Junior School Weekly—Friday, September 18, 2026

What JS Families Need to Know About Celebration Day

Attendance & Participation

• Optional for JK-Grade 4
  • JK – Gr. 4 must be accompanied by an adult, 
• Mandatory for Grades 5 – 6 
  • Grade 5 and 6 students will sign up to run activity stations
  • If your child is not able to attend, please email me at kwhite@havergal.on.ca 

Dismissal

• JK-Grade 4: 
  • 2:30 pm – 3:00 pm – Students will be dismissed from the Junior School, as usual
• Grade 5 & 6
  • 3:15 pm Students remain in their class with their teachers until this time, then will be walked over to Ratcliffe Field for Opening Ceremonies.
  • 5:45 pm ALL STUDENTS in GRADES 5 & 6 (with and without green tags) will meet at Ratcliffe Field, by the stairs closest to the parking lot, where Ms. White and Ms. Anderson will be waiting to dismiss them. Parents/Guardians can pick up their daughter here. Students with green tags must also check out. 
  • Students are NOT to bring a backpack on this day.
  • Students who are not in the Food Services Program are asked to bring a disposal lunch.

What to Wear

• Students in JK-Grade 12 are invited to wear GREEN and GOLD on this day. Families are also welcome to join in the fun.

Gator Care Is Open

• Gator Care is available on an “as needed” basis on Celebration Day, from 2:30 pm – 6:00 pm.
• Pre-Registration is required by Tuesday, September 22
  • Go to the Parent Portal and click the After School Gator Care link under registrations to fill out the AAR Form. This is mandatory.
  • Then send an email to gatorcare@havergal.on.ca, letting them know that your daughter will be attending on Celebration Day.

Parking

• Parking is not available on campus for this event. We encourage families to walk, carpool, take public transportation, or reference Spot Angels to find legal street parking or local parking garages.

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Junior School Parent Admission Ambassadors – Call for Volunteers!

Although we have only just started the school year, the Admissions team is already looking ahead to September 2027! 

Beginning in early October, we will be offering Group Tours of the Junior School for prospective families, led by a group of committed parent volunteers. The tours will run on select Tuesdays and Thursdays each week at 9:30am,10:30am and 1pm. Our Parent Ambassadors can sign up to give a tour according to their availability. New Havergal parents are invited to participate – we will ensure volunteers have training and support!

Our Parent Ambassadors play a crucial role in sharing the Havergal experience with prospective families. If you are interested in signing up to be a tour guide and joining our Parent Ambassador team for the upcoming school year, please sign up at this link.

New volunteers (and returning parents who would like a refresher) are welcome to join us for a training session on Wednesday, September 30th following Prayers. The training session should last one hour.

Thank you in advance for considering supporting our department as we work to share the Havergal Junior School experience with prospective community members. If you have any questions, please contact Sarah Milligan in the Junior School Admission office (smilligan@havergal.on.ca).

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Save The Date for Eric Hudson – Tuesday, October 6

Looking ahead, please save the date for Tuesday, October 6, at 7 p.m., when we will welcome Eric Hudson to Havergal. Eric is an educator, facilitator, and strategic advisor who works with schools to navigate artificial intelligence and its impact on teaching and learning. He will spend time with our students and faculty throughout the day before speaking with parents that evening. 

In particular, he’ll explore how parents can engage their children in open, non-judgmental conversations about AI and the practical steps we can take together to support thoughtful, purposeful learning in a rapidly changing landscape. More details will follow soon.

Eric will also be working with the Havergal Faculty in the afternoon. 

Please Note the Following:

Early Dismissal

• JK – Grade 3 (11:30 am – 11:45 am)
• Grade 4 – Grade 6 (11:45 am – 12:00 pm)
• All after-school clubs and athletics are cancelled on this day.

Gator Care is Available from 11:30 am – 6:00 pm

• Pre-Registration is required by Friday, October 2
  • Go to the Parent Portal and click the After School Gator Care link under registrations to fill out the AAR Form. This is mandatory.
  • Then send an email to gatorcare@havergal.on.ca to let them know that your daughter will be attending Gator Day on the Early Dismissal Day.
• Cost: 
  • There is a flat fee of $35
• Lunch:
  • Lunch will be provided to all students who register for Gator Care on this day and are enrolled in the Food Services Program. 
  • Students not enrolled in the Food Services Program should bring lunch from home, as usual.

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Harvest Festival & Donations to the North York Harvest Food Bank – Thursday, October 8 

We are pleased to be holding our annual Harvest Festival again this year! This formal service of Thanksgiving is an opportunity for us to come together as a community and support our community partners – The North York Harvest Food Bank.

What students should wear – # 1 Concert Dress, which consists of:

• JK – Grade 4
  • White long-sleeve dress shirt
  • Tie
  • Tunic
  • Tights, not socks
  • Black shoes
  • Hair back from face with minimal hair accessories that are the same colour as your hair or the HC official hair accessories
• Grade 5 & 6
•  White long-sleeve dress shirt
• Tie
• Kilt (grades 5 and 6)
• Tights, not socks
• Black shoes
• Hair back from face with minimal hair accessories that are the same colour as your hair or the HC official hair accessories 

Time and Location

• The service will begin promptly at 9:00 a.m., and will end at 9:45 a.m. in the Brenda Robson Hall, which is located in the Upper School

Photos and Videos

• We will have members of our Marketing and Communications’ Team on hand to take videos and photos of the service;
• As in Prayers, we ask families not to take photos or videos during the service. Should your daughter have a speaking role, you are permitted to take a photo or short video, and we ask that you be discreet while doing so.

Parking

• Please note, there is NO PARKING on campus for this event. We encourage you to walk, carpool, or take alternative transportation. Should you wish to drive, you are invited to check out Spot Angels, which can assist you in finding nearby free or paid parking options. 

Donations to the North York Harvest Food Bank 

The Junior School will be running a food drive in support of the North York Harvest Food Bank, between Monday, September 29 and Thursday, October 10. Students in JK to Grade 6 are asked to bring in non-perishable food items for donation. The following items are urgently needed:

• Pasta, Rice, Grains
• Canned Tomatoes
• Canned Vegetables
• Cooking Oil
• Canned Fish

Please send your donations to school with your daughter. These can be placed in the bins outside the Junior School Library.

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Personalized Havergal Calendars

Use this link to see a personalized summary of your child’s activities next week, on the Parent Portal

Registration for Fall Athletics and Co-curriculars

• Opens:  Thursday, September 10th, at 10 am 
• Closes: Sunday, September 20th at 8 pm 
• To register, please visit the Parent Portal
  • Please note that parent consent is required for students to participate in all athletic tryouts/practices and clubs. This is completed as part of the online registration process.

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Questions about Registration, Athletics, or Clubs?

• For Athletics – Email the JS Director of Athletics, Anna Bartlett, 
• For Clubs – Email the Junior School Office Administrator, Sarah Robertson.

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Athletics’ Information:

• Fall Athletics Schedule (bookmark this) can also be found on the Parent Portal. 
• Good Luck to the U12 Cross Country team, who have their first meet of the season this Tuesday Sept 22nd. Athletes can come to school in their XC uniform.

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Clubs Information:

• JS Clubs start September 21, 2026.
• Lego Club has expanded to include JK and SK; Active Games has expanded to include Gr. SK – 2; and Sportskid to include Gr. SK – 2 as well.
  • Should you wish to register for either of these clubs, kindly register by Sunday at 8 pm.

JS Menu for Monday, September 21 – Friday, September 25