It’s been a lovely week of new faces, new classes, and restarting routines. There is excitement in the air for the year ahead, and it’s clear that the first week of school has set the stage.

Take a look below for a list of the articles you will find in this week’s edition of ‘The Weekly’.

Today’s edition of The Weekly contains information on the following: 

UPPER SCHOOL (Gr. 7 – 12)

• Grade 8-12: People & Program Evening: Thursday, September 18, 6 pm
• Drop-Off Instructions
• Reporting Student Attendance Reminders
• Celebration Day & Friday Night Lights
• 2025-2026 Athletics Schedule
• Arts Co-Curriculars Registration Due Sunday, September 7

MIDDLE SCHOOL (Gr. 7 – 8)

• Grade 7 Camp – Monday, September 8, 6:45 am
• Middle School Gator Games: Details and Registration
• Unable to make Grade 7 People & Program Afternoon?

SENIOR SCHOOL (Gr. 9 – 12)

• Try-It Row Information
• In Morning Programming Next Week
• Grade 9 & 12  Camps
• University Information Session: Ivy+
• Grad Rings & Grad Hoodies

HCPA

• HCPA Grade Coffee Mornings
• HCPA General Meeting

REMINDERS

• Sign up for Athletic & Arts Co-Curriculars this week!
• HC-X Digital Microcredentials: Fall Registration Deadline Extended

NEXT WEEK IN THE UPPER SCHOOL

Upper School

Grade 8-12: People & Program Evening: Thursday, September 18, 6 pm

Our US People & Program Evening provides you with an opportunity to meet your child’s teachers and hear an overview of the curriculum for each course. Grade 12 families will also have the opportunity to sit in on a presentation from our university counselling team. You will receive an email with your personalized schedule just prior to this event and the agenda for the evening is linked here.

Drop-Off Instructions

To make your morning drop-off smooth for everyone, please remember to:

• Drive to the end of the driveway. Traffic gets backed up when cars don’t pull all the way forward.
• Drop off on the right. Please only drop students off along the curb closest to the Upper School front steps.
• Be ready to go. Have your student and their belongings ready to exit the car promptly.
• Keep traffic moving. Please don’t park at the curb after drop-off, as this causes significant congestion.
• Follow directions. Our Security team is there to help, so please make eye contact and follow their signals.
• Keep the crosswalk clear. Let pedestrians cross safely.
• Use your turn signal. Signal your intentions to other drivers and our Security team.

Your cooperation ensures a safe and efficient process for our entire school community.

Reporting Student Attendance Reminders

• It is important to communicate your child’s absences with the school.
• Reporting attendance is done directly on the Parent Portal. 
• We recommend you bookmark this link.

Celebration Day & Friday Night Lights

A reminder that Friday, September 26, is Celebration Day (3:30pm) and Friday Night Lights (7pm)!

Mark your calendars, as details and tickets will follow. All students are expected to stay for Celebration Day until 6:15 pm. If your daughter is unable to attend the event please email the appropriate Head of Middle School or Senior School. 

Tickets & wristbands are now on sale.
Click here to get your tickets now! Advance ticket sales will end on Friday, September 19. However, tickets will still be available for purchase at the event.

Calling all parents! Volunteers Needed!
Want to lend a hand and be part of the fun? We need help both before and during the event with ticket sales, working with the students at stations, helping with the BBQ and more.  This is a great way to meet other parents and support our community partners. Sign up here.

Celebration Day Bazaar!
We are reaching out to Old Girls/Alum, parents, past parents, students and staff/faculty with an opportunity to participate in this year’s Bazaar or contribute an experience or prize to our Silent Auction here, it’s a great way to support our Community Partners as all proceeds will go directly to them. There are still a few vendor spots left at the Celebration Day Bazaar. Please email Martha Fell (martha@jaxxandmarbles.com).

2025-2026 Athletics Schedule

The athletic schedule for 2025-2026 is now posted: Us Athletics Schedule 2025-2026. 

