Topics covered in this post:
1. COVID-19 Update - Vaccinations
On November 23, the Ontario government, in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health and other health experts, began to offer the paediatric Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to children aged 5 to 11. Ontario is expected to receive more than 1,000,000 doses of paediatric Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines in the first shipment from the federal government. This is enough to provide a first dose to all children in the 5 to 11 cohort in Ontario. The 5 to 11 vaccination roll out is the last major initiative to protect children and keep children in school. Vaccines are available through familiar channels such as select doctors' offices, hospitals, pharmacies, and school-based clinics. The following website contains materials and information for children and youth vaccination: COVID-19 vaccines for children and youth | COVID-19 (coronavirus) in Ontario
The JICS Lab School strongly recommends that all parents get their children vaccinated as soon as reasonably possible.
The University of Toronto requires all individuals on campus to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide proof of vaccination. All eligible JICS Lab School children must be fully vaccinated for the 2022-2023 school year and provide proof of vaccination. More details regarding uploading your child’s vaccination information coming soon.
2. International Travel
If you are planning to travel with your child during the winter holidays, please note that Public Health’s policy remains the same: any child who is not fully vaccinated travelling outside the country cannot attend school for 14 days upon return.
TPH screening (updated Nov 26, 2021):
If the child/student travelled outside of Canada in the last 14 days:
The child/student must follow federal guidelines for quarantine and testing after returning from international travel.
If the child/student is fully vaccinated they may be exempt from federal quarantine. If the child/student is not fully vaccinated, they are not to attend school/child care for 14 days, even if they traveled with a vaccinated companion.
We cannot provide hybrid learning for children while they are away due to travel. We thank you for your understanding. We require all families travelling abroad to complete the travel form by Dec 15.
3. Re-enrolment for 2022-2023
Re-enrolment forms will be emailed today for the 2022-2023 school year. The form and the non-refundable $5000 deposit are due in the office by Wednesday, January 19, 2022. Please take the time to review the JICS values, philosophy, and mission before making your decision to re-enrol. Also, please note that the Admission Team will begin to fill vacant spots beginning January 20, 2022.
4. Ways to Give to JICS
Donate to the PA through Benevity and United Way. Contribute to the St. George's School Parents' Association Charitable Registration #119175537-RR0001 Please contact PA Treasurer, Shawn Konopinsky (jicstreasurer@gmail.com) if you make a contribution, so the PA knows to expect it.
Donate to the JICS Patrick Harvie Arts Fund (PHA). Please submit a cheque payable to the JICS Parents’ Association (subject line: PHA) and deliver to the Lab School receptionist.
Other opportunities to donate to the JICS Lab School can be found on the JICSfamily Donate Page. Thank you for your consideration.
5. Supporting the JICS Library
The JICS Library runs an ongoing fundraiser through Indigo. When you purchase gift cards through this link, 20% of your purchase amount is given to JICS to spend on books! The gift card arrives in your email, and then online or in-person purchases can be made from
6. JICS Holiday Food Drive
Start saving your non-perishable items for the JICS Holiday Food Drive! The Grade 6 class is hard at work organizing a school wide drive after deepening their knowledge around food insecurity and food sovereignty. Please look out for a special message from the Grade 6 class in the coming days!
7. Parent Education Events
February 3, 2022 | 7:00pm-8:00pm
Book-Ticket Event with Jesse Wente
Save the date! We are thrilled to invite all JICS families and
friends to a fireside Q&A with Jesse Wente. Jesse’s new book, Unreconciled: Family, Truth, and Indigenous Resistance was released in September, 2021 and will be available for purchase at a discounted rate for Al participants in this event. With the purchase of the book, participants will be given access to the link for the event. Jesse is Ojibwa, and his family comes from Chicago and the Serpent River First Nation in Ontario. Jesse is chair of the board of director for the Canada Council for the Arts; a well known film critic and broadcaster in Toronto and across Canada; an outspoken advocate for Indigenous rights, and First Nations, Inuit and Métis art; the first nationally syndicated Indigenous columnist for the CBC; and the first Executive Director of the Indigenous Screen Office. For Jesse’s full bio, please visit: https://www.nsb.com/speakers/jesse-wente/
Stay tuned for information about book/ticket purchasing.
8. Upcoming December Events
Thurs 9 – Last day of Block 1 placement & Fall Internship (JK to Grade 6)
Mon 13 to Fri 17 – Report Cards mailed home (Nursery to Grade 6)
Fri 17 – Last day of Fall Term. School ends at noon. Daycare open until 6:00pm
Mon 20 – Winter Holidays begin (Dec 20 to Jan 3). School and Daycare closed.
Sat 25 – Christmas Day
Sun 26 – Kwanzaa begins (Dec 26 to Jan 1)
Tues January 4 – Winter Term begins. School arrival starts at 8:30am (Daycare opens at 8:00am)
