First Days of School Reminders, Professional Development, Dissemination, Staffing Updates & More!
- 6 hours ago
- 6 min read
JICS at a Glance
We've condensed the important highlights for your convenience:
First Week of School:
Half Day - Tuesday September 8
Half Day - Wednesday September 9
Tuition Balance deadline: Tomorrow! Friday, September 4
Outstanding Questionnaires in your Parent Portal to be addressed without delay
JICS Staff Team engaging in Professional Development Week
Topics covered in this post:
(Click to navigate straight to a section)
1. The First Days of School
With just a few days to go, we are on the cusp of an exciting new school year, beginning Tuesday, September 8. The air is filled with anticipation as we prepare to welcome our students back to school!
Today, we had the pleasure of welcoming the new children joining us in Junior Kindergarten through Grade 6 for their orientation visit. A heartfelt thank you to our outstanding JICS Parent Association Executive and our dedicated Class Representatives for reaching out, welcoming, and fostering connections with our new families. Your support helps make the transition to JICS a warm and welcoming one.
A few gentle reminders:
Tuesday, September 8 & Wednesday, September 9: Dismissal will be at 12:00 noon.
Daycare: Available beginning September 8 for registered users.
Nursery Students: Staggered entry beginning Tuesday, September 8.
Hot Lunch Program: Begins on Thursday, September 10
JK-Gr 6 Wednesday Afternoon Program: Begins September 16. Registration closes today.
Annual Questionnaires: These are now past due. If you have not yet completed them, please log into your MySchool Parent Portal. All questionnaires must be submitted before your child's first day of school.
More information about the above-mentioned items can be found in last week's POST.
2. Bike Racks
Our bike racks are located at the front of the school. To ensure that families arriving by bicycle can safely enter and exit the school property, we kindly ask that vehicles do not block the entrance to the school’s bicycle-access driveway.
The area marked by the bollards must remain clear at all times. Thank you for helping us keep this access point safe and accessible for our biking families.
3. 5 Keys to Smoother School Drop-Offs
The first days of school can bring a mix of excitement, anticipation, and big feelings. Here are five simple ways to help make morning drop-off a little smoother for both you and your child:
Share your calm. Give yourself a little extra time in the morning so you can be fully present and focused on your child rather than feeling rushed.
Set expectations. During a calm moment, talk through the day and explain what will happen: "I'll drop you off, you'll learn and play at school, Grandma will pick you up, and we'll all have pizza together tonight."
Validate their feelings. Reassure your child that it is completely normal to feel nervous, excited, or unsure. You don't need to "fix" their feelings-simply acknowledge them and offer your presence and reassurance.
Create a short goodbye ritual. Keep goodbyes brief and consistent-a hug, a wave, or a fist bump-and then head out. Lingering or sneaking away can make separation more difficult. A confident goodbye communicates that your child is safe, their teacher is trustworthy, and you believe in their ability to manage the transition.
Be kind to yourself. Every child adjusts differently, and establishing a new routine takes time. If your child is finding the transition challenging, please reach out to their teacher. We are here to support you and your child.
4. Tuition Balance Payment Schedule
A reminder that tuition balances are due tomorrow Friday, September 4, to Shama Joshi, School Office Administrator, at the school office, 45 Walmer Road. Payments may be made Monday through Friday, between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Nursery
• 2026-2027 Tuition: $31,000
• Tuition balance remaining: $12,085
Full Day (JK to Grade 6)
• 2026-2027 Tuition: $32,830
• Tuition balance remaining: $13,915
5. Staffing Update
Raadiyah Nazeem (Grade 4/5 Teacher) has successfully defended her PhD! Her thoughtfully researched and beautifully written dissertation explored teacher perspectives on social-emotional learning in Kindergarten and Primary classrooms. Please join us in congratulating Dr. Nazeem on this significant achievement and major milestone!
Bailey Grineage (Early Years Music Teacher) is expecting her second child any day now! Bailey’s one-year-old is eagerly awaiting her new role as a big sister. Bailey will return to JICS in January. In the meantime, we are delighted to welcome Suzanne Schwenger, our former Early Years Music Teacher, back to JICS as she comes out of retirement to teach Nursery, JK, and SK students through December. We are so grateful to Suzanne for stepping in and supporting our youngest learners during this exciting time for Bailey and her family.
