Dear Parents,

It was wonderful to see so many families and alumni at our Celebration Saturday event last weekend. We could feel the excitement in the air as the students moved through the school from the Haunted House to the Cookiegram station. The grade 7s beating the grade 12s in the final of the Tug of War showed our students that when you come together as a community, you can do anything! Thank you so much for supporting our Community Partners. 

This week we held our Truth and Reconciliation Assembly. Riley Yesno was our guest speaker. She is a Anishinaabe scholar, writer, and advocate, with articles featured in McLean’s, The Toronto Star and The Globe and Mail. She is currently finishing her PhD at the U of T. Her message centred around the importance of one of our school values – integrity – and how it led her on her journey to be her best self. Riley presented to students how, in the pursuit of Truth & Reconciliation as a member of the Prime Minister’s Youth Council, she realised what was working for her, and what was not, in finding and staying true to herself and her community. The message resonated with other topics students are addressing: wellbeing, failing forward, and relationships. Afterwards, students who self-selected, spent an additional hour learning more about Riley, her journey, and Truth and Reconciliation.

Today’s edition contains updates on the following: 

• Reporting your child’s attendance 
• Mark your calendar – Parent Teacher Conferences  
• Music Retreat & Arts Registration Reminder
• Senior School Updates – new social events
• Middle School Updates – new social events
• AP Exams Virtual Information Session 
• Global Leading & Learning Diploma (GLLD) 
• Wellbeing
• HCPA Updates 
• Dates on the Horizon

Best regards,

Cissy Goodridge, Head of Middle School 

Deirdre Timusk, Head of Senior School 

Latest News

Reporting Your Child’s Attendance

Please use the Parent Portal to report your child’s attendance. It is quick and easy – we promise! Please call the DSO only when it is a last minute change or an emergency.

Parent Teacher Conferences

Mark your calendar! Parent Teacher Conferences will be held over Zoom on Thursday, October 27 (3 pm – 8 pm) and Friday, October 28 (8 AM – 3 PM). The Pick-A-Time system will open on Thursday, October 13 at 6 PM for you to sign up for appointments, and will close on Tuesday, October 25 at 6 PM.  Junior School sign-up is opening up one day earlier to prevent the system from overloading. Please make sure you are clicking on the correct event – Junior or Senior school – to book your appointments.

Music Retreat & Arts Registration Reminder

Senior Music Ensembles (Choir, Orchestra, Symphonic Band, Grade 9 Band) will be travelling to Campfire Circle, Muskoka for the annual Music Retreat on October 12 – 14. Registration for the event is open until October 3, 5PM. Please register your child using this link at your earliest convenience.
Some of you received an email from your Performing Arts director asking you to fill out the registration form for Performing Arts Co-Curriculars this academic year. This form is for families who missed the previous co-curricular registration form for Middle School and Senior School Arts ensembles. This form can be assessed using this link, and will remain open until 8 AM on  October 3.

Senior School New Social Events

• NEW – HaverCrest (Havergal and Crescent) Benchball: Friday, November 18, Grade 9 – 12,  4 – 6:30 pm
• NEW – Havergal:  9/10 Semi on Friday, December 2
• These are in addition to the Grade 11/12 Semi on January 27 and the Grade 12 Formal on May 26. 

Middle School Social Events

Middle School students are invited to register for the upcoming COSSOT Dances. The dances cost $10.00 per person and the spaces are limited. Details about registration will be available in The Weekly, on Friday, October 6th. 

• RSGC (Royal St. Georges College) Grade 7 & 8 Dance, Friday, October 21, 7:00-9:30 PM
• Havergal College Grade 7 and 8 Dance, Friday, November 4, 7:00-9:30 PM

AP Exams Virtual Information Session: October 4 at 4:00 PM

Parents and students in the Upper School are invited to learn about the AP exams offered at our school, the policies and procedures of AP exams at our school and the role APs play in university admissions. Please join the VP of Teaching & Learning, the Head of Guidance, and the AP Coordinator in the webinar on Tuesday. The link may be found on the Veracross calendar and is also here for your convenience. The passcode is 860515.

University Visits

Please join us for the following visits to our school:

• Oct 3rd – University College London
• Oct 4th – University of Birmingham

Please remember all information can be found on the Guidance Portal, so please check regularly.

Global Leading & Learning Diploma (GLLD)

The GLLD is a multi-year diploma program offered to students in Grades 10-12 through the Forum for Change (F4C). This program further differentiates students to outside institutions (post-secondary, employment, etc.) by recognizing their work in developing a global mindset and action oriented critical thinking. Each student works through modules that are deeply relevant to the complex world we live in as they broaden perspectives and outlooks. . 
The deadline for Applications (linked here) is Thursday October 13, 2022. An information session for students will be held on Wednesday October 5, 2022 at 12:20pm in B19.