Please bookmark this document as it is always the most up to date sports schedule.

Arts Co-Curriculars Registration Due Sunday, September 7

Sign up for this year’s co-curricular arts ensembles by the end of this weekend!
Co-curriculars such as:

• Senior School (SS) Play Cast
• SS Play Crew
• Crescent Play
• Senior Choir
• Chamber Choir
• Senior Orchestra
• Concert Winds
• Symphonic Band
• Dance Troupe. 

Registration can be found via the “Arts Co-curriculars” button in the US Parent Portal.

Middle School

Grade 7 Camp – Monday, September 8, 6:45 am 

What to know for Monday, September 8:

• Drop-off: 6:45 a.m. at the Upper School.
• Return: We’re scheduled to be back at the school at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, September 10. We’ll send an update when we are closer to arriving.
• Medication: Please give any prescription medication to the school nurse in its original, pharmacy-labeled container.
• Phones: A reminder that phones are not permitted at camp.

We’re looking forward to a great time!

Middle School Gator Games: Details and Registration

MS Gator Games is an active and fun event for parents and their children. It is all about connection—bonding with your child, meeting other families, and enjoying playful activities together. The games are designed to be easy, inclusive, and non-competitive so everyone can join in.

Date: Tuesday, September 16, 2025
Timing: 5:45 – 7:30 pm (Games 5:45-6:50 pm, Finger food/awards 6:50-7:30 pm)
Location: Enter through the Athletic Wing Doors
Dress: Active wear
Activities: Benchball, Scavenger Hunt – Full School, Ultimate Chicken (like ultimate frisbee but with a rubber chicken), Disc Golf, Beach Ball Volleyball, Pickleball. *Some events are weather dependent*

REGISTER HERE: https://forms.gle/3ThBXDPktvrk8WJF8
If you have any questions, please email Ms. DiFilippo

Unable to make Grade 7 People & Program Afternoon?

Form and Curriculum Slide decks available here.

Senior School

Try-It Row Information

• The ‘Try-It Row’ program is for any student in Grades 9-12 who is interested in trying out for the rowing team. The program consists of two 2-hour sessions designed to give students a taste of what it is like to be a rower at Havergal.
• The first session is on Sunday. On September 21, at Havergal College from 10:30 – 1:00 pm, students will have the opportunity to try the poolside rowers and participate in a session on an erg (rowing machine). The second session is Sunday, September 28 at Hanlan Boat Club from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm. During this session, students will visit the Havergal boathouse, view our fleet of boats, and (if weather and time permit) sit in a boat on the water.
• If interested, sign up via Fall Athletics Registration: CLICK HERE 

In Morning Programming Next Week

Students will be taking part in grade programming on Monday mornings this year. This programming is designed to incorporate academic strategies and social emotions topics throughout the year. It is also a time for the students to spend time as a grade. On Wednesday, when the 9s and 12s are away at camp we will have a competition between the grade 10s and grade 11s.

Grade 9 & 12 Camp

Drop-off: 
Grade 12: drop off – 6:45 a.m. at the Upper School (dept 7:00 a.m.)
Grade 9: drop off – 7:00 a.m. at the Junior School (dept 7:30 a.m.)

Return: Both groups will return between 2 and 3 p.m. at their departure location

Phones: 
Grade 9 – Phones allowed on the bus; will be stored for students until the bus ride home
Grade 12 – Students will have phones off and away during programming time at camp.

If your child takes prescription medication, we are anticipating that they will handle their own prescription medication administration.  If your child would like assistance with medication administration or reminders about taking medication, please contact Ms. Timusk (Grade 9 Camp) or Ms. Miki (Grade 12 Camp).

University Information Session: Ivy+

On September 9 and September 23, Ivy+ institutions will be hosting  virtual sessions for students and families. Topics will include academic programs, campus activities, student life, admissions policies and financial aid.    

