Topics covered in this post:
1. Thank you, Parents!
We have reached the end of the 2022-2023 year, filled with pride and impressive accomplishments (and some surprises). We have much to celebrate. Our success is thanks to your support, encouragement, and understanding. We have excitedly begun to plan for the 2023-2024 school year and look forward to our new exemplary playground in mid-October. We wish all JICS families a joyful and refreshing summer and look forward to seeing you on Tuesday, September 5!
2. Last Day of School
Friday, June 16, 2023
We will start the day with a final school assembly of the year. The school day ends at noon, and the Day Care is open 12-6pm. JK to Grade 5 children will gather in the front yard of 45 Walmer Road at 11:50 to “clap out” our Grade 6 Graduates – please join us if you can! Day Care children will proceed to Day Care. There is no hot lunch program on Friday.
PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL CHILDREN WILL BE DISMISSED FROM WALMER ROAD.
3. Goodbye, Graduates!
The graduation ceremony today was a perfect celebration of our amazing Grade 6 graduates! Thank you, Sarah, Nadia, Nick, Judith, and Krista for all your work preparing the students. It was such a special day, with our students poised between their elementary school days and the next huge chapters of their lives they will continue to live so beautifully. A lovely and lively reception followed the ceremony. Thanks to an incredible planning committee of Grade 6 parents and the help of many Grade 5 parent volunteers!
Grade 6 Parents, we are grateful for your trust in us and the nourishment and encouragement you have given these amazing graduates. You chose JICS all those years ago, or maybe you arrive just this year, and we thank you all. It has been a privilege to watch your child grow and flourish.
It is our pleasure to announce the Grade 6 legacy gift. The Grade 6 parents chose to purchase 2 ping pong tables to enrich our Phys Ed Program and recreational periods. We anticipate the children (and staff) forming a ping pong club next year!
We want to say a special goodbye and thank you to those families who have completed their Lab School journey and with this graduation, have finished their years here. These are families who understood and embraced the philosophy, values, and mission of the Lab School and maintained their trust in us during a pandemic. Thank you for your support and remember, you are always a part of the JICS family!
We invite all families to enjoy the profiles of our graduates in the June issue of the School Sway Newsletter.
4. Spring Term Newsletter
Welcome to our Spring JICS Lab School Newsletter! This 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. Use the password provided in the Weekly Info email to access the newsletter.
Use the password provided in the Weekly Info (June 15) email to access the Spring Newsletter.
5. Staffing Update
We are working on the staffing for next year and we thank parents for your patience and trust. We welcome the following new hires to the JICS family:
Jayda Lam, Administrative Assistant & In-House Supply Teacher
Jayda is a recent graduate of the MA in Child Studies and Education Program and a Lab School suppy teacher. She was awarded a Teaching Practice Award (teaching excellence) and The Kingsley Award (excellence in leadership in special education). Jayda completed her internship in our Grade 6 class. She has administrative experiences from her work at the Geneva Centre for Autism (Toronto) and as president of OISE’s Council for Exceptional Children. When Jayda is not supplying, she will be completing administrative duties in the school office with Shama, Chriss, and Richard. We are fortunate to have another award-winning and highly skilled MA graduate join the JICS family!
Lisa Taharally, Wednesday Afternoon Program Director
We are looking forward to working with Lisa to organize the extra-curricular programs on Wednesday Afternoon next year. At JICS, Lisa has been a long-term occasional supply teacher and she ran the Wednesday Afternoon “Creative Play” Program for the kindergarten children. As a supply teacher, she has worked with every grade, Nursery to Grade 6 and, best of all, she is a JICS parent who understands our philosophy and mission. Lisa brings her knowledge and skills from experiences working as a teacher in various environments, including the Horace Mann School in New York.
6. JICS Library Books
Please look around your home to find any JICS library books and kindly return them to Krista ASAP.
7. Lost and Found
On Friday afternoon the remaining unclaimed clothing will be donated. Parents have one more opportunity to check our collection. Ask Paige for directions!
8. Staff PD Week
Monday, June 19, 2023 to Friday, June 23, 2023
The week after school ends is filled with planned professional development opportunities and meetings for classroom and specialty teachers.
9. Summer in the JICS School Office
Richard, Chriss, Shama, and Paige will be available much of the summer.
10. Report Cards
Report cards will be posted online and available to download as a PDF beginning Friday, June 23.
Log into your SFO account (https://sfo.inresonance.com/oise-utoronto/index.php) to download. Report cards are available on your account temporarily, so you must download them and save copies in a safe place. Should you require a printed copy or a digital copy of a past report card, please reach out to the School Office.
Download Instructions:
Go to: https://sfo.inresonance.com/oise-utoronto/index.php and log into your SFO Account
Click on FAM Access Module (menu bar, top left)
Click on your child’s name under Academic Year 2022-2023
Go to Grade Reports
Download Fall and Spring reports as a PDF
Save in a safe place
11. Photos from the Week at JICS
a. National Indigenous History Month
June is National Indigenous History Month in Canada. It is a time to recognize the rich history, heritage, resilience and diversity of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis. It's a time to honour the stories, achievements, and resilience of Indigenous Peoples, who have lived on this land since time immemorial and whose presence continues to impact the evolving Canada.
Students brought a family hand drum to share with classmates in their classroom and at the gathering. In Library, we have learned about the history of our city’s name Tkaronto, Métis culture, and Indigenous celebrations such as Pow Wow.
JICS gathered as a whole school community to recognize National Indigenous History Month and we were joined by Danny Beaton, an elder of the Mohawk Nation, environmentalist, traditional flute player, and Annex neighbourhood resident. He played the flute and shared songs with the all of us. He spoke to students about gratitude and giving thanks to each other and to the world that provides for us. Danny then sat in circle with the Grade 6s in the courtyard for a discussion. Thank you Danny!
And for Teacher Professional Development, the JICS teachers travelled to the Anishinaabe Teaching Lodge in the courtyard at New College, UofT. With the leadership of Doug Anderson, JICS Indigenous (Métis) consultant and co-author of Natural Curiosity, they took part in a Talking Circle to explore the school’s relationships with Indigenous people and knowledge.
b. Pride Month
Happy Pride Month! 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ Here are some photos from our assembly to celebrate Pride Month. Grade 4/5B shared a presentation on 'Queeroes' (Queer Heroes) who are important, inspiring, and meaningful to them. Members of the GSA also spoke and there was a dance party to end the gathering.
In addition, the GSA has been fundraising for Rainbow Railroad. They set up a station at Hot Dog Night and online donation portal to fundraise. They will announce the total at tomorrow's assembly.
“Pride is a celebration of diversity, equality, and freedom – and everyone is welcome to enjoy it." – Quote from Robin Stevenson's book, Pride
c. SK Play: Trickster Tales from around the World
d. Fairy Tale Puppet Theatre visits JK and SK
12. Upcoming June Events
Canada's National Indigenous History Month & World Pride Month
Fri 16 – Last day of school. Noon dismissal. (Daycare open until 6:00pm)
Mon 19 – Juneteenth (USA)
Mon 19 to Thur 29 – Daycare June Camp
Fri 23 – Report Cards posted online
Fri 30 – UofT President’s Day (all UofT closed, including JICS building)
