Upper School College Blog – Friday, February 4, 2022

On By Havergal Upper SchoolLeave a comment

Dear Parents,

The last few weeks have been an exciting time for students and faculty as much of the regular co-curricular programming has resumed. Teams are practicing and are eager to begin inter-school competitions, clubs are meeting in person and providing engaging activities for their members, and councils. Affinity and Alliance groups are back to meeting in person to discuss ideas and plan activities within their respective portfolios. It is an encouraging and positive direction to be moving in and we are grateful for all of the work going on behind the scenes by faculty and staff to ensure we are providing the best programming possible while maintaining strong health and safety protocols.

On Thursday, we welcomed Toks Ayinla in Prayers who encouraged our Grade 7-12 students to follow their own greatness journey. Her message was one to inspire our students to take their own unique path to become the very best version of themselves. Through this journey she encourages us to exist in a brave space as opposed to a safe space as personal growth and greatness exists in the brave zone, not the safe zone. We encourage you to speak with your child about this message and how they are taking steps to work outside of their safe zone and move into the bravery zone.  

The US Blog contains information and updates on the following: 

Sincerely,

JJ Patterson, Head of Middle School

Deirdre Timusk, Head of Senior School

Latest News

Semester 1 Report Card – Monday, February 7

Please see this letter to learn more about the Semester 1 final report card which will be available to parents and students on Monday, February 7 at 4 pm.

People & Program Evening for Semester 2 Courses – February 10, 2022

We look forward to seeing you at the Semester 2 People and Program Evening on Thursday, February 10 at 6:30 pm. It is your opportunity to meet your child’s Grade Lead/Guidance Counselor, and Subject Teachers who are teaching courses starting in Semester 2. 

In order to have the best possible experience at the upcoming event, it is required that you have a Zoom account and it is strongly recommended that your application be updated to the latest version. The following information and links have been provided by our IT department for your use:

An information page containing your child’s Semester 2 teachers and their zoom links will be sent to you on Tuesday, February 8.

Accessing Classes Via Zoom – Update starting February 22, 2022

Starting Tuesday, February 22, 2022, accessing classes via Zoom will only be available for students isolating due to COVID-19 or those with a medical/visa accommodation.

  • If a student is away due to COVID-19 isolation, families should communicate this to the school by putting a note/reason in SchoolPass that says “isolating.” It might take up to 24hrs for teachers to make their Zoom links available to a student depending on when we get the information. Assessments will be written in-person unless the teacher requests otherwise. 
    • As a reminder, the chart below illustrates which symptoms require a student to stay home and isolate. Isolation is also required for 5 days should a student or anyone they live with, test positive for COVID-19.

  • If students are going to be away for longer than 5 days, please contact your child’s Head of School to discuss the situation. Extended absences will include access to class materials on Veracross and asynchronous work only. Access to zoom links will not be permitted.
  • If a student is unable to attend school in person because they have a medical exemption or a visa issue, students are placed in the remote cohort with access to class via zoom and other remote learning supports. Families in this situation should email the appropriate Head of School to ensure those remote learning supports are in place for their child. 

Invitation: Grade 7-11 Leadership Webinar for Parents – February 16 – 6:30 pm

Parents with children in Grades 7-11 are invited to a webinar on Wednesday, February 16 to learn more about the leadership opportunities available in the Upper School. To help us prepare, we invite you to put your questions into this anonymous google form.

Faculty Update: JJ Patterson, Head of Middle School

It is with equal parts joy and sadness that we share that JJ Patterson has been appointed the Assistant Head of School, Director of the Upper School at St. Anne’s School for the 2022-2023 school year.

JJ joined Havergal in 2011 and in her time here she has been a passionate teacher, coach, Department Head of Health and Physical Education, and Head of the Middle School. As Department Head, JJ led the Health & Physical Education team for two years with a unique combination of strengths and innovative ideas, drawing on her experiences as a high performance athlete and coach. A leader who encourages and values collaboration, she focused on growing the department and cultivating an enthusiastic and mutually supportive team.

JJ has guided the Middle School since the fall of 2013. She is passionate about all things Middle School – whether it is supporting new students, planning excursions, working with the Middle School council and Form teachers, or braving the Middle School hallway during class changeover – her goal has always been to ensure that students have the best possible experience at Havergal.

Please join us in congratulating JJ and wishing her all the best at St. Anne’s next year.

Spirit Week – February 14 – 17

Spirit Week is a great way for students to get involved with school spirit and participate with their grade. Each grade competes as a team in various competitions such as trivia, benchball and a cheer-off. There is a daily dress-down theme for each day of the week and the Clubs and Spirit Prefects and Grade Spirit Reps have many exciting events planned! 
Part of Spirit Week includes our beloved Hockey Day, which is confirmed for Tuesday, February 15, 2022 at Mattamy Athletic Centre. We are excited to watch our senior hockey team battle it out for the Hewitt Cup. The puck will drop at 1:00 pm and there will be a livestream link available for families and friends to join in on the fun. Let’s go Gators!!

COSSOT Updates

  • We are in talks with Crescent to have our students connect in-person before we leave for March Break. Stay tuned for more details!
  • There will be a virtual Talent Show coming Friday, February 25 with Crescent. 

In addition, Relay for Life will be held on April 28 at Upper Canada College. BSS, Branksome, RSGC, Crescent and Havergal will be participating. We hope that you will support the teams that sign up to help raise funds for the Canadian Cancer Society.

Drop-off and pick-up

  • Ensure that you pull up as far forward as possible when you are dropping at the Upper School.
  • Continue to stop only on the east side of the laneway 
  • Follow the directions of our amazing security team 

During pick-up you may wait on the west side of the laneway as well (but not during drop off).

Allergen Aware Reminder

Several Havergal students, faculty and staff have life threatening allergies. Havergal College exercises reasonable care to ensure that all persons are safe; however, the school cannot assume responsibility for providing a completely allergen-free environment. In order to provide a safe learning environment at the College, all members of the Havergal community will make best efforts not to bring products containing peanuts or any kind of nut, including traces of peanuts or nuts, to the College (whether on the premises or during excursions). If families are baking or buying items for College events they must make best efforts not to bring products containing nuts. Please read the Anaphylaxis Policy to learn more.

Veracross Unavailable this Saturday Evening

Veracross will be performing urgent maintenance on Saturday, Feb 5 from 8pm to 10pm EST. During this maintenance window, all portals and functions will be offline.

Covenant House

Alongside the Period Project currently being run by the Senior School Student Council, there is a personal care product drive for Covenant House being led by Sloane P. in Grade 7. As part of their extensive programming for homeless youth, Covenant House provides hygiene and feminine products to support young women who need immediate shelter and who are transitioning to stable housing. In order to support this initiative, all students are encouraged to bring new personal care products such as shampoo, conditioner, soap, deodorant, combs, brushes, toothbrushes, soap, pads and tampons. Drop off locations can be found in various locations around the Upper School. Your support is greatly appreciated!

News from the Green & Gold

Middle School and Senior School students are welcome to pick up completed orders at the shop Monday through Friday, from 3:30 pm – 4:00 pm.