The institutions include Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Princeton University, Stanford University, University of Pennsylvania, and Yale University.

This will be a great opportunity to learn more about US Universities.

Please register below:

• Tuesday, September 9th | 7:00PM ET / 4:00PM PT
• Tuesday, September 23rd | 7:00PM ET / 4:00PM PT

Grad Rings & Grad Hoodies

Grad rings will be distributed on Tuesday, September 16. If your daughter is absent, she will be able to pick up her ring from the Green & Gold shop. 

If your daughter was absent on Friday, September 5 for the Grad Hood distribution, she can find her hoodie in Ms. Timusk’s office. 

Does your Grad need another hoodie?If you wish to purchase another hoodie for your Grad, please complete this form by Thursday, September 18.

HCPA

HCPA Grade Coffee Mornings

Please look out for the HCPA coffee morning invites coming soon. This is a great opportunity to drop in for a quick coffee and chat with other parents in your grade.

HCPA General Meeting

The next HCPA General Meeting is Wednesday, September 10, 8:45 – 10:45 am in the Junior School Dining Room. 

Reminders

Sign up for Athletic & Arts Co-Curriculars this week!

Co-Curricular Athletic registration for the fall term closes Sunday, September 7, 2025 at 4 pm.

CLICK HERE to register for fall tryouts.

Tryouts are Sept. 8 – 19, 2025. Consult the schedule for specific tryout dates/times. There is no follow-up email after registration which lists specific tryout dates or times for your child. Athletes are expected to look at the sports schedule and show up to their first tryout or email coaches if they will be absent.

HC-X Digital Microcredentials: Fall Registration Deadline Extended

There is still time to register your Grade 9-12 student for the PreMedical Studies A: Organic Chemistry and Biology microcredential, in partnership with Harvard Student Agencies. It begins on campus on Monday, September 8th from 4:00-6:00pm.  Registration for Architecture (Oct-May), Contemporary Finance (Oct-May), Artificial Intelligence (Jan 2026) and Future Lawyers (Jan 2026) is also ongoing.
Please see the HC-X Digital Microcredentials site for program information and registration, or contact Adam Caplan, Director of HC-X.

Global Experiences: March 2026 – Vietnam!  

During March Break of 2026, we are excited to offer students the opportunity to take part in a Global Experience trip to Vietnam. More information will be shared with students in the coming weeks about registration. For now please click HERE for more information. If you are interested in learning more please contact Fatima Kaba or Courtney Pickering in the Forum for Change.

Next Week In The Upper School

Monday September 8

• Grade 7 bus departs from Upper School at 7 am (Drop-Off at 6:45 am)

Wednesday September 10

• Grade 9 bus departs from Junior School  – drop off at 7 am  (dept 7:30 am)
• Grade 12 bus departs from Upper School – drop off at 6:45 am (dept 7:00 am)
• Grade 7 bus arrives back to Upper School at 1 pm (Students Dismissed at this time)

Friday September 12

• Grade 9 & 12 buses return between 2 and 3 pm 

A Message from the Heads: Nicole Folkes, Cissy Goodridge, Krista Koekkoek, and Deirdre Timusk

Dear Upper School Families,

I hope this message finds you well and that you and your daughters have had a restful summer. It’s an honour to begin this school year as the new Head of the Upper School at Havergal, and I am so looking forward to the year ahead.

My role is to oversee the Upper School’s daily operations and to support our incredible administrative and faculty team. More importantly, with Cissy Goodridge (Head of MS), Deirdre Timusk (Head of SS) and Nicole Folkes (Head of Boarding), we’re here to cultivate a school culture where every student feels a strong sense of belonging. We are committed to ensuring that your daughters feel known, valued, cared for and have access to the resources they need to thrive.

I believe that our partnership is essential to your daughter’s success, and I’m eager to get to know you and your family. Together, we can make this a truly wonderful and memorable year for our students.

