Country Montessori School
Admin Corner
August 25, 2020
“Establishing lasting peace is the work of education; all politics can do is keep us out of war.” Dr. Maria Montessori
Upcoming Dates/Events:
- September 7 – No school, Labor Day
Dear CMS Families,
Happy first week of school! The teachers and staff are happy to see our CMS students virtually and our EC students in person! We are looking forward to a great year.
Waiver Status
Country Montessori received notice of approval by both the County of San Diego and the state for our elementary waiver late last night. Our students who have chosen the on-site option may come to school tomorrow, August 26, 2020.
Reopening Plan
Our reopening plan that we submitted to the County of San Diego and state that was approved is available on our website. The tab is on the home page and will take you directly to it.
CMS Coronavirus Waiver
In light of this unique year we are requiring that every family agree to a release of liability waiver to participate in on-site classes. CMS is committed to the health and safety of our teachers, students and families and we will continue to adapt and improve our protocols to help keep everyone healthy and safe. All families who would like to participate in onsite classes must complete this form (being emailed tonight).
On-Site Arrival/Dismissal and Virtual Drop off and Pick Up of Work Parking Lot Procedures
- Please do not get out of your car, your teacher will take your student from your car
- Please take a right hand turn out of the parking lot
Arrivals – Elementary
- All 2-5 level students will use lane #1 (curbside) – If your family has younger siblings please use this lane
- All level 1 students will use lane #2 (lane closest to the crosswalk/ramp) – If your family has younger siblings please use this lane
- All students will have their temperature taken at the car and all parents will fill out a self-disclosure via a QR code from your phone
- Teachers will gather their pods and they will be walked across the parking lot
- All students must wear their masks getting out of the car and all parents must wear their masks when the teacher is getting students out of the car
- All students levels 3-5 are mandated to wear their masks at all time and all other levels are strongly encouraged to
Dismissals – Elementary
- All 5th level students use lane #1 (curbside)
- All 4th level students use lane #2
- All 2-3 level students use lane #3
- All 1 level students use lane #4
What are the Self-Disclosure Questions
- Have you or anyone in your household traveled internationally within the last 14 day?
- Have you or anyone in your household had close contact with or cared for someone diagnosed with COVID-19 within the last 14 days?
- Have you or anyone in your household experienced any cold or flu-like symptoms in the last 14 days (to include fever, cough, sore throat, respiratory illness, difficulty breathing?
- Have you given your child any fever reducing medication in the last 24 hours?
If you answer “yes” to any of these questions additional details will be required prior to you being permitted to enter the campus.
We want to keep an open dialogue with all of our families and share in the goal of keeping all of our students, staff, families and community safe and healthy. We are asking that all CMS families do their part to keep our community healthy by following health guidelines and staying safe in their personal lives.
On-Site Classrooms – Elementary and Early Childhood
Below you will see pictures of our elementary and Early Childhood classrooms that we have designed to meet the required criteria by the California Department of Public Health and the California Department of Education.
Elementary Outdoor Classrooms
- The front playground has several canopies which are designated to individual pods/cohorts and will not be mixed
- All enrichment classes will be given outdoors (Music class will follow specific outdoor requirements)
Face Masks
CMS will be following the COVID-19 Industry Guidance for Schools regarding face masks. All students in 3rd grade – 5th grade will be required to wear a face mask. For 3rd – 5th grade (who are required to wear a face mask) a face shield is not an acceptable alternative to a face mask. At this time all other grades (Early Childhood – 1st Grade) are strongly encouraged to wear a face mask. In accordance with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH): All persons two years of age or older who are present in the county shall have possession of a face covering when they leave their home or place of residence.
We are requiring that ALL students, regardless of their age, wear their face mask during morning arrivals and dismissals as they are entering their respective classrooms. This will help us to ensure we are all in compliance with the CDPH requirement that everyone have a mask in their possession. Once in their classroom, Early Childhood through 2nd grade students may take their mask off if needed in accordance with their parents preference. However, we strongly encourage all students to wear their face masks as much as possible. Teachers and staff will wear a face mask throughout the day. In addition the teachers will give lessons and reminders on how to properly wear a mask.
