text:
Previous Reopening Communications
December 21 - A Follow-up Message on COVID-19 Advisory to the Branksome Community
Dear Branksome Community,
As a follow-up to yesterday's advisory to the Branksome Community about a Grade 4 student who tested positive for COVID-19, we have been informed by Toronto Public Health (TPH) today that they completed their investigation and contact tracing. TPH has confirmed to us that students and classroom teachers of one of the Grade 4 cohorts will need to self-isolate.
As per the attached letter, Branksome Hall or TPH will be contacting directly only those students and employees who need to self-isolate. As COVID-19 continues to spread in the Greater Toronto community, we should all be self-monitoring for signs and symptoms of COVID-19.
Thank you for your attention to this message. I wish you all a safe and healthy holiday and look forward to reconnecting again in January.
December 20 - An Important COVID-19 Advisory
On December 19, Branksome Hall was notified that a Grade 4 student tested positive for COVID-19. The student did not exhibit signs of the virus, but underwent proactive testing, received a positive result on December 19 and is now at home in self-isolation. The student was last on campus on December 18. To protect the privacy and confidentiality of the individual, we are not permitted to disclose any further information of a personal nature.
We have informed Toronto Public Health (TPH) and students and employees who must self-isolate will be contacted directly regarding next steps. We will provide any further updates by email and on our school website and Portal.
For more information, we encourage families to visit the TPH website with details for individuals who have come into contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
A Reminder of Health and Safety Protocols
As per our updated illness protocols and TPH requirements, we ask that individuals with ANY signs or symptoms of COVID-19 go to a COVID-19 Assessment Centre for testing as soon as possible, and self-isolate at home until a negative result is confirmed and symptom-free for 24 hours. Please note that if anyone in your household tests positive for COVID-19, we are asking that as a first point of contact, parents and students contact the Branksome Hall Health Centre. Our Health Centre checks emails throughout the holidays for COVID-related concerns.
Branksome Hall Health Centre: healthcentre@branksome.on.ca
TPH Hotline: 416-338-7600 (Monday-Sunday 8:30 a.m.-8:00 p.m.)
Telehealth Ontario (24 hrs/day, 7 days/week): 1-866-797-0000
Your Family Physician
Emergency Services: 9-1-1 (call if experiencing difficulty breathing or other severe symptoms)
For general information or questions:
City of Toronto COVID-19 website: www.toronto.ca/COVID19
Branksome Communications: yourquestions@branksome.on.ca
Further to our email advisory yesterday, we were informed today, Thursday, December 10, that the Grade 11 student has tested positive for COVID-19.
We have informed Toronto Public Health (TPH) and the Ministry of Education, and TPH advises that given the Grade 11 student was last at school on Friday, December 4, and not during the period of communicability, at this time, students, employees and families in the Senior School can continue to attend school and should self-monitor for symptoms, as is our daily practice.
We understand that the student is doing well at this time and will remain in self-isolation until recovered. We wish them a swift and full recovery.
Grade 11 Student Zoom Drop-In Session: Thursday, December 10 @ 12:15 p.m.
Head of Senior & Middle School, Mrs. Kim Kniaz will be inviting students in the Grade 11 cohort to an optional Zoom drop-in session on Thursday, December 10 at 12:15 p.m. She will address any questions students have based on the information we are able to share at this time.
Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact our Health Centre (for parents and students) or Human Resources (for employees). The Health Centre and HR check emails throughout the evenings and weekends for COVID-related concerns.
Branksome Hall Health Centre: healthcentre@branksome.on.ca or 416-920-6265 ext. 229 (Monday-Friday 7:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.)
Human Resources: pdinicolantonio@branksome.on.ca or 416-920-6265 ext. 358
We will continue to provide our community with further updates as we have them.
Karen Jurjevich
December 9 - An Important COVID-19 Advisory
This is to advise our community that we were informed today, Wednesday, December 9, by Eurest Services, a third-party company which provides janitorial services at the school, that one of their employees has tested positive for COVID-19. We were also notified today that a Grade 9 student has tested positive for COVID-19. Further, we are awaiting the results of a Grade 11 student who has had exposure to COVID-19, has recently developed symptoms and is being tested today.
We have informed Toronto Public Health (TPH) and the Ministry of Education, and public health has completed their investigation and contact tracing. TPH has just confirmed to us that there is no risk of exposure to our community at this time. The attached letter has been shared with the school.
The Eurest employee last worked on campus on Friday, November 27 and has been at home since then taking care of a family member who has been ill. The employee developed symptoms and was tested on Monday, December 7, and we received notification from their employer this morning that the result was positive. We have been in contact with the employer as well as public health. As the individual has not been on campus during the period of communicability, there is no risk of exposure to our community.
The Grade 9 student was last at school on Thursday, December 3. The student developed symptoms on Monday, December 7 and was tested that day. The school was notified this morning of the positive result.
The Grade 11 student was last at school on Friday, December 4. She has been in contact with a member of her household who has tested positive for COVID-19. The student developed symptoms on Tuesday, December 8 and is awaiting results. Given the previous exposure, this is a presumed positive case, but we will update our community once we know more.
Given the students were not at school during the period of communicability, at this time, students, employees and families in the Senior School can continue to attend school and should self-monitor for symptoms, as is our daily practice.
We have been in contact with the affected families and Eurest, and we understand that all are doing well at this time. They will remain in isolation until fully recovered, and we wish them a swift and full recovery.
Grade 9 Student Zoom Drop-In Session: Thursday, December 10 @ 3:40 p.m.
Head of Senior & Middle School, Mrs. Kim Kniaz will be inviting students in the Grade 9 cohort to an optional Zoom drop-in session tomorrow, Thursday, December 10, at 3:40 p.m. She will address any questions students have based on the information we are able to share at this time.
Please note that if anyone in your household tests positive for COVID-19, we are asking that as a first point of contact, parents and students contact the Branksome Hall Health Centre and employees contact Human Resources. Our Health Centre and HR check emails throughout the evenings and weekends for COVID-related concerns.
We understand this information may cause concern for our community. We will continue to provide our community with timely updates as we have them.
November 18 - An Update on Yesterday's COVID-19 Advisory
As a follow-up to yesterday's COVID-19 advisory, we are happy to let you know that Toronto Public Health notified the school today that they have now determined there was no exposure risk to those in the Grade 9 cohort of students and employees. This is good news for our community, and we are grateful to the affected families for taking quick action, for adhering to our Branksome health protocols and for keeping us informed.
As per TPH advice, because COVID-19 continues to spread in the community, we should all be watching for symptoms. If you or a family member is experiencing possible or probable COVID-related concerns, please contact the Branksome Hall Health Centre to determine when it is safe to return to school.
Thank you to the students who attended today's Zoom Drop-In Session; I hope you found it helpful. Should Grade 9 students or parents have any additional questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to me at kkniaz@branksome.on.ca.
Kim Kniaz
Head, Senior & Middle School
November 17 - Important COVID-19 Advisory
This is to advise you that we were informed today, Tuesday, November 17, that two of our Grade 9 students have tested positive for COVID-19. Both students have not been on campus for the duration of this academic segment, which began on November 9th; therefore, the risk of exposure to our campus community is extremely low.
We have informed Toronto Public Health (TPH) and the Ministry of Education, and TPH has begun their process of contact tracing. If a concern is identified by TPH, they are responsible for conducting case and contact management activities. We will continue to partner with TPH to ensure privacy and avoid disclosure of details to the school community. At this time, we are asking Grade 9 students to self-monitor and await further instruction following the completion of TPH's investigation. If further action is required, we will be in touch with an update tomorrow.
We have been, and will continue to be, in contact with the affected families, and we understand that both students are doing well at this time. They will remain in isolation until fully recovered, and we wish them a swift and full recovery.
We continue to take every possible precaution to protect the health, safety and well-being of our community. The protocols and procedures we have in place as part of the school's Return to School plan continue to be effective in helping us to identify, contain and minimize the spread of COVID-19.
We will provide our community with any relevant updates as we have them.
November 17 - Important COVID-19 Advisory and Zoom Drop-In Session for Students
I am writing to let you know that we were informed today, Tuesday, November 17, that two of our Grade 9 students have tested positive for COVID-19. Both students have not been on campus for the duration of this academic segment, which began on November 9th, 2020; therefore, the risk of exposure to our campus community is extremely low.
Zoom Drop-In Session for Grade 9 Students
We understand how unsettling it may feel to hear this news and wish to provide Grade 9 students with an opportunity to ask questions. I would like to invite Grade 9 students to join me tomorrow, Wednesday, November 18 at 12:15 p.m. for a Zoom Drop-In Session to discuss and answer any questions they may have. To protect the privacy of our community members, we will not be addressing specifics related to these cases. Students can join the session at this link: https://branksomehall.zoom.us/my/kkniaz
In the meantime, if you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at kkniaz@branksome.on.ca. We will continue to provide our community with any updates as we have them.
October 29 - An Important COVID-19 Advisory
We are writing to inform you that this morning, Thursday, October 29, Branksome Hall was notified by Eurest Services, a third-party company which provides janitorial services at the school, that one of their employees has tested positive for COVID-19. On Monday, the Eurest employee participated in and passed daily screening. During the day, a member of the individual's family began exhibiting signs consistent with the virus and notified the Eurest employee, who returned home. The employee, who was asymptomatic on Monday, subsequently underwent testing and has been at home in self-isolation since Monday afternoon. We continue to be in regular contact with Eurest Services and the employee, who we understand is doing well at this time. To protect the privacy and confidentiality of the individual, we are not permitted to disclose any further information of a personal nature.
