Dear Families,
It was a true pleasure to see so many of you in the Brenda Robson Hall this past Wednesday for our Academic & Course Planning Evening. It was nice to come together as a community, in person, to talk about the journey of your daughters’ education.
Our goal for the evening was to discuss the “why” behind our academic program. Whether it was our Dean of Academics, Lam Nguyen, discussing the importance of intentionality over volume in academic choices, or our Deputy Principal, Lindsay Norberg, highlighting the transformative power of our Global Experiences and Microcredentials, the message was clear: we are here to help your daughters find a path that is as unique as they are.
We want our students to be future-ready—not just by collecting credits, but by fostering a deep curiosity and the agency to shape the world around them.
For those who were unable to join us or would like to revisit the information, you can find the slide decks and resources here:
Overview
Grade 8 into 9
Grade 9 into 10
Grade 10 into 11
Grade 11 into 12
Thank you for your continued partnership. We look forward to the exciting planning conversations ahead!
Warmly,
Krista
Upper School (7-12)
- Report Cards for Semester 1 Courses
- Black Cultural Prayers & Reception
- 26-27 Global Learning Experiences
- Parent Teacher Conferences
- Hockey Day: Registration Information
Middle School (7-8)
Senior School (9-12)
- Grade 11 Retreat Information
- Grade 9-10 COSSOT Event
- Grade Programming Next Week
- Grade 10 Students: OSSLT Results
Boarding School
HCPA
Reminders
Next Week In The Upper School
Monday, January 26
- Global Experience Information Session, 6 pm (Brenda Robson Hall)
- MS Form Pictures
Tuesday, January 27
- Prayers: Holocaust Remembrance Day
Wednesday, January 28
- Thrive Day
Thursday, January 29
- Grade 11 Retreat, Casual Dress, 8:30 am – 1:40 pm (Brenda Robson Hall)
- Early Dismissal, 1:40 pm
- Parent Teacher Conferences, 3 – 8 pm
Friday, January 30
- No classes
- Parent Teacher Conferences, 8 am – 4 pm
Upper School
Report Cards for Semester 1 Courses
Semester 1 report cards will be available for parents and students to access through the Veracross portal from Thursday, January 29, at 4 pm to Thursday, February 12, for students enrolled in the following semestered courses:
- Advanced Functions (MHF4US)
- Advanced Functions AP (MHF4UP)
- Grade 10 Civics and Citizenship (CHV2O)
These report cards will include results from the final assessments and final grades for these courses. If you have any questions, please reach out directly to the course teacher; they are eager to partner with you.
Black Cultural Prayers & Reception
Havergal College is celebrating Black Cultural Prayers on Tuesday, February 3, at 8:40 am in Upper School Prayers.
Families are invited to stay and enjoy a reception at 9:20 am. If you would like to attend, please RSVP by Friday, January 30th.
26-27 Global Learning Experiences
We are pleased to announce our 2026–2027 Global Learning Experiences (GLE), which offer students meaningful opportunities to learn through immersion, reflection, and engagement with the world beyond school. Through these experiences, students develop curiosity, empathy, and a deeper understanding of the interconnected world.
Families are invited to explore the details of each experience by reviewing the 26-27 GLE Lookbook and visiting the school portal, where additional information about destinations and timelines is available.
We are also excited to introduce the Cyd Diane Stupp Award for Global Experiences. A new financial award designed to support student participation in Global Learning Experiences and to help ensure these opportunities are accessible to a broad range of families. Student application forms can be found on the portal or on the final page of the 26-27 GLE Lookbook.
