100th Birthday Party, STEAM Night, Research Night & Parent Education Night Recordings, Lunar New Year at JICS, Midterm Holiday Reminder, & More!
- JICS Office
- 56 minutes ago
- 8 min read
JICS at a Glance
We've condensed the important highlights for your convenience:
Safe arrival at JICS during winter months
Get ready to celebrate JICS's 100th Birthday - tomorrow!
STEAM Night (Formerly Known as Art Night) - February 11
Research Night 2026 - Recording Available
Celebrating Black Voices at JICS
Parent Education Night with Trina Epstein - Recording Available
Topics covered in this post:
(Click to navigate straight to a section)
1. Midterm Holiday Notice
Please note that the JICS Lab School, Nursery to Grade 6, will be closed on Friday, February 13, and Monday, February 16 (Family Day). Wishing everyone a well-deserved midterm holiday break. The Daycare will remain open for registered users on Friday, February 13. For more information, feel free to contact Daycare Director Anne Marie.
2. Safe Arrival: Winter Kiss and Ride
A huge thank you to the parents/class reps who helped advocate for snowbank removal along Walmer Road. Many of you wrote to our area councillor and contacted 311, and we are pleased to share that the sidewalks are now clear.
As a reminder, please note the following procedures during morning drop-off:
Please treat Walmer Road as northbound only during drop-off.
Staff on duty will assist children out of vehicles; for everyone’s safety and efficiency, parents are asked to remain in their cars.
Please do not park in front of the school before 8:45 a.m.
Please do not block our neighbours’ driveways at any time.
These procedures help ensure a safe, smooth, and timely arrival for all students. More detailed information can be found in the Arrival & Dismissal Procedures section of the JICS Parent Handbook.
3. JICS Lab School Birthday Party - Tomorrow!
JICS is delighted to host our 100th Birthday Celebration tomorrow, Friday, February 6 (the 99th day of school!). Students will enjoy a full day of fun-filled festivities as we mark this special centennial milestone together.
Students are invited to dress in school colours (blue and white) or show their school spirit by wearing JICS merchandise.
The celebration will begin with a lively puppet show performance by Hugh Phillips. In the afternoon, students will head to the gym for a high-energy Soca dance lesson and dance party with instructor KJ McKnight.
A warm thank you to our parents and the JICS Parents’ Association for your generous support in making the puppet show and Soca dance experience possible.
We’re looking forward to a joyful day of celebration with our students!
4. STEAM Night (Formerly Known as Art Night)
Wednesday Feb 11, 2026
5:30-6:30pm - JICS Lab School
On Wednesday February 11 the JICS Lab School will host our very first STEAM Night.
In place of our traditional Art Night, the JICS Lab School is excited to present STEAM Night: Special Focus Art, Math, highlighting the powerful connections between creative expression and mathematical thinking.
5. Research Night 2026: How brain science helps us understand children's development and learning
Thank you to everyone who joined us last Wednesday for our Centennial Research Night. It was a truly engaging and energizing evening, and we were thrilled to see so many parents and educators in conversation about children’s development and learning.
We are deeply grateful to Dr. Kaja Jasińska for such a clear, thoughtful, and compelling presentation on how brain science helps us better understand how children grow, learn, and thrive. The demonstrations of the neuroimaging technology and the discussion that followed brought our identity as a lab school vividly to life.
For those who were unable to attend, we are pleased to share that the presentation was recorded and is now available to view - see the link below. We hope you will take the opportunity to watch it and engage with the ideas that are shaping both our current practice and our long-term vision, including the launch of our new longitudinal research study as we look ahead to JICS’s next 100 years.
6. Parent Education: Understanding Anxiety in Children - Recording Available
Dr. Trina Epstein’s Parent Education session on understanding anxiety in children and the value of “leaning into discomfort” took place this week. It was a thoughtful, practical, and reassuring conversation that resonated deeply with many in the room.
If you were unable to attend, we are pleased to share that the session was recorded and is now available to view - linked below.
7. Lunar New Year at JICS - Thursday February 19
Gong Hei Fat Choi
Xīnnián hǎo
Chúc Mừng Năm Mới
Saehae bok mani badeuseyo
Happy New Year!
We are looking forward to celebrating Lunar New Year at JICS on Thursday, February 19. In preparation, students will help tidy the school on Wednesday, February 18, symbolically “sweeping away” any bad luck. On Thursday, we will open our windows and doors to welcome good fortune into our spaces.
Nick Song has organized a vibrant morning assembly featuring a traditional lion dance performance at 9:00 a.m. in the school gym, starting our day with excitement and energy. We ask that all children come to school wearing red to help celebrate. All parents are warmly welcome to attend.Thank you to the Parents’ Association for your generous support in making this possible.
Each student will also receive a special surprise gift. We welcome parent ideas and suggestions to help deepen students’ understanding of Lunar New Year traditions. Please feel free to share them with your child’s teachers.
8. JICS at the Movies
Monday, March 2nd, 2026
🕡 6:30 – 9:30 p.m.
