International Day of Pink at JICS, Parents Association Meeting, Tuition Reminder, Read-a-thon Announcement, Upcoming Parent Teacher Interviews, & More!
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JICS at a Glance
We've condensed the important highlights for your convenience:
Parent Teacher Interviews - Register Now - Links Below
Save the date for Hot Dog Night - June 3
"All Parents" Meeting - Wednesday April 15 at 7:00pm (Zoom)
JICS Centennial Golf Tournament - Register Now!
An announcement from Natural Curiosity
Topics covered in this post:
(Click to navigate straight to a section)
1. International Day of Pink at JICS - Tomorrow!
On April 10, the JICS community will come together to celebrate the International Day of Pink. Students, staff, and families are invited to wear rainbow colours as we stand in solidarity with the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and affirm our shared commitment to equality, acceptance, and a world free from bullying. We are proud to recognize and celebrate the diversity that strengthens our community.
Assembly: 9:00 a.m. in the gym. All parents and caregivers are warmly welcome to attend.
Colour Assignments:
JK – Red
SK – Green
Grade 1 – Orange
Grade 2 – Purple
Grade 3 – Yellow
Grade 4/5 (Audrey) – Blue
Grade 4/5 (Raadiyah) – Black
Grade 6 – Brown
Specialty Teachers, Administration, and Parents – Pink
2. Le Semaine de la Francophonie in JICS - April 13 to 17
We are excited to celebrate La Semaine de la Francophonie, inspired by the International Day of La Francophonie. This special week highlights the richness and diversity of the French language and cultures around the world.
Throughout the week, students will take part in a variety of engaging and fun activities designed to bring French to life. From interactive games and lively songs to creative classroom experiences, our goal is to foster a love for this beautiful language in an enjoyable and meaningful way.
If you are interested in reading a book or leading an activity in French, please contact one of the French teachers.
Tania - Primary French Christel - Junior French
We look forward to a joyful week celebrating this beautiful language!
La Semaine de la Francophonie in JICS - 2024/2025!
3. Parents' Association "All Parents" Meeting - Wednesday, April 15 at 7:00pm (Zoom)
Please mark your calendars for our upcoming “All Parents” Parents’ Association meeting. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn how our school community has been enriched through parent involvement, both through volunteer efforts and through initiatives supported by your contributions and donations to the PA.
We will also share details about upcoming events, including Grandpals Day and Hot Dog Night, and provide information about PA Executive positions that will be open for the coming year.
4. School Closed - Friday, April 17
On Friday, April 17, the school is closed as the JICS teachers and staff will engage in Parent-Teacher Interviews.
The Daycare program will remain open from 7:45 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Throughout the day, children registered in Daycare will have access to the gym for sports activities, enjoy creative projects inspired by spring colours, and participate in a variety of games.
Two snacks will be provided; however, families are asked to send a lunch (The Daycare staff is able to heat lunches if needed). The daily fee is $80.00.
If you would like your child to attend, please email ics.after.school.daycare@gmail.com to reserve a spot.
5. Second 2026-2027 Tuition Payment Due - April 20
The second tuition payment is due on April 20, 2026. This payment is non-refundable and representing 50% of the balance tuition balance ($13,915). Please make your cheque payable to the University of Toronto.
Shama is available in the school office each school day, 8:00am to 4:00pm. She is happy to receive post-dated cheques in advance of April 20.
The final tuition payment is due September 1, 2026.
6. Parent Teacher Interviews: April 15, 17
Below are the links to sign up for your Spring interview with your child’s/children’s teachers. More information about parent teacher interviews can be found in last week’s POST.
Classroom Teachers
Nursery - https://signup.com/go/oWTsaRy
Grade 1 - https://signup.com/go/RLKQANv
Grade 2 - https://signup.com/go/kpoqmCH
Grade 3 - https://signup.com/go/JKpbXHH
Grade 4/5A - https://signup.com/go/GohafRY
Grade 4/5R - https://signup.com/go/zrqgnuJ
Grade 6 - https://signup.com/go/YQzgJNB
Specialties
Grade 1-6 Music (Russell) - https://signup.com/go/BzKwgxV
Nursery, JK, SK Music (Bailey) - https://signup.com/go/CTdRJzP
Visual Arts (Tara) - https://signup.com/go/JLWgVZr
Phys Ed (Luke) - https://signup.com/go/nZZSECq
Library (Krista) - https://signup.com/go/PKKQNXa
JK - Grade 2 French (Tania) - https://signup.com/go/zPzAMdc
Grade 3-6 French (Christel) - https://signup.com/go/txNkWuV
Drama (Sarah) - https://signup.com/go/KwOBqnc
7. Wednesday Afternoon Program - Movie Afternoon, April 15
To accommodate the Parent-Teacher Interviews taking place on the afternoon of Wednesday, April 15, all Grade 1 to Grade 6 students registered in the Wednesday Afternoon Program will enjoy a Movie Afternoon.
Grades 1 to 3 students will watch the movie in Room 120.
Grades 4 to 6 students will watch the movie in the Lunchroom.
8. Read-a-thon Fundraiser - Announcement
Dear JICS Families,
I hope that your family has enjoyed a fantastic March filled with reading! Our Read-a-Thon Fundraiser has come to a close, so please be sure to make any last-minute donations either by bringing them to the school, or submitting them in the online portal. We are grateful for every contribution.
Warmly,
Krista Spence,
JICS Teacher-Librarian, Land-Based Educator and Technology Integrator
9. JICS Centennial Golf Tournament
We’re excited to share that registration is now officially open for the JICS Centennial Golf Championship — Fore the Future!