To support families in learning more, we invite you to save the date for a virtual Parent Information Session on Tuesday, February 4, at 6 pm. This session will provide an overview of the experiences, answer common questions, and outline next steps in the registration process. We look forward to sharing these opportunities with you and supporting students as they continue to grow as global learners. For more information, feel free to reach out to Fatima Kaba, Interim Director of the Forum for Change, or Courtney Pickering, Manager, Global Learning Experiences
Parent Teacher Conferences
Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held virtually on Thursday, January 29, from 3 – 8 pm and Friday, January 30 at 8 am – 4 pm. The Pick-A-Time booking system for making conference appointments is open and will close on Wednesday, January 28, at noon.
After Pick-A-Time closes, the only way to book appointments is by emailing teachers directly; only they can add them to their schedules.
Please ensure your Zoom account is up to date. See Zoom Instructions.
Once booked, individual conference schedules and Zoom links will be emailed and are also accessible via Pick-A-Time.
If your child has an Individual Education Plan, and you would like to connect with her Learning Support Specialist, please email them directly to arrange an appointment. If you have questions or concerns 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.
Hockey Day: Registration Information
On Tuesday, February 10, at approximately 12:45 pm, Havergal College will face the Bishop Strachan School hockey team in a battle for the Hewitt Cup. This is affectionately known as HOCKEY DAY! In this annual game, faculty, staff, and students are decked out in green and gold to cheer on our Gators with pride. Our Junior School Gators hockey team will play the BSS Junior School team during the first intermission.
Like last year, this year’s game will be played at the Mattamy Athletic Centre (Formerly Maple Leaf Gardens) located at 50 Carlton St, Toronto. Attendance is mandatory for students in Grades 4 to 8; students in Grades 9 to 12 are encouraged to attend. The parents of all attendees must complete the online registration and purchase tickets in advance.
Transportation:
- Students in Grades 7 & 8 have mandatory bus transportation to and from Mattamy AC.
- Students in Grades 9 – 12 may ride the buses back to Havergal or be dismissed directly from Mattamy AC after the game. Please note that if you choose to be dismissed from Mattamy during the registration process, there will be no return bus transportation provided for your child. Their choice must be indicated on the registration form.
- Please speak to your child before completing registration. We cannot make changes after registration is complete, as we order buses according to these requests.
Registration:
- Registration is now open and will close on Monday, February 2 at 8 pm.
- Student accounts will be charged $25 to attend the event, which includes bus transportation, a spirit item, and arena admission.
If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Di Filippo.
Middle School
Form Pictures
A reminder that Form photos for Middle School students are scheduled for Monday, January 26. Please have your child wear their Number 1 dress to school that day.
Form Programming Next Week
Next week in Form programming, students will explore their personal values, their role within different communities, and how they can support others. They will revisit the Community Agreements each grade created in the Fall and reflect on how they are upholding these commitments. This work not only supports students in setting values-based goals, but also deepens their understanding of how they contribute to and care for their community.
Senior School
Grade 11 Retreat Information
Our grade 11 retreat is the kick-off event for the Class of 2027, where they begin to examine their values and connect with each other. The retreat will offer a day of reflection, engaging discussions, and activities designed to support the students as they step into leadership roles within the school community. We are pleased to welcome Jules Porter as our keynote speaker. With over 20 years of global leadership experience, Jules has designed resilience-based programs for youth in more than 20 countries, ranging from the Arctic to international refugee camps. She is uniquely celebrated for her ability to use sport, play, and community-driven mentorship to help young women navigate complex challenges and build lasting confidence. At our retreat, Jules will be sharing personal stories about the many “versions” of herself and the core values that have guided her through every stage of her life and career.
Students are not required to wear uniforms. Our retreat will run from 8:30 am – 1:40 pm. Lunch and snacks will be provided. All students are expected to attend this event, especially those who are interested in leading at Havergal.
We look forward to a day that will help shape their journey as future graduates and leaders. Thank you for supporting this important event!
Grade 9-10 COSSOT Event
Dance “The Rout – Wild West” at Branksome Hall
- Friday, January 30th, from 8:00-10:00 p.m.
- Branksome Hall Junior School, Junior School Gym (4 Elm Ave).
