McDonald International Academy’s Vaccine Policy
McDonald International Academy’s Vaccine Policy
McDonald International Academy (MIA) is happy to announce that students will be welcomed back on campus for this upcoming school year starting September 2021. To help facilitate a healthy and safe environment for all students and staff, MIA will require all students to have received at least one dose of a Health Canada approved COVID-19 vaccine in order to attend classes in person on campus and/or live in school residences. Students must wait at least 14 days after their first dose before attending in person or moving in. Students can join us for online learning until their waiting period is over. Students living in the residence will live apart from the other students during the 14 day waiting period either at the residence (if space allows) or in their own temporary accommodations. A second dose will be mandatory for students to continue studying on campus and/or live in school residences and should be taken as soon as they are within the recommended time period. Face masks will still be required while on campus.
MIA will assist students to book their vaccine appointments and follow up to make sure they receive their second dose as soon as they are able. Being fully vaccinated not only protects yourself but also protects others from COVID-19.
If students are unable to get the vaccine due to medical reasons or other grounds protected under the Ontario Human Rights Code please submit documentation to the school.
Mandatory full vaccination is required for all MIA teachers and support staff. Staff may begin working on campus 14 days after receiving at least one dose of a Health Canada approved COVID-19 vaccine. A second dose will be mandatory for staff to continue working on campus.
Please note all current MIA teachers and support staff are fully vaccinated.
A vaccine is now available for youth 12 and up in Ontario, Canada
Dear Parents and/or Guardians:
Vaccines are safe, effective and are the best way to protect your child, your family, and your community from COVID-19. Vaccines will help students and families to safely resume normal activities as soon as possible.
Health Canada has authorized the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for youth aged 12 and up. Ontarians aged 12 to 17 are now able to book an appointment for a free first dose of the vaccine. There will also be special “youth and families clinics” happening throughout the weeks of June 14 and 21. Depending on where you live, some clinics will offer appointments and others may be drop-in clinics.
Most children with COVID-19 have mild symptoms or none at all. However, some children with COVID-19 can get very sick. Children can also spread COVID-19 to other people. Vaccinating children protects them from getting sick and reduces virus spread within their household and the community.
To help your child and your family to make an informed decision, the Government of Ontario has developed a fact sheet (attached) based on expert medical advice and scientific information. It covers several key areas including:
• Safety of the vaccine for youth
• Why vaccination is important
• Effectiveness of the vaccine for youth
As well, we have dedicated webpage that outlines how to book and prepare for your child’s vaccination appointment. It provides information about the province’s current plan for youth vaccinations, answers key questions around safety and effectiveness, and provides links to external sites for more information. You and your child are also encouraged to talk to your health care provider or contact your local public health unit if you have questions about the vaccine.
Supporting your child to be vaccinated against COVID-19 is an important step in the fight against this disease. It will be a key factor in helping our school community return to a sense of normalcy and will benefit overall physical and mental health for children, youth and their families.
Best regards,
MIA
MIA’S COMMITMENT TO LEARNING
MIA is immensely devoted to both the safety and the education of all our students during these unprecedented times. As a result, when it was announced in March 2020 that Ontario would be closing schools to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we as a school quickly and effectively transitioned into an online platform to accommodate and facilitate our students learning and reduce the amount of disruption there was to their education.
OUR RESPONSE TO COVID-19
We quickly transitioned into using Google where our students can access their daily work, assignments and receive authentic and thorough feedback while they learned. In addition, all our classes and teachers were available live during class time via Zoom to provide instruction, lessons, feedback, support and that personal connection that is synonymous with the MIA school experience, as teachers provided innovative, interactive and engaging online classes.
On May 19th, 2020 Ontario’s government announced that schools would not return until Fall 2020, and we at MIA have continued to teach online during this Spring Semester with the same passion and enthusiasm as we always do to ensure our students are still able to fulfil their goals and aspirations.
However, with the announcement, we as a school have been preparing and taking measures to be ready for all possibilities in the Fall of 2020-2021 School year. As the situation is still fluid and on-going not only in Canada, but worldwide, we have implemented measures that will ensure our students both domestic and abroad, can still continue to learn with us for the Fall 2020-2021 School Term.
LOOKING AHEAD TO 2020-2021
For the 2020-2021 school year, for new and returning students at MIA, we plan on having in-person classes, if this is in accordance with the government’s advisory at that time. But to also accommodate and be prepared for the event that we will not be able to have in-person classes, we still plan to execute live daily online instructions as well.
MIA is committed to our students’ education and achievement of excellence. That is why we offer not only daily lessons, tasks and feedback, but we also meet each and every day in our virtual classrooms via Zoom which provides students with genuine, personal connections to the material, their teachers and their fellow classmates while learning.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Telehealth Ontario
For medical advice, you may contact Telehealth Ontario, a free, confidential service. A Registered Nurse will take your call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Telephone: 1-866-797-0000
Toronto Public Health Hotline
Monday to Friday
8:30 a.m. – 8 p.m.