The ‘Weekly’, this newsletter, will come to your inbox every Friday. It is a key communication tool to know what is going on to contribute to that partnership. Wishing you all the best for a smooth start to the school year!

Warmly,
Krista

Upper School

Celebration Saturday & Friday Night Lights: Friday, September 26

Mark your calendars for Friday, September 26 — you’re invited to two exciting HC community events!

Join us for Celebration Day from 3:30 to 6:30 pm, where our whole community will come together in support of our cherished community partners. Experience our school’s vision and mission in action through House-run games, fun activities, a lively Bazaar, BBQ and Silent Auction.

Interested in contributing to the Bazaar or donating to the Silent Auction? Click here to learn how you can get involved.

Tickets & wristbands will go on sale in mid-September, so be sure to check back here for the purchase link!

Friday Night Lights takes place directly after Celebration Day.  Kicking off at 7 pm, this special event will feature a competitive soccer match against Branksome Hall, and is open to all US students, parents, past parents, Old Girls/Alums and community members. Join us to cheer on the Gators, have a bite to eat and enjoy a beer in the 19+ Beer Tent. All proceeds will go toward Havergal’s Ahead of the Game campaign. Junior School students are also welcome to come with their parents. We hope you can come out and show your support!

Fall Athletics and Arts Co-Curricular Programming

Registration for Fall Athletics and Arts Co-curricular programming is open and will CLOSE Sunday, September 7th at 4 pm. Please click here to begin registration. If you need help, or a reminder, please watch this video that will walk you through the process.

Please note that students may attend tryouts/practices only if permission has been given during this registration period via Veracross. 

For Athletics:

• Students may register to try out for TWO teams only (this does not include Coach Mentor, Yoga, Tennis Training or Try-It Rowing) – please consult with your child/children to confirm the two teams that they would like to try out for before you complete the online registration.

• Fall Tryout Schedule – The tryout schedule is linked here and can be found on Veracross. The season schedule will be finalized on Sept.11. When you click on the link below, make sure you are looking at the first tab – “FALL 2025.” 

• HAVERGAL TRACK JACKET or ¼ ZIP SWEATER: All students on a Havergal team must wear either the Nike track jacket or the Havergal ¼ zip to all games. Athletic clothing will be given out during uniform distribution days. Please write your child’s name on the clothing item as many students will have the same apparel. If your child participated in a fall sport, they likely already have one of these items. 

For Clubs:

• Registration for clubs (community and competitive) will begin on September 25.

If you are having trouble with the registration process or have additional questions, please email Director of Athletics, Carla Di Filippo or the Director of Arts, Matthew Varey or watch the video!

Need Help When Submitting Attendance or Registering for Co-curriculars?

We are happy to walk you through our Parent Portal! Together with the Directors of Arts & Athletics, we have put together this short video that will take you through the registration process for tryouts and how to submit attendance.

A Reminder To Submit Your Child’s Health Information 

Please complete your child’s Vital Health Record in the Magnus Health Portal to ensure the following information is accurate and updated: health history and conditions, allergies, history of concussions, dietary restrictions and administration of medications from Health Centre nurses. Parents are responsible for updating the school on any changes in your child’s health status throughout the year by updating information in the Magnus Health Portal. 

In accordance with Havergal College’s Conditions of Enrolment, parents are required to ensure that their child’s immunization record is up to date and has been submitted to Toronto Public Health (TPH) via the Toronto Public Health Immunization Connect webpage. Immunization records are not kept by Havergal; parents are able to access these records through Toronto Public Health. The Health Centre will assist Boarding students in updating their immunizations.

Student Support 

Navigating adolescence can be challenging. At Havergal, we believe that the proactive and relational support of all students contributes to their overall wellbeing and ability to thrive in all areas of their lives. Students have access to a wide range of support to help them explore their future pathways, their social-emotional development, and their learning skills. 

A full description of Havergal’s student support can be found in the Family Handbook.

