All Parents Meeting, Writers' Roost, Daycare June Camp
- JICS Office
- May 1
- 10 min read
JICS at a Glance
We've condensed the important highlights for your convenience:
Check out the Events Page and Register for Upcoming Events:
JICS Bike Parade - Thur May 8
Centennial Gala and Auction - Tues May 13
PA "All Parents" Meeting - Mon May 26
Writers' Roost: Centennial Edition - Tues May 27
Parents of BIPOC Children Meeting - Fri May 30
Hot Dog Night - Wed June 4
Registration for the Daycare June Camp opens on May 12!
Topics covered in this post:
(Click to navigate straight to a section)
1. Grandpals Day - Today!
We are delighted to welcome grandparents and “pals” — special family members or friends — to JICS this afternoon! Thank you for the meaningful connection you share with our students. We hope you enjoy your student-guided tour, and the refreshments prepared for you. This day is a small token of our deep appreciation for the important role you play in supporting and shaping the lives of the children in our community.
2. JICS Centennial Gala & Auction - May 13
"Every dollar raised helps us create a more economically inclusive school community, which benefits all of our children. A diverse learning environment enriches the experience for every student — including your own."– Richard Messina, Principal
Last week, we invited you to consider purchasing a ticket or making a donation to sponsor someone else in our community. These generous contributions are 100% tax receiptable when made here.
If you make a donation to support another attendee, please email Richard to let him know. Likewise, if you or someone you know in our community would like to attend the gala but may need assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Richard directly.
Together, we can make this a celebration that includes everyone.
JICS Centennial Gala & Auction Celebrate 100 Years of Innovation, Education & Community Tuesday, May 13, 2025 6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. MOCA, 158 Sterling Road Toronto, ON Purchase Tickets
Only a two weeks to go! The JICS Centennial Gala & Auction is almost here — and you’re invited to a fun and festive night to celebrate a century of impact at JICS and support the future of education.
Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to come together at the stunning Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), as we honour 100 years of educational excellence and raise funds for the JICS Lab School Endowment Fund — securing the next century of impact and innovation.
The Silent Auction is now LIVE: Explore and bid on items generously donated by our community — with exciting new additions added daily, so be sure to check back often! Highlights include JICS Midnight Madness, courtside Raptors tickets, a year of Greenhouse Juice, and surprises you won’t want to miss! |
💻 To participate: (1) Create your Givergy account (2) Turn on notifications to get updates when new items are added or you’re outbid!
Event Details:🍸 A vibrant cocktail party – Sip signature drinks and enjoy delicious bites 🎶 Live music and entertainment all night — from an acclaimed auctioneer, spinning DJ to heartfelt centennial toasts! 🎨 Exclusive Live Auction – Featuring artwork, unforgettable experiences, and unique JICS opportunities like:
And so much more, only available to Gala attendees!
🎁 Bonus! Every attendee is entered into a door prize draw for a bundle of fine wines! Purchase Tickets: Ticket Price: $450 per person. Each ticket is a donation in itself and is eligible for a $225 charitable tax receipt. Register today to be part of this historic celebration! |
3. 🚲 JICS Bike Parade 🚲
Thursday, May 8 | 8:00 AM
Meet at Christie Pits — Ride together, arrive in style!
Start your morning right… on two wheels!
We’re rolling out the red carpet (ok fine, it's asphalt) for the very first JICS Bike Parade! Join us Thursday, May 8 at 8:00 AM at Christie Pits for a joyful, group ride to school. It’s like the Tour de France… but with less spandex and more backpacks.
AND, you will be joined by cyclists Robin, Zoe, Judith, Chriss, Jessica, Walker and Richard!
The Route:
→ Starting at the North West corner of Christie Pits
→ East along Barton Avenue
→ North on Brunswick
→ East on Wells Avenue
→ South on Kendal, around the roundabout, and straight to JICS!
Basically: short, sweet, super safe — and all about the vibes.
The Details:
→ Bikes only (no scooters or rollerblades this time — safety first!)
→ Parents must accompany their child or arrange to ride with friends
→ Led by our very own Luke a.k.a Captain Commuter
→ Parade ends at JICS — with glory, good vibes, snacks and probably a few helmet hair situations
Where to Meet:
→ Gather at the NORTH WEST CORNER of Christie Pits Park (before 8:00am)
→ The parade will depart from Christie Pits at 8:00am sharp
Why join?
It’s fun.
It’s safe.
It’s community.
