Covid-19 updates 2021-2022

Prior to the start of the school year, parents have received a COVID-19 health and safety agreement which must be acknowledged and signed before the students return to school. Anyone with a temperature higher than 38 Celsius or having any COVID-19 symptoms will not be admitted to school. The agreement specifies that students are not to come to school if they are ill or display symptoms of COVID-19 (eg. fever, coughing, difficulty breathing).

If a student experiences symptoms while at school, she will be separated from the group, as well as any of her siblings, and the parent(s) or guardian for the child(ren) will be contacted and asked to pick her up as soon as possible.

Students, faculty, or staff who present COVID-19 symptoms will be required to leave the school. Parents will be requested to bring their children home and communicate with their doctor or public health authorities. It is important that the school be able to communicate with at least one parent at any time.

Any student, faculty, or staff member having a temperature greater than 38c or who exhibits any COVID-19 symptoms during the school day, will be asked to go to the school’s dedicated isolation room and arrangements will be made for that person to leave the school as soon as practicable. Full personal protective equipment (gowns, gloves, masks, and face shield) will be worn by staff attending to persons waiting in this room to be taken home. The dedicated isolation room will be disinfected after each use.

The school will initiate these protocols even when the individual presents few or mild symptoms.

The Study is required to report to the local public health office all incidences of communicable diseases, including but not limited to COVID-19. In accordance with government directives, parents, faculty, and staff will be notified if a member of the school community tests positive for COVID-19.

When a COVID-19 case is confirmed, Santé Publique takes charge of the situation. With the help of the school, who keeps an attendance/contact registry, Santé Publique will instruct the school on the steps to be taken and who will be contacted (close contacts). At a minimum The Study will notify the parents of all children in the same class.

The results of the Santé Publique investigation will make it possible to determine whether the people who have been in contact with the symptomatic person will be asked to isolate for a set duration of time and determine when they can return to school or continue to self-isolate for a longer period of time if starting to exhibit symptoms and if they should be tested.

Currently, all students, whether or not they have come into contact with another student or faculty and staff member who tested positive for COVID-19, are considered at low risk of infection by Santé Publique, because students, faculty and staff must wear a mask at all times on school grounds both indoors and outdoors. As a result, Santé Publique recommends the following for all close contacts with a positive COVID-19 case at school:

• Get tested for COVID-19 as soon as possible;
• No isolation is necessary and students may continue to attend school, unless they receive instructions to isolate by Santé Publique, or start to show symptoms of COVID-19;
• Self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 for 14 days following the most recent contact with the positive COVID-19 case. If symptoms appear, isolate immediately and get tested for COVID-19;
• It is recommended to avoid contact with anyone who may suffer a serious case of COVID-19 or may experience complications if infected, for a period of 10 days.

The objective of this plan is to enable 100% of the student body to attend school on a full-time basis. To achieve this outcome, a conservative approach will be adopted, when any member of the school population presents with COVID-19 symptoms.  This requires cooperation on the part of the community, and it is requested, that if in doubt, the student not attend school. If a student is sick, a parent should notify the Elementary or Senior School Director’s office.  The Director excuses a student’s absence if:

• The student’s absence can help prevent the spread of COVID-19, the student is testing for COVID-19, the student is a confirmed case, is in self-quarantine, or is self-isolating (student absence may be affected by the health authority’s decision when to end quarantine period).

All students, faculty, staff, visitors, and essential service workers who enter the school must wear a face mask while indoors, including in classrooms. A box of procedure masks will be provided to each student, faculty and staff member at the start of the school year and will be replaced as needed.

When outdoors, students, faculty and staff are required to wear face masks.

Students, faculty and staff should bring a minimum of two clean masks to school each day. The girls will be prompted to change their mask after lunch, and should keep spare masks in a ziplock bag with their name on it.

Within the school, students and adults will remain two metres apart, as per physical distancing requirements.

Elementary School students will remain in their class bubbles while in their classrooms. When outdoors, they will be allowed to mingle with other students from their grade bubble. The distancing rule of one metre between Elementary School students from different grades will be respected.