Wellbeing

The Wellbeing Team is excited to announce that we are forming a Wellbeing Council 2022-23. This group will enhance student engagement and improve the quality of initiatives and programs at Havergal College. Interested students in grades 7 -12 are invited to apply. Applications close at 4pm on Friday, September 30. Council members will be notified early next week as our first meeting of the year will be held on Wednesday, October 5.

HCPA Update: Coffee Mornings

Don’t forget to mark your calendars and join us for a Coffee Morning.  It will be a great opportunity to mingle with both fellow parents and members of the Senior Leadership Team.  We hope to see you there.

Oct 4 – Grades 9 – 11     7:30am – 8:30am (Brenda Robson Hall)

Oct 25  – Grades 7 & 8  7:30am – 8:30am (Brenda Robson Hall)

HCPA Update: Ivy Market

Save the date for a new HCPA event – Ivy Market on Nov 22!  All-day shopping for parents and students; evening shopping and cocktail party for parents.  Stay tuned for more details.

Shop for litterless lunch bags at COLIBRI – select Havergal College in drop down.  Deadline coming up soon – October 3.

Dates on the Horizon

Monday, October 3

• Islamic Heritage Prayers

Tuesday, October 4

• House Games and House Meeting
• Grade 9 -11 Coffee Morning in the  BRH at 7:30 – 8:30 am 
• AP Exam Parent information seminar 4 pm 

Wednesday, October 5

• Thanksgiving Prayers

Thursday, October 6

• Last day of classes

Friday October 7

• School Closed

Dear Upper School Families:

We are excited to have our entire Senior School out on trips last week and our Grade 7s returning from Kilcoo today. It has been such a pleasure to hear the stories from the trip and get feedback from the students. 

Today’s edition contains updates on the following: 

• Please update your child’s health information in our new system
• Online Graduation Requirement
• Celebration Saturday 
• Truth and Reconciliation Week
• MS Gator Games
• Unsanctioned Semis 
• Class of 2023 – Grad Family Breakfast
• Athletics – Schedule Information 
• Performing Arts
• Health Centre Update
• University Counselling 
• Forum for Change Updates
• HCPA Updates 
• Request from our Neighbours  
• Next Week at a Glance

Best regards,

Cissy Goodridge, Head of Middle School 

Deirdre Timusk, Head of Senior School 

Latest News and Updates

Magnus Health – Updating Your Child’s Health Information

This is a reminder to have parents complete updating their child’s health information in Magnus Health by TODAY, September 23, 2022 so that we can ensure that we have the most up-to-date information for our athletic teams, excursions, food services etc. You can access Magnus Health from the Parent Portal by clicking on the Update My Child’s Health Information button  located on all of the landing pages, or under the My Household menu in the navigation bar. 

Important News about Online Learning Graduation Requirement

Havergal has opted out of the government requirement for mandatory online learning for our students. Please learn more about what this means by clicking on the letter from Dr. Samson below. If you would like your child to opt in to mandatory online learning credits you will find the “opt in” link at the top of the Parent Portal (note that this link will only be available to Parents with students in Grades 9-12). The link is live until October 7th. . PPM 167 Communication to Parents

Celebration Saturday, September 24, 2022

We are looking forward to seeing everyone at Celebration Saturday – a fundraiser for our wonderful Community Partners.  Join us on Saturday, September 24 from 9:00am – 1:00pm for House and Grade games, House Stalls, a Junior School midway, BBQ, Marketplace, a Silent Auction and more.  We hope to see you there!

Truth and Reconciliation Week, September 26 – September 30, 2022

The Havergal community is invited to recognize Truth and Reconciliation Week and Orange Shirt Day during the week of September 26. Orange Shirt Day is designed to promote understanding that every child matters and to commemorate the residential school tragedy, honour the journey of survivors and their families, and commit to the ongoing process of reconciliation. We will be sharing the purpose of the day, in developmentally appropriate ways, both in class and through other venues throughout the week. Students are invited to wear orange shirts on Friday, September 30. The following are Orange Shirt Day Retailers. When purchasing a shirt from one of these, the proceeds directly support Indigenous organisations and communities. Activities for the week will be published in the weekly announcements and will include: Meet the Student TRC council, Leadership Workshop with Mr. Nichols, Faceless Dolls Project with Mme. De Cecco, and more to come. On Thursday, we will have an Upper School Assembly with Riley Yesno, an Anishinaabe scholar (UofT), writer and advocate. Interested students are invited to sign up in advance to take part in a deeper discussion with Riley Yesno. Student sign up is available in the weekly announcements.

