Grade 2 Humber Arboretum Level II VO

VENTURING OUT PACKAGE –Grade 2 Humber Arboretum EXCURSION

Dear Parents,

Re: Grade 2 Humber Arboretum Excursion

April 2024

The Grade 2 classes will travel to Humber Arboretum on Wednesday, May 8th 2024 to learn about the Indigenous views of conservation of nature This trip is in relation to Grade 2’s current unit on Accessing Water and the perspectives of Indigenous Peoples We will be departing from school at 9:30 am and returning to the school prior to 3:15 pm for regular pick-up

Enclosed with this letter you will find an Excursion Information Form that outlines the educational rationale for the trip, our activities, risks associated with the trip, important contact information, and financial information Please read the information carefully as it forms the basis of your consent for your child’s participation Families who elect to not send their children to attend this school excursion in person should contact their child’s teacher as soon as possible, so they can plan accordingly

Once you have satisfied yourself as to the suitability of this trip for your child, please fill out the following forms online via YorkNet by Monday, April 29th 2024 at 4:00 pm:

Parent Acknowledgement, Consent & Release Form

Level II Code of Conduct

Finally, please ensure that your child’s medical information and emergency contact information is up to date for this excursion. To confirm these details, log on to YorkNet.

EXCURSION INFORMATION FORM

Excursion Name

Transportation Details Date and Time

Group Involved

Group Leader and any other Staff Involved

Wednesday, May 8th 2024

Depart: 9:30 a m Return: 3:15 p m

Grade 2A and 2B 40 students and 4 faculty There will also be 4 parent volunteers attending.

Kristy Purcell, Maria Sheriff, Molly Pearson, Megan Stephenson, any other York School faculty as needed, and Arboretum on-site staff Destination Address 205 Humber College Blvd, Etobicoke, ON

Activity Description and Educational Rationale

Service Providers

Emergency Contact Information

Approximate Cost

Please note that once you have provided consent to have your child participate on the excursion, you will be charged for the expenses incurred on your child's behalf for this excursion

Where, after you have provided your consent, notice is given that your child cannot attend the excursion, efforts will be taken to avoid incurring expenses on your child's behalf for the excursion, and you will be only charged those expenses that could not be recouped

Students will immerse themselves in nature to identify the life that exists in the biome All full-day visits include a half-day nature walk so students have the opportunity to explore the different habitats in this large urban greenspace. For the second part of your day we will participate in a workshop that explores the environment and the indigenous perspective on conservation Arboretum educators will be discussing Indigenous perspectives with regards to conserving water and the environment. Students will return and reflect on their role in conservation and the impact it has on the life that exists in the environment

Humber Arboretum is a joint venture between Humber College, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, and the City of Metropolitan Toronto Premier Coach will provide transportation

Humber Arboretum: 416-675-5009

The York School: 416-926-1325

Maria Sheriff: msheriff@yorkschool.com

Kristy Purcell: kpurcell@yorkschool com

Molly Pearson: mpearson@yorkschool com

Megan Stephenson: mstephenson@yorkschool com

Sarah Charley: scharley@yorkschool com

$50-$70

Cost includes: Humber Arboretum programme and staffing, Premier Coach Transportation

Costs will be levied to student accounts after the excursion

Return Level II VO Form via YorkNet by Monday, April 29th 2024

Sun Protection: Where a trip involves your child being outside between 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM, or the UV rating is predicted to be 3 or greater, remind parents to provide children with the following: sunscreen, hat and water bottle. Sunglasses that protect against UV-A and UV-B rays are also recommended.

1 WATER BOTTLE: All students need to bring a water bottle

2 LUNCH: Sandwiches will be provided by The York School cafeteria for lunch, students are permitted to bring their own lunch if they choose to. We ask that all students exercise caution when packing snacks for the bus and are aware that people in our community have serious allergies to foods. A NO NUT and NO PEANUT policy is in effect.

3 CLOTHING: Please check the projected weather forecast for the day When packing, please follow these guidelines on dressing for an Outdoor Education trip: In order to fully enjoy their day, students need to be properly attired Especially with younger students, it is advisable to send a few extra clothing items in case they get wet All clothing should be labelled with the student’s name and extra items should be packed into a single backpack for easy access by the student, and to facilitate loading on the bus

ITEMS TO BRING/WEAR:

Warm Layers

Rain gear

Water bottle

Rubber boots

Insulated jacket

Mitts or gloves

Sunglasses

Splash Pants

Extra pair of socks

Any personal medication (such as personal epipen, puffer, etc )

Activities to be undertaken by students: Travelling to and from site by coach bus

Students will partake in a nature walk to identify plants and animals in the environment (specifically in the ponds) They will gain a better understanding of the relationship between Indigenous peoples and their relationship to water conservation

Student preparation for excursion: Discussion about how the environment supports life around it and what it would mean if this environment is damaged or misused.

Follow-up: Students will write a journal reflection to highlight key learnings from the trip

Risk Assessment

Specific Risks Identified:

Students may be exposed to a number of physical injuries including: cuts, scrapes, broken bones, bruising, sprains, head injury, concussions, and slips, trips, and falls from heights

Students are at risk of temperature-related injuries from physical activity outdoors While on this excursion, students are at risk of damage or loss of property While on this excursion with

other students and staff, students are also at risk of exposure to COVID-19 There is also the risk of a traffic accident when en route

Precautions to be taken to reduce risks:

Pre-trip preparation will include a briefing on routes, boundaries, safety rules, and emergency procedures, including contingency plans in case of separation. All trip equipment and gear will be checked by staff before departure Students will be oriented to new sites Boundaries and out-of-bound areas will also be described Teachers will carry a cell phone, medical and contact information for their groups, and first aid kits Students will be paired in a buddy system At a minimum, a 1:10 staff-to-student ratio will be maintained

Contingency plan for bad weather/trip interruption:

This trip is weather dependent and may be called off due to serious rain, high winds, or cold If there is a need to adapt plans while on the excursion, parents would be contacted for updates and further action plans Programme goals would be adjusted according to the situation

Location of nearest Emergency Medical Service: Etobicoke General Hospital, 101 Humber College Blvd, Etobicoke, ON M9V 1R8

Arrangements to be made to transport person/group to EMS: In the event of a student with an injury, an adult would stay with the injured students and apply any necessary first aid A second adult would ensure the rest of the group is safe and stable However, if there is a major accident requiring EMS, a York School staff would accompany any student who would need to be taken to hospital Teachers will keep in contact with The York School and parents will be kept updated on the incident

SPECIFIC EXCURSION RULES

In addition to the expectations set out in the Code of Conduct, the following rules will apply during this trip:

Dress: Students must wear appropriate clothing for the activity, location and weather. Students need not wear the school uniform Students are representing The York School and casual wear rules will be in effect: clothing must be neat, clean, and should not display objectionable words, phrases, pictures or symbols Students must wear shoes or boots that are suitable for extended periods of walking.

Personal Electronic Equipment: Students are not permitted to use any personal electronic equipment during the trip to the Humber Arboretum If a student chooses to bring a personal electronic device to school, the device must stay in their personal bag/backpack at all times The York School will not be responsible for any lost or stolen items

Participation: Student participation in activities is mandatory and they must be on time

General: No gum or junk food is allowed on site or on the bus Valuables, such as money and pocket knives are not required

PACKING LIST

What to Bring:

1 WATER BOTTLE: All students need to bring a water bottle

2. LUNCH: Sandwiches will be provided by The York School cafeteria for lunch, students are permitted to bring their own lunch if they choose to. We ask that all students exercise caution when packing snacks for the bus and are aware that people in our community have serious allergies to foods A NO NUT and NO PEANUT policy is in effect

3 CLOTHING: Please check the projected weather forecast for the day When packing, please follow these guidelines on dressing for an Outdoor Education trip: In order to fully enjoy their day, students need to be properly attired Especially with younger students, it is advisable to send a few extra clothing items in case they get wet All clothing should be labelled with the student’s name and extra items should be packed into a single backpack for easy access by the student, and to facilitate loading on the bus

ITEMS TO BRING/WEAR:

Warm Layers

Rain gear

Water bottle

Rubber boots

Insulated jacket

Mitts or gloves

Sunglasses

Splash Pants

Extra pair of socks

Any personal medication (such as personal epipen, puffer, etc)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, CONSENT, AND RELEASE

The following sets out statements to which you, the parent(s), must agree by signing electronically below in order for your child to be permitted to participate in the intended trip Should you have questions regarding any of the statements below, you may contact the Director of Student Life and Belonging, Sarah Charley, at scharley@yorkschool com (416-926-1325 Ext 1616) or Experiential Educator, Andrea Lossing, at alossing@yorkschool.com (416-926-1325 Ext. 1221).

