Weekday Routines and Leaves

Daily Schedule
Students living in the Boarding Houses have a unique set of needs. Living and studying away from home requires determination, resilience and independence, which we seek to foster through mentoring, programming and establishing clear boundaries.

Students are responsible for waking themselves up in a timely fashion. 

All Students
All students will leave the Boarding houses by 8:00 a.m. on school days. 

Grades 9–12 Students
Students in Grades 9–12 may leave the houses by 9:00 a.m. if they have a spare during the first period of the day and return to the Boarding houses at 3:00 p.m. if they have a Period 5 spare. This privilege will be extended to students who demonstrate strong self-regulation skills and keep the Boarding team informed of their timetable.

On Wednesday mornings, all students have a Late-Start morning and will leave the houses by 9:00 or 10:00 a.m. if they have a Period 1 spare.

Students are not permitted to return to the Boarding houses during the school day.

Leaving Campus During the School Day
Parents or guardians should contact the Boarding team to notify them of upcoming expected absences (e.g., medical or dental appointments) for their child. 

Notifications should be submitted a week in advance, as a Boarding staff member is required to accompany the student to the appointment (Grades 7–10). Parents, guardians or a Boarding staff member must accompany any Grades 7–10 students to off-campus appointments. Grades 11–12 students may be permitted to attend off-campus appointments unsupervised. 

Lunch
All meal costs are included in the Boarding fees. Hot lunch options will be provided to students in the AWC, or they can pick up a grab-and-go option in The Hub in the Senior School. The lunch menu can be found on the Portal. Boarding students are not permitted to purchase additional food items for day students. Students in Grades 9–12 may leave campus for lunch. 

Students who require a packed lunch due to a field trip or event must inform a member of the Boarding Team 48 hours in advance.

After-School Routines
3:45 p.m. - Classes End/Boarding Houses Open for All Boarding Students

• Students return to the Boarding house and check in by 4:00 p.m. If students are attending on-campus, after-school co-curricular activities, they must check in with their Boarding Advisor before 4:00 p.m., either in person or over the phone.

4:00–5:15 p.m. - Free Time

• Students in Grades 7 and 8 must be accompanied off-campus by either a parent or guardian, a Boarding staff member, or a DP student.
• Students in Grades 9–11 may leave campus with a friend, provided they sign out on our off-campus sign-out sheet and verbally let the Boarding staff on duty know where they are going and when they will return.
• Students in Grade 12 may leave campus unaccompanied, provided they sign out on our off-campus sign-out sheet and verbally let the Boarding staff on duty know where they are going and when they will return.
• From Monday to Thursday, unless it is a long weekend, students must be back on campus for dinner by 5:45 p.m.
• Boarding students are welcome to have guests visit the houses during free time. All guests must check in with the Boarding Advisor and sign the guest book. Members of the Branksome Hall day student community are permitted on the upper floors of the houses with the permission of their roommates (if applicable). Doors must be left open during visits. Non-members of the Branksome community are permitted to visit the common areas. All guests must be accompanied by their host at all times. 

5:45–6:45 p.m. - Dinner in the Christie-Pepall Dining Hall (in the Athletics and Wellness Centre) 

• Dinner is an opportunity for our community to connect. It is when the Boarding staff make announcements and when we celebrate different occasions. Attendance at dinner is mandatory.
• Students are expected to dine together until 6:45 p.m. as they cannot be unsupervised in the Boarding houses. 
• If a student has to miss dinner, they need to have permission from a member of the Boarding Leadership Team. 
• Students are to be on time and properly attired.
• Technology use at dinner is permitted at the discretion of the Boarding team.
• Students may invite guests to dinner at the discretion of the Boarding team.
• Students may not order food from outside of campus from Monday to Thursday. (Ordering food from outside of campus is permitted on Friday evenings, Saturdays and Sundays only. Students must specify their Boarding house address (either 1 Elm or 3 Elm Ave.) and track their order to be there for pick up when it arrives outside.)

Follow the link here to learn more about Boarding meals.

7:00–9:00 p.m. - Study time (Monday to Thursday)

• Students study quietly in their rooms with the door open.
• Distractions such as social media, YouTube and cell phones are not permitted during study time. 
• Individual or group study may be permitted in the common room at the discretion of the Boarding staff. 

A supervised Homework Club during the week is available for Boarding students who benefit from additional support in their studies. Mandatory attendance at Homework Club may be required at the discretion of the Boarding team. 

If Grades 7 and 8 students do not have homework, they can make a plan with their Boarding Advisor on how they will spend their time.

Evening Routine - Grades 7–9

• Students in Grades 7–9 get ready for bed at 9:30 p.m.
• Students in Grades 7–9 must hand in their technology to the Boarding Advisor by 10:00 p.m. at the latest.
• Lights-out for students in Grades 7–9 at 10:30 p.m.

Evening Routine - Grade 10

• Students in Grade 10 get ready for bed at 10:00 p.m.
• Students in Grade 10 have in-room time from 10:00–11:00 p.m.
• Lights out for students in Grade 10 at 11:00 p.m.

Evening Routine - DP Students 

• Students in DP need to be in their rooms by 11:00 p.m. 

Note: If a student in any grade is not meeting school expectations, the removal of personal technology devices and/or an earlier bedtime will be considered. The Boarding staff will work with students to promote positive self-management skills around technology. 

Weekend Schedule and Curfews

Boarding staff will plan and supervise weekend activities that offer opportunities to leave campus to explore the city, engage with Canadian culture and gain new experiences. 

Weekends
On Fridays, all students return to the Boarding house or check in by 4:00 p.m.

