Last Day of School, Grade 6 Graduation, Annual Parent Questionnaire and Report Cards, Library Report, Veggie Garden Updates, & More!
- Jun 4
- 12 min read
Updated: Jun 5
JICS at a Glance
We've condensed the important highlights for your convenience
Topics covered in this post:
(Click to navigate straight to a section)
1. Hot Dog Night
Hot Dog Night 2026 was a tremendous success. The positive energy, excitement, and appreciation was palpable as we gathered as a community, in the coolest t-shirts, reconnecting, and making new friends. We are so happy to celebrate with many of the new students and families who will start their JICS journey in September.
Grade 1 Parents, you masterfully, thoughtfully, and magically transformed our school into a lively and colourful carnival, filled with fun activities and yummy food. Thank you, Grade 1 Parent Reps Extraordinaire: Rouzhin and Jessica, and all the amazing Grade 1 parents: Sonia, Raj, Naram, Peter, Sam, Sam, Pat, Julie, Zoe, Paul, Karline, Katie, Megan, Jason, Alexander, Val, Monica, Justin, Emily, tom, Kaia, Khaled, Dan, Tori, Surbhi, Gaurav, Ran, Ying, Spike, Semay, Jason, Michelle, Alex, Nathalie, Brian, Eri, Scott, Carissa, Amber, Andrew, and Leslie!
To the parent and student volunteers who helped with supervision, activities, and clean up, thank you.
We will share photos of the wonderful event in next week’s POST.
We look forward to next year’s Hot Dog Night on June 9, 2027 organized by next year’s Grade 1 parents!
2. Daycare Staffing
We are sad to announce that Silvana and Valentina will be moving on from the ICS Daycare following the end of the June Camp.
Silvana has been an integral part of this community for over 20 years, caring for children of all ages with thoughtfulness, energy, and deep passion. Over her years at the ICS Daycare, she has contributed extensively to programming and planning for the year and June Camps, led the Creative Play (Early Years Wednesday Afternoon Program), supervised the Daycare Chess Program, and worked closely with Nursery children in the afternoon program. Her care, nurturing, and dedication have left a lasting impact that will not be forgotten.
Valentina, though more recently joined, has also made a meaningful contribution to the community. She has worked with Nursery children in the afternoon program and in the Early Years After School Program, offering consistent care, warmth, and attention.
We are deeply grateful to both Silvana and Valentina for their contributions, and we hope you will join us in celebrating their work and wishing them every success in the next chapter of their journeys.
3. Message from Richard
Dear JICS Families,
As we approach the final weeks of the school year, I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to you for your unwavering support, trust, and partnership. Your commitment to our shared mission of providing exemplary education to the children of the JICS Lab School is what makes our work so meaningful. Together, we have continued to nurture a vibrant intentionally-diverse learning environment and to advance research that contributes to the improvement of public school education in Canada and beyond.
All the best,
Richard
4. Message from Ann-Marie, President of the JICS Parents' Association
Hello JICS Families,
On behalf of the Parent Association Executive Team—Allen Yi, Reena Killian, and myself—thank you to all our families for helping make this such a memorable year. We are so grateful to everyone who volunteered, attended events, shared traditions and knowledge in classrooms, and contributed to the vibrant community that makes JICS such a special place.
Throughout the year, the PA Executive met bi-weekly with Richard and Chriss to plan events, strengthen programs, and improve communication with families. Some recent highlights included Family Skate Night, the Bike Parade, and two fantastic parent education events featuring our in-house psychologist, Trina Epstein, and parenting expert Alyson Schafer. It's hard to believe we're already at the end of another school year!
A few special thank-yous to:
Our Class Reps, who shared information, organized socials, and helped keep families connected throughout the year.
Our Parent Education Committee—Julianna Klein, Nicole Lee, Marcia Bumbury, and Chriss Bogert—for curating such an engaging and thoughtful series of events.