There is no distancing requirement for Senior School students among themselves, as there are no more class bubbles in the Senior School.

Directional signage will continue to be used in hallways and stairwells to maintain a steady flow of traffic and minimize congestion.

In keeping with the school’s overarching principles of risk awareness, shared responsibility and adaptability, hygiene education and awareness raising will be regularly addressed, starting at the beginning of the school year.

Each class will receive a demonstration on how to properly wash hands and hold ongoing discussions on COVID-19 awareness and personal responsibility.

Everyone, students, faculty, and staff, shall wash hands in the following situations:

• After coughing or sneezing.
• Before and after meals.
• After recess.
• After using the washroom.
• When hands are dirty.
• After sports or physical activity.
• After returning from outside the classroom.

Students, faculty, and staff must bring their own refillable water bottles to school.

Janitorial services shall implement cleaning and disinfection protocols that comply with and exceed the Guide d’intervention prévention et contrôle des infections dans les services de garde et écoles du Québec (MSSS, 2015) and its COVID-19 updates.

Certain common areas and/or classrooms like the science labs, art room, music room, and makerspace, will be disinfected more frequently.

Students will be allowed to move to different classrooms throughout the day. Outdoor classes will continue to be encouraged, and body breaks will continue to be integrated within the school day.

Students, faculty, and staff will respect designated seating arrangements. Senior School students will be allowed to mingle with other Senior students from different grade levels. Elementary School students will only be allowed to mingle with other students in their own grade level.

Online learning is only accessible for students who have provided a current note of medical exemption from a physician, and for students who have been instructed by the public health authority to quarantine.

The Minister of Education has announced that students who have a medical note confirming that they or a household member have a health condition that makes them vulnerable to COVID-19 will be entitled to online learning from home. Medical professionals are the only individuals able to indicate what is or is not a valid medical exemption.

Access to the school will be limited for external visitors, and they will be obligated to make an appointment before coming to school. Visitors must wear a mask at all times when in the school, and be subject to COVID-19 screening protocols.

We are committed to keeping our community safe and healthy throughout the school year and strongly encourage everyone's personal support of our government's vaccination campaign.

The physical and mental health of our school community is an integral part of our school values and necessary for optimal learning. 

A health and wellness team consisting of academic leaders, counsellors and enrichment specialists will work together to ensure that students continue to practice the principles of building positive relationships with peers and teachers, managing stress levels, and developing resiliency.

Students will enter the school through designated entranceways and wait in assigned gathering spots. Students who arrive after 8:00am must enter using the main front entrance on Braeside. Students need to sign in at the office and go directly to their classrooms.

All persons entering school property shall wear a mask. This includes parents dropping off or picking up younger children.

Siblings may enter the school with the youngest child in their family. They will do so using the entrance that the youngest child is required to use.

Kindergarten to Grade 4 student arrival/ supervision begins at 7:30am, at designated spaces in the Braeside playground. 

They will line up in front of the regular covered entrance. Parents will be allowed to bring their daughters as far as the gate at the top of the stairs. Students must wear their masks and are asked to line up to ensure proper distancing between students from different grades.

Entry for students in Grades 5 & 6 to begin at 7:50am through the Braeside pathway.  Parents are asked not to accompany their children into the playground area or the building. Students must wear their masks and are asked to line up to ensure proper distancing between students from different grades.

The school will be open to receive students at 7:50am and not earlier. Students will enter the school through the main entrance or West side entrance and go to their first period classrooms, ready to learn by 8:10am.

Students who arrive late must enter using the main entrance. Students need to sign in at the office and go directly to their classrooms.

Parents are requested to remain in their vehicles and are not allowed to accompany their children into the playground area or the building.

Elementary students will be dismissed at the gate entrance on Braeside until further notice. Parents may not enter the school for pick-up. Parents are requested to wait by their cars or just outside school property, while respecting physical distancing requirements.

Students in senior school will be dismissed following the regular dismissal schedule; dismissal will not be staggered.

Traveling by car

Wearing a mask while carpooling is encouraged.

Traveling by bus

Students must follow the health and safety protocols mandated by both the Société de Transport de Montréal (STM) and the school bus company which serves the school.

