Dear Parents and guardians,

Yesterday, the School emailed families to advise of the Ontario government's directive to all schools in the province to move to online learning following the Spring Break. Today, we wish to share some additional information as to what students and families can expect with this shift to remote learning.

Return to learning (online) – April 19th

Senior School

• Senior School students will be welcomed back from the Spring Break by Mr. Grainger on Monday, April 19th via a Zoom meeting at 8:45 a.m. ET
• We are planning a return to a schedule very similar to the schedule that we followed during remote learning in January. More information to come from the academic office this Thursday.
• For families of graduating students, please note that grad photos originally scheduled for this month will be rescheduled for May. The School remains committed to celebrating our grads; we will continue to assess plans and events currently scheduled for May and June and are hopeful that we are permitted to re-open campus.  
• As for events scheduled for early May, we will hold firm on these bookings for the time being as we are hopeful that we might be permitted to resume in-person learning by that time, however, we will reassess these plans if the period of online learning is extended. This includes: Advanced Placement exams (beginning May 3rd), Grade 9-11 Photo Day (May 3rd) and Semi-formal (May 8th).

Junior School

• Homeform teachers will welcome students back from Spring Break, online, on Monday morning.
• There are no planned changes to the Junior School schedule at this time.
• Grade 8 graduation initiatives will continue to be assessed with the important goal of celebrating our grads.
• Resources and work periods will be offline with the exception of individual meetings which students can request. Mrs. Reid will soon be sharing more details specific to SE&RL programming. As well, there will be more information to come regarding co-curriculars, however, given the warmer weather, students are encouraged to take a break from their screens and get outside, but will have some online options available to them.

Return to boarding – April 18th

TCS residences will re-open on April 18th for boarding students with no alternative housing option. Students are asked to remain off-campus where possible, recognizing that campus facilities and services will be limited given that we will be operating under “essential services” directives until at least early May.

• Students who must be in boarding will participate in online classes from a supervised classroom-type setting (not in their dorm rooms).
• Food services, housekeeping and laundry will be available and some out-of-room social and activity programming will be available in a limited capacity.
• Health services will also continue to be available on campus. Counselling appointments with guidance counsellors or external counsellors will be virtual.
• We also recognize that some students may need to return after April 18th depending on their quarantine arrangements. Once on campus, boarding students must be prepared to stay until further notice as the School continues to adapt to the provincial and local health-related context.

Health protocols

• There will be no leave for boarding students until further notice. We will reassess leave when the provincial stay-at-home order is lifted.
• There will be no weekend leave for boarders nor will walks into town (movement beyond the TCS campus) be permitted.
• No travel between boarding houses will be permitted nor will inter-floor visitation.
• Dependent upon public health direction, we may well be required to limit gatherings outdoors to five people.
• Co-curriculars may be impacted by permissions for facility use and group sizes.

Boarding families are asked to watch for an important email from their child’s housemaster later today or tomorrow, asking families to share their child’s plans for return to school.

Support & resources

Yet another shift in learning will be an unwelcome development for students, families and staff alike and may add to feelings of uncertainty and stress in an already challenging year. Students are welcome to reach out to their guidance counsellor, the health centre or the chaplain for confidential support. In addition, your child will be reminded of counselling support directly through the School, and the following resources are available:

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

For more information

The School commits to communicating promptly with families when more information about a return to in-person learning is announced by government and health authorities. As well, as we look to reschedule or reformat events and initiatives on our school calendars, as needed, we will share that information with families.

The school store is open to purchases through its online store during the Spring Break and during the period of online learning (shipping available worldwide); for any boarders residing on campus following the break, they are asked to contact their housemaster to make arrangements should they require any personal items from the store (e.g. shampoo, toiletries).

Parents or guardians with questions are welcome to attend a “Drop-in” Meeting next week. Held via Zoom, these one-hour drop-ins will provide an opportunity for families to learn directly from the headmaster and school leaders about any updates available at that time. Those interested are asked to use the links below to register to attend. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Senior School Zoom “Drop-ins”

• Wednesday, April 21st – 8:00 a.m. ET - Please click here to register.
• Wednesday, April 21st – 12:00 p.m. ET - Please click here to register.
• Wednesday, April 21st – 4:00 p.m. ET - Please click here to register.

Junior School Zoom “Drop-in”

• Wednesday, April 21st - 9:00 a.m. ET - Please click here to register.

As always, families with time-sensitive questions specific to their child, are best to email their child’s advisor, housemaster or info@tcs.on.ca for assistance.

Health considerations

Asymptomatic testing
The School strongly encourages all students and staff to take advantage of the province’s recent commitment to make asymptomatic testing more readily available to school students and staff. For more information about assessment centres and participating community labs please click here.

Health protocols 
Over the break and the period of online learning that is to follow, we remind all community members that it will be critical that every one of us follows the advice that is aimed at keeping us healthy and keeping our community together. For those in Ontario, this includes the measures required by the province-wide stay-at-home order. Public health continues to emphasize the following actions:

• Stay at home as much as possible; avoid travel except for essential reasons
• Avoid social gatherings; follow provincial and local restrictions regarding public and private gatherings
• Limit close contacts to your household
• Stay at home if you have symptoms, even if they are mild
• Maintain two metres physical distance from others
• Wash your hands thoroughly and regularly
• Sneeze and cough into your sleeve
• Wear a face covering or mask anytime you are within two metres of someone outside of your household, and when required in businesses and public places
• Self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19

Fees during online learning

As the provincial government has mandated the temporary closure of in-person learning for all schools in Ontario as of April 19th, the School will be in a position to move to Fee Schedule B. This modified fee schedule means that both day student and boarding student fees will be calculated based on 80% of the day student fee table applicable to the student's grade level. This modified fee schedule does not apply to those in the School’s care during this period of government-mandated online learning.

Please note, when the School is permitted to re-open campus to in-person learning according to the provincial government’s directives, all students will return to the regular fee schedule (“Fee Schedule A”). At the end of each applicable month, a credit will be applied to student accounts, on a per diem basis, for the difference between the regular fee schedule and the modified fee schedule. We hope this will provide our families with some financial relief as their children are learning and engaged in the School’s program from home during this time of government-mandated online learning.

As this school balances the desire to give all of our community members a break this week, we are also aware that families need information promptly in order to plan for travel, accommodation and other arrangements. Thank you for keeping one eye on your email inbox while aiming to enjoy some of the Spring Break.

Stuart Grainger
Headmaster