Hot Weather Advisory

Dear Parents and Guardians, 

In anticipation of warmer weather this week, we would like to share the steps in place at our school during periods of high heat. As with other severe weather conditions, we generally follow the Toronto District School Board guidelines.

At GIST we have no air conditioning and the extreme heat will result in uncomfortable conditions. Please encourage children to wear light clothing, hats, and sunscreen and drink lots of water throughout the school day to stay well hydrated.

School uniforms are generally mandatory for field trips. Due to the heat, the yellow gym shirt is also an option.
In the school building, school uniforms will be optional on Monday and Tuesday.

During this time, staff will also do everything possible to help alleviate some of the discomfort being experienced by students, including:  

• Encouraging students to drink water 

• Using fans to provide air movement, where possible 

• Keeping lights and computers turned off, where possible. 

• Keeping doors and windows open, where possible 

• Rotating staff and students into cooler or air-conditioned areas within the school, where available (e.g. gym)

• Reducing strenuous activities

Closing schools during a heat warning is not an action typically taken by TDSB or other school boards across the province, as it would put parents and guardians in the challenging position of having to find childcare with very short notice, which is not always possible. 

We thank you for your patience and understanding.