Returning to School

Together2021-22

5 TIPS FOR COPING

WITH

UNCERTAINTY &

THE RETURN TO

SCHOOL

(Shared by Nicole

McSweeney, IPS

Social Worker)

1) TAKE CARE OF BASIC NEEDS● Make sure you are eating and sleeping well

● Try to maintain regular physical activity/exercise

● Get outside

● Maintain social connections

2) IDENTIFY & VALIDATE FEELINGS….& TRY TO UNDERSTAND

THE FEELINGS UNDER THE BEHAVIOUR

● Identify & label different feelings you might be having

● Accept that all feelings are okay (& that sometimes we can

have what feels like opposite feelings at the same time)

● Normalize the feeling (eg. lots of people probably have

very similar feelings)

● Try to understand what feelings might be underlying

certain behaviours – think of the iceberg analogy: the

behaviour you see is like the tip of the iceberg….the

feelings underlying the behaviour is what is in the part of

the iceberg under the water

5 TIPS FOR

COPING WITH

UNCERTAINTY &

THE RETURN TO

SCHOOL

3) PLAN FOR WHAT YOU CAN● Try to understand what the new routine is going to be (at home & at

school)

● Start regulating bedtimes & wake up times

● For younger kids, practice what 6 ft apart looks like, how to take masks on

& off safely, how to wash hands properly

4) FOCUS ON WHAT YOU CAN CONTROL● Focus on the areas you DO have control over (eg. my own social

distancing, washing my hands, being kind to others, asking for help if I

need it)

● Showing gratitude: refocusing & appreciating the good things that are

going on

● POSITIVE THINKING/POSITIVE SELF-TALK: Remind yourself that: I’ve gotten

through hard things before & I have strategies to deal with hard things, I

will get better at this (things that are new can be hard & scary but with

practice it WILL get easier), I can always ask for help if I need it.

● The present moment: ground yourself in the present using mindfulness

skills

5 TIPS FOR

COPING WITH

UNCERTAINTY &

THE RETURN TO

SCHOOL

5) DEVELOP A VARIETY OF COPING STRATEGIES/SKILLS TO

DEVELOP RESILIENCE (the ability to cope with whatever life

throws at you or bounce back from challenges) & DEAL WITH

STRESS/ANXIETY/UNCERTAINTY……

● Make a list of different coping strategies: some can be

more active to help get the body moving, while others

can be helpful for calming the body and the mind

● Practice the different strategies: not every coping

strategy works for all people or in all situations

● Here are a few to get you started…..deep breathing,

listening to music, reading, drawing or painting,

squeezing a stress ball, going for a walk, exercising,

playing with a pet, writing in a gratitude journal, talking

to a friend or family member, mindfulness activity,

muscle relaxation, visualization, watching funny videos

etc….

TDSB Elementary

School Checklist

The most important thing IPS Families can

do to help slow the spread of COVID-19, is

to screen your child(ren) daily for

symptoms of COVID-19 and also follow the

circumstances in which they should stay

home.

You can further review the Toronto Public

Health Information COVID-19 Decision

Tool for School Students

Q & A About Health Screening App

Before coming to school...All students (& staff) must conduct an active COVID-19 Health Screening for

Children.Students, considering the following questions:

1) Does your child have any of the following new or worsening symptoms?○ Fever○ Cough○ Difficulty breathing○ Decrease or loss of taste or smell○ Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea

2) Does anyone in your household have one or more symptoms of COVID-19 and/or are waiting for test results after having symptoms?

3) In the last 10 days, has your child/student tested positive on a rapid antigen test or at home-based self-testing kit?

4) Has your child/student been notified as a close contact of someone with COVID-19 or told to stay home and self-isolate?

5) In the last 14 days, has your child/student travelled outside of Canada AND been advised to quarantine per the federal quarantine requirements?

If yes to any symptom:● Stay Home & Isolate

AND● Get Tested

OR● Contact a Health-Care

Provider

If yes to any question 2, 3, 4 or 5:● Stay Home & Isolate

AND● Get Tested public

health advice

Daily Health Screening

● All Students (& Staff) must conduct a daily health screening

● City-side Students: Health Screening takes place at the city ferry

docks by IPS Staff

● Island-side Students: Health Screening takes place at Centre

Island ferry docks by IPS Staff

Click the links below to learn more about two ways record your

child’s active health screening results before you leave home:

● Health Screening App

● Health Screening Paper Pass

COVID-19Screening Poster

Wearing Masks or Face Covering

Parents and students should remember:● To pack multiple snug and comfortable masks/face

coverings each day● IPS will provide a reusable mask for each student

at the beginning of school● Extra disposable & re-useable student masks will

be always available● Staff will ensure regular outdoor breaks

throughout the school day to take a break from wearing masks/face coverings

● To bring a breathable bag (paper or cloth) to store soiled masks, as well as a bag to store masks during outdoor breaks

● To teach their child to properly wear and care for their mask - we will encourage the same

● More info Available @ TDSB Mask Procedures

Transportation: Ferry & School Bus

● Students & Staff are required to wear a mask on the ferry (as

determined by City of Toronto) & school bus

● Students will be provided with a reusable face mask

● Students will be provided a coloured tag to attach to their

knapsack that will determine their cohort for boarding and

seating on the ferry & bus (ie. a specific colour tag/area on ferry

& bus)

● Transportation until Thanksgiving weekend - will be to/from

Centre Island

● Grade 1 to 6 Students will walk into school (weather permitting)

● Kindergarten students will be transported by school bus

● IPS has 3 large school buses & 1 small school bus - face masks,

open windows, student assigned seating & spacing when

possible

● Island-side students who chose to bike from their home to

school may meet at Centre Island by 9:00am to join their class

Please teach your child how to wear and care for their mask. We will encourage the same.

Drop-off & Pick-Up Routines

City-side Families● There is limited access and capacity inside the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal● Travel Safety Assistants will supervise students boarding/traveling on the ferry● Health Screening to be completed at home by parents before leaving● Health Screening results to be shown to IPS Staff upon arrival at docks/school● Health Screening begins at 8:30am in front of the ferry docks ticket booth● Students will board the ferry and be seated in a cohorted designated area (coloured tag)● Ferry leaves terminal at 8:45am arriving at Centre Island at 9:00 am● IPS Staff will greet students, take initial attendance and walk into school from Centre Island docks

Island-side Families● Meet the school bus at Ward’s Island by 8:45am to be transported to Centre Island dock - physical distancing

protocols and use of masks will be required● Health Screening to be completed at home by parents● Health Screening results to be shown to IPS Staff upon arrival at Centre Island docks or the school● IPS Staff will greet students, take initial attendance and walk into school from Centre Island docks

Transportation Designated Cohort Tags

● Kindergarten Students Leaf Green

Midnight Black

● Grade 1s & 2s Students Snowy White

Pumpkin Orange

Bubblegum Pink

Grape Purple

● Grade 3s & 4s Students Lemon Yellow

Grape Purple

Aqua Blue

Royal Blue

● Grade 5s & 6s Students Sunshine Yellow

Fire-Engine Red

Screening Station & Wellness Room

● All people entering the school are required to conduct a Health Screening

self-assessment prior to entry on a daily basis (staff & students)

● The main entrance will be set-up as a health screening station

● TPH Signage - Healthy Habits & Self-assessment Info posted

● Exterior markings reinforce physical distancing when entering the school

● Alcohol-based sanitizer will be available at every main school entrance and

each classroom entrance

● Masks will be available for those who require one

● Designated Health Wellness Room inside office in the event a student or

staff member become ill while at school (supervision, PPE, hand-sanitizer

available)

Practices to Increase Ventilation in TDSB Schools

Ventilation is one strategy to help prevent and slow the spread of COVID-19 in schools by reducing the number of virus particles in the air. The TDSB has focused on several areas to improve ventilation in schools and keep students and staff healthy.● Filtering air through individual classroom

portable industrial HEPA filters● Setting IPS school mechanical ventilation system

to run at maximum outside airflow a minimum of two hours before school starts and two hours after it ends to refresh the air before arrival and remove remaining participles at the of the day

● Read more: Ventilation Practices in TDSB School

Enhanced Cleaning Measures

● Caretaking staff will perform routine cleaning of general facilities throughout the day and will conduct enhanced cleaning of high touch surfaces such as light switches, handrails, door handles, etc. twice daily

● Mechanical HVAC systems have been checked during the summer months to ensure they are operating as designed, and filter changes will increase in frequency of filter changes. In addition, the intake settings will be adjusted to increase the amount of fresh air and reduce recirculation

● All classrooms have an industrial-grade portable HEPA filter system

● Hand-sanitizer Stations are located at each entrance of the classroom and front entrance of the school

● Students will have designated washrooms & water bottle filling stations

Visual Reminders Assist Students & Staff

with Physical Distancing

● Decals on floors & hallways - paw prints, sneakers, arrows

● Entry & Exit Signage for each door

● Walk-flow arrows on floor for directionality

● Various coloured painted sunshine icons to visually show physical distance and

designation for zoned play areas during recess

● TPH Signage - Healthy Habits; proper use of hand-washing; hand-sanitizing;

sneezing/coughing; proper putting on/taking off masks

● Spacing markers to encourage 2M distance

Individual IPS Classroom Wellness

● Floor Decals for Physical Distancing (paws, sneakers, arrows)

● TPH poster information of Healthy Habits

● Hand-Sanitizer Station in entrance of each classroom

● Windows &/or Doors open to assist with fresh air & ventilation

● Mechanical HVAC system setting to be adjusted to increase & maximize the amount of fresh air in

the classroom with filters change increased (TDSB procedure)

● Industrial portable HEPA filters in each classroom

● Designated space (ie. bins, tables) for items to be disinfected

● Masks/face coverings worn by all kindergarten to Grade 6 students

● All staff will be wearing masks & face shields (when necessary)

● Planned breaks outside scheduled to alleviate mask wearing

● Physical distance of tables/desks/chairs

● Designated seating to ensure physical distancing

● Recess/lunch/washroom break times posted

● Backpacks behind chairs to avoid crowding at cubbies/hooks

Some Items to Bring to School

● Backpack (indoor shoes; change of clothes for

younger students)

● Bagged Lunch (please remember our severe allergy

policy)

● Snacks

● Water Bottle

● Reusable masks and/or face covering

● You may bring your own hand-sanitizer to keep at

your desk; however all classrooms will have

hand-sanitizer, soap and paper towel

● Students are welcome to pack school supplies

(crayons, markers) to avoid sharing

● All students need to dress appropriately for the weather each day when they come to school as we will utilize the outdoors on a regular basis

Student Washrooms

Grade 1 to 6● Students will continue to travel in the hallways with a partner● Physical distancing will be encouraged at all times using floor decals & signage to help

assist students in directionality● Washroom Signage will indicate “One At A Time” while second student waits outside ● Signage for proper hand-washing posted in every washroom● Hand dryers & soap dispensers checked regularly● Designated classroom use specific washrooms

Kindergarten● Individual washrooms are located in each classroom● Floor decals & signage help assist students with washroom routines● Washroom Signage will indicate “One At A Time” while second student waits outside ● Signage for proper hand-washing posted in washroom● Paper towel & soap dispensers checked regularly

Access to Water

● TPH recommends that water fountains are

not to be used to drink water (these will

continue to be closed)

● Students are encouraged to bring a labeled

water bottle

● IPS has two water bottle filling stations

which students will be able to use on a

regular basis

● Designated classroom use water bottle

filling station

Student Breaks

● Student wellness breaks - frequent, in-class as well as outside

● Outdoor Learning is essential for all grades and will provide a fluid learning environment where the indoors and outdoors co-exist so that students outdoors can have a break from mask wearing

● RECESS & LUNCH - staggered exits to allow for physical distancing; students eat in classrooms and bring own lunch; Supervisors will ensure physical distancing

Lunch Routines

● Students will eat in their classrooms● Proper mask removal, hand sanitizing/washing procedures

will be reviewed and used prior to eating lunch● Students bring their own Lunch & Snacks - Litterless lunches

are encouraged and students will take home own garbage● Food, drinks and utensils will not be shared● Designated seating plan will be posted● Each student will have 40 minutes of designated outside

break time @ lunch● Students are to bring a lunch, snacks & water bottle each day

Nutrition Services Program - Starts September 13th○ Hot Lunch Program: individually packaged hot lunch delivered to classes○ Snack Program: individually brown bagged snack delivered to classrooms○ Click here to sign-up and complete google form

Designated Outdoor Areas for Learning, Breaks &

Recess

● Outdoor Classroom● Large Stump & Bench Area● Pollinator/Butterfly Pathway Area● Rock Circle Outdoor Classroom

Area● Wood Rounds Outdoor Area● Kindergarten Outdoor Classroom● Soccer Field● Pathway Outdoor Classroom● Rocket Tree Area● Kindergarten Area● Flag Pole Area● Forest Area● Baseball Area ● Three Trees Area ● Climbers

Specific areas designated for

physical spacing to encourage

outdoor learning & body breaks

Click to see a picture

IPS Walking Excursionsthat Encourage Outdoor Learning

● Chickadee Feeding Station

● Franklin’s Garden & Newly Created Turtle Pond

● Saturn Park Playground & Splash Pad

● Collecting Maple Sap to Create Maple Syrup

● Far Enough Farm at Centreville

● William Meany Maze & Cherry Blossom Trees

● Gibraltar Point Lighthouse

● Nature Hikes

● Beach Visits

First Day of School

Thursday,

September 9th

Meeting Mr. Woolford Prior to the First Day

On Tuesday, September 7th, meet Mr. Woolford to collect your child's reusable face mask and transportation coloured cohort tag. To support physical distancing, please do your best to adhere to the designated time below.

● Island-side Kindergarten to Grade 6 Families can meet Mr. Woolford at Ward's Island Ferry Dock at 2:15pm-2:40pm.

● City-side Families can meet Mr. Woolford @ Jack Layton Ferry Docks Entrance near Westin Hotel at the designated time below.

● Kindergarten 3:00pm-3:30pm● Grade 1 & 2 3:30pm-4:00pm● Grade 3 & 4 4:00pm-4:30pm● Grade 5 & 6 4:30pm-5:00pm

Building IPS School Spirit

School-wide Assemblies

● We will continue to hold our Virtual School-wideAssemblies that celebrate how IPS shines!

Extra-curricular Activities (TDSB Practice)

● Extra-curricular activities may gradually and responsibly return this fall. Elementary students may participate in any number of virtual extra-curricular offerings, a maximum of one indoor extra-curricular activity with appropriate masking and physical distancing. This number may increase when it is safe to do so and procedure are well established. We will keep you posted!

IPS Well-being Focus to Return to School

School-wide Focus● The First 10 Days (& Beyond) to Creating Caring

Connections and Supporting Student Mental Health and Well-Being During the Return to School

● The Third Path - Building Relationship - Focussing on the Foundational 4 (Safety; Regulation; Belonging; Positivity) to encourage Re-engagement

Kindergarten to Grade 6 Students● The Minds-Up Curriculum - In-class Activities to

Build Mindfulness

● Outdoor Learning

IPS Achievement Focus to Return to

School

Math Overview● Growth Mindset; Inspirational Math; MathUP:

Problem-solving w/real world problems that focus on social justice; Math skills/knowledge that build efficiency

Literacy Overview● Post-Card Writing (Character Trait; Seven Sacred

Teachings; The Third Path Conditions to Student RE-Engagement); Reading Focus in Primary

Student Support in Reading & Math● Specific student needs will be determined in

collaboration with the teacher, parent and principal to provide additional support for success

Thank you for cooperation and supporting a safe return to school. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out via email at

Scott.Woolford@tdsb.on.ca