The student support team is comprised of:

Role	Support Available
Form Teacher (for MS) & Teacher Advisors (TA) (for SS)	See your child daily, and can support with day-to-day questions and weekly preparations. First point of contact for questions regarding your child’s experience at Havergal.
Guidance Counsellors	Guidance can support students with course selection, timetable updates, pathway planning (university, career), and social-emotional concerns (relationships, conflict, identity, grief, etc.) Guidance Counsellors and information on course change requests is linked here.
Learning Support Specialists	Support students with an Individual Education Plan.Grades 7-9 Learning Support Specialists are also their Guidance Counsellors (see above link).Grades 10-12 Learning Support Specialist: Jasmine Luk.
Social Workers	Havergal has a registered Social Worker available to students for short-term therapeutic counselling who can assist with referral to external community supports.School Social Worker: Caitlin Parsons.
Health Centre	The Health Centre is open from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm and is proactive and responsive to all aspects of student health.Manager of the Health Centre & Lead Nurse: Kayla Kanner.
Chaplain	The Chaplain is available to students, staff and parents to support any pastoral needs that may arise. Chaplain: Rev. Jillian Ruch.

Global Experiences: March 2026 – Vietnam!  

During March Break of 2026, we are excited to offer students the opportunity to take part in a Global Experience trip to Vietnam. This journey will invite students to explore Vietnam’s rich history, vibrant culture, and stunning landscapes, while deepening their understanding of global citizenship. Through immersive experiences, hands-on learning, and meaningful connections, students will gain new perspectives of the world around and themselves.

More information will be shared with students in the coming weeks about registration. For now please click HERE for more information. If you are interested in learning more please contact Fatima Kaba or Courtney Pickering in the Forum for Change.

Save the Date for Carol Service: Wednesday, December 10, 7 pm

Please save the date for the annual Carol Service!

This signature community event is a wonderful evening to share with your family. All Upper School students are expected to attend, so please mark this evening on your calendars and avoid scheduling other commitments. You can get a feel for the beautiful music we’ll enjoy by watching this video. 

Coming Soon – Automatic Payment for Student Billing

Havergal is pleased to introduce Automatic Payment for Student Billing through VC Pay-AutoPay. This new service conveniently eliminates the need to pay bills each month manually and helps avoid late payment fees and missed payments.  VC Pay is an automatic payment system integrated with Stripe, where parents register their payment information and authorize the college to automatically withdraw payment for Tuition and/or school fees on a set schedule.  Please click here for more information.

Community Involvement Hours Update

We are excited to share that we have moved to a digital process for submitting Community Involvement Hours. 

Students will now be required to complete a new digital Community Involvement Form, which must be uploaded directly to Veracross for submission. This transition will ensure more efficient and accurate tracking of student hours. 

Instructions on how to submit hours can be found in the following locations: 

• Student Portal: On the home page under the green button labelled “Community Involvement” 
• Parent Portal: Navigate to “Upper School” > “Student Life” > “Community Involvement” 

If you have any questions please reach out to Brittney Dos Santos.

Middle School

Digital Device Reminders

As we begin the school year with our new digital device policy, please review the following diagram with your child before they arrive to school on Tuesday or Wednesday:

Grade 7 Camp Information

Students will depart from the Senior School as per the schedule below. You will receive an email once the buses have arrived at camp and again when we have departed the camp, with their anticipated arrival time at Havergal. 

Grade 7 parents: If you have not done so already, please complete and submit this waiver for Campfire Circle Camp. 

 Please find a packing list here. If you have any questions, please reach out to Cissy Goodridge 

Please remember to update Magnus with your child’s health information. If a student has not done so by Sept 3, they will be taken off the roster to attend the camp. 

