COVID-19

Back to School Details - Senior School

Back to School Information

We are excited to have your sons back on campus and are working hard to prepare for their return to school. There is a lot of information on this page. Please read and review carefully with your son to understand expectations and timing.  
These are the key factors underlying our model for September:
  • Student and employee health and wellbeing
  • Every day, in-person learning
  • Academic success
  • Flexibility to pivot to either online learning or our pre-pandemic 8-Day schedule.

Reopening Plans for 2021/22

In full compliance with the Ministry of Education COVID-19 Health, Safety and Operational Guidelines for Schools, RSGC will operate in a year-long program from Grades 9-12. Classrooms will be physically set up in a way to allow for normalized student numbers, removing any unnecessary furniture to provide as much space as possible between students. Students will rotate through their Day 1 schedule for a four-week period of school days, at which point they will move to a Day 2 schedule for a four-week period of school days before returning to Day 1 again. 
This model provides us with the consistency of everyone in a year-long structure, but the benefits of a smaller course load approach, four or fewer courses at a time. This modified approach also limits contact with those on campus, allows reliable traffic patterns, and provides flexibility transitioning to a remote model, should it become necessary. It also allows us to consider moving to our pre-pandemic 8-day schedule, allowing for flexibility as noted. 
 
 

The School Day

List of 8 items.

  • Modified Schedule

    Day 1Day 2
    Periods 1-4Periods 1-4
    4 Weeks4 Weeks

  • Overview of the Learning Day

    The teaching day will consist of four periods, including all regularly scheduled courses. Each week, the schedule will tumble one period forward, allowing for a change in when each period is offered. For example, in week 1 of Day 1, English might be scheduled in the first period. The following week, it will be in the second-period slot, and the next week in the third-period slot, finishing in the last week of the cycle in the fourth-period slot. 

    Arrival times will be consistent for all Grades 9-12; however, separate entrances/exits will be designated for each grade/cohort, as well as traffic patterns to limit daily contacts. Advisor sessions as well will be in-person, allowing faculty to maintain contact with students and oversee the social-emotional and academic well-being of students.

  • Absences and Late Arrival

    Please inform us in advance when your son is not able to attend school. 
     
    Please note absences by calling (416) 533-6724 or emailing Dianne Ryan at seniorattendance@rsgc.on.ca.
     
    Notifying teachers directly, instead of Dianne, actually makes the process much less streamlined, and at times confusing. It sounds counterintuitive, but please trust that our system of communication is thorough and efficient at getting the information to all who need it. 

  • A Closer Look at the Timing

     
     Grade 9/10Grade 11/12
    8:15Buliding becomes Accessible
    8:30Period 1
    9:45Period 2
    11:05Virtual Assembly / Break / Avisors
    11:25LUNCHPeriod 3
    12:05Period 3LUNCH (12:40)
    1:25Period 4
    2:45Dismissal
    3:00Building No Longer Accessible
    3:30Virtual Clubs Available

  • Community Time (11:05 - 11:25 am)

    Community Time is the break between Periods 2 and 3. As this is a time for community gatherings, there are no off-campus privileges for any students during this time frame. 

    Community Time will include Monday Virtual Assemblies, Tuesday - Thursday outdoor breaks and Friday Advisors. During outdoor breaks, students should ensure they bring warm clothing for the colder weather.

  • Spares

    Students on spare can access the library, go off campus, or access outdoor space. Students with spares are not required to remain on campus; however, they are required to sign out whenever they leave campus and sign in upon their return. Students must remain on campus throughout any Community Time activity or break. They may leave campus during P2, but must return for Community Time. They may leave campus for P3, but must be present for Community Time prior to leaving campus during P3. 

    Students with P1 spares are encouraged to arrive for P2; however, they may arrive earlier if they are meeting with an adult and have a purpose to be present on campus. Those with P4 spares are encouraged to leave campus early unless they have a scheduled after-school activity, or are meeting with an adult.

    Retail will not be available (except during lunch pick up). Students are reminded to bring their own snacks.

  • Lunch

    We have revised the schedule to accommodate the use of Ketchum Hall for the designated number of students permitted.

    11/12 students 

    Students will eat lunch in their period 4 classroom (except FTC), outside or off-campus. Students with a period 4 spare (on lunch program) should take their lunch with them off-campus. 

    9/10 students 

    Students will have designated rooms on the first floor to eat. As is our usual practice in January, Grade 10 students are now allowed off campus during lunch, once the consent form has been signed by parents. This is a family decision. Please keep an eye out for the consent form in the Portal.

  • Distance Learning

    Central to our planning for the 2021/22 school year has been our commitment for full-time face-to-face learning for all students, everyday, on campus. We believe that the learning as well as their mental and physical wellbeing are optimized when school resembles, as closely as possible, a "normal" experience. A parallel online program is not available for our students.
     
    Having said that, we recognize that distance learning may need to be operationalized. This may be for those with specific COVID-related circumstance (quarantine requirements, documented medical conditions) or under direction from public health authorities for a group or cohort or for the school as directed. 

    We will not provide camera access en masse to students who are absent until further notice; however, cameras can be utilized to help teachers maintain their instructional approaches to class. If their instruction plan that day requires them to turn cameras on for absent students, teachers will notify students through their portal class pages when that will occur. Please do not reach out to teachers to request camera access. Teachers will determine when it is of benefit to their instruction and, in turn, absent students.

Safety Measures

List of 5 items.

  • Spacing - Grades 9 & 10 Students

    Students in Grades 9 and 10 will occupy the first floor of the Senior School building and have access to the gymnasium, music rooms and See House for specialized programming like the Arts, Phys Ed and Computer Science. Currently, plans around the safe playing of instruments and signing are in place for indoor and outdoor performance. Students will move to and from classes based on their individualized course schedule, following designated traffic patterns.

  • Spacing - Grades 11 & 12 Students

    Students in Grades 11 and 12 will occupy the second and third floor of the Senior School building, and will also have access to the gymnasium, music rooms and See House for specialized programming like the Arts, Phys Ed and Computer Science. Currently, plans around the safe playing of instruments and signing are in place for indoor and outdoor performance. Students will move to and from classes based on their individualized course schedule, following designated traffic patterns.

  • Physical Distancing

    Our expectation is that students will maintain physical distancing where possible when on campus.

  • Screening

    Again this year, we will be using an App called MyMedBot to screen our community members each school day for COVID-19 symptoms and behaviours. Parents will be expected to complete the MYMedBot screening App prior to any student arriving to campus. 

    Please be sure to complete the MyMedbot Health Screening Form daily before your son’s arrival at school. Also, note that the criteria have changed, so please review each question carefully and answer accurately.  

    Students will not be permitted to enter any buildings until 8:15 am. Classes will begin at 8:30 am.

  • Masks

    Students - Must wear any N95/KN95/3 ply surgical mask. No cloth masks unless doubled up with a 3 ply disposable or approved by the school nurse. 

    All - Masks must be worn at all times while on campus - inside all buildings and outside during breaks/lunch. 

    Phys. ed. students should have one mask specifically for phys. ed. class to then be changed afterward.

Drop-off and Pickup

List of 3 items.

  • Drop-off & Pickup

    We encourage high school students to use alternative means of transportation like the TTC, bicycles or walking. If you have to drive to school, we encourage parents to arrange to pick up and drop off Senior School students at a location that is a short walk from the school to reduce neighbourhood traffic as much as possible. If you must pick up or drop off at the school, please do so in the locations designated below. 

    Student drivers are not permitted to park on any street surrounding the perimeter of the school and are encouraged to find parking outside the immediate neighbourhood.

    As good neighbours of the Annex, and as part of our Georgian Code of respecting all community members, we ask that you pay attention to the following guidelines when it comes to accessing the school by car:
    • Please abide by all traffic regulations, including full stops at stop signs and speed limits, when driving within the immediate neighbourhood of the school and on campus. 
    • Do not park on the main streets for pick-up or drop-off. 
    • When using Albany or Howland Avenue, please do not pull up onto the sidewalk to wait for students, or to drop them off. Instead, please make arrangements so that your son is already outside waiting for you when you arrive. Quick stop parking is available at the very bottom end of Albany before Barton ave. 

  • Layby Drop-off & Pickup

    This is primarily designated for Junior School students and Grade 11/12 students; however, if you have Junior students in your car as well as 9/10 students, you may also use the Layby. 

  • Albany Avenue Drop-off & Pickup

    This is primarily designated for students in Grades 9 and 10, as well as vehicles dropping students with any combination of students in Grades 9-12 (brothers, etc.)
     

Building Access

Students entering school buildings will have designated access points depending on the grade and building.

Students will only have access to the building between 8:15 am and 3:00 pm. After 3:00 pm the building with be closed.

List of 4 items.

  • Grades 9 & 10 - Main High School Building

    Albany Avenue entrance and the main entrance off the turf. Students in Grades 9 and 10 can use either entry and are encouraged to use the one closest to the class they will attend at the time of entry.

  • Grades 9 & 10 - See House

    Students should enter See House through the following access points for the following classes: Art, Drama, Computer Science 
    • Enter the exterior door at the Headmaster’s Porch and use the stairwell to access classes in the basement (Art & Drama) or classes on the second floor (Computer Science) 
    • Exit the Garage Door Exit from classes in the basement
    • Exit the Admissions stairwell and out through the original Howland front door for classes coming from the second floor

  • Grades 11 & 12 - Main High School Building

    Music Centre entrance and the Chapel Entrance. Students in Grades 11 & 12 can use either entry and are encouraged to use the one closest to the class they will attend at the time of entry.

  • Grades 11 & 12 - See House

    Students should enter See House through the following access points for the following classes: Art, Drama, Computer Science and any elective designated for that building
    • Enter the exterior door at the Headmaster’s Porch and use the stairwell to access classes in the basement (Art & Drama) or classes on the second floor (Computer Science & electives in SH 202) 
    • Exit the Garage Door Exit from classes in the basement
    • Exit the Admissions stairwell and out through the original Howland front door for classes coming from the second floor

Other Details

List of 9 items.

  • Lockers & Personal Belongings

    We will start the school year with locker access for Grade 9/10 only to accommodate clothing for the Phys Ed program. Grade 11/12 lockers will be assigned later in the term when available. Change room facilities are available.

    Boys are encouraged to bring only what is essential for the day they attend school. Students are encouraged to leave any valuable items not required for school at home.

  • Co-Curricular and Club Programming

    Please note, all co-curriculars are currently being held virtually. The start time for the club will be determined by the individual club. Students may participate in virtual clubs once they have returned home at the end of the academic day. Students can find virtual links or individual Club Portal pages for links to participate. 

    We will start the year cautiously. All indoor clubs require masking. Outdoor clubs should encourage masking, but masks are not required if students are safely spaced (six feet). 

    Indoor clubs that are greater than 12 students must remain in cohorted age groups (9/10 or 11/12) on the designated floors already assigned for classes. Clubs that have 12 or fewer students that can separate 9/10 students from 11/12 students by more than two meters throughout the session may operate with mixed cohorting at the end of the school day. 

    Outdoor clubs may operate with mixed cohorting provided that students maintain two-metre distance between cohorts throughout the session. Masks will be encouraged outdoors.

  • Advisors

    Advisors are responsible for the academic and social-emotional well-being of students and are another great contact for parents. The Advisor program is organized as follows:

    Grade 9 Groupings of Advisors
    Grade 10 Groupings of Advisors
    Grade 11/12 Groupings of Advisors

  • Academic Support

    The Learning Centre will be established in two areas of the school to support students. Grades 9 and 10 students will be supported by a Learning Centre Support teacher on the first floor of the school. Separately, Grade 11 and 12 students will have access to support in the original Learning Centre space in the library.

  • Well-being

    Again this year, Andrea Kaye, our full-time Senior School Social Worker, will be available to support any student. She will continue to work with the Phys. Ed. department to deliver mental health and wellness curriculum. Andrea will be organizing a number of opportunities for discussions of support. Families are welcome to reach out to her for any additional support. 

  • Assessment and Reporting

    Assessment, evaluation and reporting activities will proceed as usual, with a focus on the achievement of overall expectations and the primary purpose of assessment and evaluation being to improve student learning. We will continue to follow Growing Success guidelines for determining student achievements. 

    Report cards, including Progress Reports and the communication of learning skills, will be provided for all students.

  • Technology

    Students will have access to technical support through the IT office. New students in Grade 9 will be provided with a specialized orientation around the suite of applications used by our high school students. They will also be introduced to the school portal using their assignment calendar, accessing class pages, communicating with students and faculty, navigating their Google drive and managing their online presence.

  • Enrichment & AP Classes

    Enriched streams of Math and French will operate as usual, providing students with an opportunity to challenge themselves and dive deeper into the curriculum. Meanwhile, AP classes will also operate as usual, with students taking on both the AP curriculum and the Ontario curriculum. AP exams will be written in May.

  • University Admissions

    The schedule will have no impact on the university application process and admissions. Students will continue in a year-long program and the school will submit grades to the OUAC at its regular intervals. Mr. Ian Fleming will operate out of the first floor and will be available to all students. All families are welcome to reach out to Mr. Fleming for any counselling or advice.

Health Questions?

We want to hear from you with any questions you have about health, safety and returning to school. We’ll do our best to provide answers. Please send your email to the School Nurse and your question will be addressed as soon as possible.

Public Health Agencies

School Uniform

The school year will start with Summer dress. This includes:
  • Black shoes
  • Dress socks (any colour)
  • Grey flannels
  • Black belt
  • White dress shirt (short or long sleeve)
Students may wear #1 dress, but are reminded that they do not have access to lockers to start the year.

General Questions?

Paul O’Leary, Head of the Senior School, and Michael Ruscitti, Director of Teaching and Learning, are both available to answer any of your questions about the upcoming school year.

Royal St. George's College

120 Howland Ave | Toronto, ON | M5R 3B5
416-533-9481 
info@rsgc.on.ca

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Royal St. George's College is an independent school for boys located in The Annex neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The school admits boys from Grades 3 through 12. Our mission is to challenge and inspire each of our students to become the best version of himself.