We are grateful for a fantastic start to the 25-26 school year:
- For students who have engaged wholeheartedly in their classes, their co-curricular activities, and with our community.
- For our faculty, who lead with passion and energy in their classrooms and in co-curricular programs.
- For you, our parent community, for supporting your children and partnering with us on this journey!
We hope you have a lovely long weekend doing what recharges you and your daughters most.
Happy Thanksgiving!
P.S. If you missed our Parent Speaker Series this past week with NY Times bestselling author and post-secondary expert Jeff Selingo, please know that we have additional copies of his latest book, Dream School, available in our Guidance offices.
Today’s edition of The Weekly contains information on the following:
BOARDING SCHOOL
Next Week in the Upper School
Tuesday, October 14
- Awards Ceremony
Thursday, October 16
- Diwali Prayers & Reception
Friday, October 17
- Middle School Havergal Dance, 7-9 pm
Upper School
Parent Teacher Conferences (Thursday, October 23 & Friday, October 24) Bookings Now Open
- Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held virtually on Thursday, October 23, from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m. and Friday, October 24, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- The Pick-A-Time booking system is open and will close on Wednesday, October 22, at noon.
- After Pick-A-Time closes, the only way to book appointments is by emailing teachers directly; only they will be able to add to their schedules.
- Please ensure your Zoom account is up to date. See Zoom Instructions.
- Once booked, individual conference schedules and Zoom links are accessed via Pick-A-Time.
- If your child has an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) and you would like to connect with their Learning Support Specialist, please email them directly to arrange an appointment. If you have questions about Learning Support, please contact Kirsten Uhre, Director of Upper School Learning Support.
If you have questions or concerns about Parent-Teacher Conferences, please contact Jennifer Goldberg, Director of Academics.
Mark Your Calendar for Photo Retake Day, Thursday, October 23
The photographer will be back on Thursday, October 23 from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm. Your daughter will soon receive an email to sign up for an appointment.
AP Exam Registration Information Slides
The slide deck from the AP Exam Registration Information session held on Monday, October 6, can be found here.
Please contact our Dean of Academics, Lam Nguyen, if you have any questions.
Peer Tutoring Opportunity
Students in Grades 7–9 can be matched with an older Havergal student for one-to-one tutoring. Sessions focus on strengthening understanding, building study habits, and boosting confidence across subjects. If your child would like a tutor, more information can be found HERE.
Middle School
What We Learned This Week in Middle School: Continue the Conversation At Home.
This week in Middle School, our Grade 7 students learned about stress management. They explored the differences between stress, worry, and anxiety, and practiced simple strategies to help manage their emotions when challenges arise.
Grade 8 students engaged with our Win@social program and explored three main themes: Who do I look up to? How can others influence us on and offline? And how can we find influences that bring out the best in us? Students engaged in discussions about watching TikTok and YouTube and how to decide which voices they should be listening to. If you’d like to keep the conversation going, try one of these family huddle questions:
- Besides family members, who is one person you consider a role model and why?
- Sometimes, we meet people who have a negative influence on us. If someone you’re following on social media or spending time with isn’t making you happy or helping you reach your goals, how can we support you as a family?
Havergal Dance October 17th 7 – 9 pm
It’s not too late! If your child has missed the registration for the Havergal MS Dance, please email Cissy Goodridge at cgoodridge@havergal.on.ca to register your daughter’s interest in attending. We encourage all of our students to attend.
Senior School
University Visits This Week
Individual University Reps will be visiting Havergal College to speak to Grade 9 to 12 students during the lunch hour. This is an excellent opportunity to explore what the universities have to offer.
Fordham University, New York
- Date: Wednesday, October 15th
- Time: 11:45 am – 12:30 pm
- Location: B16
Western University
- Date: Thursday, October 16th
- Time: 12:15 pm -1:00 pm
- Location: B16
Grade 10 Literacy Test, Mark Your Calendars: Wednesday, November 12
The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) requires students in Grade 10 to complete the digital 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. 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 Wednesday, November 12, 2025. 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 Academics, Jennifer Goldberg (jgoldberg@havergal.on.ca) with questions.
Sanctioned School Socials
For a list of supervised events for the Senior School (SS), please refer to this link. While we will do our best to keep you informed about unsanctioned events, we cannot guarantee awareness of all occurrences. If you’re unsure whether an event will have adult supervision from a recognized school, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us for clarification. This list is a live document that may be updated throughout the year as schools add events to their calendars.
In Morning Programming Next Week
On Wednesday, students will engage in House programming. Students will meet in their Houses and build community and connections through multi-grade activities and games.
