Dear JICS Families,
Thank you all for your well wishes. I am working from home and miss seeing the children and you! I hope to begin coming to school on a modified schedule next week. I want to take this opportunity to show my appreciation to our amazing Vice Principal, Chriss, and to our tireless Administrative Support Team, Holly and Nancy, for all they have done these past few weeks.
Construction Update
The construction crew, the University project managers, and the architects are working hard to have us in before the winter holidays. The classrooms are ready with furniture delivered and the teachers are very excited! The auditorium retractable seating is almost complete. The fold-out lunchroom tables work beautifully and the elevator has been installed. The remaining work is in the exterior, reception, and lower lobby of 58 Spadina Road. We will keep you posted! In the meantime, see the progress on Twitter: @JackmanICS
Staffing News: Front Reception
We want to let you know that we will be saying good-bye to our receptionist, Kenneth Bemister on Friday, December 8. As you may remember, Kenneth started at the front reception in May to fill in until a permanent hire could take place. He has been a wonderful presence, welcoming children into their school day and helping support the work of the Institute. We will miss Kenneth, but luckily, he will continue to work in our licensed Before and After School Care Program.
Beginning December 6, we welcome Paige Lancaster to the role of Front Reception. Paige was hired from a pool of internal UofT applicants and we look forward to having her join our school family. The Hiring Committee felt confident that Paige has the personality and experience that are a perfect match for this position. She has experience working in a children’s camp and toured with a children’s show for 3 years, including performances at Ontario Place. Paige is coming to us from Woodsworth College, Professional & International Programs Office, University of Toronto, where she was the Front Line Advisor. Paige is excited to be joining the JICS Community and meeting you!
I've Arrived! Our Safe Arrivals Progam at JICS
We want to remind parents of the safe arrivals program we have in place at JICS. Students who are not in their classrooms before 8:50 a.m. are marked absent in the attendance by the classroom teacher. If arriving after 8:50am, an “I’ve arrived!” slip is provided by our Front Receptionist at the reception area. Our office will update the class register to indicate that your child is present and accounted for. The "I've Arrived!" slips are not meant to be punitive, rather this is how we account for children who have been marked absent, but have arrived late at school.
The beginning of each school day is an important time for your child. There is strong evidence of academic, social, and emotional benefits for those students who are in the classroom as the day begins. Please assist us by maintaining your efforts to be at school by 8:45am.
A Message from the Grade 6 Students:
Dear JICS Families
The Grade 6 students have some special holiday jobs for everyone to do!
The annual JICS Food Drive is starting, and we need your help. You might have seen some posters around the school by now, and if you've read them, you'll know that food and hygiene products are needed for the people who can't afford them.
The Grade 6 class, after looking at information listed here, decided that we would take action in the form of posters and PowerPoint presentations to spread the word that hunger is growing in our city.
Here is the food bank that we're donating to, click this link to receive a larger list of what to bring: The Walmer Road Food Bank.
If you would like to donate, we would kindly ask that you send the items with your children, and they may leave them inside the boxes we provide to the classes for donations. We will be delivering the items on Monday, December 18th, so please deliver the items before then.
Sincerely,
Grade 6 Students
Farewell to our Fall Interns
Today is the last day our Fall Interns are in their internships in our JK to Grade 6 classes. We have welcomed and benefitted from their enthusiasm for working with and learning from our students and we will miss them. They will begin the academic part of their year in January. We look forward to adding them to our supply teacher list! The Winter Interns will join our classes on Monday, January 8, 2018.
Hello Snow! Snow Information Line
Should parents be concerned about adverse weather conditions and/or school closure, information can be found on the University of Toronto Snow Line at 416-978-7669 (978-SNOW). The Laboratory School remains open if the University of Toronto (St. George Campus) is open.
Information can also be found on:
* our twitter feed @JackmanICS (https://twitter.com/JackmanICS)
* on the front page of our school website: https://www.jicsfamily.com
Reminders:
1. UNICEF donations are due
Please remember to hand in your UNICEF collection envelops next week. The Grade 4 children who researched this charitable organization and organized the collection are eager to tally the donations. Thank you for your support!
2. Library Fundraiser: We will still be running our 'Indigo Flipgive Fundraiser' and appreciate you using this portal for any Indigo Bookstore holiday purchases this year. By purchasing e-gift cards, 20% of the sales goes toward the JICS Library. Here's the link: https://indigo.flipgive.com/f/518565. We thank you for your continued support of the JICS Library!
3. Lost & Found
The Lost & Found pile is growing! If your child is missing an article of clothing, please check the lost and found before the end of term. At the end of the term, we will be donating any unclaimed items to a local refugee shelter. The lost and found is located downstairs, in the JK hallway, near the cubbies.
4. Wednesday Program Registration is now open
Yesterday, we blogged about the Winter Wed. Program. Information + registration forms can be found here: https://www.jicsfamily.com/wednesdayprogram
Upcoming Dates to Note:
Wednesday, December 20 - Last Day of Fall Term; school ends at 12:00; Wednesday Program runs normally.
8:15am – Pre-sing coffee for parents served by the PA Executive in the front garden to warm hearts and voices. Bring Your Own Cup (BYOC). BYO-Porridge if you're really in the spirit!
9:00 “Festivals of Light – Jackman ICS Sing-along” at Trinity St. Paul's 427 Bloor St.(Bloor and Robert St.). We all sit together in pews as our music teachers, Russell and Suzanne, lead us in songs that represent the diversity of celebrations that take place this time of year.
For more info: https://www.jicsfamily.com/annualfamilyevents
Thursday, December 21 to Friday, January 5, 2018: Winter Holidays; School & Daycare Closed
Monday, January 8: Winter Term begins; School opens at 8:45AM
Daycare 8:00am-6:00pm
All the best,
Richard
