blog contains information on the following:

Sincerely,

Kate

UPDATES

Vaccine Documentation

  • As you are aware, the COVID-19 vaccine was approved for children aged 5-11 at the end of November 2021. The College encourages parents to get their children aged 5-11 vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine to prevent serious illness, to make our school and activities safer, and to reduce the risk of outbreaks or disruptions at school. The Health Centre has begun to collect vaccination documentation for children aged 5-11. You can reference our Upper School Student Vaccine Policy for further information on how vaccine documentation is confidentially stored. 
  • If your child has received their COVID-19 vaccine please let us know by:
    • Emailing the Health Centre at covid@havergal.on.ca
    •  Subject line: COVID-19 Vaccination Student Name 
    •  Include a screenshot or copy of the student’s official COVID-19 vaccination receipts, or a letter from a health care provider confirming the student has received a full series of the COVID-19 vaccination. 

Rapid Antigen Testing Program

  • As announced by Dr. Samson, all students and employees will enroll in a Rapid Antigen Screening Program (RASP) and kits will be distributed upon returning to in-person learning. 
  • For families who enrolled in the voluntary RASP program at the school in the fall, and already have Rapid Antigen Screening Kits at home, we do ask that you discontinue asymptomatic twice weekly testing while we are learning remotely. As antigen tests are a valuable tool to maintain in-person learning, we ask that you save your kits for when we return to campus and re-start testing the morning before your child returns to in-person learning. 
  • More information about the school-wide RASP program will be provided in the coming weeks. 

Learning Materials Yet to be Retrieved

  • If you have not yet picked up your child’s learning materials from the school, you can come to the Junior School during business hours (best between 9 & 11 a.m.), use the buzzer to the right of the main doors, and Security will assist you. 
  • This process will take time, so we appreciate your patience.

House Step Challenge

  • In a bid to encourage our students to get some exercise and fresh air, Junior School students are invited to take part in Havergal’s House Step Challenge from Monday, January 10 – Friday, January 14.
  • Ms. Lievonen would be thrilled to receive information about how long students have walked for; images of phones/watches which have counted steps; or images of students “in action”, wearing House colours!
  • The most enthusiastic House will receive recognition in Prayers.
  • Please email her at hlievonen@havergal.on.ca. 

REMINDERS

Chartwell’s Ordering Form

  • In case we are back the week of January 17, you are welcome to submit your lunch orders by Thursday, January 13 at 12 noon: Chartwell’s Order Form 
  • If we are not back, these orders will automatically be cancelled.

Shift to Continuous Learning and Parent Webinars

DATES ON THE HORIZON

Online Re-enrollment

  • Commences online Thursday, January 27 @12 noon; closes Tuesday, February 8

Midterm Break

  • Friday, February 18 – Monday, February 21 

“Update” Report Cards

  • Available to parents on Thursday, March 3 @4:00 p.m.

March Break

  • Friday, March 11 – Sunday, March 27
  • Monday, March 28: classes resume

A Message from the Head of the Junior School – Tuesday, January 4, 2022

On By havergaljuniorschoolLeave a comment

Dear Junior School Parents,

Happy New Year!

Here is a special edition of the JS blog, as we prepare for the commencement of the Continuous Learning Plan tomorrow, Wednesday, January 5. It contains information on the following:

You can also expect to receive a regular blog update on Friday, January 7.

Sincerely,

Kate

UPDATES

Parent Webinar

  • We will be hosting a webinar for JS parents this evening from 5:00pm – 5:45 pm.
  • Here is the Parent Link to attend the meeting. This will be recorded for those unable to attend.
  •  The agenda for this event is as follows:
    • Opening Remarks – Dr. Katrina Samson, Principal
    • Understanding the Continuous Learning Plan – Seonaid Davis,  VP Teaching and Learning
    • Student Wellbeing – Kate White, Head of Junior School
    • School Protocols and Looking Ahead – Lindsay Norberg, Associate Head 
    • Q & A –  Moderated by Maggie Houston-White, ED Strategic Enrollment Management

Curbside Pick-Up – Sign Up 

  • Scheduler Opens: 
    • Tuesday, Jan 4th @ 11am
  • Scheduler Closer:
    • Wednesday, Jan 5 @ 7am
  • Should you be unable to pick up your child’s belongings, and have arranged to have another family pick them up on your behalf, please indicate this in the sign-up form.

iPad/laptop Loaner Program for students in JK to Grade 2

  • Should you child be in need of an iPad or laptop to participate in the continuous learning place, we kindly ask that you complete this form. 
  • Once complete, we will coordinate with the curbside pickup, so that you can retrieve all items at the same time.
  • Should you have any questions or concerns please contact the IT Service Desk for assistance (servicedesk@havergal.on.ca).

A Message from the Head of the Junior School – Friday, December 10, 2021

On By havergaljuniorschoolLeave a comment

Dear Junior School Parents,

We are almost there! I am so excited for our Christmas Concert next Tuesday, when we will hear and watch video performances of our students in JK – Grade 5, as well as celebrate live with our Grade 6 students and their families. The concert will be streamed live in the Brenda Robson Hall, and will also be recorded. The YouTube link will be sent out after the concert, so that you can enjoy it again throughout the holidays.

The final day of the term is next Wednesday, December 15, when we will celebrate with a comfy cozy PJ day, along with a few other surprises from Tomisin, our JS Prefect and the JS Council.

