Visitors, Campus Security & Fire Drills

Visitors

Please note that visitors to campus will not be permitted into the boarding house until the restrictions loosen and we have been advised by Toronto Public Health.

On move-in day, parents may accompany students to campus; however, only one person who completes a health screening before arrival and wears a mask may enter the Boarding House to assist with student move-in. We will have Boarding Advisors present to help students move her belongings to her room and to help her set up whatever is needed.

One additional person who completes a health screening upon arrival and wears a mask may enter the Boarding House to assist with student move-in. Otherwise, no visitors are permitted into the Boarding buildings. Parents are welcome to arrive on campus once the health pre-screening is complete and then say good-bye at the door.

Once restrictions on physical distancing are lifted:

As a communal living environment, male guests, male family members, and romantic partners are permitted to visit with Boarding students under staff supervision in the common areas only and are not permitted in bedrooms. All visitors to Boarding must sign in and sign out with the Boarding staff on duty.

Given the busy nature of the school day, visitors may not stay later than 5:30 p.m. (dinner time) Monday to Thursday, with the exception being if a Day and Boarding student are working on a school project together, then the Day student may stay during supervised study time. Boarding students must accompany their guests at all times throughout the Boarding buildings and are responsible for their guests’ conduct at all times.

Guests may visit with Branksome students in the Common Rooms of Ainslie House and Sherborne House during the following hours:

Monday–Thursday 4:00–5:30 p.m.

Friday 4:00–10:00 p.m.

Saturday 12:30–10:00 p.m.

Sunday 12:30–5:30 p.m.

International Family Visits

While we are mandated to follow physical distancing measures by our health and government officials, we are not permitting visitors to the Boarding Houses. We will continue to update our policies as the COVID-19 pandemic evolves.

Once restrictions on physical distancing are lifted:

If you or members of your family have the opportunity to visit Toronto during the school year and wish to have your child stay with you off campus, plans must be communicated and confirmed with the Director, Boarding to ensure continuity of care. It is our policy that Boarding students may spend up to one week living full-time outside Boarding with their visiting family. After one week, we establish a part-time schedule which allows students to maintain their relationships with roommates and friends as well as stay connected to the Boarding program. Ideally, after one week, students spend 3-4 nights a week with their family off campus and 3-4 nights a week in Boarding. This could look like Friday-Sunday nights with family and Monday-Thursday nights in Boarding.

Campus Security

Branksome Hall has trained, uniformed security officers on campus full-time, ensuring continuous security coverage. Students are required to check in and out with Boarding staff and meet curfews for reasons of safety and security. Campus gates and Boarding buildings are secured by way of passcard entry points and each Boarding house has additional security measures. Once all students have met curfew, all outside doors are alarmed, preventing incoming or outgoing traffic. There are also several turn-key alarm systems on each floor in addition to motion detectors in the stairwells and common areas which, when triggered after hours, will alert our on-campus security officer.

In each bedroom, students have access to a small personal lock box/safe for valuables under $200. Keep in mind that valuables (sentimental or otherwise), including jewellery, and/or more than $200 in cash should not be brought to Boarding houses or kept by students in their bedrooms, either in their lock box/safe or otherwise. Larger amounts of personal cash must be kept in the Boarding safe and can be accessed by the Director of Boarding or Senior Boarding Advisor for the student at any time. Bedroom doors are to remain locked and students must not share their key to ensure access is limited to the occupants only.

Fire Regulations, Fire Drills and Lockdown Drills

By order of the Fire Marshal's Office and the school’s insurer, there must be no flags or posters hung from the ceilings, including those ceilings which are sloped. Bulletin boards are provided in each room for student use. As a fire precaution, no incense, candles, matches, cigarettes, or other flammable materials may be kept in students’ bedrooms. Any appliance that is rated at 300 watts or higher (including rice cookers, kettles, irons, etc.) is a fire hazard and may not be used in students’ rooms. The Boarding and housekeeping staff will confiscate any fire hazards found in students’ rooms.

There are several fire drills and lockdown drills throughout the year. Practice drills take place at the beginning of the year, so that all students are aware of the closest exit and meeting place outside the building, and again in the spring. Fire exits and extinguishers are clearly marked in each building. Lockdown drills are conducted during the school day, several times per year. All students, teachers, staff and Boarding staff receive lockdown instructions at the start of the school year.