Dates on the Horizon

Feb 7: Red & White Dress Down Day for Team Canada 

(or students can choose to celebrate their country of choice)

Feb 7 at 4pm:   Report Cards available to parents/students via Veracross

Feb 14 – 17: Spirit Week (no uniform – dressing up encouraged! See the chart for more info!)

Feb 15: Hockey Day! 

Feb 16 @ 6:30: pm Grade 7-11 Parent Webinar on Student Leadership

Feb 18 – 21: Mid-Term Break

Feb 23: Pink Shirt Day – students are invited to “dress down” in pink!

Mar 11 – 27: (inclusive) March Break

Photos from the Week

Period Products in the Washrooms

More Amazing Art from Our Students

Lunar New Year Prayers

Upper School College Blog – Friday, January 21, 2022

On By Havergal Upper SchoolLeave a comment

Dear Parents,

It has been an eventful few weeks, capped off with an unprecedented two day “snow day” in Toronto. Even though we were all at home, our Havergal students pivoted effortlessly and continued to work on both school work and their co-curricular projects. Please read on to see what these amazing students have been up to! 

In this edition 

Sincerely,

JJ Patterson, Head of Middle School

Deirdre Timusk, Head of Senior School

Latest News

Sharing COVID-19 Data

We will be posting a daily update about COVID-19 positive cases (rapid antigen and PCR), that are reported to the College through Thrive Health. The data will be identified by cohort and will include the student’s last known date on campus. Updates will be posted to the Parent portal under the Parent Resources area on the link named “Thrive Test Reporting.”

The information for Thursday, January 20, 2022 can be found here. Note that only cases after January 10, 2022 are reported here, and that last dates on campus in December are approximations, as the Upper School was in remote learning.

Major Dates Calendar

The Major Dates Calendar for the 2022-2023 school year is linked here. We have looked strategically at the planning for Professional Development days and have aligned them with holidays when there is a natural synergy with family time as well as what works well for faculty professional development. 

Semester Change Over: January 27-31, no classes

Semester 1 ends on Wednesday, January 26th at 3:30 pm. Students are off school on January 27 through Janaury 31 inclusive as teachers are writing report cards and preparing for the beginning of the new semester. Classes resume for Semester 2 on Tuesday, February 1st. It will be a Day 2 on the rotation schedule.

Student Life Updates

Virtual Speakers in Class

While being online has drawbacks,  it has allowed us to access speakers for our students who might be located in another part of the world. Just in the past week our grade 12 politics classes had the pleasure of  hearing from former MP Celina Caesar-Chavannes. She spoke to our students about transformative leadership and the importance of knowing our values and beliefs clearly in order to lead with empathy and courage. “Don’t just do what is easy – do what is right.” Our media arts classes heard from Louie Palu, an award winning Canadian documentary filmmaker known for covering social-political issues, including war and human rights. His work has been published in the National Geographic Magazine, The New York Times, The Washington Post Magazine, The Guardian, Der Spiegel, and El Pais. Another photographer, filmmaker and storyteller,  Jenny Jay, CEO of The Double Jay Collective came and spoke to our Communications class as well. 

Period Project Launched

The Student Council revealed the plans for the Period Project. They have designed a pilot project to bring free, emergency menstrual products into the washrooms for our students in both the Junior School and the Upper School. There will be an educational component as well as a drive for donations for feminine products for Covenant House, spearheaded by Sloane in Grade 7. Stay tuned for more details. Thank you to our Student Council: Hannah H, Irene C, Kirsten GS, Natasha S, Lulu D, Lara C, Kaitlyn D, Leah A, Claire R, Hannah I, Hana N, Katie S for all their hard work. 

Covenant House: Personal Care Products Drive – Starts Monday, January 24

Alongside the Period Project, there is a personal care product drive for Covenant House being led by Sloane P. in Grade 7. As part of their extensive programming for homeless youth, Covenant House provides hygiene and feminine products to support young women who need immediate shelter and who are transitioning to stable housing. In order to support this initiative, all students are encouraged to bring new personal care products such as shampoo, conditioner, soap, deodorant, combs, brushes, pads and tampons. Drop off locations can be found in various locations around the Upper School. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Course Selection Help for Grade 8s

With course selection coming for our Grade 8 students, the older students worked hard to support them. Over 25 Upper School students worked with the MS Guidance counsellors to create videos for each of the many electives that students will be choosing. Take a look at one of the videos advertising the art elective by Emily N. These videos are all on the Grade 8 Guidance section  of your child’s Veracross page.  Thank you to Lillian W, Kovi Z, Noor H, Joella L, Eve U, Ella C, Madison C, Naomi M, Asiya M, Khushi S, Shirley R, Olivia Z, Katie C, Catharine C, Kelly W, Karishma K, Frances B, Olivia M, Zoe S, Chelsea T, Mackenzie L, Grace L, Erin H, Hillary S.

Tea Party

The Prefects hosted a Tea Party for their fellow students. Over 60 students attended this event. School Captain, Marley M said, “The Zoom Tea Party provided a virtual opportunity for students from Grades 7-12 to discuss course selection, leadership, and student life. There were great fascinators and great tea selections, but most importantly, there were great conversations!” It was a great opportunity for students in different grades to connect with each other. 

Ordering Lunch: Chartwell’s Form

For the week of January 31, you are invited to submit your lunch orders by Wednesday, January 26 at 12 noon: Chartwell’s Order Form

Dates on the Horizon

Jan 24 – Feb 18: Personal Care Products Drive for Covenant House

Jan 27, 28, 31: No classes – semester change over

Jan 27 – February 8: Online re-enrolment 

February 1: Semester 2 begins

February 7: Full Report Card available at 4 pm via Veracross

Feb 10: Semester 2: People & Program Evening (6:30 pm)

Feb 18 – Feb 21 (inclusive): Mid-Term Break

March 11 – 27 (inclusive): March Break

Upper School College Blog – Friday, January 7, 2022

On By Havergal Upper SchoolLeave a comment

Dear Parents,

We had hoped that our first blog of the new year would be reflecting on a wonderful first week back, complete with pictures of students happily engaged in life on campus. We would all much rather be with your children in person, teaching and learning together. But circumstances dictate we must temporarily adjust our expectations. Please remember that your child is not going through this alone, and has the ability and the resources to get through this together with their classmates and teachers. This podcast, from Dr. Lisa Damour, also has some great strategies to help boost the mental health of everyone in your family.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to either of us or your child’s guidance counsellor if you have any questions about the Continuous Learning Plan or concerns about how your child is faring. We are happy to be a sounding board and are eager to connect and support both you and your child. As mentioned in the parent presentation this week, there are two additional social workers available to meet with virtually. In addition to Ms. Kitson we have contracted Mrs. Watkis and Ms. Rezaei who are able to meet with students.

This week’s Blog contains information and updates on the following: 

Sincerely,

JJ Patterson, Head of Middle School

Deirdre Timusk, Head of Senior School

Latest News

Planning for the 2022-2023 Academic Year – School Schedule

For next year, we will be returning to a non-semestered schedule of eight classes over two days.

