| The Boarding Curriculum and expectations are based on the Core Social Emotional Learning Competencies developed by The Collaborative for Academic Social and Emotional Learning known as CASEL.
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) enhances students’ capacity to integrate skills, attitudes, and behaviours to deal effectively and ethically with daily tasks and challenges. This integrated framework promotes intrapersonal, interpersonal, and cognitive competence. Boarding employs a continuum of interventions to address and promote positive student behaviour towards oneself and others. When the student’s safety has been assured, opportunities to learn, grow and be more considerate of others in the future are discussed. Self-Awareness Defined by CASEL as “the ability to accurately recognize one’s own emotions, thoughts, and values and how they influence behavior. The ability to accurately assess one’s strengths and limitations, with a well-grounded sense of confidence, optimism, and a growth mindset.”
Boarding expects that each student will: | Refrain from requesting access to or entering the Boarding houses during the school day when closed to students (for cleaning) or if students are supposed to attend class in person. | | Support wellness in themselves and others by establishing open communication, promoting self-advocacy and resilience. | | Maintain standards of communal cleanliness and personal hygiene, including a tidy bedroom that passes room inspection and maintaining a tidy shared kitchen/laundry room. Adhere to the cleaning routines of Boarding, including weekly laundry service for linens and towels. Wash clothing on a regular basis. Note that food is not allowed to be stored in bedrooms. Any food that is found in rooms during room checks will be relocated to the kitchen to be stored in a plastic bin or fridge. | | Dress in weather-appropriate attire while in and out of the Boarding house to maintain good health. | | Follow the prescribed protocols outlined by Toronto Public Health and Boarding Staff. |
Self - Management Defined by CASEL as “the ability to successfully regulate one’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in different situations—effectively managing stress, controlling impulses, and motivating oneself. The ability to set and work toward personal and academic goals.”
The Boarding program expects that each student will: | Wear a complete and well-maintained uniform during breakfast and school hours. See the revised uniform for the 2020/21 school year. | | Arrive on time and prepared for all scheduled events, including breakfast and dinner, 4:00 p.m. check in, study time, and lights-out. Make every effort to attend all meals and scheduled events, even if running late or encountering a scheduling conflict. | | Eat the meals as provided and ensure no outside food is brought to the Dining Hall; campus is a nut-aware zone (no peanuts or tree-nuts permitted). Outside food may not be brought or delivered to campus Monday to Friday. | | Demonstrate on-task behaviour during study time by refraining from socializing and the use of entertainment technology. | | Value the academic and health benefits of at least 7 hours of sleep every night by remaining in your own bedroom and refraining from the use of technology after lights-out. | | When unsupervised campus outings resume, submit a leave request on REACH, sign out face to face with a Boarding staff member, and agree to check-in every three hours while off campus. Should the Boarding staff member need to call the student for an off-campus check-in, and they do not answer the phone, the situation will escalate. |
Social Awareness Defined by CASEL as “the ability to take the perspective of and empathize with others, including those from diverse backgrounds and cultures. The ability to understand social and ethical norms for behavior and to recognize family, school and community resources and supports.”
The Boarding program expects that each student will: | Acknowledge and celebrate the cultural diversity of the Boarding community through respectful, inclusive and welcoming behaviour. | | Be a considerate community member by respecting the communal spaces, daily schedule, physical distancing protocols and quiet times. | | Demonstrate a positive attitude and participate in events, including meals, cultural dinners, house meetings, supervised off-campus outings. | | Practice respect for the personal belongings of other people including in the laundry rooms and bathrooms. Theft of any kind will not be tolerated. |
Relationship Skills Defined by CASEL as “the ability to establish and maintain healthy and rewarding relationships with diverse individuals and groups. The ability to communicate clearly, listen well, cooperate with others, resist inappropriate social pressure, negotiate conflict constructively, and seek and offer help when needed.”
Boarding expects that each student will: | Be a good housemate by listening without judgement, speaking up if something needs to change, being open to feedback, willing to compromise and actively work towards making the Boarding houses a comfortable place to live for everyone. | | Embrace the IB mission which values diverse perspectives and “encourage[s] students...to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.” | | Respect the privacy of others by refraining from photographing or recording people unawares or who otherwise do not give their consent. Breach of this trust will not be tolerated. | | Respect the boundaries of others. It is not permissible to enter into someone else’s room without their permission. | | Seek support from the Boarding staff and other school support people when faced with a tricky situation. | | Value social connectedness by refraining from the use of entertainment technology during meals. Note: Cellphones and smart watches are not permitted to be used at meal times. Family members should be advised not to call during dinner or study time. |
Responsible Decision-Making Defined by CASEL as “the ability to make constructive choices about personal behavior and social interactions based on ethical standards, safety concerns, and social norms. The realistic evaluation of consequences of various actions, and a consideration of the well-being of oneself and others.”
Boarding expects that each student will: | Adhere to all aspects of the school’s Code of Conduct (found on the portal); including Anti-Bullying and No Drugs, Cigarettes or Alcohol Policies. | | Follow designated walkways and prescribed directions to maintain physical distancing when crossing Elm Avenue or using the overpass to cross Mount Pleasant Road. Students must not cross the circle driveway or Sherborne parking lot between Houses. | | When unsupervised campus outings resume, actively seek permission from the Boarding Staff and sign out properly on REACH and face to face with your Boarding Advisor whenever leaving your house or campus, returning in time for curfew. | | When unsupervised campus outings resume, clearly explain travel plans, proposed activity and location of event on REACH and face to face with your Boarding Advisor when seeking off-campus permission. Note: permission for an extended curfew may only be granted by the Director of Boarding and only when requested in advance. | | When unsupervised campus outings resume, understand the importance of being reachable (by phone) at all times while off campus. |
Repercussions And Consequences When a student does not meet a boarding expectation, they will make amends to their community through one or more of the following actions at the discretion of the Director of Boarding: | Students will perform helpful chores. Chores may include, but are not limited to 20 minutes of tidying common room spaces or house kitchen, taking attendance at meals, helping to organize and put away shared house snacks, collecting lost and found items, or other in-house community service initiatives. | | Students will co-create, with support from boarding staff, a roommate contract to manage differing living habits and preferences. | | Students will attend breakfast at 7:50 a.m. at the first available opportunity and additional wake-up measures will be considered. | | Students will write a formal letter of apology to the impacted person(s) and have it approved by the Director of Boarding. | | Students will serve a TRAC in the Senior School or in the Boarding house. Students will lose free-time or other privileges. | | Students will serve a weekday or 24-hour weekend gating. Gatings are quiet, on-campus time for reflection and personal growth. During Gatings, students will attend all meals in the Dining Hall and check in at prescribed times with Boarding staff. |
It is expected that Boarding staff will handle minor disciplinary actions; however, Branksome Hall may skip any step in any progressive discipline process, depending on the nature of the behavior or incident. This will be at the discretion of the Director of Boarding.
Serious matters will be dealt with by the Director of Boarding and may also include the Head of the Senior and Middle School, and Deputy Principal. Parents and guardians will be contacted and further action such as a move within Boarding, a full weekend gating, a behavioural contract, a loss of leadership position or a suspension or expulsion from the school will be reviewed and considered. |
