Family Handbook 2024-25

STUDENT HEALTH AND WELLBEING

discloses sensitive personal information about herself and/or her family. In so doing, the student might specifically request that the information she discloses not be shared with her parents.

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 wellbeing with their parents, it is key that Upper School parents appreciate that capable students have legal rights to their privacy and the confidentiality of their personal information, including personal health and identity information, under applicable laws. When a capable Upper School student discloses personal information to faculty and staff and specifically requests that the conversation and its details remain in confidence, it is important for parents to understand that—with the exception of an imminent risk and/or health or safety-related circumstances—the student’s request will be honoured. When a student discloses information to a faculty or staff member about her personal health, identity or safety-related circumstances and the school believes there is an imminent risk to the student or to others, the student’s right to confidentiality will not prevail and Havergal will comply with its legal duty to report. This would, in most cases, involve immediately contacting 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 student support members work together, as needed and on a case-by-case basis, to assess a student’s risk to herself and others and to establish a preventative action plan, when necessary. The Principal has a duty to give assiduous attention to the health and wellbeing of students under the school’s care. Educators have a common law standard of care to act as reasonably careful or prudent parents in these circumstances. Havergal, including its faculty and staff, is required to follow applicable laws and the policies and protocols established by professional organizations, such as the Ontario College of Teachers and the College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers, that support the care and wellbeing of school-aged children and young adults.

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