• Students in Grades 7 and 8 must be accompanied off-campus by either a parent or guardian, a Boarding staff member, or a DP student.
• Students in Grades 9–11 may leave campus with a friend, provided they sign out on our off-campus sign-out sheet and verbally let the Boarding staff on duty know where they are going and when they will return. Students in Grades 9–11 may leave for three-hour intervals. Excursions lasting longer than three hours must be approved by a member of the Boarding team.
• Students in Grade 12 may leave campus unaccompanied, provided they sign out on our off-campus sign-out sheet and verbally let the Boarding staff on duty know where they are going and when they will return. Grade 12 students may leave for six-hour intervals. Excursions lasting longer than six hours must be approved by a member of the Boarding team.

11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. - Brunch in the Christie-Pepall Dining Hall (Athletics and Wellness Centre)

• Brunch is available from 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. To allow for the cleaning of the houses, all students must be out of their Boarding houses between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. This means that students must leave the house, but they can order food to eat in the Dining Hall. 

6:00–7:00 p.m. - Dinner in the Christie-Pepall Dining Hall (AWC)

• Students are expected to be at dinner and may not remain unsupervised in the houses.
• Students in Grades 9–12 are welcome to make alternative dinner plans on Fridays and Saturdays at the discretion of the Boarding team.
• Outside food is not permitted in the Dining Hall during dinner time from Monday to Thursday. (It is permitted on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only.) Food deliveries must not be ordered past 10:00 p.m. 

Friday and Saturday Night Curfew 

• Grade 9 curfew is at 9:00 p.m. Students must return to campus and remain in the Boarding houses. 
• Grade 10 curfew is at 10:00 p.m. Students must return to campus and remain in the Boarding houses. 
• Grade 11 curfew is at 11:00 p.m. Students must return to campus and remain in the Boarding houses. 
• Grade 12 curfew is at 12:00 a.m. Students must return to campus and remain in the Boarding houses.
• On Friday and Saturday evenings, all Boarders must be in their rooms with lights out by 12:00 a.m. 

Sunday Evening Routines

7:00–8:00 p.m. - Free time on campus 

8:00–10:00 p.m. - Quiet time in the houses (on campus) 

• Students may relax on campus or finish their homework. This is a good time to do laundry, take a shower or talk on the phone. House kitchens are also kept open for students to use. 

9:00 p.m. - Bedroom checks 

• Boarding staff check each bedroom for cleanliness—this includes having clear surfaces and floors, beds made, and clothing properly put away. This helps to ensure that the rooms can be properly cleaned throughout the week. 
• All students are expected to return to the Boarding houses by 9:00 p.m. 

Evening Routine - Grades 7–9

• Students in Grades 7–9 get ready for bed at 9:30 p.m. 
• Students in Grades 7 and 8 must hand in their technology to the Boarding Advisor by 10:00 p.m. at the latest.
• Lights-out for students in Grades 7–9 is at 10:30 p.m. 

Evening Routine - Grade 10 

• Students in Grade 10 get ready for bed at 10:00 p.m. 
• Students in Grade 10 have in-room time from 10:00–11:00 p.m. 
• Lights out for students in Grade 10 at 11:00 p.m. 

Evening Routine - DP Students (Grades 11 and 12)

• Students in DP need to be in their rooms by 11:00 p.m.
• Important to note: Students may not be in the Boarding Houses unattended at any time. 

Supervised Activities 

Boarding staff organize and chaperone activities each weekend. All Boarding students are welcome and encouraged to participate. There are no additional charges for these activities as they are covered in the Boarding fees. 

Activities actively build community within the diverse group of students living on campus, support student well-being, foster a growth mindset and embrace international-mindedness. 

Boarding staff will plan activities based on student interest and to promote community involvement. Students are encouraged to engage in a variety of activities that support Creativity, Activity and Service. 

Leave Types

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 in Grades 9–12 may attend with the permission of the Director of Boarding. Students in Grades 7–8 require a permission form to be completed by parents or guardians. Curfews may be adjusted according to the nature of the event. Should a student not comply with the guidelines set by the Boarding team, these dance privileges will be limited.

Off-Campus Appointments
Students who have scheduled appointments during the school day (e.g., dentist) must inform the Boarding Administrative Coordinator at least one week in advance, who may then confirm with parents and inform the school’s attendance line. The Boarding team will work with students to create an appropriate supervision plan.

Vacations and Holiday Travel
Parents and guardians are responsible for communicating travel plans of their daughter with the school as soon as possible. Per the Branksome Hall vacation policy, the school strongly recommends that students not leave early or arrive late during 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 Deputy Principal in advance. Please book plane tickets as soon as possible to ensure getting the necessary departure and arrival dates before and after holidays. We highly recommend that cancellation insurance be purchased if international travel is restricted. 

Branksome Hall will not keep the Boarding houses open for the Winter and March Breaks. Each family must designate a local guardian who can host and care for students if travel plans change. Additionally, if the planned arrival time to campus is earlier or later than the designated dates for Boarding being open, students will have to make alternative arrangements to stay with their guardian.

Airport Accompaniments and Unaccompanied Minor Travel

Boarding staff may be available to accompany students in Grades 7–9 who require support to get to the airport. Please email the Boarding Administrative Coordinator to enquire about airport accompaniments. 

If Boarding staff accompaniment is available, advance notice is required, and the cost of this accompaniment (airport limo fare for the Boarding staff member to travel to the airport or return to campus, plus a $10 administrative fee) is charged to the student’s school account. 

At parents’ request, the school can also arrange for an airport limo to take their child to the airport or meet them upon their arrival with or without Boarding staff accompaniment. The cost of this service is charged to the student’s school account.