(closed on statutory holidays)
Saturday and Sunday:
10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Translation is available in many languages.
Telephone: 416-338-7600
TTY: 416-392-0658
Email: PublicHealth@toronto.ca
Media Inquiry
Email: TPHmedia@toronto.ca
Emergency After Hours
To report a public health emergency after hours and on statutory holidays, ask for the on-call Public Health Manager.
Telephone: 311 (416-392-2489)
NEW SEMESTER UPDATE
Update on March 24, 2020
Dear Students, Parents and Guardians,
We hope everyone has stayed safe and healthy these past couple of weeks.
On March 23, the Government announced that schools will not be reopening April 6th as planned given the progression of the COVID-19 situation. In response to that, McDonald International Academy has decided to suspend in-person classes and use our Online Learning System for classes and exams in order to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our students.
Instead of returning to class on April 6th as previously expected, our 2020 Spring Semester will be launched on April 1st through a combination of various online platforms such as Google Classroom, Zoom, Whatsapp and Wechat. We commit to provide you access to quality learning experience, support you in engaging with our teachers and peers and ensure your academic results for your university application through this difficult time. After registering online for courses with the school, students will receive their individual timetable with specific instructions on how to join classes, interact and learn with the new system.
Our administrative staff will be available through email. If you have any questions, you can always reach us at mia@mcdonaldacademy.com or through our social media channels (Wechat/Instagram/Facebook).
Thank you so much for your understanding and support. Stay tuned for our more update in the next few days.
We’re all in this together. Let’s stay connected. We are here to support you!
Warmest regards and please stay safe.
MIA TEAM
TRAVEL ADVISORY
Update on March 18, 2020
As of Wednesday, March 18, 2020, the Canadian government announced that Canada will close its borders to individuals who are not Canadian citizens, permanent residents or immediate family members of Canadian citizens. That means international students will not be allowed to return to Canada until the ban is lifted. As the COVID-19 outbreak evolves it is hard to determine when this will happen.
Based on this information we are advising all students NOT TO TRAVEL OUSIDE CANADA if you intend to return soon for Spring semester which is scheduled to start on April 6, 2020. If you must travel out of Canada, please consider the situation carefully before planning your trip.
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES CLOSURE
Update on March 17, 2020
In light of the ongoing situation with the COVID-19 outbreak, McDonald International Academy will be closing its administrative offices effective March 18th to March 27th, 2020 and our staff will be working from home to ensure their health and safety.
Online classes will continue as scheduled. If you have an urgent matter please email us at mia@mcdonaldacademy.com or contact us through our various social media channels via Wechat, Instagram or Facebook as our staff will be monitoring them daily.
We will provide further updates as they become available.
Stay safe and let’s all please take care of each other!
SCHOOL CLOSURE
Update on March 13, 2020
Following the mandate of the Ontario government, McDonald International Academy will be suspending all in class learning until the end of our current semester which ends March 30th, 2020. Although there have been no cases of COVID-19 among our students or staff, this is being done as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our community and of the broader population. The start of our Spring semester has now been postponed to Monday, April 6th, 2020. Classes and final exams will still continue with alternative methods. Please see below for some important information:
Schedule
All classes at MIA will continue online starting Monday March 12th, 2020 and ending Monday March 30th.
Semester 3 will commence on Monday, April 6th.
Final Exams
All Final Exams will be replaced by assignments. Please speak to your teacher for details.
Online class and attendance
All classes will continue to be held online virtually at https://zoom.us/join – your teacher will email you the code to join. Attendance is mandatory and will continued to be taken here.
Assignments
All assignments will be submitted on Google Classroom – your teacher will email you the code to join.
Literacy Test
The Literacy Test will be postponed until further notice.
Office Hours
School administrative offices at our Main Campus will remain open from 10 AM to 5 PM during this time, however, access will be granted by appointment only. Please call 416-322-1502 if you need to visit our Main Campus. North York Campus will remain closed.
Thank you for your cooperation during this time. Further communication to families is forthcoming. Please also check our website for updates: www.mcdonaldacademy.com
COVID-19 UPDATE
March 12, 2020
In the global COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak situation, our first concern is the health and safety of our students, teachers and staff. As of today, the risk of community transmission in the Greater Toronto Area remains low. We continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation and follow the instructions of Public Health authorities. At this time classes and events continue.
If you have travelled to an area under a travel health advisory for COVID-19 (other than Hubei Province or Iran), please monitor for symptoms. Those who develop symptoms (fever, cough, difficulty breathing) or any other symptoms within 14 days after returning to Canada, are advised to avoid contact with others and contact Telehealth Ontario (1-866-797-0000), your health-care provider, or local health authority. Inform them about your symptoms and travel history.
The best way to protect yourself is through prevention.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer
- Sneeze and cough into your sleeve
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth
- Avoid contact with people who are sick
- Stay home if you are sick
For the most updated information on the COVID-19 situation, please visit below official sites: