Thursday, December 18

It has been a full and rewarding term in the Upper School. Throughout these past months, your daughters have shared their many talents, embraced their curiosity as learners, deepened their friendships, and navigated challenges with resilience. We are immensely proud of them.

We also extend our sincere gratitude to our dedicated faculty and staff for their tireless support, and to you—our parents—whose partnership and trust are the foundation of this community.

As we head into the break, our hope is that the coming weeks allow you and your daughters the space to settle into the things that truly rest and energize you: quiet time together, the pages of a good book, a walk in nature, the simple luxury of a long winter’s nap.

We look forward to all the promise that 2026 holds.

Wishing you love and light this holiday season,

Krista, Deirdre, Cissy, and Nicole


Next Week in The Upper School

Upper School

Boarding School


Monday, January 5

  • Faculty PD Day (No Classes)

Tuesday, January 6

  • Classes resume

Thursday, January 8

  • Rowing Parent and Coach Social

Major School Dates Calendar for 26-27

Our Major School Dates Calendar 2026-2027 has been set! We know that many families like to plan ahead, so we hope that this is helpful. Please note that dates are subject to change.

Save the Date: Academic & Course Planning Evening on January 21 from 7-8:30pm

This will be an opportunity for parents (with students currently in Grade 8-11) to hear about our academic program and meet with the Guidance team about your daughter’s course selections for 26-27. We hope you can make it.

Behind the Ivy: First Edition is Out!

Behind the Ivy is Havergal’s student-run newspaper, bringing you insider scoops from behind our ivy walls — from faculty and staff features to student life, trends, and experiences you won’t hear anywhere else. Make sure to check it out at behindtheivyhc.com.

Holiday Angels Campaign

Thank you for your participation in the Holiday Angels Campaign with our Community Partner New Circles. As a school, we supported 10 families this festive season. 

  • Upper School Total: $14,055
  • Middle School Contribution: $4,650!
  • Junior and Upper School combined $26,790

We look forward to contributing to this Community Partnership again in the future.

Friday, December 12

Our festive month of entertainment continues! On Wednesday evening, we welcomed current and former members of our community to St. Paul’s for our annual Carol Service. New this year was the addition of the alumnae choir. It was a spectacular evening filled with wonderful music and showcased the talents of many of our students, past and present.

The celebrations continue with an exciting week ahead. On Monday, our Grads will welcome their teachers to the annual Grad/Staff Dinner and on Tuesday, our Tuba and Euphonium players (Grades 8–12) will bring holiday cheer to Prayers with their annual performance. To finish off the week, the Class of 2026 will delight us with performances at our Holiday Assembly.

Wishing you and your family a wonderful weekend,

Cissy


Next Week In The Upper School

Upper School (7-12)

Middle School (7-8)

Senior School (9-12)

Boarding School

HCPA

Reminders


Monday, December 15

  • Grad/Staff Dinner, 5 pm 

Tuesday, December 16

  • Principal’s Prayers

Wednesday, December 17

  • Locker clean out day, 2:45 pm 
  • Report Cards Available, 4 pm 

Thursday, December 18

  • Festive Dress Up Day
  • Holiday Assembly 
  • Boarding School Closes, 6 pm 

Friday, December 19

  • School Holidays Begin

Upper School

Locker Clean Out on Wednesday, December 17

The official locker clean out time will take place on Wednesday, December 17 at the end of the school day.

Reminders will be sent to the students on Monday to start taking things home. Students are allowed to leave binders, books and shoes in their lockers and they are allowed to keep their decorations up. We ask that clothing and all perishable items are removed from the lockers.

Please ensure that your daughter has the necessary bags to bring her items home. 

Term 1 Report Cards Available on Wednesday, December 17, 4 pm

Term 1 report cards will be available for parents and students to access through the Veracross portal on Wednesday, December 17 at 4 pm. 

December report cards represent a snapshot of a student’s achievements, progress, and areas for growth at this point in the academic year. The objective of a report card is to communicate what a student has learned and how she is developing as a learner across each discipline.

Partnership between Havergal and parents is key to student success. We encourage you to take time to review the report card, discuss it with your child, and identify any key themes or questions you might have. If you have any questions about specific courses, please reach out directly to the teacher; they are eager to partner with you.Further information on how to access the report cards will be emailed next week. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Lam Nguyen, Dean of Academics.

Haver-Honey

We are delighted to share that jars of Haver-Honey, produced from our very own school beehive in partnership with Alvéole, are now available for purchase.

Having a hive on campus offers students a unique, hands-on opportunity to learn about environmental stewardship, biodiversity, and the essential role that bees play in sustaining healthy ecosystems. Our beehive serves as a living classroom—helping students understand pollination, food systems, sustainability, and the interconnectedness of our natural world.

By purchasing Haver-Honey, you are directly supporting:

  • Environmental education and experiential learning opportunities for students
  • Increased biodiversity on our campus through pollination
  • Awareness of sustainable practices and the importance of protecting pollinators

Your support helps us continue this meaningful work while bringing home a delicious, locally produced honey—crafted by our very own bees.If you would like to order a jar, please complete this form by Tuesday December 16, 2025. Feel free to reach out to Fatima Kaba for more information.

Middle School

Next Week in the Middle School

Next week in the Middle School, students will continue to build community through a series of student-led activities. Our student leaders have worked hard to design engaging events for their peers, including holiday door decorating, team-building games, and a final Holiday Form party. During the celebration, students will have the opportunity to decorate holiday cookies, and they are welcome to bring a nut-free snack to share.

Senior School

Next Week In Morning Programming

As the school year winds down, our Morning Programming this week is dedicated to celebrating the strong sense of community within our beloved House System and preparing students for the New Year. We have a mix of festive fun and meaningful development planned, including spirited Holiday Lip Syncs and an energetic House Dance Competition. Beyond the celebrations, we are incorporating crucial sessions such as University Application Reminders for our older students and dedicated time for setting personal intentions for the New Year, fostering reflection and goal-setting. Importantly, these community-building activities are intentionally designed to create leadership opportunities for many of our students. Whether leading a dance team, coordinating a lip sync group, or facilitating a discussion on New Year’s intentions, these events empower students to step up, develop organizational skills, and actively contribute to the positive spirit that we all pride ourselves on at Havergal.

December Break Information and Key Dates

This is a reminder that Boarding School will be closed for the upcoming December Break.
Below are the key dates and important details:

  • Break Leave Submissions: All student leave requests must be entered into Reach and approved by both parents and boarding staff by Friday, December 12.
  • Boarding Closes: Thursday, December 18 at 6 pm. Please note that dinner will not be provided that evening.
  • Boarding Reopens: Monday, January 5 at 4 pm. All students are expected to return by 8 pm. 

If you have any questions or need support as you prepare for the break, contact the Boarding School. We are always here to help!

Upcoming Programming and Events

Friday, December 12: Distillery District Winter Market

Saturday, December 13: Boarding Ball – Social Event   

Sunday, December 14: Sledding & Gingerbread House Decorating

Tuesday, December 16: SLT Boarding Takeover – An Evening of Fun & Games Before the Holidays!

HCPA

Upcoming Parent Evening Socials

Please save the date for the following evening parent socials:

  • Grade 8: January 15, 7- 9pm (EK Library)
  • Grade 12: February 19, 7 – 9pm (EK Library)

HCPA Marketplace

Celebrate the season in style! The HCPA Marketplace is open for holiday shopping – visit our Shopify page today.

Gator Gala! Save the Date – Saturday, March 28, 2026

All Upper School students and an adult guest are invited to join us for an evening of elegance, dining and dancing at HAVERGAL & CO.

Reminders

Apply for the Microcredential in Futures & Foresight from HC-X by December 15

Interested in Business, Entrepreneurship, Design or Innovation? The Futures & Foresight Microcredential is a new learning opportunity designed in partnership with OCAD for students in Grades 10–12.

For more information please last week’s edition of The Weekly. Interested students should submit their application by Monday, December 15, to be considered. Space is limited! There is no additional cost for this program.

Friday, December 5

As we enter December, we are so blessed at Havergal to have a season filled with music, traditions and joy.

This past week alone, we were able to celebrate the remarkable talent of our Senior School musicians at Music Night, our energetic Middle School students at their Holiday Assembly and watch our JSA lead us in a joyful Hannukah Prayers to name but a few. 

