Topics covered in this post:
1. Health and Safety
a. Screening at Home For Symptoms
We have seen an increase in the number of absences related to illness over the last two weeks. Please screen your child each morning for symptoms: CLICK HERE FOR TPH SCREENING.
To keep all the children and staff as healthy as possible and to reduce the spread of colds and other illnesses, please keep your child home when ill. A sick child may not fully enjoy being at school or have the energy to take on challenges; the best place for recovery is usually at home. Parents often let us know that they feel unsure as to whether their child is well enough to come to school. Here are some guidelines:
Beyond the covid-19 screening, please keep your children at home if they have:
a temperature of 37.8C or higher and/or chills
vomited that morning or the day before
diarrhea that morning or day before
nausea
a rash that could be contagious
pink eye or itchy, oozing, swollen eyes
impetigo, ringworm, or pinworm
a severe cold with sore throat, runny nose, sneezing, or bad cough
fatigue, without enough energy to participate in school.
b. When Symptoms Arise During the School Day
Sometimes a child develops symptoms while at school. When children are showing new signs of illness at school, they are evaluated as to whether school is the best place for them to be. We will phone you if your child is unwell so that together we can make appropriate arrangements for his or her day. Parent and caregivers will be called if:
the child is not able to participate fully in school activities due to their ill health
they need care beyond what can be provided in the school environment
they are contagious and risk spreading illness to others.
A child who develops symptoms is brought to the school office where school administrators and teachers can determine whether the child should be isolated and sent home. Any child or staff member who develops symptoms of a communicable illness is removed from the classroom and shared school spaces. Parents and caregivers can pick up their sick child from the school office.
c. Returning to School After Illness
Generally, a child should be free of symptoms or vastly improving for 24 hours before returning to school (48 hours for nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea symptoms), whether related to COVID-19 or not. A reminder to all that children just returning to school from illness, or those with any residual coughs, runny noses, or other symptoms, please come to school with masks.
To those who make the difficult decision to keep their children home when ill, we thank you for making a choice that benefits everyone, and hope your children feel better soon.
2. Parent Education: Connected Parenting and Anxiety The Importance of Connection, How to Build a Meaningful Relationship with your Child, and How to Help them Manage Feelings of Anxiety
Wednesday, November 9, 7:00-8:30pm
This is not another workshop about parenting advice or one that outlines yet another list of skills or strategies you need to acquire to be the “perfect” parent. This is a workshop that focusses on understanding connection in human relationships – specifically the critical importance of connection in parent-child relationships. It focusses on the WHY and the HOW TO. We will take a deeper dive into a positive parenting model that really works, called Connected Parenting. Connected Parenting helps parents understand that a few adjustments in how they interact with, and respond to their child, can dramatically impact their relationship in the short and long term.
Please send questions about parenting in advance to Parent Ed Coordinator Kerry or include your questions in your registration and Ulrica will address your questions during the workshop.
3. Parent Teacher Interviews
November 16 & November 23
The Fall interviews are an opportunity for a conversation with your child’s teacher who will share initial observations about your child’s academic profile as well as their social emotional development. We welcome your questions about your child and their progress at school and any information you may want to share that will help us to better understand your child and support their school experience.
Interviews are short – usually 20 minutes and in person. Teachers are preparing to describe observations of progress to date and may share information from the specialty teachers. In addition to the classroom teacher, your interview time may include one or more of the following: MA intern, Special Ed teacher and/or Chriss or Richard. At the JICS Lab School, the classroom teachers work collaboratively with the admin team, the specialty teachers, the interns, and the Spec Ed teachers. We meet weekly to discuss the progress and needs of children. Students do not have to be identified on the Spec Ed Caseload to benefit from this shared building of understanding. Our Special Ed teachers spend much of their time in the classroom and offer supports to all children; they provide a long-term multi-year view of the progress and development of children.
Please note that the interviews are designed as an in-person, adult-only experience so that teachers and parents can speak frankly and openly about the child’s progress.
Although we set aside formal parent-teacher interview dates in the Fall and Spring, parent-teacher communication is continuous throughout the school year. We welcome and encourage open and honest conversations at any time so that we can work together to best support your child's learning and enjoyment of school.
The dedicated interview dates are Wednesday, November 16 and Wednesday, November 23. Your child’s teacher may list other available days/times. Please contact your child’s teacher if the available times do not match your availability. Below are the links to sign up for your Fall interview with your child’s/children’s teachers.
Nursery >> Click Here
JK >> Click Here
SK >> Click Here
Grade 1 >> Click Here
Grade 2 >> Complete
Grade 3 >> Click Here
Grade 4/5 Ben >> Click Here
Grade 4/5 Zoe >> Click Here
Grade 6 >> Click Here
4. Financial Support – November 10 Deadline
Tuition support is available to current students entering Grades 3-6 in the 2023-2024 school year. The deadline for applications to Apple Financial is November 10.
