Principal for the Day, JICS Read-a-thon, Wednesday Afternoon Program, March Break, Centennial Skate, & More!
- Mar 5
- 8 min read
Updated: Mar 6
JICS at a Glance
We've condensed the important highlights for your convenience:
Principal for the Day - Tomorrow!
March Break - March 9 - 20
Read-a-thon information!
Wednesday Afternoon Program: Term 3 Schedule
Natural Curiosity - Presentation at ETFO Climate Justice Conference
Holi Celebration in the JK, SK and Grade 3 Classes!
Topics covered in this post:
(Click to navigate straight to a section)
Ramadan Mubarak! Chag Purim Sameach! Happy Holi! Nowruz Mubarak! Eid Mubarak!
The Natural Curiosity Program: Climate Change Conference
1. March Break
We wish everyone a fun and safe March Break, March 9 to 20. The Winter Term ends tomorrow at 3:30pm (6:00pm for daycare students).
The Daycare March Break Camp will be open (March 9 to 13) for registered students.
Sign up by emailing ics.after.school.daycare@gmail.com
2. Ramadan Mubarak! Chag Purim Sameach! Happy Holi! Nowrus Mubarak! Eid Mubarak!
Thank you to the parents who helped classes celebrate Ramadan, Purim, and Holi. As we will be on holiday during Eid al-Fitr and Nowruz, we warmly invite families who celebrate these occasions to connect with your child’s teacher if you would like to help enrich our community’s understanding of these important celebrations in your family.
Holi Celebration in the JICS Playground
3. JICS Read-a-thon - Celebrating 32 Years!
March is a special month for the JICS Library! This year marks the 32nd annual READ-A-THON Fundraiser! Read-a-thon forms will be sent home soon. Students are encouraged to set personal reading goals, read each day, and collect pledges for their efforts. Funds collected at the end of the month will go toward replacing lost and broken books, purchasing new books, and supporting authors, illustrators, and storytellers to visit with students.
We are so grateful to our supportive community! Donations of $25 or more will be rewarded with a personalized book plate placed in a new library book.
Additional information for parents can be found on the JICS Website: Here!
4. Principal for the Day - Tomorrow, Friday, March 6
Move aside, Richard and Chriss, there are new principals taking charge! On Friday, March 6, under the dynamic leadership of Saje and Kian, the JICS Lab School students can look forward to an exciting and transformed day.
Our new principals have organized a school-wide “Cozy Dress Day”, inviting everyone to dress in their most comfortable clothing and bring their favourite stuffy along for the fun. Morning recess has been extended to allow for more outdoor play.
The day will also include a special nut-free sweet treat for every student. In the afternoon, the entire school will gather for a movie—complete with popcorn, of course!
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us at the JICS Centennial Gala on May 13, 2025, in support of the JICS Endowment Fund. Your generosity helped ensure that children from all backgrounds have access to a JICS education—regardless of financial circumstances. The evening was filled with celebration and excitement, including the awarding of “Principal for a Day” prize.
For over 100 years, the JICS Lab School has been redefining education through transformative research and innovative teaching methods that enrich public school learning. With your support, we can continue this important work while fostering a community that is as diverse, inclusive, and thriving as possible.
Every gift makes a difference. Please consider donating here: Donate to the JICS Endowment Fund. Together, we are shaping the future of education.
5. International Women's Day - March 8
International Women's Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender equality.
6. JICS Centennial Family Skate
We are excited to announce the JICS Centennial Family Skate, taking place on Monday March 23rd from 5:00pm – 7:00pm at Varsity Arena (299 Bloor Street West). Mark your calendar and join us for an evening of joy, warmth, and community spirit.
7. 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, fufill
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.
8. Wednesday Afternoon Program (WAP)
We are excited to share the Spring Term’s WAP schedule!
Gr 1 to 6 Term 2 - Ends on March 4
Gr 1 to 6 Term 3 - Begins on March 25
JK and SK children remain together in their full class cohorts and will have outdoor play at the end of the day. A developmentally appropriate play-based program has been designed.
For Grades 1 to 6, each class will participate in two new activities per term, ensuring that everyone experiences a variety of opportunities throughout the year.
Opting Out
Please assist us in ensuring all children are safe and accounted for.
If you do not wish for your child to participate in the WAP, kindly fill out the Opt-Out Questionnaire. Without this Questionnaire, your child will not be dismissed at 12:45 pm and will be added to the attendance list for the class program.
The deadline to opt-out for Term 3 is Friday, March 6, 2025. Please see the Wednesday Afternoon Program Term 3 Opt-Out form in your Parent Portal.
Each program is carefully curated for the children in the class and is designed to build on previous weeks as it spans over the 12-week term. Having a consistent group of students will ensure the instructors can carry out their program as intended, offering the students an engaging and enriched experience.
All WAP information, including program descriptions can be found on the JICS Family website:
Below are the activities for Term 3, March 25 to June 10 for Grades 1 to 6:
Grade 1 | Grade 2 | Grade 3 | Grade 4 | Grade 5 | Grade 6 |
Action Potential Lab | Tiny Tales in Motion | Sock Puppet Theatre | Game Changers: Multi-Sport & Inclusive Play | The Music Connection | Cartooning & Animation |
Make & Create | Fibre Makers Studio | Dance Mix: Jazz, Ballet, Hip-Hop | Fictional Characters & Fantasy Art | Filmmaking: The Art Behind Visual Storytelling | Cooking with Vegetables |
9. The Natural Curiosity Program: Climate Change Conference
Natural Curiosity presented at the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario’s Climate Justice Conference. Haley and Myah shared a workshop titled “Water Is Life: Teaching Climate Justice Through Inquiry, Math, and Indigenous Rights.” They also had the honour of listening to the conference keynote, Beze Gray, a two-spirit Anishinaabe activist from Aamjiwnaang First Nation who is leading a landmark Supreme Court climate challenge against the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario while advancing environmental justice through data research and Indigenous cultural resurgence.
10. 2026-2027 School Calendar
We are happy to share the 2026-2027 JICS School Calendar. Please find it on the JICSFamily website.
Upcoming March Events
March is Read-athon Month
Ramadan (Feb 18 to Mar 19)
Mon 9 to Fri 13 – March Break Week 1 (School closed. Daycare open to registered users.)
Sun 8 – International Women’s Day
Mon 9 to Fri 13 – March Break Week 1 (School closed. Daycare open to registered users.)
Mon 16 to Fri 20 – March Break Week 2 (School and Daycare closed.)
Fri 20 – Eid al-Fitr & Nowruz & Spring Equinox
Mon 23 – Spring Term begins (Daycare opens at 7:45am)
Mon 23 – 5:00-7:00pm JICS Family Skate at UofT Varsity Arena
Tues 24 – St. Patty's Day at JICS (Wear green!)
Wed 25 – Wednesday Afternoon Program – Term 3 start
Thur 26 – Last Day of 1st Year Teacher Candidates (JK to Grade 6)
Thur 26 – Lice Check (Thank you for your donations to the PA!)
Upcoming April Events
Passover (April 1 to 9)
Thur 2 – MA CSE Winter Internship final day (JK to Gr 6)
Fri 3 – Good Friday. School and Daycare closed.
Mon 6 – Easter Monday. School and Daycare closed.
Fri 10 – International Day of Pink
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
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.
Wed 22 – Earth Day
Tues 28 to Fri March 1 – Grade 6 trip to Camp Wanakita
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