We hope you will join us in our annual Carol Service on Wednesday at the beautiful St Paul’s Church. It is a gorgeous holiday tradition, not to be missed.

Have a lovely weekend,

Krista


Next Week In The Upper School

Upper School (7-12)

Middle School (7-8)

Senior School (9-12)

Boarding School

HCPA

Reminders


Monday, December 8

  • MS Music Night (4pm)

Wednesday

  • Carol Service (7pm)

Thursday

  • Late Start (Classes begin at 9:30am, no morning programming)

Upper School

Carol Service on Wednesday December 10 at 7 pm

We are looking forward to this year’s Carol Service at St. Paul’s Bloor Street beginning at 7 pm. A Havergal holiday tradition not to be missed, the evening will offer the opportunity to hear our beautiful choirs, soloists, instrumentalists, readers, and contributions from our entire community. All families are invited and encouraged to attend.  Please see this link for a helpful map to St Paul’s and parking.

This is a mandatory event for students. Please contact the appropriate Head of Division if your child is unable to attend.

Ms. Cissy Goodridge (Head of Middle School), Ms. Deirdre Timusk (Head of Senior School)

Middle School

Thank You!

This week, we delivered all the items collected during our MS Winter Clothing Drive. Thanks to your generosity, we were able to provide 14 large bags of winter clothing, boots, and accessories. The drive was a tremendous success! Thank you for your ongoing support and for helping provide much-needed warmth to members of our community.

Next Week in the Middle School

The Holidays are coming!

Next week in the Middle School, our Form groups will transform their hallway into a winter wonderland by decorating their classroom doors with creative seasonal themes. Students are encouraged to bring in supplies from home to help make their displays extra special.

Senior School

Next Week in Grade Programming

Grade 12 students will have a session where they will discuss how to use their voice in a EDIB context.

Grade 11 students will learn more about how to advocate for others using their own set of strengths. 

Grade 10 student representatives have designed a holiday lip sync competition to help continue to build community with the class. 

Grade 9 students will be in groups talking about how to improve their attention, focus and concentration during class and when doing homework.

Boarding Monthly Newsletter

Please enjoy our latest issue of Boarding Life: Parent Edition.

HCPA

Upcoming Parent Evening Socials – Save The Date!

Please save the date for the following evening parent socials:

Grade 8: January 15, 7 – 9pm (EK Library)

Grade 9 – 10: February 5, 6 – 8:30pm (EK Library)

Grade 12: February 19, 7 – 9pm (EK Library)

Gator Gala 2026 – Saturday, March 28, 2026

Save the Date for the Gator Gala! – Saturday, March 28, 2026.

All Upper School students and an adult guest are invited to join us for an evening of elegance, dining and dancing at HAVERGAL & CO.

Reminders

Apply for the Microcredential in Futures & Foresight from HC-X by December 15

Interested in Business, Entrepreneurship, Design or Innovation? The Futures & Foresight Microcredential is a new learning opportunity designed in partnership with OCAD for students in Grades 10–12. 

The dates are: 

  • Thursday, January 29, 2026 (afternoon, on campus)
  • Monday, March 2Wednesday, March 4, 2026 (full days, offsite – OCADU)
  • Friday, April 17th, 2026 (afternoon, on campus)
  • Monday, April 20th, 2026 (after school, on campus)

Interested students should submit their application by Monday, December 15th, to be considered. Space is limited! There is no additional cost for this program.

Middle School Music Night: Monday, December 8, 4 pm

Please join us for Middle School Music Night on Monday, December 8 at 4 p.m. in Brenda Robson Hall. This concert will highlight our grade 7 and 8 instrumental students. Come and celebrate our budding HC musicians.

HCPA Marketplace

Celebrate the season in style! The HCPA Marketplace is open for holiday shopping – visit our Shopify page today.

Donations for HCPA Staff Appreciation

Please send your contribution by Monday, December 8 to hcpatreasurer@gmail.com. Please include your daughter’s name and grade/cohort in the message field. 

Full details are in this week’s News You Can Use

Thank you for your generosity and for helping us celebrate our exceptional faculty and staff!