UPPER SCHOOL

Celebration Saturday

Celebration Saturday is just around the corner! Watch for an email on Monday, September 11 with details about purchasing wristbands and tickets. We can’t wait to see everyone on Saturday, September 23!

Drop-off Instructions

Dropping off and picking up students can be a stressful time — especially when drivers are late, pressed for time, and otherwise in a hurry to begin their day. It is also a time when student safety can be unnecessarily compromised. At Havergal, signage very clearly demarcates drop-off and pick-up locations. 

1. Drive past the bend to the end of the driveway to drop off.  Most drivers do not move all the way up, past the main doors, to drop off passengers. This impedes traffic flow patterns significantly and is the number one cause for traffic congestion. 
2. Comply with Security directions.  It is always helpful to make eye contact with Security personnel so that you can follow their signals and directions.
3. Drop off on the right hand side of the driveway. Drop off is permitted only along the curb closest to the front steps of the Upper School, which is duly noted by signage. 
4. Signal your intention to other drivers and Security by using your turn signal.
5. Don’t park at the curb after drop off. Some drivers stay parked after dropping off their passenger(s) in order to check their phones. This impedes traffic flow patterns significantly and slows the entire process down.
6. Passengers should be ready to exit the vehicle safely and promptly. Items stored in the trunk should be easily accessible. 
7. Keep the crosswalk clear. 

Please be courteous and respectful of fellow drivers and members of Havergal’s Security Team. The safety and wellbeing of our students depend on your following through on the school’s expectations around drop-off and pick-up.

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.

Jewish High Holidays Prayers & Reception

The Upper School will be acknowledging Rosh Hashanah/Yom Kippur during Prayers on Monday, September 18. Parents and grandparents are warmly invited to join us for this event, following which there will be a reception for those families in attendance. An invitation and RSVP form will be emailed to Upper School families. 

Arts Updates

A reminder that some Arts co-curriculars involve both online registration and an in-person audition sign up.  This is true for all Drama and Choir ensembles. Students registering for the 9-12 Symphonic Band and Concert Winds are asked to both register and sign up for an in-person audition, as they will be placed in one of the two groups.

We are also looking ahead to our annual Music Retreat at Campfire Circle!  Registration will open soon.

Finally, the Grade 10 Visual Arts field trip to Rice Lake will take place on Wednesday September 13th. Rice Lake Gallery is an outdoor sculpture centre, with hundreds of sculptures installed in a park-like setting. 

Athletics Updates

Fall Athetics Registration

Fall Athletics Schedule

Green & Gold Shop Back-to-School Promotion

Get 10% off all HOUSE SPIRIT WEAR from September 4th – September 23rd (Celebration Saturday)! Available Online & In-Store. Show off your house spirit on CelSat by getting yours today!

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Middle School is Going to Camp!

• Grade 7 camp drop off is at 6:45am on Monday September 11, at the Upper School. 
• Grade 8 camp drop off is at 6:45 am on Wednesday September 13, at the Upper School.

Sending medication to camp?

If your child takes prescription medication and is going on a Middle School excursion next week, we are anticipating that they will hand their medication to their trip lead and it will be taken to the nurse on site for storage and administration. Ms. Goodridge is the trip lead for the Grade 7 trip.  Ms. Koekkoek is the trip lead for the Grade 8 trip. Middle School students will not self administer their medication.

The parent(s) or guardian(s) of the student are responsible for delivering the required medication in a “tamper-proof” container.  This container must have a pharmaceutical sticker attached, which clearly indicates the name of the child, and directions for the administration and storage of the medication. 

Swim tests for Grade 8 Students

Grade 8 students who have not already completed their swim tests, will do so on Monday, Sept 11th. Please be sure to pack your bathing suit on Monday. 

SENIOR SCHOOL

Camp is for Senior School Students, too!

Fall Trips Leaving this Wednesday, September 13th

Please complete one of these two waivers if you have not already done so. 

• Grade 12: Campfire Circle Waiver
• Grade 9: Camp New Moon Waiver 

Waivers should be returned to B10 or emailed to Ms. Danto. 