Save the date: Middle School Gator Games, Tuesday, September 16, 5:30 – 7:30 pm

Sport prefects, Emma and Izzy, Sports Council members, Ms. Di Filippo and Ms. Goodridge are thrilled to host you at the 2025 Middle School Gator Games. Join us for a fun-filled parent–child event where you and your child can team up to compete in a variety of games. The evening concludes with a BBQ and plenty of opportunities to connect with other families in your child’s grade. Be sure to save the date, we can’t wait to see you there!

Date: Tuesday, September 16, 2025, 5:30-7:30pm

More information including registration details will be in next week’s The Weekly.

Senior School

Grade 9 and 12: Fall Camp Information – Wednesday, September 10 to Friday, September 12

We are so excited to take our students away to camp this fall once again! Students will depart from both the Junior School and the Upper School as per the schedule below.  

Please find a packing list here.  If you have any questions please reach out to Deirdre Timusk.

Grade 12 parents: If you have not done so already please complete and submit this waiver for Campfire Circle Camp. 

Grade	Departure	Return
9	Wednesday, September 10 at 7:30 am – Junior School  (drop off 7:00 am)	Friday, September 12 at Junior School Approximately 2:30 pm
12	Wednesday, September 10 at 7:00 am – Upper School (drop off at 6:45)	Friday, September 12 at Upper School Approximately 3:00 pm

Please remember to update Magnus with your child’s health information. If a student has not done so by Sept 3, they will be taken off the roster to attend the camp. 

Digital Device Use for Senior School Students

As we begin the school year, please review the following diagram with your daughter before she arrives at school next week. 

	Allowed in dining areas during lunch?	Allowed in other areas of school during lunch?	Allowed in class?	Allowed during spares anywhere in school
Smartwatch	Notifications OFF	Notifications OFF	Notifications OFF	Notifications OFF
Smartphone	Not permitted	Not permitted	Not permitted	Not permitted
Tablet/Laptop	Not permitted	YES	YES — notifications OFF	YES

HC-X Digital Microcredentials: Fall Registration Deadline Extended

There is still time to register your Grade 9-12 student for the PreMedical Studies A: Organic Chemistry and Biology microcredential, in partnership with Harvard Student Agencies. It begins on campus on Monday, September 8th from 4:00-6:00pm. Remaining seats will be available until Thursday, September 4 at 4pm. 

Registration for Architecture (Oct-May), Contemporary Finance (Oct-May), Artificial Intelligence (Jan 2026) and Future Lawyers (Jan 2026) is also ongoing.

Unfortunately, the fall sessions of Entrepreneurship & Design Thinking and Future Lawyers (Fall 2025) have been cancelled due to low enrollment. 

Please see the HC-X Digital Microcredentials site for program information and registration, or contact Adam Caplan, Director of HC-X. 

Reminders

Detailed Opening Week Schedule

The details of the opening week schedule may be found below. During Opening Day, students will spend time getting to know their Teacher Advisor, their school leaders and each other. They will also have their school photos taken, learn about our community expectations and attend important grade-level meetings. Please click on the relevant link below to learn more about the schedule for that day. 

• Grade 7 and New to Grade 8
• Returning Grade8
• Grade 9 
• Grade 10 
• Grade 11 
• Grade 12

Save the Date! Grade 8-12: People & Program Evening, Thursday, September 18, 6 pm

Our US People & Program Evening provides you with an opportunity to meet your child’s teachers and hear an overview of the curriculum for each course. The event will be held in person. Full details may be found in the link above. You will receive an email with your personalized schedule just prior to this event.

Next Week In The Upper School

Tue Sept 2            New-to-the-Upper School Student Orientation Day
Grade 7 People and Program 2pm – 4:30

Wed Sept 3          Opening Day – all students
Pizza lunch for Middle School students included (MS)
                           BBQ lunch for Senior School students included (SS)

Thu Sept 4            8:30 am Classes begin – Day 1                     

Fri Sept 5             Grad Family Breakfast 7:30 am – 9:00 am
                            9:30 am Classes begin – Day 2 (late start on Fridays)