This week’s blog contains information on the following:

Sincerely,

Kate

UPDATES

Preparation for a Potential School Closure 

  • Should we be directed to close the school after the break, Havergal will adopt its Continuous Learning Plan. Communication regarding this, would be sent to families prior to the start of the new term.
  • In support of this, we are doing the following:
  • Personal Belongings:
    • Students need to completely clean out their lockers/cubbies and bring everything home (e.g., uniform pieces, shoes, personal pencil cases, etc…)
    • Lockers/cubbies will be thoroughly cleaned over the break
    • Plastic bags/garbage bags will be provided
  • iPads/laptops:
    • JK – 2
      • Will not be bringing home any technology
    • Grade 3 & 4 
      • Will be sent home with their school-issued iPad or laptop and charger
    • Grade 5 & 6: 
      • Will be sent home with their personal device and charger
  • Learning Materials:
    • Teachers will work with their students next week to prepare their bins/banker boxes with any/all learning materials students would need for continuous learning, in the event of a school closure; these will remain at school. 
    • Bins/Banker Boxes will be clearly labeled, and remain at school, so that they can be easily picked up in the event of a school closure. Should this occur, the school will arrange for a curbside pick-up. Details regarding the process for this will be communicated along with information regarding the Continuous Learning Plan.

TAC Sports Winter Camps – Discount for HC Families

  • TAC sports will be offering winter camps at our facility: further information can be found here.

REMINDERS

Chartwell’s Ordering Form

  • The Chartwell’s Order Form relevant to the week of January 3 will be open on December 16th and is due on Wednesday, December 23 by 12 noon. 

Thank You Again for Your Support of New Circles

  • Here’s a glimpse of what our community has provided for five families new to Canada. 
  • Thank you to Ms. Mastri, Ms. Tulli, Ms. Robar and Ms. Lievonen for leading this initiative
  • Thank you very much for your unwavering generosity.

Hybrid Christmas Concert – Need to Know Information

  • We are excited to share that the Junior School Christmas Concert will be live-streamed to parents on December 14th at 7pm.
  • Under the direction of Rachel Read and Jeff McLean, this hybrid concert will include live performances from our Grade 6 students, as well as previously recorded performances from the Grade 4 Choir and our JK to Grade 5 students. 
  • The zoom link is included HERE, and for your convenience, it can also be located on the Veracross calendar. 
  • We look forward to sharing the wonderful music that your children have prepared.

Travel Outside of Canada and What to do if your Child is Ill

  • With the Winter Holidays coming up, we would like to remind families about the requirements around returning to school if you are travelling outside the country. If you and your unvaccinated child are travelling internationally, it is important to underscore that your child is unable to attend school for 14 days after their arrival back in Canada. 
  • Please note, there is no access to remote learning during this time; however, students have the option to follow along with instructions and class notes on Seesaw (JK – 3) or Google Classroom (Gr. 4 – 6) if they are not at school. If you have any specific requests, please contact the Head of the Junior School. 
  • For additional guidance, please review our Student Return to School after Illness, Exposure or Travel procedure, which is included in the Family Handbook’s Return to Campus COVID-19 Protocols section. You may also reference the federal government travel advice for those travelling with unvaccinated children.

DATES ON THE HORIZON

Tuesday, December 14

Wednesday, December 15, 2021

  • Pajama Day! Students are invited to wear their PJs on this day
  • Last day of term

Christmas Break:

  • Thursday, December 16. 2021 – Monday, January 3, 2022

Classes Resume:

  • Tuesday, January 4, 2022

A Message from the Head of the Junior School: Friday, December 3, 2021

On By havergaljuniorschoolLeave a comment

Dear Junior School Parents,

The snow has started to fall, and we are all eagerly anticipating the upcoming winter break!  The first snowfall is so magical, especially for students, and I wanted to share this video, created by one of our Grade 10 students, Jessica – Havergal College Snow. It is a fantastic reminder of just what a beautiful campus we have to learn and play on every day.   

A huge note of thanks everyone in our community for your  generous support of our community partnership, New Circles this season. 

I look forward to joining together on December 14th for our Christmas Concert, which will be held virtually and in person for our Grade 6 students and their families.  May we all enjoy the last days of the term, proud of all we have accomplished as a community.

This week’s blog contains information on the following:

Sincerely,

Kate

UPDATES

Winter Closure of Back Pathway

  • Parents of Kindergarten students, in particular, are asked to avoid approaching the Kindergarten doors directly from the parking lot, since our back pathway has been closed for the winter season for safety reasons.
  • Please walk around the northern side of the Junior School building instead.

Upcoming Report Cards  

  • A huge thank you to our teachers who have been diligently writing  report cards. Please note that these will be available for viewing on: Thursday, December 9th at 4:00 pm
  • Click on the link to learn more about lJS December Report Card Information. This includes how to access your child’s report on Veracross.

Inside Havergal Updated Release Date

  • With a short but busy month of school ahead of us before the Holiday Break, the November and December issues of Inside Havergal will be combined into one, which will go out to the community on Tuesday, December 7. The final edition for this calendar year will focus on reflection and philanthropic giving during this special time of year.
  • The first issue for 2022 will be sent out to community members on Tuesday, January 25.

Lost and Found

REMINDERS

Chartwell’s Ordering Form

Preparation for the Christmas Concert

  • We are excited to share that the Junior School Christmas Concert will be live streamed to parents on December 14th, at 7pm.
  • Under the direction of Rachel Read and Jeff McLean, this hybrid concert will include live performances from our Grade 6 students, as well as previously recorded performances from the Grade 4 Choir and our JK to Grade 5 students. 
  • The zoom link is included HERE, and for your convenience, it can also be located on the Veracross calendar. 
  • We look forward to sharing the wonderful music that your children have prepared.

