Latest News

US & UK Universities – Parent Information Sessions

On Wednesday, March 31, the Guidance department is presenting the following two university information sessions. All interested parents are welcome to attend.

• 6:30 – 7:15 pm – American University Information Session
• 7:15 – 8:00 pm – UK University Information Session

Both sessions can be accessed through the following Zoom link:

https://havergal.zoom.us/j/93657012016?pwd=Sk81RFd5NnR6bzVudHVYTmV4ZU5Vdz09

Meeting ID: 936 5701 2016

Passcode: 074289

Remote & In-Person Learning

We ask that families and students review the criteria outlined below for remote learning. We appreciate your cooperation and support of these protocols.

• Students who must self isolate should connect with their teachers and make arrangements to Zoom into class on a temporary basis. 
• Students who will be remote for longer than 2 weeks must complete the Remote Registration. 
• Only students who must be absent for COVID/screening-related reasons or those who are registered as remote students should ask to Zoom into classes. All other students are expected to attend in person.
• Students who are not registered as remote learners are expected to complete all assessments in person.

Conversations with the Head of School – Recordings & Feedback Form

Thank you for joining us for the parent sessions over the past few weeks. Below you will find the recordings and the slide deck for each session. Unfortunately, the Grade 12 session ran into technical difficulties and the recording did not work – our apologies. If you were able to attend, we would appreciate you taking a few moments to provide feedback through this Google Form.

Grade 7 & 8 – Slideshow & Recording

Grade 9 & 10 – Slideshow & Recording

Grade 11 – Slideshow & Recording

Grade 12 – Slideshow

Latest News

School Break

• Havergal is closed from Monday, March 8 until Friday, March 12.
• Havergal families are reminded to continue to follow all Toronto Public Health directives to ensure our community remains safe.
• Daily screening will resume on Monday, March 15 and families are encouraged to read each of the questions carefully as Toronto Public Health continues to adjust the requirements for students attending school. Our updated Havergal COVID Screening and Return to School Protocol can always be found at the Havergal Return to Campus Webpage.
• Families are reminded that students who have participated in interprovincial or international travel are required to self isolate for 14 days once they return to Ontario. After international travel and following the 14-day self-isolation, students must provide a negative COVID test result. Please use this LINK to submit negative COVID test results prior to returning to school. 
• Any questions about daily screening or students’ ability to return to school should be directed to the Health Centre at covid@havergal.on.ca.

Student Attendance/Remote Students

• If a student is not able to attend school in person and is not registered as a remote student, families must notify the DSO of their absence and still complete the daily screening.
• Students physically absent from school must be marked as absent unless they are registered as a Remote student.
• Only students who are registered as remote or who have to be absent because of COVID protocols should expect to be able to Zoom into classes.  Teachers are not expected to be ready for these students immediately – there is a 24-48 hour lag period that is acceptable. 
• Students who wish to Zoom into classes for a temporary absence unrelated to COVID, need to discuss that with their teacher and be prepared for that request to be denied. As always, class material can be found on the course Veracross page.  For a teacher who already has a remote student, it may be easy for additional students to join in.  For a teacher who does not have a remote student, the teacher may need 24-48 hours to fulfill a request.  
• Students who are not registered as remote should not expect to do assessments remotely unless the teacher has agreed to that request. 
• Students who will be remote for longer than 2 weeks must complete the Remote Registration

Upper School Afternoon Pick-Up

• Dismissal in the Upper School happens between 3:30pm – 4:00pm. 
• Students are welcome to stay until 4 pm but must remain in their last-period classroom if they choose to stay in the building. 
• We recognize that there is increased traffic in the main driveway at this time. Families are encouraged to stagger their pick-up times and make use of this window of time. 
• Please review the drop-off and pick-up directions outlined here so that we can work together to ensure a safe experience for all students and families.

#1 Dress on Thursdays following March Break

• Starting the week of March 15, all students are asked to wear their #1 dress on Thursdays. This is the day when we participate in Prayers together.
•  The one exception to this is for students who have Physical Education during Semester 2 as they will need to wear their Physical Education clothing every day. 
• The Form Teachers and Cohort Advisors will speak to the students about this when we return to school on Monday, March 15. We look forward to seeing all students – and especially the Grads – in their blazers.

Grade 5 – 8 Parent Webinar with guest Phyllis Fagell

• Thank you to the parents who joined us on Tuesday, March 2 for the webinar with Phyllis Fagell. Her presentation was filled with current research and concrete strategies to help children develop resilience and the role parents can play. 
• We are thankful to the Grade 5 and 6 Core teachers and the Grade 7 and 8 Guidance Counsellors who deliver this content and introduce strategies such as those shared by Phyllis through the Wellbeing Program.
• To see a recording of the presentation, please visit this LINK.

Reminder: Upcoming Parent Conversations with the Heads of School

Please look forward to receiving an invitation to meet with the Head of Middle & Senior School (over Zoom). As we strive to continue to build on the strength of our community, we want to ensure our families are well informed, and have an opportunity to ask questions. We will also begin a conversation, which will continue through the Spring, about how we are supporting our students through this pandemic and will continue to do so as they navigate the world that exists when it is over.

