Staffing Update, Tuition, Hot Dog Night
- JICS Office
- Apr 10
- 9 min read
Updated: Apr 15
JICS at a Glance
We've condensed the important highlights for your convenience:
The school will be closed Thur April 17 (daycare open), Fri April 18, and Mon April 21
Make an online donation for the Read-a-thon or download a form
The second tuition payment is due on April 17, 2025
Register for the Parents of BIPOC Children Meeting - Apr 15
Hot Dog Night is Wed June 4 from 5-8 PM
Sign up for Parent Teacher Interviews (April 16 & 17) - Links below!
Volunteer to participate in a new research study (info below)
Topics covered in this post:
(Click to navigate straight to a section)
School Closed - Thursday April 17, Friday April, 18, & Monday, April 21
JICS Read-a-thon - Celebrating 31 Years!
Second 2025-2026 Tuition Payment Due
Staffing Update from Principal Richard Messina
Parents of BIPOC Children Meeting
Congratulations to Haley Higdon - Recipient of the ETFO Environmental Education Award!
GET READY FOR HOT DOG NIGHT - SAVE THE DATE
JICS Lab School Parent Participants Needed for Research on School Choice in Canada
Full Circle: Grade 7s Reunite and Inspire
Interns Sing a Fond Farewell
Happy Vaisakhi!
Chag Pesach Semeach!
1. School Closed
Thursday, April 17 + Friday, April 18 + Monday, April 21
On Thursday, April 17, the JICS teachers and staff will engage in Parent-Teacher Interviews.
The school and daycare are closed on Good Friday (April 18) and Easter Monday (April 21).
The Daycare will be open on April 17 (7:45am to 6:00pm). See programing information in last week’s POST. Please contact Anne Marie, Daycare Director if you are interested in registering your child: ics.after.school.daycare@gmail.com
2. JICS Read-a-thon - Celebrating 31 Years!
Your donations will be used to replace lost and broken books, purchase new books, and to support 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.
3. Second 2025-2026 Tuition Payment Due
The second tuition payment is due on April 17, 2025. This payment is non-refundable and representing 50% of the balance tuition balance. Please make your cheque payable to the University of Toronto.
Nursery 2025-2026 Tuition is $20,127
A non-refundable deposit of $5,000 was paid at the time of acceptance.
50% balance due April 17 = $7,563.50 (non-refundable)
Full Day (JK to Grade 6) 2025-2026 Tuition is $31,874
A non-refundable deposit of $5,000 was paid in January 2025 or at time of acceptance.
50% balance due April 17 = $13,437 (non-refundable)
Shama is available in the school office each school day, 8:00am to 4:00pm. She is happy to receive post-dated cheques in advance of April 17.
The final tuition payment is due September 1, 2025.
4. Staffing Update from Principal Richard Messina
As principal, one of my most important responsibilities is ensuring our school is staffed with exceptional educators. This complex process involves many considerations, including confidential information. At the JICS Lab School, we approach every staffing decision with great care and thoughtfulness to ensure that each grade and specialty subject is led by outstanding teachers.
I am delighted to introduce Audrey Madsen, an experienced and highly regarded educator from the Toronto District School Board. Since 2021, Audrey has been teaching Grade 4/5 at Hawthorne Bilingual Alternative School, in addition to having experience teaching Grades 2 and 3. She serves as the Person of Responsibility in Indigenous Education and has developed and led professional development for staff in this area. As a researcher, she has also presented at conferences in Canada and the U.S. We are thrilled to welcome Audrey as a Grade 4/5 teacher at JICS. I would like to extend my gratitude to our dedicated hiring committee: JICS Director Dr. Jenny Jenkins, Parents’ Association President Megan Pearson, Vice Principal Chriss Bogert, and teachers Zoe Donoahue, Raadiyah Nazeem, and Nick Song.
I am very happy to share some exciting changes within our teaching team as Raadiyah Nazeem, Walker Kitchens, and Jessica Haber take on new roles next year.
Raadiyah Nazeem will be returning from her maternity leave to teach Grade 4/5. An exceptional JICS educator, Raadiyah has previously taught Grades 1 and 2, Junior Kindergarten and she taught all the grades as our Teacher Library. She is eager to join the junior division and continue making a meaningful impact on our students.
Walker Kitchens will be stepping into the Grade 6 teaching role—a position perfectly suited for him. A graduate of the Lab School and the JICS MA CSE teacher-education program, Walker has previously taught Grade 4, physical education to all grades (Nursery to Grade 6), and Grade 2. His deep connection to JICS and passion for education make him an excellent fit for this leadership role in our upper grades.
Jessica Haber will continue her journey with us, moving with her students to Grade 2 from Grade 1. Prior to her time at JICS, Jessica also taught Grades 1 and 2. Seconded from the TDSB, Jessica will be entering her third year with us, and we are grateful for the expertise and dedication she brings to our school community and her students.
We are in the final stages of selecting our Grade 1 teacher and look forward to sharing this exciting news soon.
Our 2025-2026 staffing plan has been thoughtfully designed to ensure excellence in teaching and learning. We are excited about the year ahead and the outstanding team leading our classrooms:
Nursery – Charlotte Henderson. RECE: Debbie Young, Susan Scott, Alicia Robillard
JK – Marcia Bumbury. RECE: Kenisha Peters
SK – Carol Stephenson
Gr 1 – Details coming soon
Gr 2 – Jessica Haber
Gr 3 – Michael Martins
Gr 4/5 – Raadiyah Nazeem
Gr 4/5 – Audrey Madsen
Gr 6 – Walker Kitchens
Art – Tara Rousseau
Music – TBD, and Russell Hersen
French – Tania Debss and Christel Durand
Library/Land-Based Education – Krista Spence
Physical Education – Luke Van Ryn
Special Ed – Judith Kimel, Nick Song, Charlotte Henderson
STEM – Nick Song
Drama – Sarah Murray
Principal – Richard Messina
Vice Principal – Chriss Bogert
JICS Director – Dr. Jennifer Jenkins
Business Officer – Jun Cheng
School Office Administrator – Shama Joshi
Administrative Assistant & In-House Supply Teacher – TBD
Communications Officer – Victoria Sandic
Receptionist – Paige Lancaster
*Combined Grade 4 & 5 Classes: At JICS Lab School, we recognize the immediate and long-term benefits of combined grades. These classes provide students with opportunities to develop new relationships and engage with learning in unique ways. Our intentionally diverse environment fosters the development of crucial social skills and helps students appreciate and value diversity, including diversity of ideas. The team (classroom teachers, special education teachers, and administration) is currently designing two balanced Grade 4/5 cohorts for the 2025-2026 school year. Parents will be notified of the assignments by the end of June.
5. Parents of BIPOC Children Meeting
Tuesday April 15 | 7:00-8:30 pm
In Person
Created by JICS parents for JICS parents, this meeting is designed for conversation and advocacy for families at JICS with BIPOC children. All parents of a BIPOC student at JICS are welcome.
The intention of this meeting is to gain a greater understanding of the issues facing our BIPOC children at school, so that we may support them during their time at JICS. As well as discuss how the JICS BIPOC parents can support the teachers and help with the school's cultural celebrations.
6. Congratulations to Haley Higdon - Recipient of the ETFO Environmental Education Award!
We are thrilled to celebrate Haley Higdon, Director of the JICS Natural Curiosity Program, who has been awarded the ETFO Environmental Education Award for 2024–2025. This prestigious recognition honors Haley’s exceptional leadership and dedication to environmental education, and her tireless work supporting both students and educators.
The award committee noted that “the contribution Haley is making to education is significant” — and we couldn’t agree more. Bravo, Haley!
7. GET READY FOR HOT DOG NIGHT - SAVE THE DATE
Dear JICS families, mark your calendars for Wednesday, June 4th, 5-8 PM as it promises to be a sizzlin' delight. We’ll grill, we’ll chill, we’ll laugh and cheer, for one of the kids’ most beloved events of the year!
How can this community help? We would greatly appreciate donations of games, food or snacks, and non-alcoholic beverages to make the night even better. If you have the ability to contribute, please contact Lucia Remedios at lucia@analoguegallery.com or call (416) 505-4970.
Please stay tuned for all the details. We hope that you are as excited about Hot Dog Night as we are!
Sincerely,
The Grade 1 Parents - Hot Dog Night Committee
8. Parent Teacher Interviews: April 16 + 17
Below are the links to sign up for your Fall interview with your child’s/children’s teachers. More information about parent teacher interviews can be found in last week’s POST.
Classroom Teachers (20 min)
Nursery: https://signup.com/go/TtwGSYP
Grade 1: https://signup.com/go/KVGwsnO
Grade 2: https://signup.com/go/PULRrQW
Grade 3: https://signup.com/go/SnDHvav
Grade 4/5R: https://signup.com/go/npWvSjq
Grade 4/5Z: https://signup.com/go/ChWWLvJ
Grade 6: https://signup.com/go/ACtzwoM
Specialty Teachers (5 min)
Primary French (JK-Gr 2): https://signup.com/go/DuxcRBp
Junior French (Gr 3-6): https://signup.com/go/waODBOy
Early Years Music (JK, SK): https://signup.com/go/icQugbS
Primary/Junior Music with Russell (Gr 1-6): https://signup.com/go/EhZaZGr
Primary/Junior Music with Jayda (Gr 1-6): https://signup.com/go/ThjYtMF
Art (JK-Gr 6): https://signup.com/go/FckDoLF
Phys Ed (JK-Gr 6): https://signup.com/go/tJPnJjz
Drama (JK-Gr 6): https://signup.com/go/EOSUypD
Library (JK-Gr 6): https://signup.com/go/dsTFiZc
9. JICS Lab School Parent Participants Needed for Research on School Choice in Canada
JICS Lab School Parents have an exciting opportunity to participate in a new research study, with researchers from the Department of Political Science at McMaster University, in conjunction with the Universities of Toronto, Regina, and British Columbia, including Dr. Linda White, a former JICS Lab School parent.