Notes for Week of December 6

  • On Tuesday, December 7, students in JK, SK, and Grades 1 and 4, are required to wear Number 1 dress, including green tights, as they will be recording their performances.
  • On Wednesday, December 8, students in Grades 2, 3 and 5 are required to wear Number 1 dress, including green tights. 
  • Can you please also ensure that your children’s hair is pinned back so we can see their faces in the video?
  • Families of Grade 6 students will receive instructions for the evening directly from Ms. Goodridge, Director of Performing Arts
    • Reminder: Ontario-approved proof of vaccination and identification will be requested upon entry

Parking on Campus during Drop-off and Pick-Up – JK and SK ONLY!

  • Parking on campus is strictly limited to families/guardians of children in JK or SK during Drop-off and Pick-Up times. Thank you for your compliance.
  • Parents should be parking in order to go to Gator Care after 4:00 p.m.

Winter Arts and Athletics Co-curriculars: Before/After School 

DATES ON THE HORIZON

Tuesday, December 7 

  • Christmas concert recording day. Students in JK, SK, and Grades 1 and 4, are required to wear Number 1 Dress, including green tights. 

Wednesday, December 8

  • Christmas concert recording day. Students in Grades 2, 3 and 5 are required to wear Number 1 Dress, including green tights. 

Thursday, December 9

  • Report Cards available for online viewing

Tuesday, December 14

Wednesday, December 15, 2021

  • Pajama Day! Students are invited to wear exhale, and wear their PJs on this day
    • This “pajama day” will start off with a rousing welcome by Tomisin, our JS Prefect and the JS Council along the driveway
  • Last day of term

Christmas Break:

  • Thursday, December 16. 2021 – Monday, January 3, 2022

Classes Resume:

  • Tuesday, January 4, 2022

A Message from the Head of the Junior School – Friday, November 26, 2021

On By havergaljuniorschoolLeave a comment

Dear Junior School Parents,

A huge thank you to our incredible Thrive Team Committee members in the Junior School for an amazing week (Laura Logaridis, Sarah Szolopiak, Tatiana Bidiak, Julia Barrett, Holly Beth Lievonen, Akira Nezirevic, Anna Bartlett, Jodi McGeown, Rosa Mastri, Andrea Charlton, and Calen Walker). Please be sure to ask your child(ren) about the THRIVE FIVE, and take a moment enjoy this wonderful video made by Ms. Barrett and Ms. Lievonen, helping us to remember some of what we learned this week.

This week’s blog contains information on the following:

Sincerely,

Kate

UPDATES

Vaccinations for Children aged 5 – 11

Visitors to Campus 

  • Visitors may enter the College for the reasons below:
    • A Scheduled Appointment – If you have been invited on campus for a meeting, upon arrival you will need to check in with Security, complete a wellness screening, and show proof of vaccination (with valid ID).
    • Athletics Event at the Upper School – If you are attending athletics you will need to check in at the Athletic Centre doors by completing an online Wellness screening and show proof of vaccination (with ID).  Please note that spectators are only permitted into the building 30 minutes before the athletic event.
    • Havergal Group Event – If you are attending a Havergal Group event, you will receive instructions from your event organizer regarding entry, screening, and proof of vaccination requirements as they may vary depending on the size of the event.

Preparation for the Christmas Concert

  • On Tuesday, December 7, students in JK, SK, and Grades 1 and 4, are required to wear Number 1 dress, including green tights, as they will be recording their performances.
  • On Wednesday, December 8, we would ask that JK – Grade 5 students wear their Number One Dress and winter tights.
  • Can you please also ensure that your children’s hair is pinned back so we can see their faces in the video?
  • Families of JK – Grade 5 students are invited to join us remotely on Tuesday, December 14 as of 7:00 p.m. via the link (also to be posted to Veracross calendar and class websites)
  • Concert Zoom link
  • Families of Grade 6 students will receive instructions for the evening directly from Ms. Goodridge, Director of Performing Arts
    • Please note that Ontario-approved proof of vaccination and identification will be requested upon entry

Lost and Found

  • With the end of term approaching, we are keen to ensure families have an opportunity to view our current lost and found collection.  
  • Please take a careful look and ask your child or homeroom teacher to retrieve something you recognize.

REMINDERS

Chartwell’s Ordering Form

New Circles’ Donations

  • Thank you for all of the donations that have come in so far in support of New Circles. 
  • A reminder that Monday is the last day to drop off gift cards, or clothing donations.

Drop-Off and Pick-Up Procedures 

  • The safety of all of our community members is our top priority.
  • It is essential that drivers go SLOWLY when they enter/exit the driveway. 
  • To ensure that dismissal goes as efficiently as possible, it is critical that you arrive at your child’s designated dismissal time. 
  • If your children have different pick-up times, you are asked to come when your older child is dismissed
  • As a reminder dismissal times are as follows:
    • 3:00 pm: Junior Kindergarten
    • 3:15 pm: Senior Kindergarten
    • 3:20 pm: Grades 1 – 3
    • 3:40 pm: Grades 4 – 6
    • 4:15 pm onwards:
  • Those who are reliant upon Gator Care are asked to pick up their children from 4:15 pm onwards to ensure safety, alleviate congestion, and provide time for snack.

Book Fair Information 

  • It’s Book Fair time!! We’re so excited to be hosting our fall book fair in partnership with independent bookstore, Ella Minnow Children’s Bookstore. All purchases you make between November 29 – December 5 will support our school library.
  • For more information CLICK HERE.

Winter Arts and Athletics Co-curriculars: Before/After School

Student Photographs & Retakes Available

  • This is a final reminder for parents to check their children’s photos online at the following link: Echo Photography  
  • The password required is your child’s student identification number.
  • Deadline for ordering all photos has been extended to: December 15th
  • Should you require further assistance please email: jsoffice@havergal.on.ca

DATES ON THE HORIZON

Friday, December 3

  • PD Day
    • No classes for students
    • JS Faculty and Staff participating in Professional Development

Tuesday, December 7 

  • Christmas concert recording day. Students in JK, SK, and Grades 1 and 4, are required to wear Number 1 dress, including green tights. 

