Terry Fox Run, September Social, Photo Day, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation & More!
- JICS Office
- Sep 18
- 7 min read
JICS at a Glance
We've condensed the important highlights for your convenience:
Terry Fox Run & Assembly - Tomorrow!
September Social: Thursday September 25, 6:00-8:00pm
Registration and Parent Volunteer Information!
Photo Day: Monday, September 29
Principal for the Day! - Thursday September 25
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation & an announcement from Natural Curiosity
JICS students enjoying the new Reading Nook/Piazza!
Topics covered in this post:
(Click to navigate straight to a section)
1. Terry Fox Run - Tomorrow!
Join us to cheer on our student supporters of the Terry Fox Run. Each class, JK to Grade 6 will depart from the school at approximately 9:15 AM and head to Sibelius Park to run around the perimeter of the park. Huge thank you to parent volunteers who have signed up with Michael or Casey for helping with supervision along the route.
The Grade 3 students have poured their creativity into crafting beautiful posters, inviting everyone to contribute "a toonie for Terry". Alternatively, you can make a direct donation to the Terry Fox Foundation “The Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study” Donation Page.
Terry Fox Run Fun - 2024
2. Shanah Tovah Umetukah - May you have a good and sweet year!
On September 22 to 24, the Jewish members of the JICS family will be celebrating the New Year. Rosh Hashanah is the first of the Jewish High Holy Days. Customs include sounding the shofar (a cleaned-out ram’s horn). Wishing everyone a sweet new year.
We are asking for parent volunteers to help us celebrate and learn—please reach out to your child’s teacher if you are interested. If you would like to contribute food to your child’s class as part of the celebration, kindly review the School Safe Foods List 2025–2026 (Updated Sept 5, 2025) page on our website and confirm details with your child’s teacher. This ensures we can celebrate safely and inclusively with all children.
3. Promoting Diversity at JICS
At JICS, we are committed to creating a school experience that reflects and celebrates the rich diversity of our community. Our teachers have formed dedicated focus groups to ensure that cultural traditions and perspectives are meaningfully woven into school life. They are researching and inviting artists to lead assemblies that broaden students’ understanding and appreciation of different cultures. We invite parents to take part in this important work by joining our planning groups—please feel free to connect directly if you are interested. In addition, classroom teachers will reach out to families throughout the year to invite your support with cultural celebrations. Together, we can create a learning environment where every student feels represented and valued.
2025-2026 Committee List
TRC & Indigenous Heritage | Audrey, Krista & Chriss |
Islamic Heritage | Carol & Tania |
Hindu Heritage | Walker & Mike |
Black Heritage | Marcia, Jessica, Raadiyah & Kenisha |
Asian Heritage | Nick, Tara & Richard |
Pride | Charlotte, Tara & Chriss |
Jewish Heritage/Holocaust Remembrance Day | Judith, Simone & Walker |
Francophone Heritage | Christel, Tania & Audrey |
4. September Social - Thursday, September 25
To kickstart our centennial year and our journey towards building a vibrant inter-connected community, we are excited about our first PA event of the school year, the "September Social” on Thursday, September 25, from 6:00PM to 8:00PM, right here in our school gym.
The PA is thoughtfully providing free babysitting for your children (who currently attend the school), along with a pizza dinner for them. This will enable parents to connect in a relaxed, informal setting. It is a great opportunity for adults to come together, strengthen existing bonds, and forge new connections.
We sincerely hope that each and every JICS parent will join us for the September Social on September 25th. It promises to be an evening of camaraderie, where we can celebrate our shared vision and the wonderful community we are creating together. Please take a moment to register for the event. We can't wait to see you there! Please note that registration deadline is September 22.
Parent Volunteers Needed for September Social
Dear Parents,
We’re excited to be hosting our upcoming September Social on Wednesday, September 25, and we could use a few helping hands to make the evening a success!
If you are available to assist with any of the following, we’d greatly appreciate your support:
Transportation Help
Pick up 6 cruiser tables from Alligator Party Rental (505 Dupont St) at 9:00 AM on Sept 25
Return the tables to the same location between 9:00 AM–12:00 PM on Sept 26
Event Setup & Cleanup
Help set up food and tables at 6:30 PM on Sept 25
Help with cleanup at 8:00 PM on Sept 25
Decor Planning
Lead or assist in planning the evening’s décor (budget: $500)
If you're able to help with any of the above, please email me at reenakilian@gmail.com.
Thank you in advance for your time and support!
Warmly,
Reena Kilian
Vice President, JICS Parents’ Association
5. Principal For the Day - Thursday, September 25
Move aside, Richard, there are new principals taking charge! On September 25, under the dynamic leadership of Alexander and Teddy, the JICS Lab School students can look forward to an exciting and transformed day.
Our new principals have organized a school-wide “Cozy Dress Day”, inviting everyone to dress in their most comfortable clothing and bring their favourite stuffy along for the fun. Morning recess has been extended to allow for more outdoor play because “it is so much fun” says Alexander.
The day will also include a special nut-free sweet treat for every student. In the afternoon, the entire school will gather for a movie—complete with popcorn, of course!
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us at the JICS Centennial Gala on May 13, 2025, in support of the JICS Endowment Fund. Your generosity helped ensure that children from all backgrounds have access to a JICS education—regardless of financial circumstances. The evening was filled with celebration and excitement, including the awarding of two “Principal for a Day” prizes. We cannot wait to see Saje and Kian take the lead on their special day—stay tuned!
For over 100 years, the JICS Lab School has been redefining education through transformative research and innovative teaching methods that enrich public school learning. With your support, we can continue this important work while fostering a community that is as diverse, inclusive, and thriving as possible.
Every gift makes a difference. Please consider donating here: Donate to the JICS Endowment Fund. Together, we are shaping the future of education.
6. Photo Day - Say Cheese! - Monday, September 29
On Monday, September 29th, individual and class photos will be taken. To capture those wonderful smiles, we suggest that children come dressed in bright and vibrant colours. Every child will receive a unique online code which parents can use to view their child's photos and place orders. Once the orders are placed, the photos will be conveniently distributed to the children right here at school when they arrive.
7. Rowan's Law Day
The last Wednesday of every September is designated as Rowan’s Law Day to honour Rowan Stringer’s memory and raise awareness about concussion safety. On September 24, each grade will review strategies to prevent, identify, and manage concussions. Parents are invited to review the excellent concussion information available from Parachute.
8. National Day for Truth and Reconciliation - Tuesday, September 30
September 30th marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a day dedicated to the lost children, the Survivors of residential schools, their families, and their communities. Public acknowledgment and remembrance of the tragic and painful history, as well as the enduring impacts of residential schools, stand as crucial pillars of the reconciliation process. We invite you to read explore further insights into the origins of this significant day.
At JICS, we will honour both the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day on Tuesday, September 30th. Phyllis Webstad's poignant story of receiving a bright orange shirt from her grandmother before attending residential school, only to have it taken away, symbolizes the deliberate loss experienced by so many in the residential school system. This day offers us an opportunity to delve into the history and enforcement of residential schools and to reflect on their lasting effects on families, even generations later. For more information, please visit www.orangeshirtday.org.
Our dedicated JICS teachers are organizing a school-wide assembly in the gym at 2:15 PM with invited guests, Tribal Vision Dance, a family dance troupe from the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory. We extend a warm welcome to all parents to join us. Anticipating a sea of orange in the gym, we aim to honour the truth and show support for residential school survivors and their families. Together, let us take steps towards healing and understanding on this important day.
9. Natural Curiosity - Indigenous Learning Opportunity
Join the JICS Lab School’s Natural Curiosity Program for an online Ojibwe language course. This initiative stems from our commitment towards reconciliation and to foster and promote Indigenous perspectives and intercultural understanding within our educational community.
This course is open to everyone – both Indigenous and non-Indigenous participants who wish to learn to uplift language revitalization. Learning sessions start Oct 14th, 2025, and the EARLY Bird pricing is available until September 30, 2025.
Unable to commit to the course but want to help make Indigenous language learning more accessible? Your donation to Natural Curiosity directly supports language revitalization, ensuring more learners can access these vital programs.
10. Curriculum Night
We want to extend our gratitude to all who participated in Curriculum Night last night. Your involvement and support are instrumental in creating a dynamic and enriching learning experience for our students. Our dedicated Specialty Subject Teachers (French, Drama, Music, Visual Arts, Library, Phys Ed, Land-based Ed, STEM) and Student Support Teams (Special Education, in-house child-psychologist) have crafted information packages to provide an insightful introduction to their respective programs. We encourage parents to access this valuable information on the Specialty Teacher Handout page under the 'Programs' dropdown of our main menu.
Upcoming September Events
Fri 19 – Terry Fox Run. JK to Gr 6
Mon 22 – Fall Equinox
Mon 22 to Wed 24 – Rosh Hashanah
Wed 24 – Rowan’s Day (Concussion Awareness)
Thur 25 – Principal for the Day “Cozy-dress Day”
Thur 25 – JICS “All Parent” September Social 6:00-8:00pm. Free babysitting - Register.
Mon 29 – Photo Day
Tues 30 – National Day for Truth and Reconciliation/Orange Shirt Day. School assembly
Upcoming October Events
Islamic Heritage Month
Wed 1 to Thur 2 - Yom Kippur
Wed 8 - Parents' Association "All Parents" Meeting - 7:00pm
Mon 13 – Thanksgiving Day. School & Daycare closed.
Wed 15 – Running Club (Grades 4-6) Cross Country Meet
Thur 16 – Running Club (Grades 4-6) TDSB South Conference —Winston Churchill Park
Mon 20 – Diwali
Thur 23 – Parents of BIPOC Children meeting. 7:00-8:30 PM. Zoom.
Fri 31 - Halloween
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