JICS at a Glance
We've condensed the important highlights for your convenience:
Place your order for Terra Cotta Cookies by Dec 2
RSVP to Coffee & Conversation for Early Years Parents - Dec 5, 9:00-10:00 am
RSVP to the JICS & OISE Family Skate - Dec 10, 3:00-5:00 pm
Save the dates:
Book Fair on Dec 3 & 4, and Book Night on Dec 4
Festivals of Lights - JICS Holiday Sing-along - Dec 20
Bring in new, unused items for the Fun Drive by the JICS Kids Who Care Club
Purchase raffle tickets for your child to be Principal for the Day!
Topics covered in this post:
(Click to navigate straight to a section)
Coffee & Conversation for Early Years Parents: Finding the Holiday Harmony - Thur, Dec 5
JICS Kids Who Care Club - Fun Drive for the Christie Refugee Welcome Centre
Support Our Grade 4/5 Winter Adventure with Delicious Terra Cotta Cookies!
Step Aside, Richard - We're Getting a New Principal in Town!
Lunch & Learn with Ellie - Good Night, Great Days: How Sleep Fuels Your Child
1. Book Fair & Book Night
Tuesday, December 3 & Wednesday, December 4
Two beloved JICS community annual events return this year – the Book Fair and Book Night!
On Tuesday, December 3, and Wednesday, December 4, books will be available for sale in our foyer. The highly recommended bookshop, Another Story, will supply books for both children and adults, with 20% of the sales benefiting the JICS Library. Parents, please support our library while doing your holiday shopping!
Back by popular demand, we will host a "Book Night Pyjama Party" on Wednesday, December 4, from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm in our gym, designed for Nursery to Grade 6 children and their families. This evening will feature activities for all ages to enjoy.
Please bring an unwrapped toy or gift for the Kids Who Care Fun Drive with you to Book Night! See the list of requested items below in this post. All contributions will be donated to the Christie Refugee Welcome Centre on December 12.
2. Coffee & Conversation for Early Years Parents
Finding the Holiday Harmony: Balancing Play and Plans for Young Children
Thursday, December 5 | 9:00-10:00 am (after drop-off)
Join us for the next Coffee and Conversation, in person, after drop off on Thursday December 5th (9-10 am) with Ellie and Chriss. We will discuss how to balance the needs of children for structured and unstructured time over the holidays.
3. A Message from the JICS Kids Who Care Club on World Children's Day:
Please Contribute to our Toy Drive for the Christie Refugee Welcome Centre by December 12
Dear JICS Lab School Community:
Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child states that all children have the right to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate for their age. In honour of World Children’s Day on November 20, the United Nations’ annual day of action for children by children, the JICS Kids Who Care Club is launching a Fun Drive for children aged 0-18 who are guests at the Christie Refugee Welcome Centre. We invite you to bring new, unused items to donate to the reception area in the school. The drive will continue until December 12th, when all donated items will be delivered to the Centre. This deadline is firm as the staff will be wrapping the donated items and giving the gifts to their clients during a holiday celebration.
Here is a list of items that the Christie Refugee Welcome Centre has told us their guests would appreciate.
Please note that they are requesting new, unused items only.
Stuffed animals
Magna tiles
Building blocks
Dolls
Crayons/markers/coloured pencils
Activity booklets
Board games
Cards
Books for 0-12 months
Craft supplies
Pretend food
Backpacks
Hair clips
Hair brushes
Skipping ropes
Bubbles
Soccer balls and basketballs
Anything else for teen clients
Thank you for supporting the JICS Kids Who Care initiative to bring joy to children living in an emergency shelter in our neighbourhood.
4. Support Our Grade 4/5 Winter Adventure with Delicious Terra Cotta Cookies!
Click here to place your order and show your support by December 2! All orders will be available for pickup at dismissal on December 16.
5. JICS & OISE Family Skate
Tuesday, December 10 | 3:00-5:00 pm
Lace up your skates, gather your family and friends, and join us for an afternoon of cheer, connection, and community spirit! In celebration of the JICS Centennial, this special event is proudly co-presented by the OISE Dean and the JICS Parents Association.
Get Ready for Rink-Side Fun!
Capture the moment at our festive photo corner
Let your creativity shine at our arts and crafts station
Share your hopes for JICS by decorating our centennial wishing tree
Relax and recharge with some refreshments, treats, and…hot chocolate, of course!
Additional Info:
Free skate rentals (adult sizes only); bring your own if possible.
JICS will provide a selection of child-sized skates for use for those who don't have them
Paid parking is available nearby.
6. Celebrating All Festivals of Light
Join us in embracing the richness of various festivals of light at JICS! Parents, kindly reach out to your child’s teacher to help us celebrate.
Yaldā Night – December 20
Yaldā Night or Chelle Night is a Persian festival marking the winter solstice. It's a time when kin and friends gather, indulging in food, drink, and poetic readings, especially from Divan-e Hafez and the Shahnameh, extending well past midnight. Fruits, nuts, pomegranates, and watermelons hold significance, symbolizing the vibrant hues of dawn and the essence of life.
Hanukkah – December 25 to January 2
This cherished holiday predominantly unfolds in homes, emphasizing the lighting of the menorah, adding a candle each night until it illuminates brightly on the eighth night. In remembrance of the legendary cruse of oil, customary foods fried in oil like latkes and the beloved jelly donuts or sufganiyot are savored.