5. JICS at the Movies: Women Talking and Brother
This year’s fundraising focus is the Diana Rankin Muncaster Family (DRMF) Tuition Support Fund. The Fund offers needs-based support that will both enable to increase diversity and retain current JICS families in financial need. Our goal is to raise $150,000 through multiple planned events this year.
We are delighted to share two very exciting fundraising opportunity to and for our community!
On Friday, November 11 (6:30-9:30pm), we will screen the film Women Talking, written and directed by Sarah Polley based on the 2018 novel of the same name by Miriam Toews. The 2022 film will be released theatrically in December and has been screened at the Telluride Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, New York Film Festival, and AFI Fest. There will be a Q&A with Sarah Polley following the film.
Purchase tickets for Women Talking >> CLICK HERE
On Sunday, November 20 (7:30-10:30pm) we will screen the film Brother, an adaptation of David Chariandy’s award-winning novel, Brother, directed by Clement Virgo and produced by Damon D’Oliveira. The film premiered at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival and has also screened at FIN Atlantic Film Festival and BFI London Film Festival. Damon D’Oliveira, David Chariandy and Clement Virgo will join us for a Q and A following the screening.
Purchase tickets for Brother >> CLICK HERE
Huge thanks to JICS Parents, Sarah Polley and Damon D’ Oliveira for offering your films in support of the DRMF Tuition Support Fund!
Purchase tickets here for Women Talking. Friday, November 11 (6:30-9:30pm)
Purchase tickets here for Brother. Sunday, November 20 (7:30-10:30pm) Space is limited. *Please note the different start times.
Thank you for supporting diversity at the JICS Lab School, Canada’s independent lab school with a public purpose.
6. School Closed on Monday, November 14
We hope everyone enjoys the Midterm Holiday on Monday, November 14.
The Lab School will be closed, and the Daycare will be open (8:00am to 6:00pm).
Please contact Anne Marie, Daycare Director if you are interested in registering your child: ics.after.school.daycare@gmail.com
7. CUPE Strike
As you no doubt are aware, education workers in Ontario schools represented by CUPE gave the required five days’ notice of their intention to begin strike. The government has responded by introducing legislation to prevent the strike and impose a 4-year contract on them.
While the strike does NOT impact the JICS Lab School (the Lab School is open tomorrow), we stand with CUPE education workers and defend the right to free and fair collective bargaining.
8. November is Hindu Heritage Month
In 2016, the Government of Ontario declared the month of November each year as Hindu Heritage Month. Canadians of Hindu faith have greatly contributed to civic life in Canada for decades and they are a vibrant part of the growth and prosperity of Toronto, Ontario, and Canada. November is an opportunity for our community to celebrate the Hindu way of life, examine its impact and contributions to the world culture, and recognize values which promote compassion, mutual respect, and inclusion.
At the JICS Lab School, we are always working to educate ourselves about the beautiful diversity that exists in the world to create respectful and accurate learning experiences for the children. We invite parents to enrich our learning by sharing your Hindu identity with us, this month, or any time in the year. Please contact your child’s/children’s teacher/s.
9. School Photos
a. Halloween Fun
Enjoy the photos of our spooky day. The day was filled with goblins, ghosts, and other excitements. Thanks to JICS music teachers, Suzanne and Russell, for leading us in Halloween songs at our assembly.
An extra-special thank you to Paige, in reception, for transforming the school into a Minion world! "Despicable Me" was the 2022 theme. The school was transformed into Gru's House. Richard was Gru and the staff dressed as minions, Gru's family, and other characters from the films.
And thank you to parents for your help in making the day special.
b. Photos from the Week at JICS
Pumpkin Math in Grade 4/5
Primary Recess
Library Scenes
TDSB City Finals Cross Country Meet
Baking Elective: Cookie Week
10. Upcoming November Events
All Month – Hindu Heritage Month
Wed 9 – Due date for JICS sibling registration for Nursery 2023-2024
Wed 9 – Parent Education: Connected Parenting and Anxiety. Click Here for event info
Thur 10 – Due date for applications to Apple Financial for 2023-2024 tuition support
Fri 11 – Remembrance Day Assembly (JK to Gr 6)
Fri 11 – JICS at the Movies: screening of film Women Talking at Innis College Theatre
Mon 14 – Midterm Holiday. School closed. Daycare open.
Wed 16 – Parent Teacher Interview Day
Sun 20 – JICS at the Movies: screening of film Brother at Innis College Theatre
Tues 22 – Parent Education: Lunch and Learn with Ellie and Christel. 12:30-1:30pm
Wed 23 – Parent Teacher Interview Day
