JICS at a Glance
We've condensed the important highlights for your convenience:
Wednesday Program Session 2 registration opened on Wednesday January 15! Register your child for WAP Session 2 Classes
Register for Chess Club at ICS Daycare by Jan 18
RSVP to Upcoming Events with JICS Social Worker, Ellie
Next week: Coffee & Conversations - Thur January 23 at 9 am
Utilize the Skate Swap before our Winter Skating sessions start, or donate skates!
Topics covered in this post:
(Click to navigate straight to a section)
1. Wednesday Program - Session 2 Registration
Session 1 of the Wednesday Program will wrap up on January 22. Registration opened on January 15 and we are excited to share with you the courses available for session 2!
Session 2 Start date: Wednesday, January 29
Registration & payment is required by Friday, January 24 at 1:00 pm.
*Please note: Due to high demand and limited spaces, students who have previous taken Baking are asked to please choose a different class. Thank you!
Wednesday Program Details:
The Wednesday Afternoon Program (WAP), an array of extra-curricular classes designed for Grade 1 to 6 students, runs in two sessions: September 11 to January 22 and January 29 to June 11. The cost is $750 per session. Each session is 18 weeks (last year, each session was 12 weeks).
To ensure registration, please submit your payment ($750/child) no later than Friday, January 24. Payments can be made by credit card or cheque.
Credit Card: a link to our payment site will be shared in your registration confirmation email.
Cheque: please bring payment by cheque to Shama in the School Office. Cheques are payable to University of Toronto.
While we are committed to accommodating every interested participant, please note that spots are limited and allotted on a first-come, first-served basis.
Parents of Kindergarten (JK and SK) students seeking Wednesday afternoon care can explore the "Creative Play Program" provided by ICS Daycare. For more information, kindly contact the Daycare Supervisor, Anne Marie Bartoli, at 416-934-4522 or visit ICS After School Daycare.
2. Lunar New Year - Year of the Snake
Wednesday, January 29 is Lunar New Year, the joyous festival celebrated in many Asian countries. Marking the end of Winter, the Spring Festival (known as Chinese Chunjie, Vietnamese Tet, Korean Solnal, and Tibetan Losar) begins with the first new moon of the lunar calendar and ends on the first full moon of the lunar calendar, 15 days later. Each culture celebrates in its own way. For some, New Year’s Eve and New Year's Day are reserved for family celebrations, including ceremonies honouring ancestors and family members receiving red envelopes (lai see). Dances and fireworks are prevalent throughout the holidays, culminating in the Lantern
Festival, which is celebrated on the last day of the New Year’s celebrations. On this night,
colourful lanterns light up the houses and traditional foods such as yuanxiao (sticky rice balls that symbolize family unity), fagao (prosperity cake), and yusheng (raw fish and vegetable salad) are served.
At the JICS Lab School, we are so fortunate to have families from diverse backgrounds. If you celebrate Lunar New Year, please enrich our learning by sharing your culture. Don't hesitate to get in touch with your child's teachers or join this year’s Asian Heritage Planning Committee by contacting JICS faculty: Nick, Jayda, Victoria or Richard.
3. Chess Club at JICS Daycare
Who: Registered students from Grade 1 to 6
When: January 21 – March 4, 2025 (7 sessions)
Time: Tuesdays, 3:45 – 4:45 p.m.
Cost: Included with Daycare registration
Registration Deadline: January 18, 2025
Email to Register: ics.after.school.daycare@gmail.com
Spaces are limited, so don’t miss out—register today!
4. Upcoming Events with JICS Social Worker, Ellie
Happy New Year to everyone, hoping that the holidays provided some restorative and fun times for your families. I'm looking forward to some upcoming online Lunch and Learn sessions as well as our in-person, early years Coffee and Conversation mornings.
Upcoming Coffee and Conversations: Thursday January 23rd at 9 am we welcome you to join Ellie and Chriss for a conversation about Promoting Secure Attachment with your child. Join us for this discussion and a chance to connect and share ideas with other parents.
Looking ahead to February Coffee and Conversation - Thursday February 27th we will be talking about the Value of Child-led Play.
For our upcoming Lunch and Learn sessions we will be having a two-part discussion about aspects of Neurodiversity, Understanding and Supporting your Child with ADHD and/or Giftedness on Thursday January 30th and Thursday February 6th. As always, these talks are 30 minutes a talk with slides (recorded) followed by 30 minutes of (unrecorded) discussion and questions.
Looking forward to seeing you. And don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or suggestions.
Warm regards, Ellie
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.
If you want to learn more about Natural Curiosity’s four-branch environmental inquiry framework, deepened by Indigenous perspectives, this free program includes a 5-part instructional video series. It references the leading resource, Natural Curiosity 2nd Edition, alongside its authors, Lab School educators, and leading practitioners to define environmental inquiry, and how it relates to Indigenous perspectives.
6. Celebrating UofT Arbor Awards
The Arbor Award is the University of Toronto’s highest honour for volunteers, recognizing their outstanding contributions to the U of T community. At the JICS Lab School, volunteers play a vital role in advancing our mission to be a world-leading institution in education. This year, we are proud to congratulate our three 2024 Arbor Award recipients. Their dedication of time, energy, and expertise has profoundly impacted our school community. We invite you to read about their inspiring acts of service and celebrate their contributions with us.