Toronto Public Health: Contact Tracing
We are hopeful that this is an isolated case, but are taking proactive measures to keep our school community safe and healthy. We are in contact with Toronto Public Health (TPH), who have begun their process of contact tracing. TPH follows up with the person who tested positive for COVID-19 to find out where they may have contracted the infection and who they may have exposed to the virus. TPH has confirmed that the illness was not contracted on campus.
TPH works with the school to find out who the individual was in contact with at the school while they were contagious. At this time, TPH has identified two high-risk close contacts—a Eurist employee and Branksome employee, who are both undergoing testing and self-isolating at home. TPH has advised there are no high-risk student contacts at the school. Based on their assessment, they have indicated that the risks to our community are very low due to the screening measures we have in place and because the Eurest employee was following all public health and safety measures, including physical distancing and wearing a level three medical mask and gloves at all times. All Eurest employees undergo daily health screening every morning, including temperature checks. The individual did not clean classrooms or washrooms when students were present.
Branksome Hall and/or TPH will be contacting only those individuals who may have had direct contact with the affected individual and need to undergo testing or self-isolate. If you have not been notified, students and employees can continue to come to campus.
The school will continue with our regular schedule of deep cleaning and disinfecting, and we will communicate any additional preventative measures that should be followed by students and employees if necessary. Given our regular cleaning of high-touch surfaces and twice daily cleaning of classrooms, public health officials advise that the risk of transmission from surfaces is low, and this regular cleaning, combined with regular hand-washing, is the best defense to prevent any risk of transmission of COVID-19.
The daily cleaning schedule at Branksome is as follows:
Bathrooms are cleaned five times per day.
Classrooms are deep cleaned two times per day.
High-touch surfaces (i.e. as door knobs and railings) are cleaned five times per day.
Additionally, teachers have access to cleaning caddies to clean surfaces as needed.
Please note that if anyone in your household tests positive for COVID-19, we are asking that as a first point of contact, parents and students contact the Health Centre. We ask that employees contact Human Resources.
For health-related questions or concerns:
Branksome Hall Health Centre: Open Monday through Friday (excluding school holidays) from 7:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Questions can be answered at healthcentre@branksome.on.ca or at 416-920-6265, ext. 229.
TPH Hotline: 416-338-7600 (Monday-Sunday 8:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.)
For attendance-related questions or updates: attendance@branksome.on.ca
I recognize the anxiety and concern that may be associated with a message of this kind, and wish to assure you that, as always, the health and safety of our community remains our top priority. We continue to be in close contact with Toronto Public Health, and we remain committed to doing everything we can to ensure our community remains safe. We will update you if we have further details to share.
In the meantime, should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Health Centre or Patricia DiNicolantonio, our Head, Human Resources.
Thank you for your ongoing support, cooperation and understanding.
October 16 - Our Community's Commitment to Compliance
It has come to our attention that there have been social gatherings between community members outside of Branksome Hall that have resulted in health-related consequences across the independent school community. I am writing to implore our school community to adhere to the expectation that every one of us follows public health and school guidelines related to physical distancing and social gatherings.
A Reminder of Our Community Commitment
Being a part of the Branksome Hall community means that each of us must take all necessary steps to stay well and consistently protect ourselves and each other.
We recognize that these challenging and unprecedented times call for changes in how we behave to protect our community. This is reflected in the Community Commitment we each signed, where we have all agreed—and know that everyone else on campus has agreed—to take responsibility for our own health and help keep the Branksome community safe by abiding by behavioural guidelines, as identified and instructed by Toronto Public Health and Branksome Hall. These guidelines and protocols are based on our Branksome values of Inclusiveness and Sense of Community.
New Provincial Health Guidelines as of October 3
Effective October 3, 2020, the provincial government has implemented additional public health measures to minimize the spread of COVID-19. We ask that you review these updated guidelines, particularly with regard to the pausing of social circles and gatherings, as noted below:
Ontario has paused social circles and is advising that all Ontarians allow close contact only with people living in their own household and maintain two metres physical distancing from everyone else. Individuals who live alone may consider having close contact with another household.
Branksome's Health and Safety Guidelines
In coordination with the provincial guidelines, we also require that all Branksome community members follow the school's guidelines and the following health and safety recommendations:
At this time we strongly discourage play dates or social gatherings, as they go against provincial expectations.
If it's not your home, don't go into the home.
If socializing outdoors, physically distance (two metres apart) and wear a mask.
When completing daily screening, you are expected to answer the screening questions honestly and accurately.
To support our community in following the province's updated screening guidelines, we have also created new Decision Guides for symptomatic students and employees.
Our aim in reopening has been to operate as safely as possible, while supporting the health, well-being and social-emotional needs of our students. Long-term school closures have the potential to lead to education gaps and other consequences for students, and particular groups may be disproportionately affected. For all students, being at school provides critical opportunities to engage socially with their peers. For students in senior years, this is a critical time in terms of academics, particularly this first term.
Significant investments of time as well as human and financial resources were made to reopen school. The health and safety measures we implemented have been adjusted as needed in response to local COVID-19 activity. To date, there has been no evidence of community spread within Toronto independent schools. The positive cases reported appear to have been acquired outside of schools.
Important Resources and Who to Contact:
For further information on the spread and prevention of COVID-19, please review Toronto Public Health's COVID-19 Fact Sheet.
Download the COVID-19 Alert App: If you haven't already, we strongly encourage our community to download the Canadian COVID-19 Alert App.
Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership in ensuring we are each doing our part to ensure a school environment that is prepared, supportive and safe.
October 8 - Important Reminder on COVID-19 and Social Gatherings
Together with our peer Coalition of Single Sex Schools of Toronto (COSSOT) schools, we have done so much to prepare for reopening and to ensure safe and healthy learning environments for our students and employees, and it is our strong, shared desire to ensure that we can keep our schools open. To do this, we are seeking your continued partnership in keeping our students and communities healthy.
We are writing to remind families of the expectation that everyone in our communities follow public health and school guidelines, particularly during a period where COVID-19 case numbers are increasing.
What we ask of our students and families:
As we go into the Thanksgiving weekend, we ask that students and families follow the advice of Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto's Medical Officer of Health, by "restricting contact as much as possible to the people you live with every day." We understand this may be challenging for young people who wish to spend time socially with individuals outside of their school cohorts, and so they may need reinforcement to make good decisions that support our collective health and well-being. Specifically, we ask that students refrain from hosting or attending large private parties and non-family social gatherings. As of September 19, 2020, the new limit in Ontario on the number of people allowed to attend an unmonitored private social gathering is 10 people at an indoor event or gathering and 25 people at an outdoor event or gathering. Our schools have an obligation to ensure the safety of everyone in our school communities. Should we become aware that students are contravening provincial rules, the school may direct them to self-isolate for 14 days before returning to campus.
As schools, we are required to report all probable or confirmed COVID-19 cases to local Public Health Units, as well as any increased illness rates within a grade or cohort. Therefore, we also ask that parents and students continue to keep their school nurses and health centres informed of any possible signs or symptoms of COVID-19, so that we can assist in determining next-steps with regards to self-isolation periods and testing requirements. If you have questions or concerns about a student's potential exposure to COVID-19, you should follow up with your family physician and/or Toronto Public Health.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership—and wishing you a safe and restful long weekend.
Karen Jurjevich, Branksome Hall
Michael Fellin, Crescent School
Catherine Misson, Havergal College
Carrie Hughes-Grant, Holy Name of Mary College School
Stephen Beatty, Royal St. George's College
Kevin McHenry, St. Andrew's College
Martha Perry, St. Clement's School
James McKinnon, St. Michael's College School
Nancy Richards, St. Mildred's-Lightbourn School
Angela Terpstra, The Bishop Strachan School
Leanne Foster, Trafalgar Castle School
Sam McKinney, Upper Canada College
September 30: An Important COVID-19 Update and Advisory
This letter is to advise you that Branksome Hall and Toronto Public Health (TPH) have been notified today that the Grade 5 student with the probable case of COVID-19, which we communicated to our community on Monday, has tested positive for COVID-19. The student began exhibiting signs consistent with the virus over the weekend, was tested on September 27, and continues to self-isolate at home. Given the initial contact tracing completed by TPH through their investigative process, they have determined it is highly unlikely that the individual contracted the virus from the school.
We are thinking about our student and her family, have reached out to offer our support, and we wish them a swift recovery. We thank the family for taking quick action, for adhering to our Branksome health protocols and for keeping us informed every step of the way.
As a community, it is more important than ever for us to support each other, to work to reduce stigma, and to be kind. While the pandemic represents a public health challenge, it is also something that affects us all, and so it is more important than ever that we live our school values of Sense of Community and Inclusiveness.
An Important Update for Affected Families (Grade 5 Cohorts 5R4A and 5R4B)
TPH has determined that the student who tested positive has not been on campus since September 22, 2020 and did not develop symptoms until September 27; therefore, any risk of exposure to others would have occurred on September 25 and 26, when the student was at home self-isolating. As a result, we are pleased to inform our community that TPH has advised us that there are no high-risk close contacts within our school community and that students in our 5R4A and 5R4B cohorts, their Branksome siblings, and their teacher, are all safe to return to school, effective tomorrow, Thursday, October 1, and can continue to self-monitor from school.