Wednesday, December 8

  • Christmas concert recording day. Students in Grades 2, 3 and 5 are required to wear Number 1 dress, including green tights. 

Thursday, December 9

  • Report Cards available for online viewing

Tuesday, December 14

Wednesday, December 15, 2021

  • Pajama Day! Students are invited to wear their PJs on this day
  • Last day of term

Christmas Break:

  • Thursday, December 16. 2021 – Monday, January 3, 2022

Classes Resume:

  • Tuesday, January 4, 2022

A Note From the Head of the Junior School: Friday, November 19, 2021

On By havergaljuniorschoolLeave a comment

Dear Junior School Parents,

Happy Friday! 

I hope that this week has been a positive and productive one. It has been such a pleasure to see our students and their teachers in the full swing of things at the Junior School! With just several more weeks to go before the holidays, we encourage all of our students to stay motivated, and put forward their best effort. It is not uncommon, especially at this time of year, for people to start lacking energy, and perhaps not feel like their best selves. We are eagerly anticipating “Thrive Week” next week, where we will be engaging in discussions with students about mental health, and ways to “Thrive.” More information about this can be found later in the blog.

This week’s blog contains information on the following:

Sincerely,

Kate

UPDATES

Vaccinations for Children – Webinar Recording

  • A huge thank you to Dr. Sheana Desson who led the Junior School Webinar on Wednesday. This session was a great opportunity to learn more about vaccinations for children ages 5 – 11. If you were unable to attend, here is the Webinar Recording 
  • We will continue to keep you updated with any further information regarding vaccinations for children ages 5 – 11, as it becomes available.

CrossWalk on Rosewell Ave

  • As many of you are aware, we have not had a Crossing Guard this week, and that the lights at the crosswalk are not functioning. We are actively trying to resolve this. Specifically, we have reached out to ASP security, the organization who arranges for the guards, and are hopeful to have someone back in place next week. In addition, we have contacted the City of Toronto, who have now been able to determine what the problem is with the lights. They are awaiting parts, and we are told it will be fixed as soon as possible.
  • In the meantime, we implore you to practice extreme caution when crossing the street, and to come to a full and complete stop prior to exiting the Junior School property onto the road. 

Winter Arts and Athletics Co-curriculars: Before/After School

Student Photographs & Retakes Available

  • This is a final reminder for parents to check their student photos, including re-takes, online at the following link: Echo Photography  
  • The password required is your child’s student identification number.
  • If you need help with identifying this number, please visit the Veracross portal and view your child’s profile carefully. 
  • Deadline for ordering all photos has been extended to: December 15th
  • Should you require further assistance please email: jsoffice@havergal.on.ca

REMINDERS

Chartwell’s Ordering Form

New Circles Holiday Angels Gift Card and Clothing Collection 

  • New Circles Community Services is a charitable organization that works to support families in need throughout Toronto. Today during Prayers, our students learned about the ways we will support New Circles leading up to the Holidays by supporting specific families and their needs.
  • What JS families need to know:
    • JK – Grade 1:
      • Students are invited to support the Winter Accessories Drive by donating any of the following items for men (of particular need), women and children
        • Hats (new or gently worn)
        • Scarves  (new or gently worn)
        • Gloves/mittens (new or gently worn)
        • Underwear – long and short (new only)
        • Socks (new only)
    • Grade 2 – 6 
      • Students will be involved in sponsoring a family. 
      • Each student has received a gift card donation request slip which indicates a category of items and preferred stores. We ask you to choose a donation amount that works best for your family. 
      • Please note:
        • New Circles will provide a Charitable Tax Receipt for gift cards of at least $20 in value. In order to receive the receipt, please attach the store receipt along with this form. 
    • All donations (gift cards and clothing items) should be brought to the Junior School by Friday, November 26.

Thrive Week (November 22 – November 26)

  • Our first Thrive Week (previously known as Mental Health Awareness week) is taking place next week! Thrive at HC is both a mindset and a week-long series of events aimed at building a culture of wellbeing within our community and promoting positive mental health for all!
  • Please note that there is a DRESS-DOWN DAY on FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26! Students are invited to wear grub clothes on this day.
  • Please find an array of mental health and wellbeing resources for parents/students here.

Hanukkah Prayers

  • Hanukkah Prayers is on Friday, November 26th. If you have photos or videos of you and your family celebrating Hanukkah over the years, we would love to include them in our Prayers. Please send your photos and videos to awhite@havergal.on.ca by Monday, November 22nd.

Travel Outside of Canada and What to do if your Child is Ill

  • With the November Mid-Term break  and the Winter Holidays coming up, we would like to remind families about the requirements around returning to school if you are travelling outside the country. If you and your unvaccinated child are travelling internationally, it is important to underscore that your child is unable to attend school for 14 days after their arrival back in Canada. Please note, there is no access to remote learning during this time; however, students have the option to follow along with instructions and class notes on Seesaw (JK – 3) or Google Classroom (Gr. 4 – 6) if they are not at school. If you have any specific requests, please contact the Head of the Junior School. 
  • If you have any specific requests, please contact the Head of the Junior School. 
  • For additional guidance, please review our Student Return to School after Illness, Exposure or Travel procedure, which is included in the Family Handbook’s Return to Campus COVID-19 Protocols section. You may also reference the federal government travel advice for those travelling with unvaccinated children.

DATES ON THE HORIZON

Monday, November 22 – Friday, November 26

  • Thrive Week
  • Friday, November 26 – GRUB DAY!

