A Message from the Heads: Cissy Goodridge & Deirdre Timusk

It was a wonderful first week back on campus!  We welcomed our newest members of the community on Tuesday with help from our amazing returning student leaders. There were lots of fun ice-breakers and community-building activities. Later in the week, the Class of 2025 and their parents attended a breakfast this morning and the Grads received their coveted Grad Hoodies.  

On Thursday, we were delighted to hear from our School Captain, Carol Rong, who shared the goals of our student leaders. The students wrote a mission statement and created five goals for our upcoming year and we are happy to share them with you. 

Mission Statement: We, the student leaders at Havergal, strive to foster a community where students belong authentically and feel empowered to embrace mistakes, pursue their passions, and make a meaningful impact while cherishing the journey.

Goals: 

1. Promote a space where students know that it is cool to show their care towards academics, personal passions, school spirit, and HC culture. 
2. Create a community where students belong by embracing their true selves and acting from their values.
3. Empower students to courageously commit to making a difference, by trusting that small actions have big impacts. 
4. Encourage students to welcome mistakes instead of approaching them with fear and to recognize the opportunities of growth that come from them. 
5. Model the joys of being a Gator, by living in the moment and seizing the opportunities we are grateful for.

We are looking forward to working with all our students to help them find their purpose and engage at Havergal in a way which is meaningful to them. 

Best regards,

Cissy Goodridge, Head of Middle School 

Deirdre Timusk, Head of Senior School

Today’s edition of The Weekly contains information on the following:

UPPER SCHOOL (Gr. 7 – 12)

• Helpful Parenting Podcast: Untangling All Things Digital for Parents
• Athletic Therapy Program for Upper School Students
• Drop-Off Instructions
• Reporting Student Attendance Reminders

MIDDLE SCHOOL (Gr. 7 – 8)

• In Form Next Week
• Campire Circle

SENIOR SCHOOL (Gr. 9 – 12)

• In Morning Programming Next Week
• Grade 9 & 12 Camps
• University Information Session: Ivy + Student & Parent Session
• Grad Rings & Grad Hoodies

HCPA

• HCPA Coffee Mornings
• Celebration Saturday: September 28, 2024

NEXT WEEK IN THE UPPER SCHOOL

UPPER SCHOOL

Helpful Parenting Podcast: Untangling All Things Digital for Parents

Dr. Lisa Damour publishes excellent weekly podcasts for parents on relevant issues. Last week’s recording was particularly resonant as we look to supporting our students with device use both in school and at home. 

Dr. Damour explores top concerns like:

• managing kids’ screen time
• the pressure to get devices
• handling social media’s impact on teenagers

They also discuss valuable strategies for: 

• putting boundaries on technology use
• keeping phones out of bedrooms
• dealing with the reality of kids encountering toxic content online

Athletic Therapy Program for Upper School Students

We are delighted to welcome Ms Erin Krausz to the staff at Havergal as its Athletic Therapist and Athletics Coordinator. Erin comes to us with a wealth of experience in supporting individuals with injury prevention, rehabilitation & reconditioning after an injury occurs.

Ms. Krausz will provide immediate emergency care at sporting events and attend athletic events to provide on-site care for our athletes in addition to providing 1:1 support for students through a clinical service program.

Clinical Service Program

Our clinical service program allows students to book appointments to receive treatment related to musculoskeletal injuries with the Athletic Therapist. Parent permission must be provided for students to utilize this service.

To provide permission for the Clinical Services Program at any point this school year, click here. Read the agreement for Athletic Therapy Clinical Service Program Consent 
Please reach out to Carla Di Filippo with any questions about the program.

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.

MIDDLE SCHOOL

In Form Next Week

In Form next week, the Grade 8 students will be working on community agreements. During this session they will discuss what values are most important to their grade. We look forward to sharing this with parents in the coming weeks.

Campfire Circle

On Monday September 9, all Grade 7 students will depart for camp.

• Arrival at 6:45 am 
• Departure at 7 am from the Upper School Parking Lot

Don’t forget to bring costumes and props for the Form and House skits! Go Gators!

SENIOR SCHOOL

In Morning Programming Next Week

The Senior School students will be reviewing and signing their community agreements. During this time they will be reviewing the expectations and discussing them in TA groups. On Wednesday morning, the Grade 10s and 11s will be participating in games and activities as the Grade 9s and 12s are off to camp.

Grade 9 & 12 Camps

The weather looks promising for the Grade 9 and 12 camp!  Please ensure you share the packing list with your daughter and encourage her to follow the list. 

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 Information Session: Ivy+ Student & Parent Session

On September 10 and September 24, Ivy+ institutions will be having a virtual session for students and families. Topics will include academic programs, campus activities, student life, admissions policies and financial aid.    

The institutions include Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Princeton University, Stanford University, University of Pennsylvania, and Yale University.

This will be a great opportunity to learn more about US Universities.

Please register below:

• Tuesday, September 10 at 7 pm
• Tuesday, September 24 at 7 pm

Grad Rings & Grad Hoodies

Grad rings will be distributed on Tuesday, September 10. If your daughter is absent, she will be able to pick up her ring from the Green & Gold shop. 

If your daughter was absent on Friday, September 6 for the Grad Hood distribution, she can find her hoodie in Ms. Timusk’s office. 

Does your Grad need another hoodie?

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

HCPA

HCPA Coffee Mornings

We are looking forward to hosting coffee mornings throughout the fall.  Please make sure you RSVP for the HCPA coffee mornings next week if it is for your grade.  Drop in for a quick coffee and chat with other parents in your class and meet new ones.

Celebration Saturday: September 28, 2024

Ticket sales will begin soon – check next week’s The Weekly for the link! 

Looking to volunteer? We’re still looking for Celebration Saturday volunteers – even an hour or two helps. Please sign up here (click through the pages to see all opportunities). 

There are still a few vendor spots left at the Celebration Saturday Bazaar. Please email Martha Fell (martha@jaxxandmarbles.com) and complete this form and contract.
We are also seeking items for our amazing Silent Auction. Click here for more details.

NEXT WEEK IN THE UPPER SCHOOL

Monday September 9

• Grade 7 bus departs from Upper School at 7 am (Drop-Off at 6:45 am)

Tuesday September 10

• Grad Ring distribution 9:30 – 2:30 pm

Wednesday September 11

• Grade 9 bus departs from Junior School 7:30 am (Drop-Off 7:15 am)
• Grade 12 bus departs from Upper School 7 am (Drop-Off 6:45 am)
• Grade 7 bus arrives to Upper School at 1 pm (Students Dismissed)

Friday September 13

• Grade 9 & 12 buses return between 2 and 3 pm