First Week of School, Letter from the Parents Association, September Social, Curriculum Night & More!
- JICS Office
- Sep 4
- 7 min read
Updated: Sep 5
JICS at a Glance
We've condensed the important highlights for your convenience:
Letter from the Parent's Association (PA) President, Annie Williams
Wednesday Afternoon Program (WAP) Updates!
Curriculum Night: Wednesday, September 17, 6:00-8:00pm
September Social: Thursday September 25, 6:00-8:00pm
Registration links below!
Topics covered in this post:
(Click to navigate straight to a section)
1. The First Week of School
We hope this POST finds you all in great spirits as we celebrate the fantastic first week of school! It has been a remarkable beginning, filled with enthusiasm. The students’ eagerness to engage in learning has been inspiring. We are excited to embark on this new journey together with you and your children. At JICS, we firmly believe that a strong sense of community is essential for the growth and success of our students.
2. Letter from JICS Parent's Association (PA) President
Hello JICS Families,
Welcome back! And if you’re new to our community, a special warm welcome to you — we’re so glad you are here.
Greetings from the JICS Parents’ Association Executive! We’re a group of parent volunteers who help create a strong, connected school community by organizing social events, parent education sessions, and volunteer support for school initiatives. In plain terms, we’re here to help families get to know one another, actively foster a sense of belonging among everyone in the community, support our incredible teachers and staff, and make JICS an even more vibrant, welcoming place for our kids. All our work is rooted in our shared commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion — these values shape our choices, our programming, and the way we build community.
To give you a better idea of what we do, here’s a snapshot of the activities we organized last year:
September Social
Parent education events featuring:
Kai Cheng Thom
Dr. Twyla Kowalenko
Dr. Zia Lakdawalla
Bike Parade
Skate Swap
Clothing Swap
JICS x Al Runt clothing collaboration
Lice checks
Complimentary babysitting during selected events
Family Skate Days at UofT Varsity Arena
Implementation of an Inclusive fundraising structure
We've recently shifted to a turnkey approach, where a portion of tuition directly supports PA activities
This year, your PA Executive Team includes:
President – Annie Williams (parent: Gr 2 & Gr 5)
Vice President – Reena Killian (parent: SK & Gr 3)
Treasurer – Allen Yi (parent: Nursery & Gr 2)
Secretary/Communications – Nicole Lee (parent: JK)
Volunteer Coordinator – Casey Dabiet (parent: Nursery & Gr 6)
Past President – Megan Pearson (parent: JK, Gr 1, Gr 3 & Gr 5)
Parent Education – Julianna Klein (parent: Gr 5)
I also want to mention and thank all the parents who have volunteered to be Classroom Representatives this year, including Sabrina, Sam, David, Meg, Alissia, Stephie, Rouzhin, Jessica, Heather, Adrienne, Alexandra, Agha, Emily, Amber, Jessica, and Rebecca. We appreciate you!
What’s Coming Up: Annual September Social
We’d love for you to join us at the September School Social — a relaxed evening of food, drinks, and connection with other JICS families. It’s happening on Thursday, September 25th, from 6:00–8:00pm, at the school.
There will be delicious food, a cash bar, and free babysitting and dinner for current JICS students — just be sure to register in advance so we can plan accordingly.
Ways to Get Involved / Support:
Volunteer:
We’re always happy to welcome more helping hands. Whether you’d like to be part of the PA Executive, join the Parent Education Committee, or help out as a Class Rep, we’d love to hear from you. Right now, we’re especially looking for:
One Class Rep for the Grade 4/5R class
One Class Rep for the Grade 4/5A class
Volunteers for Photo Day (Monday, September 29 – morning)
Volunteers for The Terry Fox Run (Friday, September 19 – morning)
If you're interested, just send me a note at annmariewilliams@gmail.com
Donate:
As a JICS parent, you’re automatically a member of the Parents’ Association — your membership fee is included in your annual tuition. If you’d like to support the PA further by making an additional donation (eligible for a tax receipt), you can do so here: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/134067
Thank you for taking the time to read and engage. We’re looking forward to a meaningful year together and hope to connect with many of you — at the September Social and beyond.
Warmly,
Annie Williams
President, JICS Parents’ Association
3. Wednesday Afternoon Program (WAP) Update
Last week, we shared the programming and instructors for Grades 1–6. Today, we are delighted to announce the staffing for the JK and SK Wednesday Afternoon Program.
The JK WAP will be planned and facilitated in-house by Kenisha (JK) and Alicia (Nursery), with the support of an MA student. The SK WAP will be led by Zarfishan (MA CSE graduate) and Susan (Nursery). Children in both JK and SK will remain in their full class cohorts, with outdoor play built into the end of the day. The program is designed to be developmentally appropriate and play-based, ensuring engaging and meaningful experiences for all children. The WAP, JK to Grade 6, begins on September 10.
Zarfishan, Kenisha, Alicia & Susan
4. Curriculum Night - Wednesday, September 17, 6:00-8:00pm
We are looking forward to seeing all JICS Parents at Curriculum Night on Wednesday. This is a special and important evening designed for you to learn all about the exciting year ahead for your child. Our teachers have thoughtfully prepared to share what your child’s class will be exploring, learning, and accomplishing this year. You will also have the opportunity to ask questions about the curriculum and teaching methods. While this event isn’t meant for individual parent-teacher conferences (those will be held on November 5th and 7th), it will give you a comprehensive look at what is in store for your child, the teachers they will be learning from, and the expectations for their grade level.
