Frequently Asked Questions | Trafalgar Castle School

When did the School reopen?

Please know that our first priority is the well-being of our students and our staff. We continue to consult with experts to determine best practices in health and safety and will be implementing all procedures and processes as recommended by Public Health. We also recognize the importance of supporting our community emotionally. These are challenging times and we know that re-establishing routines, support networks, and providing predictability in a familiar setting will help our girls and our staff transition back to school.

We welcomed students back to campus in September but are also be ready to transition smoothly to off-campus distance learning should schools in the province be ordered closed at any time during the next school year.

We also welcomed back our boarders with enhanced protocols to ensure their safety while living at the Castle. Those boarders arriving from international destinations will all have completed a mandatory 14-day quarantine before returning to campus. Our dedicated and caring boarding staff will be working directly with those families to facilitate this process.

Please be assured that further details about our return to campus procedures will be provided over the summer. At that time, we will include additional information about health screening protocols, entry procedures and daily routines. We will also have more information about athletics.

What is happening with activities, field trips and excursions?

From September to December, weekly co-curriculars will take place during the school day and after hours using a combination of in-person and online formats. All students are encouraged to join a club or activity as a way to explore interests outside the classroom and to connect with students across the grades. Team sports and more extensive club offerings will resume as soon as it is safe to do so.

The School will not attend camp in September or January as overnight camps are ordered closed until further notice. Field trips involving bus transportation are suspended until further notice. Teachers will explore local options to enhance our students’ learning outside the classroom.

Boarding Student Information

COVID-19 Protocols

What happens if there is a day student or staff illness?

If a staff member or day student calls in sick, the school nurse will contact the individual and review their signs or symptoms. If COVID-19 is suspected, they will be instructed to contact their healthcare provider or Public Health department to arrange for a COVID-19 test.

What happens if there is a boarding student illness?

If a boarding student complains of illness symptoms, they will be screened by the school nurse. If illness is confirmed, the student will remain in the Health Centre until picked up by her guardian. If COVID-19 is suspected, the school doctor will be contacted to request a COVID-19 screening and the student will be sent for a test at the local testing centre. In the rare event that the guardian is unable to take an ill student, a night nurse will be brought in to supervise the ill student during after-work hours and the student will stay in isolation in the Health Centre.

What happens if an illness occurs during the school day?

If a student complains of illness symptoms, they will be screened by the school nurse. If illness is confirmed, the student and any siblings will remain in the Health Centre until picked up by her parent/guardian. If COVID-19 is suspected, the student (and any sibling(s) of the student) will be instructed to contact her healthcare provider or Public Health department to arrange for a COVID-19 test.

What is the School policy for returning after illness?

If a student tests negative for COVID-19, she will be allowed to return to school when she is 24 hours symptom free without fever-reducing medication. If a student tests positive for COVID-19, the school nurse will coordinate the student’s return to school with the student’s doctor and local Public Health officials.

What are the School protocols for a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 case?

The Head of School and the local Public Health department will be notified by the school nurse when a potential case of a reportable communicable disease has been identified. Where a student tests positive, the School will follow the direction of Public Health with respect to communications, contact tracing, quarantining and any required school closures.

What is the School's travel and quarantine policy?

During the school year, any student who travels to or who resides with family members, guardians, or other individuals who travel to any destination that requires a quarantine period upon return to Ontario, must complete the quarantine off campus prior to her return to campus. The decision for a student to travel outside of Canada is an individual one but is strongly discouraged during the school year because of the possible disruption to the student’s learning.

Confirmed Case of COVID-19

How will the School communicate a confirmed case of COVID-19?

Should there be confirmed case of COVID-19 within our community, we will follow the steps outlined below to disseminate the information as set out by the Durham Region Health Department (DRHD):

The DRHD receives the positive test result and contacts the staff or student to begin case and contact management;
The staff or student testing positive for COVID-19 must remain in isolation until three conditions have been met:

They have isolated for 14-days after the onset of symptoms; AND
They no longer have a fever; AND
Their symptoms have been improving for at least 72 hours.

DRHD contacts the School to identify the COVID-positive case and works with the School to conduct contact management;
DRHD performs risk assessment of contacts of the COVID-positive person and advises all contacts to self-isolate or self-monitor;
DRHD determines if an outbreak will be declared and when the outbreak is over; and,
The School distributes a communication to the Trafalgar community and implements infection and control measures.
In accordance with the Ontario Ministry of Education directive, the School notifies the Ministry of Education of the COVID-19 case(s) and posts this information on the School’s public website.

Please note that under no circumstances is the identity of the individual who tests positive for COVID-19 made public. Privacy measures must be respected at all times in an effort to avoid disclosure of details that would lead to the identification of a confirmed case.

Campus Life

What will happen with co-curriculars at the School?

Are camp and school field trips still happening?

Event Information

Admissions and Visitors

Is Trafalgar still offering school tours to prospective families?

All school tours have been cancelled until further notice but our Admissions Team is available to serve you remotely. Please email us at admissions@nulltrafalgarcastle.ca.

Are parents/guardians and other guests allowed to visit the Castle?

We thank all families for helping us maintain our campus bubble during the school day to protect our students and staff. Visitors to campus are strictly limited and parents and guardians are asked not to enter the School building unless they have a scheduled appointment. Where possible, parent meetings, information sessions and parent-teacher interviews will be scheduled virtually. We look forward to resuming visits and gatherings when deemed more safe.

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