Casey Dabiet, our Volunteer Coordinator, for bringing together so many parent volunteers and helping make our events a success.
Our Grade One families, who delivered an amazing Hot Dog Night for the whole community to enjoy.
The Parents of BIPOC Children Group, whose work continues to enrich and strengthen the school's programming and community life.
All the parents who supported fundraising initiatives and contributed to the JICS Endowment Fund. Your generosity helps strengthen the school for years to come.
Looking ahead, we're seeking parents interested in joining the Parent Association next year in two key volunteer roles:
Volunteer Coordinator – helping organize parent volunteers for events throughout the year.
Communications Coordinator – supporting our “All Parents” meetings by taking and distributing minutes.
If you'd like to learn more, please reach out to me at annmariewilliams@gmail.com. The PA Executive will stay connected over the summer as we prepare for fall events and help welcome new families into the JICS community. So, feel free to contact me anytime.
Our Class Reps will also be passing the torch for next year. If you'd like to step into the role and help build community within your child's class, please let them know!
A quick note for next year: the Parent Association will be returning to a tiered donation model to support our programming next year (this year, PA fees were included in tuition). We'll share more information in September. All JICS parents are automatically members of the Parent Association, and the tiered model allows families to contribute at a level that feels right for them while helping support the events, initiatives, and community-building activities that bring us together throughout the year.
And finally, to close out the year, the Parent Association will be hosting a Teacher Appreciation Lunch on the last day of school to celebrate and thank our incredible teachers, staff, and administrators for all they do for our children.
Wishing all JICS families a wonderful, restful, and adventure-filled summer!
All my best,
Annie
5. Grade 6 Graduation
Grade 6 parents, invited guests, staff, and all children (JK to Gr 5) are gathering for Grade 6 graduation which will take place in the afternoon of Thursday, June 11 and will feature an original play performed by our Grade 6s as a gift to the school community. Many thanks to Sarah Murray, our Drama Teacher, who writes, directs, and produces the play, Grade 6 teacher, Walker who organizes all aspects of the ceremony, and the support team of Krista, Nick, Judith, Christel and Luke. A special thanks to the Grade 6 parents who have arranged a reception following graduation for the graduates, and to the Grade 5 parent-volunteers who help the reception run smoothly.
6. Last Day of School - Friday, June 12
All students will begin the day with our final school assembly of the year.
At 11:50 a.m., our JK to Grade 5 students will gather along a designated pathway in the playground to "clap out" our Grade 6 graduates as they make their final walk through the school community to the next exciting chapter of their lives.
All parents are warmly invited to participate. The playground gates will open for parents once the JK–Grade 5 students are in place along the route.
Daycare will operate from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Children attending Daycare will proceed there directly after dismissal. Please contact Anne Marie with any updates to your child's Daycare arrangements.
Please note that there will be no hot lunch program on Friday.
7. Annual Questionnaires and Report Cards
Annual Questionnaires (annual school registration forms) and Term 2 Report Cards will be available to all parents by Friday, June 19, 2026.
You will receive a separate email once both are ready to be accessed and downloaded through your Parent Portal here.
What you will find once logged in:
Annual Questionnaires (annual school registration forms) for the 2026/2027 school year – to complete by June 30, 2026
Report Cards - the 2025/2026 Term 2 report cards will be available to download, along with past report cards
Please see the PARENT PORTALS page on the JICSFamily website for more information about Annual Questionnaires.
8. School Crossing Guard Appreciation Week
This week is School Guard Appreciation Week. We invite parents and children to thank Wolfgang this week (and every week!) for keeping us safe in our travels to and from school each day.
9. JICS Library Books
Please look around your home to find any JICS library books and kindly return them to Krista ASAP. The school building is open all June.
10. Lost and Found
On the last day of school, the remaining unclaimed clothing will be donated. Parents please use these final days to check our collection. Ask Paige for directions!
