- Nov 17, 2022

Masks & Vaccination Update, Wednesday Afternoon Program, Winter Weather Info, and More

Topics covered in this post:

The school community gathers for Remembrance Day

1. Health and Safety Update

a. Masking/PPE

It was wonderful to welcome our students, faculty, and staff back to school after the long weekend. With cold, flu, and the virus season already upon us, we recognize that our 2022-2023 Health and Safety Measures will be top of mind for JICS Families.

We will continue to be guided by the recommendations of the Ontario Chief Medical Officer and Toronto Public Health officials and, following the recent announcement from Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer, the use of masks in all indoor settings is strongly recommended.

Please refer to the email sent yesterday from JICS with information from Toronto Public Health. We will inform families and staff if/when masking will become mandatory.

We ask our community to keep community health and safety mind as we continue with school-wide events. Please feel free to reach out at any time.

b. Vaccination update

As you know, our COVID-19 Vaccination Policy for the 2022-2023 school year is that all eligible children are required to provide proof of vaccination in the SFO. For children who were under 5 years of age at the start of the school year, the deadline is December 20, 2022. If your child has not been vaccinated, please note that we require proof of at least one dose by December 20, 2022. We ask that you follow the guidance of your pediatrician and Health Canada for timing of intervals between doses.

A parent/guardian who is requesting an exemption from this Policy on the basis of a medical reason is required to provide the School with a letter supplied by a physician or registered nurse that sets out a documented medical reason for not being vaccinated.

We have a heightened responsibility to ensure we are doing everything we can to protect our students, staff, and their families. Due to the unique nature of in-person learning and the close contact between students and between students and teachers/staff, our Policy is that all students and Lab School staff must be vaccinated.

2. Wednesday Afternoon Program: Winter Term

The final day of the Fall Term Wednesday Afternoon Program is Wednesday, November 30.

The first day of the Winter Term is the following Wednesday, December 7. The Winter Term Wednesday Program will run until March 8, 2023.

Registration will open on Wednesday, November 23 at 10:00am. The Wednesday Program is committed to providing a spot for all children who wish to register, but we cannot guarantee each child their first choice. All enquiries should be directed to Sarah at sarah.murray@utoronto.ca.

Cheques are due to Shama in the School Office after completing registration by Wednesday, November 30.

Click Here for Winter Term Wednesday Program Info

3. Parent Education

a. Lunch & Learn with Ellie and Christel

Tuesday, November 22, 12:30-1:30

A Deficit of Rest: The Mental Health Benefits of Creating Space for Calm and Rest

Lunch & Learn Series with JICS Social Worker Ellie Lathrop and French Teacher Christel Durand

Join Christel and Ellie for an interactive discussion of how rest (and sometimes the deficit of rest) impacts mental health for children. We will look at the intersection of rest with other core capacities including noticing, reflecting and empathizing. We will discuss the importance of intentionally protecting and creating time for rest in our very busy digital age.

Tuesday, November 22, 2022

12:30 – 1:30 pm (Zoom)

Click Here to Register for Lunch and Learn

b. Recording of Connected Parenting and Anxiety Workshop

The Importance of Connection, How to Build a Meaningful Relationship with your Child, and How to Help them Manage Feelings of Anxiety

If you missed last week’s excellent presentation, Ulrica Jobe has kindly and generously offered her slides and the session was recorded.

Learn about a positive parenting model that really works, helping parents to understand how a few adjustments in their interactions and responses to their child can dramatically impact their relationship in the short and long term.

Recording of Connected Parenting Presentation >> CLICK HERE

To download the slides from the presentation, download the following pdf:

4. Drop-off Procedures

Due to the construction on Spadina Road, parents of Grade 4-6 who typically “kiss and drive” are encouraged to use the “Kiss and Drive” drop-off zone at our 45 Walmer Road side from 8:35-8:45am. The entrance at Spadina will continue to be available to Grade 4-6 students.

If arriving in a vehicle on Walmer, please note:

Treat Walmer Road as northbound only
Staff are on duty to assist and parents are asked to remain in the vehicle in queue and drive away once the child has exiting, allowing the next family to drop off.
NEVER BLOCK/PARK THE DRIVEWAY OF OUR NEIGHBOURS TO THE SOUTH OR NORTH of 45 Walmer Road.

5. JICS at the Movies: Brother

Sunday, November 20, 2022 at 7:30pm

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.

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 & A following the screening.

Purchase tickets for Brother >> CLICK HERE

The screening will take place at Innis College Theatre, 2 Sussex Ave. (View map)

Thank you for supporting diversity at the JICS Lab School, Canada’s independent lab school with a public purpose.

6. Winter Weather Info

a. How to know if the School is Open in Inclement Weather

Should you be concerned about adverse weather conditions and/or school closure, information can be found here (St. George Campus, University of Toronto): https://www.utoronto.ca/campus-status. The Lab School remains open if the (St. George Campus) University is open. Also, refer to the JackmanICS LabSchool Twitter Account (@JackmanICS) for closure announcements. You do not need to use Twitter to access the account.

b. Outdoor Clothing

Children play outside in all-weather at JICS (including light rain, snowy days, and cold conditions). Please send your child with outdoor clothing appropriate to weather conditions.

“There is no inappropriate weather, only inappropriate clothing!”

7. Remembrance Day at JICS

This year, our Grade 6 class planned and hosted the JICS Remembrance Day Assembly. We are very proud of our students for their heartfelt words, beautiful presence, and

excellent leadership. Thank you Nadia and all Grade 6s!

Grade 6 students led a land acknowledgement, played music, shared writings/poems they wrote about peace, recited in Flanders Fields, and shared the Last Post before a Moment of Silence.

Each grade created their own wreath for the gathering and pairs of Special Friends lit candles as a symbol of peace and remembrance.

8. Meeting for Parents of BIPOC Children at JICS

Monday, December 5, 2022 at 7pm

Created by JICS parents for JICS parents, this meeting is designed for conversation and advocacy for families at JICS with BIPOC children.

The focus of this meeting is to discuss how the JICS BIPOC parents can help the teachers to deliver messages regarding equality and hero, and to help with the school's cultural celebrations.

Save the date: Monday, December 5, 7-8:30 pm, location: Zoom or In person to be finalized

Click Here to RSVP