Victoria Sandic (Specialty Programs Teacher/Wednesday Afternoon Program) is also expecting, with her baby due in January. This will be Victoria’s first child, and we are thrilled for her as she begins this exciting new chapter. We wish Victoria and her family all the very best as they prepare to welcome their little one!
6. Teacher Professional Development
Our commitment to providing exceptional learning experiences for our 200 JICS children, while also mentoring future educators, remains strong. Through both self-directed professional learning and whole-group initiatives, our teachers continue to deepen their expertise in child development, pedagogy, and innovative approaches to teaching and learning.
Summer Highlights:
Krista Spence (Teacher-Librarian/Land-Based Instructor) attended the FOLD Kids Presents: Curating Stories That Matter webinar, which explored ways educators can use diverse books and Canadian authors to facilitate meaningful classroom conversations. The session highlighted virtual events, educator resources, and curated book lists that support discussions around identity, belonging, history, equity, and community, while creating engaging, curriculum-connected learning experiences for students of all ages.
Simone Serafini (In-House Supply Teacher) completed the Kindergarten Part 1 Additional Qualification (AQ) course. This introductory course supports certified teachers in developing the knowledge and skills needed to teach young children ages 3.5 to 6, including in programs such as Ontario’s Full-Day Kindergarten.
7. Dissemination: Serving Our Public Purpose
Since 1925, our school has been a leader in advancing elementary education and teacher training. We are proud to share our expertise, practices, and learning with the broader education community, contributing to the professional growth of educators beyond JICS.
Summer Highlights:
Marcia Bumbury (JK Teacher), Jessica Haber (Grade 2 Teacher), and Audrey Madsen (Grade 4/5 Teacher) participated in the Count Me In! Math Educator Conference, presented by the Faculty of Arts & Science and OISE, UofT. The conference provided in-service teachers with opportunities to explore research-informed instructional approaches designed to build student confidence and engagement in mathematics.
Marcia presented “Play, Plan and Program: Early Years Math Toolkit,” while Jessica and Audrey presented “Let’s Play! Collaborative Math Games in Elementary Classrooms.” Both presentations shared research-informed approaches that promote positive, inclusive, and engaging mathematics learning environments.
Tara Rousseau (Visual Arts Teacher) facilitated a Visual Arts session during The Teaching Lifeline: Support for Educators in the Deep End, a virtual conference organized by members of the Ontario Teachers’ Federation. The conference was designed to provide practical support for elementary and intermediate educators who may be teaching subjects that are new to them or outside their areas of expertise. Tara’s session contributed to this important professional learning by providing educators with strategies and resources for teaching Visual Arts with confidence.
Representing the Lab School, this summer Vice Principal Chriss Bogert served on the Future Realities & Resilience Advisory Committee for the Psychology Foundation of Canada's Strong Minds Strong Kids program. Alongside educators, researchers, and mental health leaders, she contributed to discussions exploring how technology, artificial intelligence, social media, and digital culture are shaping the lives of children and youth. The committee examined the psychological skills, protective factors, and resilience-building strategies needed to support positive mental health and well-being in a rapidly changing, AI-enabled world, helping to inform future mental health promotion initiatives for children and families.
Upcoming September Events
Fri 4 – Deadline for tuition balance payment
Mon 7 – Labour Day
Tues 8 – First Day of School (noon dismissal) and First Day of Daycare
Wed 9 – Half Day (noon dismissal) Daycare available.
Thur 10 – Hot Lunch Program begins for registered students
Fri 11 – Rosh Hashanah begins at sunset
Wed 16 – First day of Wednesday Afternoon Program (JK to Grade 6)
Wed 16 – “All Parent & Teachers” September Social. JICS Gym. 6:00-7:30pm. Babysitting provided. Details coming soon.
Mon 21 – Yom Kippur (starts on Sept 20 at sunset)
Tues 22 – Fall Equinox
Wed 23 – Curriculum Night 6:00-9:00pm. Details coming soon.
Thur 24 – School-wide lice check
Fri 25 – Terry Fox Assembly and Run (JK-Gr 6)
Mon 28 – Photo Day. Details coming soon.
Wed 30 – National Day for Truth and Reconciliation/Orange Shirt Day. School assembly
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