And it’s a chance to practice bike safety and show off those biking skills (and that bell you insist on ringing every 3 seconds).
Toronto police will be escorting the group to ensure it's a safe experience for all riders.
Interested? Sign up here so we know who’s riding:
Let’s fill the streets with bikes, smiles, and JICS spirit! See you at the start line 🚴♀️🚴🚴♂️
4. PA "All Parents" Meeting
Monday, May 26 | 7:00-8:00 PM | Zoom
All JICS parents are invited to the PA All Parents Meeting on May 26! Important updates from the Parents Association and the school will be provided.
Agenda coming soon!
5. Writers' Roost: Centennial Edition
Tuesday, May 27 | 4:30-6:00 PM
Celebrating 100 Years of the Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study
The Ontario Institute for Studies in Education proudly presents an exclusive literary event featuring Emma Knight, New York Times bestselling author and JICS parent, in conversation with Dr. Jeff Myers as we celebrate a century of educational excellence at the Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study.
On May 27, Emma Knight will take centre stage to discuss her latest book, The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus, a witty, atmospheric, and brilliantly crafted novel that masterfully weaves together compelling portraits of womanhood, motherhood and female friendship, along with the irresistible intrigue surrounding an extraordinary British family.
Don't miss this unique opportunity to gain invaluable insights from one of Toronto’s emerging literary voices.
Tuesday, May 27, 2025 | 4:30 - 6:00pm
In person & Online
OISE Library
252 Bloor Street West, Toronto
A reception to follow with light refreshments and an opportunity to purchase the novel and have it personally signed by Emma Knight.
About the Book
Arriving at the University of Edinburgh for her first term, Pen knows her divorced parents back in Canada are hiding something from her. She believes she’ll find the answer here in Scotland, where an old friend of her father’s—now a famous writer known as Lord Lennox—lives. When she is invited to spend the weekend at Lord Lennox’s centuries-old estate with his enveloping, fascinating family, Pen begins to unravel her parents’ secret, just as she’s falling in love for the first time. As Pen experiences the sharp shock of adulthood, she comes to rely on herself for the first time in her life. A rich and rewarding novel of campus life, of sexual awakening, and ultimately, of the many ways women can become mothers in this world, the book to what extent we need to look back in order to move forward.
About the Speakers
Emma Knight is a JICS parent and a Canadian writer. She is also the co-founder of Greenhouse, an award-winning organic beverage company based in Toronto. Her first novel, The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus, was a number one national bestseller and a New York Times bestseller. She has co-authored two nationally bestselling cookbooks, The Greenhouse Cookbook and How to Eat with One Hand, and her essays have appeared in The Globe and Mail, The Walrus, British Vogue, and Literary Hub. Emma studied Modern European Languages at the University of Edinburgh and Journalism and International Affairs at Sciences Po Paris.
Dr. Jeff Myers is a proud graduate of OISE (MA ’07, PhD ’13) and an active member of the OISE Alumni Association. He currently holds the position of Acting Assistant Vice President, Enrolment, and University Registrar at Dalhousie University in Halifax. His longstanding interest in intercultural learning led to an early career in international education, which has since encompassed roles in teaching, curriculum development, program management, and academic leadership. Dr. Myers is deeply committed to the transformative potential of education across all stages of learning.
6. JICS Hot Dog Night
Wednesday, June 4 | 6:00-8:00 PM
Join us for our annual Hot Dog Night! 🌭 We will be serving both hot dogs and pizza, and will celebrate with food, fun, activities, and an opportunity for our school community to connect!
About the event:
What: a community gathering with food and fun
When: Wednesday, June 4th, 6-8pm.
Tickets:
Adult Ticket: $20
Child Ticket: $10
Family Bundle $60 (for single families where total ticket costs would exceed $60 - includes 2 adult tickets and 3+ child tickets)
JICS Teacher/Staff Ticket (free)
Raffle Tickets: $5 each, 5 for $20, or 12 for $50
Prizes:
2 Opening Night tickets to TIFF
One year supply of ginger shots from Greenhouse Juice Co.
Murdoch Mysteries behind the scenes set tour
Pizza lunch for the class that has a person who wins
50,000 Marriott points
How can this community help?
We would greatly appreciate donations of games, food or snacks, and non-alcoholic beverages to make the night even better. If you have the ability to contribute, please contact Lucia Remedios at lucia@analoguegallery.com or call (416) 505-4970.