The study, Assessing the Financial, Governance, and Parental Feedback Effects of School Choice in Canada, examines parents’ views regarding the Canadian education system and the factors behind why parents make the choices they do for their children’s education. The goal of this research is to gather insights and opinions on school choice in the Canadian context. Parents of children attending the Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study Lab School are invited to participate in group-based discussions on the topic of school choice and the factors that have influenced your decisions regarding your child/ren’s education.
We need JICS Lab school parents to participate in one of the following focus group sessions:
Tuesday 15 April 2025 at 3:30-4:30 pm – in person. The in-person focus group will take place in room 120 near the reception at 45 Walmer Road.
OR
Wednesday 16 April 2025 at 7:30-8:30 pm – online (Zoom). The link will be shared with volunteers in advance.
To volunteer to participate in this study, or to request information, please contact Dr. Linda A. White linda.white@utoronto.ca.
There is more information about the study on this flyer:
Thank you for considering your support for this important research!
10. Dissemination: Serving Our Public Purpose
JICS is at the forefront of shaping elementary education and advancing teacher training worldwide. Our commitment to sharing knowledge and fostering innovation continues through various initiatives.
Recent Highlights:
Chriss Bogert presented “Empowering Children to Respect and Expect Their Rights” at the International Association of Laboratory Schools (IALS) online Collaborative Conversation on April 8 to a crowd of educators from around the world. She explained the importance of implementing a rights-respecting approach in education, and helped participants to discover how children's rights can be embedded into the curriculum through a critical literacy approach. Chriss shared practical strategies for creating meaningful participation opportunities for children of different ages.
11. Full Circle: Grade 7s Reunite and Inspire
On April 3, we welcomed back our graduates now in Grade 7 for a special visit with the current Grade 6 students. In small group conversations, they offered thoughtful advice and encouragement about the transition to a new school. It was a joy for teachers to reconnect with our former students and hear how well they are thriving in their new environments. The playful and natural reconnection between the two grades—especially on the playground—was heartwarming to witness. We were truly impressed by the maturity and insight our alumni shared.
12. Interns Sing a Fond Farewell
On Friday, we gathered for a special assembly to celebrate our amazing "Winter" Interns. Each year, we are grateful for the opportunity to welcome these dedicated individuals into our classrooms—from JK through Grade 6—and this year was no exception.
The assembly was filled with heartfelt moments, as students shared poems, songs, and warm wishes for the future. In return, our Interns surprised us all with a lighthearted and catchy farewell song that brought smiles and laughter throughout the school. The tune echoed through the halls all day—and we are excited to share it with you here:
13. Natural Curiosity
The Natural Curiosity program plays a crucial role in advancing the Lab School’s public purpose by supporting educators with understanding the importance of Indigenous perspectives in environmental and all education.
Help Natural Curiosity support 30,000 educators in 2025 by donating just $20 today!
Every donation, no matter the size, helps educators bring environmental learning to life through Indigenous perspectives, empowering students to imagine a better world and take the steps necessary to make that world a reality.
As a 100% donor-funded program, your support is essential to providing free resources and expanding environmental education and Indigenous language programs for all.
Miigwetch/Hiy hiy/Nya:wen for considering a gift to Natural Curiosity.
Photos from the Week
Creative Time the Art Studio with Potter in Residence, Paul, learning how to use the pottery wheels. Thank you to the Patrick Harvie Arts Fund for this opportunity!
Designing and building elevators in Grade 4!
International Day of Pink & Wonderful Welcoming Month of Rainbow Assembly withe the JICS GSA
Upcoming April Events
Sat 12 (evening) to Sun 20 - Passover
Mon 14 – Vaisakhi
Mon 14 to Thur 17 – La Semaine de la Francophonie at JICS
Tues 15 – 7:00 Meeting of Parents of BIPOC Children RSVP
Wed 16 – Parent/Teacher Interview Afternoon (sign-up above)
Thur 17 – Due date for 2nd Tuition Payment
Thur 17 – School closed. Daycare open. Parent/Teacher interview Day (sign-up above)
Fri 18 – Good Friday (School and Daycare closed.)
Mon 21 – Easter Monday (School and Daycare closed.)
Tues 22 – Earth Day
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