Tuesday, March 16 

• 7:15 pm  – 7:45 pm, Grade 7 & 8 parents

Wednesday, March 17

• 6:30 pm – 7:00 pm, Grade 9 & 10 parents
• 7:15 pm -7:45 pm, Grade 11 parents

Pop-Up Covid-19 Testing Centre by SickKids

Havergal has been informed of another opportunity to access a pop-up COVID-19 testing location in our local community on Sunday, March 7 from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm at Bais Yaakov Elementary School, 15 Saranac Blvd, North York, ON M6A 2G4. For more details, please access this community letter from SickKids.

Latest News

Update from Toronto Public Health

Please see the update letter from Toronto Public Health here.

Pink Shirt Day

We are celebrating Pink Shirt Day on Monday, March 1st. It is a full dress down day for all students, faculty and staff and we encourage everyone to participate. For more information, please visit the Pink Shirt Day website. 

Latest News

Major Dates Calendar

Please see the updated Major Dates Calendar that reflects the changes to the March/April calendar.

Veracross Unavailable Feb 19 – 21, 2021

In order to reset the calendar/rotation schedule to coincide with the new calendar dates that will be adjusted due to the March break changes, Veracross will be unavailable to all employees, students, and parents from February 19 at 4pm to February 20 at 8 am and again from February 20 at noon to February 21 at 4pm. Faculty have prepared students for this by making sure students have what they need and that they know they will be unable to access their class websites for much of this upcoming weekend. Our apologies for the short notice but it is challenging to find the right time to do this necessary work. 

Report Cards – Update Regarding Attendance Data

When initially released, the Semester 1 final report cards included attendance data that was not meant to be included on the report. This has been corrected and you are encouraged to download the report card again in order to have the correct version saved for yourself. You will see that the attendance data has been removed.

Grade 11 & 12 Spares

The following information has been shared with students with regards to spares.

• Students have an assigned classroom for their spares and they must be in this classroom during their spare.
• Students who have 1st period or 4th period spare may arrive late or leave early for the day. 
• Students are expected to be on time for their first class of the day. 
• When they arrive after 9am they must enter through the Rotunda (to be screened by Security) and sign in outside the DSO (this is new).
• When students leave before 3:30pm because they have a spare they must sign out (outside the DSO).

Upper School Parent-Teacher Interviews Update

The second Upper School Parent/Teacher Conferences of the school year will take place virtually via Zoom on Friday, March 26 (original date). The appointment times are as follows: 

• 8:00am to 12:00pm 
• 1:00pm to   4:00pm 

The online conference booking system that Havergal College uses will open on Wednesday, March 17 at 6:00pm and will close on Wednesday, March 24 at 12:00pm. If you need to make any changes after this time, please contact the teacher directly to coordinate. 

Appointments are five minutes long and are booked on a first-come-first-served basis.

The online booking system does not permit the scheduling of back-to-back appointments. However, if you are the parent of two or more daughters that have the same teacher or if you are the parent of three or more Upper School students please contact Ms. Sally Danto, by Monday, March 22 before noon by emailing: sdanto@havergal.on.ca

Should you wish to meet with your daughter’s Guidance Counsellor or Havergal College Social Worker, Caitlin Parsons, please email them individually in advance to book an appointment.

CLICK HERE  to sign into your pickAtime account with your password. If you do not have a pickAtime account, please create one in advance of the online opening. The Junior School will also be conducting Parent-Teacher interviews on the same day and to avoid confusion, please make sure to select the correct School in the drop down menu when making your selection. 

In preparation for Parent-Teacher Conferences, please sign in with your Zoom account and review the Zoom – Tips – Parents.pdf

For assistance with pickAtime, contact our Service Desk at servicedesk@havergal.on.ca or at 416-483-3843 ext.6663  between 6:00 and 6:30 PM on Monday, March 1, or during their usual  hours of operation from 7:30am – 5:00pm Monday to Friday.

Black History Month

Havergal is celebrating Black History Month throughout the month of February by recognizing the achievements and contributions of Black Canadians and their communities who have contributed significantly to Canada. In particular, initiatives have been led by the Black Student Alliance and it’s co-heads, Marley Melbourne and Jasmine Heath. During the month, students have identified ways to bring awareness to our community through open BSA meetings and spotlighting music, poetry and quotes by Black artists during Prayers. The Prefect led Swamp Talk and open BSA meetings drew large crowds of students and faculty, wanting to discuss issues that are prevalent in today’s Black community. Talking about anti-racism is top of mind in our community and our students are engaged in learning about this topic and how to become better informed. This year, Black culture prayers will be held on March 25th. This date was deliberately chosen to sit outside of BHM, as we continue to respect and recognize that contributions made by the Black community should be celebrated every month, not just one month during the year. 

Pride Week – February 22 – 26, 2021

Pride Week aims to educate, connect and acknowledge Havergal’s LGBTQ+ community and our commitment to the celebration of personal expression, diversity and inclusivity. Students on the Pride Committee have worked together with Caitlin Parsons, Upper School Social Worker and other faculty, to plan an engaging and celebratory week.

Highlights of the week include: 

• Flying the Pride flag. The Pride flag will be flown in the South Quad, as a symbol of our commitment to fostering an inclusive school environment where individual differences are recognized, embraced and valued. 
• Educational emails delivered on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Each email to highlight various historical events and human rights leaders of the LGBTQ+ community, vocabulary and definitions, LGBTQ+ movie/book/music suggestions and some rainbow-friendly community resources. 
• Havergal Alumni and Trans Activist; Taylor Stocks (2007) will be delivering a presentation related to gender identity to students in Grade 7-9 and students in Grade 10-12 during their Wellbeing Program. To learn more about Taylor Stocks please click here.
• Pride week celebrations will conclude with a dress down day on Friday, February 26. To show support for our LGBTQ+ students and community, we encourage everyone to come dressed in rainbow colours or one solid colour of the rainbow. 
• During Prayers on Friday, February 26, we will discuss the significance of the Pride flag and its history and hear from a Grade 9 student who will speak about Heteronormativity and Sexuality. In closing, students will be reminded of ways they can continue to show and celebrate Pride at Havergal.

If you have any questions about HC Pride Week or any of the events, please reach out to Social Worker, Caitlin Parsons at cparsons@havergal.on.ca.

Save the Date – Conversations with the Head of  Middle & Senior School

Please look forward to receiving an invitation to meet with the Head of Middle & Senior School (over Zoom) on the following dates. As we strive to continue to build on the strength of our community, we want to ensure our families are well informed, having opportunities to ask questions and to deepen their understanding of our strategic direction. We will also begin a conversation, which will continue through the Spring, about how we are supporting our students through this pandemic and will continue to do so as they navigate the world that exists when it is over.

Thursday, March 4

• 7:15 pm – 7:45 pm, Grade 12 parents

Tuesday, March 16 

• 7:15 pm  – 7:45pm, Grade 7 & 8 parents

Wednesday, March 17

• 6:30 pm – 7:00 pm, Grade 9 & 10 parents
• 7:15 pm -7:45 pm, Grade 11 parents

Latest News

Return to Campus – Tuesday, February 16, 2021

The Ontario government announced that schools in Toronto will be permitted to reopen for in-person learning beginning on Tuesday, February 16. Given this news, Havergal’s campus will reopen, as planned and previously announced, on Tuesday, February 16. The government announcement can be viewed here. 

We are pleased to welcome our students back to the College for in-person learning. Returning to campus will allow them to gain a deeper level of engagement between their teachers and peers, helping to foster stronger connections and support cognitive, social and emotional learning and development.
As before, we have numerous safety measures in place to help minimize the infection and spread of COVID-19 on campus, which meet or exceed the requirements of both the Ontario Ministry of Health, Ontario Ministry of Education and Toronto Public Health. Havergal has made extensive efforts to ensure a high level of safety for our community. Some of our key safety measures include the investment in bipolar ionization technology and air purification devices, physical distancing, hand sanitizing and our updated masking protocol. Our health and safety protocols have been updated in the Return to Campus Parent & Student Handbook.

Screening Update – Action Required February 10 & 11

All parents must complete the daily online screening prior to students arriving on campus each day. Proof that the screening has been completed will be checked upon arrival at the College. We ask that parents complete screening on February 10 and 11 next week so we can stay informed of any pertinent COVID-19 related health concerns or travel prior to returning to on-campus learning. Parents will be asked to confirm they have read the updated parent agreement when screening is completed on February 10 and 11.

Mask Update – Action Required Grades 4-12

In light of the emerging COVID-19 variants, we ask that all students in Grades 4 to 12 wear a medical mask (non-cloth) at all times indoors during the school day. All students must now wear masks while outdoors. A supply of masks will be available in the Junior and Upper Schools for students who may be without one. Students should change their mask when soiled or wet; this means students may need to bring two to three masks to school per day. 

Travel Requirements – Out of Province Travel

While the provincial lockdown order is in place, the Ontario government is recommending that individuals who travel domestically outside of the province self-isolate for 14 days upon their return to Ontario. Havergal College will be following this recommendation and students will be asked to learn from home until their 14-day quarantine period is complete. Questions related to inter-provincial travel and international travel will be part of the daily screening.

Arriving and Departing From School

Students must refrain from congregating as they arrive and depart from school. Parents are encouraged to remain in their cars, not to linger or gather outside the school. A reminder that we continue to ask parents to be masked on campus. 

While we have been permitted to re-open for in-person learning, the province encourages us to limit our contacts. We ask that families continue to follow all general public health guidelines and avoid congregation and socialization outside their own households. 

Remote Learning

We understand that some families may opt to continue with remote learning at this time. If you wish your child to continue as a remote learner for longer than 14 days, please register for remote learning here. If your daughter is currently registered as a Remote Learner, but is returning to campus on February 16th, please email Maggie Houston-White at mhw@havergal.on.ca.

Toronto Public Health and COVID Testing

The Ontario Government announcement referenced the availability of targeted asymptomatic testing and rapid tests for students. These tests are to be distributed through local public health units. We will continue to engage with Toronto Public Health about access to these tests. Based on the availability of rapid-testing technology and current Ontario COVID-19 testing eligibility, we will not be offering widespread testing to our general community at present.

Food Services Update

Since we first started adapting to COVID-19 last September we let safety and care for our community be the driving force behind our departmental decision-making.  After having to temporarily suspend operations in order to support the public health response, we are excited to announce the Food Service department is preparing to reopen once again. 

