Happy Lunar New Year, STEAM Night, JICS 100th Birthday Party, JICS at the Movies, Centennial Skate, & More!
- 56 minutes ago
- 6 min read
JICS at a Glance
We've condensed the important highlights for your convenience:
Happy Lunar New Year from JICS
Ramadan Mubarak!
JICS at the Movies - Buy your tickets now!
JICS Centennial Family Skate - Monday, March 23
Photos from our STEAM Night & 100th Birthday Celebration
Topics covered in this post:
(Click to navigate straight to a section)
1. Ramadan Mubarak!
Ramadan (February 18 to March 19) is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, communal prayer, reflection, and community. We are asking for parent volunteers to help us celebrate and learn—please reach out to your child’s teacher if you are interested.
2. 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!
See photos and videos of a traditional lion dance performance in the school gym.
3. 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.
4. 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!
5. STEAM Night
On February 11, we hosted our inaugural STEAM Night: 2026 Special Focus – Art & Math. Formerly known as Art Night, this reimagined evening celebrated creativity and mathematical thinking.
Students proudly guided their parents through a gallery tour of beautiful, student-created artwork from every grade, under the direction of our art teacher, Zarfishan, and visiting artist, Leah. The joy and confidence with which students spoke about their work was a highlight of the evening.
Following the art appreciation tour, families moved to the gym and nursery room to engage in hands-on math activities for all ages. These experiences showcased our developmental approach to mathematics, one that emphasizes curiosity, problem solving, collaboration, and deep conceptual understanding.
At JICS, we want children not only to develop strong math skills and understanding, but also to see themselves as capable mathematical thinkers, and to genuinely love math. We hope you left with some practical ideas for continuing to nurture mathematical thinking at home.
Thank you for being part of this special evening. Please enjoy the photos!
Photos from STEAM Night!
6. JICS Lab School 100th Birthday Celebration
On Friday, February 6, every student was invited to celebrate the 100th Birthday of JICS Lab School held on the 99th day of the school year!
To mark this centennial milestone, the school was transformed with festive streamers and birthday signs, beautifully created by our Grade 1 and Grade 4/5A Special Friends. Students showed their spirit by wearing UofT blue or JICS merchandise, filling the building with school pride.
We began the day with a hilarious puppet performance of The Three Little Pigs by Hugh Phillips, delighting all 202 students from Nursery through Grade 6. In the afternoon, students from JK to Grade 6 headed to the gym for a high-energy Soca dance lesson and dance party with instructor KJ McKnight, bringing even more joy and movement to the celebration.
As a special surprise, students enjoyed a pizza party, delicious cupcakes, and each child received a tiny birthday bear keepsake and “JICS 100 sticker” to remember the day.
A heartfelt thank you to our families for your generous donations to the JICS Parents’ Association, which made the puppet show and Soca dance experience possible. Your support helped create a joyful, high-energy celebration that brought our entire community together and made this milestone truly unforgettable.
Happy Birthday JICS: Soca Dance Party & Puppet Show!
7. March Break Camp at JICS
We are so excited to run our annual March Break Camp from March 9th to 13th. We will be open from 7:45am - 6:00pm. The events for the week will be:
Arts Galore
Sports
Chess Competition
Cooking with Flare
The children will be able to participate in all the above activities. The cost is $385.00. Two snacks per day will be provided. Children will need to bring a packed lunch.
Parents can register by emailing us at ics.after.school.daycare@gmail.com by February 28th, 2026. A confirmation email will be sent. Please register early as spots fill up quickly!
8. Natural Curiosity Program: Birds of Anishinaabe Aki: Ecology & Language
Deepen your connection to Anishinaabemowin and the natural world! Natural Curiosity, in partnership with The Outdoor Learning School and Store, is delighted to offer a special enrichment session: Birds of Anishinaabe Aki: Ecology & Language
This session, in collaboration with @CreatorsGarden, is a complimentary offering for all those who register for the Winter 2026 Anishinaabemowin Beginner Course. This can also be attended as a standalone session. Registration is available at no cost to all Indigenous people, and on a sliding scale to non-Indigenous participants. These registration fees help to cover the costs of future Indigenous language courses, including paying teachers,
facilitators and Elders appropriately, and makes the learning available to those whose language was stolen.
Don't miss this opportunity to connect with Anishinaabemowin on a deeper level! Register below for this event on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, from 5:00–6:30 PM.
We look forward to learning together!
Upcoming February Events
February is Black History Month
Tues 19 – Lunar New Year at JICS
Tues 24 to Fri 27 – Gr 4/5 overnight trip to YMCA Camp Pine Crest
Wed 25 – Anti-Bullying Day/Pink Shirt Day
Upcoming March Events
March is Read-athon Month
Ramadan (Feb 18 to Mar 19)
Mon 2 – JICS at the Movies “The Making of a Japanese” 6:30pm. Innis College Theatre Buy Tickets
Tues 3 – Purim
Wed 4 – Holi
Sun 8 – International Women’s Day
Mon 9 to Fri 13 – March Break Week 1 (School closed. Daycare open to registered users.)
Mon 16 to Fri 20 – March Break Week 2 (School and Daycare closed.)
Fri 20 – Eid al-Fitr & Nowruz & Spring Equinox
Mon 23 – Spring Term begins (Daycare opens at 7:45am)
Mon 23 – 5:00-7:00pm JICS Family Skate at UofT Varsity Arena
Wed 25 – Wednesday Afternoon Program – Term 3 start
Thur 26 – Last Day of 1st Year Teacher Candidates (JK to Grade 6)
Thur 26 – Lice Check (Thank you for your donations to the PA!)