Grade 9 Parents: Take Our Kids to Work Day, Wednesday, November 5
It is Take Our Kids to Work Day for Grade 9 students. Please use the Parent Portal if your child will be absent from school that day.
Boarding School
Important Reminder: Thanksgiving Break
As we head into the Thanksgiving Break, we want to remind families that the Boarding School will remain open throughout the long weekend.
Students on overnight leaves are required to return by Monday, October 13, at 6:00 pm.
For those staying on campus, our team has planned a variety of activities to ensure a balance of fun and relaxation over the break.
Programming Schedule:
- Thursday, Oct 9: Trampoline Park
- Friday, Oct 10: The Thorn @ The Meridian Theatre
- Saturday, Oct 11: Movies @ Yonge-Eglinton
- Sunday, Oct 12: Boardgames & Bubble Tea
HCPA
HCPA Coffee Mornings
Our coffee mornings are a great way to connect with other parents and staff. We look forward to seeing you there.
- Tuesday, October 21: Grade 12, 8 – 10 am (offsite)
- Wednesday, October 29: Grade 10 – 11, 8 – 9:30 am (JS Dining Room)
RSVP to your grade reps.
HCPA General Meeting
The next HCPA General Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 15 from 7 – 9 pm in the Junior School Dining Room. Light refreshments will be provided.
- HC Director of Arts, Matthew Varey, will also present at the opening of this meeting and share insights into the Tanya Taylor Fashion Lab.
Click here to view the agenda.
Used Textbook Collection
Families wishing to return or donate used textbooks may do so on Wednesday, October 22 from 8:00 to 11:30 am in the Ellen Knox Library. Complete instructions and details are in the HCPA’s October edition of News You Can Use.
US Bake Sale
The Upper School Bake Sale is on Tuesday, November 4. We’re looking for parent volunteers for the following:
Advancement
Havergal Connections Presents: Reflections – Self-Confidence in a Changing World Panel | Tuesday, October 28, 6 – 8 pm
Join us for an exciting panel discussion exploring how girls and young women can build self-confidence amid today’s pressures around body image, wellness, and identity. Moderated by Christina Sorbara (current parent), the conversation will feature:
- Nicole Tapscott ‘02 (current parent), Chief Commercial Officer, Knix
- Dr. Nina Mafrici ‘02 (current parent), Clinical Psychologist
- Dr. Michele Foster, Clinical Psychologist
- Krista Koekkoek, Head of the Upper School, Havergal College
Together, they’ll share expert insights and practical strategies to support confidence, resilience, and well-being in young people. The event is free, but registration is required.
Please reach out to Courtney McNeillie for any questions.
Havergal Connections Presents: Beyond the Bar – Conversations with Legal Leaders | Tuesday, November 4, 8 – 10 am
Join hosts Jill Fraser ’87, Chair of the Board of Governors, and Christina Beharry ’97, Partner at Foley Hoag LLP, for a morning of connection and conversation with fellow Havergal Old Girls/Alums and parents working in – or curious about – the legal field. Click here to register. Please reach out to Courtney McNeillie for any questions.
Reminders
Student Portraits Are Now Available!
We are pleased to let you know that your daughter’s school portraits are now available online for viewing and ordering. To access your photos, visit echophotography.ca and enter your access code, which is your student ID number followed by -2526 (e.g., XXXXX-2526).
Ordering is simple, with a variety of print and digital options to suit your family’s preferences. New this year, you can also choose which photo will appear in the Ludamus. Please ensure that you make your selection by November 16.
If you have any questions or special requests, please contact Cameron Hubbs at cameron@echophotography.ca.
Elite Sport Fitness Testing
Havergal Athletics has partnered with SportTesting.com to host an elite fitness testing event at Havergal, featuring a fitness combine, for any interested Havergal Athletes. For each session, the evaluators will equip the gyms with all the technology required for the tests and complete the session for all athletes. Each athlete will receive a personalized and private report card on their results.
There are three testing dates throughout the year. There are no makeup dates, so you must make those dates (there is no penalty for missing, just a loss of opportunity to get more sport data). The dates are:
- Tuesday, November 4th (end of Fall Season)
- Monday, March 2nd (end of Winter Season, before March Break)
- Monday, May 25th (end of Spring Season)
**These are 90 minute sessions; from 3:45 – 5:30pm
For more information on this program and to view the tests in more detail, please click HERE. To view our one-page information pamphlet, click HERE. To register for this program, please click HERE. For more information or if you have any questions, please email the Director of Athletics, Carla Di Filippo.
The Weekly: Upper School 