Welcome to Thomas L. Wells School!

Thomas L. Wells is a wonderful community school.  It’s a warm and caring place of learning for all of our students.  Staff and parents work closely together to ensure that all of our students continue to have the tools they need to achieve their potential.

• Anaphylaxis-Taking the Necessary Precautions
  
  Anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction that can be life threatening. This medical condition can cause a severe reaction to specific foods or other materials, and can result in death within minutes. Although foods such as peanuts, milk, eggs, and sesame seeds are the most common cause of anaphylaxis, insect stings, medicine, or latex can also cause a reaction. In recent years, anaphylaxis has increased dramatically among students. The TDSB is committed to maintaining a safe and healthy learning environment for all students and works with Toronto Public Health and other partners to ensure the successful implementation of Sabrina's Law, which came into effect on January 1, 2006.
  
  Sabrina's Law requires every school board to establish and maintain an anaphylactic policy that includes strategies to reduce the risk of exposure to anaphylactic causative agents in classrooms and common school areas. The TDSB has procedures for the prevention and management of anaphylactic reactions.
  
  Although this may or may not affect your child’s class directly, we want to raise awareness about this life-threatening condition. Students who have severe allergies to such food substances are exposed to a severe health risk when such products are consumed in their environment or shared with them. As prevention is the best approach, we ask that you speak with your child about not sharing their snacks or lunches with other students and please do not send any snacks or lunches with your child that contain peanuts.
  
  If your child has health problems of any kind, please inform your child’s teacher or office staff immediately so that the necessary health protection steps may be taken and to ensure everyone’s co-operation for a safe learning environment.
  
  Whether you are living with the allergy yourself, caring for someone who is, or concerned about people in your community, more information about life threatening allergies is available on the Anaphylaxis Canada’s web site at http://www.anaphylaxis.org/ or by calling 416-785-5666.
• Please ensure that lunches are free of peanut products. Our kindergarten classes WILL NOT be distributing any treats for birthdays as a precaution. If parents wish offer something for a birthday in kindergarten we would suggest something simple like fun stickers or pencils etc. Please ask any member of our kindergarten team if you have a question.
• For the remainder of the school only store bought items with ingredients clearly listed may be shared.
• We appreciate your attention and cooperation.
• Safe Arrival
• Thomas L. Wells  values the safety and security of its students. To assist the parent/guardian in ensuring their children's safety we have a safe arrival program at the school.
  
  A Safe Arrival program is a system of procedures performed together with daily attendance-taking. The parent/guardian is responsible for their child's safety. Safe Arrival programs are a mechanism that the parent/guardian and schools can use to account for any pupil's unexplained failure to arrive at school.
  
  The parent/guardian is expected to notify the school when their child is absent or late.
  
  As soon as a child is identified as "unaccounted for," the principal or designate will attempt to contact the parent/guardian of each child. Three attempts will be made to contact the parent/guardian at both home and work telephone numbers, and if the parent/guardian cannot be reached, the child care or relative will be contacted.
• Our answering machine is available 24 hours. Please call and leave a message in the Safe Arrival Mailbox (416-396-3040).
• Safe and Caring School Communities
• The Toronto District School Board has a primary responsibility and goal to ensure a safe learning environment for all of our students and staff in our school community. As part of our safety plan, Thomas L. Wells along with all other schools in the TDSB will be practising a variety of safety procedures with students and staff. We will be rehearsing a variety of emergency school procedures to acquaint students and staff with the precautionary steps to take in the event of such things as an intruder in the building, or a gas leak in the community. In addition, throughout the year we will hold practice drills to acquaint students with various emergency protocols. If you have any questions regarding our emergency procedures, please contact the school.