Le Semaine de la Francophonie, New Director of JICS, Grandpals Day Announcements, Kids Who Care Club, Longitudinal Research Study, & More!
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JICS at a Glance
We've condensed the important highlights for your convenience:
Reminder: School is closed tomorrow for Parent-Teacher interviews
New Director of JICS - Eunice Jang
Grandpals Day Announcements: Early Years, Grade 1-6
Kids Who Care Club - Book Drive!
Parents of BIPOC Children Group Announcements
Congratulations to Natural Curiosity's Haley Higdon!
Topics covered in this post:
(Click to navigate straight to a section)
1. 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 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
2. 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.
3. Le Semaine de la Francophonie in JICS - April 13 to 17
Our Semaine de la Francophonie was a big success. Students were highly engaged throughout the week’s activities, which fostered a deeper appreciation and enthusiasm for the French language and Francophone culture. We extend our thanks to the parents who generously volunteered their time to share their personal experiences with French and to read with our students, enriching their learning in a meaningful and authentic way.
Merci Tania, Christel and Paige!
La Semaine de la Francophonie in JICS - 2025/2026
4. New Director of JICS
Appointment of New JICS Director, Dr. Eunice Eunhee Jang
We are pleased to share the exciting news that Dr. Eunice Eunhee Jang has been appointed Director of the Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study for a five-year term beginning July 1, 2026.
Dr. Jang brings a wealth of experience as a researcher, educator, and leader within OISE. Her work focuses on understanding and supporting children’s oral language and reading development through innovative, research-informed approaches, including dynamic assessment systems and digital tools for educators and families. Throughout her career, she has been guided by a central question: how can we better understand what children know and use that understanding to support their growth? Her work reflects a deep commitment to equity and to ensuring that all children’s strengths are recognized and supported.
Importantly, Dr. Jang knows the Lab School well. She has a long history of conducting research here and has co-presented with Richard and Chriss. Her deep familiarity with our community, combined with her leadership experience within OISE and strong connections to educational research and practice, aligns closely with JICS’s mission of integrating research, graduate teacher education, and exemplary classroom practice in service of children and families. We are excited to welcome Dr. Jang into this role and look forward to the possibilities ahead under her leadership.
At the same time, we would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Dr. Jennifer Jenkins, PhD, C. Psych., for her outstanding leadership as Director from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2026. During her tenure, Dr. Jenkins worked tirelessly to strengthen the connection between the MA program and the Lab School, ensuring that both remained deeply grounded in evidence-based and dynamic practices. She also played a key role in organizing JICS’s centennial celebrations, including the panel on AI featuring Dr. Geoffrey Hinton, Dr. Eunice Jang and other prestigious guests, and spearheaded the Lab School’s longitudinal study. This important work will continue to deepen our understanding of children and their learning, further establishing JICS as a world leader in child development.
We thank Dr. Jenkins for her vision, dedication, and lasting contributions, and we look forward to this next chapter for JICS.
5. Grade 1-6 Grandpals Day at JICS - Friday, May 8, 3:30pm
We deeply appreciate the important role that grandparents and special family friends play in the lives of JICS children, and we are delighted to host a special afternoon in their honour for those who are interested. Visitors will join us at the end of the school day for a brief, meaningful visit.
Children will be dismissed directly to their grandparent or designated visitor at the start time noted above.
To ensure your child’s guest receives all event details directly (and to avoid any missed communication), please provide their name and email address using this link. We will send all information to them directly.
This is an optional event. Children who are not taking part will be dismissed at their regular time for pick-up.
If you would like your child to attend Afterschool Daycare after the event, please ensure you coordinate this with Anne-Marie: ics.after.school.daycare@gmail.com
6. Early Years (Nursery, JK, SK) Grandpals Day - Wednesday, May 20
Grandpals Day for our Nursery, JK, and SK students will take place on Wednesday, May 20. We are pleased to invite grandparents and special family friends to join us for a joyful morning at JICS.
Guests are welcome to arrive at 8:30 a.m. to spend time in the classroom, followed by our Music Day performance at 9:00 a.m. in the gym, where all Early Years classes will be performing.
To ensure your child’s guest receives all event details directly (and to avoid any missed communication), please provide their name and email address using this link. We will send all information to them directly.
7. A Message from the Kids Who Care Club Community Branch
Dear Guardians and Educators,
The Kids Who Care Community Branch has put together a Book Drive to collect and donate books to the Children’s Book Bank
The JICS Lab School has a long history of supporting the Children’s Book Bank since its inception in 2008. Please enjoy this news story featuring our students, teachers, and parents!
This year we have exchanged emails with Kim Beatty, the founder of this organization, and announced the commencement of our Book Drive at the Wonderful Welcoming Month of Rainbow Assembly.