📍 Innis College Theatre
2 Sussex Avenue, Toronto, ON M5S 1J5
You’re invited to join us for a special evening of film, conversation, and community as part of the Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study Centennial celebrations.
Our next edition of JICS at the Movies presents a screening of the acclaimed documentary The Making of a Japanese, followed by an in-depth Q&A with the filmmaker.
About the Film
The Making of a Japanese is a warm, intimate, and quietly captivating documentary that takes viewers inside a Tokyo public elementary school to explore how early childhood education shapes culture in Japan. Filmed over the course of a year, the film follows first- and sixth-grade students as they learn not only academics, but also responsibility, cooperation, and respect for others.
Through small, revealing moments — students cleaning their classrooms, serving lunch, or carefully placing their shoes — the film offers a fascinating look at an education system that places trust and responsibility in children from a very young age. The balance between individuality and community is tested daily, creating moments that are both deeply human and unexpectedly moving.
Directed by Japanese American filmmaker Ema Ryan Yamazaki, The Making of a Japanese is a gentle yet powerful portrait of childhood and the everyday rituals and reveal larger truths about community, responsibility, and identity. Praised by The New York Times as a “Nuanced portrait that trys to explain why Japan is the way it is, while also showing the potential costs of those practices.,” the film invites audiences to reflect on education, belonging, and the values we pass on — long after the final scene.
Registration information coming soon!
9. JICS Centennial Family Skate
We are excited to announce the JICS Centennial Family Skate, taking place on Monday March 23rd from 5:00pm – 7:00pm at Varsity Arena (299 Bloor Street West). Mark your calendar and join us for an evening of joy, warmth, and community spirit.
Junior grade students enjoying their first skating session of the year!
10. Black History Month: Celebrating Black Voices
This year, JICS is honouring Black History Month by Celebrating Black Voices. Under the leadership of Marcia, Jessica, and Raadiyah, students across the school have had meaningful opportunities to meet and learn from influential Black members of our broader community.
These experiences have included:
In the Fall, junior students spent time with TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey in a lively and engaging discussion. He spoke about his love of books from an early age, the importance of supportive peers and close friendships throughout his life, and shared some of his favourite films.
Also in the Fall, students across the school worked with photographer Zion, who shared selections from his photo collection and spoke about what drives his work: storytelling. Each student had the opportunity to take photographs within our community: junior students explored Bloor Street, primary students photographed the local neighbourhood and Sibelius Park, and kindergarten students will capture images of the courtyard and playground. We look forward to a sneak peek of these photographs, which Zion is currently editing.
This term, junior students had the privilege of gathering with The Honourable Dr. Alvin Curling, politician and JICS grandparent. He shared his journey from Jamaica to Canada, how he found community and a sense of belonging, and his path into politics. Students were deeply engaged and full of thoughtful questions, making it a truly memorable experience for all.
But the celebration continues! We are excited to welcome Kenneth Montague, who will share his passion for photography and curation, and KJ McKnight, who will share his love for, and the history of, Soca dancing during our 100th birthday celebration. Students in Drama will celebrate Black History Month by exploring the roots of Black Theatre in Canada and discussing the importance of representation and funding. Games that require each student to memorize the names and achievements of outstanding Black artists will be played, and a look at West African trickster tales and the use of allegory in storytelling will inspire drama works with contemporary tricksters relating to the lives and experiences of the students. African and Caribbean folk tales will generate a host of imaginative characters, dances, and tableaux!
In addition to these school-wide experiences, teachers are honouring Black History Month in classrooms in a variety of ways. Across the school, students in different grades are:
Learning about advancements made by Black scientists
Engaging with a wide range of picture books and novels, including When the Beat Was Born, which explores the origins of hip hop
Listening to artists such as Jully Black, Michael Jackson, and Bob Marley
Learning about Black Canadian Olympic athletes competing in Milan
Exploring the origins of Black History Month and how it is celebrated across Canada
Researching and studying significant Black Canadians.
Families are encouraged to connect with their child’s classroom teacher to learn more about how Black History Month is being honoured in their class.
11. Natural Curiosity's #52WeeksOfReconciliAction
Parents: Are you ready to learn, connect, and act for reconciliation in 2026?
JICS’ Natural Curiosity's #52WeeksOfReconciliAction offers a structured path for your journey. Each week features practical steps you can take to promote respect, understanding, and healing. Explore our Linktree for weekly inspiration, reading materials, discussion prompts, and more! Also, please like and share our introductory post on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn to help spread the word.
Join us as we learn and grow together!
Upcoming February Events
February is Black History Month
Fri 6 - 100th Day of School - The JICS Lab School's Birthday Party
Wed 11 – STEAM Night: Special Focus Art, Math
Thur 12 – Valentine’s Day at JICS
Fri 13 – Midterm Holiday. School closed. Daycare open.
Mon 16 – Family Day Holiday. School and Daycare closed.
Tues 17 – Ramadan (begins at sunset)
Tues 19 – Lunar New Year at JICS (wear red!)
Tues 24 to Fri 27 – Gr 4/5 overnight trip to YMCA Camp Pine Crest
Wed 25 – Anti-Bullying Day/Pink Shirt Day