  • A team of teachers met during the fall to review feedback on past schedules, research on scheduling, and looked at different schedules from many schools to propose a schedule for Grades 7-12 for the fall of 2022.  
  • The goals were to provide predictability and consistency to the schedule; to try to slow down the pace of the day; to build community through regular activities
  • After weighing the costs and benefits to a semestered versus a non-semestered schedule for all students, it was determined that a non-semestered schedule was the appropriate choice to slow down the pace of classes, and to provide more time to build relationships with teachers and peers. The only exception will be to continue to semester MHF4U and MCV4U (Grade 12 Advanced functions and Calculus) which have run every day for the past 10 years in a semestered model. 
  • An eight-day rotation schedule allows all the blocks to occupy each period to ensure no block is disadvantaged by early dismissals or special schedules. This schedule will be similar to the schedule that we have had prior to Covid
  • If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to Seonaid Davis, VP of Teaching and Learning.

Grade 8 – 11 Academic Program & Course Selection Information Session

Grade 8 – 11 parents are invited to learn more about the planning for the upcoming academic year at the Academic Program and Course Selection Information Session on Wednesday, January 12 @ 6:30 pm.

The session will begin at 6:30pm in a Zoom Webinar with an introduction and overview of the academic program. Parents will then be invited to Grade based Zoom meetings to learn more about course selection for each particular grade. Each session will be recorded and emailed to families the next day.

Zoom links for the evening can be found here.
For next year, we will be returning to a non-semestered schedule of eight classes over two days.  On balance it was decided that this was the best schedule for our students to slow down the pace of classes and to build in more time for connection with peers and teachers.

Grade 7 Parents: Reach Ahead Math Information Night – Thursday, January 13

In December, Grade 7 Parents received an invitation via email from JJ Patterson, Head of Middle School, inviting them to an information session via Zoom to explain the various math options that begin for our students in Grade 8. If you or your child are interested in Reach Ahead Math in Grade 8, this is an important session for you to attend. We hope you will be able to join us but if not, the recording and slide deck will be shared with all Grade 7 Parents following the event.

Grade 7 Parent: Reach Ahead Math Information Night ZOOM link

Webinar ID: 894 7409 1449

Passcode: 202254

Reporting Attendance While Remote

If your child will be absent and unable to attend class during this period of remote learning, please report that absence through the SchoolPass app. If you need assistance with using the SchoolPass app, please refer to this document. Thank you for your ongoing assistance and cooperation.

Rapid Antigen Screening Program

As you know, all students will be participating in the Rapid Antigen Screening Program (RASP), once we are back on campus. The rapid antigen tests will be distributed when we return to in-person schooling on January 17th and additional information will be available at that time.

Virtual Student Life

All students, from JK -12, will be participating in a House Step Challenge from Monday, January 10th to Friday, January 14th. Please encourage your child to take every opportunity to get out of the house and get their steps in! 

The Prefects will also be hosting a tea party for students in grade 7-12 next Thursday at 4 pm. Please know that all student life virtual events are entirely optional for students.

Dates on the Horizon

Wednesday, Jan 12 6:30 pm: Grade 8-11 Parents: Course Selection Information – Virtual 

Thursday, Jan 13 7:00 pm: Grade 7 Parents: Reach Ahead Math Information Night – Virtual

Friday, Feb 4 5:00 pm: Course Selections are due – Grade 8-11

Thursday, Feb 10 6:30 pm: Semester 2 People & Program Evening

Reminders

Pre-Ordering Lunch for the Week of January 17

In order to pre-order your child’s lunch for the week of January 17th, please access the same Google Form as per usual. It is active now and will remain open until Thursday, January 13th. If we are in the unfortunate situation where the government extends this period of remote learning, all orders placed for the week of January 17th will be cancelled automatically.

Upper School College Blog – Friday, December 10, 2021

On By Havergal Upper SchoolLeave a comment

Dear Parents,

It’s a busy time of the year. This past week we were treated to an amazing concert from our Symphonic Band, our Grade 9 Band, and our Orchestra. Our winter sports teams are well underway with over 27 teams starting regular practices, and the Senior School play has started rehearsals. In addition to the Grade 12 PJ day and breakfast, students have decorated cookies, sent candy grams, participated in secret gift exchanges, and added notes to our Kindness Tree. To top it all off, all students have been learning the carols in anticipation of the Carol Service next week.

Finally, the past few weeks have brought us a true feeling of winter. While the first snowfall is always exciting it is even more amazing to see it through the eyes of someone seeing it for the first time on campus. Please enjoy this short video created by Jessica G, a new Grade 10 boarder who experienced her first Toronto snowfall last week and recorded it while walking on our beautiful 33-acre campus. 

The Upper School College Blog contains information and updates on the following: 

Latest News:

Sincerely,

JJ Patterson, Head of Middle School

Deirdre Timusk, Head of Senior School

Latest News

Carol Service

Carol Service is coming on Wednesday, December 15!  

  • Further information including the streaming link will be sent on Monday, December 13. Please note that both services will be streamed and recorded and the recordings will be shared with families after the event. 
  • Grade 7 -10 students will be having their Carol Service on Wednesday, December 15 at 2pm in the Brenda Robson Hall. Parents of the performers and readers are welcome to join us in-person. Those invited to attend in person have already received an invitation from Cissy Goodridge.
  • Grade 11 & 12 students and two family member guests are invited to join us in-person at 7 pm on Wednesday, December 15, 2021, in the Brenda Robson Hall. 
  • If you are attending the service in person:
    • Please aim to arrive at least 45 minutes before the service to allow time for entering the building. The main doors will be locked ten minutes before the service begins. If you arrive later than that, please use one of the other doors to enter the building. 
    • If you did not receive your COVID-19 vaccines in Ontario please double check this link to ensure you are considered fully vaccinated in Ontario. 
    • Please do your screening before you arrive and enter through your designated door. 
    • Details along with your screening link will be sent to you via email from Cissy Goodridge the morning of Wednesday, December 15. 

Travelling Over the Break

We’d like to remind families that if you are travelling over the holidays and your child is required to quarantine following your travel, they should contact their teachers via email and they will be able to access their classwork through Veracross. Teachers and Guidance Counsellors will be accessible and supportive but students will not be able to Zoom into class.

Grade 7 Parents: Reach Ahead Math Information Night, Thursday, January 13

Earlier this week, Grade 7 Parents received an invitation via email from JJ Patterson, Head of Middle School, inviting them to an information session via Zoom on Thursday, January 13 at 7 pm to explain the various math options that begin for our students in Grade 8. If you or your child are interested in Reach Ahead Math in Grade 8, this is an important session for you to attend. Please refer to the email for additional details and the Zoom link. We hope you will be able to join us but if not, the recording and slide deck will be shared with all Grade 7 Parents following the event.

Grade 8 – 11 Parents: Course Information Night, Wednesday, January 12

All parents with children in Grades 8-11 are invited to attend Zoom Webinar on Wednesday, January 12 from 6:30 – 8:00 pm to learn about the Academic Program for the 2021-2022 school year followed by grade-specific course selection information. Please save the date and stay tuned to additional details coming in the new year. 

