School Closure Information, Parents of BIPOC Children Playdate Social, Skate Swap, 100th Birthday Party, JICS Fall Newsletter & More!
- JICS Office
- 15 hours ago
- 7 min read
JICS at a Glance
We've condensed the important highlights for your convenience:
Read more about today's closure
JICS Skate Swap - happening now!
Upcoming Parent Education with Trina Epstein
Celebrate our UofT Arbor Award Winners!
Natural Curiosity's Self-Guided Learning Series
More exciting JICS news from this week!
Topics covered in this post:
(Click to navigate straight to a section)
1. School Closure Today
As you know, the JICS Lab School and Daycare were closed today. Please note that the Lab School, Daycare, and the JICS building follow the status of the University of Toronto St. George Campus and will close whenever the campus is closed. Information regarding the status of the University of Toronto St. George Campus can be found here: https://www.utoronto.ca/campus-status (This link is also available on the front page of the Parent Handbook.) Campus-wide closures due to weather are extremely rare.
In the event of an emergency or unexpected closure, families will be informed via email, a website update, and text communication through the PA Executive and Class Representatives.
We apologize for the inconvenience this closure may have caused and hope that all families are safe and able to make the most of the day.
2. Parents of BIPOC Children Playdate Social
Created by JICS parents for JICS parents, the BIPOC Group welcomes all parents of a BIPOC (Black, Indigenous or Person of Colour) student at JICS.
Meetings are an opportunity for parents of BIPOC children to socialize, share community, identify issues, and support the needs of our community. We also work with the Teacher’s Equity and Inclusion Committee and help with the school's cultural celebrations. We always aim to be responsive to the evolving needs of our existing parent members.
Please reach out to Adrienne.chan@sunnybrook.ca, our Group WhatsApp and Technical Administrator, or Carissa Wong (647-882-7017) our Group Chair, if you would like to be added to the Parents of JICS BIPOC Kids WhatsApp Group. We aim to be a resource for you, year-round.
We are hosting a playdate social on Thursday, January 22, 4:00-6:00pm (or later) in the school gym. This is an opportunity for parents and their children to connect with one another and to foster a sense of belonging within the JICS BIPOC families. We will also be informally discussing the plan for meetings over the rest of the school year - including creating a mission statement, identifying goals and actions, and defining roles.
We invite parents to bring favourite snacks and ethnic foods to share as long as they meet the school’s safe food policy: No food items containing PEANUTS, TREE NUTS, SHELLFISH, EGGS, PEAS or PEA PROTEIN will be allowed at this event. As well please note that many of our families are vegetarian, Halal, or Kosher. We request that food comes from nut free providers, and/or is prepared in the kitchen at school to avoid the risk of cross-contamination. For more information about the school’s safe food policy, please see the website: https://www.jicsfamily.com/class-gatherings
Please message Carissa Wong directly if you have any food allergies and/or dietary restrictions and she will inform the group.
Please stay tuned for information about future meetings.
3. Parent Education: Understanding Anxiety in Children: The Value of Leaning into Discomfort
Anxiety continues to be the most common mental health challenge in children. Even when anxiety does not reach clinically concerning levels, we can all agree that it is something everyone experiences from time to time. Witnessing anxiety and distress in our children can be hard to bear and, as such, there are some common traps that we might fall into, including trying to remove obstacles and supporting avoidance. Even though it’s normal and natural to want to avoid the things that cause us stress, the remedy is to “lean in” and expose ourselves to the very things that cause us anxiety. This makes the goal for supporting our anxious children, helping them to “lean in” by fostering resilience and capacity. Come hear about the various presentations of anxiety in children and the most adaptive ways for you, as parents, to think about it and respond to it. This talk will cover developmental considerations so it is worth attending whether you have young children, youngsters on the brink of graduating elementary school, or anywhere in between.
TRINA EPSTEIN, Psy.D., C.Psych. is a psychologist who was thrilled to join JICS in September 2025 where she supports students, parents, and teachers. She also maintains a private practice where she treats children and teens with a wide array of mental health challenges and offers consultation to parents and schools. She worked for many years at the Toronto Western Hospital where she provided assessment and treatment to children and adolescents with Tourette Syndrome and its associated problems (e.g., ADHD, OCD, ASD, anxiety, etc.), conducted research, and supervised students. She is the co-author of The Adventures of Stretch More, a children’s book about a collaborative parenting approach.
4. JICS Fall Edition Newsletter
If you are looking for things to do with your child/ren on this snowy day, we invite you to explore the JICS Fall Newsletter together. It serves as a window into the wider school experiences.
To access the Fall Newsletter, use the password provided in the Parent Information Post email.
5. Celebrating UofT Arbor Awards
The Arbor Award is the University of Toronto’s highest honour for volunteers, recognizing their outstanding contributions to the U of T community. At the JICS Lab School, volunteers play a vital role in advancing our mission to be a world-leading institution in education. This year, we are proud to congratulate our two 2025 Arbor Award recipients.Their dedication of time, energy, and expertise has profoundly impacted our school community. We invite you to read about their inspiring acts of service and celebrate their contributions with us.
Megan Pearson, (Past President: 2025-2026, President: 2023–2025, Vice-President: 2021-2023) JICS Parents’ Association
Megan has demonstrated outstanding leadership and a commitment to fostering a vibrant, inclusive, and equitable parent community at the JICS Study Lab School. Megan has worked collaboratively with the school administration to increase transparency, enhance parent engagement, and champion initiatives that reflect and support the school’s socio-economic diversity. Her thoughtful, responsive, and inclusive approach to decision-making has made a lasting impact on the JICS community, setting a strong foundation for future parent involvement and advocacy.
Janina Shuster, President, ICS Daycare Board (2017–2024)
Janina’s steadfast leadership and dedication as President of the ICS Daycare Board over seven years ensured a nurturing and high-quality environment for children and families. She guided the Board through key transitions with integrity and care, consistently prioritizing the well-being and development of every child. Her work has left a lasting legacy of excellence and commitment to early childhood education.
6. International Holocaust Remembrance Day
The United Nations General Assembly officially designated January 27 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day, commemorating the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. At the JICS Lab School, our commitment to diversity and inclusion extends beyond a single day, as we address various forms of hate and oppression in developmentally appropriate ways throughout the entire year. These designated days serve as poignant reminders of our ongoing dedication to creating an environment that fosters learning and growth for our students and families. We continuously examine and reinforce our commitment to ensuring that our school remains a safe haven for all students, staff, parents, and community members.
7. JICS Skate Swap
As the 2026 Winter Skating Season approaches, the JICS Skate Swap is now accepting donations. Our Phys Ed teacher, Luke Van Ryn has organized skating sessions at Bill Bolton Arena for students in SK and Grades 1 to 6 (specific dates to be announced by classroom teachers). To participate safely, students will need properly fitted skates and a CSA-approved helmet. There are no rental options available at the arena.
In the spirit of supporting families, we have set up a skate swap at the school. If you have skates or helmets to donate, please drop them off at the reception area. Additionally, parents seeking to borrow equipment can bring their children to try on donated items in the same area.
8. The JICS Lab School's Birthday Party
The JICS Lab School will celebrating its 100th birthday with the children on the 101st day of school, February 6th 2026. Stay tuned for more information coming soon about our plans for this fun celebratory day!
9. Natural Curiosity's Self-Guided Learning Series
Learn more about Natural Curiosity’s four-branch environmental inquiry framework, deepened by Indigenous perspectives by watching the FREE 5-part video series. It provides an introductory exploration of the Natural Curiosity pedagogy, developed at the Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study Laboratory School, OISE-University of Toronto. It references the leading resource, Natural Curiosity 2nd Edition, alongside its authors and leading practitioners to define environmental inquiry, and how it relates to Indigenous perspectives.
Learn from Lab School Administrators and Educators, Richard, Chriss, Krista, Raadiyah and Carol.
Upcoming January Events
Thur 22 – Parents of BIPOC Children Playdate Social (RSVP Here!)
Tues 27 – International Holocaust Remembrance Day
Upcoming February Events
Tues 3 – 6:00pm Parent Education Understanding Anxiety in Children: The Value of Leaning Into Discomfort with Dr. Trina Epstein. Register here
Thur 5 – 100th day of school
Fri 6 - The JICS Lab School's Birthday Party (details coming soon)
Wed 11 – STEAM Night: Special Focus Art, Math (details coming soon)
Thur 12 – Valentine’s Day at JICS
Fri 13 – Midterm Holiday. School closed. Daycare open.
Mon 16 – Family Day Holiday. School and Daycare closed.
Tues 17 – Lunar New Year
Tues 17 – Ramadan (begins at sunset)
Tues 24 to Fri 27 – Gr 4/5 overnight trip to YMCA Camp Pine Crest
Wed 25 – Anti-Bullying Day/Pink Shirt Day
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