Waldorf Academy 2021-2022 Health and Safety Plan

WALDORF ACADEMY HEALTH AND SAFETY PLAN 2021 - 2022 OVERVIEW

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Dear Waldorf Academy Community, Welcome back to the school year of 2021-2022. As we continue to face 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, we will activate our comprehensive ‘Remote Learning Plan’ should 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, Cheri

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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, Waldorf Academy will open in September onsite and face-to-face with 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 • COVID 2021-2022 Review • School Organization and Schedule • Health and Safety Protocols • Student Wellbeing and Connection

Guiding Principles for a safe start to School: • The health, safety, and wellbeing of students, faculty, staff, and families is our highest priority.

• Government Emergency Pandemic Orders will continue to be strictly followed and Ministries of Health and Education Guidelines 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 once more, Waldorf Academy will be prepared to continue to provide outstanding education.

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COVID REVIEW 2020-2021 97

10

Students KG - 8

sick Staff

0

112

COVID Cases *

sick Students*

The faculty and staff at Waldorf Academy worked diligently to follow all health and safety mandates set forth by local and provincial offices and health agencies to ensure the safety of the students and everyone in our community.

We feel strongly that the masking, physical distancing, cohorting, and increased hygiene and cleaning protocols set in place last school year limited the spread of illnesses, including the spread of COVID-19. o 2 families contracted COVID while traveling overseas in January during the lockdown. * We were not obligated to report these cases to TPH or the Ministry of Education. o # of students ill/tested multiple times: 14 *

ILLNESSES BY MONTH:

45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 SEPT

OCT

NOV

DEC

FEB

MAR

APR

4

KG Summer Camp 31

13 - 15

Total Students

Students Per week

12 Sick Students

7

0

non- WA Students

COVID cases

Led by 3 teachers, including one Waldorf Academy Alumnus, we were pleased to host 6 weeks of summer camp programming for our kindergarten families and the greater community based on the following guidelines: o Ministry Of Health: Pre-camp Planning: COVID-19 Preparedness and Prevention for Day Camps o Ministry of Health: COVID-19 Safety Guidelines for: Day Camps o Ministry of Health: Daily Camp Operations: COVID-19 Preparedness and Prevention for Day Camps

Masking was required for all staff (at all times) and indoors for students entering Gr. 1 this September.

Documentation: Summer Camp Brochure Summer Camp Parent Guide Summer Camp Mandatory Waivers Photos from the 2021 Summer Camp

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2021-2022 PREVIEW We have made updates to the school’s ventilation this summer: 1) MERV 13 filtration system has been inspected and is up to standards and will be changed regularly.

2) Our HVAC system has been inspected and is up to standards.

3) Portable Air filtration systems purchased for each class in both Schools.

The Ministry of Education published its COVID-19: health, safety and operational guidance for schools (2021-2022) on August 3, 2021.

We are currently awaiting Toronto Public Health and the Ontario Ministry of Health’s guidelines to draft Waldorf Academy’s 2021-2022 Health and Safety Guidelines. We will provide our families with our updated guidelines as soon as is possible.

Highlights of updates from the Ministry of Education’s Operational Guidance: Vaccinations: o COVID vaccinations are not mandatory but are strongly recommended. o Waldorf Academy will track all student COVID vaccination status, like all vaccinations.

Masking: o Students in grades one and up must wear masks indoors o Masks are strongly recommended for kindergarten students o Masks are not required outdoors, however distancing between cohorts is mandated.

Physical Distancing: Distancing of 2 metres (6 feet) as much as possible between cohorts indoors.

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Field Trips: ▪ Field trips are permitted.

▪ Chartered buses can be used as transportation.

▪ Masks must be worn for duration of bus ride.

Music: ▪ Use of wind instruments is permitted indoors within a cohort if a minimum distance of two metres or more can be maintained. As much distance as possible should be encouraged and use of large, well-ventilated spaces should be prioritized.

▪ Use of wind instruments is permitted outdoors in mixed cohorts with distancing encouraged.

▪ Singing is permitted indoors. Masking is encouraged but not required for singing indoors if a minimum distance of two metres can be maintained between cohorts and as much distancing as possible maintained within a cohort.