With this in mind, we would like to provide you with a few updates: 

• Dates of operation – Food Services will officially reopen to all students, staff and faculty beginning on Tuesday, February 16. 
• Ordering through CaterTrax – We are delighted to share our new menu updates with you!  CaterTrax will reopen again on Monday, February 8, at which time new lunch orders may be placed up to one month in advance.  
• Order deadline – The deadline to place lunch orders has been shortened to 48 hours, allowing you to order lunch two business days in advance. If you are placing an order for lunch on Tuesday, February 16, your order must be submitted by Thursday, February 11.
• Order cancellation – Any orders placed for delivery during the month of January have now been cancelled. You will not be billed for this. 

While it was difficult to press pause, we are grateful to have been given the time to carefully prepare a reopening plan that keeps all those connected to our department – customers and team members alike – safe. We are very much looking forward to seeing you again soon. 

Semester 1 Report Cards

Semester 1 Reports Cards will be available on Monday, February 8 at 4 pm through Veracross. Please follow the instructions linked here to access your child’s report. If you have any questions feel free to reach out to the teacher directly.

Parent-Teacher Interviews – Change of Date to Friday, March 5

Please note that the Semester 2 Parent-Teacher Interviews will be on Friday, March 5, which was previously designated as a Professional Development Day for the Upper School. Therefore, March 26th will be a regular school day (Day 2). We have made this change to maximize on-campus learning and have chosen to use a day already designated for Professional Learning.

Updates from Guidance

• Grade 12 University Marks

Grade 12 marks are being sent to OUAC Monday, February 8, 2021.

• Grade 8-11 Course Selection – due today, Friday, February 5th at 4pm 

For students in Grades 8-11, course selections for the 2021-2022 school year are due today through Veracross. If your child requires assistance, please have them contact their Guidance Counsellor. You can view your child’s choices in the parent portal under the ‘Links’ tab, then ‘Course Requests’. Parents do not need to sign off on their child’s course selections. An email reminder was sent to your child on Thursday, February 4. Please note that Grade 7 students do not need to complete course selections.

• Grade 9 & 10 Students – Preparing for Post Secondary Programs in the United States

Heather Johnstone, Head of Guidance, delivered a presentation to Grade 9 & 10 students during their Wellbeing Program about applying to the United States for post-secondary programs. The presentation is posted to the Grade 9 & 10 Guidance Veracross page and can be viewed here.

People & Program Evening Follow-up

Thank you for joining us at the Semester 2 People & Program evening last night. If you were unable to attend any of the sessions, please visit the course Veracross pages to see the recordings. You can view the welcome session through this link.

Student Leadership & Wellbeing Presentations

On Wednesday, February 3rd, the Grade Reps had presentations on Student Leadership and Student Wellbeing During the Pandemic. Recordings of the sessions can be found below. As a reminder, parents are welcome to attend the Grade Rep Meetings held periodically throughout the year. Your invitation to attend can be found in the Grade Rep emails.  

• Student Leadership, presented by JJ Patterson, Head of Middle School and Jenn Ryan, Coordinator of Student Leadership
• Supporting Student Wellbeing During the Pandemic, presented by Caitlin Parsons, School Social Worker

Grade 5-8 Parent Webinar with Phyllis Fagell – Tuesday, March 2, 2021, 6:30-7:30 pm

Save The Date – Phyllis Fagell presented to parents in the spring of 2020 and we are fortunate to have her join us again in March. She will focus on presenting strategies from her book Middle School Matters: The 10 Key Skills Kids Need to Thrive in Middle School and Beyond — and How Parents Can Help in addition to addressing the challenges of parenting during the pandemic. Phyllis is the school counsellor at Sheridan School in Washington, DC, a therapist who works with kids and families in private practice, and an author and journalist. She’s a frequent contributor to the Washington Post and writes for Psychology Today, Working Mother, U.S. News & World Report and Your Teen. Her ideas have been shared in outlets including The New York Times, The Atlantic, The New Yorker and NPR.

Latest News

Ongoing Student Support During Remote Learning

As we continue with remote learning, please be reminded that your child’s Form Teacher/Cohort Advisor, subject teachers and Guidance Counsellors are available to continue to support them. If needed, please encourage your child to reach out via email to the appropriate adult. Additionally, you are always welcome to reach out to those adults if you have any questions or concerns that you feel should be brought to the attention of the school. 

Semester 2 Timetables

Semester 2 begins on February 2 and while we are remote, we will be following the schedule that is below: 

Students will be able to see their class schedule on Veracross on Monday, February 1st.  This will include their Form/Cohort group for Semester 2. Students will be in classes no larger than 20. For most students in Grades 9-12, and all students in Grades 7-8, their Form/Cohort is composed of students in one of their classes. 

When students return to campus, they will find that the school has been zoned by grade to reduce grade cross-over as much as possible.  Maps showing the grade zones will be posted on the Guidance webpages on February 1st.

People & Program Night – Thursday, February 4, 2021

The Semester 2 People and Program Evening is your opportunity to meet your child’s Form/Cohort Advisor, Grade Lead/Guidance Counselor, and Teachers on February 4, 2021 at 6:30 PM.  Below is the agenda for the evening.  The Zoom links you need will be sent to you via email on Tuesday, February 2.

The Havergal College IT Service Desk Team is here for you!

