Leave Types

Spare Periods

Students are not permitted access to the Boarding houses during the school day if they are expected to be at school, in class. The house will be open for students attending Virtual classes. Should a student require access, they must seek permission from the Director of Boarding.

Dance Leaves

Students are welcome to attend any Coalition of Single Sex Schools of Toronto (COSSOT) dance that is open to their grade. When Branksome is invited to dances at other independent schools, students may attend with the permission of Boarding staff. Curfews may be negotiated according to the nature of the event. Should a student not comply with the guidelines set by Boarding staff, these dance privileges will be limited.

Off Campus Appointments

Students who have scheduled appointments during the school day (e.g. dentist) must inform the Director of Boarding at least one week in advance, who may then confirm with parents and inform the school’s attendance line. Only the Director of Boarding can excuse a Boarding student from class. Once restrictions loosen, Grade 11 and 12 students will be permitted to leave school grounds on their own, signing out from the school office and returning at a designated time. This will be communicated by the Director of Boarding once it is permitted. For at least the first six weeks of school, students in Grade 7–12 require an adult accompaniment to leave campus during the school day, either a parent, guardian or Boarding staff member.

Vacations and Holiday Travel

Parents and guardians are responsible for communicating with the school the travel plans of the student as soon as possible. In accordance with the Branksome Hall vacation policy, the school strongly recommends that students do not leave early or arrive late from vacation times. If a student is absent from school due to extended vacation time or unavoidable travel arrangements, the family must request permission from the Head of the Senior and Middle School in advance. Please book plane tickets as soon as possible to ensure getting the necessary departure and arrival dates before and after holidays (see Boarding closure dates). We highly recommend that cancellation insurance is purchased in the event that international travel is restricted.

In the event of a second wave of COVID-19 and another school-wide closure, we are committed to keeping our Boarding Program open so that students can attend Virtual Branksome from the comfort of their dorm room and continue to have the social-emotional support of our Boarding Advisors. We plan to support the well-being of each student through socially-distant connections and activities. We recognize that the shift to online learning may be challenging and our aim is to maintain as many routines as possible for your daughters. The Boarding Advisors have training to support the well-being of adolescents.

Depending on the global situation and the situation in the City of Toronto, Branksome Hall will consider having the Boarding houses stay open at an additional cost to families. A decision for the December break will be made by November 1, 2020. If campus is closed for a break, students are welcome to return to campus between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. If the planned arrival time to campus is earlier or later, students will have to make alternative arrangements to stay with their guardian.