Curriculum Night, Land Acknowledgement, Orange Shirt Day, Social Worker, PA

Topics covered in this blog post:

Curriculum Night – Wednesday, October 2nd 6-8pm
Land Acknowledgement at JICS
Orange Shirt Day – Monday, September 30
Laura Gordin, JICS Social Worker
News from the Parents' Association
New Indoor Gardening Unit
Grade 5 & 6 Trip to Sandbanks Provincial Park
Terry Fox Run
Upcoming September Events
Upcoming October Events

1. Curriculum Night (Wednesday, October 2)

A. Why Curriculum Night?

Curriculum Night is the most important parent education event of the year and we expect that all parents will attend. This is your opportunity to learn about what your child’s class will be experiencing and accomplishing this year. Questions you may have about what is taught and how we teach will be addressed. Although it is not an interview about your child (Parent/Teacher Interviews will take place on November 13 & 20), Curriculum Night gives you the fullest picture of the year your child is in, the teachers your child is with, and the expectations and plans for learning at your child's grade level.

B. What is the schedule of the evening?

For Curriculum Night 2019, entry to the school will be from 45 Walmer Road or 56 Spadina Road at 5:45 pm. If your child is in Nursery to Gr 2, please note that the presentation by the classroom teachers will begin in the classrooms promptly at 6:00pm.

5:45 Babysitting begins in Rooms 120 (younger) & 275 lunch room (older – movie and board games). Children registered for babysitting who are in Daycare will be escorted by the Daycare Staff to the babysitting rooms.

6:00 (sharp) - 6:45 (sharp) Curriculum Presentations for Nursery, JK, SK, Gr 1 and 2 parents

6:50 - 7:05 ALL PARENTS AND CLASSROOM AND SPECIALTY TEACHERS gather in School Gym for Welcome & Introductions

7:10 (sharp) - 7:55 (sharp) Curriculum Presentations for Gr 3, 4, 5, and 6 parents

8:00 Babysitting ends

C. How will we learn about the Specialty Classes (French, Visual Arts, Drama, Phys Ed, Special Ed, Library, Music)?

We have produced short documentaries about each specialty subject. The specialty teachers have described their program and you will be able to glimpse into their classrooms. A link to these videos will be sent out soon. All specialty teachers will be introduced in the gym at 6:50pm on Curriculum Night.

D. Is there babysitting?

Yes! Please register HERE. The deadline for babysitting registration is Monday, September 30. A pizza dinner will be provided for the children (ordered from Pizzaiolo - nut free). Please send a water bottle for your child. Thank you to the Parents’ Association for funding the babysitting and pizza!

2. Land Acknowledgement at JICS

The new Land Acknowledgement we recite before each assembly and community gathering was brought to life by the students in last year’s Grade Six cohort during 15 classes focusing on Indigenous history and culture, with the facilitation of our teacher-librarian Krista Spence and the guidance of Elder Andrew Wesley and Indigenous educator (and author of JICS’s teacher resource: Natural Curiosity 2nd Edition), Doug Anderson. It was presented with pride and excitement to our community at the Class of 2019 Graduation Ceremony by the graduates. Please read our Land Acknowledgement and find more info about it HERE.

3. Orange Shirt Day - Monday, September 30

We encourage all students and parents to wear orange shirts on Monday, September 30 to demonstrate an affirmation of our commitment to raise awareness of the residential school experience and to ensure that every child matters, as we focus on our hope for a better future in which children are empowered to help each other. Here is an informative description of Orange Shirt Day from the TDSB website. If you don’t have an orange shirt, and you would like to purchase one from an Indigenous organization, they are available at the Native Canadian Center Cedar Basket gift shop on Spadina just south of the school. You can also order an orange shirt through the school made by Nanook Gordon Fareal. Please print this FORM and bring it the Lab School office by Monday September 23rd with $25 cash per shirt or a cheque made payable to Katherine Hensel.

#everychildmatters

4. Laura Gordin, JICS Social Worker

We welcome back, Laura Gordin to the Lab School this year. Thanks to the financial support of the JICS Parents’ Association, we are able to have Laura with us on Mondays, 8:30am - 4:30pm. More information about our policies and procedures with Laura can be found on the Parent Handbook.

5. News from the Parents' Association

In an effort to minimize the number of emails you receive from us, the PA will use this space on the Thursday blog to link to our communication with Lab School families regarding news and requests from the JICS Parents’ Association. This is a gentle reminder to those who have not done so already to please pay your PA Fees/Donations. These fees go a long way to ensure that every family is supported. Here are a few examples of how PA funds are used to build our community:

Lice screening (3x per year)
Parent Social (September 10th, 2019 – thanks for coming out!)
Parent Education events
Babysitting for events held in the evenings for parents (Parent Social, Parent Education events, PA meetings, etc.)
Classroom grants (up to $500 per teacher)
Access to a Social Worker for our children (1 day per week)

Please read more important information from Deepta Rayner, PA President HERE.

6. New Indoor Gardening Unit

We are very excited that our Just Vertical AEVA indoor garden has arrived. Located outside the lunchroom, this beautiful indoor hydroponic unit will provide the school with fresh herbs and vegetables (and strawberries) throughout the year. It will also grant opportunities for the students to learn about the science of plants, gardening, healthy eating, sustainability, and how to prepare delicious meals! The Just Vertical unit has been installed with the support of JICS parent, Dr. Shashi Kant and his students, Kevin and Connor from the Master of Science in Sustainability Management program at the University of Toronto Mississauga.

7. Sandbanks Trip for Gr 5 & 6

Our Grade 5 and 6 students will have stories to share and memories that will last a lifetime

from their trip to Sandbanks Provincial Park, September 18 to 20. This, like so many school events, is an experience that expands children's independence, social skills, problem-solving, and joy in learning. Across the grades, these are attributes we work hard to foster and we thank you for your support of these important goals.

The trip to Sandbanks has been a foundational part of the start of each Grade 5 and 6 year at JICS for decades. It has always proven to have great significance for children and teachers alike, as we get to know each other in a less formal setting. The challenges of organizing and implementing the camping trip, the reality of living close together in the outdoors, and the opportunity to benefit from the natural surroundings make this an invaluable experience for one and all. I want to take this opportunity to thank the teachers for making this trip so perfect: Ben, Zoe, Nick, Tory, Nadia and the interns. These adults take time away from their families to ensure that each child has a safe and fun experience. The costs of this trip are covered by tuition fees.

8. Terry Fox Run

On Thursday, September 26th, Jackman ICS will be participating in the Terry Fox Run!

Participants should bring a water bottle, a hat, running shoes, and a sunhat. The run will start at JICS and from there, go to Sibelius Park.

Please read more information about the Lab School's Terry Fox Fun in a letter from the Grade Three student organizers HERE.