Family Handbook 2017-18

While we encourage Upper School  students  to  share  important disclosures  they might make  to  faculty and  staff about  their physical and/or mental health and well‐being with  their parents,  it  is  key  that Upper School parents appreciate  that  capable  students have  legal  rights  to  their privacy  and  the  confiden ality of  their personal  informa on,  including personal health  informa on, under  applicable  laws.  When a  capable Upper School  student discloses personal  informa on  to  faculty and  staff and  specifically  requests  that  the  conversa on and  its details  remain  confiden al,  it  is  important  for  parents  to understand  that, with  the excep on of an  imminent  risk and/or health or  safety‐related  circumstances,  the  student’s  request will be honoured.  When a  student discloses  informa on  to a  faculty or  staff member about her personal health or  safety‐related  circumstances and  the  school believes  there  is an  imminent  risk  to  the  student or  to others,  the  student’s  right  to  confiden ality will not prevail and  the  school will  comply with  its  legal duty  to  report, which,  in most  cases, would  involve  immediately  contac ng  the  student’s  parents.  Havergal has outlined  steps  to manage  the  kinds of personal disclosures  that  students  can, and  do, make  to  faculty and  staff. School Administrators and  support  team members work  together, as  needed and on a  case‐by‐case basis,  to assess a  student’s  risk  to herself and  to others and  establish a preventa ve ac on plan, when necessary.  The Principal has a duty  to give assiduous a en on  to  the health and  comfort of  students under  the  school’s  care. Educators have a  common  law  standard of  care  to act as  reasonably  careful or  prudent parents  in  the  circumstances.  Havergal,  including  its  faculty and  staff,  is  required  to  follow applicable  laws and  the policies and  protocols established by professional organiza ons,  such as  the Ontario College of Teachers,  that  support  the  care and well‐being of  school‐aged  children and  young adults. 

Last Updated Aug. 18, 2017  Havergal College Family Handbook 2017–18

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