Students must use hand sanitizer before boarding any bus. On buses, wearing a face mask is mandatory for all students.

Students will respect assigned seating on school buses.

The regular dress code will be enforced, and the following rules will apply on PE days:

Kindergarten to Grade 4: On days where students have physical education (PE), they are to come to the school wearing regulation PE clothes instead of their uniform.

Grades 5 and 6: On days when students have PE, they must come to the school wearing their uniform, and they will change in and out of their regulation PE clothes at school. 

Senior School: On days when students have PE, they must come to the school wearing their uniform, and they will change in and out of their regulation PE clothes at school. 

Winter uniform guidelines will come into effect on October 18, 2021. 

The school requests that clothes worn at school be laundered before being re-worn at the school. The students are expected to wear running shoes when wearing gym outfits, and regular shoes otherwise, no additional shoes are required.

The After-School Programme will continue to be offered. Daily drop-ins will be allowed on a first come, first serve basis.  All activities will be subject to social distancing (one metre between students from different grades). 

Currently, government directives permit extracurricular activities, based on the nature of the physical distancing measures required. The offering of specific after school activities will be determined keeping the health and safety of our students in mind.

Adequate vaccination status will be required for students aged 13 and over who wish to participate in certain athletics after school.

Adequate vaccination status will be required for students aged 13 and over taking part in all sports under the GMAA. In order to allow all our student athletes to enjoy their sports season, we encourage all members of our community to participate in the government vaccination campaign. In the event that your daughter is not yet adequately protected against COVID-19, we urge you to proceed promptly with the scheduling of a vaccination appointment for her to take part in the athletics program.

Fall sports information and sign-up will be sent to parents and given to students throughout the first week of school. Fall season practice and games will be added onto the athletics calendar during the first two weeks of September.

The Grade 11 locker room will be available for students to drop off their belongings. The Grade 7 to 10 locker room is still unavailable at this time. Students are requested to bring their backpacks to their classroom.

All students are requested to minimize the personal belongings and school materials they bring to school. Students are asked to bring a clearly identifiable refillable water bottle each day.

The maximum capacity in each washroom will be equal to the number of stalls. Students and staff must respect all directives in this regard.

The custodial staff will continue to implement an enhanced cleaning routine for washrooms.

Our regular caterer, Chef en Vous will provide a boxed lunch, with two to three pre-ordered choices each day. Two hot lunch options will continue to be offered each week. Until further notice, lunch will be delivered to the classrooms and eaten at student desks.

Senior School students will eat in their homerooms, and may be able to eat their boxed lunch at the cafeteria on a rotating schedule, while respecting health and safety guidelines. When the weather permits, Senior School students will be able to eat outside. Food preparation and delivery procedures continue to meet enhanced health and safety guidelines.

Continued efforts will be made to accommodate students with special dietary requirements. Our caterer will continue to use recycled packaging and compostable containers. 

All students must remain on school property for the lunch period.

For the 2021-2022 school year, the library located in the Senior School will be open and available to students. It will be supervised for Senior School students every day until 6pm.

Seating in the library will respect distancing guidelines.

Elementary School students will stay in their grade bubbles in designated areas during their regular staggered recess schedule. Senior School students will return to their usual recess schedule. 

 The school recognizes the importance of physical activity during the day and will make every effort to ensure that students have as many possible opportunities to go outdoors and be active. As well, body breaks will be integrated within the school day.

Field trips will be permitted and will respect all health and safety guidelines. Until further notice, there will be no exchange programs or foreign travel organized by the school. We hope to resume these as soon as we can.

We ask that the school be notified of any plans for students, faculty, or staff to travel outside of Canada.

Students, faculty, and staff who travel out of Canada are required to respect all quarantine requirements imposed by the government of Canada and will not be admitted to the school until such requirements are fulfilled.

Our Music Programme will be offered, however, we will be exceeding public health measures in order to ensure the health and safety of our students.

Physical Education will be held outdoors whenever possible. Equipment will be disinfected between each use. Our Phys. Ed. department has created activities that get the girls outdoors and will respect COVID-19 guidelines.