Given the proactive measures taken by the student's family and by the school, as well as the full compliance by our Grade 5 parents in the 5R4A and 5R4B cohorts in keeping students at home this week, including any Branksome siblings, TPH's investigation shows no high-risk individuals at the school related to this case.
TPH commended Branksome for our rigorous health and safety protocols and our cautious approach in managing this situation, which has allowed our Grade 5R4 students to return to campus expediently.
For those who are interested, you can view the parent Zoom meeting recording from Monday evening, and the subsequent FAQs that were prepared. Please note that as we now have further updates on this case, the recording and FAQs reflect the information we had at that time.
We are working closely with TPH to ensure that stringent public health practices remain in place to help prevent COVID-19 spread, and we encourage employees, parents and students to be extra watchful of any symptoms and to seek testing if any symptoms present. Because COVID-19 continues to spread in the greater community, we should all be watching for symptoms. If you or your child has symptoms, the person with symptoms, as well as their household members, should self-isolate and get tested.
If you or your child do not present with any symptoms, please do not seek testing at assessment centres, as they are managing high volumes and you are likely to be turned away.
We do ask that all community members continue to complete the daily screening tool (JotForm in the Junior School and Titan HST for all employees and Middle & Senior School students) and monitor for any symptoms. As per our updated illness protocols and TPH requirements, we ask that individuals with ANY signs or symptoms of COVID-19 go to a COVID-19 Assessment Centre for testing as soon as possible, and self-isolate at home until a negative result is confirmed and symptom-free for 24 hours.
According to TPH, siblings of asymptomatic individuals are considered contacts of contacts and are at a lower risk. For this reason, they are able to attend school and should continue to complete our daily screening tool. A sibling should only remain home and self-isolate if they or a household member develops symptoms. If this is the case, the unwell individual should seek testing at an assessment centre and notify the Health Centre.
Please note that if anyone in your household tests positive for COVID-19, we are asking that as a first point of contact, parents and students contact the Branksome Hall Health Centre. Our Health Centre checks emails throughout the evenings and weekends for COVID-related concerns. We ask that employees contact Human Resources.
Branksome Hall Health Centre: healthcentre@branksome.on.ca or 416-920-6265 ext. 229 (Monday-Friday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
For academic questions:
Junior School: akennedy@branksome.on.ca
Senior & Middle School: kkniaz@branksome.on.ca
September 28: A Community Update on COVID-19 Mitigation
Last week was a challenging week for many students, families and employees. It was the first time we experienced the reality of a community member with COVID-19. This morning we distributed a message about a probable student case in the Junior School, and we will be holding a Zoom meeting this evening to provide parents in Grade 5 with more information and the opportunity to ask questions. We will share the session's recording with all parents tomorrow, as well as any important COVID-related updates for our community. We also held a meeting with the team in the Junior School to answer questions and discuss concerns.
As noted by Premier Doug Ford in his press conference earlier this afternoon, the province of Ontario is seeing a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases, with a record-high number of cases being recorded today. There are a number of things you can do to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, including:
Mask-wearing and handwashing
Limiting contact with others and only attending essential gatherings
Get your flu shot
Download the government's COVID Alert app
Follow Branksome's health and safety guidelines
Inform yourself of the province's new testing guidelines and restrictions, effective September 24 and 26, respectively.
The provincial government also announced today that they will be investing in more frontline healthcare workers and caregivers to ensure Ontario's healthcare system can meet a surge in demand.
An Update on Mask-Wearing in Grades 7-12
As we know, our choices, actions and behaviours impact each other in real and tangible ways. For this reason, Mrs. Kniaz, Head of the Senior & Middle School, spoke to students in Grades 7-12 today about a change that is needed to our on-campus behaviour to ensure the health and safety of our entire community. Please view her message to students here.
Starting immediately, masks will be required indoors and outdoors at all times for Grades 7-12 students and East Campus employees on campus. It is essential that we remember that wearing a mask does not mean that we can be closer together. Two-metre physical distancing is non-negotiable: it must be maintained at all times.
In order to help students to develop a spatial awareness for two-metre physical distancing, it is important that mask-wearing and physical distancing apply consistently to all aspects of school life. For this reason, Grades 7-12 students will also be required to wear masks for HPE and athletics activities that involve students moving freely in the playing area. Students will be permitted to remove their masks during physical activities where the teacher or coach is able to clearly delineate and enforce two-metre physical distancing for the duration of the activity.
Students and employees are permitted to remove their masks when eating and drinking. Two-metre physical distancing must be maintained and masks should be promptly put back on as soon as you finish. We will monitor progress for the next two weeks and will revisit the requirement for masks outdoors after the Thanksgiving weekend. We must see all Grades 7-12 students demonstrate consistent two-metre physical distancing when indoors and outdoors before we can consider allowing masks off outdoors.
Update Your Contact Information, and Health-Related Resources
In order to ensure we can communicate all updates with parents and employees in a timely manner, please ensure the school has your up-to-date email and mobile number for any time-sensitive communications. Parents can do this via your Contact Card on the Portal (in the top-right corner where you see your name, click 'Profile' and you will see your Contact Card). Employees should send their current cell phone number to Human Resources, if they have not done so in the spring.
Human Resources: Patricia DiNicolantonio or Sabba Khokhar
TPH Hotline: 416-338-7600 (Monday-Sunday 8:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.)
Branksome's Return to School website: https://www.branksome.on.ca/return-to-school
Health & Well-Being Portal resource board: https://branksome.myschoolapp.com/app/#resourceboarddetail/22686
For general questions, please contact Branksome Communications at: yourquestions@branksome.on.ca
Thank you for your attention to this important message as we continue to work together to ensure our community's health and well-being, and to rise to the challenges ahead with resilience and strength.
September 23: COVID-19 Webinar Recording and Other Important Resources
Following our advisory on Monday about a positive case of COVID-19 at the school, we are writing to provide all parents with further information that may be helpful.
While we are hopeful that this is an isolated case, we have planned for this and taken a number of proactive measures to keep our school community safe and healthy. As outlined in our advisory on Monday, we are working with Toronto Public Health, and we will continue to provide our community with updates in a timely way by email and on our school website and Portal.
We encourage parents and guardians to be watchful of any symptoms, and to seek testing as well as contact the Health Centre if students present with any symptoms.
Webinar Recording and FAQs
Last night we held a Grade 8 parent webinar to provide parents in that grade with an update and an opportunity to ask any questions they may have. The information discussed may be helpful for all parents, so you can view the webinar recording here.
We also have prepared an FAQ document which provides responses to the most commonly asked questions from our community.
Other Important Reminders & Resources
All Grade 8 cohorts will resume in-person learning for the second segment, beginning on October 8. Siblings of students in the affected classes may attend school, according to Toronto Public Health. The siblings should only remain home and self-isolate if they or a household member develops symptoms. If this is the case, the unwell individual should seek testing at a COVID-19 Assessment Centre and notify the Health Centre.
We appreciate how unsettling this situation may feel for everyone. There are many resources available to support our community, including those on our Return to School website and our Health & Well-Being resource board on the Portal. This week, students in Grades 7-12 will have an opportunity to discuss further in Advisor on Thursday, and Guidance Counsellors will be hosting small group drop-ins.
If you have any questions of a health-related nature, please contact the Health Centre. Open Monday through Friday (excluding school holidays) from 7:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Questions can be answered via email at healthcentre@branksome.on.ca or by phone at 416-920-6265 ext. 229.
For all other questions, please write to yourquestions@branksome.on.ca.
September 21: An Important COVID-19 Advisory
Late this afternoon, we received confirmation that an employee has tested positive for COVID-19. The faculty member began exhibiting signs consistent with the virus over the weekend, underwent testing, and is now recovering at home in self-isolation.
We are hopeful that this is an isolated case but are taking proactive measures to keep our school community safe and healthy. We have advised Toronto Public Health, who are focusing on contact tracing beginning on September 17. Those who were in contact with the employee prior to that date are not considered high risk. To protect the privacy and confidentiality of the employee, we are not permitted to disclose any further information of a personal nature.
The employee was on campus teaching Grade 8 classes on Friday, September 18. As a precautionary measure and given the cross-over of cohorts, Branksome Hall has made the difficult decision to have the entire Grade 8 class self-monitor and engage solely in online learning for the remainder of this academic segment.
All Grade 8 cohorts will resume the hyflex model of in-person and online learning for the second segment, beginning on October 8. According to Toronto Public Health, siblings of students in the affected classes may attend school.
We will continue to work closely with Toronto Public Health, and we encourage you to be extra watchful of any symptoms and seek testing if your child presents with any symptoms. If you or your child do not present with any symptoms, please do not seek testing at assessment centres as they are managing high volumes and you are likely to be turned away.
We will provide you with any further updates by email and on our school website and Portal. If you have any questions, please direct them to Amanda Kennedy at the Junior School and Kim Kniaz at the Middle and Senior School.
We recognize how challenging this is for you and your child as we are only two weeks into the academic year. Thank you for your understanding, patience, support and flexibility. Our priority will always be the health and safety of your child and our broader community.
September 14: An Important Reminder about Health & Safety Protocols
After six months away, Grades 7-12 students returned to campus last week understandably excited to see each other. We recognize that new daily routines and behaviours are challenging for all of us, and we are all working to solidify new ways of interacting.
