Friday, September 27, 2024

On By Havergal Upper School

A Message from the Heads: Cissy Goodridge & Deirdre Timusk

Dear Parents,

Things are definitely in full swing. Our co-curricular groups have officially kicked off, and our students are hard at work, showing great enthusiasm and teamwork. We also hosted our Club Fest, which was a fantastic opportunity for students to explore various clubs and activities. Sign-ups are currently underway for both Middle and Senior School students, so be sure to encourage them to get involved!

We are thrilled about seeing you all at Celebration Saturday which is our community event taking place tomorrow. It promises to be a wonderful day filled with fun and connection. Our entire community—students, faculty, and staff—have all dedicated countless hours to make this event truly memorable. We can’t wait to share it with you! It’s a chance to strengthen our bonds, celebrate our community spirit, and support our Community Partnerships.

Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to seeing you at the event!

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)

MIDDLE SCHOOL (Gr. 7 – 8)

SENIOR SCHOOL (Gr. 9 – 12)

NEXT WEEK IN THE UPPER SCHOOL

UPPER SCHOOL

Celebration Saturday Is TOMORROW

The campus is set and we are ready to host Celebration Saturday 2024!  A huge shout out to all of our volunteers for making this day possible. 

Here are some key details:

  • Plan your route! Here is the map of the campus with all of the details for the day.  
  • Bidding on the Silent Auction has started and closes at 11:30 am tomorrow.  See the items here or in the Brenda Robson Hall.  Winners can pick up the items at noon.  Bidding is online, so bid early and often!
  • Support the Old Girls/Alumni, parents, and student entrepreneurs at the Bazaar in the Brenda Robson Hall.  See a list of vendors here.
  • Parking will be extremely limited.  We urge you to bike, walk, take transit or an Uber.  Most of all, we urge you to have a ton of fun as we support our Community Partners!

Jake Ernst Visits Havergal On Monday, September 30 

Topic: Helping our children manage their digital devices and striking a healthy balance.

Parents in Grades 4 to 9 are encouraged to join us for an interactive evening with Jake Ernst, a registered social worker, psychotherapist and Clinical Director at Straight Up Health. On Monday, September 30 at 7 pm , please join us in the Legacy Theatre to learn about new strategies to help our children manage their digital devices and strike a healthy balance at home. Jake has extensive experience helping parents navigate the challenges of parenting during this digital age.

You can learn more about Jake Ernst here.  Please RSVP here.

US Student Photos Are Ready For Ordering

We’re delighted to announce that your daughter’s school pictures are now available online for viewing and ordering.

To access your photos, visit http://echophotography.ca/havergal2024. When prompted for a password, enter your student’s unique Person ID.  Ordering is a breeze, and you can customize your prints or digitals with several options to suit your preferences. Be sure to check them out and share them with your family and friends.

If you have any questions or special requests, please get in touch with Cameron Hubbs at cameron@echophotography.ca or by text at (905) 599-3557. Photo retake day will take place on Wednesday, November 6.

Private Music Instruction 2024-2025

Private Music Instruction is open!  Please register via the Veracross Parent Portal using the last green button under Registrations. Once registration is complete, follow these instructions to access musician contact information.

Gender Equality Week

This week in the Upper School, we recognized Gender Equality week with the below announcement in prayers and with some information highlighting the importance of this week and its history through slides on our school screens. 

Sunday, September 22 to Saturday, September 28 is Gender Equality Week, and we are excited to take a moment to celebrate and reflect on what that means for all of us.

This week was officially recognized through Bill C-309, passed in 2018, which made the fourth week of September Gender Equality Week. The week is dedicated to: 

  • Recognizing the important contributions women and gender-diverse communities have made to Canada
  • Celebrating the achievements and milestones that have been made in advancing gender equality
  • Recommitting to closing the gaps that still exist

Looking ahead, October is Women’s History Month. It’s important to remember that these two events go hand-in-hand. Women’s History Month allows us to celebrate the trailblazing women throughout history who’ve made huge strides in pushing for equality—many of whom have paved the way for the rights and freedoms we have today.  While Canada has a history full of important moments advancing women and gender equality generally, we still have work to do.

MIDDLE SCHOOL

MS Immunization On Friday, November 22

On Friday, November 22 we will be hosting the first of two immunization clinics. On Monday, September 30 your child will bring home a consent form. Should you wish for your child to be immunized, please fill out the form in its entirety and return it to school by Thursday, October 3.

Student Elections

This week at our MS assembly, the students learned about leadership positions that are available to students in the Middle School. Students are not required to have previous experience and we encourage all students to nominate themselves for a position. We are looking for students who want to learn the skills to develop into a confident leader. Please speak with your child about the positions and encourage them to apply.

SENIOR SCHOOL

International University Fair On Tuesday, October 1 

On Tuesday, October 1 Havergal College will be hosting an International University Fair. This is a great opportunity for students and families to see what schools from all over the world have to offer. There will be over 70 universities participating. All are welcome. 

Date: Tuesday, October 1
Time: 6:30 – 8:30 pm
Location: Brenda Robson Hall

Johns Hopkins University Visit

Johns Hopkins University will be visiting Havergal College to speak to the Grade 9 to 12 students during the lunch hour. This is a great opportunity to see what the university has to offer.

Date: Wednesday, October 2
Time: 11:45 – 12:30 pm
Location: B16

Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test – Mark Your Calendars

The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) requires students in Grade 10 to complete the computer-based Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT), which measures whether students are meeting the minimum standard for literacy across all subjects up to the end of Grade 9. A successful completion of this test is one of the requirements to earn an Ontario Secondary School Diploma. 

Students will write the OSSLT in person, on campus (per EQAO rules) at Havergal College on the morning of Tuesday, November 12. This is the only opportunity for students to write the OSSLT this year. 

More information will be provided closer to the date. Contact the Director of Academic Operations, Jennifer Goldberg with questions.

In Grade Programming Starts On Tuesday, October 1

Next week our Grade 9s will be doing speeches for the Grade 9 elections. Students will be running to be on the House Council, a Grade 9 Representative or one of our Councils. Other students will be applying to be on some councils that require applications. Grade 10 students continue to work toward building a supportive community by participating in bracelet making and exchanges. Our work with Life Maps will be revisited with our Grade 11 students and they share their peak experiences with each other so they can begin to reflect on their past so they can begin to look to their future. Our university counsellors will be working with Grade 12 students on US, UK and Canadian destinations in small group settings.

NEXT WEEK IN THE UPPER SCHOOL

Monday, September 30

  • Orange Shirt Day – to be worn with the regular school uniform 
  • Parent Presenter: Jake Ernst at 7 pm in the Legacy Theatre 

Tuesday, October 1

  • International University Fair at 6:30 pm in the Brenda Robson Hall

Friday, October 4

  • Special Schedule for Truth and Reconciliation Programming at 9:30 am

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