WALDORF ACADEMY HEALTH AND SAFETY PLAN 2022 - 2023 OVERVIEW
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Dear Waldorf Academy Community, Welcome back to the school year of 2022-2023. Although this school year may bring interesting challenges due to COVID-19, please know that the Faculty at Waldorf Academy are energized and deeply committed to making a positive difference in the lives of your children in a safe and healthy school environment. The Faculty and Administration have been preparing over the summer for the students’ safe return to school, ensuring that the recommended policies and protocols set out by the Ministry of Education are being adhered to. As well, they have organized both a comprehensive ‘Remote Learning Plan’ should a second wave of COVID-19 force us to temporarily close the physical school in the future. This flip book is to serve you with the required information needed to welcome the students back to school in the safest way possible. We will, of course, keep you fully informed with any health and safety updates and information as the school year unfolds. Should you have any questions or require any clarifications, please feel free to reach out at any time. With gratitude, Jennifer Deathe
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Waldorf Academy is committed to providing a safe, healthy, and supportive environment for our students. At this time, and having reviewed the Ministry of Education’s Operational Guidance for Schools, we know that Waldorf Academy will open in September onsite and face-to-face with eased protocols and policies in place to safeguard the health and well being of our students, faculty, staff, and families. Our school model will remain flexible and ready to pivot in anticipation of new developments in the COVID-19 pandemic, including the possibility of easing or tightening restrictions throughout the school year.
CONTENT School Organization and Schedule Health and Safety Protocols Student Wellbeing and Connection
Guiding Principles for School Re-Entry: The health, safety, and wellbeing of students, faculty, staff, and families is our highest priority. Ministries of Health and Education Guidelines will continue to be followed. Continuation of Waldorf Academy’s high-quality curriculum.
Ongoing identification and mitigation of potential risks. Clear communication of protocols. Personalize as much as possible to accommodate the individual needs of students and parents, including personalized communication, as needed. Should we move to remote learning, Waldorf Academy will be prepared to continue to provide outstanding education. Please review our Remote Learning Guide for more information. 3
2022-2023 PREVIEW Waldorf Academy follows all federal, provincial, and municipal laws, bylaws, and mandates and adheres to all mandates and guidelines directed by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Toronto Public Health. Please note that Waldorf Academy will mitigate any health and safety concerns or risks through increasing or enforcing protections such as masking, physical distancing, limiting audience/visitor capacities or any other protections beyond current municipal and provincial mandates.
Public Health and Ministry Guidelines: As of March 21, 2022, the province of Ontario lifted the majority of maskwearing and physical-distancing mandates, including at schools. Operating in accordance with provincial and municipal laws, Waldorf Academy continues to support the mandates set forth by these agencies. Toronto Public Health strongly recommends all persons aged four and older to wear masks indoors. The Ministry of Education updated its COVID-19: health, safety and operational guidance for schools (2021-2022) on March 31, 2022 and has not published any further updated at this time. Toronto Public Health issued its last COVID-19 Guidance: Elementary & Secondary Schools on May 22, 2022. Waldorf Academy continues to follow Ministry of Education guidelines. We will provide our families with any updates to these guidelines as soon as they are mandated by these organizations.