A Reminder of the Need for Student Compliance
In the first week back at school, we saw variations in student compliance with health and safety measures, with many students not taking two-metre physical distancing or mask-wearing seriously enough. For many students, it appears that if they are outside, they do not feel mask-wearing is necessary and they are not staying at a two-metre distance. The school has received a number of calls and concerns from parents, employees, students and neighbours.
It is important that we all remember that even when wearing a mask, two-metre physical distancing must be maintained when indoor or outdoors and when walking to and from school on the narrow neighbourhood sidewalks. These new behaviors apply to student's daily routines at Branksome and to their life outside of school.
Our Community Commitment to Health & Safety
All students, parents and employees have been asked to affirm their commitment to adhering to Toronto Public Health's guidelines when on and off campus by signing the Branksome Hall Community Commitments. These commitments outline a shared community agreement to take all necessary steps to stay well and consistently protect the health and safety of ourselves and the entire community for the 2020-2021 academic year.
This includes practising two-metre physical distancing, mask-wearing and avoiding large gatherings outside of school hours. We also remind parents, as noted on our Return to School site, that for the safety of our community, no visitors, including parents, will be allowed in campus buildings unless deemed essential to daily operations.
As a school, we have instituted many health and safety protocols, including two-metre physical distancing and mask-wearing for all students and employees when indoors. Masks are one of the top ways to prevent the spread of respiratory droplets and they are an important preventative layer in our risk mitigation plan. Masks are most effective when used in combination with physical distancing measures.
As a reminder, physical distancing means making changes in your everyday routines in order to minimize close contact with others, including:
avoiding crowded places and social gatherings
avoiding common greetings, such as handshakes and hugs
keeping a distance of at least two arms' lengths (approximately two metres) from others, both indoors and outdoors.
To ensure the health and safety of all community members, and to provide everyone on campus with a reasonable sense of security, we must all agree to adhere to our shared expectations. We must each acknowledge that what we do both within and outside of Branksome Hall directly impacts the health and safety of each individual member of the school community.
We also know that student compliance, and responsible decision-making, is only possible when there is alignment between home and school expectations. We require all parents and guardians to reinforce Toronto Public Health's guidelines and to help your daughters to build and practise the skills and behaviours that ensure the health and safety of the entire Branksome community.
Thank you for your collaboration and for supporting your daughter(s) in understanding their shared responsibility for compliance with expectations and protocols that serve our community's health and wellness.
September 4: Junior School Student Lunch Program Ordering - Time-Sensitive
This year, Aramark is offering Junior School students a hot lunch option that can be ordered by learning segment, with the first segment of the program beginning on Monday, September 14 and ending on October 5, 2020. Lunch will include a hot meal, drink and afternoon snack and will be delivered to your daughter's classroom.
Information on Lunch Program Ordering:
To enrol in the lunch program for the first learning segment, please visit the Aramark ordering website (you may wish to bookmark it for future use).
Please note that orders for the week of the program's launch, which starts Monday, September 14, must be received by Monday, September 7. We understand this is a tight deadline and appreciate your flexibility. Future orders must be placed one week in advance of the beginning of the learning segment.
On the website, please create an account (see 'Need an account?' link).
After logging in, select 'BHEats' from the top row and then 'Junior School' (JK- Gr. 6). You can then navigate the menu, and place your order.
The cost ($8.00 per meal) will be billed to your account. Please select your daughter's grade lunchtime; meals will be delivered to classrooms, where students will eat their lunch.
At the final step, you will be asked to enter your daughter's student number.
Should you have any questions about the meals or ordering process, please contact Julie Trudeau.
Elliot Brodkin
Executive Director, Finance & Administration
September 4: Senior and Middle School Student Lunch Program Ordering
This year, Aramark is offering Senior & Middle School students a cold lunch option that can be ordered on a day-to-day basis, with the program beginning on Monday, September 21. We are staggering the start of the Aramark lunch program in the Senior & Middle School to allow for classrooms and schedules to be confirmed before food is delivered, to support students' health and safety. Students may choose from several sandwich or salad options. Please note that there are no additional items or drinks, so students should bring these from home.
This Fall, orders will be placed in segments, with the first segment period ending as of October 5, 2020. Dates and details for future ordering will be shared as they are available.
To order lunch, please visit the Aramark ordering website (you may wish to bookmark it for future use).
Please note that orders for the week of the S&MS program's launch, which starts Monday, September 21, must be received by Monday, September 14. Future orders must be placed one week in advance.
After logging in, select 'BHEats' from the top row and then 'Senior School' (for all Gr. 7-12 students). You can then navigate the menu, and place your order. (Please note: When placing your orders, please make sure you place one order per day. For example, the lunch menu options may be the same on a Monday as they are on a Tuesday, with 3-4 options each day. You can choose the same option for both days or a different option for each day, but we require you to go through the order and checkout process for each day. No multiple orders on any given day.)
The cost ($7.50 per Senior/Middle School meal) will be billed to your account. Please select a specific time; meals will be delivered to classrooms, where students will eat their lunch. Senior and Middle School students should consult their timetables ahead of time to determine where they will eat lunch, and enter that room in the ordering system.
At the final step, you will be asked to enter a student number. This can be found on the access card.
Elliott Brodkin
September 4: Virtual Students' Orientation on September 9
We are excited to begin the 2020-21 school year with you! As our on-campus students will be building community together on Wednesday, we are looking forward to doing the same with you through our Virtual Students' Orientation on Wednesday, September 9.
Virtual students new to Branksome will attend a general Orientation, including an introduction to the School Portal and laptop support, to ensure they are ready to engage when classes begin.
All returning virtual students will then join the event for grade breakout rooms, with activities led by teachers and student leaders.
A Q&A session will follow for all students where more support for technology and school routines will be shared.
Agenda for Virtual Orientation Session
The agenda for this session, to be held on Zoom, is as follows:
8:00 a.m. E.S.T. - All new to Branksome virtual students
8:30 a.m. E.S.T. - All returning virtual students will join the call with the new students
9:15 a.m. E.S.T - A Q&A session for all students with Dr. Siamak Booromand, Assistant Head, Operations
The Zoom link for all students to join at their appointed time is: https://branksomehall.zoom.us/j/3568557156
In preparation for Wednesday's Zoom session, please email any questions you have to Ms. MacInnis at amacinnis@branksome.on.ca by Monday, September 7 at 12:00 p.m. so we can be sure to cover them at our session together on Wednesday.
We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday.
Ashli MacInnis
September 3: A Warm Welcome to Our New Head, Senior & Middle School and New Employees
As we prepare for our students' return to school next week, this is an opportune time to share some exciting employee updates with our community.
Kim Kniaz Appointed Head, Senior & Middle School
We are delighted to formally announce the appointment of Ms. Kim Kniaz as our new Head, Senior and Middle School, effective July 1, 2020. This role was re-introduced as part of the leadership model aimed at placing well-being and social-emotional development at the heart of the student experience. The Head will ensure cohesion, cross-collaboration and the integration of functions across the Senior & Middle School.
Through the lens of International Mindedness, Ms. Kniaz will lead the integration of the student experience, wellbeing, academics and student life. Relationships and communications with parents, as well as the smooth operation of the Senior & Middle School, will also be key elements of her portfolio. A member of the Senior Leadership Team, Ms. Kniaz reports to Karrie Weinstock, Deputy Principal.
Ms. Kniaz has held a number of leadership roles at Branksome Hall, including her most recent position as the Assistant Head of the Senior and Middle School, CAS. As a member of the International Baccalaureate Educators (IBEN) Network, she is an experienced Workshop Leader, Site Team member, Building Quality Curriculum Reviewer and Independent School Curriculum Consultant. At Branksome, as an Instructional Leader, she led the curriculum review and unit planning for the MYP Health and Physical Education curriculum.
In addition to being a member of the Risk Management Team, Ms. Kniaz led the Installation and Graduation Working Groups, bringing significant changes to these signature Branksome events. She also led the Week Without Halls Working Group and the Calendar Working Group. Ms Kniaz is an innovative leader who is committed to creating the future at Branksome.
Prior to joining the Branksome community, Ms. Kniaz held teaching and Physical Education positions at Upper Canada College, the New International School of Thailand and the American International School in Egypt. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Wilfrid Laurier University and her Bachelor of Education degree from Queen's University.
Please join me in congratulating Ms. Kniaz on her appointment as Head, Senior & Middle School, and wishing her well as she steps into this important role.
Welcoming New Employees
It's always wonderful to welcome new faces to Branksome Hall. This year, we'd like to extend a warm Branksome welcome to 17 new employees. To learn more about these talented and experienced new members of our community, please visit this link.
Familiar Faces Returning From Leave and in New Roles
We are also pleased to be welcoming familiar faces returning from leave as well as those who are taking up new roles:
Kelly Longmore
ESL Coordinator, S&MS English Teacher, now Director, Boarding
Niro Nagendran
Returning from leave as Administrative Assistant, Guidance
Dona Nilanka
Returning from leave as Student Billing Clerk
Andrea Russell
Returning from leave as Junior School Teacher
Scott Fleming
Athletic Director + Rowing Coach and WWH Coordinator
Claudia Guarrasi
Lab Tech and Supply Teacher
Vanessa Jattan
Junior School Associate Teacher
Paige Murray
Junior School, Administrative Assistant
Jaslyn Prihar
Deann Rousseau
Service Learning Coordinator
Carolina Sabayle
Melissa Shaddick
ESL Coordinator
Paulina Su
Learning Strategies Teacher and Senior Boarding Advisor
Tammy van der Walt
Teaching and supporting students is meaningful work—it's a calling. We are called upon to deliver in the most critical sense, and I believe that the value of this work in schools has never been more recognized for its importance and essentiality to society.
