Welcome Students! Monday February 3, 2020 is the start of second semester at Bronte College, and we welcome all of our returning and new students to campus.

Academic Updates:

• On Monday morning a ‘Welcome Back to Bronte’ assembly will be held in the gymnasium
• Student timetables will be handed out for semester two
• Information session held for students about coronavirus at Welcome Back assembly
• Semester one report cards handed out at the end of period 5
• Maplewood portal will be open on Monday at 3:00pm for parents

Q&A’s to Frequently asked questions about Coronavirus:

What is the Coronavirus?

Coronaviruses were first discovered in the 1960s and the earliest ones identified include:

• Infectious bronchitis virus in Chickens
• Human Coronavirus 229E.
• Human Coronavirus OC43.
• Then SARS
• MERS
• New Corona virus 2019-nCov

The coronavirus gets its name from its crown-like shape. It can infect both animals and humans.

 What are common symptoms of coronavirus?

The symptoms of coronavirus include:

• Fever
• Shortness of breath
• Trouble breathing

How are symptoms spread?

Human coronaviruses most commonly spread from through;

• The air by coughing and sneezing
• Close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands
• Touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes before washing your hands
• Rarely, fecal contamination
• Sneezes can travel out of your nose at up to 100 miles an hour, spreading germs up to 2-3 metres away

How can I prevent myself from getting sick?

Simple precautions to protect yourself against coronavirus include:

• Wash hands often with soap & warm water for 20 seconds or use any alcohol-based sanitizer
• Covering your sneeze via your elbow or with a tissue and washing hands directly after
• Avoid touching eyes and mouth as much as possible
• Avoid contact with people who are ill and their belongings
• Stay home from work or school if you or your family members are ill
• Maintain a healthy life style including eating a healthy diet
• Most people will get infected with one or more of the common human coronaviruses in their lifetime
• Young children are most likely to get infected. However, people can have multiple infections in their lifetime

Updates from the Public Health Agency of Canada:

• Screening and detection measures at Toronto Pearson International Airport to protect the health of the public from the coronavirus
• Public Health is not recommending isolation for any students or other travellers who do not have symptoms of illness.
• Public Health officials across Canada, including Peel Public Health, are not advising the wearing of masks

It is important to note that currently there are zero cases of coronavirus at Bronte College.

Bronte College has:

• Over 45 hand sanitizer dispensers throughout the school for the convenience of our staff and students
• Masks available around campus, for students who choose to wear one

We are looking forward to a great first day back at Bronte College and are preparing for an amazing second semester. Be sure to look out for updates about renovations taking place at Bronte College, including new resources in our campus library and new classrooms available for students!