Topics covered in this post:
1. Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas to the Orthodox Christians in our community. Wishing you joy within your home, love within your hearts, happiness now and always!
2. Welcome back!
It was wonderful to see the children yesterday and today online and the Nursery children in person. They appeared excited, happy, and eager to reconnect with friends and teachers, filled with stories to share.
3. Re-enrolment for 2022-2023
Re-enrolment information and forms were emailed on December 9 for the 2022-2023 school year. The form and the non-refundable $5000 deposit are due in the office by Wednesday, January 19, 2022. Parents can deliver them in person. The school office will be open each day from 9:00am - 3:00pm. Please enter the building from 45 Walmer Road (where you will complete a COVID self-screening) with PPE and maintain physical distance while in the building. Please take the time to review the JICS values, philosophy, and mission before making your decision to re-enrol.
4. JICS Fall Edition Newsletter
At JICS, we believe that when it comes to our partnership with parents, the more information, the better! Hence, we provide weekly or biweekly teacher class-specific summary emails, Thursday’s Parent Information Posts, the individual report cards, parent-teacher interviews/meetings, etc. The JICS Newsletter is an opportunity to “peak into” the rest of the school and learn about experiences that you may not know about. Many thanks to Krista for her work in publishing it! We design it to be shared between parents and children. If you did not have the chance to go through the stunning JICS Newsletter with your child during the holidays, we strongly encourage that take the time soon to do so now. Use the password provided in the Weekly Info email (December 9) to access the Fall Newsletter.
5. Parent Education Events
February 3, 2022 | 7:00pm-8:00pm
Book-Ticket Event with Jesse Wente
Save the date! We are thrilled to invite all JICS families and friends to a book/ticket fireside with Inclusion Speaker Jesse Wente. Jesse has appeared on CBC Radio's Metro Morning as a film and pop culture critic for 20 years. He is currently the Chair of the Canada Council for the Arts. He previously served as Director Film Programmes at TIFF Bell Lightbox, where he oversaw theatrical, Cinematheque and Film Circuit programming. A self-described "Ojibwe dude" with a national and international lens, he encourages audiences to consider diversity and inclusion into their future view of their organization, industry and country. Jesse is an outspoken advocate for Indigenous rights, and First Nations, Inuit and Métis art; the first nationally syndicated Indigenous columnist for the CBC; and the first Executive Director of the Indigenous Screen Office. For Jesse’s full bio, please visit: Jesse Wente Full Bio
Tickets in the form of Jesse's book are now available for purchase. See full details on our events page.
6. Learning Materials/Devices Pick Up
If you were unable to pick up your child’s learning materials on December 15, please come to the reception between 9:00-3:00pm to do so.
7. Hot Lunch Program
Tricia, the Lunch Mom, will be extending the hot lunch winter term out into April by the number of days missed during distance-education. If there are unused credits at the end of the school year, credits will be e-transferred to parents.
8. Used Christmas Trees
If you live near the school and celebrate Christmas with a real tree, we invite you to bring your discarded ornament-free tree and “toss it” into the JICS playground for the children to use when they return for in-person learning as a great-smelling, natural building material for their play.
9. PHOTOS!
We miss all of the students! Email Victoria at tory.mccracken@utoronto.ca with photos of your children learning from home to be included in next week's post.
10. Upcoming January Events
Fri 7 – Feast of the Nativity, Orthodox Christmas Day - Merry Christmas!
Tues 11 – (postponed) Lice Check
Mon 17 – Martin Luther King Day (US)
Tues 18 – Planned return to in-person learning
Wed 19 – Re-enrolment forms and deposits due for 2022-2023
Thurs 20 – Nursery 2022-2023 Virtual Open House
Mon 24 – Parents' Association General Meeting. 6:00-7:00pm
Thurs 27 – International Holocaust Remembrance Day
11. Upcoming February Events
African Heritage Month & Asian Heritage Month
Tues 1 – Lunar New Year (Year of the Tiger)
Thurs 3 – Parent Ed Event:Fireside Q&A with Jesse Wente (a book-ticket event) 7:00-8:00pm RSVP
Fri 18 – Midterm Holiday (School closed. Daycare open)
Mon 21 – Family Day Holiday (School & Daycare closed)
Wed 23 – Anti-bullying Day