Monday, November 29 – Thursday, December

  • Junior School Book Fair

Friday, December 3

  • PD Day
    • No classes for students
    • JS Faculty and Staff participating in Professional Development

Thursday, December 9

  • Report Cards available for online viewing

Tuesday, December 14

  • 7:00 pm: hybrid Christmas concert 
  • Grade 6 students and parents onsite (Brenda Robson Hall, Upper School)
  • More details to come

Wednesday, December 15, 2021

  • Last day of term

Christmas Break:

  • Thursday, December 16. 2021 – Monday, January 3, 2022

Classes Resume:

  • Tuesday, January 4, 2022

A Message from the Head of the Junior School: Thursday, November 11, 2021

On By havergaljuniorschoolLeave a comment

Dear Junior School Parents,

Today marks the 100th anniversary of the Remembrance Day Poppy. In 1921, the poppy was adopted as the flower of remembrance, as poppies were a common sight, especially on the Western Front. A huge thank you to our Grade 3 classes who on Monday, led our Remembrance Day Service in Prayers. This provided us with the opportunity to learn about the importance of this day, as well to honour all those who have served our country both in times of war and peace. 

 I wish you peace over this long weekend, and look forward to seeing everyone next week.

This week’s blog contains information on the following:

Sincerely,

Kate

UPDATES

Welcoming Visitors on Campus – Starting on November 16

  • Beginning on November 16 our campus will formally reopen to guests and visitors for certain indoor activities.  In our continued commitment to maintaining  a safe learning and working environment for all the Havergal College Visitor COVID-19 Health and Safety Policy outlines the expectations for all visitors to the campus.

Winter Arts and Athletics Co-curriculars: Before/After School

  • Our before and after school winter athletics season will commence later this month; our winter Arts activities will commence in January.
  • You will find all of the information for athletics options and registration information here; particulars about Arts activities will be provided in due course

New Circles Holiday Angels Gift Card and Clothing Collection 

  • This November, Havergal College is once again participating in the New Circles Holiday Angels Program, a gift-giving program that serves individuals and families, many of whom are newcomers to Canada. To learn more, please take a look at the New Circles Website. 

  • What Families Need to Know:
    • Friday, November 19 
      • Students will learn about what New Circles does, and the Holiday Angels Program, and the drives that will be held in JK – Grade 1, and Grade 2 – 6
    • November 22 to the 26th
      • Dates of the Collective Drive
    • JK – Grade 1 – “Winter Accessories Drive”
      • Families are asked to donate any of the following items (new, or gently used and clean) for men (of particular need), women and children
        • Hats 
        • Scarves 
        • Gloves/mittens
        • Underwear (new only)
        • Socks (new only)
    • Grade 2- 6 – “Family Sponsorship Program – Gift Card Drive” 
      • Each grade will receive a family’s profile indicating their particular needs and holiday wishes.  
      • Each HC student these grades will then receive a request indicating which retailers the families would like to receive gift cards for.

Hanukkah Prayers

  • Hanukkah Prayers is on Friday, November 26th. If you have photos or videos of you and your family celebrating Hanukkah over the years, we would love to include them in our Prayers. Please send your photos and videos to awhite@havergal.on.ca by Monday, November 22nd.

REMINDERS

Chartwell’s Ordering Form

Vaccines for Children – A Junior School Parent Webinar

  • As part of our parents as partners education program, we are pleased to be hosting a webinar with our school doctor, Dr. Sheana Desson ‘95 and parent to two Junior School students to unpack questions families may have around the COVID-19 vaccine for students aged 5- 12.
    • When: Wednesday November 17, 2021 7:15pm – 8:00pm
    • Where:  Please click this link to join the webinar
      • Webinar ID: 893 7792 5571
      • Passcode: 714538
  • In order to ensure we answer as many of your questions as possible, we encourage you to submit questions in advance. Please use this link submit your questions by November 17 at 12:00 pm

Student Photographs

  • This is a final reminder for parents to check their student photos online at the following link: Echo Photography  
  • The password required is your child’s student identification number, found on Veracross.
  • Deadline for ordering student photos: November 20th
  • Should you require further assistance please email: jsoffice@havergal.on.ca

COVID-19 Vaccination for Children 

 Consultation About the COVID-19 Vaccine for Children

  • We invite our parents and member of our community to make use of this service should they have any questions about the COVID-19 vaccine for children

Travel Outside of Canada and What to do if your Child is Ill

  • With the November Mid-Term break  and the Winter Holidays coming up, we would like to remind families about the requirements around returning to school if you are travelling outside the country. If you and your unvaccinated child are travelling internationally, it is important to underscore that your child is unable to attend school for 14 days after their arrival back in Canada. Please note, there is no access to remote learning during this time; however, students have the option to follow along with instructions and class notes on Seesaw (JK – 3) or Google Classroom (Gr. 4 – 6) if they are not at school. If you have any specific requests, please contact the Head of the Junior School. 
  • If you have any specific requests, please contact the Head of the Junior School. 
  • For additional guidance, please review our Student Return to School after Illness, Exposure or Travel procedure, which is included in the Family Handbook’s Return to Campus COVID-19 Protocols section. You may also reference the federal government travel advice for those travelling with unvaccinated children.

