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Dear Tall Pines School families,
We are excited to share our intention to welcome our students back on a full-time (Monday-Friday) basis beginning September. With the guidelines set out by the Ministry of Education, we are able to return to a full-time schedule for our students.
In accordance with Peel Public Health guidelines, we have updated our health policies and protocols to ensure that our staff and students will continue to enjoy a quality education together in a safe and healthy environment. Our approach will continue to be flexible and responsive to the most current expert advice. Please click on the link for the Tall Pines School Enhanced Health and Safety Policies and Protocols.
Click HERE to view the document.
In preparation for September, we continue to work through and determine the best practices for each classroom, while also taking into account our unique programs and styles of learning. Our daily routines will be modified to encourage social distancing, minimal contact, enhanced personal hygiene, and increased cleaning and sanitizing of materials and surfaces. We have researched and sourced materials for improved cleaning and sanitizing of all environments and the materials within them, as well as products to help our staff and students remain healthy and minimize exposure to COVID-19.
Below is an outline of the steps that we are taking school wide as we prepare to return in September. These are subject to change, as we must adhere to the guidelines set out by the Ministry of Education and Peel Public Health.
Pick-Up and Drop-Off
- Staff and students will be screened upon arrival, before admittance to the building, for signs and symptoms of illness. This will include taking temperatures and completing a survey every morning.
- Multiple drive-through screening areas will be set up around the perimeter of the school.
- Parents will not be permitted to enter the building.
- Drop-off time period: 8:15 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. (formal classes/lessons will begin at 9:30 a.m. daily).
- Pick-up time period: 3:15 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. (formal classes/lessons will end at 3:00 p.m. daily).
- Students will have daily work during pick-up and drop-off times.
- Please note, drop-off and pick-up will take longer than usual to ensure proper measures and protocols are met.
Cohorts
- Students will be placed in cohorts and opportunities for mixing between the classrooms will be avoided during the school day, during recess, and at dismissal.
- All EYP classrooms will have a maximum cohort size that will be mandated by the Ministry of Education. All EYP programs will maintain required ratios. Any changes to the number of available student placements will be determined by Ministry guidelines. Unfortunately, at this time, based on Ministry guidelines, we are unable to guarantee spots for all families that registered in February. At this time, our registration office is confirming your intentions for September.
- All Montessori Elementary classrooms will be divided into two cohorts. Each cohort will remain with one teacher weekly. All students will have the opportunity to work with both classroom teachers.
- Jr. School Grades 5 and 6 students will be in their respective regular classroom as a cohort.
- The Zone students will be placed in cohorts by grade. Teachers will rotate through cohorts with sanitization, PPE, and physical distance practices in place. Each cohort will have a dedicated environment.
Classroom Environments
- Classroom materials and activities will require additional cleaning and sanitizing before being put back on the shelf after each use. Some materials may be modified to ensure ease of sanitation, while others may be temporarily removed.
- Seating will be strategic to allow for physical distancing.
- Students will be encouraged to increase the frequency of hand washing throughout the school day.
- Frequently touched surfaces will be cleaned and disinfected continuously.
- Students will be provided with individual/personalized supplies.
Outdoor Time/Recess
- Classes will have staggered times for outdoor time/recess throughout the day.
- Playground equipment will be sanitized between each cohort.
Specialist Classes
- Specialist classes will continue for students. Our intention is to have specialist teachers rotate through cohorts with sanitization, PPE, and physical distance practices in place.
- Based on regulations and guidelines, modifications to curriculum and delivery may be necessary.
Lunch Programs
- The catered lunch program for Infant and Prima Casa students will continue.
- The Casa students will continue to be provided with morning and afternoon snacks.
- Our optional hot lunch program for Casa to Grade 8 students will be discontinued until further notice.
Communication
- All parent communication will take place via phone calls, emails, and video conferencing (Microsoft Teams).
- All school-wide communication will be sent out electronically. Brown envelopes will not be sent home.
- Please ensure your email address is up to date.
Information Sessions and Parent Education
- All sessions will be virtual for the time being.
- Sessions will take place on Microsoft Teams.
Transition to an Online Program (if required)
- Tall Pines School has put plans in place to easily transition students to a temporary Learning at Home Program if mandated or required by the Region of Peel or Ministry of Education.
- Please note, at times, transitions may not be school-wide but may only include specific cohorts.
- All students will be set up on Teams at the beginning of the school year.
- Synchronous classes/lessons will continue for each program.
- All Specialist classes will be included in the Tall Pines School Learning at Home Program.
- Refunds
- o Infant and Prima Casa - A 100% refund will be provided if a closure of our building is mandated. An online program will not be available for this age group.
- o Casa - A 40% refund, calculated on your fee schedule for the closure period, will be refunded to all families if a transition to Learning at Home is mandated, unless another structure is provided from our governing bodies.
- o Levels 1-3 - A 30% refund, calculated on your fee schedule for the closure period, will be refunded to all families if a transition to Learning at Home is mandated.
- o Grades/Levels 4-6 - A 20% refund, calculated on your fee schedule for the closure period, will be refunded to all families if a transition to Learning at Home is mandated.
- o The Zone (Grades 7 and 8) - A 10% refund, calculated on your fee schedule for the closure period, will be refunded to all families if a transition to Learning at Home is mandated.
- o Pro-rated necessary refunds will be provided at the end of the school year.
Swimming
- Our swimming program is planning to resume in September. Making Waves Swim School will be following all required health and safety requirements outlined by the Ministry of Labour, the Ministry of Health, and the Region of Peel Health department for the aquatics sector. Transportation/bussing guidelines will be followed as outlined by the Ministry of Transportation.
- Swimming will take place in cohorts bi-weekly.
- If swim programs are mandated to close, Tall Pines School will refund families the balance of the swim program cost. Please note, weekly refunds will not be provided if your child misses a class or chooses not to participate in the program.
Outdoor Education
- Zone 7 and 8 Expedition - Our regular Fall Expedition will be postponed for the 2020-2021 school year. If regulations are lifted, we will be providing an Expedition experience in the Spring. A final decision will be made by the end of March. If the Spring Expedition does not happen, all Grades 7 and 8 families will be refunded accordingly.
- Grades 4-6 Fall Camping Trip - Our 4-6 Outdoor Education trip will be postponed for the 2020-2021 school year. If regulations are lifted, we will be providing an Outdoor Spring trip experience. A final decision will be made by the end of March. If the Spring trip does not happen, all Grades 4-6 families will be refunded accordingly.
- Grades 1-3 Outdoor Education - We intend to continue with a Spring Outdoor Education experience.
Field Trips
- Tall Pines School will continue to offer field trips to our students.
Skiing
- If permitted, we will continue with our ski program.
We recognize that there are definitely going to be challenges during this process and appreciate your ongoing patience and support. Our Registration Office will continue to call each family to confirm your space for September and answer any questions you may have. Please confirm your Extended Care requirements with our Registration Office. This feedback will help us better assess the needs of our families for the upcoming school year and help us make decisions about how to continue this service, given the current restrictions.
We will keep you updated on a regular basis, as we approach the upcoming school year, providing more details for both the Early Years and Elementary programmes. We thank you in advance for your support and patience.
We look forward to seeing all of our families in September.
Sincerely,
Your Leadership Team
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