Dear TCS Parents and Guardians,

This letter is to notify you that a student in the TCS Senior School has tested positive for COVID-19. The School was informed of the positive test result today by the student’s family and public health has been notified. The positive case was last at the School on March 30th. While incidents of the virus are not unusual in school settings, we recognize that news of a positive case in our school community is unsettling. However, unless you are contacted by public health authorities, there is no action required by you/your child at this time.

That said, please note, with an abundance of caution, particularly due to the timing of this confirmed case over this long weekend and as we approach the Spring Break, students and staff of TCS are further encouraged not to mingle with others beyond their own household, allowing time for public health to complete contact tracing.

For information regarding COVID-19, please contact your local health unit:
Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit
Durham Region Public Health
Peterborough Public Health

Junior School students to move to online learning April 6th-9th
As a precautionary measure, we are moving all Junior School learning online next week (April 6th-9th). While Junior School students and staff were previously scheduled to return for four days of in-person learning prior to the Spring Break, we are now requiring all Junior School students and staff to work remotely until an anticipated return to in-person learning on April 19th. Junior School families and students will receive information this weekend which will outline how online classes are to be accessed.

A reminder that our Senior School students, as previously planned, are not permitted to return to campus until in-person learning commences on April 19th (boarding students may return April 18th).

Please read on for more important details.

Confirmed case of COVID-19
Public health authorities are responsible for contact tracing and notifying “close contacts” of the individual testing positive. TCS is committed to fully supporting public health in their contact tracing efforts by providing records related to attendance, class and co-curricular lists, house, bussing, contact information for parents/guardians and staff, and other appropriate records. Thorough disinfection will continue to be a priority of the School.

If your child is not contacted by the public health authorities, your child is not considered to be at an elevated risk of having been exposed to the confirmed case of COVID-19.

If your child is determined to have been in close contact with the case of confirmed COVID-19, public health authorities will contact you directly and will provide direction. Students in isolation, if feeling well enough, are encouraged to continue learning online as of April 6th.

We understand how this situation may be concerning for students, families and staff. As parents, we value your partnership and trust. Please reach out to the School should you have questions or concerns. As well, below are some resources for students who may wish to access them:

• International Resources for Mental Health Support
• Kids Help Line: 1-800-668-6868 or text: CONNECT to 686868 (Canada)
• Black Youth Helpline: 1-833-294-8650 (Canada, but will connect you internationally)

We continue to remind all students and staff to continue to practice important health measures such as: frequent hand washing, mask use, physical distancing, respiratory etiquette, the ongoing self-monitoring for COVID-19 symptoms and to abide by regional and provincial public health guidance. We ask TCS families to continue to partner with us by:

• Ensuring that the School has current contact details for all parents and guardians, including cell phone numbers and email addresses.
• Notifying the School's health centre (jkedwell@tcs.on.ca) if you are contacted by public health and identified as a close contact.
• Notifying the School’s health centre (jkedwell@tcs.on.ca) if a parent or person in your household receives a positive test for COVID-19. Students or staff members in a household where a parent or other member has tested positive must stay home and isolate for 14 days.
• Support the School’s need to balance communication with privacy. The School has a responsibility to maintain the confidentiality of every individual’s personal medical information, therefore, only non-identifying information will be communicated about any confirmed case of COVID-19. Helping your child understand the importance of handling any knowledge they may have about someone else’s health sensitively is essential to respectfully maintain privacy.

Thank you to all our students, staff and families for your understanding and cooperation as we continue to prioritize the health and safety of the TCS community.

If you have any questions or concerns please contact Head of Junior School Jennifer Wyatt (jwyatt@tcs.on.ca) or Head of Senior School Kristopher Churchill (kchurchill@tcs.on.ca).

Stuart Grainger
Headmaster