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Highlights from the Ministry of Education’s Operational Guidance: Vaccinations: COVID vaccinations are not mandatory but are strongly recommended. Waldorf Academy will track all student COVID vaccination status, like all vaccinations. Daily Screening: All household members must be screened each morning before leaving their home for COVID symptoms using the Toronto Public Health Screening Tool. Families and staff must follow all Screening Tool mandates and guidelines. *Please find more information about daily screenings below. Student Illness: Students exhibiting any COVID symptoms listed in the Toronto Public Health Screening Tool must stay home and follow guidelines. Students who fall ill during the school day will be isolated from others and must be picked up from school immediately. Rapid Antigen Testing: Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) have still not yet been provided to Waldorf Academy by the Ministry of Education. We continue to ask staff and parents to collect free rapid antigen test kits across the city at participating pharmacies and grocery stores: https://covid19.ontario.ca/rapid-test-locator RATs are required where indicated by Toronto Public Health. Ventilation: The school continues to operate the following air filtration protocols: 1) Merv 13 filtration system has been inspected and is up to standards. 2) Our HVAC system has been inspected and is up to standards. 3) Portable Air filtration systems used each room in both schools buildings. Masking: Staff and students (kindergarten – grade eight) are strongly recommended to wear masks. Waldorf Academy continues to provide free disposable masks for all staff and students if desired. Masks are not required outdoors and physical distancing between cohorts is no longer mandated. 5
Physical Distancing: Distancing of 2 metres (6 feet) as much as possible between cohorts indoors is not currently mandated. Field Trips: Field trips are permitted. Chartered buses can be used as transportation. Music: Use of wind instruments is permitted indoors. Well-ventilated spaces (outdoors, classrooms with open windows and air filtration systems) will be used. Singing is permitted indoors with no masking or physical distancing requirements. Well-ventilated spaces (outdoors, classrooms with open windows and air filtration systems) will be used. Physical Education: High-contact activities are only permitted indoors and outdoors. Masking is not required. Physical distancing is not currently mandated. Assemblies: School assemblies or other student/school gatherings are permitted and will follow municipal and provincial requirements. Waldorf Academy will mitigate any health and safety concerns or risks through increasing or enforcing protections such as masking, physical distancing, limiting audience/visitor capacities or any other protections beyond current municipal and provincial mandates as deemed necessary. Clubs: Clubs, activities, sport teams, bands (without wind instruments) and extracurriculars are permitted. Food Practices: Students may eat together. Windows and doors will be open to allow for circulation. Eating outdoors when weather permits will be encouraged. Students and staff will perform hand hygiene before and after eating. Students/staff who are required to wear a mask under certain circumstances (e.g. Close contact of someone who recently had COVID19) can remove a mask to eat, and keep a physical distance from others as much as possible. 6
SCHOOL ORGANIZATION AND SCHEDULE
School day hours are modified to accommodate a staggered arrival and dismissal. Individual class schedules will be published for each class over the coming weeks.
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OVERVIEW OF WALDORF ACADEMY’S EDUCATIONAL MODELS
CHILDCARE CENTRE
Screening is conducted before entering the classrooms. Children are grouped into cohorts (each class) and physical distancing between the cohorts is maintained to the greatest extent possible. There is limited movement of staff between cohorts. Frequent hand washing is part of the daily routine, including prior to and after snack and lunch times. Daily washing and disinfection of toys. Twice daily, disinfection of all high touch surfaces. Refer to the Childcare Centre Parent Handbook for more detailed COVID19 measures. The Childcare Centre is inspected regularly by both the Ministry of Education and Toronto Public Health to ensure the school is meeting guidelines. Please note the Childcare Centre is governed under the Child Care and Early Years Act and Toronto Public Health. The Childcare Centre has specific guidelines that may differ from our grade school.
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OVERVIEW OF WALDORF ACADEMY’S EDUCATIONAL MODELS
KINDERGARTEN
The students will be at school five days a week. Screening must be conducted by parents/guardians before coming to school. Masks are strongly recommended for kindergarten students. Staggered drop-off and pick-up times, as well as staggered snack and recess breaks will decrease contact between the cohorts. Teachers will support and reassure the students as they become familiar with any new health and safety routines. Teachers will continue to support and increase ventilation in classrooms by using portable air filtration systems and keeping windows open. Frequent hand washing will be part of the daily routine, including prior to and after snack and lunch times. Like our regular Kindergarten programming, the students will be outdoors for recess and teachers are encouraged to facilitate learning outside wherever possible. Students will not share resources. Personal belongings must be labelled and will be stored in a dedicated space in their classroom or locker/hook. 9
OVERVIEW OF WALDORF ACADEMY’S EDUCATIONAL MODELS
LOWER SCHOOL
(Grade 1 - Grade 5)
NEED A CUTE PHOTO HERE!
The students will be at school five days a week. Screening must be conducted by parents/guardians before entering the school. Masks are strongly recommended for staff and students. Teachers will continue to support and increase ventilation in classrooms by using portable air filtration systems and keeping windows open. Teachers will support and reassure the students as they become familiar with any new or increased health and safety protocols. Frequent hand washing and sanitizing will be part of the daily routine, including prior to and after snack and lunch times. The students will be outdoors for recess and teachers are encouraged to facilitate learning outside wherever possible. Students will have their own personal space in the classroom and they will not share resources. Personal belongings must be labelled and will be stored in a dedicated space in their classroom.
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OVERVIEW OF WALDORF ACADEMY’S EDUCATIONAL MODELS
MIDDLE SCHOOL
(Grade 6 - Grade 8)
NEED A CUTE PHOTO HERE! The students will be at school five days a week. Screening must be conducted by parents/guardians before entering the school. Masks are strongly recommended for staff and students. Teachers will continue to support and increase ventilation in classrooms by using portable air filtration systems and keeping windows open. Teachers will support and reassure the students as they become familiar with any new or increased health and safety protocols. Frequent hand washing and sanitizing will be part of the daily routine, including prior to and after snack and lunch times. The students will be outdoors for recess and teachers are encouraged to facilitate learning outside wherever possible. Students will have their own personal space in the classroom and they will not share resources. Personal belongings must be labelled and will be stored in a dedicated space in their classroom. 11
OVERVIEW OF WALDORF ACADEMY’S EDUCATIONAL MODELS
REMOTE LEARNING The school is focused on the delivery of a robust, in-person learning program. Our Remote Learning Plan is in place should an increase of COVID cases require us close the physical school during the school year. Please review our Remote Learning Guide for more information
FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL: September 6-9 ORIENTATION Orientation Week Schedule – At A Glance Kindergarten: September 7-9: Sun Garden, Star Garden, and Moon Garden Kindergarten transition Grades 1 – 8: September 6: first day of school
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Health and Safety Protocols Physical Distancing The school will enact any physical distancing protocols aligned with the Ministry of Education or Toronto Public Health as mandated in classrooms, open areas, and hallways. Currently, no physical distancing indoors our outdoors is required. Signage such as floor labelling and posters will be utilized throughout the facilities directing the flow of students and staff to best achieve physical distancing. Protocols around movement includes a continued staggering in schedules as students and teachers transition between areas.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Although subject to change based on further recommendation from Public Health Officials, right now, masks are not required for teachers and students in grades one through eight. Staff , students, and visitors will continue to be provided with disposable masks from the school if desired. Students, staff, and visitors wearing a mask throughout the day are responsible for its safe use, cleanliness, and disposal.
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COVID Screenings/Attestations Prior to arrival at school, all parents must complete a daily COVID-19 assessment for their child(ren) using the Toronto Public Health Screening Tool. The onus during COVID-19 for safe health practices and for safely entering the building rests with parents as determined by the Ministry of Education and the Government of Ontario. Current Screening Tool (as of April 28, 2022):
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Arrival and Dismissal Staggered arrival dismissal times for students and staff to ensure physical distancing and ease of traffic flow. Students (with parental assistance) will complete self-assessments and temperature checks at home before departing for school. We urge parents and students to adhere to these schedules to ensure the health and safety of all students. Students who arrive late will buzz for entry and will be screened by administration. We will work to be flexible in our plans to accommodate any necessary changes upon practice. Visitor access, including all parents, will be limited to advanced appointment only and visitors will be required to undergo screening prior to entry.
Drop-Off Schedule 8:20: Gr. 1 students will begin their day in the sideyard with their teacher. 8:20: Gr. 2-5 students will head directly to their classes through the front door. 8:25: Kindergarten students will be escorted by their masked parents to the backyard gate where they will be collected by their teacher. 8:30: Gr. 6-8 students will head directly to their classes through the front door. 9:00: Childcare Centre opens.
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Drop-Off Map:
Kindergarten drop-off (backyard)
x x
Drive- Through Drop-Off
Pick-Up Schedule (KG – Gr. 8) There will be no free play after school. Parents are required to pick-up their children straight away according to the staggered dismissal timetable. Student dismissal is staggered to limit physical contact and exposure to others; therefore, it is of the utmost importance that parents collect their children on time. Childcare Centre parents must use Spadina Road entrance and may park in the assigned Archives parking lot. 3:00: Kindergarten will wait in the backyard to be collected at the sideyard 3:05: Gr. 1/2 will wait at the front of the school 3:10: Gr. 3/4 and Gr. 5 will wait at the front of the school 3:15: Gr. 6 will wait at the front of the school 3:20: Gr. 7/8 will wait at the front of the school
Before Care & After Care Programs (KG – Gr. 8) Extended Day Kindergarten programming is available for full-year, prepaid enrolment. Drop-ins are not available at this time. Grade school after care is available for full-year, pre-paid enrolment. You must designate the days your child will be attending. Drop-ins are not available at this time. Please submit your aftercare enrolment form by September 1, 2022. Kindercare and Aftercare run until 5:30pm. 16
Cleaning and Sanitization Routine cleaning and sanitization of facilities and high touch areas throughout the day. Touchless liquid soap and towel dispensers are available in each classroom and washroom. Daily professional cleaning at the end of each day.
All staff are required to screen daily for COVID symptoms prior to entering the school. All staff is provided with appropriate PPE and cleaning products, as well as certificate training through the World Health Organization in PPE use and disposal.
Monitoring Student Health While at School
Classroom Guidelines Each student will have their own workstation. Student personal belongings will be stored in a dedicated space in their classroom. Routine hand hygiene will be required upon entry and exit of class. There will be no shared resources in the classroom.
Faculty and Staff Training All school staff have been trained on COVID protocols and policies.
Students who are ill or exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 will be asked to remain home under the care and supervision of their caregivers. During the school day, should a student exhibit symptoms of COVID-19, the student will be isolated from their classmates until they are taken home. Should a case of COVID-19 be found within the school community, we will continue to notify families and staff. COVID Closures: Waldorf Academy currently enforces a class closure due to increased COVID cases when a classroom reaches a 30% infection rate. Classes will move to remote learning during COVID class closures so long as the teachers are healthy and able to provide instruction.
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School Gatherings Gatherings and assemblies are permissible. Please note that Waldorf Academy will mitigate any health and safety concerns or risks through increasing or enforcing protections such as masking, physical distancing, limiting audience/visitor capacities or any other protections beyond current municipal and provincial mandates. For indoor gatherings, we will continue to use multiple portable air filtration devices and keep windows open for increased ventilation. We will continue to find ways to come together as a community and build whole school connections.
Transportation We encourage private transportation by caregivers where possible. All families who live within walking distance of the school are encouraged to use active means of transportation (i.e. walking, biking, etc.) as much as possible. Under current guidelines from the Ministry of Education, Field Trips are permissible. Masking and physical-distancing are not currently required while riding chartered buses or traveling on the TTC. 18
Student Wellbeing and Connection
Connection We believe that in-person school attendance and connection with classmates, teachers, and staff support the wellbeing of all our students. Waldorf Academy continues to create resources to support parents, faculty, and staff to help the socialemotional needs of our students. We will continue to provide Education Support for students. We will hold community-wide events in order to maintain our strong community connections. Teachers and administration will ensure frequent check-ins with students to ensure they are healthy and feel safe, accepted, and seen to address any concerns or anxieties regarding their return to school. Our school’s social worker has provided faculty with student mental health and wellness understanding.
Outdoor Time and Physical Education As Waldorf Education emphasizes outdoor play and learning in all weather throughout the day, we are happy to know that our faculty and students will be prepared for spending much time outdoors. Our teachers are encouraged to facilitate outdoor classrooms as much as possible, using the school’s space as well as our beautiful neighboring green spaces such as Glen Edyth Park and the Spadina House Gardens beside Casa Loma. Ministry of Education Guidelines recommend that physical distancing within a cohort is not currently required. The students will be outdoors for recess and teachers are encouraged to facilitate learning outside wherever possible. Under current guidelines, physical education classes can resume without masking or physical distancing. 19
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if my child or other household member is not feeling well when they wake up? It is important that all students who are not feeling well stay home. Anyone experiencing COVID symptoms must follow the Toronto Public Health Screening Tool guidelines. Reasons for student absences must be confirmed directly with Ms. Bogin by email at info@waldorfacademy.org. Parents must sign the Toronto Public Health Back to School Attestation Form prior to their child’s return to school if they were ill. What will happen if my child falls ill during the school day? During the school day should a student exhibit symptoms of COVID-19, the student will be escorted to the self-isolation room under the supervision of the school’s administration until they are taken home. Parents/caregivers will be notified of their child’s illness and will be required to collect their child immediately. Parents/caregivers must wait for their child in front of the school as parents are not permitted to enter the building at this time. What if my child has an appointment? Parents/caregivers should aim to schedule appointments at the beginning or end of the school day. Ms. Bogin must be notified of any appointments/early dismissals directly at info@waldorfacademy.org Students must sign out at the office when leaving the building during the school day. Parents/caregivers must wait for their child in front of the school as parents are asked to refrain from entering the building at this time.
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WALDORF ACADEMY 250 MADISON AVENUE TORONTO, ON M4V 2W6 WALDORFACADEMY.ORG INFO@WALDORFACADEMY.ORG
416.962.6447
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