Friday, September 12, 2025

On By vhao

Hello Families,

As we start the new school year, we would like to share some key takeaways from a recent forum on girls learning from the Laurel’s Center for Research on Girls.

SLEEP: Sleep is fundamental to mental and physical health. Encouraging physical activity, setting clear boundaries around technology, and practicing good sleep hygiene can help your daughter get the rest she needs to thrive.

TECHNOLOGY: Technology can be a positive tool when used mindfully. We can help our daughters set healthy limits on screen time and guide them to use technology for good, rather than as a distraction. 

FACING CHALLENGES: A reminder that avoidance fuels anxiety. It’s crucial for our daughters to face challenges head-on rather than avoiding them. Consistent routines, such as those for morning preparations or homework, can help minimize procrastination and build resilience, preparing individuals for future obstacles. 

Never hesitate to reach out to your daughter’s school supports (teachers, guidance counsellor, learning support specialist or head of school) if you want to discuss how any of these takeaways applies specifically to your child.

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)

BOARDING

HCPA

NEXT WEEK IN THE UPPER SCHOOL

Upper School

Celebration Day & Friday Night Lights

A reminder that Friday, September 26, is Celebration Day and Friday Night Lights! 

Celebration Day (3:30 pm):
Tickets & wristbands are NOW ON SALE. Click here to get your tickets now! Advance ticket sales will end on Sunday, September 21. However, tickets will still be available for purchase at the event.

  • Calling all parents! Volunteers Needed! Want to lend a hand and be part of the fun? We need help both before and during the event with ticket sales, working with the students at stations, helping with the BBQ and more.  This is a great way to meet other parents and support our community partners. Sign up here.
  • Celebration Day Bazaar We’re excited for our Celebration Day Bazaar! It’s a fantastic opportunity to support our Community Partners, with all proceeds going directly to them. Want an early sneak peek before the official 3:30pm event starts? Parents and Old Girls/Alumni are warmly invited to drop by from 2:00pm onwards.

Friday Night Lights (7 pm):
Join us for Havergal’s first-ever Friday Night Lights HC Gators face the Branksome Highlanders in a soccer game!

  • Want the best (and only!) seats in the house? Bid on one of two VIP tables (19+ section, seats 6). Opening bid: $500/table. Click here to bid now!

Grade 8-12: People & Program Evening: Thursday, September 18, 6 pm

Our US People & Program Evening provides you with an opportunity to meet your child’s teachers and hear an overview of the curriculum for each course. Grade 12 families will also have the opportunity to sit in on a presentation from our university counselling team. You will receive an email with your personalized schedule just prior to this event and the agenda for the evening is linked here.

Drop Off Reminder

Thank you for using the main driveway to drop off your daughters in the morning. Though there is a driveway south of the main entrance, it is for employee use only.

VC Pay is now available – Pay Your Tuition Fees Automatically!

Havergal is pleased to introduce Automatic Payment for Student Billing through VC Pay-AutoPay. This new service conveniently eliminates the need to pay bills each month manually and helps avoid late payment fees and missed payments.

VC Pay is an automatic payment system integrated with Stripe, where parents register their payment information and authorize the college to automatically withdraw payment for Tuition and/or school fees on a set schedule.
Please click here for more information.

Middle School

Grade 7 Immunization Clinic

On Friday, September 19, Toronto Public Health will be on site to administer vaccinations for Grade 7 students who have already been registered to receive their dose. These nurses are skilled and compassionate health care workers, and we are grateful to parents for preparing their children for this critical step for their health.

In Form this week

Our students are off to a strong start, with each grade level focusing on key development areas. On Monday, our grade 7s and 8s will be finalizing the community agreements they’ve been building together, capturing the values and expectations that will guide them throughout the year. These agreements will soon be displayed in their classrooms as a shared reminder of the actions they will take to uphold their commitments. On Wednesday, the focus will shift to organizational skills, as students learn strategies for effectively using an agenda, Google Calendar, and Google folders to support their learning.