Shawn Konopinsky
Shawn has been a steadfast volunteer for the Lab School since 2020. His notable contributions included serving as Treasurer of the Parents’ Association (PA) for three years. In this role, Shawn managed donations, ensuring they funded programs and resources that enriched the educational experience for students and parents alike.
Deepta Rayner
A devoted and longtime supporter of the Lab School since 2011, Deepta took on leadership roles within the Parents’ Association as president and worked closely with parents, school leaders, and alumni to foster community and collaboration. Her contributions span providing content for publications, event planning, committee work, and championing parent education efforts, particularly in the areas of equity, diversity, and inclusion.
François Tanguay-Renaud
François has been an invaluable friend of the Lab School since 2018. His involvement with the Parents’ Association has included serving as class representative, vice-president, and president. François has also played a key role in organizing memorable events such as fundraising galas, community skating gatherings, and educational initiatives for parents.
These exceptional volunteers exemplify the spirit of service and community, and we are deeply grateful for their contributions to the Lab School’s success.
7. JICS Skate Swap
As the 2025 Winter Skating Season approaches, the JICS Skate Swap is now accepting donations. Our Phys Ed teacher, Luke Van Ryn has organized skating sessions at Bill Bolton Arena for students in SK and Grades 1 to 6 (specific dates to be announced by classroom teachers). To participate safely, students will need properly fitted skates and a CSA-approved helmet. There are no rental options available at the arena.
In the spirit of supporting families, we have set up a skate swap at the school. If you have skates or helmets to donate, please drop them off at the reception area. Additionally, parents seeking to borrow equipment can bring their children to try on donated items in the same area.
8. Enhancing Public Education: Honouring Our Commitment
In last week’s post, we showcased the transformative impact of the JICS Lab School on elementary education and teacher training practices worldwide. Today, we are excited to share another significant connection:
This week, Chriss and Richard met with representatives from the Tatweer Building Company following a successful Fall visit by members of Saudi Arabia’s National Curriculum Center (NCC), the National Institute for Educational Professional Development (NIEPD), and the Ministry of Education’s Education Research Center (ERC). The discussions focussed on how the JICS philosophy and pedagogy have shaped our innovative learning environments, including our newly opened playground.
The Tatweer Building Company, a government-owned entity responsible for improving public school infrastructure, rehabilitating unused schools, and managing construction projects across public and private sectors, expressed great interest in our design approach. They are eager to explore a potential collaboration with us to enhance their work in educational infrastructure.
9. Toronto Public Health Letter to Parents
Respiratory Illness and Digital Toolkit for Schools
January 13, 2025
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Re: Reducing the Spread of Respiratory Infections in Schools
At this time of year, respiratory illness can be more common as people gather indoors.
To help protect our school communities, staff, students, and visitors are reminded to:
Check for symptoms of respiratory infection every day before going to school.
Stay home when you have symptoms, even if they are mild.
Wash or sanitize your hands often.
Get your influenza and COVID-19 vaccines at a participating pharmacy or your primary health care provider. These vaccines are the best way to protect against infection with influenza and COVID-19.
Clean high-touch school surfaces often and when they are dirty.
Consider wearing a tight-fitting, well-constructed mask in indoor public settings,especially if you are at higher risk of severe infection.
If you or your child have symptoms of a respiratory virus, stay home. This means:
Stay home until you or your child have no fever and symptoms are improving for at least 24 hours (or 48 hours if you or your child have gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting and/or diarrhea).
The Ontario Ministry of Health advises that for 10 days after symptoms start, an ill person should wear a well-fitted, high-quality mask when out in public, including in school and childcare.
Avoid visiting anyone who is immunocompromised or may be at higher risk of illness (for example, seniors).
Avoid non-essential visits to high-risk settings such as hospitals and long-term care homes.
Speak to your healthcare provider or call 8-1-1 if you have questions about you or your family’s health or if you are unsure where to access care.
More Information:
Ontario College of Family Physicians Family Doctor Tips on Caring for Children with Respiratory Symptoms
Toronto Public Health Respiratory Viruses – City of Toronto
Public Health Ontario How to Protect Yourself and Others from Respiratory Viruses
Sincerely,
Dr. Michael Finkelstein
Deputy Medical Officer of Health
Health Protection
Upcoming January Events
Wed 22 – Last day of Fall 2024 Wednesday Program
Wed 22 – UofT Arbor Awards Ceremony
Thur 23 – Coffee and Conversation with Ellie. RSVP
Mon 27 – International Holocaust Remembrance Day
Wed 29 – First Day of Spring Wednesday Program (runs to Jun 11)
Wed 29 – Lunar New Year
Thur 30 – Lunch & Learn: Neurodiversity, Understanding and Supporting your Child with ADHD and/or Giftedness - PART ONE. 12:30-1:30pm RSVP
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 RSVP
Thur 6 – JICS at the Movies – screening movie “40 Acres” (details coming soon)
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 (details coming soon)
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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