Illness that develops at School with Covid-19

Parents and caregivers should consult the latest communications from Toronto Public Health and the Toronto District School Board for current information regarding Covid-19, including relevant policies and procedures.

See here for important information from Toronto Public Health.

See here for the Toronto District School Board’s Covid-19 Guidance.”

Medication

The Board requires written instructions from your child’s doctor, on a TDSB form, if school staff must administer medication. This form can be requested from the Principal and the medication should be given to the Principal. This requirement also applies to students with an Epipen.

Anaphylaxis

There are children in our school with a life threatening food allergy called anaphylaxis. This is a medical condition that causes a severe reaction to specific foods or to other materials, and can result in death within minutes. Although peanuts and peanut products are the most common foods to cause anaphylaxis, tree nuts, shellfish, fish, eggs, sulfates, milk, sesame seeds, soy or other food can cause this condition. Even if there are no children with serious allergies in your child’s classroom, please send foods to school that are free from peanut and nut products. We ask that you celebrate birthdays outside of school, as we cannot celebrate them with outside items in the school. If your child has health concerns of any kind, please inform your child’s teacher and the office staff so that the necessary health protection steps may be taken. Please contact the school office for further information on TDSB procedures or contact Anaphylaxis Canada at (416) 785-5666.

Bicycles, Blades, Scooters & Boards

The bicycle racks at the west side of the school yard are for the use of students in Grades 1 to 6. Brown is not responsible for loss or damage to articles left there, and locks should be used. Bicycles, blades, scooters and skateboards may be used to get to school, but not on school premises. Helmets must be worn.

Crossing Guards

Crossing Guards are on duty at:

Poplar Plains Road and Balmoral Avenue
NW corner of Avenue Road and Balmoral Avenue
SW corner of Avenue Road and St. Clair Avenue

Times are between 8:30AM and 9:00AM in the morning, from 11:40AM to 12:00PM and 12:40PM to 1:00PM at lunch, and from 3:25PM to 4:00PM after school.

Prohibited Items

There are many prohibited items and behaviours under the Safe Schools Act. Part of our School Code of Conduct prohibits the following:

Dogs and smoking or matches are not allowed on school property at any time.
Weapons and toys that replicate them are also not allowed, even on Halloween.
Electronic toys (iPods, Nintendo, PSPs) should not be brought to school. We offer many other play activities for children.

Pediculosis

Traditionally, whole-school pediculosis checks are organized several times during the school year, and volunteers re-check classes where a parent reports a case later in the year. However, given changes relating to outside visitors to the school during the 2020/21 school year, we are not planning for external pediculosis checks at this time. These measures have proven effective in controlling outbreaks throughout the year. Although pediculosis is not a disease and is not harmful, TDSB policy since 2001 requires that children with the condition be kept at home until treatment is completed and all nits are removed. Please inform the school if you discover that your child has head lice. It’s nice to prevent the nuisance for others.

TDSB Severe Weather Procedures

Occasionally, severe weather conditions may require the TDSB to cancel transportation and close schools. This may occur before the beginning of the school day or, if conditions become severe, during the school day. Should schools close during the school day or transportation schedules change, announcements will be broadcast by 12 noon and posted on the TDSB website. Parents on our school email list will receive an email notification. Please be prepared to pick up your child or make arrangements for your child should schools close early or if transportation schedules are advanced.

Classroom Concerns & Questions

If you have a concern about a classroom matter always discuss it with the classroom teacher first. The teacher involved will have the best information about the situation. If you want to involve other staff, please do it after this first meeting. Our admin team, Ms. Goldfarb and Ms. Jalon are very approachable and eager to help. The Parent Concern Protocol can be found on the TDSB website.

Academic Support

Brown has Special Education, Special needs and MART (Methods and Resources) teachers for students who require special support. These teachers provide remedial support to students either in their classroom or withdrawn from the classroom. The MART teacher also works with classroom teachers to provide modified programming for these students. Identification of a student is made through a School Support Team meeting.

TDSB Safety Procedures

For the TDSB’s detailed safety procedures, please look in your child’s agenda or visit the TDSB website.