11. Our Veggie Garden Needs You!
The JICS container garden is alive and well this year, and we are once again looking for families who would be interested in taking on a week of summer watering to help our veggies and herbs thrive. We are currently growing beans, kale, nasturtiums, tomatoes, pumpkins (with our seeds from Halloween!), cucumbers, raspberries, carrots, bell peppers, lettuce, anise, dill and thyme.
If you and your children are interested in a week of summer watering, please sign up here.
Of course, you are also encouraged to harvest the veggies during the summer and enjoy eating from our garden. We also welcome you to add your own herbs or veggies to the containers as well. After signing-up, we will contact you with instructions. Thank you for helping our plants survive the summer heat. The students always have fun when they come back to a fall harvest!
12. Staff PD Week
Monday, June 15 to Friday, June 19
The week following the end of the school year is dedicated to professional learning and collaboration for our classroom and specialty teachers. A highlight of the week will be a session with Dr. Laurie Faith, who will share her research-based approaches to supporting the development of executive function (EF) skills in the classroom.
Executive functions are the cognitive processes that work alongside intellect and creativity to help us respond effectively to challenges. These skills develop throughout childhood and adolescence, continuing to mature into our mid-twenties. They enable us to focus attention, manage time, stay organized, regulate emotions, and follow through on plans and goals.
As part of our ongoing professional learning, staff will be reading Dr. Faith’s book, Executive Function Skills in the Classroom: Overcoming Barriers and Building Strategies, over the summer and exploring ways to incorporate its practical strategies into our teaching and learning environments.
13. Library Report 2025-2026
The JICS Library collection and program are designed to ensure that every student sees aspects of their own identity reflected in the books they read while also learning about diverse cultures, perspectives, experiences, and beliefs. Throughout the year, our collection has been enriched with outstanding picture books, graphic novels, and novels that celebrate a wide range of voices and identities.
New titles were carefully selected from award-winning and recommended reading lists, including Jane Addams Children’s Book Award recipients, Caldecott Medal winners, and Newbery Medal winners. We also expanded our collection to better represent diverse holidays, traditional literature, and graphic novels. Books were purchased from Indigo, Book City, Queen Books, and Inhabit Media, with a small number of titles sourced through Amazon when unavailable elsewhere.
Fundraising Successes
Book Night – December 3, 2025
Book Night was once again a tremendous success, with enthusiastic participation from students and families. Another Story Bookshop hosted a book fair on December 2 and 3, generating more than $6,000 in sales and earning the library $1,310 in book credits.
The innovative Book Night format has attracted broader attention, and an article highlighting the event is currently being prepared for publication in the Canadian School Libraries Journal as a model for promoting literacy and a love of reading in schools.
Read-a-Thon – March 2026
This year's Read-a-Thon was exceptionally successful, with strong participation across all grades. Together, our students raised an impressive $8,626.80, nearly doubling last year's total of $4,383. The enthusiasm and commitment demonstrated by our readers were truly inspiring.
Special Visitor
In May, students enjoyed a visit from acclaimed Welsh storyteller Daniel Morden, whose engaging storytelling captivated audiences and highlighted the power of oral traditions.
Reading Programs
This year saw tremendous enthusiasm for the Ontario Library Association’s Forest of Reading Program, which encourages students to broaden their reading experiences and engage with outstanding Canadian literature.
Blue Spruce Program – Grade 1
Grade 1 students enjoyed listening to all ten Canadian picture books shortlisted for the Blue Spruce Award. Through discussions and related activities, students explored the qualities that make a favourite book and will soon cast their votes. Their selections were submitted to the Ontario Library Association and combined with votes from children across Canada to determine the winning title.
Silver Birch Program – Grades 4–6
More than 35 students in Grades 4–6 participated in the Silver Birch reading program, setting a new record for involvement. Students challenged themselves to read from a list of ten nominated novels, with many aiming to complete at least five books and several successfully reading all ten. To support this level of participation, the library purchased multiple copies of each title to keep books circulating among readers.