If you are willing to donate, you may bring your books to the reception in the box labeled “Book Drive Donations.” The books you donate must be in a good condition and a few suggestions which are needed the most are the following:
Baby books & board books (e.g. flap books, Eric Carle)
Books with diverse characters: stories reflecting our community
Preschooler books (e.g. easy to read books)
Non-fiction: Dinosaurs, animals, nature, space, Egypt, Cars, soccer, basketball
Popular Titles: Harry Potter, Dog Man, Diary of a Wimpy Kid,
Captain Underpants
Graphic novels & manga: all ages
The books that you are kindly donating can be brand new, or gently used but overall, in good condition. On the books, there should be no yellowing, water damage, rips or stains. Please do not bring in Textbooks, Encyclopedias, Workbooks, Damaged Books, Library Books, Self-published Books.
The Book Drive began on April 10 and is ending on June 4, 2026.
Thank you!
8. JICS Staff in Finland and Czech Republic
From April 20–24, a JICS team: Richard (Principal), Chriss (Vice-Principal), Judith (Inclusive Education), and Jessica (Grade 2) will attend the International Association of Laboratory Schools (IALS) Conference in Jyväskylä, Finland, hosted by the University of Jyväskylä Teacher Training School.
From April 24–28, Richard and Chriss will participate in an international study tour of laboratory schools in Brno and Prague, Czech Republic, organized through the International Association of Laboratory Schools.
During this period of international engagement (including both the IALS Conference and the Lab Schools Tour) we are pleased that retired JICS teacher Zoe Donoahue will serve as Acting Principal from April 20–28, ensuring seamless continuity of leadership within the school. Zoe can be reached at zoe.donoahue@utoronto.ca . Richard and Chriss will also continue to be available on email.
More information can be found in the March 26 edition of the POST.
9. Parents of BIPOC Children Group
Who we are: Created by JICS parents for JICS parents, the BIPOC Group welcomes all parents of a BIPOC (Black, Indigenous or Person of Colour) student at JICS.
Why: Foster diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in the JICS community.
What: Through sharing safe space, collective/collaborative action, and celebrating differences that bring everyone together, we support and uplift the JICS parents of BIPOC children and their families.
How: Virtual and in-person meetings, socials, social media group (WhatsApp), and connecting with the Teacher’s Equity and Inclusion Committee. Potential activities include advocacy, coordination for cultural celebrations, and fundraising for special causes and campaigns. In everything, we create a safe space to enjoy community, identify issues, support one another, and celebrate differences.
When: Upcoming events - Save the Dates!
Monday, May 4 from 7:30-8:30pm (virtual meeting - holding space, check-in)
Registration Info coming soon
Monday, May 25 evening (restaurant TBC, or virtual)
June Potluck Picnic in Sibelius Park (e.g. later in the afternoon on Thursday or Friday)
Please kindly reach out to Adrienne Chan (Adrienne.chan@sunnybrook.ca) our Group WhatsApp and Technical Administrator, or Carissa Wong (647-882-7017) our Group Chair, if you have any questions, comments, or would like to be added to the Parents of JICS BIPOC Kids WhatsApp Group.
10. Launch of a New Longitudinal Research "BRIDGE" Study at the JICS Lab School: Building Research on Inquiry, Growth and Development in Education
Dear Parents,
Richard and I, along with the teachers, are very excited to share news of the launch of a new longitudinal research study taking place at the JICS Lab School.
As we celebrate our centennial year, we are honouring our past while also looking thoughtfully toward the future of education. This feels like a particularly meaningful moment to tell the Lab School story – how we support children’s learning, development, and wellbeing over time. To that end, we are collaborating with faculty in the MACSE program and researchers at the Laidlaw Research Centre, to design a longitudinal study that will capture and analyze children’s learning and growth in our classrooms.
We need your help! We know that families choose the JICS Lab School for many reasons, including our shared commitment to contributing to a broader public purpose. This research study will be an important part of how we disseminate our approach with the wider educational community in the years ahead.
On Monday April 13, you were sent a link to a Parent Information Letter and Consent Form for your child/ren to participate in this study. We are asking all parents to please carefully review the Letter and complete the Consent Form by Monday April 20.
If you have more than one child in the school, you will need to complete a separate consent form for each child.
We also invite you to watch this recording from the JICS Lab School Research Night held on January 28, when Dr. Kaja Jasińska, one of the principal investigators, presented her work in Educational Neuroscience. In this video, you will see a demonstration of one tool that may be used in the study, to help the researchers better understand what happens in the brain when children are learning.
This Spring, we will begin with a soft launch of the study, piloting the use of various measures. Families will be kept informed as the work unfolds so that you and your child know what to expect about their involvement.
Please feel free to reach out to me, Richard, or the research team with any questions you may have about the study. We would be very happy to arrange a time to discuss the study with you.
We are incredibly grateful for your support of JICS Lab School research and for your ongoing partnership.
Kind regards,
Chriss Bogert
Chair of the JICS Lab School’s Child Research Committee
11. Read-a-Thon (March 2026)
Thank you, JICS community! This year’s Read-a-Thon was a tremendous success, with strong participation across all grades. Together, we raised an impressive $8,626.80, nearly double last year’s total of $4,383.
Class pizza lunch prize winners will be announced at an upcoming assembly. Individual recognition for books read and funds raised will include bookmarks and stickers, generously provided by Victoria Sandic of Paperback Post.