Green & Gold Shop

Today was the last day to pick up any unclaimed orders. Any held items will be returned to the store stock and student accounts will be credited. If you are unsure if you have an outstanding order please email Margie Fleming at mfleming@havergal.on.ca.

Retirement of Cathy Atkinson

In January of 2022, after almost 32 years of outstanding service, Cathy Atkinson will be joining her husband Glenn in blissful retirement as she begins her next exciting chapter of life. Cathy started at Havergal College in 1989 as the Evening Receptionist and in 1991 moved to the position of Guidance Administrative Assistant where she has been a formidable presence, always knowing what to do, the ever calm voice at the helm of the guidance office both figuratively and literally. Cathy’s warm personality, institutional and guidance administrative knowledge is unmatched and her retirement, though wonderful for her, leaves us the poorer. Alongside her knowledge of her own role, Cathy has been the leading organizer behind Awards Day and our beautiful graduation ceremonies for many years. We want to thank Cathy for her incredible contributions to the thousands of families and students of Havergal College whose lives she has touched. We wish her every happiness in the future. 

Back in Business with Crescent

This past weekend 16 Grade 11 and 12 Havergal students competed in a business case competition at Crescent School. It was the first time in almost two years the two schools had officially met in person for an academic event. Students deliberated over a case for three hours and then presented via zoom to a panel of expert judges. The winners were:

  • Pool A: Team 3A (Luke Hilborn, Sophie Hodgson, Matthew Overvelde and Avery Southam)
  • Pool B: Team 2B (Taylor Johnson, Shay Kothari, Eamonn Lay and Katie Stock)
  • Pool C: Team 3C (Matthew Chen, Sarah Cooke, Carys Doyle and Cameron Oland)

It was great to see everyone out at this event and we hope to participate in more events like this in the future. Thank you to all the volunteer judges who helped make this day a success.  

Flamingo Feet

We’re proud to let you know that Grade 7 student, Shreya G., has written a children’s book called Flamingo Feet. 100% of the proceeds of this book go towards charity and during the month of December, all proceeds raised by the sales of her book will be donated to SickKids Foundation. Outside the month of December, the proceeds go towards an education charity that helps young girls to attend school in developing countries. If you are interested to learn more and/or purchase a copy for yourself, Flamingo Feet is available for purchase at Indigo.ca, Amazon.ca, Amazon.com, & Barnes and Noble.

Dates on the Horizon

Wednesday, Dec 15: Carol Service

Grades 7-10: 2 pm (grade 7-10 students and invitees only)

Grades 11-12:  7 pm (grade 11 & 12 students, parents, and invitees only)

Dec 16 – Jan 3 (inclusive): School Closed for Christmas Holidays

Thursday, Dec 16: Boarding School closes at noon

Monday, Jan 3: Boarding School opens at 4 pm

Tuesday, Jan 4: Classes Resume for Students (Day 3)

Wednesday, Jan 12: Grade 8-11: Course Selection Information Night – Virtual 

Thursday, Jan 13: Grade 7: Reach Ahead Math Information Night – Virtual

Photos from the Week

Music Night and the December 6 Lunchtime Tribute

Grade 12 PJ Breakfast and Kindness Tree

Middle School and Senior School Holiday Parties

Upper School College Blog – Friday, November 26, 2021

On By Havergal Upper SchoolLeave a comment

Dear Parents,

Thrive Week is all about trying to reduce the stigma around mental health issues that students may have, while also teaching them how to cope — and even thrive — when things get tough. The week began with a riveting talk by alumnus, Kendra Fisher. She spoke to students about how she grappled with Severe Anxiety Disorder and other mental health issues but, with the help of a therapist and other health professionals, discovered strategies, including exercise and nutrition, to learn to live a healthful life of purpose. At lunchtime, therapy dogs had many eager student visitors lined up to say hello. The Prefects also put on the first ever Prefest, an all-day carnival to help students connect and give them a chance to relax and laugh with each other. We capped off the week with a talk at lunch with Gail Whitlow, a First Nations Holistic Healer. 

We hope that talking openly about mental health issues will destigmatize them, and educate our students to be more aware, enabling them to recognize potential issues in themselves, and in their friends, and be open to getting help early on. By showing courage and compassion, and working together we can support each other to be stronger, better versions of ourselves.

The US Blog contains information and updates on the following: 

Latest News:

Reminders:

Photos from the Week

Sincerely,

JJ Patterson, Head of Middle School

Deirdre Timusk, Head of Senior School

Latest News

The Middle School Play, Ten/Two – Tonight!

We are delighted to welcome back our parents to attend the Middle School Play this evening at 7 pm in the Legacy Theatre. This is an invitation-only event; parents of the participants in the show are welcome to attend the play. Please refer to the information that was sent to all invited guests by Cissy Goodridge on Saturday, Nov 20 and Friday, Nov 26. Parents with surnames A-M enter through the glass doors nearest the north parking lot and with surnames N-Z enter through the main school doors.  For your convenience, visitor information is in a reminder message below.

Unsanctioned Semi

It has been brought to our attention that there is a privately run semi-formal, “Blue Semi”, being run Saturday, November 27, 7:30 –  10:30 pm. Please know this is not affiliated with any school in Toronto and is not a school-sanctioned or supervised event.

Opening the Servery/Cafeteria for Same-day Purchases

We are excited to let you know that we are working with Chartwells Food to move to a more traditional model for purchasing breakfast, lunch, and after-school snacks in mid-to-late January. Currently, we are in the consultation stage with students on the food that will be available for purchase, and we are beginning to plan for the operational changes necessary within the servery space. Please stay tuned to our upcoming Blog entries for additional updates.

Junior School Vaccine Information Webinar Recording

On November 17, our Junior School families were invited to attend an information webinar related to COVID-19 vaccinations for children aged 5-11 years old, featuring Dr. Sheana Desson, Family Physician, Havergal Class of ‘95, and Havergal JS parent. If you would like to view the recording, please visit this LINK.

Reminders

Visitors to Campus

All visitors will be required to complete a wellness screening and provide proof of vaccination and valid photo identification (including name and date of birth).  

Visitors may enter the College for the reasons below:

  1. A scheduled appointment – If you have been invited on campus for a meeting, upon arrival you will need to check in with security, complete a wellness screening, and show proof of vaccination (with valid ID).
  2. Athletics event – If you are attending athletics you will need to check in at the Athletic Centre doors by completing an online Wellness screening and show proof of vaccination (with ID).  Please note that spectators are permitted into the building a maximum of 30 min before the athletic event.
  3. Havergal Group Event – If you are attending a Havergal Group event you will receive instructions from your event organizer regarding entry, screening, and proof of vaccination requirements, as they may vary depending on the size of the event.

Resources

New Circles Holiday Angels Program – Last Day!

This coming Monday, November 29th is the last day to contribute to the New Circles Holiday Angels Program, a gift-giving program that serves individuals and families, many of whom are newcomers to Canada. If you would like to contribute, students can bring their gift cards and completed donor tax forms to their Form or Advisory Teacher. 

