Feb 4, 2021

Re-Opening & Procedures, Midterm Holiday, Parent Ed

Updated: Feb 24, 2021

Topics covered in this post:

School Building Re-Opening
Midterm Holiday
Learning Material Return
Lunar New Year - Wear Red!
Donations to Support Economic Diversity
Parent Ed Tonight: Sick Kids Panel "COVID-19 & Kids"
Parent Ed Feb 9: Get Curious about Natural Curiosity
Parent Ed Feb 18: Addressing Racism and Anti-Black Racism
School Office Hours
PHOTOS: Distance Education
PHOTOS: Nursery children
Upcoming February Events
Upcoming March Events

1. School Building Re-Opening

Yesterday, the Minister of Education announced that Toronto schools will return to in-school learning on Tuesday, February 16, 2021. We are excited to re-open the JICS Lab School and our licensed daycare on February 16 and to see all our students in person again! We will communicate any new information which becomes available to us from the Ontario Government and Public Health.

The Ontario Government has outlined new or modified protocols. In all cases, we had already adopted these measures. For your convenience we are listing these measures that are already protocols in place at the JICS Lab School:

Self-Screening

All students, faculty, staff, essential visitors must provide confirmation of screening before entering the school.

Masking

Masks are mandatory for students in Grades 1-6 indoors and outdoors (with the exception of individuals with a pre-existing medical condition).
Masks are mandatory for all adults, including parents/caregivers on school property.

Congregating

It is crucial that students not congregate before school starts, and return directly home after school to avoid transmission. This includes parents and caregivers congregating during drop off and pick up, on school property or in nearby parks.

The success of our reopening hinges on our collective efforts to adhere to the safety protocols outlined by Public Health and by our school’s COVID protocols found in the Parent Handbook.

Families who have travelled outside of the Province of Ontario are required to self-isolate for 14 days before returning to school.

As has been shared in the Dec 3, Jan 7, Jan 21 weekly posts, we also require a completed JICS Travel Form for each student who has travelled during the Winter Break and/or this time of distance education.

Please complete this form ASAP: JICS TRAVEL FORM

Note that beginning on February 16th we will not be able to provide hybrid or remote learning while students are away from school due to travel reasons. We look forward to welcoming your child/ren back to school once their 14-day period of travel quarantine is complete.

We want to take this opportunity to thank the JICS students for their positive attitude, engagement, and resilience. We want to thank the JICS teachers and staff for your dedication to providing the students a distance education learning experience that adhered to our philosophy and research about how children learn best. Lastly we want to thank parents for your support, encouragement, and many emails of appreciation to teachers and staff during this time.

2. Midterm Holiday

The School (distance-education) and Daycare will be closed (Nursery to Grade 6) on Friday, February 12 and Monday, February 15 (Family Day). We wish everyone a well-earned mid-term holiday.

3. Learning Material Return

For children in Grade 1 to 6, it is essential that each student return their technology device and charger on Tuesday, February 16.

For children in JK to Grade 6, we ask that the learning materials that were loaned out for distance education be returned as soon as possible beginning Tuesday, February 16. Staff will be outside at arrival on February 16 to assist with receiving the material.

4. Lunar New Year - Wear Red!

Tuesday, February 16 is an exciting day not only because we will be returning into the building for in-person education, but also because it is the day we will celebrate Lunar New Year by wearing red! Lunar New Year is the joyous festival celebrated in many Asian countries that begins with the first new moon of the lunar calendar and ends on the first full moon of the lunar calendar, 15 days later. This is the year of the Ox. People born in the Year of the Ox (our Grade 6 students!) are said to be industrious, cautious, hold their faith firmly, and are always glad to offer help.

5. Donations to Support Economic Diversity

The Tuition Support Committee challenges all JICS families to donate $250 per child (representing 1% of the 2020-2021 tuition) toward ensuring economic diversity at the Lab School. To date, this year we have raised $100,000 and require an additional $50,000 to safeguard our ability to meet the need of our community for the next two years. Thank you for your generosity!

Here is the link to donation webpage: https://donate.utoronto.ca/give/show/40

6. Parent Education Tonight:

Sick Kids Panel "COVID-19 & Kids"

The Mabin School has kindly invited the JICS community to take part in an incredible opportunity to hear from 3 of the principal authors of the Sick Kids Report on COVID-19.

Tonight (Thursday, February 4, 2021)

8:00 pm

Sign up here.

7. Parent Education Feb 9th:

Get Curious about Natural Curiosity!

RSVP on our events page for the Zoom link!

8. Parent Education Feb 18th:

Addressing Racism and Anti-Black Racism: Building Capacity and Understanding as a Parent

In this presentation, Dr. Belinda Longe will begin with a short review of the historical context of racism in Canada and continue with sharing definitions of racism, anti-Black racism, and privilege. She will also explore the intersectionality of these concepts and encourage parents and caregivers to think more deeply about these issues and reflect on their privilege, position, and identity in the context of racism. Dr. Longe will also share ways that parents and caregivers can discuss race, racism, and anti-Black racism through age-appropriate conversations with their children and encourage parents to think about how they can become allies in dismantling racism in their personal and professional contexts. The goal is to help members of the school community begin to build their own capacity in navigating racism and anti-Black racism.

About Dr. Belinda Longe

Dr. Belinda Longe is currently working as a Principal for the TDSB and is also an instructor for the Ontario Principals' Council in their Principal Qualification Program. She has been an educator for over 25 years and completed her PhD in the Department of Curriculum, Teaching, and Learning at the University of Toronto. Belinda served for eight years as a member of the Board of Directors for the Daily Bread Food Bank. She was also the first Co-Coordinator of the Inner-City Option at OISE/UT in the Teacher Education Program. Throughout her career she has been a strong advocate for students and their families and demonstrated an ongoing commitment to identifying and removing systemic barriers to success for students. Belinda has continued to work proactively to build partnerships with parents, caregivers, and community agencies, and worked collaboratively with all stakeholders to improve student achievement. Dr. Longe has two children, ages 10 and 6.

Please submit question in advance through your RSVP or directly to casey.dabiet@gmail.com. There will also be opportunities to ask questions through the chat during the talk.

RSVP on our Events page!

9. School Office Hours

During distance education, the school office/reception is open 8:00am to 3:00pm. Beginning February 16, 2021, the school office/reception will be open 8:00am to 4:00pm.

10. Photos of Distance Education

Send Tory (tory.mccracken@utoronto.ca) a photo or two of your child/children learning from home and/or enjoying a “recess break” to include in next week’s post.