Topics covered in this post:
Parent Survey
Nick’s new baby
Parent Education: Webinar
COVID Kindness Campaign
JICS Has Got Talent
Long-Distance Photos
Upcoming May Events
1. Parent Survey
The Provincial Government has extended school closures until at least May 31, 2020 to ensure the safety and well-being of students and staff. Read the press release here.
The Honourable Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education’s letter to parents can be found here.
Please be assured that distance learning will continue at JICS throughout the ministerial school closures. We have prepared a short survey to collect feedback. Please complete the survey separately for each child at JICS and submit today so that we can use the information to help us design responsive learning experiences. The survey results will be collected by the JICS leadership team and shared with teachers.
We recognize the challenges that our students and families continue to face as we navigate these unprecedented times together. Know that all of us at JICS remain committed to student success and well-being, and we will continue to work through these challenges with you.
We will continue to keep you informed about any further decisions by the Provincial Government. In the meantime, we wish you continued health, and look forward to a time when we can return to our school.
2. Nick's New Baby!
We are delighted to share the wonderful news that Nick Song, our special education teacher and technology integrator, and his wife, Becky (former JICS receptionist) are new parents! They welcomed beautiful Rosalie Jiaying Song (佳音) on April 27, weighing 6 pounds 4 ounces.
Please join us in congratulating the family at n.song@utoronto.ca. They will have their hands too full to respond but I know how appreciative it will be to hear from JICS parents and children alike! Nick will be away for a short time.
3. Parent Education: Webinar
Title: A Parent’s Guide to Staying Sane During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Expert Panelist: Dr. Steven Stein
Organized by: The Psychology Foundation of Canada
Where: Online – using Zoom platform
When: Wednesday, May 6 12:00pm-1:00pm
Are you getting overwhelmed with all the self-isolation? Is coping with “social distancing” and “stay-at-home” a challenge for you? In this webinar you’ll get suggestions for how to stay sane during the COVID-19 pandemic. This talk will introduce you to the basic ideas of emotional intelligence and hardiness and why they are important in times like this. In addition, you will be presented with a number of actionable steps you can take right now to help you and your family deal with these challenging times.
By end of day on May 1st, 2020: Please send any questions you would like to have answered by filling out this short questionnaire.
Steven J. Stein, PhD is a clinical psychologist and the founder and executive chair of Multi-Health Systems (MHS), a leading assessment and behaviour analytics company. He is a former chair of the Psychology Foundation of Canada, former president of the Ontario Psychological Association, former assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto, and former adjunct course director in the Psychology Department at York University. He teaches at the Directors College of Canada, a university-accredited corporate director education program. He is a fellow of the Canadian Psychological Association. His work has been featured in numerous newspapers, TV shows, radio programs, podcasts, webinars, and magazines. He is also the psychologist for various TV reality shows including Big Brother Canada, The Amazing Race Canada, MasterChef Canada, The Bachelor Canada, Real Housewives of Toronto, and many others. He shares information on emotional intelligence and hardiness with audiences around the world.
4. COVID Kindness Campaign
Hi Everyone,
The JICS Social Justice Club would like to tell you about our COVID Kindness Campaign. COVID-19 has affected our lives in a way we could never imagine. We have superhero’s in our community who risk their lives every day to help others. Everyone in the world is worrying about this, and our goal is to help them. It is scary how we don’t know what is happening and what is going to happen, but we need to keep positive and work through this hard time. We can bring joy to many people whose lives have been impacted by COVID-19. We as the Social Justice Club have decided that our school is creating a campaign to help with this. The COVID Kindness campaign is a way for us to spread joy to people who’s lived have been impacted by COVID-19. If you want to participate, and we highly encourage you to, all you need to do is create some type of art. It could include a poem, drawing, painting, quote, design, message of inspiration, comfort, and hope, etc... Anything that you think that would help someone. We will collect everyone’s art work and share it with people who need to have their spirits lifted, like patients and health care workers in hospitals, shelters, and seniors residences.
Here is the link for uploading a scan or photo of your art: https://www.dropbox.com/request/Q0CRJtkg57DmH0Znbh6q
Stay safe everyone!
From,
The JICS Social and Climate Justice Club
5. JICS Has Got Talent
Please submit your entries here by May 30, 2020!
6. Long-Distance Photos!
Enjoy these photos of children engaging in learning at home. Keep them coming for future posts! Send photos to Tory: tory.mccracken@utoronto.ca
7. Upcoming May Events
Wed 6 – Parent Education: 12:00-1:00 pm free webinar “A Parent’s Guide To Staying Sane During the COVID-19 Pandemic” with Dr. Steven Stein, The Psychology Foundation of Canada Register
Thurs 8 – Cindy Halewood Memorial – postponed (new date TBD)
Mon 18 – Victoria Day. School holiday
Thurs 21 – Music Night – postponed (new date TBD)
Tues 26 – Hot Dog Night (TBD)
