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Waldorf Academy is committed to the safety of its students and the community. Please find more information in our 2022-2023 Health and Safety Guide.

–       Stay home and get tested if you feel ill.

–       Screen every day for symptoms before attending child care, day camps, or school (using the COVID Screening Tool).

–       Practice good hand hygiene habits, masking, and physical distancing.

–       Refer to Ontario.ca/covidresponse to learn what public health measures are in place in our community.

Daily Entrance to School:

All students, faculty, and staff must screen themselves as well as household members for symptoms each day prior to attending school.

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, Toronto Public Health, and the Government of Ontario. All parents must sign Waldorf Academy’s COVID Agreement and Declaration waiver where parents agree to perform this daily screening assessment.

The Toronto Public Health Screening Tool for students (as of September 6, 2022):

Recommendations of Health officials to protect yourself from possible infection:

• Wash your hands frequently and well with soap and water
• Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth
• Cough or sneeze into your elbow, or cover your cough or sneeze
• Avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness
• Stay home if you are sick and avoid contact with others
• If you are sick, contact a health care provider about your symptoms and inform them of your travel history

Symptoms of the Coronavirus range from common to severe respiratory illness and include fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. If you have recently traveled internationally and are experiencing these symptoms, avoid contact with others, see a health care provider, and tell them the countries you visited. You should also contact the school.

Health Resources:

• Toronto Public Health
• Toronto Public Health Guidance for Families and Caregivers
• Public Health Ontario
• Public Health Agency of Canada
• Ontario Ministry of Health
• World Health Organization – Q & A on coronavirus
• World Health Organization – Novel Coronavirus (2019 – nCoV) advice for the public
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Toronto Public Health has a call center to address questions from the public. If you have questions about what is happening in Toronto, how the virus is spread, and what to do if you have symptoms, please call 416-338-7600.

Given the complex and rapidly evolving situation, we encourage you to visit Health Canada and the  Centers for Disease Control (CDC) websites.

Stress and Anxiety Management:

If you hear from a student or family who is in distress and needs immediate assistance, or if you require immediate assistance yourself, we encourage you to refer to the telephone and online mental health supports and service listed below:

• Distress Centre (GTA): 24-hour crisis line, 416-408-4537
• Gerstein Centres (Downtown Toronto): 24-hour crisis line and mobile support service, 416-929-5200

Please find below links that provide useful information on how to identify and manage stress during this time.

• https://www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-health-and-covid-19 
• Family Tips from Social Worker, Julia Swaigen

Resources for Parents:

Remote Learning Sites
How to talk to your kids about the Coronavirus
How to talk to children about difficult news

Get Financial Support For Families- Ontario Government

Eligible parents will receive a one-time per child payment of:

• $200 for children aged 0 to 12
• $250 for children or youth aged 0 to 21 with special needs

Learn More