Upper School College Blog – Friday, February 4, 2022

On By Havergal Upper School

Dear Parents,

The last few weeks have been an exciting time for students and faculty as much of the regular co-curricular programming has resumed. Teams are practicing and are eager to begin inter-school competitions, clubs are meeting in person and providing engaging activities for their members, and councils. Affinity and Alliance groups are back to meeting in person to discuss ideas and plan activities within their respective portfolios. It is an encouraging and positive direction to be moving in and we are grateful for all of the work going on behind the scenes by faculty and staff to ensure we are providing the best programming possible while maintaining strong health and safety protocols.

On Thursday, we welcomed Toks Ayinla in Prayers who encouraged our Grade 7-12 students to follow their own greatness journey. Her message was one to inspire our students to take their own unique path to become the very best version of themselves. Through this journey she encourages us to exist in a brave space as opposed to a safe space as personal growth and greatness exists in the brave zone, not the safe zone. We encourage you to speak with your child about this message and how they are taking steps to work outside of their safe zone and move into the bravery zone.  

The US Blog contains information and updates on the following: 

Sincerely,

JJ Patterson, Head of Middle School

Deirdre Timusk, Head of Senior School

Latest News

Semester 1 Report Card – Monday, February 7

Please see this letter to learn more about the Semester 1 final report card which will be available to parents and students on Monday, February 7 at 4 pm.

People & Program Evening for Semester 2 Courses – February 10, 2022

We look forward to seeing you at the Semester 2 People and Program Evening on Thursday, February 10 at 6:30 pm. It is your opportunity to meet your child’s Grade Lead/Guidance Counselor, and Subject Teachers who are teaching courses starting in Semester 2. 

In order to have the best possible experience at the upcoming event, it is required that you have a Zoom account and it is strongly recommended that your application be updated to the latest version. The following information and links have been provided by our IT department for your use:

An information page containing your child’s Semester 2 teachers and their zoom links will be sent to you on Tuesday, February 8.

Accessing Classes Via Zoom – Update starting February 22, 2022

Starting Tuesday, February 22, 2022, accessing classes via Zoom will only be available for students isolating due to COVID-19 or those with a medical/visa accommodation.

  • If a student is away due to COVID-19 isolation, families should communicate this to the school by putting a note/reason in SchoolPass that says “isolating.” It might take up to 24hrs for teachers to make their Zoom links available to a student depending on when we get the information. Assessments will be written in-person unless the teacher requests otherwise. 
    • As a reminder, the chart below illustrates which symptoms require a student to stay home and isolate. Isolation is also required for 5 days should a student or anyone they live with, test positive for COVID-19.

  • If students are going to be away for longer than 5 days, please contact your child’s Head of School to discuss the situation. Extended absences will include access to class materials on Veracross and asynchronous work only. Access to zoom links will not be permitted.
  • If a student is unable to attend school in person because they have a medical exemption or a visa issue, students are placed in the remote cohort with access to class via zoom and other remote learning supports. Families in this situation should email the appropriate Head of School to ensure those remote learning supports are in place for their child. 

Invitation: Grade 7-11 Leadership Webinar for Parents – February 16 – 6:30 pm

Parents with children in Grades 7-11 are invited to a webinar on Wednesday, February 16 to learn more about the leadership opportunities available in the Upper School. To help us prepare, we invite you to put your questions into this anonymous google form.

Faculty Update: JJ Patterson, Head of Middle School

It is with equal parts joy and sadness that we share that JJ Patterson has been appointed the Assistant Head of School, Director of the Upper School at St. Anne’s School for the 2022-2023 school year.

JJ joined Havergal in 2011 and in her time here she has been a passionate teacher, coach, Department Head of Health and Physical Education, and Head of the Middle School. As Department Head, JJ led the Health & Physical Education team for two years with a unique combination of strengths and innovative ideas, drawing on her experiences as a high performance athlete and coach. A leader who encourages and values collaboration, she focused on growing the department and cultivating an enthusiastic and mutually supportive team.