Christmas – December 25
Christmas is celebrated religiously by most Christians, as well as culturally by many non-Christians and forms an integral part of the holiday season organized around it.
Kwanzaa – December 26 to January 1
Kwanzaa, an annual celebration honoring African-Canadian and African-American culture, culminates in a communal feast called Karamu, often on the sixth day. Crafted by activist Maulana Karenga, this celebration echoes African harvest festival traditions. Symbolic elements include a mat (Mkeka), a Kinara (candle holder for 7 candlesticks), Mishumaa Saba (seven candles), mazao (crops), Mahindi (corn), a Kikombe cha Umoja (unity cup), Zawadi (gifts), a Nguzo Saba poster, and the black, red, and green bendera (flag).
Our commitment to fostering a culturally diverse and respectful environment for children is unwavering. We continuously seek to expand our understanding of the world's beautiful diversity. Parents, we invite you to enrich our learning by sharing your identities with us, be it now or at any time during the year. Your contributions are invaluable in shaping our inclusive educational experiences.
7. Festivals of Lights - JICS Holiday Sing-along
December 20 | 9:00-10:00am
Join us for a luminous celebration at the JICS Holiday Sing-along on December 20th, from 9:00 to 10:00 am! As we bid farewell to the Fall Term, we are crafting a special morning where parents/caregivers are invited to join us in the school auditorium. Led by our music teachers, Suzanne, Russell, and Jayda with song lyrics provided, this communal singing experience invites children, parents, and teachers alike to revel in togetherness. From Diwali and Hanukkah to Christmas, Yaldā Night, Winter Solstice, and Kwanzaa, we will unite in song to honor the diverse festivities that brighten this season.
8. 4 Seasons of Indigenous Learning - 20% OFF!
Natural Curiosity invites you to join these self-paced online courses developed in partnership with The Outdoor Learning School & Store. Registration for both Season 1 and Season 2 have been extended to November 30th.
Season 1: Foundations of Knowledge - supports participants in deepening their knowledge of Indigenous culture, history and perspectives. It was developed and made available in partnership with Reconciliation Education and the First Nations University of Canada.
Season 2: Learning from the Land - aims to support you in strengthening your personal connections with, and understanding of, the local Land as a way of allowing yourself to better understand and appreciate local Indigenous knowledge, perspectives, culture and history. It was developed in partnership with Natural Curiosity.
9. School Closure Due to Weather
In case of adverse weather conditions or potential school closure, parents' concerns are addressed through accessible information channels:
For updates, please refer to the University of Toronto Campus Status webpage (St. George Campus) at https://www.utoronto.ca/campus-status.
It's important to note that the JICS Lab School follows the operational status of the University of Toronto. If the University remains open, our school will also remain open.
10. Step Aside, Richard - We're Getting a New Principal in Town!
Does your child dream of leading the school for a day? Imagine extending recess, handing out treats to every student, taking over Richard’s office, or even making homework illegal!
Here’s their chance to make it happen:
Starting TODAY online and at Book Night on December 4, we’ll be selling tickets for a special lottery.
🎟️ $20 for one ticket
🎟️ $35 for two tickets
🎟️ $50 for five tickets
The lucky winner will take over as Principal for the Day for a date determined in the new year! The grand draw will take place during the Festival of Lights Sing-Along on December 20.
Best of all, all proceeds from the lottery will go to the PA's Patrick Harvie Arts Fund, helping to enrich the arts at JICS.
(Eligibility limited to JICS students.)
*In the 'private message' section, please specify your child's name for the raffle. If you're purchasing for multiple children, specify the amount of tickets designated per child.*
11. Lunch & Learn with Ellie:
Good Night, Great Days: How Sleep Fuels Your Child
TODAY! 12:30-1:30 PM
If you're unable to attend today’s parent education session with Ellie, you will soon be able to find the recording of the presentation on our Parent Education page.
Photos from the week!
Upcoming December Events
Mon 2 – Deadline for cookie orders (Order here)
Tues 3 – Giving Tuesday
Tues 3 – Book Fair (details)
Wed 4 – Book Fair & Book Night Pyjama Party (details)
Thur 5 – Coffee & Conversation for Early Years Parents RSVP
Tues 10 – JICS & OISE Family Skate RSVP
Wed 11 – Meeting of Parents of BIPOC Children RSVP
Thur 12 – Last day of Toy Drive
Mon 16 to Fri 20 – Term 1 Report Card distribution (Nursery to Grade 6)
Fri 20 – Festivals of Lights: JICS Holiday Sing-along. 9:00am - 10:00am.
Fri 20 – Last day of Fall Term. School ends at noon. Daycare open until 6:00pm
Fri 20 – Yaldā Night
Sun 22 – Winter Solstice
Mon 23 – Winter Holidays begin
Wed 25 – Hanukkah begins at sunset (Dec 25 to Jan 2)
Wed 25 – Christmas Day
Thur 26 – Kwanzaa begins (Dec 26 to Jan 1)
Upcoming January Events
Mon 6 – Winter Term begins. Daycare opens at 8:00am. School opens at 8:35am.
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