Dear TCS parents and guardians: 

As indicated in the November 12th Parents’ Newsletter, cases of COVID-19 are continuing to rise throughout the province of Ontario, and specifically in the Toronto region. On Friday, November 20th, the Government of Ontario announced that Toronto and Peel Region would be placed in lockdown or “Grey” mode (click here to read the press release). Additionally, two regions, including Durham Region, were elevated to “Red/Control” level within the province’s COVID-19 framework, and Peterborough was among the regions elevated to “Yellow/Protect” level. Click here to review the province’s COVID-19 Response Framework.

As part of the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit, here in Northumberland County we remain at the “Green” level, with relatively few cases of COVID-19 (click here for the latest figures).

As a school, we recognize our obligation to educate and inform, and to make decisions and recommendations in support of the health and safety of our school community.

Considering these factors, we are recommending that boarding students currently do not take weekend leave. Please note that this is a recommendation; families will need to make their own decisions, and will need to be responsible for adhering to provincial and regional health guidance and restrictions in their own area.

We specifically recommend that boarding students avoid taking leave in areas currently designated as “Grey/lockdown” or “Red/Control.” This recommendation is consistent with provincial restrictions in place for these areas. Further, should a student be spending weekend leave – or the upcoming December Break – in an area designated as Grey or Red, the following government guidance is in place and should be adhered to:

• Trips outside of the home should only be for essential reasons (work, school, groceries/pharmacy, health care, assisting vulnerable individuals or exercise and physical activity)
• Families should not visit any other household or allow visitors in their homes
• Everyone should avoid social gatherings
• Work remotely, where possible

With respect to the upcoming December Break, our plans and protocols for international students remain in place. All international students who travel home for the holidays, and all domestic students who choose to travel internationally, will be required to undertake the government-mandated 14-day quarantine, off-campus, upon return to Canada, and will be required to take a COVID-19 test and receive a negative result before returning to campus. A TCS-supported quarantine program is in place for students travelling alone who do not have another quarantine option (click here for details, including cost and registration information). TCS health services will make COVID-19 testing arrangements for those students taking part in the TCS quarantine program, and will assist in testing bookings for families who are quarantining privately.

For our domestic boarders and day students, we implore families to carefully review and follow all provincial guidance and restrictions regarding travel to COVID-19 “hot spots” during the December Break. In recent conversations with parents, your commitment to and concern for adhering to health regulations in order to keep our community safe have been evident. We must continue to work together and to prioritize the wellbeing of our entire community through our personal actions.

Thank you.

Stuart Grainger
Headmaster