Dear Parents and Guardians,

Earlier this afternoon, the Premier of Ontario announced a “province-wide shutdown,” to commence December 26, 2020, which is aimed at helping to stop the spread of COVID-19. Essentially this 28-day shutdown forces the closure of all non-essential businesses and requires residents to only leave their homes for required medical appointments, groceries or work. As part of the government’s shutdown plans, all public and private schools have been mandated to move to remote learning (for a certain period of time) when school recommences after the December Break. You can read about the provincial shutdown and implications for schools by clicking here.

In keeping with the Ontario government's mandate, which outlines a staggered return to in-person learning for elementary and high school students, Trinity College School students’ return to learning in January will proceed as follows:

Junior School students – Learning will be exclusively online, January 5th – 8th. On January 11th, we expect to be able to allow Junior School students back to campus for in-person learning.

Senior School students – Learning will be exclusively online, January 5th – January 22nd. On January 25th, we expect to be able to allow all Senior School students back to campus for in-person learning.

TCS is fortunate as the launch of our online program last March gave the opportunity to thoroughly test and enhance our remote-learning platform that has effectively served dozens of our international students this fall. In addition, our proactive move in the Senior School to a four-term model for the 2020-2021 academic year, including Wednesdays that provide some break from computer screens, is expected to help ease what we hope will be only a temporary change in our mode of teaching and learning.

This delayed return to campus will prompt some additional questions and concerns for our international families who had travel and quarantine plans previously solidified. The School recognizes that during this time when most families will opt to adjust travel plans to keep their child at home, some families simply may not have the ability to re-adjust plans. For those families we want to reassure you that the School’s supervised residences will be open to receive international boarding students as early as January 4th should your family’s plans necessitate it. Of course, the 14-day mandatory off-campus quarantine is required for all international travelers before a return to campus is permitted. Further, today’s government announcement recommended that inter-provincial travel (travel between provinces) “should be limited to only essential purposes” and “individuals and families who arrive or return to Ontario during the province wide shutdown period should self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival.” (For more information on domestic travel, see page 24 of the government’s Provincewide Shutdown document.)

We know all TCS families will have many questions prompted by news of this provincial shutdown and what is expected at this time to be a short-term move to online learning. At the School, we are busy collecting information and formulating plans on how best to support our staff, students and families. As such, you will receive an email from the School, with further details, on Wednesday, December 23rd. In addition, students participating in the TCS Quarantine Program or those hosted through the TCS Volunteer Host program, can expect direct communication from the School.

Please note that the TCS campus is currently closed to TCS students and families. As always, we remain available to answer any time sensitive questions via info@tcs.on.ca. Thank you.

Stuart Grainger
Headmaster