12. Happy Earth Day - April 22
For this special day, we are sharing the Thanksgiving Address, as told in the book: “Strong Stories Kanyen’keya:ka: The Thanksgiving Address” by Michelle Corneau, Kanyen’keya:ka (Mohawk). This book is available for purchase at the Native Canadian Center of Toronto Book Store, 16 Spadina Rd, or from GoodMinds publishing company, located at Six Nations.
The Thanksgiving Address is from the Haudenosaunee People.
This is a short version of a much longer address that can take hours or sometimes days to tell.
The Thanksgiving Address is used to begin important meetings or gatherings in the Longhouse.
We give thanks to our Mother, the Earth. Thank you for gifting us all that we need to live.
We give thanks to the water. Thank you to the streams, rivers, oceans, and rain for gifting us fresh water to drink.
We give thanks to all the fish. Thank you for the food and nutrients and for keeping the waters clean.
We give thanks to all the sacred plants, above all sage, cedar, sweetgrass, and tobacco. Thank you for helping us to feel better.
We give thanks to the insects, thank you for your hard work and dedication to keeping the earth healthy.
We give thanks to all the food plants, especially corn, beans, and squash. Thank you for gifting us yummy things to eat.
We give thanks to all the fruit plants, above all the strawberry. Thank you for representing the unity of the Six Nations.
We give thanks to the trees, above all, the maple. Thank you for gifting us sweet sap in the spring.
We give thanks to all the animals. Thank you for gifting us food and clothing and teaching us many important lessons.
We give thanks to the birds. Thank you for sharing your beautiful songs throughout the seasons.
We give thanks to the winds. Thank you for blowing and keeping us cool in the summer.
We give thanks to Grandmother Moon and the stars, thanks for giving us light in the night-time.
We give thanks to our Elder Brother the Sun, thank you for the light that makes things grow and for keeping us warm.
We offer our thanks and greetings to the Creator. Thank you, Creator.
13. Hot Dog Night 2026 - Save the Date!
HOT DOG NIGHT IS COMING!
Come celebrate JICS’s Centennial Year Hot Dog Night on June 3, 6-8pm! Join the JICS community for an evening of friendship, fun, food, games and a raffle!
Here’s how you can help:
Buy Early Bird Tickets (Prices increase on May 20)!
Individual Adult: $20
Individual Child: $10
Family Max: $60
Early Bird Tickets go a long way in helping to plan Hot Dog Night, and we’d be grateful for your support. To celebrate early-birds and their efforts, we’re having:
An Early Bird Ticket Competition: The class that buys the most early-bird tickets (before May 20) will win a pizza party!
A Surprise Raffle: All early bird ticket purchasers will be entered into a surprise raffle. Who knows what you could win?!?
Get a limited edition Centennial Hot Dog Night T-shirt!
Pre-order yours until May 12 to receive your t-shirt(s) on Hot Dog Night
Children’s XS-L: $20
Adult (Unisex) S-XXL: $25
BOGO Savings: Buy one, get one $5 off
Visit JICSHotDogNight.com to order your tickets and merch today.
How can you help make Hot Dog Night special?
Donations of food, snacks, non-alcoholic beverages, or games would be greatly appreciated. If you’d like to contribute, please email Naram Mansour at naram@carlylecommunities.com
Got questions?
Should you have any questions, please contact Rouzhin Mansour (Rouzhin.mansour@gmail.com)
Thanks for your help and looking forward to celebrating with you there!
Message brought to you by the JICS Hot Dog Committee, Loving Hot Dogs Since 1926
14. Canadian Network for Environmental Education and Communication (EECOM) honours Haley Higdon with an Excellence Award.
We are excited to share that Haley Higdon, the Director of Natural Curiosity, is the recipient of the 2025 EECOM Excellence Award for Outstanding Individual in an Organization. This award recognizes an individual associated with a non-profit or private organization who has made significant contributions to environmental education and demonstrated outstanding environmental actions or leadership. Haley has been a driving force in creating innovative and inquiry-driven learning opportunities that connect students, educators, and communities to the Land.
Haley’s commitment to hopeful, relational, and action-oriented environmental learning exemplifies the spirit of EECOM and highlights the transformative potential of education for learners of all ages.
Check out the acknowledgement on EECOM Canada's social media post.
Upcoming April Events
Passover (April 1 to 9)
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
Upcoming May Events
Asian Heritage Month
Fri 8 – Grade 1-6 Grandpals afterschool visit
Thur 14 – Bike Parade. 8:00am Meet at Christie Pits and ride to JICS (details coming soon)
Fri 15 – School & Daycare closed. UofT Presidential Day
Mon 18 – School & Daycare closed. Victoria Day
Wed 20 – Music Day. 9:00am performance for Nursery/JK/SK. 6:00pm performance for Grades 1-6.
Thur 21 – Shavuot (begins at sunset)
Tues 26 – Games Day
Tues 26 – Eid al-Adha (begins at sunset)
Upcoming June Events
Canada's National Indigenous History Month & World Pride Month
Wed 3 – Hot Dog Night 6:00-8:00pm
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