On Tuesday, June 16, 2026, we will gather at Angus Glen Golf Club to celebrate 100 years of the Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study transforming not only individual lives, but the broader landscape of education.
From pioneering research that shapes classrooms across Canada to generations of graduates who've become educational leaders nationwide — JICS hasn't just educated children, it's revolutionized how we think about learning itself.
What awaits you:
Championship golf on the exclusive South Course at Angus Glen
Curated gourmet food and beverage experiences throughout the day
Premium contests, prizes, and friendly competition
Evening reception, awards presentation, and celebration
Networking with fellow changemakers
That electric JICS community energy
Tickets Now Available:
Foursome – $2,000 A full day of championship golf for four, including shared carts, curated on course food and beverage stations, and evening reception tickets for each golfer.
(Player names may be submitted at a later date.)
Individual Golfer – $600 A full day of championship golf, including a shared cart, curated on course food and beverage stations, and evening reception ticket.
(Individual golfers will be paired for a competitive and enjoyable round.)
Evening Reception – $100 Join us starting 6:00 PM for cocktail hour, followed by reception, awards, and celebration.
All skill levels are welcome — whether you're ready to show off your swing or picking up clubs for the first time, this day is about coming together as a community!
Sponsorship Opportunities:
Sponsorship offers a unique opportunity to elevate your brand, host clients or colleagues, engage your team, and align your organization with a century-long legacy of educational excellence.
Ideal for companies looking to build relationships, reward teams, fulfill
social responsibility goals and demonstrate community leadership.
Hole Sponsorship — $3,000
Foursome included for 18 holes of championship golf
Logo signage displayed at your sponsored hole
Opportunity to host your own on-course activation or contest
Recognition on event signage, website, and social media
Advertisement in the souvenir program
Specialty Hole Sponsorship — $3,500
(Hole-in-One, Longest Drive, Closest to the Keg, Putting Contest, etc.)
Foursome included for 18 holes of championship golf
Exclusive branding at a high-engagement specialty hole
Opportunity to run a signature contest or activation
Recognition on event signage, website, and social media
Prominent advertisement in the souvenir program
For organizations seeking elevated visibility or multiple foursomes, premier sponsorship packages range from $7,500–$15,000, including Title, Gold, Cart, Beverage sponsorships and experiential activations.
For customized partnerships, corporate matching, or sponsorship inquiries, please contact reesa.barkhouse@utoronto.ca.
Your Impact Matters:
Your participation supports the JICS Endowment Fund for economic diversity – making a profound difference for families who would not otherwise be able to send their child to the Lab School. At JICS, diversity is not an aspiration, it is a moral imperative and an essential component of a meaningful education.
As a laboratory school committed to improving public education through research and knowledge mobilization, having a student population that reflects a broad range of lived experiences is critical to the integrity and impact of our work.
Your participation directly strengthens that mission.
10. Save the Date - Hot Dog Night 2026
Dear JICS families,
Please save the date and come celebrate the JICS Centennial Hot Dog Night on June 3,
6-8 pm. Did you know that JICS and the Toronto hot dog scene were both newly emerging in the 1920s? To celebrate this cultural and culinary serendipity and all of the joy it has brought over the last 100 years, lettuce come together to ketchup with friends, relish great food, and mustard up the courage to explore this year’s hot dog night surprises! And there are quite a few good ones…How can you help make hotdog night special?
Donations of food, snacks, non-alcoholic beverages, raffle prizes or games would be greatly appreciated. If you’d like to contribute, please email Naram Mansour at naram@carlylecommunities.com.
Message brought to you by the Grade 1 Hot Dog Committee, loving hot dogs since 1926.
11. Full Circle: Grade 7s Reunite and Inspire
On March 31, we welcomed back our graduates now in Grade 7 for a special visit with the current Grade 6 students. In small group conversations, they offered thoughtful advice and encouragement about the transition to a new school. It was a joy for teachers to reconnect with our former students and hear how well they are thriving in their new environments. The playful and natural reconnection between the two grades, especially on the playground, was heartwarming to witness. We were truly impressed by the maturity and insight our alumni shared.
12. The Natural Curiosity Program
Join Natural Curiosity for an online Ojibwe language course. This initiative stems from our commitment towards reconciliation and to foster and promote Indigenous perspectives and intercultural understanding within our educational community.
This course is open to everyone – both Indigenous and non-Indigenous participants who wish to learn to uplift language revitalization. Learning sessions start April 14th, 2026, and the EARLY Bird pricing is available until March 31, 2026.
Unable to commit to the course but want to help make Indigenous language learning more accessible? Your donation to Natural Curiosity directly supports language revitalization, ensuring more learners can access these vital programs.
Upcoming April Events
Passover (April 1 to 9)
Fri 10 – International Day of Pink at JICS
Fri 10 – Holy Friday (Orthodox)
Mon 13 to Fri 17 – La Semaine de la Francophonie (JK to Gr 6)
Tues 14 – Vaisakhi
Wed 15 – Parent/Teacher Interview Afternoon
Wed 15 – 7:00pm JICS Parent's Association "All Parent" Meeting (zoom)
Fri 17 – Parent/Teacher Interview Day. School closed. Daycare open.
Mon 20 – Due date for 2nd tuition payment (50% of balance)
Mon 20 to Fri 24 – International Association of Lab Schools Conference, Finland: Richard, Chriss, Jessica, Judith. Acting Principal: Zoe Donoahue
Fri 24 to Tues 28 – Richard and Chriss in Brno and Prague, Czech Republic, IALS Lab School Tour. Acting Principal: Zoe Donoahue
Wed 22 – Earth Day
Tues 28 to Fri May 1 – Grade 6 trip to Camp Wanakita