Health Information

All families are required to provide the school with their child’s most recent health information, including current medical conditions, allergies and any other health-related concerns. This information is kept for use during the year, should your daughter become ill while on campus or during a school-related activity. It is very important that your child’s health records be updated whenever there is a change to their health status. The Student Health Information Form is accessible on the Portal, under Files and Forms.

Health Centre Access

Branksome Hall health services are delivered from the Ainslie House Health Centre, which is under the supervision of our Head Nurse and School Nurse.

The Health Centre is available to assist individuals with musculoskeletal concerns or injuries, pre-existing chronic conditions or allergies, illness and social-emotional support.

For the 2023–24 school year, the Health Centre will have an allocated isolation space, which can be accessed separately for individuals with possible communicable illness concerns.

Junior School Students

If a student is injured or not feeling well, she should tell her teacher, who will send her to the Junior School Office. Basic first aid may be provided within the office. If this is not possible, the student will be signed out at the office and sent to the Health Centre. The School Nurse will assess the student and determine next steps. If the student is able to return to class, she must notify the Junior School Office prior to returning to class.  

Senior & Middle School Students

If a student is injured or not feeling well, they should inform their teacher and proceed to the Senior School Main Reception. Basic first aid may be provided at the Main Reception. If this is not possible, the student will sign out and request a permission slip to go to the Health Centre. The School Nurse will assess the student and determine next steps. If the student is able to return to class, they must notify the Senior School Main Reception prior to returning to class.

Boarding Students

If a Boarding student is unable to attend class for health reasons, the School Nurse will make arrangements for the student to spend additional time in the Health Centre and be seen by a school doctor off-site. The Boarding staff will contact a local parent or guardian for the student to recuperate off-campus.

Immunization

Toronto Public Health requires that your child’s immunization records be kept up-to-date. Should Toronto Public Health contact you regarding any missing information, immunizations or records, please heed their requests. They have the legal right to suspend students from school who are in violation of these rules and the school must comply.

Parent/guardian(s) wishing to access their vaccine records can do so by going to www.toronto.ca/studentvaccines. If you have any trouble accessing the online record or have any questions or updates, please contact immunization@toronto.ca.

Scent-Free and Nut-Aware Environment

Branksome Hall is a scent-free environment and we request that all students, parents, visitors and employees not wear perfume or scented cosmetics when coming to the school.

We are also nut-aware, and no snacks or foods containing nuts should be brought onto campus. Consequently, we do not allow bake sales at the school. We thank you for helping to protect members of our community who have allergies.

Prevalent Medical Conditions

To promote the safety and well-being of students, the Ministry of Education requires that all schools have guidelines in place to support students with anaphylactic allergies, asthma, diabetes and seizure disorders, all of which can result in a medical occurrence or emergency requiring immediate response. In addition to the annual health update, students with a diagnosed prevalent medical condition are expected to have a completed Individualized Care Plan to outline the details around condition management at school. Using the information provided in the annual update, a blank copy of the plan will be shared with identified families to be completed before the start of the school year.

Concussion Management

The Ministry of Education requires all schools to have concussion management protocols in place to protect their students. Students, parents and educators must follow their school’s concussion policy.  

If the school suspects a concussion at any point, the parent/guardian is required to have their child picked up from school and assessed by a third-party medical professional. The Health Centre requires written medical documentation to confirm whether or not a concussion has been diagnosed by a doctor or nurse practitioner. If a concussion is diagnosed, Return to Learn and Return to Physical Activity plans will be implemented. Additionally, final medical clearance will need to be documented in order for concussed students to return to full physical activity on campus.

To ensure community awareness, Branksome Hall will provide access to resources on concussions and their management. Additionally, a Code of Conduct must be signed by both the student who is engaging in physical activity at school (i.e. physical education classes, athletic teams, Fit Friday activities), and by their parent/guardian.

International Student Medical Insurance

All international students attending Branksome Hall must have medical insurance while in Canada. If the student is not an Ontario resident covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP), they must obtain coverage from Branksome Hall’s insurance provider, Johnson Fu Insurance Agency. The coverage will begin August 1, 2023 to cover their arrival in Toronto. The annual cost of this coverage is approximately $900, charged to your school account in the fall.

Other forms of medical insurance, excluding OHIP, are not accepted unless approved by the Business Office. This health insurance plan provides comprehensive coverage for your child’s medical needs and the Assistant Director, Boarding will help to submit all medical claims with the provider.