The Weekly – Friday, October 28, 2023

On By Havergal Upper School

Dear Families: 

As busy parents ourselves, we know that you have only a small slice of your week to devote to reading this newsletter. We also know that there is a lot of important information in this weekly update. In addition to trying to sum up each item in an informative headline we will also try to help you prioritise by classifying our articles by the following categories:

Upper School: These are items that pertain to every student in grades 7 – 12

Middle School: Grades 7 & 8 only

Senior School: Grade 9-12 only 

We hope this will be helpful for you. It’s a busy world and we are all doing our best. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or if something is not clear. 

Best regards,

Cissy Goodridge, Head of Middle School 

Deirdre Timusk, Head of Senior School 

Upper School

Middle School

Senior School

Upper School

Magnus Health Information – Required for Winter Sports Registration

In order to ensure we have the most up-to-date information about your child’s medical information we ask that you please update your child’s Vital Health Record, Over-The-Counter (OTC) Medication authorization form, and any applicable Health Plan of Care in Magnus Health. The insurance section of the Vital Health Record should be updated with OHIP information, as this is used for emergency situations, we do not require supplemental day student private insurance information. The Health Centre has updated Health Insurance information for all International boarding students. We will require this to be completed in order for your daughter to be registered for future trips or Winter Sports. If a student comes to the Health Centre and does not have an OTC form completed, the nursing team will need to call home before administering any OTC medications. Click here for a link to do the update. Don’t delay – do it today!  

Catch Up Payments – an Ontario Government Initiative

Recently the Ontario government launched Catch Up Payments, offering families funding to support their children as they catch up after the pandemic. This new initiative commits a total of $365 million for parents.

Families of students in publicly funded, private, First Nation/federally-operated or home-school settings are eligible to receive financial support. Families with children up to 18 years old can receive $200 per child, while families with children up to 21 years old with special education needs can receive $250 per child. Families apply for Catch Up Payments through a secure website where they can create a unique profile for each eligible student and check the status of their application throughout the process. 

Applications for Catch Up Payments are open and will remain open until March 31, 2023.

Fall Athletics Wrapping Up

The fall playoffs and championships have started with the majority of teams competing November 2-5, 2022. A heartfelt thanks goes out to our Havergal community for all of their passion and support of everything Gators. If able, please come cheer on the Gators during the fall championship week. 

Winter Athletics Warm Up – Registration on Thursday, November 3, 2022

Registration for winter term sports will be on Thursday, November 3rd via email from Athletics Director, Carla Di Filippo. The deadline to register for tryouts is Tuesday, November 15th. Tryouts are November 15th – 25th, 2022 with more specific times found HERE (tab 2 – “Winter 2022-2023”) and on Veracross. 

Virtual Information Session for Rowing Athletes & Parents – November 1, 2022

There will be an information session on Tuesday, November 1st from 7-8 pm for all athletes (and their families) who are interested in the rowing program. The session will be led by Michael Greig, Head Rowing Coach.  The session aims to answer questions about the rowing season such us; the tryout process (including the team selection document), expectations about commitments to practice and racing, associated costs, etc. Please join the meeting via the zoom link below. 

ZOOM LINK

Forum for Change

Exchange Programs Wrap Up

Thank you very much to our Exchange families who hosted students from George Watson’s College, Edinburgh Scotland, and City of London School for Girls, London, England. We are very grateful for the care and effort you put into hosting these students from abroad!

Forum for Change: 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. Students may register as a team or individually, come to the Forum for Change for more information and register by emailing Ms. Kaba.

School Photo First Retakes…or Retakes

Those students who missed Photo Day this past September, have an opportunity to have a recent photograph taken on Monday, November 7, 2022, from 12 noon to 4:00 PM. Those students who wish to have their photograph retaken may also sign up, although priority is given to those who have not yet had their photograph taken. Mr. Hubbs, our generous school photographer, has provided a Google form for sign-up HERE.

Order Your Child’s Portrait Now for the Holidays!

Your child’s school portrait is available online, and now is the time to order to have them in time for the holidays. Visit echophotography.ca/havergal2022  Your child’s student ID number is your password. Should you have any questions, our school photographer, Cameron Hubbs, is more than happy to help. cameron@echophotography.ca

Reporting Your Daughter’s Attendance

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

HCPA Reminders

Bake Sale Volunteers Needed – US Bake Sale on Nov 22! Please sign up HERE.


