Excursion Policy and Procedures

1
Excursion Policy and Procedures

• Toronto District School Board
• 2003 - 2004

2
Objective

• To provide a process and guidelines for
  excursions in accordance with Board Policy.

3
Sharing Information

• Staff members familiar with this process feel
  free to contribute information.
• Changes may be viewed as more work as opposed to
  protecting the health and safety of students (see
  article of Avalanche Tragedy Lessons to be
  learned by Education Law, Vol. 15, No. 1 Sept.
  2003

4
Guiding Principles

• All excursions shall
• Have educational purpose with clearly identified
  curricular relevance
• Be extensively planned and carefully implemented
  to ensure student safety

5
Guiding Principles

• All excursions shall
• Require adequate and careful supervision
• Be approved by the Principal and/or the
  Supervisory Officer of Education

6
Guiding Principles

• All excursions shall
• Be designed to ensure that excursions are
  accessible to all students
• Require the informed consent of custodial
  parents/guardians for all excursions, or athletic
  activities

7
Supervision

• Minimum ratio per group of 30
• Grade Levels Day Excursion Overnight
• JK-K 3 NA
• Gr. 1 - 3 2 4 (Gr.23 only)
• Gr. 4 - 8 2 2 MF
• Gr. 9 - 12 1 2 MF

8
Appropriate Programming

• Required for
• Students not participating in the excursion
• Students who participate and miss other classes

9
Principals Responsibilities

• Volunteers
• Approve the involvement of volunteers (CRC)
• Inform volunteers about supervision
  responsibilities
• Authorize volunteer drivers and private vehicles
  if used

10
Principals Responsibilities

• Contingency Planning
• Ensure for every excursion there is contingency
  planning
• Ensure the Contingency Planning Form for High
  Care Excursions is completed

11
Students Responsibilities

• Behavioural Requirements
• Be responsible to the principal for their
  conduct
• Adhere to Safe Schools Policy and schools Code
  of Behaviour
• Adhere to Code of Behaviour for Athletes
  (interschool athletics)

12
Transportation

• Student Information
• Students should receive safety briefing prior to
  departure
• Students should carry identification and
  contact information

13
Transportation

• Teacher must have
• Seating plan
• Student home and emergency phone numbers
• Licence/identification number of each vehicle

14
Transportation

• Insurance Issues
• All transportation vehicles must be insured
• Tour Companies must meet TDSB insurance
  requirements

15
Funding and Costs

• Inform parents of all costs
• No money collected prior to approval
• Affordable for all students
• Costs for excursions reviewed annually with input
  from School Council

16
Risk ManagementPhased ImplementationExcursions2
003-2004

• 511 A Request for Excursion Approval by
  Principal
• 511 B Request for Excursion Approval by
  Superintendent of Education
• 511 C Parent/Guardian Permission Form
• This form is available in other languages (see
  available list)

17
Risk ManagementPhased ImplementationExcursions
2003-2004

• 511 D High Care Excursion Waiver
• 511 E Medical Information for Excursions
• 511 F Principal Authorization for Volunteer
  Drivers
• 511 G Contingency Plans for High Care, or
  Overnight Excursions only

18
Risk Management Phased ImplementationAthletics
2003-2004

• 511H Replaced with the revised Physical
  Education Information/Medical form
  (available on TEL or Intramural Safety
  Document Appendix A)
• 511 I Interschool Athletics Tryout
  and Participation (Elementary)
• 511 L Interschool Athletics Tryout
  and Participation (Secondary)

19
Reminders

• Icilda Elliston Responsible for field trips
• Franca Gulli Has all the Excursion forms
• Albert Fung Books all buses
• Check with your Curriculum Leader(CL) and
  Assistant Curriculum Leader(ACL) for approval of
  trips
• Black binder
• Handout