Yesterday, the world gave us a rare and beautiful gift: a forced pause. As I watched the snow cover our cars, our streets (and our driveways!), I was struck by how quickly the pace of life shifted.

Spending the day at home with my family was an unexpected joy, and it was wonderful to see neighbours stepping out to help one another. I kept thinking about our students and what a magical gift this day was for them. Whether they spent it playing in the snow, catching up on a bit of homework without the usual rush, or simply snuggling up to rest and reset, I hope they feel refreshed. For our students, who work so hard, these moments to breathe and be present are essential. 

I’m grateful we all had the chance to slow down together.

Have a great weekend,

Deirdre

Next Week In The Upper School

Monday, Jan 19

• MS Club Registration Closes

Tuesday, Jan 20

• Prayers: Making a Difference
• Rowing Parent Information – Tennessee, 7 pm (Virtual)

Wednesday, Jan 21

• Academic & Course Planning Evening, 7 pm (Current Grade 8-11 Parents)

Thursday, Jan 22

• Prayers: Faith in Action

Friday, Jan 23

• Senior School Student Course Selection Opens
• Grades 11 & 12 Semi Formal, 7 – 10 pm 

Upper School

Parent-Teacher Conferences

Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held virtually on Thursday, January 29, from 3 – 8 pm and Friday, January 30, from 8 am – 4 pm.

The Pick-A-Time booking system for making conference appointments will open on Monday, January 19, at noon and close on Wednesday, January 28, at noon.  After Pick-A-Time closes, the only way to book appointments is to email 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.

Academic & Course Planning Evening

Looking forward to seeing parents with daughters currently in Grades 8 to 11 on Wednesday, January 21, from 7-8:30 pm for our Academic & Course Planning Evening. Details have been emailed to you directly.

Middle School

Form Programming Next Week

Grade 7: On Monday, we will be holding our Form and Spirit Rep elections. Students who have chosen to run will present their speeches to their Form groups. 

Grade 8: On Monday, our guidance counsellor will be working with the Grade 8 students on their Grade 9 course selections. During this session, students will learn about the different electives available to them. This is a great opportunity for you to discuss with your child what they are considering before you attend the parent information evening on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, MS students will explore their values and revisit the community agreements they created in September. This gives them a chance to see what may have changed and to re-commit to their agreements.

Senior School

Grade Programming This Week

This week in Grade Programming, we continue to plan for next year and beyond! 

Grade 9 & 10: Students attend course carousels, where the course representatives can answer questions about courses that may interest them.  
Grade 11: Students will attend a course selection presentation by the Guidance Department 
Grade 12: Our HR team will be running a session called “Ready, Set, Hire!” to help students prepare their resumes and polish their interview skills.

Grad Portraits

The Grade 12 Grad Portraits will be taking place in the Rotunda from 9 am-4 pm on Monday, February 2nd, to Friday, February 6th. Students can book their appointment here.

The Grad portrait session fee is $100 and includes; 

• Sitting fee
• Retouching 
• 11 x 14 composite

Students are to follow the instructions below: 

• Wear a white blouse or top (no t-shirts)
• Do not wear a coloured undergarment
• Do not book appointments during assessments

Boarding School

Upcoming Programming & Events in Boarding

Saturday, January 17: Ice Skating at Nathan Phillips Square
Saturday, January 17: Ice Cream Making 
Tuesday, January 20: Chartwell’s Recipe Competition
Wednesday, January 21:
Grade 11 & 12: Workshop with Ms. Parsons, Upper School Social Worker, on Perfectionism 
Grade 9 & 10: Workshop Session with Ms. Cozier, Executive Director of Inclusive Excellence on Intent, Impact & The Gap Between

HCPA

Grade 12 Parent Social

Please save the date for our Grade 12 Parent Social on Thursday, February 19, 7:30 – 10:00 pm in the Ellen Knox Library.

US Bake Sale

The HCPA Bake Sale committee is hosting their second bake sale on Wednesday, February 11, 8 am – 4 pm, in the Ellen Knox Library.  We’re looking for parent volunteers for

• Setting up and staffing at the Bake Sale: click here to sign up 
• Baking and donating nut-free baked goods: click here to sign up. Both store-bought and homemade treats are welcome.

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.

Gator Gala

Save the Date for this year’s Gator Gala on 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.  Tickets on sale soon!