Welcome New JICS Families, Arriving on time, Lunar New Year at JICS, Centennial Skate, JICS at the Movies, & More!
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JICS at a Glance
We've condensed the important highlights for your convenience:
A Warm Welcome to our New JICS Families!
Happy Lunar New Year from JICS
JICS at the Movies - Buy your tickets now!
JICS Centennial Family Skate - Monday, March 23
Tips for arriving on time!
Topics covered in this post:
(Click to navigate straight to a section)
1. Midterm Holiday
Please note that the JICS Lab School, Nursery to Grade 6, will be closed tomorrow, Friday, February 13, and Monday, February 16 (Family Day). Wishing everyone a well-deserved midterm holiday break. The Daycare will remain open for registered users on Friday, February 13. For more information, feel free to contact Daycare Director Anne Marie.
2. Welcome New JICS Families
With this POST, we are thrilled to extend a heartfelt welcome to the newest members of the JICS family: the little ones joining the Nursery cohort and the students stepping into various grades this coming September 2026. We encourage you to actively engage in the array of events we have lined up for the remainder of the school year (parent education events, family gatherings). Be sure to keep an eye on our weekly Parent Information POST for all the details.
During the summer, our Parents’ Association (PA) will reach out to new families to help organize playdates, fostering connections among your child and fellow cohort members. It is a wonderful opportunity for new students to build friendships before the school year begins. For new parents interested in taking on a more active role within our community, consider joining the JICS PA Executive. Whether as a class representative or in an Executive Position, your contributions will make a significant impact and provide you with more opportunities to connect with the school. Feel free to contact PA President, Ann-Marie annmariewilliams@gmail.com for more information on how you can get involved. We are eager to make your experience at JICS truly exceptional, and we look forward to creating lasting memories together.
3. Lunar New Year at JICS - Thursday February 19
Gong Hei Fat Choi
Xīnnián hǎo
Chúc Mừng Năm Mới
Saehae bok mani badeuseyo
Happy New Year!
We are looking forward to celebrating Lunar New Year at JICS on Thursday, February 19. In preparation, students will help tidy the school on Wednesday, February 18, symbolically “sweeping away” any bad luck. On Thursday, we will open our windows and doors to welcome good fortune into our spaces.
Nick Song has organized a vibrant morning assembly featuring a traditional lion dance performance at 9:00 a.m. in the school gym, starting our day with excitement and energy. We ask that all children come to school wearing red to help celebrate. All parents are warmly welcome to attend.Thank you to the Parents’ Association for your generous support in making this possible.
Each student will also receive a special surprise gift. We welcome parent ideas and suggestions to help deepen students’ understanding of Lunar New Year traditions. Please feel free to share them with your child’s teachers.
4. JICS at the Movies
Monday, March 2nd, 2026
🕡 6:30 – 9:30 p.m.
📍 Innis College Theatre
2 Sussex Avenue, Toronto, ON M5S 1J5
You’re invited to join us for a special evening of film, conversation, and community as part of the Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study Centennial celebrations.
Our next edition of JICS at the Movies presents a screening of the acclaimed documentary The Making of a Japanese, followed by an in-depth Q&A with the filmmaker.
About the Film
The Making of a Japanese is a warm, intimate, and quietly captivating documentary that takes viewers inside a Tokyo public elementary school to explore how early childhood education shapes culture in Japan. Filmed over the course of a year, the film follows first- and sixth-grade students as they learn not only academics, but also responsibility, cooperation, and respect for others.
Through small, revealing moments — students cleaning their classrooms, serving lunch, or carefully placing their shoes — the film offers a fascinating look at an education system that places trust and responsibility in children from a very young age. The balance between individuality and community is tested daily, creating moments that are both deeply human and unexpectedly moving.
Directed by Japanese American filmmaker Ema Ryan Yamazaki, The Making of a Japanese is a gentle yet powerful portrait of childhood and the everyday rituals and reveal larger truths about community, responsibility, and identity. Praised by The New York Times as a “Nuanced portrait that trys to explain why Japan is the way it is, while also showing the potential costs of those practices.,” the film invites audiences to reflect on education, belonging, and the values we pass on — long after the final scene.
5. JICS Centennial Family Skate
We are excited to announce the JICS Centennial Family Skate, taking place on Monday March 23rd from 5:00pm – 7:00pm at Varsity Arena (299 Bloor Street West). Mark your calendar and join us for an evening of joy, warmth, and community spirit.
Junior grade students enjoying their first skating session of the year!
6. Supporting a Smooth Start to the School Day (Arriving on Time)
We understand that mornings can be busy and unpredictable, even with the best planning. At the same time, arriving on time plays an important role in helping children feel settled, confident, and ready to learn. When children arrive late, they may miss important routines, instructions, and social interactions that support a smooth transition into the day. Late arrivals can also be disruptive to the learning environment for other children.
To support calm and successful mornings, you may find the following strategies helpful:
Prepare the night before: Packing lunches, setting out clothes, and organizing backpacks in advance can make mornings feel less rushed.
Start with yourself: Waking up a few minutes earlier to meet your own needs can help set a calmer tone for the entire morning.
Build in buffer time: Allowing extra time gives you space to respond with patience and compassion when the inevitable morning meltdown occurs.
Create a predictable routine: Consistent, reliable routines reduce stress and help children know what to expect.
Some practical tools to support routine and independence include:
Using a dry-erase board or visual checklist to guide each step of the morning
Asking open-ended prompts such as, “I see you’ve brushed your teeth and your hair, what do you need to do next before we leave the house?”
Creating a “launch pad” by the door for essential items (boots, gloves, hats, backpack, etc.) to minimize last-minute searching.
Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting a positive and smooth start to each school day.
7. The Natural Curiosity Program
Join Natural Curiosity 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 April 14th, 2026, and the EARLY Bird pricing is available until March 31, 2026.
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.
Upcoming February Events
February is Black History Month
Fri 13 – Midterm Holiday. School closed. Daycare open.
Mon 16 – Family Day Holiday. School and Daycare closed.
Tues 17 – Ramadan (begins at sunset)
Tues 19 – Lunar New Year at JICS (wear red!)
Tues 24 to Fri 27 – Gr 4/5 overnight trip to YMCA Camp Pine Crest
Wed 25 – Anti-Bullying Day/Pink Shirt Day
Upcoming March Events
March is Read-athon Month
Ramadan (Feb 18 to Mar 19)
Mon 2 – JICS at the Movies “The Making of a Japanese” 6:30pm. Innis College Theatre Buy Tickets
Tues 3 – Purim
Wed 4 – Holi
Thur 5 – Last Day of 1st Year Teacher Candidates (JK to Grade 6)
Sun 8 – International Women’s Day
Mon 9 to Fri 13 – March Break Week 1 (School closed. Daycare open to registered users.)
Mon 16 to Fri 20 – March Break Week 2 (School and Daycare closed.)
Fri 20 – Eid al-Fitr & Nowruz & Spring Equinox
Mon 23 – Spring Term begins (Daycare opens at 7:45am)
Mon 23 – 5:00-7:00pm JICS Family Skate at UofT Varsity Arena
Wed 25 – Wednesday Afternoon Program – Term 3 start
Thur 26 – Lice Check (Thank you for your donations to the PA!)
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