As you and your child use digital tools in the course of their schoolwork, you may encounter difficulties and require assistance. The first step is for you or your child to notify their teacher, who may be able to provide support for websites or applications that are specific to that course/class/grade. It is important for them to be aware when their students are experiencing technical difficulties.

If their teacher is unable to resolve your issue or if the problem is with a laptop or tablet issued by the school to your child, your next step is to contact the Havergal College IT Service Desk Team. They are available to help with systems and equipment provided by the school.
The IT Service Desk Team is available Monday to Friday, 8:00am-4:00pm, and can be reached by email at servicedesk@havergal.on.ca or by calling 416-483-3843 x6663.

Grade 7 Math Contest Achievement

Amazing performances! Our Grade 7 students’ most recent Caribou math contest scores were very impressive. In particular, we want to congratulate our top two students: Sophie Zhang and Alice Song who TIED for 1^st.

Sophie and Alice not only tied for 1^st in our school and region but were in fact tied for:

• 1^st in Ontario
• 1^st in Canada
• 1^st worldwide

This particular contest was written by over 7600 students worldwide. Congratulations!

Reminders

Toronto Public Health – Grade 7 Immunization Program Suspended

Over the past week, we have received some inquiries from Grade 7 parents about the Toronto Public Health (TPH) Grade 7 Immunization program and we thought it best to send a reminder to parents on this topic. In previous years, Havergal has provided the location for Toronto Public Health to run their Grade 7 Immunization Program whereby our Grade 7 students could receive their immunizations during the school day for HPV, Hep B, and Meningococcal. In the October 9th Upper School Blog, parents were informed that Toronto Public Health had suspended all of their in-school immunization for this school year. At that time, according to TPH, families could book an appointment to have their child vaccinated at a Toronto Public Health clinic. However, after exploring their website again this week, it appears that TPH will not have any clinics operating until further notice. Please click HERE for this bulletin from Toronto Public Health. 

Knowing this, students who are currently in Grade 7, or those in Grade 8 who missed their final doses last spring, should obtain these immunizations through their family doctor or primary care provider. Alternatively, a family can choose to wait until TPH begins their student immunization clinics but there is no indication as to when this will take place.

Latest News

Academic Program & Course Selection Evening January 13, 2021, 6:30 – 7:30 PM

All parents with children in Grades 7-11 are invited to attend this Parent Webinar to learn about the Academic Program for the 2021-2022 school year followed by grade-specific course selection information. If you are unable to attend, the materials from the presentation will be shared. Zoom Update – Please ensure your Zoom app is updated prior to joining this event.

Zoom link for Academic Program and Course Selection Evening

Meeting ID: 975 8357 5681 Passcode: 624352

Upcoming Math Contests for Grades 9-11 February 23, 2021

Each year, Havergal hosts several University of Waterloo math contests. The upcoming Pascal (grade 9), Cayley (10), Fermat (11) are currently scheduled for February 23^rd. Our tentative plan is:

• All students in Grade 9  would write the Pascal contest during math class in Semester 2 on Feb 23 – no action is required on your part or from the student.
• Students in Grades 10 and 11 who are interested would write the Cayley (grade 10) or Fermat (grade 11). They would receive information about registration so that they can indicate their interest to us later this month. Our plan is to have them write midday on Feb 23. No action is required on your part.

As we have seen, the situation and policies in the province, ministry and city remains fluid. Our hope is to continue to host as many of these contests as possible. We are also looking into other options with the University of Waterloo including the possibility of writing online, if needed. We will continue to share updates as well as provide information about subsequent contests which take place later in the spring such as the Fryer (9), Hypatia (10), Galois (11), Euclid (12), and Gauss (7-8) as more details are confirmed.

Thank you for your understanding, enthusiasm and support.

Middle School Interschool Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA)

What is the Middle School GSA? 

The Middle School Interschool GSA is created with the goal to offer a space to engage in dialogue around shared interests and experiences about identity. This is a wonderful opportunity to grow diversity and inclusion programming for Middle School students. Havergal Middle School students will be invited to join this optional program and meet once a month virtually along with other Middle School students from nearby COSSOT schools (Coalition of Single-sex Schools of Toronto). This initiative has been created as a direct response to student inquiries and requests and is aligned with the Interschool GSA that is already offered to students in Grades 9-12. This group provides a safe and welcoming co-educational environment for students in Toronto Independent Schools. In this space, a variety of issues affecting middle school students can be addressed. Some topics may include friendships, relationships, mental health, parent expectation, sexuality, etc. 

What supervision and support will be provided? 

All discussions are monitored in this virtual environment as one faculty/staff/adult representative from each participating school is required to attend. The meeting is guided by these staff representatives who are responsible for identifying themes and discussion questions based on the needs and interests of the group. Staff and Faculty members also assist with defining and setting boundaries and guidelines for the virtual space, redirecting conversations that may need some guidance, answering questions, keeping the flow of the conversation going, stepping in to support when needed and follow-up with their respective students at school, if needed. 

Who is invited to attend? 

At Havergal, this is an optional program that any Middle School student will have the choice to sign-up for. After learning about this opportunity on Thursday, January 7, Havergal’s Middle School students are first invited to attend an informational meeting on January 11 with Caitlin Parsons, Havergal’s School Social Worker. Then, they may sign up in advance of attending the first interschool meeting which is scheduled for January 21. As a pilot, the schools involved will be Crescent, RSGC, Branksome Hall and St. Clements, and Havergal.

Latest News

Carol Service

Please enjoy our reimagined Carol Service and the program that aligns with the service. Thank you to Cissy Goodridge, Jessica Lloyd, Paul McCulloch, Sara Spigott, Stephanie Bryant, Jennifer Goldberg, Natalie Connelly, Carol Tsang, Marketing and Communications, the Facilities staff, and the students who created this for us to enjoy.

December 9 Parent Webinar Recording

For those of you who were unable to attend the Parent Webinars on Wednesday, December 9th, the recordings are available through the following links:

• Grade 7-9 Parent Webinar Recording
• Grade 10-12 Parent Webinar Recording

Additional Professional Development Day, Monday, February 1, 2021

Please note that in order to complete report cards and prepare for Semester 2, Monday, February 1 is now a Professional Development day. Therefore, Semester 1 will conclude classes on Wednesday, January 27th and students will begin Semester 2 classes on Tuesday, February 2nd. 

Academic Program & Course Selection Information Session – January 13, 2021, 6:30 – 7:30 PM

All parents with children in Grades 7-11 are invited to attend this Parent Webinar to learn about the Academic Program for the 2021-2022 school year followed by grade-specific course selection information. The zoom link will follow closer to the date but please mark your calendars for this event. 

Return to Campus Protocols for January, 2021

We will continue to monitor the recommendations of Toronto Public Health and the Ministry of Education as we plan for a safe return to campus after the December break. We will be in touch over the break if we have updated information to share.

We continue to ask for your cooperation by adhering to Toronto Public Health and the Ministry of Education guidelines. Toronto Public Health has asked that we share this letter with you regarding guidance for the holiday season.

• If your child will not be returning to campus on January 4th due to travel quarantine or other reasons, you are asked to complete this survey. Please feel free to contact the Day School Office (dso@havergal.on.ca) directly should you have additional details to submit related to your child(ren)’s delayed return in January.
• If your child will be away from school for more than 14 days but is able to learn online, please register them as a remote learner using this link.
• If your plans include international travel, please be reminded that you are required to quarantine for 14 days after your return to Canada, as per the Government of Canada Quarantine Act
• Following your quarantine to meet the Ministry of Education guidelines, you must submit a negative Covid-19 test to the school by emailing the test results to the Havergal College Health Center at covid@havergal.on.ca. The test results must be received before the student is permitted on campus.

Latest News

Toronto Public Heath Daily Screening Update

Parents should be advised that today Toronto Public Health (TPH) announced changes to the COVID-19 screening process in schools, to further prevent opportunities for viral spread. TPH requires that students with one or more symptoms associated with COVID-19 must stay home, self-isolate and get tested before returning to school. Additionally, siblings or children in the same household as the symptomatic student will need to stay home and self-isolate while awaiting test results. 

As a result, the Havergal Screening Protocol will mirror these changes effective this Monday, December 7, 2020. See here for What to do if your child has COVID19 symptoms   

Thank you again for adhering to our safety protocols and for your diligence in completing our daily screening tool.

Return to Campus Protocols

As the December break draws near, we are looking ahead and planning for everyone’s safe return to campus on January 4th. In order to best support our students, faculty, and staff, we are asking for your assistance in the following ways.

• If your child will not be returning to campus on January 4th due to travel quarantine or other reasons, you are asked to complete this survey by Friday, December 11th. If your plans change after December 11th, please contact the Day School Office at dso@havergal.on.ca.
• If your plans include international travel, please be aware that you are required to quarantine for 14 days after your return to Canada, as per the Government of Canada Quarantine Act

Following your quarantine to meet Ministry of Education guidelines, you must submit a negative covid-19 test to the school by emailing the test results to the Havergal College Health Center at covid@havergal.on.ca. The test results must be received before the student is permitted on campus.

Parent Webinar Reminder

As we approach the end of the first term, we would like to invite you to a Webinar on Wednesday, December 9. The webinars are grade-based and you are invited to attend the session that is best suited to you.

• Grade 7-9 Parents – Wednesday, December 9 from 6:00 – 6:45 pm
• Grade 10-12 Parents – Wednesday, December 9 from 7:00 – 7:45 pm

The purpose of this event is to:

• Celebrate and communicate some of our student and College-wide accomplishments;
• Reflect upon the College’s top learnings throughout the term; and
• Share important information about health and safety protocols.

Please note that the webinars will be recorded and shared with the community if you are not able to attend.

Grade 7-9 Parent Webinar

Please click the link below to join the webinar:https://havergal.zoom.us/j/97592015594?pwd=dlhRdEJ2a2k2b1JhZEEvNjlJOWs2UT09 Webinar ID: 975 9201 5594 Passcode: 470773

Or iPhone one-tap : Canada: +16473744685,,97592015594#,,,,,,0#,,470773# or +16475580588,,97592015594#,,,,,,0#,,470773#

Or Telephone: Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): Canada: +1 647 374 4685 or +1 647 558 0588 or +1 778 907 2071 or +1 204 272 7920 or +1 438 809 7799 or +1 587 328 1099 or +1 613 209 3054

International numbers available: https://havergal.zoom.us/u/aPABUgSJd

Grade 10-12 Parent Webinar

Please click the link below to join the webinar:https://havergal.zoom.us/j/93540038606?pwd=Y3RzV3JCcFVpcUxwWlhhdG5KSW5hQT09 Webinar ID: 935 4003 8606 Passcode: 470773

Or iPhone one-tap : Canada: +12042727920,,93540038606#,,,,,,0#,,470773# or +14388097799,,93540038606#,,,,,,0#,,470773#

Or Telephone: Dial (for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): Canada: +1 204 272 7920 or +1 438 809 7799 or +1 587 328 1099 or +1 613 209 3054 or +1 647 374 4685 or +1 647 558 0588 or +1 778 907 2071 Webinar ID: 935 4003 8606 Passcode: 470773

International numbers available: https://havergal.zoom.us/u/auBJeondz

Carol Service – December 14

While we are unable to gather in person for our annual carol service at St. Paul’s Bloor Street Anglican Church this year, we will celebrate some of the favourite traditions such as student readers, recorded choir performances, musicians, and soloists. On Monday, December 14th, students will view the prerecorded service during Prayers and parents will receive a video link at 7:00 pm to enjoy the service in the comfort of their home. Please note: students are asked to wear #1 Dress to school on this day.

December Celebrations

As the holiday season approaches the Upper School students are getting into the holiday spirit. 

• The Prefects have initiated a number of fun, holiday-themed activities for the lead-up to Winter Break. These include:
  • The Holiday Gator which acts like an elf on the shelf, hiding in new corners of the Upper School from December 1 – 15th. 
  • The Holiday Kindness Tree, where students can leave kind notes in the form of ornaments on the tree in the Temerty Commons. 
  • The 12 Days of Fitness coordinated by our Sports Prefects. 
  • Holiday tunes will also be heard most mornings as students check in for their daily screening, wrapping up with the Holiday Assembly on December 15th!
• On Thursday, December 10th, our Senior Year Presidents will host a reimagined annual Grad/Staff Holiday Celebration. 
• On Friday, December 11th, our Prefects, House Captains, Senior Year Presidents, and Grade Reps have arranged a holiday treat in the morning! Following that, House Captains and Grade 9 House Reps will be leading a Holiday themed House activity.
• Forms and Cohorts are busy decorating their cohort rooms and perhaps participating in a cohort secret gift exchange. Health and safety protocols are being followed and it is important that any shared items are sanitised properly.
• Tuesday, December 15th, we are having a holiday dress down day and students are invited to dress in their favourite holiday dress. 

Holiday Angels Program

Yesterday marked the last day of our New Circles Holiday Angels Program. A huge thank you for your generous contributions, kindness and support. We raised over $15,000 in gift cards, which will be much appreciated by the organization and those families who will receive them. We have so very much to be grateful for, amidst all of the challenges we have faced this year. This important initiative provides our students and community with the opportunity to reflect on this. Thank you and Happy Holidays!

Havercrest Talent Show

On Friday, December 11th, our Havergal Social Council is excited to present the Havercrest Talent Show for our Senior School students in grades 9-12. Havergal and Crescent have teamed up to showcase student talent from both schools. Students are encouraged to join this virtual event to cheer on their peers, and be entertained by the talent our two schools will have on offer.  Performers have been signed up; and there are still audience spots open for this virtual event. Students have received a sign-up email from GatorBuzz.

Latest News

Covid-19 Updates

Christmas Break

Havergal College will close on Tuesday, December 15 at 4 pm for the Christmas holidays and reopen on Monday, January 4 at 8 am for in-person learning. Havergal will continue to follow directions from the Ministry of Education and will make adjustments to our plans if required. Students who are required to quarantine are able to learn remotely on a temporary basis. Families should notify the DSO of the student’s absence and the student should let their teachers know to expect them on Zoom.

Havergal continues to support the public health requirements as directed by the Ontario Government to limit indoor public social gatherings to members of your household and outdoor gatherings to 10 people while maintaining physical distancing. Students who have not followed the requirements are asked to learn from home for 14 days.

Importance of Cleaning Electronics – Phones and Laptops

The College has been advised by TPH that students should be cleaning electronics and laptops upon arrival at school every day. After arriving at school in the morning, each student should use a 70 percent isopropyl alcohol wipe, Clorox Disinfecting Wipe, or disinfectant spray on a paper towel (provided in each classroom), gently cleaning the hard, non-porous surfaces of the phone or laptop such as the display, keyboard or other exterior surfaces. See here for further information on how to clean your Apple products. 

3-Ply Masks

A three-layered mask is now recommended by the Public Health Agency of Canada to improve protection from COVID-19. 

With increased time indoors as the weather gets colder, we are updating the Havergal mask policy to align with the latest Public Health Agency of Canada recommendations. Please see specific directions for mask use linked here.

The Return to Campus Handbook has been updated to align with changes to health recommendations. The Daily Screening letter is provided here as well for your reference.

Daily Screening

Students must enter the building at their designated time in order to complete the daily screening. If a student is late for school they must enter through the Rotunda Doors and complete their screening with Security. Please remind your child if they are arriving late to school that they must be screened before entry.

Wellbeing from the Guidance Department

Upper School students meet once every four days as a grade with their guidance counsellor and Form Teacher/Cohort Advisor for delivery of the Guidance and Wellbeing curriculum. We have been speaking with students and gathering feedback about their experience thus far and they identify that the material is important and supports their academic success although we all struggle with the COVID restrictions and the need to deliver this program over Zoom at times. Students and parents are able to reference details about these sessions through the Guidance Veracross page, however, we wanted to provide you with an update to let you know what has been accomplished thus far and what is upcoming.

Grades 7 and 8

• Grade 7 and 8 Wellbeing sessions have focused on the development of executive functioning skills as they pertain to planning, organization and time management; discussing our College values with a focus on both self-respect and respect for others; and learning about resilience, stress and the brain, stress management techniques, mindfulness and growth mindset. 
• Most recently, we had a guest speaker from the Youth Wellness Network who spoke about the importance of building confidence, courage, and resilience in order to meet challenges and support our mental health. 
• Next, we will be addressing communication skills, empathy and compassion, course selection for the grade 8s, and revisiting executive functioning and learning skills with the grade 7s. 

Grade 9

• Grade 9 Wellbeing sessions have explored strategies to get to know new peers, building a weekly planner and breaking tasks into chunks and using music as a tool for stress-relief. Students are each contributing to a cohort playlist with a song they find particularly calming. 
• Most recently, we had a speaker from the Youth Wellness Network who spoke about the need to be our “authentic selves.” Students completed a guided meditation and learned other wellbeing strategies such as “noting the good.”
• In the coming weeks, we will be having a “Myth Busting” session on course selection and university admissions. As well, we will be doing an empathic listening activity in cohort groups (on the theme of Covid).

Grade 10

•  Grade 10 Wellbeing sessions have helped students reconnect as a grade after the extended school shut down. Time has been spent exploring the concept of resiliency and how positive social connections, expressing gratitude, and practicing mindfulness can enhance one’s levels of resilience during challenging times.
• Moving forward into December, students will participate in a “Myth Busting” session to clarify questions that they have about university planning, summer school options and planning future pathways.

Grade 11

• Grade 11 Wellbeing sessions began with the review strategies and techniques for managing the increased workload of senior level courses and adjusting to the new pace of the semester system. 
• Moving forward our meetings will continue to review best practices for maintaining mental health throughout the school year. We will  introduce concepts, resources  and information designed to help the students begin to think about their post secondary options. We will be looking at university vocabulary – What is a bachelor’s degree? What is a major/minor? How do I navigate a university website? We will also take a look at the most common misconceptions that surround university admissions policies and practices.

Grade 12

• Grade 12  Wellbeing sessions have been focussed on organizing grads for their university applications. Topics have included how to match interests with programs, how to research admission requirements and averages, what programs are out there, scholarships, application deadlines, special workshops on the UBC application process.
• For the remainder of November and December, workshop topics will include the Queen’s Supplemental Applications for Engineering and Commerce, University of Toronto supplemental information, and The Ivey School of Business application. In January we will shift our focus to transition skills, managing stress, tips on maintaining physical and mental health and how to compare options of university programs.

New Circles Holiday Angels Initiative

Havergal College is extending it’s Community Partnership with New Circles by participating in the Holiday Angels Program, an anonymous gift giving program. New Circles is a not-for-profit agency that builds strong and caring communities by providing basic necessities, employment training, and settlement support to government-assisted refugees and to those living with lower-incomes. All services provided by New Circles operate to promote equity and dignity through their programming. 

The recipients of the Holiday Angels Program range from single individuals to households of up to ten people; many are newcomers to Canada and all are facing multiple challenges.

This year, to prioritize safety, we are asking our community to purchase gift cards for our New Circles families. New Circles will distribute gift cards to families that require extra support this holiday season.  There is no set limit for the gift card amounts, however, a tax receipt is available for all donations above $20 and with an original purchase receipt.

Suggested retailers:

Walmart

Best Buy/Source

Shoppers Drug Mart

President’s Choice

Toys R’ US

Gift cards can be dropped at each Grade Entrance until December 3rd and will be delivered to New Circles on December 4th.

Reminders

Grade 7 Students Applying for Reach Ahead Math

The first of two placement tests will take place during Form on Monday, November 23rd at 12:45 pm. This 40-minute test* is focused on each applicant’s ability to solve problems (in both familiar and unfamiliar contexts) by applying problem-solving strategies that they have already learned and practised in class. No additional studying or practice is required nor will any practice placement test or practice material be provided.

To maintain the comparability and integrity of the placement test, no other time or alternate version will be offered. This placement test is among several assessment criteria that will be examined by the selection committee, e.g., math contests, placement tests, in-class observations and in-class assessments, etc. The selection committee relies on multiple pieces of data so that an application could still be considered in the event that they are unable to complete all of the assessments. Nonetheless, it is recommended that all applicants try their best to complete all assessments to provide as complete a profile as possible.

*Students with learning needs defined within an Individual Education Plan (IEP) such as extra time will be provided with additional time.

School Photographs in Time for The Holidays

If you haven’t had a chance to order your child’s school portraits yet, and would like them for the holiday season, please order them as soon as possible as Canada Post deliveries are taking a little longer than usual. Use this LINK and know that your child’s student number is the password.