7. Daycare June Camp
The end of school is soon approaching, and there’s no better way to end this fabulous school year than the JICS Daycare June Camp! Join us for sports, creative arts, water and outdoor play, beadery, gardening, and more. Plus, special activities including:
Puppetry Workshop: “Puppets Cool” will instruct students in how to synchronize their voices with their hand movements, make their own puppets, and even put on a short play (based on the award-winning book, “The True Story of the Three Little Pigs”), along with a rousing wrap up sing-along.
Field Trip to Riverdale Farm: Nursery to Grade 1 students will explore the woods, pond, and visit the farm animals.
Moccasin Walk: Grades 2 to 6 students will visit the Kortright Centre for Conservation where they will journey back 400 years and learn how the Wendat people used natural resources to survive. Students will grind corn, use traditional methods to start a fire, and play Aboriginal games.
Don’t miss out! Come and join us for the last two weeks of June and have an extraordinary time with your friends and staff of the JICS Daycare.
Week 1: June 16-20
Week 2: June 23-27
Time: 7:45 AM – 6:00 PM
Location: JICS Lab School
COST: $350/week (no occasional care available)
AM/PM snacks included (BYO lunch)
Parents must also provide labeled water bottles, towels, swimsuits, sunscreen, and hats.
Register from May 12 until June 9th
Email ics.after.school.daycare@gmail.com & indicate week 1, 2, or both
8. Dissemination: Serving Our Public Purpose
JICS is at the forefront of shaping elementary education and advancing teacher training worldwide. Our commitment to sharing knowledge and fostering innovation continues through various initiatives.
Recent Highlight:
On April 29, Teacher-Librarian and Land-based educator Krista Spence, and classroom teacher Raadiyah Nazeem led a workshop titled “Inside Out & Outside In: Centering Land Through Stories and Actions” for librarians responsible for family and children’s programming, as part of the Professional Learning Day at North York Central Public Library. They highlighted the use of Indigenous texts in libraries, suggested related themes, and shared classroom-tested outdoor activities to engage communities with local environments.
9. JICS 31st Annual Read-a-thon Update
This year, our avid-reading students, and parents, grandparents, nannies, family friends, and siblings raised a grand total of $4383.68 to fund our library collection!
These funds will also be used to bring in authors, illustrators, and storytellers.
We will continue to critically examine the stories on our shelves, to bring in diverse perspectives, and to give these voices spaces in our library. In our weekly library classes the children engage in deep discussions that are grounded in stories that allow us to imagine being someone else OR to see ourselves. We are grateful for the funds to bring in more of these powerful stories and perspectives.
10. Aki Kinomaagewinan: Engaging Educators in Indigenous Land-Based Learning through Natural Curiosity
Natural Curiosity – in partnership with ENAGB – is excited to launch our in-person spring retreat. Join us for a full day of land-based learning nestled within the Natural Curiosity framework for inquiry-based, environmental education.
WHEN: Saturday, May 24, 2025 from 9am to 3pm
WHERE: Humber River Teaching Lodge
FEATURING: Joseph Pitawanakwat & Rollin Baldhead *Subsidies available for BIPOC Educators + Youth
Photos from the Week
Congratulations to all our JICS Jets that participated in the Track Meet on Tuesday!
This week at the Lab School
Upcoming May Events
Asian Heritage Month
Thur 8 – Bike Parade 8:00am Christie Pits ride to JICS. Register your child.
Tues 13 – Centennial Gala and Auction. 6:00pm MOCA. Purchase tickets.
Fri 16 – School & Daycare closed. President’s Day-UofT
Mon 19 – School & Daycare closed. Victoria Day
Thur 22 – Nursery/JK/SK Music Morning 9:00am
Thur 22 – Grade 1 – 6 Music Night 6:00pm
Mon 26 to Thur 29 – Grade 6 trip to Camp Arowhon
Tues 27 – Writer’s Roost Centennial Edition. 5:30-7:00pm OISE Library
Upcoming June Events
Canada's National Indigenous History Month & World Pride Month
Mon 2 – Shavuot
Tues 3 – Games Day (details coming soon)
Wed 4 – Hot Dog Night. Get tickets.
Fri 6 – Eid al-Adha (begins at sunset)
Thur 12 – Grade 6 Graduation Ceremony 1:30pm. Guests: JK to Gr 5 students and Gr 6 parents.
Fri 13 – Last day of school. Noon dismissal. “Graduates Clap-Out.” Daycare until 6:00pm.
Fri 20 – Report Cards posted online
Mon 16 to Fri 27 – Daycare Camp
Mon 30 – Building closed. President’s Day-UofT
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