• Grade 9 departs from Junior School at 7 am (drop off 6:45 am)
• Grade 12 departs from Senior School at 7 am (drop off 6:45 am)

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 contact your child’s trip leader.  Please send the medication in a tamper proof, pharmacy labelled container with the dose, frequency and medication name, so that our trip leaders can appropriately assist and identify what medication is being taken.  This information should be presented to the trip leader upon arrival if it is not already recorded in Magnus Health.  

University Counselling & Guidance Updates

Students in Grade 9-12 who attended summer school and received their report card, please send your report to the Guidance Coordinator, Ms. Ellis at tellis@havergal.on.ca for it to be added onto your transcript.

During camp from September 13th -15th, Grade 11 and 12 students will be exploring University options with the Guidance Counsellors.

All students are encouraged to make an appointment through the Guidance Portal on Veracross to discuss matters of student life and academic planning with their Guidance Counsellor. Please use the yellow “Book A Meeting” button to schedule appointments with your guidance counsellor. Guidance Counsellors also have their bookable link in their email signature.

Please fill out this form for course requests. Please remember that requests for teacher changes or being placed with friends cannot be accommodated as student placement is based on keeping class sizes balanced.

Does Your Grad Need Another Hoodie?

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

FORUM FOR CHANGE

HC-X – Havergal’s Innovation Hub: Digital Microcredential in Design Thinking & Entrepreneurship

There is still room for students in Grades 9-12 to enrol in the Design Thinking & Entrepreneurship digital microcredential, which begins Monday, September 18th. For more information, please view the Design Thinking & Entrepreneurship course description or contact Adam Caplan, Director of HC-X. 

HCPA

HCPA Pre-loved Uniform Sale in the Senior School

Be sure to drop by the Ellen Knox Library on Tuesday, September 19th during People & Program Night. The sale will take place from 5 to 8 pm.

Celebration Saturday Bazaar & Silent Auction

Are you interested in being a vendor at The Bazaar? Contact Martha Fell (martha@jaxxandmarbles.com) and complete this form and contract.  Please consider donating to our Silent Auction!  Please click here for more details.

REMINDERS

Senior School People & Program Evening – Tuesday, September 19th

Please join us in the Brenda Robson Hall and then meet your daughter’s teachers. In addition, there is a university information session for Grade 12 parents at the end of the evening. You will receive an email with your personalised schedule on Monday, September 18. 

Arts Co-curricular Registration

Registration for the following groups is available on Veracross until September 18th, with Auditions Sept 12th – 22nd: 

Middle School Performing Arts Activities

• Havergal Youth Theatre (Middle School Play) 
• Middle School Choir 

• Middle School Dance Club 
• Middle School Musical Theatre

Senior School Performing Arts Activities 

• Concert Band 
• Wind Ensemble 
• Senior Orchestra 
• Jazz Combo 
• Senior Choir 
• Chamber Choir
• Upper School Play 
• Upper School Play @ Crescent School
• One Act Plays (grades 11-12) (Winter – Spring) 
• Dance Troupe

NASA Space Camp is Back!

Havergal is very excited to provide this awesome excursion opportunity again. HC is returning to the US Space and Rocket Centre in Huntsville, Alabama. If your child is interested in adventure, immersive STEM experiences, or leadership opportunities, this is the chance of a lifetime! More information about the application and selection process will be shared with the HC community during Prayers next week.  

When? Nov 5-11, 2023 (week before mid-term break)

Where? U.S. Space & Rocket Centre in Huntsville, Alabama

Who? Gr. 7-12 students can apply 

How? Interested students can apply with a video application to Ms. Loyola  by 6pm on Mon, September 18, 2023.

Application Details – can be found HERE.

NEXT WEEK IN THE UPPER SCHOOL

Mon Sept 11

Grade 7 overnight camp, departs 7 am at the Upper School

Wed Sept 13

Grade 8, Gr 12 overnight camps depart:  7 am at the Upper School

Grade 9 overnight camp depart: 7 am at the Junior School

Rice Lake Gr 10 Visual Arts trip

Fri Sept 15

Gr 8 overnight camp returns: 1 pm at the Upper School

Gr 9 overnight camp returns: 2:30 pm the Junior School

Gr 12 overnight camp returns:  2:30 at the Upper School