Physical Education: ▪ Some high-contact activities are permitted. Masking is not required.

▪ Low contact activities are permitted indoors. Masking is encouraged but not required indoors for low-contact physical activities if a minimum distance of two metres can be maintained between cohorts and as much distancing as possible maintained within a cohort.

Assemblies: School assemblies or other student/school gatherings are permitted and should follow the relevant provincial requirements under the Reopening Ontario Act (more details to follow). This can include multiple cohorts in alignment with provincial capacity limits and includes allowance for in-school student to student peer support programs such as “reading buddies”.

Clubs: Clubs, activities, sport teams, bands (without wind instruments) and extracurriculars are permitted. Cohorts may interact outdoors with physical distancing encouraged, and indoors with masking and appropriate physical distancing.

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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.

Our planning includes drawing on two key ideas from the Ministry of Education: physical distancing and cohorting. Physical distancing avoids personal contact and maintains physical separation as per Ministry guidelines. Cohorting will minimize the number of students and teachers that any individual comes into contact with and maintains consistency in those contacts, as much as possible.

OVERVIEW OF WALDORF ACADEMY’S EDUCATIONAL MODELS The following plans are being developed: 8

OVERVIEW OF WALDORF ACADEMY’S EDUCATIONAL MODELS

CHILDCARE CENTRE 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.

Lisa Gibson

• 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 COVID-19 measures • The Childcare Centre is inspected regularly by both the Ministry of Education and Toronto Public Health to ensure the school is meeting guidelines

Charlotte Koen-Butt

Teri Santos

Corina Liu

Fei Cong

Cathy Chen

Ahlam Ali

Swati Mahajan

Thuy Le 9

OVERVIEW OF WALDORF ACADEMY’S EDUCATIONAL MODELS

KINDERGARTEN • The students will be at school five days a week.

• Masks are strongly recommended for kindergarten students as we know masks keep us safe.

• Teachers will support and reassure the students as they become familiar with their new health and safety routines.

• Screening must be conducted by parents/guardians before coming to school.

• Physical distancing will be maintained to the greatest extent possible.

• Each class (Sun Garden and Star Garden) are their own cohort; each cohort will be separated from other cohorts when utilizing both indoor and outdoor spaces.

• There will be limited movement of staff between cohorts.

• 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.

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OVERVIEW OF WALDORF ACADEMY’S EDUCATIONAL MODELS

LOWER SCHOOL

(Grade 1 - Grade 5)

• The students will be at school five days a week.

• 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 their new health and safety routines.

• Screening must be conducted by parents/guardians before entering the school.

• Physical distancing will be maintained to the greatest extent possible.

• Students will be grouped into cohorts (each class) with their Teacher Teams. Each cohort will be separated from other cohorts when utilizing indoor spaces.

• There will be limited movement of staff between cohorts.

• Frequent hand washing 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.

Grade One Teachers:

Agnes Zsigovics

T.B.A.

Grades Two and Three Teachers:

D’Arcy Colby

Nicole Hagon

Grades Four and Five Teachers:

Vivien Carrady

Nicole Hagon 11

OVERVIEW OF WALDORF ACADEMY’S EDUCATIONAL MODELS

MIDDLE SCHOOL

(Grade 6 - Grade 8)

• The students will be at school five days a week.

• 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 their new health and safety routines.

• Screening must be conducted by parents/guardians before entering the school.

• Physical distancing will be maintained to the greatest extent possible.

• Students will be grouped into cohorts (each class) with their Teacher Teams. Each cohort will be separated from other cohorts when utilizing indoor spaces.

• There will be limited movement of staff between cohorts.

• Frequent hand washing 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.

Grades Six and Seven Teachers:

Tammi Gerrard

Sydney Grainger

Grade Seven and Eight Teachers:

Lesley Moffitt

Sydney Grainger

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Specialty Teachers French

Mathematics

Physical Education

Block Teacher

Golnesa Amani

Jula Bender

Jason Rybak

Larry Glatt

Education Support

Education Support

Aftercare

Yasmeen Mamdani

Shi-Ching Yu

Chanay Calamusa

Administration Child Care Manager

Office Manager

Lucia Amaral

Melody Bogin Director of School and Childcare

Cheri Grogan

Admissions Manager

Business Operations Manager

Jennifer Deathe

Matthew Denton

Marketing and Advancement Manager

Leslie Ma 13

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.

FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL: September 9 - 10

2021-2022 Welcome Schedule – At A Glance Grades 1, 2 & 3 September 3, Picnics Meadowroom Garden opens September 9 Grades 1 – 8: September 9: first day of school Kindergarten: September 11: Sun Garden and Star Garden Kindergarten picnics

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Health and Safety Protocols Physical Distancing The school will continue physical distancing protocols aligned with the Ministry of Education, in classrooms, open areas, and hallways.

Signage such as floor labelling and posters are 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 required for teachers and students in grades one through eight.

• Staff and essential visitors must wear masks.

• Students, staff, and essential visitors wearing a mask throughout the day are responsible for its safe use, cleanliness, and disposal.

• All students and faculty must have two clean masks readily available (stored in a paper envelope or bag), in-keeping the school's dress code (no logos or images).

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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.

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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. Deliveries of any kind for students and staff are prohibited (i.e. food, homework, clothing, etc.).

Drop-Off Schedule • 8:20: Gr. 1 students will begin their day in the sideyard with their teacher.

• 8:20: Gr. 2-8 students will head directly to their classes through the front door.

• 8:30: Kindergarten students will be escorted by their masked parents to the backyard gate where they will be collected by their teacher.

• 9:00: Childcare Centre opens.

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Drop-Off Map:

Kindergarten drop-off (backyard)

(sideyard) Before Care and Gr. 1 drop-off

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 gate • 3:10: Gr. 1 - 3 will wait at the front of the school • 3:20: Gr. 4 - 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 registration form by September 1, 2021.

• Before care is available from 8:00am in the sideyard • Kindercare and After Care run until 6:00pm • * We may be able to offer before care for the Childcare Centre soon (more details pending) 18

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.

Classroom Guidelines • Class sizes will accommodate physical distancing 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 staff will be asked to confirm they have clear self-assessments, and their temperatures will be taken prior to entering the building.

• All staff are provided with appropriate PPE and cleaning products, as well as certificate training through the World Health Organization in PPE use and disposal.

• Should a case of COVID-19 be found at the school, we will immediately contact Toronto Public Health for instructions.

Parents will immediately be notified of the health agency’s instructions and the school’s plan to move forward.

Monitoring Student Health While at School • 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 until they are taken home.

The school will be obligated to report suspected cases and contact tracing information to our local public health unit and this information will be kept confidential by school staff.

• All school staff have been trained on COVID protocols and policies.

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School Gatherings There will be no large, in-person gatherings. We are awaiting guidelines regarding assemblies.

While maintaining physical distancing is a priority for the school, we will continue to find ways to come together as a community and build whole school connections in small outdoor groups or within each cohort.

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. Students and staff are required to distance as much as possible on chartered buses and must wear masks on the bus.

Kindergarten students are strongly encouraged to wear masks on chartered buses and must wear masks while taking public transportation.

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Student Wellbeing and 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 small outdoor groups or within each cohort in order to maintain our strong community connections while physically distancing where possible.

• 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.

• We know that students enjoy playing closely together and that physical distancing can be challenging, but it is one of the conditions of a safe return to school. Teachers will work diligently with students to ensure the students’ safety through physical distancing in addition to visual reminders.

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 required during outdoor activities; 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 with low-contact activities.

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Frequently Asked Questions What should I do if my child 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.

• Student absences must be confirmed directly with Ms. Bogin by email at info@waldorfacademy.org.

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 isolated 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. We will escort students outside the front of the school to meet their caregivers.

What if my child has an appointment?

• Parents/caregivers should aim to schedule appointments at the beginning or end of the school day; students will be admitted back to the school once they exit the building for appointments. 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 not permitted to enter the building at this time.

What if my child forgets their lunch/homework/clothing, etc.?

• Although parents and deliveries are not permitted into the building during this time due to increased safety measures, please rest assured that the school will provide students with any food (in keeping with the school’s nut-free policy and individual dietary needs) or additional clothing as needed.

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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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