JICS at a Glance
We've condensed the important highlights for your convenience:
School is closed on Feb 14 & Feb 17 - Register your child/ren for Daycare on Feb 14
Register your child for the Daycare March Break Camp by Feb 15
Save the date for Art Night - Feb 19 *Please note the updated entry times
RSVP to Upcoming Events:
Coffee & Conversation for JICS Parents with Ellie: February 27 at 9:00 am
Save the Date for Research Night & Parent Social - Mon March 3
Check out the Ojibwe Language course & Cree Language Course being offered through Natural Curiosity
Topics covered in this post:
(Click to navigate straight to a section)
1. Midterm Holiday Notice
Please note that the JICS Lab School, Nursery to Grade 6, will be closed on Friday, February 14, and Monday, February 17 (Family Day). Wishing everyone a well-deserved midterm holiday break.
The Daycare will remain open for registered users on Friday, February 14 from 7:45 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Children will enjoy arts and crafts, outdoor and indoor sports, and lots of games. The cost is $80/day, including two snacks (please pack a lunch). To register, please contact
2. Author Visits - Black History Month
As part of our Black History Month celebrations, we are excited to host two incredible storytellers who bring a wealth of culture and creativity to our students.
On Monday, February 10, storyteller Kesha Christie will engage students from Nursery to Grade 6 with the rich tradition of oral storytelling. Through her dynamic performances and interactive workshops, Kesha breathes life into timeless tales, inspiring the storyteller in each of us.
On Wednesday, February 12, we are thrilled to welcome Yolanda T. Marshall, an award-winning Canadian author of Guyanese and Bajan heritage. Yolanda will present her vibrant, inclusive children’s literature to students from Nursery to Grade 3, sharing stories that celebrate diversity and cultural richness.
3. A notice to parents and caregivers who are giving children snacks on school property after school:
Please be mindful that any food consumed on school property at any time must be nut-free.
Thank you for helping to keep our school community safe for all.
4. Art Night
Wednesday, February 19
On Wednesday, February 19, the Lab School will be transformed into The JICS Art Gallery for our annual Art Night—a celebration of creativity and expression.
This year, we are returning to hosting Art Night and Music Night as separate events, allowing families ample time to fully enjoy each unique program. Tara and the Art Night Committee have thoughtfully curated an engaging and memorable experience for everyone.
Families will follow a defined tour route to explore the incredible artwork created by the students, displayed throughout the school. We kindly ask that families stick together (children and caregivers) as they move through the exhibits, ensuring a shared experience of appreciation and discovery.
To help manage the flow of visitors and avoid congestion, we recommend the following entry times:
Please Note: We previously listed incorrect entry times. The correct times are as follows:
6:00 PM – Nursery, JK, SK families
6:20 PM – Grades 1, 2, 3 families
6:40 PM – Grades 4, 5, 6 families
If your family has children in multiple grades, please choose the time that works best for you.
We are looking forward to seeing you at Art Night and celebrating the amazing talents of our students together!
5. Parent Education with JICS Social Worker, Ellie
If you missed the Lunch & Learn sessions on Neurodiversity, Understanding and Supporting your Child with ADHD and/or Giftedness, you can now find event recordings and slides for Part One and Part Two on our Parent Education page.
We welcome all JICS parents to our Coffee and Conversation mornings. Join us for this opportunity to connect and share ideas with other parents. The topic for the next gathering is Letting them Lead: The Benefits of Child Directed Play.
6. Parent Social and Research Night on March 3rd
We are excited to invite you to our upcoming "Research Night" on Monday, March 3rd. This special evening will feature a parent social, where you can connect with other parents and enjoy light refreshments. Following the social, researchers and teachers will present fascinating studies that have taken place in our classrooms. We look forward to sharing these insights with you and fostering a deeper connection between our school community and the incredible work being done here. Free babysitting is available onsite for JICS students. Registration details coming soon. Please mark your calendars with this event and we hope to see you there!
7. Daycare March Break Camp
Sign up by emailing ics.after.school.daycare@gmail.com
8. Professional Development Update
On Wednesday afternoons, JICS Lab School teachers are fortunate to have professional development opportunities led by experts from the University, right in our own building. These sessions provide valuable insights into educational research and practice, allowing us to engage with the latest advancements in teaching and learning. This week, we had the privilege of participating in two such sessions, each offering unique perspectives on effective instruction.