Save the date for Ivy Market on Nov. 22! Daytime shopping for parents and students including bake sale, Used Uniforms (all uniform pieces available), holiday marketplace, and spirit wear. Evening cocktail party for parents with time to shop and mingle. Tickets on sale NOW! Click  Here  to purchase tickets.

Middle School

Grade 7 & 8 TPH Vaccine Clinic Dates

Toronto Public Health is resuming the Student Immunization Program (SIP) for the 2022-2023 school year for grade 7 and 8 students.  The immunization clinic is scheduled to be held at Havergal on November 18th, 2022 and will include Hepatitis B, HPV and Meningitis vaccines.  More details and consent forms will be shared next  week. At this time the program is only for middle school students and is not available as a catch-up clinic for older students. 

Middle School Dance

This Friday, November 4th, Havergal will host its first COSSOT Middle School Dance of the year. We anticipate 350 students joining in on the fun. The cost of the dance is $10.00 and will be charged to your daughter’s account. Please complete the following MS Havergal Dance LINK to confirm her participation and the billing of your account. Students who have not completed this registration, will not be able to participate. 

Senior School

Round Square Conference – Ashbury College

We will be sending 5 students ages 16-18 to Ashbury College in Ottawa from February 13th – February 19th 2023 for a Winter Round Square Conference: Climate and Culture in the North. 

This Conference will encompass adventure, leadership and service. Delegates will learn about the North and Canada’s Arctic from the perspectives of indigenous, political, and environmental voices! There will be discussions about climate change, arctic sovereignty and the shared stewardship of the north. Visit HERE for more information.

Students who are interested in attending, please fill out the interest FORM. Forms are due November 10th. If more than 5 students sign up, selection will be based on student involvement with the Truth and Reconciliation Committee, Sustainability Council and the Water First Partnership. The cost of this experience is $2,200 CAD.

Please note that this conference does fall on the February long weekend. 

To learn more about Round Square and see other events please visit https://www.roundsquare.org/

Grade 12 Only: Grad Rings

Grad ring sizing had to be rescheduled to November 2nd.  Orders must be placed by November 9th. Please visit GreenandGold.havergal.on.ca and enter the word “Ring” in the search field (this is the only way to find the rings on the site). Please note, ring sales are open only to the Class of 2023.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Green & Gold Shop Coordinator Margie Fleming at greenandgold@havergal.on.ca.

Substance Abuse Speaker Presenting to Grades 9 & 10 on November 16, 2022

As we approach the dance and social season we are planning our advisory program sessions with the goal of sparking conversations that will help students make informed decisions, including decisions around substance use. On Wednesday, November 16th, students in grades 9 & 10 are invited to attend an engaging, youth-led interactive presentation by YouthSpeak on the effects of substance use and addiction on their mental health and wellbeing. The guest speakers will address a variety of potential risk factors for substance use including self-esteem level and peer pressure with the overall goal of supporting the development of positive coping and decision making skills when confronted with choices regarding substance use. Youth speakers will share their personal experiences to increase awareness of the potential risks and implications of substance use while conveying a message of self-empowerment and hope. We hope that the lessons learned from the youth speakers and discussion can inspire an ongoing dialogue in the home that brings our students closer together with their families; where they can express their emotions, and also seek assistance for further mental health support when they need it. If you have any questions please reach out to Dr. Yarmey

University Counselling News

OUAC PINs

OUAC PINs have arrived at Havergal. Grads have been picking up their Application Access Code Letter so they can start their applications. Grads are encouraged to use the following resources and videos to help them start their application. Please also see the list of universities outside of Ontario where students can authorize the universities to request their academic information from the OUAC. To authorize them, the applicant must include their 11-digit OUAC Reference Number on the university’s application form. Guidance Counsellors are here to support the grads in every step of their application.

The Guidance Department is encouraging all students and parents to regularly check the Guidance Portal for information on announcements, university visits, scholarships,  OSSD requirements, and other important topics.

Dates on the Horizon

Monday, Oct 31 Halloween Assembly

Tuesday, Nov 1 Rowing Parent Information Evening (Virtual)

Thursday, Nov 3 Winter Athletic Registration Opens

All Saints’ Prayers, Bishop Jenny Andison 

Friday, Nov 4 HC Middle School Dance

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