Classroom Environments
- Stable groups (numbers to be provided based on enrollment)
- Classroom spaces divided by shelving or partisan
- Tables/work rugs spaced 6 feet apart and assigned seating for both (each child will have their own workspace not shared by anyone else)
- Plastic/Cardboard table corrals for tables of more than one student
- No apron/jacket racks
- Designated bathrooms
- Designated cubby space for lunches, work
- Student water bottles will be permitted (will be placed on their table)
- Each student will have a pencil box of supplies on their table
- Group snack
- Assigned lunch tables/seats-Rotation for elementary
- Utilizing outdoor learning spaces
- Designated/Rotation of playground
- Open windows
School Health & Safety
Country Montessori School is committed to providing a healthy and safe environment for all our students, their families, our staff and the community. We are diligently working to ensure we are following county health, community care licensing and CDC recommended safety measures.
SAFETY MEASURES
CMS will be implementing the following safety procedures in addition to existing health and safety protocols:
- Daily temperature checks are mandatory for all students and staff before drop-off. Any student with a temperature exceeding 100 degrees will not be allowed to attend school that day.
- Stable groups of students will be put in place
- Teachers will remain with the same stable group to the extent possible
- Visitors on campus are limited and must be allowed in by administration
- CMS will follow enhanced sanitation practices and practice frequent handwashing
- Handless sanitizer stations will be in all buildings
- Staff will sanitize supplies and facilities throughout the day
- Daily cleaning and enhanced sanitation will occur at the end of each day with a focus on disinfecting all “high touch” areas
- Lunch areas for all students will be set up to allow for social distancing
- CMS staff will wear face mask throughout the day
- County regulations require children 2 years and older to be in the possession of a mask and to wear it when it is not possible to meet the 6 feet social distance.
- Outdoor space will be utilized as much as possible
- Recess times will reflect the same grouping of students
- Play structures will be phased in and sanitized (schedule TBD)
- Water fountains will be taped off
- All outdoor playground toys / equipment used will be sanitized regularly
- Parents who are dropping off at CMS will also be subject to a temperature check
- Parents will sign in using a no touch sign in with a QR code they will scan with their smartphone camera app.
- Parents who are dropping off must also wear a face mask that covers their nose and mouth
- Parents will be asked to fill out a daily self-disclosure form
Daily Self-Declaration by Families
In an effort to protect the health and safety of our entire community families and staff will need to fill out a daily self-declaration prior to entering the campus.
Virtual Program Basics
Our virtual option will mirror the on-site classroom and will be live Monday-Friday. Our goal is to have our virtual learners experience be as close to what they would have on-site. We know that in the beginning, it may require additional communication with our parents and students, with the intention to have the communication balance out as it would if the student were on-site.
- Class will begin on time
- Attendance/Tardies will be recorded
- Each student needs access to an electronic device and a quiet workspace/desk/table
- Students need to be dressed and fed breakfast before class begins
- Recess/snack and lunchtime will be assigned
- Google classroom and Zoom will be used
- Lessons
- All lessons will be given live, some pre-recorded may be used
- Zoom lessons will not be recorded
- Lessons will be given individually and in small groups
- Work will be sent home and turned in
- Schedule to be determined
- Will occur during the regular school day dismissal procedure
- Materials/Supplies will be provided
- Enrichment Classes
- Spanish-Live
- Music-Live
- PE-Live, may have some pre-recorded lessons
- Computer-Pre-recorded lessons will be phased in
- Elementary Art-Live
- Reading Groups-Live
- Communication
- Students
- Individual check in times will be arranged on as needed basis
- Parents
- Check in times will be arranged
- Before or after school, not during the regular school day on as needed basis
Cheers,
The CMS Family