Gift cards from the following stores would be most appreciated: Walmart, Metro, No Frills, Toys r Us, President’s Choice, Winners, Ikea

You can access a donor tax form here.

Please reach out to Ms. Wowk (awowk@havergal.on.ca) if you have any questions. Thank you so much for your help and support with this initiative.

Please Collect Your Orders at the Green & Gold

There are a number of unclaimed orders in the Green & Gold Shop. Please be aware that December 10 is the last day to collect these items. After that date, any held items will be returned to store stock and student accounts will be credited. If you are unsure as to whether or not you have an outstanding order, please contact Margie Fleming at mfleming@havergal.on.ca.

Dates on the Horizon

Friday, Dec 3: PD Day (no school for students)

Wednesday, Dec 8: Grade 9-12 Band & Strings Performance: 7 pm

Wednesday, Dec 15: Carol Service

Grades 7-10: 2 pm (students only)

Grades 11-12:  7 pm (students & grade 11/12 parents invited)

Dec 16 – Jan 3: (inclusive): School Closed for Christmas Holidays

Thursday, Dec 16: Boarding School closes at noon

Monday, Jan 3: Boarding School opens at 4 pm

Tuesday, Jan 4: Classes Resume for Students

Photos from the Week

Upper School College Blog – Thursday, November 11, 2021

On By Havergal Upper SchoolLeave a comment

Dear Parents,

On Monday, November 8th we held a Remembrance Day service in the Upper School. There were a number of touching performances from the Choir, the Chamber Choir, and the Dance Troupe. 

Dr. Samson asked students to reflect on the sacrifices made in the past and to also take time to connect with their families to talk about how war and conflict may have affected them. She said, “we need to understand on a personal level how war impacts people so that we can ensure that we are actively taking steps in our own lives to promote peace, to promote collaboration, to promote understanding and to promote love.” It was a moving ceremony and we thank all of the participants and contributors. 

The US Blog contains information and updates on the following: 

We wish you a relaxing and rejuvenating midterm November Break. 

Sincerely,

JJ Patterson, Head of Middle School

Deirdre Timusk, Head of Senior School

Latest News

Thrive Week – Nov 22 – 26, 2021

Thrive at HC is both a mindset and a week-long series of events aimed at building a culture of wellbeing within our community and promoting positive mental health for all. Thrive Week (previously known as Mental Health Awareness Week) is taking place from November 22 -26 and is inspired by the “Be There” five golden rules. The “Be There Basics”: Say What you See, Show you Care, Hear Them Out, Know your Role, and Connect to Help, inform our peer support programming. We will explore the power of peer support and how to help when friends might be struggling with their mental health. The daily activities complement and reinforce the five steps and encourage our students to engage in important conversations and reflections about personal and collective mental health, wellbeing, and resilience.

On our opening day, our keynote speaker, Kendra Fisher ’98, will be presenting to the Upper School students. Kendra will share her personal story, her insights, how she overcame her mental health challenges, and chose to build a life of vitality and meaning. She is the founder of MentallyFit, a movement aimed at presenting hope, education, prevention, and a safe place for people struggling with thier own mental health or supporting someone dealing with that issue. Monday through Wednesday, we will have conversations on how to talk about mental health, what impacts our wellbeing, and what we need to do to build resilience. On the final day of Thrive, Gail Whitlow will be joining us remotely from Ohsweken on the Six Nations Reserve. Gail is Mohawk, born into the Bear Clan of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois). Since she was 25 years old, her life has been dedicated to fostering traditional ceremonies that allow connection to Spirit. In her work, Gail offers many tools to provide holistic healing including drug-free, natural alternatives while considering the many emotional, spiritual, physical and mental aspects of whole health. Other activities throughout the week will stimulate conversations around reducing stigma and sharing stories of hope, strength, and resilience.  

We know that mental health and wellbeing are very individual and that the activities planned for Thrive week may have varying impacts on students. In light of this, we remind students and families of the multiple supports available to them, including but not limited to their Guidance Counsellors, our school Social Worker, the Health Centre, and members of the Wellbeing team. If you have any questions about Thrive Week, please reach out to Dr. Meagan Yarmey, our Director of Wellbeing at myarmey@havergal.on.ca.

Holiday Angels: Gift Card

From November 16 to 29, Havergal College is participating in the New Circles Holiday Angels Program, an anonymous gift-giving program that serves individuals and families, many of whom are newcomers to Canada and face multiple challenges.  Due to COVID-19 restrictions, we will be collecting gift cards that the New Circles team will distribute to recipients in the Program. All gift cards will be collected during Form and Advisory time. 

Gift Cards from the following retailers are preferred:

Walmart, Food Basics, No Frills, Toys r Us, President’s Choice, Winners, Metro, Ikea.


Please contact Anastasia Wowk awowk@havergal.on.ca if you have any questions. Thank you so much for your help and support with this initiative.

Welcoming Visitors to Campus

Beginning November 16, our campus will formally reopen to guests and visitors for certain indoor activities.  In our continued commitment to maintaining a safe learning and working environment for all, the Havergal College Visitor COVID-19 Health and Safety Policy outlines the expectations for all visitors to the campus.  Additionally, the Athletics COVID-19 Spectator Guidelines provide additional guidance to members of the community that wish to support our Havergal Athletes during the winter season. We look forward to welcoming more members of our community on campus in the coming months.

Prayers and Lunch Update

As we continue to navigate a safe return to school we have reviewed how we are able to use shared spaces that align with the Ministry of Education Return to School Plan and enable us to allow more students to attend events in person and gather in common space.

We will have three grades in Prayers each day. This enables us to continue to maintain physical distance between cohorts (grades) while giving more students an in-person Prayers experience.

We will also be opening up the dining room so that all grades have a designated space. Each grade will have tables assigned in the dining room as well as classrooms or other common spaces designated for their grade. We ask the students to please eat only in one of the designated spaces for their grade.

Take Your Kid to Work Day – Virtual Edition

On Wednesday, December 1, during Advisory time, students in grade 9 and 10 will have the opportunity to watch a recording of the “You Belong Here” virtual event sponsored by The Learning Partnership. In this video, students will hear from a range of workplaces and professionals who will share their story of belonging and purpose and elaborate on the real-world skills that have contributed to their success. Afterwards, students will work within their TA groups to focus on one career profile to investigate further, and to identify a particular useful skill set that they would like to work on cultivating this year. 

If your child is taking the careers course here at Havergal, there will be an opportunity for a micro internship later in the year. In addition, Grade 11 and 12 students will have the opportunity to take part in a career fair in the spring.

COP26

Havergal College has an exchange partnership with the George Watson’s School in Edinburgh, Scotland. Our Sustainability Prefect and her council contributed a video segment to a piece that the school put together in order to showcase what schools over the world were doing to help create a more sustainable community. Here is a link to the video that was created.

Reminders

School Photographs

  • This is a reminder for parents to purchase student photos online at the following LINK. 
  • The password required is your child’s student identification number.

Should you require further assistance please email the photographer, Cameron Hubbs, at: cameron@echophotography.ca.

Cold and Flu Season

In an ongoing effort to keep all members of our community in good health, we thank you for keeping your child at home if they are unwell.