Senior School

International University Fair:  Wednesday, September 24, 6:30 – 8:30 pm, BRH

On Wednesday, September 24th Havergal College will be hosting an International University Fair. This is a great opportunity for students to see what the International Universities have to offer. There will be over 65 universities from the US/UK and Australia. All are welcome and no registration necessary please drop in anytime after 6:30 pm and join us in the  Brenda Robson Hall.

Upcoming University Visits

Individual University Reps will be visiting Havergal College throughout the school year to speak to Grade 9 to 12 students during the lunch hour. This is an excellent opportunity to see what the universities offer.

Toronto Metropolitan University

  • Date: Tuesday, September 23rd
  • Time: 12:15pm – 1:00pm
  • Location: B16

Carleton University, University of Birmingham UK and University of Leeds UK 

  • Date: Wednesday, September 24th
  • Time: 11:45am – 12:30pm
  • Location: B16

Dalhousie University 

  • Date: Thursday, September 25th 
  • Time: 12:15pm – 1:00pm
  • Location: B16

University of King’s College – Halifax and University of Bristol UK

  • Date: Friday, September 26th
  • Time: 12:15pm – 1:00pm
  • Location: B16

Vietnam March 2026

We are excited to offer grade 9-12 students an incredible March Break experience in Vietnam! This immersive trip will allow students to explore Vietnam’s rich history, vibrant culture, and stunning landscapes while engaging with local communities in meaningful ways. A draft itinerary was shared with students at our information session. It is shared HERE. We will be hosting a virtual Parent Information Session on Monday, September 29, at 7:00 PM, where you can learn more about the program, the itinerary, safety protocols, and how students will grow as global citizens through this experience.

In Morning Programming This Week

Our students are off to a productive start, with each grade level focusing on key development areas. On Monday, our grade 9s are finalizing the community agreements they began at camp, which will soon be displayed in their hallway. Meanwhile, grade 10 students are participating in a series of team-building exercises, and our grade 11s are kicking off their first leadership session of the year. Finally, our Grads are continuing to work on their university applications, building on the progress they made earlier this week at camp.

On Wednesday, all Senior School students will be participating in their House Meeting and getting ready for Celebration Day. At this event, each House hosts a stall for other students and younger members of our community. Options include a Haunted House, Shrinky Dinks, Paint-A-Pot, Bracelet making, Cookie-grams and more!

Boarding

Boarding Programming & Events

We are excited to share the upcoming boarding programming and events for September. These activities have been thoughtfully planned to help students feel connected, supported, and engaged—both within our community and beyond campus. Students sign up for activities using our Reach Management System. 

Upcoming Events

  • Saturday, September 13: Toronto Adventure Bus Tour
  • Tuesday, September 17: Boarding Advisory Time
  • Saturday, September 20: Create & Connect – Pottery & Painting Class
  • Wednesday, September 24: “Chip & Chat” with the Student Support team: Living Together – Respect, Conflict & Community
  • Thursday, September 25: Former Boarder & Class of 2026 Dinner

HCPA

HCPA Volunteering Opportunities

Interested in volunteering? Fill out the HCPA Volunteer Opportunities 2025-26 form.

Preloved Uniform Sale

Our next Pre-loved Uniform sale will take place on Celebration Day on Friday, September 26. Help the environment and your pocketbook by shopping for gently used uniforms from 3:30 – 6:30 pm in the Ellen Knox Library.

Next Week In The Upper School

Tuesday Sept 16

  • Prayers – High Holidays
  • MS Gator Games, 5pm

Thursday Sept 18

  • Prayers – Special Speaker – Tanya Taylor (‘03), Fashion Designer and sponsor of the Tanya Taylor Fashion Lab course
  • Grade 8-12: People and Program Evening, 6 pm 

Friday Sept 19

  • Grade 7 Immunization Clinic

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