While back to school may look different this year, I am confident that we are well prepared given the excellence, adaptability and resilience of our Branksome community.
I wish you all a wonderful start to the school year, and look forward to seeing you soon, whether it be on campus or online.
Karen L. Jurejvich
September 2: Important Information on Junior School Daily Health Screening
As part of our efforts to keep our school community safe this year, we are introducing a daily health screening procedure. The entire Branksome community plays a critical role in creating a culture of self-monitoring. To support this process, we have created an easy, secure online form using JotForm software, where Junior School parents can complete the daily screening within a few minutes. We will review the screening lists each weekday morning. We ask that this process be completed by 7:30 a.m. each weekday, and it will be important for you as parents to ensure that it has been completed.
Instructions on How to Complete the Screening:
To complete the screening, simply go to the following link using a laptop, tablet or smartphone: https://form.jotform.com/202314541542040. You may wish to bookmark the provided link for easy access each day.
When you begin your screening form, begin by completing the identification information in the form and then answer each of the screening questions within the form. When you have completed the screening, simply click on the 'Submit' button.
If you have passed your screening, you will see a message like the one below. Please print or screen capture this so you can display it upon arrival at the school.
Should you be presented with the message on the screen below, this means that based on the responses provided in the Daily Screening, we have determined that your child must remain at home that day, and a member from the Health Centre will be in touch with you to discuss.
For a demonstration of how the screening works, this link will take you to a demonstration video which provides an example of a sample screening.
Other Important Information to Note:
When students are learning on campus, parents must complete the JotForm screening, Monday-Friday and before 7:30 a.m. During school holidays or vacation time, screening does not need to be completed.
Students may proceed to campus only if approval is provided by the software.
Students will be asked to remain in their cars until screening is confirmed by the supervising employee, before entering the Junior School buildings. Those who are walking or biking to school will need to remain in their designated outdoor waiting area until they check-in with the supervising employee, before entering the Junior School buildings.
Students who arrive on campus after 9:20 a.m. are required to go to the Junior School Office to confirm screening and sign in.
If screening indicates a restricted access, parents must notify the Junior School Office (ext. 237) to update attendance. If deemed appropriate, students may learn from home. The Health Centre will stay in touch with the parents to ensure appropriate testing and isolation protocols are being followed and a safe return to campus occurs. Please note that if a student arrives on campus when access has been restricted, they will be referred to the Health Centre for immediate isolation. The parent will be contacted and asked to pick up their child.
Thank you for your cooperation. We recognize there are a number of new technologies that we are learning together for this upcoming year, and that this takes time and effort. These screening procedures will keep our community safer now and in the future, so your time spent learning and supporting this is greatly appreciated.
Should you have any questions about the form or if you experience any technical difficulties, please contact itsupport@branksome.on.ca.
Amanda Kennedy
Head, Junior School
September 1: Community Connection Day on September 9
We are excited to welcome all students, teachers and staff back to Branksome on Wednesday, September 9 for Community Connection Day. Programming will run from 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. for Grades 7 to 9, and 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. for Grades 10 to 12. Each Grade has been assigned a specific drop-off location and time as outlined in the schedule here.
Students will spend the time getting to know their peers and teachers, and participating in community-building activities, including a Neighborhood Walk. Students are asked to wear Fit Friday attire and to prepare for rain or shine activities. Students are encouraged to bring a small backpack with a hat, sunscreen, water bottle, rain gear, and an umbrella. Students will receive additional information, including their Activity Group meeting location, in an email on Tuesday September 8, 2020.
For students who will be participating in the Virtual Branksome experience, you will receive a link to the Virtual Branksome Community Connection Day.
Neighbourhood Walk: Permission Form Due Friday, September 4
Parent permission is required for student participation in the Neighbourhood Walk. Parents/guardians are asked to complete the permission form using this link by Friday, September 4, 2020 at 12:00 p.m.
Important Reminders for Your Return to Campus
A few important reminders for your return to campus:
Health and safety remains our top priority. All students must complete the Titan HST COVID-19 screening process prior to 7:30 a.m.
All students must wear a mask indoors. Students will be permitted to remove their masks when distanced outdoors. Students will practise good hand hygiene and will maintain physical distancing at all times.
On behalf of the entire Branksome staff, we are very excited to see everyone back on campus and very much look forward to reconnecting.
September 1: Senior and Middle School Parent Virtual Information Session Webinar Recording
Thank you for your much-appreciated questions, comments and feedback at last Tuesday's Senior and Middle School Virtual Information Session Webinar. If you were not able to attend the webinar, please see the recording here.
As many of you requested, I am also providing a pdf of the webinar presentation here. I also wanted to let you know that we will be regularly updating our Return to School site, including the FAQ section.
Should you have any follow-up questions or comments, please email yourquestions@branksome.on.ca and add your daughter's grade in the subject line of the email.
Head, Senior and Middle School
August 31: Junior School Parent Virtual Information Session Webinar Recording
Thank you for your much-appreciated questions, comments and feedback at last Wednesday's Junior School Virtual Information Session Webinar. If you were not able to attend the webinar, please see the recording here.
August 25: Supporting a Mentally Healthy Return to School
We are looking forward to being together again in September after what educator and author Karen Gross calls the "Corona Gap." During this time, each of us has been challenged to adapt and acclimatize to significant change. The skills and knowledge we acquired will serve us well—adults and young people alike—as we enter the upcoming school year. As September approaches, there are likely a range of emotions associated with our return to in-person and online learning. These might include, but are not limited to, anticipation, curiosity, hope, worry, relief, sadness, excitement, uncertainty, fear and nostalgia as we long for things to be as they once were. As Dr. Marc Brackett notes in his book, Permission to Feel, all emotions are valid and we, parents and children, can experience a range of emotions and emotional intensity, within the span of a day—or even an hour!
At Branksome, we are deeply committed to promoting and supporting a mentally and physically safe return to school for all members of our community. Coping with the myriad of changes in our daily lives and routines as a result of the COVID 19 pandemic invites our entire community to lean into and actively practise skills that support our emotional health, help us build and maintain strong relationships, and promote our resilience as we navigate this new normal. By focusing on these three "buckets" for the Senior and Middle School and for the Junior School, we are inviting learning and skill development across the 5 Core Social-Emotional Learning Competencies of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making. Developing these SEL skills in students and adults is a key Branksome strategic priority because they lay the foundation for positive mental health and well-being.
SEL work is best done with a strong home-school partnership. We consider you, our Branksome parents and guardians, our partners in supporting young people to feel grounded in their strengths and coping strategies as they return to school, following six challenging months away during the Corona Gap. Working together, we can adopt a similar approach and vocabulary to assist young people, of all ages, to bridge the two anchoring environments of home and school. It is helpful, in our daily conversations, to emphasize the importance of:
Establishing self-care routines: healthy nutrition, regular exercise and adequate sleep.
Accepting and managing worry or fear with positive self-talk and 'coping dialogue,' where we surface reminders of useful strategies and resources from previous experiences of coping with uncertainty, while making space for joy.
Encouraging connections to school by continuing to build relationships and develop interests and community.
Our teachers, advisors, homeroom teachers, boarding advisors, counsellors and social workers are in conversation about implementing best practices to enhance our students' emotional well-being as they return to school and move through their day and week. We are planning opportunities for discussion and ongoing conversations in class and in Advisor so that our students can regularly express their feelings and feel supported.
In the weeks ahead, please let us know if your child needs additional support beyond the practices and resources we have in place so we can offer additional strategies to manage the return to school.
We hope that through this time, you and your loved ones have found ways to feel appreciation and gratitude while caring for yourselves and each other. We look forward to partnering with you on your child's continued social-emotional learning growth. These skills will support your child's well-being and response to the demands of the unique circumstances of this school year and in their future lives.
Karrie Weinstock
Joelle Therriault
Lead Social Worker
Carolyn Mak
Junior School Social Worker
Jane Anne Tateishi
Head, Student Support
Joanne Colwell
Director, Guidance and University Relations
August 24: Welcome Back Package: Return to School 2020-21
It is my pleasure to welcome everyone back to our Branksome Hall campus, after this unusual period of summer holiday. While we all enjoyed such beautiful weather, we were also constrained due to COVID-19 and the many accompanying restrictions. Personally, I found the time to visit with family and friends and travel to the far north for some much-needed relaxation and canoeing at a fishing camp in northern Ontario.
In just a few short weeks, we will be welcoming students back to Branksome Hall, and we are all awaiting the start of the academic year with great anticipation. Whether you have chosen on-campus or remote learning for your child, our students' return to school is what has sustained us during these challenging months.
Over the summer, we have been hard at work preparing for the return to school and the reopening of our campus. It has been challenging and complex to balance health and safety risks with the impact of continued school closures on our students' and employees' physical and mental health. With our careful preparations, based on what we know today, we are nevertheless well-positioned to deliver a safe and supportive learning and working environment. Our plan is grounded by consultation with our community, and informed by Ministry of Education guidelines and evidence-based public health resources.
