Upper School College Blog – Friday, January 7, 2022

On By Havergal Upper School

Dear Parents,

We had hoped that our first blog of the new year would be reflecting on a wonderful first week back, complete with pictures of students happily engaged in life on campus. We would all much rather be with your children in person, teaching and learning together. But circumstances dictate we must temporarily adjust our expectations. Please remember that your child is not going through this alone, and has the ability and the resources to get through this together with their classmates and teachers. This podcast, from Dr. Lisa Damour, also has some great strategies to help boost the mental health of everyone in your family.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to either of us or your child’s guidance counsellor if you have any questions about the Continuous Learning Plan or concerns about how your child is faring. We are happy to be a sounding board and are eager to connect and support both you and your child. As mentioned in the parent presentation this week, there are two additional social workers available to meet with virtually. In addition to Ms. Kitson we have contracted Mrs. Watkis and Ms. Rezaei who are able to meet with students.

This week’s Blog contains information and updates on the following: 

Sincerely,

JJ Patterson, Head of Middle School

Deirdre Timusk, Head of Senior School

Latest News

Planning for the 2022-2023 Academic Year – School Schedule

For next year, we will be returning to a non-semestered schedule of eight classes over two days.

  • A team of teachers met during the fall to review feedback on past schedules, research on scheduling, and looked at different schedules from many schools to propose a schedule for Grades 7-12 for the fall of 2022.  
  • The goals were to provide predictability and consistency to the schedule; to try to slow down the pace of the day; to build community through regular activities
  • After weighing the costs and benefits to a semestered versus a non-semestered schedule for all students, it was determined that a non-semestered schedule was the appropriate choice to slow down the pace of classes, and to provide more time to build relationships with teachers and peers. The only exception will be to continue to semester MHF4U and MCV4U (Grade 12 Advanced functions and Calculus) which have run every day for the past 10 years in a semestered model. 
  • An eight-day rotation schedule allows all the blocks to occupy each period to ensure no block is disadvantaged by early dismissals or special schedules. This schedule will be similar to the schedule that we have had prior to Covid
  • If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to Seonaid Davis, VP of Teaching and Learning.

Grade 8 – 11 Academic Program & Course Selection Information Session

Grade 8 – 11 parents are invited to learn more about the planning for the upcoming academic year at the Academic Program and Course Selection Information Session on Wednesday, January 12 @ 6:30 pm.

The session will begin at 6:30pm in a Zoom Webinar with an introduction and overview of the academic program. Parents will then be invited to Grade based Zoom meetings to learn more about course selection for each particular grade. Each session will be recorded and emailed to families the next day.

Zoom links for the evening can be found here.
For next year, we will be returning to a non-semestered schedule of eight classes over two days.  On balance it was decided that this was the best schedule for our students to slow down the pace of classes and to build in more time for connection with peers and teachers.

Grade 7 Parents: Reach Ahead Math Information Night – Thursday, January 13

In December, Grade 7 Parents received an invitation via email from JJ Patterson, Head of Middle School, inviting them to an information session via Zoom to explain the various math options that begin for our students in Grade 8. If you or your child are interested in Reach Ahead Math in Grade 8, this is an important session for you to attend. We hope you will be able to join us but if not, the recording and slide deck will be shared with all Grade 7 Parents following the event.

Grade 7 Parent: Reach Ahead Math Information Night ZOOM link

Webinar ID: 894 7409 1449

Passcode: 202254

Reporting Attendance While Remote

If your child will be absent and unable to attend class during this period of remote learning, please report that absence through the SchoolPass app. If you need assistance with using the SchoolPass app, please refer to this document. Thank you for your ongoing assistance and cooperation.

Rapid Antigen Screening Program

As you know, all students will be participating in the Rapid Antigen Screening Program (RASP), once we are back on campus. The rapid antigen tests will be distributed when we return to in-person schooling on January 17th and additional information will be available at that time.

Virtual Student Life

All students, from JK -12, will be participating in a House Step Challenge from Monday, January 10th to Friday, January 14th. Please encourage your child to take every opportunity to get out of the house and get their steps in! 

The Prefects will also be hosting a tea party for students in grade 7-12 next Thursday at 4 pm. Please know that all student life virtual events are entirely optional for students.

Dates on the Horizon

Wednesday, Jan 12 6:30 pm: Grade 8-11 Parents: Course Selection Information – Virtual 

Thursday, Jan 13 7:00 pm: Grade 7 Parents: Reach Ahead Math Information Night – Virtual

Friday, Feb 4 5:00 pm: Course Selections are due – Grade 8-11

Thursday, Feb 10 6:30 pm: Semester 2 People & Program Evening

Reminders

Pre-Ordering Lunch for the Week of January 17

In order to pre-order your child’s lunch for the week of January 17th, please access the same Google Form as per usual. It is active now and will remain open until Thursday, January 13th. If we are in the unfortunate situation where the government extends this period of remote learning, all orders placed for the week of January 17th will be cancelled automatically.

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