I/We understand, as the parent or guardian of the student named above, that students on The York School trips are expected to participate fully in all activities undertaken during and in preparation for the trip, and that they must conduct themselves in a manner befitting of their role as ambassadors for the school community. I/We further understand that all students will be bound by The York School Code of Conduct and any additional rules and regulations listed in this information package and/or discussed and implemented while on the trip, and that any infraction of these rules may, at the discretion of the trip leader, result in the immediate return of the student to Toronto Responsibility and payment for these arrangements will be borne by the parent/guardian Any infraction of these rules may, at the discretion of the Division Head, result in appropriate disciplinary action including suspension from subsequent trips.

I/We have reviewed the contents of this information package and Code of Conduct expectations, rules and consequences with our child I/We, the undersigned, consent to the participation of our child (as noted above) in The York School trip to Humber Arboretum on Wednesday, May 8th 2024.

Details concerning this event, including activities, travel, supervision, location and safety precautions have been communicated to us and are understood In particular, we are aware that students will be engaged in the following activities: Travelling to and from the site by coach bus. Students will partake in a nature walk to identify plants and animals in the environment (specifically in the ponds). They will gain a better understanding of the relationship between Indigenous peoples and their relationship to water conservation Students will return and reflect on their role in conservation and the impact it has on the life that exists in the environment

Our emergency contact information is up to date. I/We agree to update the information with the trip leader if changes occur prior to the trip start date

I/We have reviewed the Trip Plan and are aware that this excursion may expose my/our child to the following risks: cuts, scrapes, broken bones, bruising, sprains, head injury, concussions, and slips, trips, and falls from heights Students are at risk of temperature-related injuries from physical activity outdoors While on this excursion, students are at risk of damage or loss of property While on this excursion with other students and staff, students are also at risk of exposure to COVID-19 There is also the risk of a traffic accident when en route

I/We, the undersigned, grant the trip supervisors appointed by The York School permission to act on my/our behalf and to consent, to any medical, dental or surgical treatment, including pain relief and admission to hospital which may be required for my/our child, in the opinion of a qualified medical practitioner if, after reasonable attempts have been made to contact me/us at the phone numbers provided to the school, I/we cannot be reached I/We do hereby release The York School, its directors, employees and its agents, from every manner of suit, claim or

legal action which may arise as a result of an injury to, or the death of, my/our child sustained by reason of my/our child’s participation in this excursion As parent(s) of the child above, I/we 1 acknowledge that I/we understand the statements made regarding the intended excursion with respect to expected behavior, consequences for misbehavior, and the details of the trip, including activities and risks, 2. consent to my/our child’s full participation in the trip, and to the school taking the measures set out above in response to any medical emergency that may arise, and 3 release the school from legal action arising from injury or death according to the terms set out above

CODE OF CONDUCT

I understand, as the parent or guardian of the student named above, that students on The York School trips are expected to participate fully in all activities undertaken during and in preparation for the trip, and that they must conduct themselves in a manner befitting their role as ambassadors for the school community We further understand that all students will be bound by The York School Code of Conduct and any additional rules and regulations listed in this information package and/or discussed and implemented while on the trip, and that any infraction of these rules may, at the discretion of the trip leader, result in the immediate return of the student to Toronto at the parent/guardian’s expense and that any infraction of these rules may, at the discretion of the Division Head, result in disciplinary action We have reviewed the contents of this information package and Code of Conduct expectations, rules and consequences with our child

Please Note:

This copy of the Venturing Out Package is for reference only. Log on to your YorkNet account at https://yorkschool myschoolapp com/app#login to complete your child’s VO Package and give consent for their participation in this excursion.