MS Gator Games

The Middle School Gator Games will take place on Thursday, September 29 from 5:30 – 7:30 pm. This event is a great opportunity to play some low organisational games with your child and meet other families in the Middle School. After a warm-up and two games sessions there will be some finger foods and drinks to enjoy with all participants. The event is run by the Sports Prefects and Sports Council and promises to be an entertaining afternoon of friendly competition and laughter! A registration email was sent on Wednesday, September 21st from Carla Di Filippo. The registration link can also be found HERE. If you have any questions please email Carla Di Filippo.

Unsanctioned Semis

It has recently come to our attention that there is a grade 9 unsanctioned semi-formal dance taking place this weekend at the Luxy Club in Vaughan. Please note that this is not a Havergal College sanctioned event. There will be no Havergal College staff supervision. We encourage you to speak to your child regarding safe partying and the possible risks of attending an unsupervised event. We are not able to vouch for any procedures or measures that may be in place at that event.

These events happen throughout the year and we can not guarantee that we will be able to let you know about each unsanctioned event. Havergal College will be hosting a Middle School dance on Friday, November 4, a COSSOT event (TBD) for Grade 9 and 10 students on Friday, November 18, a Grade 11/12 semi formal on Friday, January 27 and our Grade 12 Formal on Friday, May 26. 

Class of 2023 Grad Family Breakfast – RSVP Tonight!

Grade 12 students and their parents or guardians are invited to the Class of 2023 Grad Family Breakfast on Friday, September 30 at 7:30 am. This is a celebration that signifies the beginning of a special year for both the Grads and their families. If one or both parents/guardians are unable to attend, students may invite another significant adult in their life. Students are asked to wear #1 Dress for the breakfast and may change into their orange shirts for Orange Shirt Day after the event. Deadline to RSVP is midnight tonight!

Athletics Updates – Schedule Information

Fall sports have started! Team rosters will be set by Sept. 26. You can find the fall athletics schedule on Veracross (click on the “Athletics Calendar”). As well, once rosters are made, the team and its schedule will appear on students’ Veracross home page. As always, you can use THIS SCHEDULE as well (I highly suggest to “favourite” this document). We welcome spectators to home games. Come support your Gators! 

Performing Arts Updates

Registration for all Upper School Performing Arts will be closing at the end of today. The director will be in touch with the participants soon about their first rehearsal.

Health Centre Updates

Please be advised that after illness or testing positive for COVID, students are able to return 24 hours after symptoms have improved (48 hours if symptoms are Gastro-Intestinal – GI – related). Students and employees are advised to wear a mask for 10 days after the onset of symptoms, and try to maintain distance when taking masks off and eating.

University Counselling Updates

University Visits: Universities have already started their visits to our school this week as both Notre Dame and UBC came to talk to our senior students. Please make sure you check out the University Visits page on the Guidance Portal to keep up to date on all of the upcoming visits.

International University Fair: Please join us in the BRH on Thursday, September 29th from 6:30 – 8:30 pm to meet with schools from the UK and USA. 

The Art and Design Schools Portfolio Day: Appleby College: Thursday, September 29th – 6:30 – 8:30 pm

Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about university portfolio requirements and share with university admissions professionals examples of their work for feedback. 

Special Recordings & Presentations: As promised on People & Program Night, here are some resources that are helpful regarding university applications:

• Applying to American Colleges
• Applying to UK Universities
• Applying to Canadian Universities

Forum for Change Updates

Earth Prize

The Earth Prize is an annual $200,000 environmental sustainability competition for students around the world between the ages of 13 and 19 that rewards the teams whose projects and ideas have the most potential to address environmental issues. As part of the competition, participants get access to mentorship by university students from top universities around the world and exclusive learning content covering key environmental sustainability concepts and featuring young environmental change-makers from around the world. 

Interested students can create a team and come to the Forum for Change to help register. 

Duke of Edinburgh

Have you heard about the Duke of Edinburgh awards? It is an international award program for participants ages 14-24 that aids in building confidence, gaining teamwork skills, and developing resilience and problem solving abilities.

There will be a Duke of Edinburgh Information Session for students on Monday October 3rd during lunch (12-1pm) in the Ellen Knox library. If you think this would be a good opportunity for your child please encourage them to attend. All students are welcome. Registration for Duke of Edinburgh will close on October 10th. We hope to see your child(ren) there!

HCPA Updates

We still need volunteers for Celebration Saturday!  Click HERE to sign up.

The Silent Auction is Live!  Sign up in advance and bid now! We have some great items on the block such as HC Front Row Seats, tickets, and more.

Shop for litterless lunch bags at  Colibri – select Havergal College in drop down. Deadline Oct 3rd. 