The first session welcomed OISE Dean, Dr. Erica Walker, who introduced her research study, Nurturing Mathematical Minds through Multimedia Storytelling: Towards Accessible and Equitable Mathematics Instruction. Approved by our JICS Child Research Committee, this study will involve our collaboration with Dr. Walker, Dr. Kitty Yan, and their research team throughout the Winter/Spring term. Our teachers contributed ideas on how the study’s multimedia storytelling videos can be integrated into Grades 3-6 classrooms to enhance mathematical engagement and accessibility. Additionally, we scheduled classroom visits for the researchers and discussed the study’s data collection methods, which will include surveys, interviews, and focus groups. Dr. Walker and Dr. Yan are eager to share mathematicians' narratives with our students and teachers, fostering inspiration and deeper engagement with mathematics through storytelling.
Dr. Jim Hewitt (CTL, OISE) and Dr. Nidhi Sachdeva (OISE) presented insights from their online course, The Science of Learning, to Lab School teachers as part of our professional development (PD) experience. This course, which they are currently delivering to teacher candidates in the Master of Teaching (MT) program, introduces the principles of evidence-based education through a foundational model of learning: Sensory Memory, Working Memory, and Long-Term Memory.
Using this model as the course framework, they guided us through key research topics, including cognitive load, the role of prior knowledge, expertise development, dual coding, deep learning, explicit instruction, and common educational myths. During their presentation, they shared how the course is structured, reflected on the complexities of defining and applying truly evidence-based research, and discussed the challenges and successes they have encountered in delivering this material.
9. Natural Curiosity
The Natural Curiosity program plays a crucial role in advancing the Lab School’s public purpose by supporting educators with understanding the importance of Indigenous perspectives in environmental and all education.
We have currently sold over 18,000+ plus copies of our educator resource, Natural Curiosity 2nd Edition: The Importance of Indigenous Perspectives in Children's Environmental Inquiry. If you want to learn more about Natural Curiosity’s four-branch environmental inquiry framework, deepened by Indigenous perspectives, please view or download this gift copy of the "Intro and Preface" or purchase a copy of the entire book today! It is available in both English and French.
Join Natural Curiosity for an online Ojibwe language course. This initiative stems from our commitment towards reconciliation and to foster and promote Indigenous perspectives and intercultural understanding within our educational community.
This course is open to everyone – both Indigenous and non-Indigenous participants who wish to learn to uplift language revitalization. Learning sessions start April 3, 2025, and the EARLY Bird pricing is available until February 21, 2025.
Unable to commit to a course but want to help make Indigenous language learning more accessible? Your donation to Natural Curiosity directly supports language revitalization, ensuring more learners can access these vital programs. The Government of Canada has extended the eligible period for charitable donations—contribute today and receive a 2024 tax receipt.
Join Natural Curiosity for a Cree language course that weaves together language learning and cultural teachings through storytelling. This course offers participants the opportunity to learn Cree words and phrases while gaining deeper insights into the cultural values, traditions, and knowledge embedded in Nêhiyawêwin.
This course is open to everyone – both Indigenous and non-Indigenous participants who wish to learn to uplift language revitalization. Learning starts March 12, 2025 and the EARLY Bird pricing is available until February 21, 2025.
Photos from the Week
Upcoming February Events
Black History Month
Thur 6 – Lunch & Learn: Neurodiversity, Understanding and Supporting your Child with ADHD and/or Giftedness - PART TWO. 12:30-1:30pm (view recording & slides)
Thur 6 – JICS at the Movies – screening movie “40 Acres”. Purchase Tickets
Tues 11 – Parents of BIPOC children meeting 7:00pm
Thur 13 – Valentine’s Day at JICS
Fri 14 – Midterm Holiday – School closed. Daycare open to registered users.
Mon 17 – Family Day Holiday – School and Daycare closed
Wed 19 – JICS Art Night
Mon 24-Tues 25 – Japanese Teacher-Candidates visiting JICS
Tues 25-Fri 28 – Grade 4/5 students at YMCA Pine Crest Camp
Wed 26 – Pink Shirt Day/Anti-Bullying Day
Thus 27 – Coffee and Conversation Parent Education Session with Ellie 9:00am RSVP
Fri 28 – Ramadan (begins at sunset)
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