Latest News

Student Safety during Drop-off and Pick-up

We are asking for your help in creating a smooth and safe traffic flow in the front circle by adhering to the following:

• Please pull all the way up the driveway before stopping to allow your child to exit the car. Refrain from stopping at the first walkway as this causes traffic to back up all the way onto Avenue Road.
• Only drop off along the east curb (right side). Do not drop off in the middle or west curb. 
• Drivers are asked to remain patient and wait in the queue to drop off.
• Always signal your intentions when merging to pulling over during drop off. Approximately 80% of drivers do not do this and there have been many near misses.
• Havergal Security is outside to help with the process and facilitate a smooth and efficient drop-off — please follow their directions. 
• After dropping off your child, promptly move along and exit the driveway. 
• Drivers need to remain in the car and refrain from unloading items from the trunk. Please have your child do this. Exiting your car slows down the process for all. 
• When exiting, you can exit through the North Parking Lot as well as the main driveway exit.

Reminders

Ordering your child’s school photo

Your child’s school photos are now ready to be viewed and purchased.  You will need your child’s student ID number which can be found in Veracross. This number can be used to log in and is also the password to access the photos. Go HERE to view and order your child’s photos at your convenience.

Halloween Dress-up Day

On Friday, October 30, Havergal will be celebrating Halloween with a dress-up day for all students. Your child is encouraged to wear an appropriate costume to school on this day. The Grad Presidents are organizing a costume competition as well as a fun-filled student assembly.

Grade 7 Parents: Reach Ahead Math 8 Reminder

If your child in grade 7 is interested in applying for Reach Ahead Math 8 for our next school year (2021-22) and you did not have an opportunity to submit your application before today’s deadline (Fri., Oct 23^rd at 4pm), you can still apply by emailing ashum@havergal.on.ca with:

• your child’s name;
• your name and email address;
• optional parent #2 name and email address; and
• with the subject line: Reach Ahead.

For more information on the program, please click HERE.

If you submitted your application before the deadline, you should have received a confirmation email earlier today (Fri., Oct 23^rd) from Alex Shum, Head of Mathematics.

Operational Items

Grade 12 Canadian University Parent Event Recording

The Guidance Department hosted an information session for Grade 12 families focused on Navigating the Canadian University Applications and Admissions Cycle, on Thursday, October 22, from 7-8 pm.  Much like the session they hosted in the spring that covered the UK and US admissions process, this evening focused on the Canadian University landscape. They looked at the process, deadlines, factors to consider when choosing where to apply and navigating university websites. 

The recording of the presentation is linked HERE for families who were not able to attend the evening.

Dear Parent,

We are grateful for the time we have had together on campus so far this fall. It is another beautiful day and the air is filled with the sound of students enjoying being together.

Please take the time to read through this latest blog post.  It is filled with news, operational items of interest, and reminders.

Warmly,

Lindsay Norberg  (Associate Head & Head of Senior School) and JJ Patterson (Head of Middle School)

Latest News

Adjustments to the Semester 1 School Calendar

As we continue with a successful start to the school year we have identified a need for Professional Development time in order for faculty to continue to deliver a high quality program. As we move forward, we will continue to reflect and adjust the calendar as required. We thank you for your ongoing support as we navigate this unique school year.

Please note the following adjustments in the Upper School Calendar. 

• Monday, November 2, 2020 
  • Teachers will be engaging in Professional Development 
  • Students (Grade 7-12) are not at school and will have an independent study day.
• Wednesday, December 2, 2020
  • Teachers will be engaging in Professional Development
  • Students (JK – Grade 12) are not at school
  • Students in Grade 7-12 will have an independent study day.
• Wednesday, December 16, 2020  
  • The Christmas Break will now begin on this date. 
  • The last day of classes before the break will be Tuesday, December 15
• Thursday, January 28 & Friday, January 29, 2021
  • Teachers will be engaging in Professional Development on these days.
  • Semester 1 will end on Wednesday, January 27, 2021. 
  • Students (Grade 7-12) are not required on campus. They will not have any work as the Semester will be complete and this will be a good time for them to rest and re-energize before starting Semester 2 on Monday, February 1, 2021.  

Daily Screening Update

As you are aware, Toronto Public Health made changes to our daily screening this week. Thank you for attending to these screening questions carefully and completing this prior to your child’s arrival to campus. It is important to note that even if your child is absent, regardless of the reason for the absence, you must still complete the daily screening. Finally, once the screening is complete you are sent detailed instructions with next steps should any of the answers have been yes. 

Over the past four weeks, our families have supported the safety and health of our school remarkably well through our Veracross process. In consultation with our Return to Campus taskforce, we have determined that we will not be moving forward with Edusafe. Also, because of the success, and the routines families have developed around the screening process, we feel that to introduce a new procedure at this time is not in the best interest of the College. 