- $20 per student
- Maximum number of spots: 20.
Students can register via the student portal.
Note:
- If your child does not see the form on the portal, it’s because a parent/guardian still needs to register for the COSSOT Permission Form at the following link.
Once students have registered, Ms. Russell will share all event details directly with participants. Confirmation of student registration will also be sent to parents. If your plans change, you must notify Ms. Russell at least 72 hours before the event to receive a refund.
Grade Programming Next Week
Grade 9 will be introduced to The Challenge 9 (TC9) program, in which all students will participate in a few weeks.
Grade 10 students will be divided into two groups. Half the students will be doing breath work with an outside expert, and the other half will be participating in Neurographic Art, led by our own Ms. Barrett from the Junior School.
Grade 11 students will learn more about power, systems, and how they combine to positively or negatively shape the world around us.
Grade 12 students will be learning about life at university and the social situations they may encounter.
Grade 10 Students: OSSLT Results
The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) has published the results of the fall 2025 Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT).
Individual results for all students who wrote the test in November are now posted on the Parent and Student Portals under “Classes and Reports” (similarly to student report cards).
Boarding School
Important Reminder: Mid-Term Break
This is a reminder that the Boarding School will be closed for the Mid-Term Break. Here are the key dates and information:
- Break Leaves: All student leave requests must be submitted in Reach for approval by Friday, February 6.
- Boarding Closes: Thursday, February 12 at 6:00 pm (dinner will not be provided that evening).
- Boarding Reopens: Monday, February 16 at 4:00 pm (all students are expected to return by 8:00 pm).
If you have any questions or need support with your daughter’s travel plans, please contact the Boarding Office.
Upcoming Programming & Events
Friday, January 23: Trapped Escape Room (for Grade 9s & 10s)
Saturday, January 24: VRCADE
Sunday, January 25: Prefects arrive in Boarding
Wednesday, January 28: Advisory Group Session: Story Swap
HCPA
Preloved Uniform & Marketplace Sale
The Pre-Loved Uniform & HCPA Marketplace mid-year sale is on Wednesday, February 4, 2:30 to 5:00 pm in the Junior School Learning Hub hallway. Sizing is available from JK – grade 12. The teams are looking for parent volunteers to help before, during and after the events. Please click here to sign up.
Upcoming Grade Parent Socials
Save the date:
Grade 8 Parents: Save the date for your evening parent social: Thursday, February 5, 7-9 pm in the Ellen Knox Library.
Grade 12 Parents: Save the date for your evening parent social: Thursday, February 19, 7:30 – 10 pm in the Ellen Knox Library.
Gator Gala 2026
All Upper and Middle School students, along with an adult guest (parent/guardian), are invited to HAVERGAL & CO – an evening inspired by elegance, sparkle, and timeless charm. Step into a world of Tiffany Blue dreams as we dine, dance, and make memories at the 2026 Gator Gala!
Saturday, March 28, 2026
6:00 – 11:30 pm
Parkview Manor (55 Barber Greene Rd., Unit #1)
Tickets are $165 per person and include your choice of meal options, drinks, dancing, a photo booth, and a few fun surprises! Tickets are available to purchase from January 21 to February 20 (tickets purchased after will cost $175).
Reminders
Re-registration for 2026-27
Re-registration for the 2026-27 school year will open on Tuesday, January 27.
Families will receive an email from the Board of Governors on that day with a link to re-registration, and can also access re-registration through the Parent Portal Landing Page. Re-registration, which includes both completing the online forms and submitting the deposit, is due on Monday, February 2, 2026. We cannot guarantee a place for students who re-register after this date.
While we are certainly hoping to welcome all of our students back next year, we recognize that family situations change and relocations occur. If you are aware that your daughter is not returning to Havergal, please let us know by emailing Maggie Houston-White as soon as possible so we can ensure we have a fulsome admission process for all necessary years.
The Weekly: Upper School 