JJ has guided the Middle School since the fall of 2013. She is passionate about all things Middle School – whether it is supporting new students, planning excursions, working with the Middle School council and Form teachers, or braving the Middle School hallway during class changeover – her goal has always been to ensure that students have the best possible experience at Havergal.

Please join us in congratulating JJ and wishing her all the best at St. Anne’s next year.

Spirit Week – February 14 – 17

Spirit Week is a great way for students to get involved with school spirit and participate with their grade. Each grade competes as a team in various competitions such as trivia, benchball and a cheer-off. There is a daily dress-down theme for each day of the week and the Clubs and Spirit Prefects and Grade Spirit Reps have many exciting events planned! 
Part of Spirit Week includes our beloved Hockey Day, which is confirmed for Tuesday, February 15, 2022 at Mattamy Athletic Centre. We are excited to watch our senior hockey team battle it out for the Hewitt Cup. The puck will drop at 1:00 pm and there will be a livestream link available for families and friends to join in on the fun. Let’s go Gators!!

COSSOT Updates

  • We are in talks with Crescent to have our students connect in-person before we leave for March Break. Stay tuned for more details!
  • There will be a virtual Talent Show coming Friday, February 25 with Crescent. 

In addition, Relay for Life will be held on April 28 at Upper Canada College. BSS, Branksome, RSGC, Crescent and Havergal will be participating. We hope that you will support the teams that sign up to help raise funds for the Canadian Cancer Society.

Drop-off and pick-up

  • Ensure that you pull up as far forward as possible when you are dropping at the Upper School.
  • Continue to stop only on the east side of the laneway 
  • Follow the directions of our amazing security team 

During pick-up you may wait on the west side of the laneway as well (but not during drop off).

Allergen Aware Reminder

Several Havergal students, faculty and staff have life threatening allergies. Havergal College exercises reasonable care to ensure that all persons are safe; however, the school cannot assume responsibility for providing a completely allergen-free environment. In order to provide a safe learning environment at the College, all members of the Havergal community will make best efforts not to bring products containing peanuts or any kind of nut, including traces of peanuts or nuts, to the College (whether on the premises or during excursions). If families are baking or buying items for College events they must make best efforts not to bring products containing nuts. Please read the Anaphylaxis Policy to learn more.

Veracross Unavailable this Saturday Evening

Veracross will be performing urgent maintenance on Saturday, Feb 5 from 8pm to 10pm EST. During this maintenance window, all portals and functions will be offline.

Covenant House

Alongside the Period Project currently being run by the Senior School Student Council, there is a personal care product drive for Covenant House being led by Sloane P. in Grade 7. As part of their extensive programming for homeless youth, Covenant House provides hygiene and feminine products to support young women who need immediate shelter and who are transitioning to stable housing. In order to support this initiative, all students are encouraged to bring new personal care products such as shampoo, conditioner, soap, deodorant, combs, brushes, toothbrushes, soap, pads and tampons. Drop off locations can be found in various locations around the Upper School. Your support is greatly appreciated!

News from the Green & Gold

Middle School and Senior School students are welcome to pick up completed orders at the shop Monday through Friday, from 3:30 pm – 4:00 pm.

Dates on the Horizon

Feb 7: Red & White Dress Down Day for Team Canada 

(or students can choose to celebrate their country of choice)

Feb 7 at 4pm:   Report Cards available to parents/students via Veracross

Feb 14 – 17: Spirit Week (no uniform – dressing up encouraged! See the chart for more info!)

Feb 15: Hockey Day! 

Feb 16 @ 6:30: pm Grade 7-11 Parent Webinar on Student Leadership

Feb 18 – 21: Mid-Term Break

Feb 23: Pink Shirt Day – students are invited to “dress down” in pink!

Mar 11 – 27: (inclusive) March Break

Photos from the Week

Period Products in the Washrooms

More Amazing Art from Our Students

Lunar New Year Prayers

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