Topics covered in this post:
1. Parents' Association
It was wonderful on Tuesday evening to welcome and meet new parents who joined us this year and all returning parents at the Parents’ Association “Meet and Greet”. A special thank you to our JICS PA Executive:
François Tanguay-Renaud, President
Megan Pearson, Vice President
Shawn Konopinsky, Treasurer
Andrew Cain & Chloe Leon, Communications Officers
Deepta Rayner, Past President
Julia O’Bryne & Kerry Thompson, Parent Education Coordinators.
NEW!: Sanaz Mazinani, Volunteer Coordinator
All JICS parents are members of the Parents’ Association, and everyone is encouraged to get involved and become an active member of the school community! Please see the PA section of the JICSfamily.com website for more information and contact François if you are interested.
You can make your annual donation to PA here: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/st-georges-schools-parents-association/events/2021-22-jics-pa-annual-membership-fee-donation/
2. Mid Autumn Festival (Moon Festival)
We extend our best wishes to everyone celebrating Mid Autumn Festival which took also took place Tuesday evening. The festival is held on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese lunisolar calendar with a full moon at night.
We wish you good health and happiness. We hope that you enjoyed this special day as you joined together with those you love.
3. Fall Equinox (Sept 22)
Natural Curiosity’s Doug Anderson (former JICS Parent) will be lighting a fire in the courtyard to feast the bundle gifted to us (more information coming in a future post) and honour the Fall Equinox next week.
4. COVID-19 Updates: Rapid Screening
Thank you for the overwhelmingly positive response to JICS Rapid Screening Program. If you are having trouble setting up your Thrive account for your JICS child/ren, please email Victoria at tory.mccracken@utoronto.ca
Richard’s introductory video:
https://youtu.be/bhcETCUXWQA
Information from Sept 20 email:
https://www.jicsfamily.com/covid-19-screening
(instructions for testing & uploading results, & FAQs)
The box of 25 Panbio COVID-19 Rapid Test Devices (nasal) will be sent home today (Thursday) with your child. All JICS teachers and staff are also taking part in the JICS Rapid Screening Program. The JICS Child Rapid Screening Program begins Sunday evening, September 26. An email was sent home on Tuesday reminding the community that the rapid tests are only for screening asymptomatic people. If you or child develop a possible covid symptom, a diagnostic PCR test at an assessment centre is required.
Suggestions for introducing the Rapid Screening Program to your Child/ren:
Children who have experienced the invasive PCR COVID-19 testing may be anxious about the Rapid Screening. Explain that this screening is very different and only involves swabbing the rim of the nose.
We recommend re-watching the short training video that shows a 5 year-old girl administering the screen herself (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5ZzZMAbk9w) to determine whether showing this video to your child will be helpful.
Model doing the screening to yourself with a Q-tip.
Explain that we are being researchers/scientists by collecting data and sharing it with others to better understand how COVID spreads and ensure we are all safe.
5. Kiss and Drive
At morning drop off, parents/caregivers must remain inside the vehicle. We recognize that there are times when there are many vehicles arriving at the same time, and we thank you for your patience. We will get to you. Staff are providing individual care and support to each child and this takes time. Please share this information with other caregivers who will drop off your child.
6. All-Weather Play
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. Parent Education
Robin Wall Kimmerer
Robin Wall Kimmerer, author of Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teaching of Plants (See Sept 2 Parent Information Post – Professional Development) will be giving a virtual lecture through U of T on Monday, October 4, 2021 from 7:00pm – 8:00pm. The title is Restoration and Reciprocity: Healing Relationships with the Natural World
You can register to watch for FREE here:
The Lecture Description:
The 2021 Snider Lecture features Robin Wall Kimmerer as she draws on Indigenous and scientific wisdom to offer lessons on how we can heal our relationships with the natural world.
Ecological restoration can be understood as an act of reciprocity, in return for the gifts of the earth. This thought-provoking discussion and Q&A will explore the ecological and ethical imperatives of healing the damage we have inflicted on our land and waters. Together, we will trace the evolution of restoration philosophy and practice, and consider how the integration of Indigenous knowledge can expand our understanding of restoration from the biophysical to the biocultural. Reciprocal restoration includes not only healing the land, but our relationship to land. In healing the land, we are healing ourselves.
We are very fortunate that University of Toronto Mississauga has organized this lecture and we highly recommend that all JICS parents take part as we all deepen our understanding and appreciation of Indigenous knowledge for our benefit and the benefit of the JICS children.
Call for Ideas
Parents, we would love to hear from you. Whether you are interested in learning more about a specific topic or feel you could share your expertise with the rest of the parent community at JICS, please contact the 2021-2022 Parent Education Leads Julia O'Byrne (juliaobyrne@gmail.com) and Kerry Thompson (kerrymthomps@gmail.com).
8. Terry Fox Run
Friday, September 24
We are excited to participate in the Terry Fox Run tomorrow. The Grade 3 students have asked for a $1 donation from every JICS student. You can send the loonie with your child or donate directly to the Terry Fox Foundation Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Donation Page.
9. National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
September 30, 2021 marks the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
The day honours the lost children and Survivors of residential schools, their families, and communities. Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process. Learn more about the creation of this day.
10. Orange Shirt Day & Natural Curiosity
The September Edition of the JICS Natural Curiosity (NC) Newsletter is dedicated to highlighting Indigenous perspectives in land-based learning, resources and events surrounding Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day, and opportunities for supporting Indigenous voices this month and beyond. We are very proud of the NC team for the work that went into the creation of this newsletter. Please check out the newsletter here.
We look forward to seeing a sea of Orange on September 30 at school, honouring the truth and supporting residential school survivors and their families. Please refer to last week’s post for information about this day and where to adult sized purchase orange shirts #everychildmatters
The Cedar Basket Gift Shop is now sold out of youth sized shirts. Here are some suggestions for kids:
Make your own shirt with the ‘Every Child Matters’ message, by using fabric markers, or pinning a printed design or child-created message to a shirt
Modify an adult shirt for a child
*To support the organization, families could order from the orange shirt day website to wear throughout the year, or make a donation to the Orange Shirt Foundation.
11. Crossing Guard
Please say hi to Ally, our crossing guard at the corner of Walmer Rd and Kendal Ave.
More Photos!
Students in Grade 3 were inspired when Richard read them the book, I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes. These kids are change makers!
Grade 4 students populate their gratitude jar and share some of their gratitudes with each other
Upcoming September Events
Fri 24 – Terry Fox Run Day
Sat 25 – Franco-Ontario Day
Tues 28 – Lice Check (Thank you, PA!)
Thur 30 – Orange Shirt Day (details coming soon)
Upcoming October Events
Mon 4 – Parent Education:Robin Wall Kimmerer lecture 7:00pm – 8:00pm. Register
Wed 6 – Curriculum Night, Nursery to Grade 6. Online.
Mon 11 – Thanksgiving.School and Daycare closed.
Tues 12 – Gr 5 & Gr 6 Parent “Transition to Gr 7” Night. Online.
Mon 18 – Persons Day
Tues 19 – JICS PA All-Parents Meeting. Online.
Wed 20 – Memorial for Cindy Halewood (RSVP)
Fri 29 – Halloween at JICS