As we move forward with plans for our reopening, our priority is to ensure and sustain the health, safety and well-being of all members of our community. To that end, our preparations are aligned with our guiding principles. To maximize our safety, we are using a layered approach to risk mitigation, with multiple, overlapping protective measures in play. Key to this approach is decreasing the number of interactions between individuals, wherever possible; planning for a flexible pivot between virtual, hybrid and on-campus learning; and recognizing our shared responsibility for our communal health and wellness.
Back to School Looks Different This Year
As we prepare to return to school, we know we are returning to a very different school. In the interest of health and safety, there are many new routines and things to get accustomed to—masks, physical-distancing requirements, daily health screening and monitoring, enhanced hygiene practices, floor markings and wall signage to direct flow around campus, and more. While it is unavoidable that on-campus life will take some adjustment, we know our community is committed to rising to this challenge with flexibility, resilience, collegiality and openness.
Just as Branksome Hall transformed into Virtual Branksome in what felt like the blink of an eye in response to the outbreak of the pandemic in March, this hard-won expertise, perspective and hindsight positions us well to prepare for and adapt as a community to fully virtual, fully on-campus or a hybrid model, as future circumstances may require. Our goal is to be as flexible and agile as possible so we can respond to the fluid nature of the pandemic in a timely way.
Extensive investment in reconfiguring our campus spaces and purchasing personal protective equipment has been made. We are committed to a model to reduce density and adhere to a two-metre distancing rule at all times. We have hired supply teachers and classroom assistants, dedicated solely to Branksome Hall, to support physical distancing requirements and provide teacher classroom coverage as needed. Other initiatives include staggered start and end times, and a modified athletics and co-curricular program.
Return to School Resources
A number of resources are available to support you and your daughter in returning to school:
A new Return to School website details reopening policies and protocols, FAQs, and other important information and resources. We encourage you to spend the time to review it in its entirety.
A number of essential resources are available through this website, including a new Online Uniform Shop, daily schedules for Junior School as well as Senior & Middle School schedules, Major Dates, and Social and Emotional (SEL) resources for Junior School and Senior & Middle School.
The BH Family Handbook has been updated for the 2020-21 school year.
The health and safety of our community of students, employees and parents is a shared responsibility. We ask that one parent from each family sign our Community Commitment—an online form on the Portal confirming you have read and agree to adhere to our shared behavioural guidelines to affirm our collective responsibility and ensure we protect ourselves and each other in the 2020-21 academic year.
As part of our multilayered approach to reducing the risk of COVID-19 in our community, Branksome Hall will also require all students, faculty and staff to complete a daily health screening form by downloading and using the TitanHST app. If any COVID-19 symptoms are noted during the daily health screening, the student or employee will not attend school and will follow Health Centre guidelines. More information on TitanHST will be shared with parents and students shortly.
Upcoming Virtual Information Session Webinars
We are also looking forward to seeing you at this week's Virtual Parent Information Session Webinars. If you haven't yet registered, you may still attend. Due to the number of registrants, we have moved the session to a webinar format, to accommodate as many parents as possible.
Virtual Parent Information Session for Senior & Middle School on Tuesday, August 25 from 4:00-5:30 p.m. To register, please use this updated link.
Virtual Parent Information Session for Junior School on Wednesday, August 26 from 4:00-5:30 p.m. To register, please use this updated link.
A confirmation email with the webinar link will be sent after you register. As communicated initially, the purpose of these information sessions is to present our concepts for the Junior School and Senior & Middle School reopening and to share some of the things we have worked on throughout the summer, including our hybrid models for learning.
We will also be sharing recordings of the sessions, if you find yourself unable to attend or wish to review. Please feel free to send your questions and comments in advance to yourquestions@branksome.on.ca.
These past months have sharpened our focus on what is truly valuable to us. Despite the uncertainty and challenges, this has also been a period of great creativity, innovation and teamwork, as so many across our community have come together to ensure the continued delivery of the high-quality instruction for which Branksome is known, while working to sustain our vibrant student and campus life experience. A similar message has gone to students in Grades 7-12 today with welcome back resources.
I am grateful for our resilient, innovative and adaptable community. When we do come together, I know our in-person connections will feel especially meaningful. I am sure we all will be placing greater value upon, and cherishing, the spontaneous moments of conversation, inspiration, laughter and learning we have missed so very much.
August 14: You're Invited: Junior School Parent Virtual Information Session
As part of our Reopening Plan for the 2020-21 school year, we are inviting you to attend a Junior School Parent Virtual Information Session on Wednesday, August 26 from 4:00-5:30 p.m.
To register for this event, please click here.
The purpose of this information session is to present our concepts for the Junior School reopening in September and to share some of the things we have worked on throughout the summer, including our hybrid models for learning.
Your participation in the information session will allow us to help you have a clearer idea of what the new school year will look like and to let us know about any of your questions or concerns. We appreciate your feedback and would like to ask you to submit any questions ahead of time to yourquestions@branksome.on.ca. Please indicate your student's name and grade (in September) in the subject line.
For those of you who are unable to attend, we will be sharing a recording of the session following the event.
August 13: You're Invited: Senior and Middle School Parent Virtual Information Session
As part of our Reopening Plan for the 2020-21 school year, we are inviting you to attend a Senior and Middle School Parent Virtual Information Session on Tuesday, August 25 from 4:00-5:30 p.m.
The purpose of this information session is to present our concepts for the Senior and Middle School reopening in September and to share some of the things we have worked on throughout the summer, including our hybrid models for learning.
Your participation in the information session will allow us to help you have a clearer idea of what the new school year will look like and to let us know about any of your questions or concerns.
We always appreciate your feedback and would like to ask you to submit any questions ahead of time to yourquestions@branksome.on.ca. Please indicate your student's name and grade (in September) in the subject line.
August 6: An Update on School Reopening
I hope you are enjoying the warmth and sunshine of the remaining weeks of the summer break with family and friends.
As you may be aware, last week the Ministry of Education announced its plans for the return to school in September, including guidelines around full-day, five-day attendance for children from Kindergarten to Grade 8; adapted instructional models for Secondary students, with class cohorts of approximately 15 students; no specific physical distancing measures; and the required wearing of non-medical or cloth masks for students in Grades 4-12.
We have reviewed in detail the Ministry's Guide to Reopening Ontario's Schools, and in keeping with our guiding principles, we have decided, with some updates, to stay the course with our original academic modelling and the health and safety protocols that were communicated to our community in mid-July.
Our reopening model prioritizes the health and safety of our students, employees and parents, while supporting academic success, wellbeing and a commitment to the full student experience. We will continue to follow the guidance of medical authorities and implement a plan that meets and exceeds the Ministry's guidelines and protocols.
Branksome Hall's Reopening Model
Our approach is to remain flexible, recognizing that circumstances may change depending on the progression of COVID-19. To limit the impact on our students' learning, we may need to respond swiftly and shift between the three models (conventional/fully on campus; hybrid; or fully virtual). The current model allows us to accommodate students who wish to remain fully virtual. Below are highlights of our reopening plans, noting that further changes are still possible in the upcoming weeks as we continue to refine our model.
School-Wide Health and Safety Protocols
We will maintain a two-metre physical distancing requirement across the school, with group sizes no larger than 15 students.
Students in Grades 4-12 will be required to wear masks in the classroom.
Masks will be worn by all students and employees in all common and high-traffic areas within the school.
Medical masks and eye protection (i.e. face shields) will be provided to employees.
We will implement staggered start and end times.
For all classrooms across the campus, there will be enhancements to facilities, cleaning protocols, AEGIS spray, and health and safety protocols.
We will implement home screening, attendance management, illness and hygienic protocols.
We will conduct employee and student health and safety protocol training and education.
The Junior School (JK-Grade 6)
Junior School students will have classes on campus all day, Monday to Friday.
To accommodate two-metre physical distancing protocols, classes will be held across the West Campus, including the Junior School and the Athletics and Wellness Centre (AWC), with the allocation of facilities and spaces made based on students' age and stage.
Classes will be grouped in cohorts to a maximum size of 15, distanced at two-metres.
We will offer after care at a very limited capacity. We are exploring online co-curricular offerings and will continue with online Conservatory lessons.
The Middle and Senior Schools (Grades 7-12)
Both the Middle and Senior Schools will reopen on an adapted schedule with 50 per cent in-person time for students and teachers.
Classes will be assigned two classrooms, each with groups limited to fewer than 15, distanced at two-metres, and the subject teacher will move between the two classes. An accompanying supervision model is currently being developed.
Grades 7-12 students will cohort by grade and will maintain a two-metre physical distancing requirement. The entire grade will be split into smaller groups of a maximum of 15 students, with each grade's classes attending school on alternating days and with robust online learning on the days students are at home.
On online days, Middle School students will have mandatory synchronous classes and Senior School classes will have the option to meet synchronously or be assigned asynchronous materials, according to the teacher's plan. We believe this maximizes academic success as well as supports health and wellbeing for our students and employees.
We will reduce adult density on the East Campus by having Middle and Senior School teachers coming to campus on alternating days.
We will provide modified athletics and co-curricular programming, including planning for as much outdoor physical education as possible, and we have arranged a modified at-school version of Week Without Halls.
Return to School Survey: Instructional Delivery Selection (20-Day Segment)
Given that in-person attendance at school is voluntary, to assist us in planning for physical distancing and cohorting in our campus spaces, we are asking all parents to complete this Instructional Delivery Selection form on the Portal by Wednesday, August 12.