DATES ON THE HORIZON

Thursday, November 11 – Monday, November 15

  • Midterm break: no classes

Tuesday, November 16

  • Submissions to postcard design contest due

Wednesday, November 17

  • Vaccines for Children (5 – 11) Webinar 7:15 pm

Monday, November 29 – Thursday, December 2

  • Junior School Book Fair

Friday, December 3

  • PD Day
    • No classes for students
    • JS Faculty and Staff participating in Professional Development

Thursday, December 9

  • Report Cards available for online viewing

Wednesday, December 15, 2021

  • Last day of term

Christmas Break:

  • Thursday, December 16. 2021 – Monday, January 3, 2022

Classes Resume:

  • Tuesday, January 4, 2022

A Message From the Head of Junior School: Friday, November 5, 2021

On By havergaljuniorschoolLeave a comment

Dear Junior School Parents,

Happy Friday! The Junior School celebrated Diwali in prayers on Monday, led by our students in 5B. They shared the history of this festival of lights, as ways in which it is celebrated by millions of people all over the world. Then, today, our Grade 4 students delivered a message about what it means to belong and to be included. They read us a book called “The Big Umbrella” and reflected on ways in which we can include others in our play and in the classroom, as well as explaining how to use “I” statements to share feelings. 

We are looking forward to prayers on Monday, when students in Grade 3 will lead us in our Remembrance Day service. Please feel free to join online!

This week’s blog contains information on the following:

Sincerely,

Kate

UPDATES

Vaccination Information Sessions for Families

Cold & Flu Season

  • In an ongoing effort to keep all members of our community in good health, we  thank you for keeping your child at home if they are unwell.
  •  If a student comes to school with presentable symptoms (including those not associated with COVID-19) they will be required to be picked up and to go home until they are well.

Admissions Postcard Design Contest

  • Our Admission team is keen to design a new postcard destined for prospective families. They would like to harness our students’ talents and perspectives as a means of sharing a little more about Havergal.
  • Details:
    • Students are invited to submit a photo or drawing of their favourite spot on campus 
    • If they submit a photo, it should be of high resolution and either 5 x 7 or 6 x 4
    • a short quote explaining what makes that location special should also be submitted (max. 100 words)
    • all submissions due by Tuesday, November 16th to mhw@havergal.on.ca 

Safety Campaign in the Junior School

  • Kudos to the Grade 6 team who have succeeded in raising awareness among the drivers in our community about the need to slow down, watch for pedestrians, and stop only in designated areas! 
  • We  ask for ongoing support in keeping our community safe!

Book Fair: November 29 – 5 

  • We are so excited to announce that we will once again be hosting a book fair this fall with our friends at Ella Minnow Children’s Bookstore. 
  • Given the current environment, our book fair will be virtual, so all ordering will be done online.
  • We will be hosting preview sessions for students so they can create wish lists to help guide your shopping.
  • The book fair will run from November 29th to December 5th. 
  • More information about ordering will be coming but for now, please mark your calendars!

Fall Athletics

  • The students have had a wide range of athletic co-curricular opportunities scheduled during the school day and before/after school. 
  • Congratulations to the 11 teams who have finished their season developing skills and enjoyed being competitive amongst each other. 
  • Take a look at their team pictures here: Team Pictures 

Winter Athletics

  • Please check next week’s blog for all information regarding Gr. 3-6 Winter Athletics. 

REMINDERS

Chartwell’s Ordering Form

Student Photographs

  • This is a final reminder for parents to check their student photos online at the following link: Echo Photography  
  • The password required is your child’s student identification number.
  • If you need help with identifying this number, please visit the Veracross portal and view your child’s profile carefully. 
  • Deadline for ordering student photos: November 20th
  • Should you require further assistance please email: jsoffice@havergal.on.ca

Rapid Antigen Testing Reminder 

  • Thank you to everyone who has registered for the Thrive Health app and logged results for their child. 
  • If you have not yet received an invite to set up your account, please send an email to covid@havergal.on.ca. You must set up your Thrive Health account from the email invitation, using the email address that the invitation was sent to. 
  • For further assistance with account creation see the Thrive Account Setup Instructions. If you require any changes to your account, such as a name or email change after registration, or have difficulty setting up your account, please contact support@thrive.health for further assistance. 
  • If you have not yet started, please commence testing next week, uploading test  results into Thrive Health for your child by the end of the day on Mondays and Thursdays. For info on how to upload a test result see here. Please isolate your child, arrange for PCR testing and notify covid@havergal.on.ca if there is ever a positive Rapid Antigen Screening result. 
  • As students are required to complete a self-assessment through SchoolPass on each school day at Havergal, they do not need to complete the detailed self-assessment feature of Thrive Health. Going forward, the self-assessment questionnaire within Thrive is just a confirmation that you have completed the SchoolPass wellness screen. Please complete this confirmation with each test result that you upload for your child.
  • Our Health Centre is underway with contacting families to provide confirmation that results are being logged correctly and provide instructions for families that have not yet logged results. See our Rapid Antigen Screening Guidance document here for any further questions about testing for COVID-19.

Travel Outside of Canada and What to do if your Child is Ill

  • With the November Mid-Term break  and the Winter Holidays coming up, we would like to remind families about the requirements around returning to school if you are travelling outside the country. If you and your unvaccinated child are travelling internationally, it is important to underscore that your child is unable to attend school for 14 days after their arrival back in Canada. Please note, there is no access to remote learning during this time; however, students have the option to follow along with instructions and class notes on Seesaw (JK – 3) or Google Classroom (Gr. 4 – 6) if they are not at school. If you have any specific requests, please contact the Head of the Junior School. 
  • If you have any specific requests, please contact the Head of the Junior School. 
  • For additional guidance, please review our Student Return to School after Illness, Exposure or Travel procedure, which is included in the Family Handbook’s Return to Campus COVID-19 Protocols section. You may also reference the federal government travel advice for those travelling with unvaccinated children.

