Return to School | Trafalgar Castle School

Government & Health Resources

COVID-19 Information

Trafalgar Castle School has supported its community through difficult times in the past and will continue to do so today and into the future. We are pleased to share that in-person lessons five days a week has resumed. We will continue to follow all government health and safety regulations as well as continue with guidelines to help minimize potential exposure of our students and staff to COVID-19.

Thank you for your continued support as we work to keep the Trafalgar community healthy and safe.

For more information on how to apply, please visit our Admissions page.

March 29, 2022

In preparation for the students’ return to school next week we have revised our post-March Break changes. Please see the highlights below and click here to view the full document.

Effective March 21, the mask mandate for schools and public places across the province was lifted. Under current federal mandates, masking remains mandatory at all times in public spaces for 14-days upon return from international travel. Out of an abundance of caution and recognizing that our community has a high level of travel over the March Break, Trafalgar Castle School will continue its mandatory-masking policy for all students and staff through until Thursday, April 14. The policy will be reviewed at that time. Masking will not be required outdoors, during co-curricular sport or while dining.

January 13, 2022

The provincial government confirmed in an announcement yesterday that all Ontario schools will be returning to in-person learning on Monday, January 17 as scheduled.

Prior to your daughter’s return on Monday, please review the following information and instructions with your student carefully:

RETURNING TO SCHOOL

STEP 1: Self-Screening

On Monday morning, before you leave your house, you must complete the self-screening questions on Reach. Read each question carefully. The questions have been changed by Public Health. You will not be allowed to attend school if you have even one symptom.

If you do not pass the screener, do not come to school. Stay home, report your absence to Ms. Hoover, and contact Nurse Michelle for further instructions. If you have a sibling who attends school, he/she should also stay home.
If you pass the screener, proceed to STEP 2.

STEP 2: Rapid Antigen Testing

If you pass the screener, please complete one of the Rapid Antigen Tests provided to you before the break. Read the instructions carefully and administer the test.
If the test is negative, you may come to school.
If the test is positive, stay home and report your absence to Ms. Hoover and contact Nurse Michelle for further instructions. If you have a sibling who attends school, he/she should also stay home.

DAILY SCREENING

Every morning before you leave your house, you must complete the self-screening questions on the Reach app. Read each question carefully.
If you do not pass the screener, do not come to school.
If you have a sibling who attends school, he/she should also stay home.
Please report your absence to Ms. Hoover.
Please contact Nurse Michelle for further instructions.

We look forward to welcoming your daughters back to in-person learning on Monday and remain committed to providing a safe and welcoming learning environment for our students.

January 3, 2022

All Ontario schools will transition to online learning effective January 5 with an anticipated return to in-person learning date of Monday, January 17. In addition, modified Stage Two restrictions including reduced capacities, cancellation of non-emergency hospital services and closures of indoor dining, theatres, museums and indoor recreation facilities will be impacted. These restrictions will be in place until Wednesday, January 26.

We recognize that online learning can be challenging for many students and families. Our goal will ensure students are welcomed back to routine and structure while maintaining balance in their overall wellness. We remain confident in our ability to uphold the integrity of our programming and will be implementing a similar full-day online learning schedule as followed last spring. All students will be contacted on Tuesday, January 4, by their individual teachers with their appropriate meeting links.

All Day students are asked to hold off administering their Rapid Antigen test until our return to in-person learning. We appreciate your continued support as we navigate this next wave of the pandemic. We look forward to welcoming students back to in-person learning as soon as possible and will keep you updated as more information becomes available. In the meantime, please stay safe and continue to be vigilant in practicing public health measures.

Please click here to see today’s full news release

December 30, 2021

Today’s announcement poses no change to our existing return to school plan. We will move forward with our Professional Development Day scheduled on Tuesday, January 4 and boarding will reopen for students to return on Tuesday, January 4 at 1 p.m. as scheduled.

Health protocols of masking, proper hand hygiene, social distancing and cohorting will remain in place and we will continue to prioritize the social, emotional and mental wellness of our students with balanced low-contact activities. Non-fit-tested N95 masks will be provided to staff as an alternative to our existing medical masks.

Air filtration systems are already in use in all common spaces throughout the School and are monitored on a regular basis. HEPA filters are changed frequently and classrooms are inspected to ensure ongoing fresh air exchange takes place.

Effective Friday, December 31, publicly-funded PCR testing will be available only for high-risk individuals who are symptomatic and/or are at risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Isolation periods have been reduced from 10 to five days for vaccinated individuals and for children under 12.

For the full provincial press release, please click here.

September 2021

For our Return to School Plan, please click here.

February 3, 2021

Trafalgar will return to in-person learning at the Castle on Monday, February 8.

The announcement confirmed that students in 13 Public Health Units including the Durham Region will return to school, while schools in Toronto, Peel and York will return to in-person learning on Tuesday, February 16.

With all students in Grades 4 through 12 set to return to campus February 8, we will continue to follow all public health and provincial recommendations and adhere to the same enhanced safety measures and protocols that served us so well throughout the fall.

January 20, 2021

In a late afternoon news release on January 20, 2021, the Ontario government confirmed in-person learning will remain suspended until further notice for schools in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) including the Durham Region.

While this is not the news we had been hoping for, extending distance learning may allow us to return to in-person learning safely and without further interruption. The number of cases in the Durham Region continues to decline, which we hope is a positive sign that students will soon be back at the Castle. We will continue to keep you updated on any Provincial decisions regarding our return to in-person learning.

In the meantime, we remain committed to upholding the integrity of our program delivery through our distance learning platform. The health and safety of our students and staff remain paramount. We continue to offer additional resources, clubs, academic and wellness supports aimed at helping your daughters navigate this time of distance learning. Please encourage your daughter to take advantage of the resources available to her.

January 7, 2021

The year is off to a good start with our students back and learning remotely. As you may be aware from today’s Provincial government announcement, our return to the Castle for our Lower School students has been delayed until Monday, January 25. Distance learning will continue until that time and our dedicated team is prepared to provide the support your daughter needs. Boarding remains open and we are committed to providing a safe and nurturing boarding program.

December 21, 2020

As circumstances around COVID-19 continue to evolve, today Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced a 28-day provincial lockdown to take effect on Boxing Day in an effort to curb climbing cases. Under the lockdown, schools in southern Ontario will move to distance learning. Trafalgar Castle School will be following this directive and extending the return of in-person learning for students in Grades 9 through 12 to Monday, January 25. Students in Grades 4 through 8 will return to in-person learning on Monday, January 11 as scheduled.

Distance learning will begin for all students as previously announced on Tuesday, January 5.

As boarding is deemed an essential service, this provincial lockdown does not impact our boarding program. Boarding will remain open throughout the winter holidays and we will be ready to welcome students back to boarding as scheduled on Monday, January 4.

Please note that these closures are subject to revision if deemed necessary by the provincial government. We understand this is a significant disruption for many and thank you for your continued support during these exceptional times. We remain confident in our ability to uphold the integrity of our programming despite the continued challenges ahead.

October 1, 2020

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Return to School Plan

Guiding Principles and Resources

Prospective Families

Who to Contact

Head of School, Melissa Knight-Johnson will do her best to address any concerns and questions you may have. For questions specific to the areas listed below, please contact the appropriate staff member.

Academics

Melissa Knight-Johnson, Head of School (Upper School)
Laurie Kuchirka

Boarding

Communications

Finance

Guidance, Academic & University Counselling

Technology Support

Student Wellness and Support