What to Expect: The evening will begin with entry through 45 Walmer Road, starting at 5:45 PM. Below is the schedule to guide you through the night.
6:00 PM – 6:45 PM: Curriculum presentations for parents of children in Nursery, JK, SK, Grades 1 & 2. (Please note that these presentations will start promptly at 6:00 PM, so we encourage you to arrive on time.)
6:50 PM – 7:05 PM: All parents will gather in the school gym for a warm welcome and introductions of classroom and specialty teachers.
7:10 PM – 7:55 PM: Curriculum presentations for parents of children in Grades 3, 4, 5, & 6.
Time | Presentation | Grades | Location |
6:00pm (sharp) – 6:45pm (sharp) | Individual Grade Curriculum | Nursery, JK, SK, Grade 1, Grade 2 | Classrooms of: Nursery, JK, SK, Grade 1, Grade 2 |
6:50pm-7:05pm | Welcome, Introductions of staff | All Grades | Gym |
7:10pm (sharp) – 7:55pm (sharp) | Individual Grade Curriculum | Grade 3, Grade 4/5 Raadiyah, Grade 4/5 Audrey, Grade 6 | Classrooms of: Grade 3, Grade 4/5 Raadiyah, Grade 4/5 Audrey, Grade 6 |
Specialty Classes: Curious about subjects like French, Visual Arts, Drama, Phys Ed, Special Ed, Library, Music, STEM, and Land-Based Education? During Curriculum Night, a specialty teacher will join one of the classroom teachers to give a brief overview of their program. Plus, all specialty teachers will be introduced in the gym at 6:50 PM. A more detailed look at the specialty classes will also be included in a future POST.
As this is an adults-only event, please note that we are unfortunately unable to provide babysitting services.
5. September Social - Thursday September 25, 6:00-8:00pm
To kickstart our centennial year and our journey towards building a vibrant inter-connected community as described by PA President, Annie in her letter above, we are excited about our first PA event of the school year, the "September Social” on Thursday, September 25, from 6:00PM to 8:00PM, right here in our school gym.
The PA is thoughtfully providing free babysitting for your children (who currently attend the school), along with a pizza dinner for them. This will enable parents to connect in a relaxed, informal setting. It is a great opportunity for adults to come together, strengthen existing bonds, and forge new connections. Register for babysitting HERE!
We sincerely hope that each and every JICS parent will join us for the September Social on September 25th. It promises to be an evening of camaraderie, where we can celebrate our shared vision and the wonderful community we are creating together. A link for the September Social registration is available below! We can't wait to see you there!
6. Arrival Information
Nursery
Nursery parents/caregivers enter the school through the school yard to drop-off their child at their scheduled staggered arrival time. Please do not park in front of the school until 8:45am as we are running a no parking “Kiss and Drive” for JK to Grade 6 students from 8:35-8:45am.
JK-SK-Grade 1
Teachers will be outside to greet parents and children at 8:35am.
Grades 2 to 6
The school doors open for arrival at 8:35am. Children enter the building at that time. Teachers are meeting with Teacher-Candidates/Staff to discuss the day prior to 8:35.
Driving, Drop-Off and Parking
There is no parking in front of the school from 8:35-8:45AM. Parents who need to park must find another location in order to keep the drop-off zone clear or park after 8:45AM.
Parents are asked to drive northbound on Walmer to the school and create a queue of vehicles. Staff on duty will assist child getting out of the vehicle and walking to their entrance point.
Parents are asked to remain inside the vehicle and immediately exit the drop-off area once children have entered the school area to ease congestion and maintain flow. Please ensure that your child’s bag/lunch is accessible by your child.
Please do not block the driveway of our neighbours to the south or north.
A list of local paid parking can be found here: https://www.oise.utoronto.ca/jics/contact/
Nursery families are welcome to park in front of the school beginning at 8:45AM.
7. Crossing Guard, Wolfgang
Please say hi to our crossing guard, Wolfgang! Wolfgang brings a wealth of experience from his time as a TCDSB school caretaker, and he is delighted to be returning to the JICS Lab School community. He kindly advises all caregivers/parents to exercise caution and maintain a reduced speed when approaching the intersection of Walmer Road and Kendal Avenue. This thoughtful approach ensures the safety of our precious children as they cross the road.
Upcoming September Events
Fri 5 – (noon) Deadline for Hot Lunch Program registration
Mon 8 – Hot Lunch Program begins for registered students
Wed 10 – First day of Wednesday Afternoon Program (JK to Grade 6)
Fri 12 – School-wide lice check
Mon 15 to Fri 19 – JICS Safety Practice Week (fire drill, lock-down drill)
Wed 17 – Curriculum Night 6:00-9:00pm (details coming soon)
Fri 19 – Terry Fox Run. JK to Gr 6 (details coming soon)
Mon 22 – Fall Equinox
Mon 22 to Wed 24 – Rosh Hashanah
Wed 24 – Rowan’s Day (Concussion Awareness)
Thur 25 – JICS “All Parent” September Social 6:00-8:00pm. Free babysitting - Register.
Mon 29 – Photo Day (details coming soon)
Mon 29 – Parents’ Association “All Parents” Meeting 7:00pm
Tues 30 – National Day for Truth and Reconciliation/Orange Shirt Day. School assembly
Comments