DATES ON THE HORIZON

Thursday, November 11 – Monday, November 15

  • Midterm break: no classes

Tuesday, November 16

  • Submissions to postcard design contest due

Monday, November 29 – Thursday, December 2

  • Junior School Book Fair

Friday, December 3

  • PD Day
    • No classes for students
    • JS Faculty and Staff participating in Professional Development

Thursday, December 9

  • Report Cards available for online viewing

Wednesday, December 15, 2021

  • Last day of term

Christmas Break:

  • Thursday, December 16. 2021 – Monday, January 3, 2022

Classes Resume:

  • Tuesday, January 4, 2022

A Message from the Head of the Junior School: Friday, October 29, 2021

On By havergaljuniorschoolLeave a comment

Dear Junior School Parents,

It was such a pleasure to see our Junior School students in their costumes today, as they get ready for the Halloween weekend. They had the opportunity to attend an assembly organized by Tomisin, our JS prefect and her council, as well as participate in a variety of Halloween themed activities in their classes. Everyone went all out again this year in our annual door decorating contest, and it was amazing to see how creative they all got! Be sure to check out Havergal’s social media pages for pictures!

Wishing everyone a happy and safe Halloween.

This week’s blog contains information on the following:

Sincerely,

Kate

UPDATES

COVID-19 Vaccination for Children (5 – 11)

Consultation About the COVID-19 Vaccine for Children

  • We invite our parents and member of our community to make use of this service should they have any questions about the COVID-19 vaccine for children

Diwali

  • Diwali, or Dipawali, is India’s biggest and most important holiday of the year. The festival gets its name from the row (avali) of clay lamps (deepa) that Indians light outside their homes to symbolize the inner light that protects from spiritual darkness. To learn more about Diwali, watch this VIDEO. 
  • This year Diwali begins on Thursday, November 4th, and lasts for five days. Students will have an opportunity to learn more about this important holiday in prayers on Monday, November 1.
  • Students wishing to wear their Diwali outfits are invited to do so.

Lost and Found

  • We currently have several lost and found items: please take a careful look at this picture. 
  • We would like to draw particular attention to these glasses.

Launch of Junior School Safety Campaign 

  • Did you know that the Traffic Injury Research Foundation (TIRF) found that children aged 14 and under are the most at-risk pedestrian group? While the number of pedestrian deaths and injuries decreased in 2020 because of COVID-19 restrictions, 10 pedestrians [have been] killed and 47 seriously injured in Toronto so far this year. That compares with 21 pedestrian deaths one year ago.
  • Join us in ensuring that our Junior School remains a consistently safe environment for everyone in our community. In particular, we have concerns about traffic safety.  We would ask everyone to observe the following:
    • Use designated stopping areas only
    • Always obey the crossing guard
    • Avoid using the school parking lot if at all possible 
    • Watch for pedestrians in unexpected places
    • Take extreme caution when turning left out of the driveway
    • Drive very slowly
    • Follow the road signs 
    • Take care to have students exit cars on the right side near the sidewalk
    • At the edge of each driveway, look all ways before crossing  
  • Our Grade 6 leaders will be providing  reminders during the morning drop-off next week.

REMINDERS

Chartwell’s Ordering Form

  • This week’s Chartwell’s Order Form is due on Wednesday, October 25 by 12 noon for the week of November 1. 
  • Please note that Chartwell’s has included several simpler menu items starting the week of November 1 for families to choose from. 

Swimming Lessons Available at Havergal with Frank’s Swim School

Student Photographs

  • This is a final reminder for parents to check their student photos online at the following link: Echo Photography  
  • The password required is your child’s student identification number.
  • If you need help with identifying this number, please visit the Veracross portal and view your child’s profile carefully. 
  • Retakes are only being held on one date: Friday, November 5
  • Deadline for ordering student photos: November 20th
  • Should you require further assistance or wish to have your child’s name added to our list, please email: jsoffice@havergal.on.ca

Rapid Antigen Testing Reminder

  • Thank you to everyone who has registered for the Thrive Health app and logged results for their child. 
  • If you have not yet received an invite to set up your account, please send an email to covid@havergal.on.ca. You must set up your Thrive Health account from the email invitation, using the email address that the invitation was sent to. 
  • For further assistance with account creation see the Thrive Account Setup Instructions. If you require any changes to your account, such as a name or email change after registration, or have difficulty setting up your account, please contact support@thrive.health for further assistance. 
  • If you have not yet started, please commence testing next week, uploading test  results into Thrive Health for your child by the end of the day on Mondays and Thursdays. For info on how to upload a test result see here. Please isolate your child, arrange for PCR testing and notify covid@havergal.on.ca if there is ever a positive Rapid Antigen Screening result. 
  • As students are required to complete a self-assessment through SchoolPass on each school day at Havergal, they do not need to complete the detailed self-assessment feature of Thrive Health. Therefore, next week you will see that the self-assessment questionnaire within Thrive is just a confirmation that you have completed the SchoolPass wellness screen. Please complete this confirmation with each test result that you upload for your child.
  • Our Health Centre has been monitoring reports from Thrive Health and next week will begin to send follow-up emails to families to provide confirmation that results are being logged correctly, and provide instructions for families that have not yet logged results. See our Rapid Antigen Screening Guidance document here for any further questions.

Travel Outside of Canada and What to do if your Child is Ill

  • With the November Mid-Term break  and the Winter Holidays coming up, we would like to remind families about the requirements around returning to school if you are travelling outside the country. If you and your unvaccinated child are travelling internationally, it is important to underscore that your child is unable to attend school for 14 days after their arrival back in Canada. Please note, there is no access to remote learning during this time; however, students have the option to follow along with instructions and class notes on Seesaw (JK – 3) or Google Classroom (Gr. 4 – 6) if they are not at school. If you have any specific requests, please contact the Head of the Junior School. 
  • If you have any specific requests, please contact the Head of the Junior School. 
  • For additional guidance, please review our Student Return to School after Illness, Exposure or Travel procedure, which is included in the Family Handbook’s Return to Campus COVID-19 Protocols section. You may also reference the federal government travel advice for those travelling with unvaccinated children.

DATES ON THE HORIZON

Monday, November 1

  • Diwali Prayers

Thursday, November 11 – Monday, November 15

  • Midterm break: no classes

Monday, November 29 – Thursday, December 2

  • Junior School Book Fair

Friday, December 3

  • PD Day
    • No classes for students
    • JS Faculty and Staff participating in Professional Development

Thursday, December 9

  • Report Cards available for online viewing

Wednesday, December 15, 2021

  • Last day of term

Thursday, December 16. 2021 – Monday, January 3, 2022

  • Christmas Break

Tuesday, January 4, 2022

  • Classes Resume

A Message From the Head of the Junior School – Friday, October 22, 2021

On By havergaljuniorschoolLeave a comment

Dear Junior School Parents,

Thank you Thank you so much for attending JS Parent-Teacher Conferences this week.

These important conversations provide an opportunity to discuss your child’s progress, to see the areas in which she is thriving, and to discuss targeted plans for continued growth. Moreover, they allow us to further strengthen the relationship between home and school.  It is important to remember, however, that while the conferences provide an overview of your child’s academic and social-emotional development, ongoing feedback throughout the year is paramount.  Should you ever have questions or concerns, we invite you to contact us and be assured that we will do the same.

This week’s blog contains information on the following:

Sincerely,

Kate

UPDATES

Launch of Take-Home PCR Saliva Test Kit Program 

  • This week we have launched our Take Home PCR Saliva Test Kit Program, in partnership with Sick Kids Hospital. These kits are available to any students, or household members who have symptoms consistent with COVID-19, have a risk/close contact identified by TPH or who are part of an identified cohort or outbreak. 
  • Please contact the Junior School nurse at ext. 6516 or covid@havergal.on.ca if you would like to pick up or drop off a kit. Kits are to be dropped off to a Health Centre nurse at the Junior School Main Entrance and then the sample is sent by courier to Sick Kids for testing. 
  • Please see this document for details on the program: Take Home COVID-19 PCR Saliva Testing Program. The Take Home PCR Saliva Testing Program is only for individuals who are symptomatic, ill or have an identified COVID-19 risk. It is different from the Rapid Antigen Testing Program completed at home on Mondays and Thursdays, which is only to be used by well, asymptomatic individuals. For further information on testing types see this helpful TPH Resource on Testing Types for School Students. 

Student Photos – Ready for Ordering

  • We are pleased to share that student photos are now available for families to review and order, via the following link: Echo Photography  
  • The password required is your child’s student identification number.
  • If you need help with identifying this number, please visit the Veracross portal and view your child’s profile carefully. Should you require further assistance please email: jsoffice@havergal.on.ca 

Terry Fox Video 

Feedback: PT Conference

  • We were so pleased to have had the opportunity for our teachers to connect with you. With the ongoing goal of continual improvement, we would appreciate your feedback. Should you have anything you would like to share, we invite you to complete this Google form before Friday, October 29. 

Swimming Lessons Available at Havergal with Frank’s Swim School

Hallowe’en

  • Halloween is just over a week away, and we hope our students have a “spook-tac-lar” time on the 31st! 
  • Students are invited to come to school dressed in their costumes on Friday, October 29. A couple of reminders:
    • Costumes, face paint welcome
    • COVID masks only, no costume masks, please
    • No toy weapons
  • Students will be participating in a variety of fun-filled activities throughout the day. Each class will have the opportunity to participate in a “Door Decorating Contest” throughout the week. They are encouraged to bring materials from home. 
  • Here are some Tips & Tricks for Halloween Bedtime Success for some of our younger students! 

REMINDERS

Chartwell’s Ordering Form

  • This week’s Chartwell’s Order Form is due on Wednesday, October 25 by 12 noon for the week of November 1. 
  • Please note that Chartwell’s has included several simpler menu items starting the week of November 1 for families to choose from. 

Reminder About Travel Outside of Canada and What to do if your Child is Ill

  • With the November Mid-Term break  and the Winter Holidays coming up, we would like to remind families about the requirements around returning to school if you are travelling outside the country. If you and your unvaccinated child are travelling internationally, it is important to underscore that your child is unable to attend school for 14 days after their arrival back in Canada. Please note, there is no access to remote learning during this time; however, students have the option to follow along with instructions and class notes on Seesaw (JK – 3) or Google Classroom (Gr. 4 – 6) if they are not at school. If you have any specific requests, please contact the Head of the Junior School. 
  • If you have any specific requests, please contact the Head of the Junior School. 
  • For additional guidance, please review our Student Return to School after Illness, Exposure or Travel procedure, which is included in the Family Handbook’s Return to Campus COVID-19 Protocols section. You may also reference the federal government travel advice for those travelling with unvaccinated children.

Diwali Prayers – Last Call for Submissions

  • The Junior School will be celebrating Diwali on Monday, November 1 during Prayers. If your family celebrates Diwali, we would love to have some photos to include of your family to include for our walk-in video. Please submit these to Stephanie Iannarella (siannarella@havergal.on.ca) by Monday, October 25, so that they can be included.

DATES ON THE HORIZON

Friday, October 29

  • JS Halloween Celebration 

Monday, November 1

  • Diwali Prayers

Thursday, November 11 – Monday, November 15

  • Midterm break: no classes

Monday, November 29 – Thursday, December 2

  • Junior School Book Fair

Friday, December 3

  • PD Day
    • No classes for students
    • JS Faculty and Staff participating in Professional Development