Topics covered in this post:
1. Happy Vaisakhi!
Vaisakhi is one of the most important dates in the Sikh calendar, celebrating 1699 - the year when Sikhism was born as a collective faith. It has been a harvest festival in Punjab, India for a long time.
2. Layat al-Qadr
Sending warm wishes on the occasion of Laylat al-Qadr to you and your loved ones.
On the evening of the 27th day of the month of Ramadan, Muslims observe a special night called Layat al-Qadr sometimes referred to as the Night of Power. It is believed that on this night Prophet Muhammad first received the Holy Qur'an. Muslims often spend the last 10 days of Ramadan in increased prayer.
3. Happy Easter (Orthodox)
Orthodox Christians follow the Julian calendar when it comes to celebrating Easter Sunday. The Julian calendar was established by Julius Caesar in 45 B.C. and is based it on the solar cycle—Earth's revolutions around the sun. Orthodox Easter takes place following the first full moon after Passover.
4. Tuition Payment 2023-2024 School Year
The second tuition payment is due on April 20, 2023. This payment is non-refundable and representing 50% of the balance tuition balance. Please make your cheque payable to The University of Toronto.
Nursery 2023-2024 Tuition is $18,003
A non-refundable deposit of $5,000 was paid at the time of acceptance.
50% balance due April 20 = $6,501.50 (non-refundable)
Full Day (JK to Grade 6) 2023-2024 Tuition is $27,973
A non-refundable deposit of $5,000 was paid in January 2023.
50% balance due April 20 = $11,486.50 (non-refundable)
Shama is available in the school office each school day, 8:00am to 4:00pm. She is happy to receive post-dated cheques in advance of April 20.
The final tuition payment is due September 1, 2023.
5. JICS Second Term Newsletter
At JICS, we believe that when it comes to our partnership with parents, the more information, the better! Hence, we provide weekly or biweekly teacher class-specific summary emails, Thursday’s Parent Information Posts, the individual report cards, parent-teacher interviews/meetings, etc. The JICS Newsletter is an opportunity to “peak into” the rest of the school and learn about experiences that you may not know about.
Many thanks to Krista for her work in publishing it! We design it to be shared between parents and children. Use the password provided in the Weekly Info email to access the newsletter.
Use the password provided in the Weekly Info (April 13) email to access the Winter Newsletter.
6. Wonderful Welcoming Month of Rainbow
Join us in celebrating Wonderful Welcoming Month of Rainbow (WWMR) organized by the JICS Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA).
Our WWMR Assembly will take place on Wednesday, April 19th. The GSA is asking students to wear a particular colour of the rainbow on that day if possible:
JK: Red SK: Green
Grade 1: Orange Grade 2: Purple
Grade 3: Yellow Grade 4/5 Ben: Black
Grade 4/5 Zoe: Blue Grade 6: Brown
7. JICS Book Day and Read-a-thon
Friday, April 14, 2023
As of today, the Read-a-thon has raised $5,332.45 for the JICS Library and the total keeps growing! The deadline for donations and completed forms is tomorrow and we will have a final tally complete next week. Thank you for your support and donations!
We will celebrate the end of Read-a-thon with a BOOK DAY on Friday April 14, when students can dress like their favourite author or character from a book.
Additional information for parents: https://www.jicsfamily.com/readathon
Online donations: http://bit.ly/JICS2023
8. Meeting Space for Parents of JICS BIPOC Children
Tuesday, April 18, 2023 | 7:00-8:30pm
Created by JICS parents for JICS parents, this meeting is designed for conversation and advocacy for families at JICS with BIPOC children.
9. Parent Education: Lunch and Learn with Ellie
Tuesday, April 18, 2023 | 12:30 – 1:30pm
Lunch & Learn Series with JICS Social Worker Ellie Lathrop
Change can be hard at the best of times. Children's school lives are filled with transitions, and then there are the daily routines, and ones connected to time of year. These can be tricky times to navigate. Join us for the JICS Lunch and Learn, 30 min talk (recorded) and 30 min (unrecorded) discussion and questions.
10. Parent Education: Conversation with Doug Anderson
Tuesday, April 25, 2023 | 6:30 – 8:30pm
Conversation with Doug Anderson on working with teachers to deepen relationships with Indigenous knowledge
Doug Anderson (Métis) is the co-author of JICS’ Resource for Educators, Natural Curiosity.
He has consulted extensively on education and program development for Indigenous communities across Canada for over 20 years. Since 2001, he has devoted much of his energy to research and writing on Indigenous histories and cultures, and translating them to contemporary education systems and media. He enjoys the challenge of designing and building new platforms for representing Indigenous knowledge, and is committed to preserving these forms of knowledge and presenting them as models for thinking and problem solving in the 21st century. Mr. Anderson worked at both the government and community levels for many years in the development and evaluation of learning programs, and has many years of front line experience in building learning and training opportunities for community members of all ages and levels of learning.
Agenda: Doug Anderson will discuss how he has been working with teachers at JICS on deepening relationships with Indigenous knowledge, in the context of a ceremony (and ceremonial site) that parents will be invited to participate in. There will then be an opportunity for conversation/sharing and question/answer.
The event will be held at the Lodge on U of T campus.
A message from Doug: "Bring food - no need for whole meals, unless you’ve missed an early dinner and want a whole meal, but some food. I will explain why there, but some of whatever food you bring will go in the fire (the rest you will eat so I advise against bringing, say, a whole roast pig)."
Location: New college courtyard, behind 20 Willcocks at University of Toronto, St. George Campus. It’s a white Canvas Structure, you can’t miss it.
There is a limit on the capacity of the lodge at U of T campus. We are taking RSVPs on a first come first serve basis and will close registration once we have reached the limit. Please only RSVP if you are committed to attending as space is limited.
11. Photos from the Week at JICS
Celebrating Ramadan in SK
The SK class has been celebrating Ramadan. They have learned about Islamic art and design, explored stories connected to Ramadan, and had many classroom visitors. It has been an amazing celebration and we thank everyone who have helped the SKs observe and learn more about Ramadan.
12. Upcoming April Events
Ramadan March 22 to April 21
Passover April 5 to 14
Fri 14 – Last day of Intern Teacher-Candidate placement in JK to Grade 6
Fri 14 – Vaisakhi
Fri 14 – Holy Friday (Orthodox)
Sun 16 – Easter (Orthodox)
Tues 18 – Parent Education: Lunch and Learn with Ellie (RSVP here)
Tues 18 – BIPOC Parent Group meeting (RSVP here)
Thur 20 – 2nd JICS Tuition Payment ($11,486.50) due date
Mon 24 to Fri 28 – Earth Week
Tue 25 – Parent Education: Conversation with Doug Anderson (RSVP here)
Wed 26 to Fri 28 – Conference of International Association of Independent School at JICS
Fri 28 – PD Day (School closed. Daycare open)
13. Upcoming May Events
May is Asian Heritage Month
Tues 2 to Fri 5 – Grade 6 Trip to Quebec City
Wed 3 to Fri 5 – Grade 4/5 Trip to Ottawa
Mon 8 – JICS PA All Parents Meeting. 7:00pm
Wed 10 – Parent/Teacher Interviews
Wed 17 – Parent/Teacher Interviews
Mon 23 – Victoria Day (School and Daycare closed)
Wed 24 – Art & Music Night (more info coming soon)
Thur 25 to Sat 27 – Shavuot
Tues 30 – Parents of BIPOC children meeting (more info coming soon)
Wed 31 – Games Day (more info coming soon)
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