Toronto Public Health Suspends In-School Grade 7 Vaccination Program

The College has received word that the Toronto Public Health Grade 7 in-school vaccination clinics (Hep B, HPV, Menatcra) are suspended this year. Starting later in October, families can book an appointment to have their child vaccinated at a Toronto Public Health clinic. Click HERE for the bulletin from Toronto Public Health. 

Digital Academic Support for Grade 10-12 Students

• It is with great excitement that Havergal is launching a pilot in Grade 10, 11 and 12 for digital academic support and skill building. Introducing “Paper”, a digital education support system. Click here for more information from Mr. Nichols about “Paper”.

Reminders

Parent Teacher Conferences

• Parent Teacher Conferences will be held on Thursday, October 15th. The sign-up closes on Tuesday, October 13th at noon. For additional details related to the sign-up process, please refer to the previous blog post dated October 5th.

Attendance

• It is critical that you continue to email the DSO if your child’s attendance differs from the designated hours of the school day. Specifically, if your child is arriving later than 8:30 am (Grade 7-9) or 9:00 am (Grade 10-12), the DSO must be informed before the start of the day. The same is true if your child needs to be dismissed early. It is essential that our attendance records are accurate and we need your help in ensuring this.

Green & Gold

• There are a number of uniform items that need to be picked up in the Green & Gold. Please remind your child to go at their designated grade time to pick up these items as soon as possible.

Operational Items

Upper School Awards Ceremony

• The Upper School Academic, Character and Leadership Awards Ceremony will be held virtually on Friday, October 23 from 10:30-11:15 am. This ceremony celebrates awards from the 2019- 2020 school year as well as the entrance scholarships for the 2020-2021 school year. Families of students who are being presented with an award will receive an invitation by email to attend the virtual ceremony on Friday, October 16.

Grade 12 Parent University Information Evening

• Grade 12 Parents are invited to a virtual university application information session on Thursday October 22 at 7pm. The session is led by Heather Johnstone, Head of Guidance, and Jennifer Mandala and will include key information about the university application process. Grade 12 parents will receive an invitation with a Zoom link from the Guidance department.

Middle School Update from the Math Department

• Please see the links below for an update from the Head of Mathematics, Alex Shum, regarding math contests, optional math resources, and the Reach Ahead application process for students currently in Grade 7.
  • Grade 7 Math Contests and Reach Ahead application 
  • Grade 8 Math Contests and Optional Resources

Student Photos Available

Your child’s school photos are now ready to be viewed and are available for purchase. Go HERE to view your child’s photos at your convenience. (Your child’s student ID number, which can be found in Veracross, will be your password.)

Dear Parent, 

We continue to enjoy being here on campus together and we are grateful for the multitude of spaces at Havergal. At the same time, we are being vigilant with our health and safety protocols to support the health of our community. We continue to reinforce these messages at school and appreciate your support in reinforcing at home the same messages about mask wearing, physical distancing and hand washing. 

We are monitoring the trends and regular communications from Toronto Public Health. In the event that schools are directed by the government to close and that teaching and learning must occur remotely, please be assured that the College is prepared to do this quickly, and as seamlessly as possible. We appreciate your support in ensuring your child is organized and has the necessary materials such as their laptops, textbooks, paper and pens at home to support this potential transition. 

The first Upper School Parent/Teacher Conferences of the school year will take place virtually via Zoom on Thursday, October 15.  The online conference booking system that Havergal College uses will open on Tuesday October 6 at 6:00 PM. Sign-up closes on Tuesday, October 13 at 12 noon.

Please note:

• Appointments are five minutes long and are booked on a first-come-first-served basis.
• The online booking system does not permit the scheduling of back-to-back appointments. However, if you are the parent of two or more daughters that have the same teacher or if you are the parent of three or more Upper School students please contact my assistant, Ms. Sally Danto, by Thursday, October 8 before noon by emailing: sdanto@havergal.on.ca.
• Should you wish to meet with your daughter’s Guidance Counsellor, or Havergal College Social Worker, Caitlin Parsons, please email them individually in advance to book an appointment.
• CLICK HERE to sign into your Pick A Time account with your password.
• New to Havergal parents will have to establish a Pick A Time account, which can be done in advance of the online opening.
• If you need help navigating the site, please contact Havergal Information Technology Service Desk at 416-483-3843 ext. 6663. It will be open between 6:00 and 6:30 PM on Tuesday, Oct. 6 when the Pick A Time sign-up goes live. IT support is also available from 7:30 AM to 5 PM Monday to Friday. 
• Online bookings close on Tuesday, October 13 at noon.
• Boarding School Parents: In order to help you plan a time that will work for you, and fits within the established conference time in Toronto, click on this time zone converter  to determine what time you need to establish a meeting in your own time zone.

We also invite you to email your daughter’s teachers or her guidance counsellor at any point in the year to ask for an update on her progress. 

With best wishes for continued good health,

Lindsay Norberg & JJ Patterson