Topics covered in this post:
Phys Ed Material for Pick-Up
Coffee and Conversation with Chriss and Richard
Recording Zoom Sessions
Donations to JICS Library
Parent Webinar – Recording
Parents Association Executive – 4 vacant spots
JICS “Family Zoom-bilee”
Grade 6 Graduation
Grade 4/5 Update
Baby News!
Masks for Sale!
Pick-Up of Student Material/Belongings
Long-Distance Photos!
Upcoming May Events
Upcoming June Events
1. Phys Ed Material for Pick-Up
Next week in Phys Ed, the Gr. 1 to Gr. 6 students will be developing their Jump Rope skills and the Early Years students will be working on throwing and catching. Parents, please drop by the school on Friday, May 29th from 9 – 3 p.m. to pick up a jump rope for your child (Gr 1-6) or a Scoop Set (Nursery, JK, SK) to use and keep. Bins will be labelled by class in the end of the parking driveway (north side of school).
2. Coffee and Conversation with Chriss and Richard
When: Wednesday, June 3, 9:00am
Where: The comfort of your own home
How: We will be sending out a Zoom video conference link via email.
Don't forget to have a cup of coffee or tea and join us. We look forward to 'seeing' you!
3. Recording Zoom Sessions
In the final weeks of school, we will be recording some of the interactive zoom sessions for the purpose of our own research and professional development in terms of distance-education. During a typical year, teachers use many forms of documentation (video, photography, work samples) as artefacts to examine and deepen our understanding of how the children are learning and the effectiveness of the instruction. JICS families have given consent for the Lab School faculty to show images and video of their child/ren (without names) for the purpose of dissemination at conferences. These zoom recordings will help us to improve our practice as we design new learning experiences for the 2020-2021 school year and share our findings with public school. If parents have questions or concerns about the recordings, please email Richard.
4. Donations to JICS Library (Read-athon)
Our annual fundraiser for our beloved Library, the Read-athon, was interrupted by the imposed school closure. As a result of COVID-19, we are looking at new ways to provide books for our students, whether it be subscribing to online resources (Pebble Go, Epic for Kids, Tumblebooks), or curating our own online library of e-books (SORA). Our priority is ensuring that students have access to books, in whatever format is necessary. Of course, this would be in addition to the books we love to see in our students’ hands! If you haven’t had the chance to donate here is the link. The library is the heart of JICS!
5. Responsive Parenting in Stormy Times with Ellie Lathrop – Recording
Huge thanks to JICS Social Worker, Ellie Lathrop MSW, RSW for her (May 21) webinar: Responsive Parenting in Stormy Times. If you were unable to attend, you can view a recording of the webinar here.
6. Parents Association Executive – 4 vacant spots
Beginning in July, the PA will have 4 vacancies: Treasurer, Parent Education, Volunteer Coordinator and Communications. If you have an interest in any of these roles, please reach out to the PA at PAexecJICS@gmail.com.
7. JICS “Family Zoom-bilee”
Today is the deadline for dancing and singing videos for the Zoom-bilee! Click here to see how to submit yours. This JICS community live-streamed end of year celebration event will take place on Thursday, June 4 at 7:00pm. Please mark your calendars.
8. Grade 6 Graduation
For the first time in JICS history, the Grade 6 Graduation will be live-streamed for the entire JICS student and family community to observe. Join us on Thursday, June 11, 1:30pm to celebrate the class of 2020! Details coming soon.
9. Grade 4/5 Update
While we are waiting for frameworks from the Ministry of Education and Public Health, we are working on different possibilities for September: return into the building with social distancing, continued distance-education or a blended model with some in-school time and some remote-learning. Whichever reality we will be presented with will not be a return to school as you know it. Due to this uncertainty, we have made the decision to not have combined cohorts in Grades 4 and 5 next year. Many parents have heard us speak about a return to combined grades at JICS which had been a practice at the Lab School for many years (most recently, at Grade 5/6). Combined classes, which are made up of half of one grade and half of another, have many benefits that we have appreciated. After much thought, we have determined that the benefits of retaining the cohort as a whole given the possibility of in-school social-distancing and/or remote-learning outweigh the benefits of a mixed cohort. This will allow Robin Shaw (Grade 4) and Zoe Donoahue (Grade 5) to focus on designing optimal learning experiences in response to the regulated frameworks. They are two of our most experienced teachers with deep knowledge of pedagogy and child development. At JICS we believe that “all ideas are improvable” and we thank you for your trust as we continuously examine what it means to provide exemplary learning experiences for your child.
10. Baby News!
Laura Gordin, our previous social worker, is the proud mother of beautiful and healthy Blake Sawyer born on May 26 at 8lbs 11oz. Laura reports that they are madly in love and very tired but so so happy!
11. Masks for Sale
We have entrepreneurs at JICS with a social justice focus! Support the Grade 5 Daily Food Bank Fund by purchasing a limited-edition, hand-made mask by one of our students!
Click here to download Mia's poster and get your orders in by June 3rd!
12. Pick Up of Student Material/Belongings
Your child’s personal material will be ready for pick up during the week of June 22-26. Only one adult will be permitted onsite per family. Individual teachers will notify you soon regarding specific dates/times.
13. Long-Distance Photos!
Enjoy these photos of students learning from home! Keep them coming for future posts by emailing them to Tory: tory.mccracken@utoronto.ca
14. Upcoming May Events
NEW Fri 29 – Parents Pick-Up Phys Ed Material
15. Upcoming June Events
Tues 2 – Daycare Board Meeting
Wed 3 – Coffee and Conversations with Chriss and Richard 9:00am
Thurs 4 – JICS “Family Zoom-bilee” A community live stream end of year celebration event. 7:00pm (formerly known as Music Night) Event info here
Thurs 11 – Grade 6 Graduation Ceremony live stream 1:30pm
Fri 12 – Last day of school
Mon 22-Fri 26 – Parent Pick-Up of Student Material/Belongings (details coming soon)
Tues 30 – Report Cards mailed home
