Feb 15

Midterm Holiday, Parent Education, & Pink Shirt Day

Updated: Feb 21

JICS at a Glance

We've condensed the important highlights for your convenience:

Midterm Holiday- JICS Closed February 16th & 19th
Parent Education Night- Register here
Parent Education- Podcast- Listen here
Pink Shirt Day- NEW Date: Monday, March 4th

Topics covered in this post:

Midterm Holiday
Holiday Gifts
Pink Shirt Day
Parent Education Night: Surfacing Stories of Difference, with Kai Cheng Thom
Welcome New JICS Families
Grade 5 Student Enrolment Opportunity - September 2024
100th Anniversary of JICS (2025)
Parent Education - Podcast
Professional Visitors
Lunar New Year Celebration Photos
Black History Month
Upcoming February Events
Upcoming March Events

1. Midterm Holiday

The Lab School will be closed tomorrow (Nursery to Grade 6) and Monday, February 19 (Family Day). We wish everyone a well-earned mid-term holiday. The Daycare is open for registered users on Friday, February 16. Don't hesitate to contact Daycare Director Anne Marie for more information.

2. Holiday Gifts

We hope it is never too late to say thank you. In December, the Parents' Association Executive, representing the JICS parent community, presented movie ticket passes and cinema treat coupons to every teacher and staff member at the JICS Lab School. The thoughtfulness and generosity behind these gifts did not go unnoticed, especially among our film-loving faculty. Thank you to all the JICS Parents!

3. Pink Shirt Day

We are celebrating Pink Shirt Day on Monday, March 4th. The day was created to mark a protest organized by two students in Nova Scotia in support of a boy who was bullied for wearing pink. We at JICS do not want to let such a day pass without honouring it. However, the staff feel that ideas and attitudes around many issues, including those involving the colour pink, are evolving, and our students are among the vanguard. Many of our younger students view and wear pink without the gendered stigma that it has had in the past. For this reason, we reframe Pink Shirt Day as a celebration of pink as a colour of love and acceptance of all people. We invite students to wear a pink shirt on Monday, March 4th as an act of love and friendship.

4. Parent Education Night: Surfacing Stories of Difference, with Kai Cheng Thom

Presented by the JICS Parents’ Association

Thursday, March 7th

5:30-7:30PM

In-Person at JICS

Babysitting Offered for JICS Students

Beneath the surface of any community there are stories that swim and are sometimes unseen. This evening will honour diversity, through uplifting these stories in a way that both celebrates them for their beauty, and also recognizes challenges.

Join the Parent Education Committee, and renowned facilitator and author, Kai Cheng Thom for a carefully crafted and engaging workshop intended to create a space where all of our stories can shine.

The intention of this gathering is for members of the parent community to discuss their experiences of social, cultural and class diversity and to learn more about the experiences of others so that we can generate a collective vision for the future. This conversation is for everyone of all backgrounds and identities. Through this gathering, you will help shape your child’s experience at JICS.

A Very Important Note: The facilitated exercises that Kai Cheng offers will not require anyone to engage in public speaking if they don’t wish to. There will be many different options for sharing that are inclusive at a wide range of comfort levels. All will be invited to participate in ways that feel right for them, which includes observation only. Expect a warm, welcoming and compassionate environment. No experience or preparation is necessary.

Registration is required. Babysitting is available for JICS students and requires pre-registration by Monday, March 4th at 11:59pm. Space is limited and we cannot guarantee availability to those who have not registered before the deadline.

We (the Parent Education Committee) look forward to welcoming and connecting with many of you at this event, which we are confident will be an inspiring and transformative evening.

5. Welcome New JICS Families

With this POST, we are thrilled to extend a heartfelt welcome to the newest members of the JICS family: the little ones joining the Nursery cohort and the students stepping into various grades this coming September 2024. We encourage you to actively engage in the array of events we have lined up for the remainder of the school year (parent education events, family gatherings). Be sure to keep an eye on our weekly Parent Information POST for all the details. Looking ahead to the summer, the JICS Parents’ Association (PA) Executive has exciting plans for children entering JK to Grade 6. Our PA will reach out to you to organize playdates, fostering connections among your child and fellow cohort members. It is a wonderful opportunity for them to build friendships before the school year begins. For the new parents interested in taking on a more active role within our community, consider joining the JICS PA Executive. Whether as a class representative or in an Executive Position, your contributions will make a significant impact and provide you with more opportunities to connect with the school. Feel free to contact PA President, Megan for more information on how you can get involved. We are eager to make your experience at JICS truly exceptional, and we look forward to creating lasting memories together.

6. Grade 5 Student Enrolment Opportunity - September 2024

Exciting news! A vacancy is anticipated in Grade 5 starting September 2024. Spread the word among your friends and reach out to Richard for further details.

7. 100th Anniversary of JICS (2025)

Dear JICS Parents,

As you may know, our Lab School will be celebrating its centennial anniversary in 2025! We are beginning to think about the possibilities for marking such an historic occasion. With this in mind, a Centennial Planning Committee will be convened, composed of various members of the JICS and OISE communities. If you are interested in representing our parent community in planning for our centennial year, please let Richard or Chriss know directly.

My very best,

Megan,

President of the JICS Parents’ Association

8. Parent Education - Podcast

Some of the best parent education comes to us via JICS parents. The following is a podcast recommended to us by a JICS parent from The Agenda with Steve Paikin (Audio).

How Do Parents Talk to Black Children About Racism? For generations, Black parents have 'the talk' with their kids - a conversation about the risks associated with being Black in this society. What's important when it comes to introducing children to systemic racism and everyday aggression? How has this evolved overtime? And do all parents share this kind of responsibility?

Listen on Apple Podcasts.

9. Professional Visitors

The JICS Lab School serves as a setting for learning about and observing theoretical and research-based ideas in practice. We extend an invitation to educators, researchers, and ministers of education from across the globe, making this a vital expression of our commitment to our public purpose.

This past Tuesday, we were honored to host representatives from the Deputy Minister for Public Education, the Deputy Minister of International Cooperation, the General Director of Policies and Developmental Scholarships, and a Senior Academic Relations Officer from Saudi Arabia. Their visit aimed to gain insights into how JICS functions as a lab school at the University of Toronto and to learn more about our approach to early children education.

Today, we were delighted to welcome a distinguished group from Trent University, including Dr. Cathy Bruce, VP Research & Innovation, and Dr. Sarah Twomey, Dean of Education. Together with Rita Russo, Director of the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board (KPRDSB), they explored the JICS Lab School. This team is actively exploring the establishment of their own lab school in Peterborough, Ontario, and we are honored to contribute to their ambitious initiative.

Looking ahead, from February 26 to 29, we eagerly anticipate hosting psychology students and Professor Tsuyoshi Oshima from Kobe Shinwa University in Kobe, Japan. They will immerse themselves in classroom observations and participate in workshops crafted by our JICS staff. Such collaborations reinforce our steadfast commitment to sharing innovative educational practices on a global scale.

10. Lunar New Year Celebration Photos

Our students and staff were incredibly lucky to experience a professional Lion Dance performance to ring in Lunar New Year. We also had several special visits from parents sharing their family traditions. As a school, we swept away the old of the past year and opened our windows to let in the good luck of the New Year on Friday. Each student also received a special red pocket with some lucky treats!