Don’t forget the Gator Games Tug of War between the Grads and their parents at 11:10am on Saturday!!

Request from our Neighbours

Some of our neighbours have contacted us with concerns that members of our community are making illegal and dangerous u-turns on our surrounding streets; as well as mounting the sidewalks and driving on lawns. Traffic on Avenue Road and surrounding residential streets is exceptionally busy, especially at drop-off and pick-up. Please drive safely and courteously. Thank you!

Next Week at a Glance

Mon. Sept. 26 Boarder Prayers

Tue. Sept. 27 InterHouse Games in morning

Wed. Sept 28 MS and SS Club-Affinity-Alliance-Community Partners Fair

Thu. Sept 29 Truth & Reconciliation Assembly

Fri. Sept 30 Orange Shirt Dress Down Day

Fri. Sept 30 Grad/Family Breakfast @ 7:30 am 

Dear Havergal Parents,

This week in the Upper School, we welcomed Middle School parents to the People and Program Evening where, in addition to meeting their children’s teachers, they attended information sessions on Middle School Exchange opportunities, and the upcoming Camp Kilcoo and St. Donat Trips. The week continued with the entire Senior School (Grades 9 – 12) departing for grade trips to numerous camps located in the Muskoka area. Students arrived home smiling, happy, and exhausted: clear indicators that the trips were a resounding success.  We look forward to hosting our first Prayers parent reception of the year on Monday September 19th, to recognize the Jewish High Holidays. Next Saturday, September 24th, marks the return of Celebration Saturday, a treasured school event.  We look forward to seeing you there!

Today’s edition contains updates on the following: 

• National Day of Mourning
• High Holidays Prayers and Parent Reception
• Truth and Reconciliation
• Celebration Saturday
• Grad Family Breakfast
• Updating Your Child’s Health Information – Important Change
• HCPA Reminders

Best regards,

Cissy Goodridge, Head of Middle School 

Deirdre Timusk, Head of Senior School 

Latest News

National Day of Mourning – September 19, 2022

The Government of Ontario has mandated that all schools take time on Monday Sept 19 to observe a moment of reflection on or around 1:00 pm in honour of Queen Elizabeth’s legacy of service to the people of Canada and the Commonwealth. Havergal will be marking this occasion from JK to Grade 12, in age appropriate ways.

High Holidays Prayers & Parent Reception

Parents are invited to attend the Upper School High Holidays Prayers on Monday, September 19 from 8:40 to 9:20 am in the Brenda Robson Hall, and afterwards for a reception of coffee, tea and snacks in the Temerty Commons from 9:20 to 9:50 am.

Truth & Reconciliation Week & Orange Shirt Day – September 25 – 30, 2022

Havergal is committed to Truth and Reconciliation with Indigenous communities. We will acknowledge our commitment together as a school, through age-appropriate messaging, resources and activities leading up to Truth and Reconciliation Day on September 30. This year’s Truth and Reconciliation Day will have week-long programming from September 25 to 30, culminating with Orange Shirt Day on Friday, September 30. Havergal students, faculty and staff are invited to acknowledge and validate Indigenous ways of knowing and learning, learn about the history of residential schools through books, speakers and discussions, as well as honour residential school survivors. On Thursday, September 29, Upper School Prayers will welcome guest speaker Riley Yesno, Anishinaabe scholar, writer and advocate, to address students, faculty and staff. Following Prayers, students who applied in advance, are invited to remain and speak in more depth with Riley Yesno.

Celebration Saturday – You’re invited!

We’re excited to welcome you to Celebration Saturday which is an event that raises funds to support Havergal’s Community Partners and brings together students, parents, Old Girls/Alum, faculty and staff for activities and games. Attendees will also have the opportunity to peruse our Silent Auction, purchase from Marketplace vendors and visit with fellow Old Girls/Alum in our dedicated Hava Java space. Bring your extended family and friends–everyone is welcome!

 Activity Wristband and Food Tickets

The HCPA is still accepting donations and looking for volunteers.  Please see the HCPA section below for more information.

• Essential Information for Families
  • Attendance
    • Celebration Saturday is a community event for any and all that would like to attend!  Attendance is mandatory for students in Grades 7 – 12. 
  • Timing
    • 8:45 am – Students in Grades 7 – 12 go to Ratcliffe Field for attendance
    • 9:10 am – Opening Ceremonies on the South Quad
    • 9:15 am – Festivities begin!
    • 1:00 pm – Celebration Saturday concludes.
      • Students check out with their House Advisor
  • What to Wear
    • Students are asked to wear House Colours. 
    • Parents are encouraged to dress casually and comfortably

• Parking
  • There is limited parking available at the school on this day.  Families are encouraged to walk, carpool, take the TTC, Taxi or alternate form of transportation.