A major source of motivation was the opportunity to attend the Festival of Trees at Harbourfront Centre on May 12, where students met authors, participated in workshops and book signings, and learned the results of the province-wide voting process.
Red Maple Program – Grade 6
Several Grade 6 students chose to extend their reading by exploring titles from the Red Maple program, demonstrating both enthusiasm and a willingness to take on additional literary challenges.
With Thanks
Through the generous support of our community, we continue to strengthen and diversify our library collection, ensuring that all students have access to rich, engaging, and inclusive reading experiences.
Thank you for helping us foster a vibrant culture of literacy and a lifelong love of reading at JICS.
If your family has favourite books or recommendations that you feel would enhance our collection, please contact our Teacher-Librarian, Krista, who is always delighted to hear suggestions from our community.
14. Parent Education at JICS
What a wonderful year of Parent Education! Thank you to the Parent Ed Committee members: Juliana Klein, Nicole Lee, Marcia Bumbury, Trina Epstein, and Chriss Bogert.
Last week we hosted two fabulous sessions. If you missed either, the recordings are now available, see links below:
Thursday May 28’s event with Alyson Schafer on Firm & Friendly Parenting: Raising Cooperative Children Without Power Struggles
We highly recommend all parents view this presentation by parent ed expert, family counsellor, and author, Alyson Schafer. In this session, Alyson helps parents recognize their dominant parenting style, learn why limits and boundaries are necessary for our children to flourish, identify the dynamics of a power struggle, learn a 4-step model to move from conflict to co-operation, and provide tools and techniques to use immediately.
See below for her presentation slides, and to watch the video recording.
Thursday May 29th Lunch & Learn with Dr. Trina Epstein: Cognitive Flexibility & Stretching our Brains!
We also highly recommend all parents view this presentation by JICS's school psychologist, Trina Epstein. Trina has been working in each of our classrooms to help students learn and understand what it means to have cognitive flexibility. In this presentation she shares examples of this work and provides tips for how parents can keep this "brain stretching" going at home!
See below to watch the video recording & view presentation slides, as well as view a list of resources from Trina.
If you missed these or any other Parent Ed events, please see the Parent Education page of our www.jicsfamily.com website for recordings and resources.
15. JICS Centennial Golf Tournament
New Date Announcement – Friday, October 2, 2026!
The JICS Centennial Golf Championship — Fore the Future has been rescheduled to Friday, October 2, 2026 at Angus Glen Golf Club. All previously reserved tickets and sponsorships will be honoured for the new date.
The new fall date opens the door to broader participation from our JICS family, alumni, and partner community because a centennial only comes once, and we want as many of you on the course as possible!
Join us for a full day of championship golf on the renowned South Course, featuring curated food and beverage experiences, premium contests (including Beat the Pro and Closest to the Keg), and an evening reception as we celebrate 100 years of impact from the Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study.
Tickets:
• Foursome – $2,000 (Early Bird: save 10% when booked by June 15)
• Individual Golfer – $600
• Evening Reception – $100
All skill levels are welcome.
🏆 Winning foursome picks ONE grade to receive a pizza party with a very special guest 🍕 plus bragging rights to lead the school in an assembly activity of their imagination!
🎓 If Grade 6 wins, they get a special reunion pizza party back at JICS this fall.
👉 Register today or explore sponsorship opportunities
We look forward to seeing you on the course!
16. JICS Daycare June Camp
Week 1: June 15-19 More information can be found HERE!
Week 2: June 22-26 Register until June 9 at ics.after.school.daycare@gmail.com
Upcoming June Events
Canada's National Indigenous History Month & World Pride Month
Thur 11 - Grade 6 Graduation Ceremony 1:30pm. Guests: JK to Gr 5 students and Gr 6 parents.
Fri 12 – Last day of school. Noon dismissal. “Graduates Clap-Out.” Daycare until 6:00pm.
Fri 19 – Report Cards posted online
Mon 15 to Fri 26 – Daycare June Camp
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