Dates on the Horizon

Nov 11: PD Day (no classes for students)

Nov 12 – 15 (inclusive): Mid-Term November Break school closed

Nov 16: Winter Athletics Tryouts Begin

Dec 3: PD Day (no classes for students)

Dec 16 – Jan 3 (inclusive): Christmas Break school closed

Upper School College Blog – Friday, October 29, 2021

On By Havergal Upper SchoolLeave a comment

Dear Parents,

This past week we have been preparing for Halloween here in the Upper School. You will be able to see some photos of the amazing doors the students put together in their form/advisory groups at the end of the blog and on our Instagram pages. 

While the doors are works of art, it is not only the finished product that is the purpose of the activity.  It is the process of planning and decorating which requires collaboration and communication between members of that form/advisory group that is truly at the centre. These moments make up part of our larger strategy to support your child as we move through this pandemic.  The community and friendships that are built in their form/advisory group will give students yet another place to find support and camaraderie.

The US Blog contains information and updates on the following: 

Sincerely,

JJ Patterson, Head of Middle School

Deirdre Timusk, Head of Senior School

Update Report Card – Monday, November 8 @4 pm

Parents and students will be able to access the update report card on Monday, November 8 at 4 pm through Veracross. For details on the report card format and how to access the report, please click here.

Winter Athletics – Coming Soon!

Winter athletics registration will open on Tuesday, November 2 and will close on Monday, November 8th. If your child wishes to try out for a winter sports team, be sure to look for an email from Carla Di FIlippo, Athletics Director, with registration details. The registration link will open November 2 and parents are required to complete the registration. Tryouts will take place between Tuesday, November 16th and Tuesday, November 30th. Please reference either the Veracross Calendar or the Havergal 2021-2022 Schedule (tab 2: Winter 2021-2022) for tryout times and locations. The following winter sports will be offered:

  • Alpine Skiing – U14, U16/U20
  • Badminton – U13, U14, U16, U20
  • Curling – U20
  • Hockey – U14, U20 D1
  • Nordic Skiing – U14, U20
  • Rowing – U16, U20
  • Rugby Training – U16, U20
  • Swimming – U13/U14 and U16/U20
  • Volleyball – U13D1, U13 D2, U14 D1, U14 D2, U16D1, U16D2, U20
  • Yoga 

Take Home PCR COVID-19 Tests

This week we have launched our Take Home PCR Saliva Test Kit Program, in partnership with SickKids Hospital. These kits are available to any students, or household members who have symptoms consistent with COVID-19, have a risk/close contact identified by TPH or who are part of an identified cohort or outbreak. Please contact the Upper School nurse at ext. 4712 or covid@havergal.on.ca if you would like to pick up, or drop off a kit. Kits are to be dropped off to a Health Centre nurse, or at the Junior School Main Entrance; the sample is then sent by courier to SickKids for testing. Please see this document for details on the program: Take Home COVID-19 PCR Saliva Testing Program. 

SickKids Hospital COVID-19 Vaccine Consult Service

SickKids Hospital is offering a COVID-19 Vaccine consult service that is available to all children and families in Ontario. It is a by-appointment phone service that provides a safe, judgement-free space to have an open conversation. Please see their FLYER for additional details.

Donation for Remembrance Day Poppy

On Monday, November 8, Remembrance Day Prayers will honour all those who have served in Canada’s Armed Forces. The annual Poppy Drive is tirelessly administered and steered by older Canadian Veterans with whom Havergal has had a relationship for over a decade. We will be distributing poppies to all students in Grades 7 through 12 during Form and TA. Students are invited to donate money to the Canadian Legion at the time of poppy distribution. If you would like to learn about the ways in which the Poppy Fund Drive supports veterans and their families, please visit this link: Poppy Trust Fund.

Students in the Building after School

After school, students are welcome to remain in the school building should they need to remain until their pick-up time. They can work in the Resource Centre (RC) or their Form/Advisory room. At 6pm, there will be an announcement asking that any students who are still in the building report to the security desk in the front rotunda where they need to remain until departure.

The Middle School Study Buddies Program

The Study Buddies program is a student-led program where students in the Middle School can access academic support from a Senior School student mentor across various subject areas. Study Buddies provides time and space for students to work on homework and projects, and to get feedback, organizational, and study tips.  This is a mentorship program where students collaborate and learn from peers while making meaningful connections along the way.

Led by Ashley Tang and Madison Myers, the mentors are available Monday – Thursday from 3:45 pm – 5:00 pm for drop-in sessions at school and by Zoom appointment at other times. Middle School students have received the Study Buddy mentor schedule and slide show this week via email. Follow the Study Buddies Instagram account where we provide study tips, celebrate success stories, and offer updates @hcstudybuddies. If you have any questions regarding the program, please reach out Carrie Steele, Middle School Guidance Counsellor and Learning Support Specialist.

Parent-Teacher Interview Feedback Form

Thank you for attending the Parent-Teacher Interviews held last Thursday and Friday. We welcome your feedback in an effort to continuously improve our events and experiences for our parents. Please share your feedback through this Form. The form will remain open until Wednesday, November 3.

Dates on the Horizon

Nov 2 – 8 Winter Athletics Registration is Open 

Nov 8 @4 pm Report Cards available via Parent Portal on Veracross

Nov 10 @6 pm Boarding School closes for Mid-Term break

Nov 11 – 15 (inclusive) Mid-Term Break – school is closed

Upper School College Blog – Friday, October 15, 2021

On By Havergal Upper SchoolLeave a comment

Latest News

Parent-Teacher Interviews

When do they take place?

  • Thursday, October 21 from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm 
  • Friday, October 22 from 8:00 am – 3:00 pm 

Registration

  • Opened: Tuesday, October 12 at 6:00 pm
  • Closes: Tuesday, October 19 at 6:00 pm 

Will Parent-Teacher Conferences be held at school, or on Zoom?

  • All Parent-Teacher Interviews will be held over Zoom.
  • You will receive your Zoom links through the Pick-A-Time site once you are registered.
  • All Zoom links for this event will have the same password: 1451

How to sign up:

  • In order to sign-up, please go to Pick-A-Time 
  • A ‘Forgot Password’ link is available on the Pick-A-time website if needed.

Assistance:

  • For assistance with Pick-A-time, contact our Service Desk at 416-483-3843 ext.6663 between the hours of 7:30am -5:00pm, Monday to Friday.
  • PickAtime does not permit the scheduling of back-to-back appointments. However, if you are the parent of two or more students that have the same teacher or if you are the parent of three or more Upper School students please contact Ms. Ladak (sladak@havergal.on.ca) by Friday, October 15 before noon and she will help you to book the appointments.
  • If you wish to meet with your student’s Guidance Counsellor, please email them individually by Friday, October 15 to book an appointment.

Clubs are starting!

On Tuesday, October 19th, all Middle School (Grades 7-8) and Senior School (Grades 9-12) clubs will begin. Registration for clubs opened up following Club Fest where club leaders were given the opportunity to showcase their club to all students, and registration closed on Tuesday, Oct 12th. Middle School students are required to join a club and Senior School students are strongly encouraged. 

Getting to Know Our New Students

In order to welcome new students to the Havergal community and allow them to get to know the Head of School, the Grade 7 &  9 students, and any new students in other grades, will be invited to a 1:1 meeting over the next several weeks. These meetings help to grow and develop connections so that we are able to support your child as part of our circle of care. 

From the Green & Gold Shop

The long-awaited locker shelves and master locks are back in stock. Please let your child know these items are available to purchase to help organize and secure their belongings. The Green & Gold shop welcomes their visits before and after school, and during lunch. The hours are as follows:

8:00 AM to 8:30 AM

12:00 PM to 1:00 PM

3:30 PM to 4:00 PM

Terry Fox Run/Walk

Wellbeing Prefects Hillary & Erin led the Terry Fox Run on campus this week for both the Middle and Senior School. Students returned to their advisory groups after the run to watch a Terry Fox video and have small group discussions.

News from Form & Advisory: Cultural Appropriation & Allyship

Over the next few weeks students will be taking part in interactive DEI lessons in their Form and Advisory classes on Cultural Appropriation and Allyship. These lessons will touch on what these concepts mean, how students’ identities are situated in relation to their understanding of these terms, what they look like societally and in our school environment, and what students can do to address issues related to these topics. As we work towards building a more equitable and inclusive school community, it is imperative that we learn how to be better allies and advocates to marginalized folks and the issues that impact them. Please reach out to Raagini Appadurai, Manager of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) at rappadurai@havergal.on.ca should you have any questions. 

Take Your Kid to Work Day

Traditionally, for our Grade 9 students, early November means a trip to the office with a parent or family friend to learn more about a career. This year the Grade 9s will be taking part in an online version of this day during their advisory period on November 10th and having small group discussions. 

School Photos

Your child’s school photograph is now available for purchase. The link where you can view and order your child’s photograph is www.echophotography.ca/havergal2021. Your password will be your child’s student ID number. If there are any issues with the link, or if you have any questions, our school photographer, Mr. Cameron Hubbs, at cameron@echophotography.ca and he will be more than happy to help. 

Dates on the Horizon

Oct 21, 6 – 8 pm, Parent Teacher Interviews

Oct 22, 8 am – 3 pm, Parent Teacher Interviews

Oct 22, No classes for students due to PT Interviews

Nov 10, 6 pm, Boarding School closes for break

Nov 11 – 15 (inclusive) Mid-Term Break – school is closed

Upper School College Blog – Friday, October 1, 2021

On By Havergal Upper SchoolLeave a comment

Latest News

Parent/Teacher Conferences

The first Upper School Parent/Teacher Conferences of the school year will take place virtually via Zoom on:

Thursday, October 21     6:00pm – 8:00pm 

Friday, October 22        8:00am – 12:00 pm & 12:30 – 3:00pm 

The online conference booking system used by Havergal College is called pickAtime. To access or create a pickAtime account please CLICK HERE.  Please make sure to select the “Upper School” option in the drop down menu when making your selection.

  • pickAtime sign-up will open on Tuesday, October 12, at 6:00pm 
  • pickAtime sign-up will close on Tuesday, October 19, at 6:00pm
  • If you need to make any changes after this time, please contact the teacher directly to coordinate. 
  • pickAtime does not permit the scheduling of back-to-back appointments. However, if you are the parent of two or more students that have the same teacher or if you are the parent of three or more Upper School students please contact Ms. Ladak (sladak@havergal.on.ca) by Friday October 15 before noon and she will help you to book the appointments.
  • If you wish to meet with your student’s Guidance Counsellor, please email them individually by Friday, October 15 to book an appointment. 

In order to have the best possible experience at the upcoming event, it is strongly recommended that your Zoom application be updated to the latest version. The following information and links have been provided by our IT department for your use:

For assistance with pickAtime, please contact the Service Desk at servicedesk@havergal.on.ca and they will assist you. Their hours of operation are from Monday – Friday 7:30 am to 5 pm.

Gentle Reminders re: SchoolPass & Morning Arrival Time

  • When entering an absence, early dismissal, or late arrival in the SchoolPass app, it is important to use the ‘Notes’ field to provide a reason. This information is critical for our school records and it allows us to know how the school can best support your child.
  • If your child is absent, their wellness screening must be completed for each day they are absent, regardless of the reason for absence. This is important so we have up-to-date wellness information for our community.
  • Please leave a little extra time to get to school so your child is able to scan in before heading to class.

Finally, we wanted to let you know that we experienced a system error this morning with SchoolPass. You may have received an automated email from SchoolPass. Please disregard this email.  Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Truth and Reconciliation Week & Orange Shirt Day

There is a branch of psychological research that has confirmed the benefits of “autonomy support.” When you unpack this term simply it means that humans fundamentally need to experience a sense of agency and ownership of their work. The role of schools, says Alfie Kohn, author of 14 books about schools including The Schools Our Children Deserve,  is to “give students chances to make meaningful decisions.” This past week of Truth and Reconciliation activities was a showcase for the meaningful decisions the students at Havergal are capable of making. Over 30 students from grades 7-12 worked together in teams to design two separate Prayers, five days of lunch activities and the advising curriculum for all of the Upper School students. Their work helped to educate students about the importance of learning about the truth of the Indigenous experience as well as how to move towards reconciliation. Thank you to Neve ‘24 and her mother, Kathleen Padulo, for speaking at Prayers this past week. 

Terry Fox Run

Wellbeing Prefects, Erin Howard and Hillary Shaba, have been planning the Upper School Terry Fox Run and advisory period. Students will take a short run/walk on HC property and spend the advisory period reflecting on how cancer continues to play a big part in the lives of so many people. Middle School will run Oct 5 and Senior School Oct 6.

Food services reminder

Please submit your child’s food order by 12 pm every Wednesday for the following week using the online Upper School School Lunch Ordering Form. Use the same link each week and direct any questions to chartwellsfood

Library Resources

The Havergal Upper School library is in full swing to support our students’ reading and research needs. Upper School students are able to work in the library space before and after school, at lunch and during spare periods. In addition to monitoring the wearing of masks and ensuring students are physically distanced, our safety protocols include cleaning tables/chairs and library spaces regularly throughout the day. Our library program strives to meet the different needs and interests of our students and to develop lifelong, independent, and information literate learners who love to read! Students are able to browse and borrow print books. In addition, your Havergal library offers many fantastic digital resources. Our library website is accessible once you have logged into the Havergal Community Portal.  The Library Websites link on the side menu takes you to a page where you can choose to visit either the Junior or Upper School Library Website. Please contact Ms. Genevieve Shepherd, Head of Library (gshepherd@havergal.on.ca) if you have any questions.

Community Partnerships

Students in Grades 9 – 12 will have a chance to learn about our Community Partnerships at Club and Community Partnership Fest during House time on Tuesday, October 5. Sign-up for Partnerships will open later that day at 5 pm. Please note, we are working with our partners to identify how best to operate this year given COVID-19 safety protocols. For descriptions of our partnerships click here. For any questions, please contact Anastasia Wowk (awowk@havergal.on.ca).

Toronto Public Health Update re: Cancellation of In-School Immunization Clinics

Further to the US Blog update on Sept 17, Toronto Public Health has asked that we send this information along to parents regarding the cancellation of in-school immunization clinics for grades 7-12 students for: 

  • Meningococcal-ACYW to prevent meningitis
  • Human papillomavirus (HPV) to prevent cancers
  • Hepatitis-B

People & Program Evening Feedback

Thank you for using the google form to provide your feedback on the People & Program evening. If you have missed any teacher presentations, please use Veracross to access the recordings located on each class page.

Reminder from the Green & Gold Shop

If you have been notified that your order is ready for pick-up, your child is welcome to visit the Green & Gold Shop before or after school, or during lunch to collect their items.

Upcoming Dates

October 8 PD Day, no school for students

October 11 School Closed – Thanksgiving Day

October 12-19 Sign up for Parent/Teacher Conferences 

October 21, 22 Parent/Teacher ConferencesOctober 22 No school for students due to Parent/Teacher Conferences

Upper School College Blog – Friday, September 17, 2021

On By Havergal Upper School2 Comments

Latest News

Ordering Student Lunches

Further to our message from Wednesday, September 15, we are pleased to announce that we have made some important changes to our ordering process for the Food Services program.

Effective immediately, the CaterTrax platform will be disabled and will no longer be in use. Any orders that were placed on CaterTrax for the coming weeks will be cancelled. Today we are launching a simpler, less time-consuming method of ordering. You will need to reorder using the new ordering form going forward. Our new order form is intuitive, easy to use and can be found HERE. Please note that the order form is best accessed using Google Chrome as your browser.

Your feedback this week has helped us to better shape our offering and process. Below are the key changes to the Food Services program:

  • We are starting the program with a simplified menu of options. We will continue to revise our menus, keeping both seasonality and your feedback in mind. 
  • Menu items are now offered at a fixed price: $10.00 per meal.
  • Drinks are available for an additional $1.25.
  • Orders can be placed one week at a time on a single order form per child. You will receive an email confirmation once your order has been placed. 
  • The deadline to order for next week (September 20 to 24) is Sunday, September 19 at noon.
  • Ordering deadlines for subsequent weeks will be on Wednesdays at noon.
  • For order cancellations, please communicate via the email address at the bottom of the form.

Thank you again for your patience this week. Your support is appreciated as we make the necessary adjustments to our process and system. Please stay tuned for further updates as we strive to continually improve our Food Services program at Havergal, in collaboration with our partner, Chartwells.

If you have any questions about the lunch program, please contact chartwellsfood@havergal.on.ca.

SchoolPass Update

Thank you for diligently completing the student health screening each morning. Up until now, students have only been asked to ‘scan out’ at a kiosk located at their designated door at the end of the day. SchoolPass has found a way to accommodate our late start on Fridays,  so starting Monday, September 20, students will be required to ‘scan in’ upon their arrival in the morning and ‘scan out’ when they leave for the day.  Please remember to ensure your child’s wellness screen has been completed (either by you or your child) prior to coming onto campus so that the time spent scanning in remains at a minimum. Students learned of this update through an announcement in Prayers on Thursday and received additional information today via email from their Head of School, Mrs. Patterson or Ms. Timusk. As a reminder, wellness screens should be completed on every school day, even if your child is not coming to campus. 

Grade 7 Immunization Program Update (Hep B, HPV, Meningococcal)

Prior to the pandemic, Toronto Public Health (TPH) ran in-school immunization clinics for Grade 7 students for Hepatitis B, Human Papillomavirus (HPV), and Meningococcal. TPH has begun hosting public clinics again, however they are no longer being run through schools. Families can book an appointment to have their child vaccinated at no cost at a Toronto Public Health clinic through this website. Students in Grade 8-12 who may be missing one or more of their doses of these immunizations should also refer to this site to book an appointment, or consult their primary care provider for more information. 

People & Program Feedback

Thank you to those of you who attended People & Program evening or have taken the time to view the recording posted to the class pages following the event. In an effort to continuously improve, we welcome your feedback through this google form.

Student Parking On Campus

Families are reminded that students are not permitted to park in any of the school parking lots. Parking spots are limited and reserved for faculty, staff, and visitors to the school. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

Dropping Off Items for Students

Due to the pandemic, we cannot allow parents to enter the school and as a result, if you need to drop off an item for your child, please leave it in the bin just inside the front doors located in the vestibule before entering the rotunda. Please remember that if a student has forgotten an item and contacted you to bring it to school, there are plenty of helpful adults in the building who will help them troubleshoot and find other solutions. If your child contacts you for this reason, please direct them to their Form Teacher or Teacher Advisor who is more than happy to assist them. 

Athletics

Thank you to all participants and coaches for a successful first week of tryouts. It was a gift to watch young people playing sports again! If your child is trying out for more than one team, please take some time this weekend to discuss with your child their first and second choice for sports. Athletes can only participate on one school team (not including cross country and Learn to Row for US students). Athletes should be communicating their first and second preferences to their respective coaches to help them with team selections. 

Week 2 tryout schedule is available HERE and on the Veracross athletic calendar. Also on the linked (Google sheets) calendar are CISAA games for the fall season. This will not be finalized until Monday, September 20th. 

If you have any questions, you may contact the Upper School Athletic Director, Carla Di Filippo at cdifilippo@havergal.on.ca

Performing Arts

The week of September 20th marks audition week for the performing arts. Auditions will be held each day afterschool for the Havergal Youth Theatre, Senior School (SS) choir, Dance Troupe and the SS Play. Please ensure that your child has the required audition material and has confirmed the audition location. Results will be posted via email by Monday, September 27. Audition locations can be found HERE.

If you have any questions, you may contact the Director of Performing Arts, Cissy Goodridge at cgoodridge@havergal.on.ca

Truth & Reconciliation Week: September 27 – October 1

As part of our work towards Reconciliation, a student and employee group has been working hard to plan a week of educational activities for the US students. There will be screenings of documentaries at lunch, special speakers during Prayers, a focused advising period, among other activities. 

On Thursday, September 30, Havergal will recognize Orange Shirt Day and students will be invited to wear an orange shirt to school. Orange Shirt Day is designed to commemorate the residential school experience, honour the journey of survivors and their families, and commit to the ongoing process of reconciliation. 

Subscribing to School Calendars via Veracross

Regular information about your child’s classes and the school calendar can be accessed through Veracross, please be sure to visit the parent portal. 

To learn how to subscribe to Havergal College calendars, so that they appear on your digital calendar please see the links below.

Calendar_Subscriptions_Parents_Google

Calendar_Subscriptions_Parents_Apple

Calendar_Subscriptions_Parents_Outlook

Reminders

Upcoming Dates

Tue  Sept 21 House Colour Dress Down Day

Sat   Sept 25 Grade 12 Mother-Daughter Luncheon 

Thu  Sept 30 Orange Shirt Day

Tue  Oct 5 Club Fest: Students will have an opportunity to learn about all the

clubs and students are able to register for clubs through Veracross