Parents are asked to indicate via this form whether their student(s) will be committed to registering as an on-campus student for the first 20-day segment of the school year (i.e. until Thanksgiving break), or whether they elect to remain in fully online learning. Parents will have an opportunity to revisit this decision for the second segment before the first 20 days have passed.
You can expect to receive a Welcome Back package with further information the week of August 17. We also will be hosting parent webinars with the Heads of the Junior and Senior/Middle Schools in the week of August 24, so please watch for those invitations shortly. These sessions will provide an opportunity for families to familiarize themselves with the protocols, ask questions and make any necessary preparations for the beginning of the school year. In the meantime, please send your questions to yourquestions@branksome.on.ca.
We recognize the ongoing uncertainty and ambiguity is challenging, and we appreciate your patience as we continue to develop the safest reopening plan possible for our students and employees. We look forward to the opening of school in September and to welcoming your daughter back to Branksome.
July 13: Initial Decisions about Fall 2020
We hope your summer is going well so far, and that you and your families are finding ways to unplug and recharge. We are writing today to share with you our modelling and school reopening plans for the Fall.
While a number of details still need to be worked out, and the announcement expected from the Ministry of Education in early August may impact some of our planning, we want to update you on our initial decisions for reopening our Junior School, Senior & Middle School, as well as our Boarding program. We are also sharing today a preliminary outline of what we can expect campus life to look like for the initial months of the academic year.
Shaping Fall 2020 for Students
Let me begin by thanking all of our families who provided feedback in webinar sessions, parent surveys or by email, and whose input is reflected in the shaping of our plans. As I stated in the parent webinars in June, our first choice will be, if it is possible, to open the school as usual, with all students on campus every day, all day, as a community.
To ensure we plan carefully for what lies ahead, I am working closely with a Transition Team that includes the Senior Leadership and Risk Management groups to prepare for various possible scenarios and to develop safety protocols and procedures. The group is moving through important reopening considerations, such as keeping the density of students as low as possible on campus, while maintaining the flexibility we will need to adapt to changing public health concerns and requirements. Many of these considerations are outlined below.
To mitigate the spread of illness within the Branksome Hall community, strategies have been implemented using guidance from government agencies, as well as infection prevention and exposure measures for communicable disease models.
To raise awareness about these measures and to support the safe return of the Branksome Hall community to campus, a comprehensive suite of training, resources and communications are being prepared that are informed by provincial health and education requirements, and, starting in August, these will be shared with our community.
Many of our families have been inquiring about policies around screening, testing and the use of masks on campus. While these protocols are still in development, we encourage families to find, over the summer, a mask that will feel comfortable for your child as masks may be required indoors. In the meantime, the Transition Team at the school is working on a number of health and safety measures that include:
Signage and decals to ensure physical distancing and safe access to buildings.
Microbial AEGIS spray on all surfaces across the entire campus, along with routine cleaning and disinfecting of high-traffic areas and high touch surfaces.
Staggered start and end times.
Modified athletics and co-curricular programming, including planning for as much outdoor physical education as possible.
Implementation of explicit screening, illness and hygienic protocols.
Employee and student health and safety protocol training and education.
We expect to communicate a decision regarding these protocols and others once we have more information from public health authorities.
Our school architects have provided detailed drawings of our campus facilities that provide us with data regarding the number of students we can accommodate in our classrooms based on a two-metre distance rule. We are able to accommodate approximately 11-15 students per classroom or in alternative non-traditional spaces that can be adapted for learning and teaching. We have decided that gymnasiums will continue to be used for physical education classes.
The Academic Models for 2020-21
As you are aware, classes will begin on September 8. Our Academic Teams have been hard at work designing academic models in the Junior and Middle and Senior Schools that are in line with current Ministry of Education guidelines. These include physical distancing, cohorting students in small groups, hybrid learning and maximum flexibility to respond to an evolving environment—all while ensuring the academic and social-emotional wellbeing of our students. In designing our approach to our academic models, we followed these principles:
Flexibility to be fully on campus, fully virtual, or hybrid.
Reduce density.
Distancing at 2-metres apart.
Reduce cohort mixing.
Improve contact tracing.
Accommodate students who wish to be fully virtual.
Mitigate against loss of curricular time and maximize curriculum coverage.
Junior School: Return to School Modelling Every Day, All Day
In the Fall, the Junior School will be hosting classes on campus, all day, Monday to Friday. Virtual learning support will be provided to families based on individual circumstances and requests.
To accommodate physical distancing protocols, classes will be held across the west campus, including the Junior School and the Athletics and Wellness Centre (AWC), with the allocation of facilities and spaces made based on the age and stage of the students.
Maintaining the culture of a vibrant Junior School and strong academic program, balanced with the need for health and safety, is essential. To that end you can expect the following:
Daily literacy, numeracy, inquiry.
Specialist instruction.
Addition of Advisory groups to enhance small-group Social-Emotional Learning (SEL).
Grade-level recess times to maintain safe play during unstructured times.
Physical distancing and cohorting of students, requiring movement of teachers, with students staying in their classrooms.
Continuation of activities and events to support students' social-emotional learning and well-being, including clan and spirit events, assemblies, Fit Fridays, and action initiatives.
A brief video message from Amanda Kennedy, Head of Junior School and Erika Lo, Assistant Head and PYP Coordinator, will provide you with a clear and concise outline of the Junior School reopening model.
Over the course of the fall academic term, there will be staggered pick-up and drop-off times. In addition, only school employees and students will be permitted inside the school buildings, for the safety of our community; this includes parents. We appreciate your understanding.
Senior & Middle School: A Hybrid Learning, Modified Semester Model
Our first choice is to open school as usual, with all students in attendance all day, every day. However, we will be able to move forward with that plan only if the province allows it. Currently, we anticipate activating a plan that respects cohorting of a maximum of 15 students in a space, and distancing of two-metres apart. This means we can accommodate about half of our Senior and Middle School students on campus at one time, alternating between learning on campus and learning online. To enable this scenario, we are looking at a hybrid learning model which will allow us to follow a modified semester program.
The key factors underlying the decisions are:
Student and employee health and wellbeing
Flexibility to pivot out of hybrid to a different mode—either fully on campus or fully online, according to what the Province's evolving pandemic response will demand.
From the health and wellbeing perspective, as it relates to the academic program, we need to create small cohorts of students with limited movement between spaces in the school, keeping students in different grade levels in separate zones within the school buildings. This will mean that, to the greatest extent possible, students in Grades 7-10 will work in the same homeroom groupings for the majority of their courses. For our Diploma students, where there is more personalization of course choices, a greater degree of movement may occur, still within defined zones and specified spaces in the school. To meet the cohorting requirements, half of each class will be on campus on any given day, while the other half engages with asynchronous materials and activities prepared by the class teacher.
From a mental health and student well-being perspective, managing student workload is more important than ever as we plan for a robust online learning element. In our model, students will study half of their courses at once, allowing them to focus on a narrower range of material while still providing the intellectual stimulus of studying several courses together.
This video message from Heather Friesen, Head, Curriculum Innovation and Professional Learning, and Kate Hebdon, Assistant Head, Academics, will provide you with details on the modelling for the academic program, including what the plan for the distribution of courses will look and feel like for students.
We will continue to provide updates, including how students will access the online learning components, as we continue to develop the details.
We are planning for the safe reopening of a smaller Boarding program in the Fall, with some modifications. Boarding students returning to school will be required to self-isolate for 14 days before arriving on campus, and we will be incorporating Orientation activities during this time to engage and support students. Reopening Boarding will require physical distancing measures, infection control protocols, robust student well-being supports as well as enhanced staffing and training. The modified Boarding model will involve a combination of some students on-campus and some learning virtually.
Major Dates and Co-Curriculars
We are currently building out the calendar in alignment with the model, including parent-teacher meetings and Professional Development days. We will republish Major Dates as soon as possible to reflect this fine-tuning.
Advisor group meetings, co-curriculars and athletics are essential elements of school life, and we will ensure that these can take place in robust and meaningful ways. You will learn more about these opportunities before school opens.
Regrettably, we are unable to plan for and proceed with overnight excursions. This includes international service learning trips and exchanges, the Grade 9 Study-Abroad Program, Week Without Halls and Norval excursions.
We are looking at on-campus and in-person Week Without Halls programming that is outdoors as part of ReConnect Week, and we are also looking at a fully virtual program with Alive Outdoors in October.
Modified Uniforms for 2020-21
For students in the Junior School, the uniform remains unchanged, with the exception that we do not require blazers or ties for this year. We have added the expanded option of black pants/capris or BH navy pants. This gives families more choice in how their daughters dress. We also expect students in the Junior School to come to school in freshly laundered uniform clothes each day.
JS Daily Uniform
On the bottom On the top Shoes Other considerations
Kilt BH Polo shirt Black shoes that take a shine Tie, blazer not necessary
Skort BH Button down Open to all black walking shoe
Tunic BH Green quarter-zip or BH V neck Student will still require indoor and outdoor shoes
Black or Branksome navy Capri or long pants (no shorts)
Fit Friday on bottom Fit Friday on top
BH sweat pants or black leggings (no other colours and designs) BHPE t-shirt | Clan T-shirt | Red PE Hoodie
Senior and Middle School
As we prioritize student health and safety, we have modified the uniform for the 2020-21 school year for students in Grades 7-12. We continue to be a uniform school, while at the same time, we require our students to come to school each day in freshly laundered clothes. To avoid families having to purchase additional uniform items, please note the modified uniform expectations for Senior and Middle School students while on campus:
Friday (Fit Friday)
On top: Branksome Hall green quarter-zip, v-neck, turtleneck, or polo shirt. White or black Branksome Hall Phys. Ed. shirt On top: Any athletic top that has the Branksome Hall name or crest on it.