Class of 2023 Grad Family Breakfast

Grade 12 students and parents/guardians are invited to the Class of 2023 Grad Family Breakfast on Friday, September 30 at 7:30 am. Parents/guardians and senior year students will be celebrated at this breakfast, as it signifies the beginning of a special year for both the Grads and their families. If one or both parents/guardians are unable to attend, students may invite another significant adult in their life. Please RSVP by Thursday, September 22.

Updating Your Child’s Health Information – Important Change

• Havergal is implementing Magnus Health to manage our student records. This will mean a more efficient process for parents to manage their children’s information, while ensuring accurate and up to date information is accessible to the appropriate employees at our school.
• You can now access Magnus Health from the Parent Portal by clicking on the Update My Child’s Health Information button located on all of the landing pages, or under the My Household menu in the navigation bar.  Please reserve 20-30 minutes per child to complete this process.

Reminders

HCPA Reminders

Celebration Saturday is coming soon!

Silent Auction donations needed. Click HERE to donate.

Havergal parents, alumni, and students invited to be a vendor at Marketplace. Click HERE to apply.

Volunteers needed – Click HERE to volunteer

Coffee Mornings  – Save the Date! (More details to follow)

We are looking forward to welcoming parents into the school for grade Coffee Mornings this fall.  Join members of our SLT for coffee and conversation on the following days:

Sept 29 Grades 7 & 8 7:30am – 8:30am

Oct 4 Grades 9 – 11 7:30am – 8:30am  

Parking on campus 

We have limited parking available for parents during school hours.  We encourage you to walk to campus whenever possible or park on surrounding streets.  Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

Dear Parent,

It was a busy week at Havergal in the Upper School. Our new and returning Middle School students were greeted energetically by our Prefects with lots of cheering and a party rocker. They met their Form Teachers, got acquainted with their locker area (the center of their universe), their classrooms and classmates, and took part in games and a scavenger hunt led by our Prefects.

New and returning Senior School students struck a pose for photographs, spent time with their TAs learning about what to expect this year and contributed to discussions about how they would like to see the year shape up. Grads are sporting their white blazers proudly and their hoodies with joy.

Today’s edition contains updates on the following: 

• Camp Kilcoo permission form and waiver due today
• Updating your child’s health information – Magnus Health 
• Sending medication to camp
• Middle School People & Program Evening – Monday, September 12 @ 6pm
• Celebration Saturday – September 24
• Jewish High Holiday Prayers and Reception
• Truth and Reconciliation Week
• Havergal College Parents Association: volunteers needed
• Havergal College Parents Association: used uniform sale
• Grad Hoodies
• Space Camp Information Session
• Online Graduation Requirement
• Athletics Registration Reminder
• Performing Arts Registration Reminders
• Reporting Attendance Reminder
• Week at a Glance

Best regards,

Cissy Goodridge, Head of Middle School 

Deirdre Timusk, Head of Senior School 

Latest News

Camp Kilcoo Grade 7 Camp – permission forms due today!

The Grade 7 overnight excursion to Camp Kilcoo will run from September 21 – 23. Camp Kilcoo is located on Highway 25, just south of Minden.  This excursion is a wonderful way for the Grade 7s to get to know  each other through unique camp activities.They create memories with their peers, and bond with the Grade 12 student leaders who will be accompanying them. Below, you will find an information letter which contains the registration link to the excursion. Please join us in the Brenda Robson Hall, for the Kilcoo Parent Information evening, on September 12, following the People & Program event.

 Kilcoo Parent Letter Fall 2022 including link to registration and camp waiver

Important Change – Updating Your Child’s Health Information

Havergal is implementing Magnus Health to manage our student records. This will mean a more efficient process for parents to manage their children’s information, while ensuring accurate and up to date information is accessible to the appropriate employees at our school.

You can now access Magnus Health from the Parent Portal by clicking on the Update My Child’s Health Information button located on all of the landing pages, or under the My Household menu in the navigation bar.  Please reserve 20-30 minutes per child to complete this process.

Sending medication to camp?

If your child takes prescription medication and is going on a Senior School excursion next week, we are anticipating that they will handle their own prescription medication administration. If your child would like assistance with medication administration or reminders about taking medication, please get in touch with your child’s trip leader.  Please be sure to send the medication in a tamper proof, pharmacy labeled container with the dose, frequency and medication name, so that our trip leaders can appropriately assist and identify what medication is being taken. As a reminder, information about what type of prescription medications your child is taking was provided at registration for the trips and is used in the case of emergencies. If there have been changes to your child’s medication list since registration please email your child’s trip leader and healthcentre@havergal.on.ca so we can update our emergency information. 

Middle School People & Program Evening

Monday, September 12, 6:00 – 8:00 PM

Please join us in the Brenda Robson Hall for light refreshments at 5:30pm. Opening remarks by our Principal, Katrina Samson begin at 6:00pm. At 6:20pm, you will follow your child’s schedule, meet their teachers and hear about the grade curriculum. Afterwards, there will be presentations about the Grade 7 Kilcoo Excursion in the Brenda Robson Hall, and the Grade 8 Winter Excursion in the Legacy Theatre.

It’s not just an alumni event…it’s a fundraiser for our Community Partnerships…it’s Celebration Saturday!

Each fall our Havergal Community raises money for our community partnerships. We have established long-term relationships with these organizations. Our student volunteers work with those outside the Ivy Walls, and learn invaluable lessons about service and sacrifice, while growing as individuals.  We currently support nine different organizations; you can learn more about them here. The purchase of a $30 wristband entitles the wearer to a free popcorn, cotton candy, cookie decorating and access to all the midway and House room events such as a bead station, Haunted House, mini golf and more! All the money goes directly to our community partners. You may also purchase additional tickets, both in advance and at the event, for the BBQ, art sale and bake sale. 

Jewish High Holidays Prayers and Reception

The Upper School will be acknowledging Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur during Prayers on Monday, September 19. Parents and grandparents are warmly invited to join us for this event, following which there will be a reception for those families in attendance. 

Truth and Reconciliation Week – Orange Shirt Day – Friday, September 30

The Havergal community is invited to recognize Truth and Reconciliation Week and Orange Shirt Day during the week of September 26. The week, including Orange Shirt Day, is designed to promote understanding that every child matters and to commemorate the residential school experience, honour the journey of survivors and their families, and commit to the ongoing process of reconciliation. We will be sharing the purpose of the day, in developmentally appropriate ways, both in class and through other venues throughout the week. Students will wear their orange shirts on Friday, September 30th. The following are Orange Shirt Day Retailers. When purchasing a shirt from one of these, the proceeds directly support Indigenous organizations and communities.

HCPA News: Celebration Saturday Volunteers Needed!

Volunteers are needed to help at our CelSat event throughout the day. Please see this LINK to sign up. Even 1 hour of your time is greatly appreciated!

HCPA News: Used Uniform Sales

Used Uniform Sales will be held  from 5 – 8pm on People & Program nights on Sept. 12 (MS), and Sept. 13 (JS).  Stop by to pick up back-up uniform pieces including kilts, skirts, tunics, blazers, and pants. Charges will be applied to your student account. Middle School sales will be in Ellen Knox and Junior School sales will be in the JS main hallway.

Does your Grad need another hoodie?

If you wish to purchase another hoodie for your Grad, please complete this form by Monday, September 19th. 

Space Camp: November 2022

This past Thursday, your child heard about the exciting opportunity to participate in Space Academy (Grade 7 & 8) and Advanced Space Academy (Grade 9-12) in Huntsville, Tennessee. This is a highly engaging STEM experience that requires no previous experience or expertise in STEM. It is a fun program emphasizing learning and leadership. Read more about the program and application HERE.

We will be hosting an information session on Zoom  Monday, September 12th at 4PM. If you are interested, but cannot attend, please contact Andrea Loyola.

Important News About Online Learning Graduation Requirement

Please click on this link to learn more about opting in to online learning for graduation. 

PPM 167 Communication to Parents

Reminders

Athletics Registration Reminder

Only parents can register their children for fall sports. Registration for these programs closes on Monday, September 12 at 12:00 pm. The athletics tryout schedule is available on the Veracross parent portal under “My Calendar” or can be viewed by clicking THIS LINK. Tryouts take place over a  two week period: September 12 – 16th and 19 – 23rd. If you have any questions, please contact Carla Di Filippo, Director of Athletics, at cdifilippo@havergal.on.ca. 

Performing Arts Reminder

The sign-up for the senior school show, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, are on the Drama board outside of B17. Auditions will be held on Sept 20, 21, 22. 

Reporting Student Attendance Reminders

• A link for reporting attendance is available directly on the Parent Portal homepage. We recommend you bookmark the link.
• Instructions for using Veracross can be found here. It is important to review these instructions and be familiar with how to report a student absence through Veracross.

Week at a Glance

Monday, September 12

• 12 pm Registration closes for athletics registration, tryouts begin after school
• 4 pm Arts Tryouts begin
• 4 pm Space Camp Information Session on Zoom 
• 5 pm – 8 pm  Used Uniform Sales
• 6 pm – 9 pm  Middle School People & Program Evening
• 8:30 pm Kilcoo and St. Donat Parent Information Sessions

Tuesday, September 13

Wednesday, September 14

• Senior School Trips Depart from Junior & Upper School

Thursday September 15

• Middle School Assembly

Friday, September 16 

• Senior School Trips Return approximately 12:30 pm

Dear Parents,

Welcome to your weekly Havergal College Upper School newsletter, appropriately called “The Weekly.” You will receive this every Friday afternoon and we recommend that you bookmark this page using this updated link. In it you will find news – and reminders – about upcoming events in the Havergal Community. Please read it each week in order to stay up-to-date with registrations for excursions, co-curriculars and student social events. You will be able to easily access previous editions of this newsletter in our Parent Portal.

We are very excited to welcome all of our returning families and students back to school and we extend a warm welcome to our new families who are joining us.

We look forward to seeing you back on campus in the coming weeks at our People & Program evenings and at Celebration Saturday on Saturday, September 24. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns. 

Today’s edition contains updates on the following: 

• COVID-19 Update
• Reporting Student Attendance – Change in Procedure 
• People & Program Evenings
• Senior School (Grade 9-12) Trip Information
• Grade 7 Excursion to Kilcoo Trip Information & Registration
• Space Camp
• Athletics Registration
• Arts Registration
• Celebration Saturday
• Wellbeing – Supporting Your Child’s Transition Back to School
• Chartwells Update
• Dates on the Horizon

Best regards,

Cissy Goodridge, Head of Middle School 

Deirdre Timusk, Head of Senior School 

Latest News

COVID-19 Update

We are looking forward to a full return to school and programs. A couple of key highlights as we head into the 2022-2023 school year:

•  Vaccination Policy – All students (age 5 and older as of July 1, 2022) and employees are required to meet the Ontario Health definition of fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Please note, booster shots are not included in the government’s definition of full vaccination.
• Mask Friendly – Havergal continues to be a mask friendly environment. However, unless directed by Ministry of Health guidelines, students or employees are not required to wear masks.
• As you may be aware the Chief Medical Officer of Health made changes to the isolation requirements for COVID-19. The focus has shifted from just COVID-19 symptoms to address considerations for other respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses that are likely to circulate over the coming months.
• Anyone who is feeling sick or has any new or worsening symptoms of illness, including those not listed in this screening tool, should stay home until their symptoms are improving for at least 24 hours (or 48 hours for nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea) and they do not have a fever, and seek assessment from their health care provider if needed. The presence of symptoms, particularly respiratory symptoms, increases the risk of transmitting to others.

Reporting Student Attendance – Change in Procedure

We introduced SchoolPass last year as an all-in-one resource including attendance reporting. Unfortunately, this integration did not work effectively. Instead, we will be using Veracross for reporting student attendance for all students in JK to 12. This system provides an easy way for parents to directly report student absences, lates or early dismissals with no need for phone calls or emails.

• A link for reporting attendance is available directly on the Parent Portal homepage. We recommend you bookmark the link.
• If a student will be arriving late, leaving early or absent for the day, parents must notify the school in advance using the link above in Veracross. If a student is absent from school and there is no record in Veracross, the Junior School Office or the Day School Office will be in touch with parents by email and/or phone.

Instructions for using Veracross can be found here. It is important to review these instructions and be familiar with how to report a student absence through Veracross.

People & Program Evenings

Senior School – Thursday, September 8, 6:00 – 8:15 PM, light refreshments at 5:30pm

• Grade 12 parents have a meeting with the Head of Guidance, Heather Johnstone and Grade 11/12 Guidance Counselor Jennifer Mandala from 8:20 pm to 9:00 pm about Post Secondary Planning & the University Admission Process.

Middle School – Monday, September 12, 6:00 – 8:15 PM

• Grade 7 parents have a meeting with the Head of Middle School, Cissy Goodridge, to learn about the upcoming overnight excursion to Camp Kilcoo from September 21 – 23.
• Grade 8 parents have a meeting with Languages Teacher, Alex Denis, to learn about the winter excursion to St. Donat.

Senior School (Grades 9-12) Trip Information: Wednesday, September 14 – Friday, September 16

Students will depart from both the Junior School and the Senior School as per the schedule below. On Friday, September 16, you will receive an email once the buses have departed the camps, with their anticipated arrival time. Please find a packing list here. If you have any questions please contact Deirdre Timusk.
If your child is in Grade 9, please complete and submit this waiver for Camp New Moon. If your child is in Grade 12, please complete and submit this waiver for Campfire Circle Camp. These should be returned to Ms. Danto’s office in B10 as soon as possible.

Grade 7 Excursion to Kilcoo

The Grade 7 overnight excursion to Camp Kilcoo will run from September 21 – 23. Camp Kilcoo is located on Highway 25, just south of Minden.  This excursion is a wonderful way for the Grade 7s to get to know  each other through unique camp activities.They create memories with their peers, and bond with the Grade 12 student leaders who will be accompanying them. Below, you will find an information letter which contains the registration link to the excursion. Please join us in the Brenda Robson Hall, for the Kilcoo Parent Information evening, on September 12, following the People & Program event.

Kilcoo Parent Letter Fall 2022 including link to registration and camp waiver

Space Camp 2022 – 2023

An opportunity for students to participate in Space Academy (Grades 7 & 8) and Advanced Space Academy (Grade 9 – 12). This is a highly engaging STEM experience that requires no previous experience or expertise in STEM. It is a fun program emphasizing learning and leadership. Read more about the program and application HERE.

Athletics Registration

On Wednesday, September 7, you and your child will receive an email from Carla Di Filippo with the fall sports registration details. Only parents can register their children for fall sports. Registration for these programs closes on Monday, September 12 at 12:00 pm. The athletics tryout schedule is available on the Veracross parent portal under “My Calendar” or can be viewed by clicking THIS LINK. Tryouts take place over a  two week period: September 12 – 16th and 19 – 23rd. If you have any questions, please contact Carla Di Filippo, Director of Athletics, at cdifilippo@havergal.on.ca. 

Arts Registration

Arts registration and auditions will be held during the weeks of September 12 – 16 and September 19 – 23. A registration link will open on Monday September 12 and close on Friday September 23. Sign-up information for Choir and Drama can be found outside of room B03 and the Theatre, respectively.

Celebration Saturday, September 24, 2022

We are looking forward to seeing everyone at Celebration Saturday – a fundraiser for our wonderful community partners.  Join us on Saturday, September 24 from 9:00am – 1:00pm for House and Grade games, House Stalls, a Junior School midway, BBQ, Marketplace, a Silent Auction and more.  Watch for a communication with more details the week of September 12.  We hope to see you there!/

Wellbeing – Supporting your children with back-to-school transitions

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of going back to school. It’s a time of excitement and transition – a new grade, new friendships, new concepts, maybe even a new milestone. As parents, getting the new school year off to a good start is something we all want: It impacts our kids’ attitude, confidence, and performance both socially and academically. There are lots of reasons to look forward to the upcoming school year and we have a few suggestions below to help promote a happy and successful school experience for all. 

Plan ahead – It’s important to ensure that your child has a balance between school, study, extracurricular activities, family time, and their other interests. Decide with your child what their priorities are, dedicate time to them, and then map out time for them to spend how they like. 

Provide structure and predictability – Develop and stick to healthy weekday routines. Having a specific morning, evening and sleep routine during the school year can help ease worries and uncertainties. If possible, provide consistent after-school activities that they can look forward to. Practicing and role modelling these routines yourself will also help reinforce consistency and what is expected of your child.

Talk with your kids – Asking kids about what they are looking forward to about the upcoming school year, or what they think might be different than previous years, can offer clues about how they’re feeling. Should your child identify things they are anxious about, talk about ways to address the issue and practice coping strategies to manage their anxiety, such as taking pauses, deep breathing, or finding opportunities to take a break. Try to remember to keep your own anxieties or opinions about the school year out of the conversation.

Take care of your physical and mental health – Promote healthy eating habits, fun physical activities, family time, and relaxation. Consider journaling as it’s been found to positively impact our mental health and wellbeing. 

Here is an article written by Dr. Lisa Damour, Executive Director of Laurel School’s Center of Research on Girls for the New York Times, on 

How to Support Teenagers as They Head Back to School

Our Middle School families might be interested in reading this article on What to Expect in Middle School: Strategies for Parents from Dr. Lisa Damour

We are looking forward to an exciting new year.

Dr Yarmey

Director of Wellbeing

Chartwells Update

Our food provider, Chartwells, will begin using reusable containers for meals taken out of the dining hall, and china plates for meals eaten in the dining hall, both with silverware. There will be drop-off stations available, where students can return their containers anytime during the day.

Dates on the Horizon

Tuesday September 6

• Professional Development Day for Employees
• Boarding Students arrive and move in
• No school for students

Wednesday, September 7

• Orientation Day Grade 7 and new students all day
• Opening day Grade 8-12 in the afternoon
• Photo Day for all Upper School students
• #1 Dress (Uniform)

Thursday, September 8

• #1 Dress (Uniform)
• First Day of Classes: Day 1, 8:30 am 
• Parents: People and Program Night – 5:30 pm, refreshments; 6 pm, presentations

Friday, September 9

• Late Start: 9:30 am 
• Day 2