UPPER SCHOOL
Important Message from Havergal Security
Havergal’s Security Team recently conducted a traffic flow audit of Upper School drop-off and pick-up procedures. They were alarmed by some of the behaviours they observed, which they noted placed the safety and wellbeing of students at risk.
What follows are important points for drivers to immediately address going forward:
- DO NOT drop your passenger(s) off at the public bus stop in front of the school. This is a practice that endangers the Havergal and wider community.
- Drop off on the right side of the driveway. Drop off is permitted only along the curb closest to the front steps of the Upper School, which is duly noted by signage. Our Security Team observed drivers unloading students along the curb that runs adjacent to Avenue Road. Other drivers unload passengers in the middle of the driveway. This creates a dangerous situation because students can, and do, cross the school driveway in haste without looking.
- Be patient. Impatient drivers race to the front of the line–weaving in and out of traffic. Please remain patient and take your place in the queue to drop off and pick up your passenger(s).
- Signal your intention to other drivers and Security. 80% of drivers do not signal their intentions when they drop off, pick up, and/or merge.
- Comply with Security directions. Many drivers ignore the signals our Security Team gives drivers. Here it is always helpful to make eye contact with Security personnel so that you can follow their signals and directions.
- Don’t park at the curb after drop off. Some drivers stay parked after dropping off their passenger(s) in order to check their phones. This impedes traffic flow patterns significantly and slows the entire process down.
- Passengers should be ready to exit the vehicle safely and promptly. Drivers leave their vehicles to unload items from their trunk, which also slows down the drop off process. Passengers should be ready to exit quickly. Items stored in the trunk should be easily accessible. Hockey bags should be dropped off as close to the glass doors as possible.
- DO NOT turn into the driveway from Avenue Rd if the entrance is not clear! You will end up blocking Avenue Rd. traffic.
- Drive past the bend to the end. Many drivers do not move all the way up past the first bend in the drive past the main doors to drop off passengers. This impedes traffic flow patterns significantly.
- There are two exits from the front driveway, indicated by signage. Please use the other exit if the first exit is backed up.
Dropping off and picking up students can be a stressful time — especially when drivers are late, pressed for time, and otherwise in a hurry to begin their day. It is also a time when student safety can be unnecessarily compromised. At Havergal, signage very clearly demarcates drop off and pick up locations.
Please be courteous and respectful of fellow drivers and members of Havergal’s Security Team. The safety and wellbeing of our students depend on your following through on the school’s expectations around drop off and pick up.
An Evening with David Bott: Wednesday, March 27
As part of our Parents as Partners Speaker Series, Havergal is proud to welcome David Bott as our next speaker on March 27 at 7:00 pm. David is a best-selling author, consultant, former teacher, and expert in designing and implementing system-level approaches to wellbeing and cultural change. His talk will focus on Parenting for Wellbeing, including the evolution of wellbeing science, what wellbeing is not, and the key role parents and caregivers play. There will be an opportunity to ask questions. Current and new families are welcome and encouraged to bring additional guests; registration for the event can be found here.
David Bott will be at Havergal for the week of March 25, working with our Upper School students as well as running professional development with our faculty and staff throughout the week.
Leaving Items for your Daughter
If your child forgets something at home you are welcome to leave it on the wooden table in the small room off the Rotunda. Please be sure to put your daughter’s name on the item. If necessary, we will remind her to pick it up. The room will be cleared of any leftover items at the end of the week. Thank you.
HC-X Innovation Series: Digital Wisdom Parent/Guardian Experience (online)
Parents and Guardians, Level up your digital wisdom.
On Monday, Feb 12 from 7:00 – 8:00 pm, HC-X will present an online workshop about how our relationship to digital devices and social media is impacting our lives, identities and skills for the future. Participants of all ages are welcome and will leave with more confidence, strategies and mindsets when it comes to your own devices and that of your child(ren).
Sign up using this link to Veracross to receive the Zoom link.
Semester 1 Report Cards (MHF4U/MHF4UP)
Parents of students in Grade 10 Careers and Grade 12 Advanced Functions can access the Semester 1 Report cards by clicking on the September-March report card. The instructions are linked here
Spirit Week!
Spirit Week is the week when students show their love for their school and their grade: Students wear special dress every day! This is great time to get kilts and blazers dry cleaned because they will not be needed all week.
Monday: Dress Up or Dress Down
Tuesday: Green and Gold from head to toe
Wednesday: Music Genres
Grade 7: Pop; Grade 8: Rock, Grade 9: Hip Hop, Grade 10; Disco, Grade 11: Classical; Grade 12: Country
Thursday: Grade Colour
Grade 7: Green; Grade 8: Purple; Grade 9: Red;
Grade 10: Pink; Grade 11: Blue; Grade 12: White.
MIDDLE SCHOOL
This Week in Form: Spirit Week!
The MS Spirit Reps are busy organising practices for the Grade Cheer-Off Assembly on Thursday. The leaders will encourage our middle schoolers to get involved in the scheduled daily activities all week long.
SENIOR SCHOOL
Grade 12 Graduation Gown Sizing
February is the month for the Grade 12s to get sized for their graduation gowns! This is an exciting and important (and fun) step.
From February 5 to February 23, Grade 12 students will be measured for their gown in the Guidance Office (B12). Students are asked to remove their shoes in order to get the most accurate measurement.
Students may not miss class for this opportunity. Measurements can be taken during students’ spares, during lunch, between classes, or before/after school.
Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test
We are thrilled to announce that our Grade 10 students earned a 100% pass rate on the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test. Documentation of each student’s success is available now. Access to this digital file is via the same means as student report cards:
Log in to the Havergal College Parent Portal.
In the upper left, select “My Children”, then select “Student Files” for your child.
In the “Files” section at the bottom, find the file called “OSSLT Results” and select the “Download” button.
This Week in Advising
We have spirit activities all week this week. This Wednesday each grade will be working on their CHEER for Thursday’s Cheer Off Assembly!
HCPA
Gator Gala – Saturday, April 13!
Tickets are on sale now for all Upper School students and an adult guest.
The Gator Gala Committee is looking for volunteers on Saturday, April 13—find out more here. If you would like to make a donation to the Gator Gala Silent Auction, please contact Jenn Ocampo-King at JenniferOcampo.King@tdsecurities.com or Donna Wilson at donnasmythe@hotmail.com. Thank you for your support!
Yoga at the Biowall Student Commons
Parents are invited to join the HCPA at 2pm for yoga on February 22 or February 29. Sign up soon as space is limited!
Mom’s Night Out
REMINDERS
HC-X Reminders
We held a great session on Friday of last week, discussing what TC-9 is and what it will be for your child(ren). As a reminder, here are the key links for all information:
Please contact Garth Nichols, Vice Principal of Experiential Education & Innovation for any further questions.
Grade 12 Parent Education Evening – Tuesday, March 5, 7:00 pm
On Tuesday, March 5 at 7 pm Lexi Koster, a Toronto-based Sexual Violence Prevention Educator, Certified Clinical Trauma Specialist & Child Life Specialist will be here to present to our grade 12 parents. To register please CLICK HERE.
This will be followed on Wednesday, March 6 with a student presentation at 3 pm to the Class of 2024 in the Legacy Theatre. All Grads are expected to attend this important presentation. Students will take part in interactive case studies and walk away with practical tools to keep themselves and others safe as they transition to post-secondary life. If you have any questions please reach out to Deirdre Timusk.
NEXT WEEK IN THE UPPER SCHOOL
Spirit Week All Week!
Mon Feb 12
Digital Wisdom Parent Meeting, Virtual 7 – 8pm
Tues Feb 13
Hockey Day 1:15 Mattamy Center
Thu Feb 15
Cheer-Off Assembly
Fri Feb 16
School Closed – Family Day Weekend
The Weekly: Upper School 