Black track pant (BH or student's own) or black yoga pant/legging Black track pant (BH or student's own) or black yoga pant/legging
Full length or capri length | No shorts Full length or capri length | No shorts
Running shoes Running shoes
Please note: Senior and Middle School Students are not required to have a blazer, tie, or kilt this year.
For your convenience, students and parents may make purchases via an online shop that will be available ahead of school opening. We will open the physical uniform shop on campus when safe to do so. A new form is now active for Senior & Middle School parents and ready for completion on the Portal to authorize billing of purchases to your account (both for the online shop and the physical shop once it opens). Should you have any questions or requests for personal uniform accommodations, please contact Siamak Boroomand, Assistant Head, Senior and Middle School, Operations.
When will we know more about Fall 2020?
As noted above, we will communicate final decisions with respect to school reopening to our parent and employee community in August, in line with expected announcements from the Ministry of Education.
We will be offering Zoom webinars for all parents starting in mid-August, with dates and times to be confirmed shortly. At this time, we will share further details about school reopening and answer your questions about the model and school reopening. Should you have specific questions in the meantime, please write to yourquestions@branksome.on.ca.
In closing, we look forward to having students and employees back on campus and bringing it alive with joy, laughter and the love of learning.


text:
This page will tell you a little about the missionaries that have been sent out from our district churches. Everyone of these missionaries need your prayers, care, encouragement, and financial support. Prayerfully ask the Lord of the Harvest to direct you and your church to respond in helping them fulfill our calling with these missionaries. To financial support a missionary click on the link below. Thank you for your generous gift.
Missionary Financial Support
(Listed Alphabetically by Last Name)
The Brazee Family | Germany
Brandon and Marcie, along with their children Kaitlyn and Hudson, are serving the Lord in Baden. They will serve with the Foursquare Germany national church for a couple of years, ministering to refugees, learning the language and culture, and identifying and investing in young leaders. Following that time, they will plant a church in either Berlin or Munich, both cities that currently do not have a Foursquare church.
Brandon grew up in Seattle and Marcie is from Winnipeg, Manitoba. They met while serving as youth leaders at Eastside Foursquare Church in Bothell, WA. Brandon and Marcie have since served as church planters in Madison Wisconsin, before spending 10 years on staff back at Eastside Foursquare in various pastoral roles.
Keep them in your prayers! You can connect with them on Facebook, and support them at the following links: If from the US click here | If from Canada click here
See their latest newsletter here
BETH Delaney | Ireland
Sending Church: Newberg Foursquare
Beth is sent out from Newberg Foursquare Church in Newberg, Oregon, where she served on staff for several years. While at Newberg, Beth helped develop the Middle School Youth program and missions. Beth currently serves in Cork, Ireland at a ministry whose focus is to reach those who are disenfranchised from the church and to bring unity amongst believers. She works with a team of people who developed and founded Unbound, a ministry that shares the freedom we have in Christ in a language people understand. "Our heart is to see people interact with the love and peace of the Gospel and be connected to churches that will help them grow in Christ," Beth says.
THe griffith Family | GREAT BRITAIN
A recent survey of British adults showed 53% self-identifying as having "no religion." Other research has suggested that less than 2% of British people are followers of Jesus. Meanwhile, the world has moved to the UK, with over 40 unreached or nominally-reached people groups residing in London alone. But how will they hear the Gospel?
We, along with our three sons (David, Charlie and Ransom), are passionate about reaching the unreached and helping them become disciple-makers who transform global culture. We have started our work in Cheltenham, a predominantly British town, as we aim to see a new wave of discipleship and church planting among the British. This will give us a firm foundation from which to engage the Global City of London.
After less than 12 months we launched Journey Kids (www.journeykids.co.uk), a ministry to elementary school aged children, teaching them about who Jesus is and what it means to follow him. We are also engaging the creative community, building deep relationships with families outside of the church, and finding ways to partner with local churches.
We are looking for more partners who will join us in serving Britain to reach the world. If you'd like more information, please contact us at www.allingriffs.com. We would love to share more of our story and see how it might connect with the life of your local church as you seek to make disciples of all nations.
Gabe and Nicole Barreiro have a church plant coaching role in their lives.
THE MASON FAMILY | ALBANIA
Sean and Vita are serving the Lord in Korca. They pastor Emanuel Foursquare Church in southeastern Albania and assist FMI missionaries, Chris and Laura Dakas in the Albanian and Balkan church planting and leadership training endeavors.
Raising up of indigenous leaders and Albanians who hear and follow the call of God to reach out to their people and country.
We are looking for an experienced individual or couple to run our soon-to-open indoor rock climbing/youth center.
We are also looking for a individual or couple with a desire to plant churches who would commit to assist us with a church plant in a nearby village.
The MIELONEN Family | Poland
Sending Church: Easthill Foursquare Church
Since May of 2014, Travis & Alexis, along with their three children (Emma, Elena, and Elijah) have served and lived in Kraków Poland where they are focused on developing Polish church planters, leaders, and equipping the next generation.
Travis & Alexis met at Mill Creek Foursquare (In Mill Creek, WA) in 2003, soon after Travis left for Poland for a year to assist in a church plant project, during that year Travis received confirmation of eventually returning to Poland full time. Alexis later received confirmation in 2005 during a subsequent trip, and both Travis & Alexis made annual visits to Kraków for 10 years prior to their deployment in 2014.
REACH Polska is the missional aspect of the development of the Foursquare Church in Poland. The mission is to cultivate passionate Polish followers of Jesus who know they are RELEASED into reproducing ministry, EQUIPPED to do the work of the Church, AFFECTING their communities relationally, CONNECTING to God and people through a full worship experience of love and service, and HONORING the Father, the Holy Spirit, the Son, and all others. Learn more, partner, and learn how to pray by visiting their website at www.reachpolska.info.
The Roper Family | Europe
Jeff and Debbie Roper serve as the Area Missionaries to Europe for Foursquare Missions International. When not traveling, they enjoy spending time with their six kids and eleven grandkids, working in the yard, hiking, camping, going for long walks, and watching travel shows.
What does an Area Missionary do?
Jeff is one of 11 "Area Missionaries" who are responsible for the development of Foursquare Churches around the world. Their mission objectives are: to serve the 49 nations and territories of Europe by Opening New Fields where there are no Foursquare Churches; Strengthening Existing Works, and Stewarding the People and Resources Entrusted to Foursquare Missions. Join us in praying for Jeff and Debbie as they continue to go to all nations to preach the Gospel, make disciples, develop leaders, and help plant churches.
You can contact Jeff at jroper@foursquare.org. Follow them at http://jeffroper.com/
The Schnabel Family | Chile
Sending Church: Eugene City Salt Church
Lee and Lisa Schnabel have served in Latin America with FMI for nearly 20 years.
Currently, Lee is the Assistant to the Area Missionary for Central and South America, with his primary focus being on leadership training. Lee and his team of CAPAZ facilitators have developed an in-service training program called "Leaders for the Harvest" that operates in Bolivia, Chile, Nicaragua and Peru.
These programs cover subjects from: How to do Inductive Bible Study, to Learning How to Pray Effectively for Healing. As a result of these classes, some pastors are seeing increased growth in their churches and greater spiritual impact in their local communities.
Lee and Lisa have three married sons, and are enjoying their first grandson.
THE Shaw FAMILY | Vienna, Austria
Sending Church: Battle Ground Foursquare
Marc and Kathy are serving the Lord in Vienna. Their ministry includes church planting in Austria and mentoring Foursquare pastors and missionaries in Europe.
THEIR FOUR-COLUMN CALL: 1. Encouraging Christian leaders in Europe and developing a church multiplication network in former Eastern Europe 2. Encouraging and promoting unity in the Body of Christ in Vienna and Beyond 3. Partnering in the development of a church multiplication movement with Foursquare Austria 4. Helping to reach and bless the City of Vienna through the planting of a vital community of Christ-followers. Click here to see their latest newsletter.
Check out frequent reports on their Facebook page: SHAWS in Austria: https://www.facebook.com/SHAWSinAUSTRIA3/
The TAFT Family | Playa del Carmen
Sending Church: Westside Foursquare Church
Steve and Holly plan to be in the field indefinably, unless the Lord instructs them differently. They have built a Spanish Foursquare Church that is serving up to 70 people in the Sunday service. They have a children's ministry and are doing Ministry Training Institute (in Spanish and English), which is the curriculum John and Sonja Decker have written. Also, they serve Mexico by taking this training to other regions in Mexico so they can begin an MTI in their churches. Women's and Men's ministry needs are being met through them with English speaking group settings and one on one discipling and mentoring. Recently, they are training an intern from the Pacific Northwest under FMI . Other ministries include: mentoring and discipling their Foursquare Mexican pastors, being on the council in their church as Elders, and working on projects in a Mayan village alongside another missionary. They currently have two mission teams a year come to work on various projects. This next year will probably increase by at least one more team.
The following missionaries information is restricted due to the area they are serving in:
Zach and Laura
Sending Church: East Hill Foursquare Church

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl