April 1, 2022
Staff Information on Returning to Bloor St.
Date of Partial Occupancy
Please refer to the April 1 update from the Office of the Principal for confirmation on partial occupancy of 371 Bloor St W . Below is some information in preparation for the first day back at Bloor.
Entrance to School
On the first day of their return to 371 Bloor Street West, both staff and students will enter through the Huron Street entrance. We will be welcoming everyone for their first day (date t.b.d.), and helping guide them through the building. After the first day in person at Bloor and throughout the spring, staff/students will be able to access the school through both the Bloor Street doors (Foyer) and the Huron Street doors.
Students should not use the Spadina entrance, as it is managed and controlled by the University of Toronto.
See here for a map of the school.
Start of the Day
We will continue to welcome students into the building at 8:30 a.m. each day for classes starting at 9. Students must complete their COVID-19 self-assessment app prior to entering school.
Drop-off, Pick-up and Parking
No parent or caregiver should park or drop-off/pick-up students in the parking lot behind the school off Spadina. The entrance and parking area needs to be kept clear for construction vehicles to ensure the ongoing work continues unhindered. In addition, there should be no drop-off/pick-up on Huron Street adjacent to the school as this may also hinder construction activity. We strongly encourage families to select a drop-off/pick-up location a block or two away from the school and allow their children to walk to the school. Streets like Devonshire, Spadina north of Bloor, and Huron north of Bloor may all be good options.
Here are two maps of parking options in the area:
Lunch Space, Breaks and Activities
We will continue with a common lunch from 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. every day. Students are encouraged to get outside during lunch. Those remaining inside will be able to use the multi-purpose room and space around the Fleck Atrium, as well as other public spaces to eat their lunch. As well, lunchtime co-curricular activities will be permitted (with a staff supervisor) in booked classrooms. Students are reminded to ensure they clean up after themselves and that the space is left in excellent condition for the next group.
Eating is not permitted in the McIntyre Gymnasium or Ridley Centre. If participating in a lunchtime activity in one of these spaces, students should eat before entering.
We will move to a common break schedule, with all students on break at the same time during morning and afternoon classes.
Ongoing Construction
We will return to Bloor in person once we have partial occupancy. This means that some spaces will continue to be under construction. These include the McIntyre Gymnasium and Library until later in April, the Withrow Auditorium until later in May and the parkette until the summer.
For the safety of staff, students and the construction team, NO STAFF OR STUDENTS are permitted in the areas still under construction.
We hope to have use of the gym on or around April 18 and the library soon after.
Once the McIntyre Gymnasium is open, we hope to have an event such as a staff-student basketball or volleyball to honour its opening.
Fire and Lockdown Information
We are currently updating all safety and evacuation procedures and will share them with staff and students when they are ready. We will then conduct fire and lockdown drills soon after our return to in-person learning at Bloor.
Ramadan
Ramadan begins on Friday/Saturday and continues until May 1-2. Some staff and students may be observing, and that observance may include fasting (the duration of fasting in Toronto will be between 15 and 16 hours per day).
If students are feeling fatigued and need a place to re-charge please feel free to send them to the Roborium once we are back in person.
Here are a couple of resources:
Nocturne
Each year UTS features some of the best music in the city with Nocturne – our recital-style concert.
This concert highlights the hard work of soloists, and small ensembles that study music outside of school.
With so many great auditions by talented students this year, UTS Music is hosting two online events on March 30 and 31 at 7 p.m.
Click below to watch the YouTube recordings of both the March 30 and March 31 performances.
Parent Update
New in this update, you will find a message for parents and students regarding our return to 371 Bloor Street W. (date to be determined), an announcement and live-stream link from UTS Music for the Nocture recital concert, a UTSPA event and Zoom webinar on empathetic leadership in youth, as well as some helpful resources from UTS Social Work for parents and students on coping with change.
Share an Article or Podcast
Have you read a great new article that inspired you, or found a podcast you can’t get enough of? Share your inspiration here and we may feature it on the next Staff Update.
Dr. Jud Brewer returns for a second appearance on the Rich Roll podcast to discuss his new book ‘Unwinding Anxiety’ and ways we can rewire our minds to feel, perform, and live better.
Silver Lining
Every week, we will close the Staff Update with a little silver lining that highlights the lighter side of life. So far the theme has been pet photos, but any cheerful content is welcome!
Submit Silver Linings here or in the Staff Updates Google Doc.
Looking for something fun to do this weekend? Why not try a new restaurant. Here is a list of some new restaurants in the city from BlogTO:
