COVID Specific Procedures & Schedule Modifications:
My Montessori
All staff is trained in COVID protocols for maintaining personal hygiene and safety and a safe environment; we will work with the children to teach these strategies as they are important life skills. All staff will wear mask at all times. The children will wear masks as well.
Drop Off:
We are anticipating that the transition back to school may be quite challenging for some of our students. Therefore we will let one family member come into the school and help their child transition into the classroom. We do ask that anyone who will be dropping off their child to please be wearing a mask.
Pick-Up:
Classroom staff will walk the children to the playground gate when parents arrive. Please be wearing a mask and adhere to the 6-foot spacing guidelines to others. Parents are not to enter the playground area until further notice, due to adherence to COVID protocols. As a result, children will not be able to remain on school grounds after dismissal, including playing on the playground, as all spaces are scheduled and cleaned accordingly.
Personal Items
What to Bring?
We are limiting the items the students bring into the building to maintain a clean and sanitized environment.
No Backpack Please DO NOT send a backpack with your child until further notice. You may send in a clear ziplock style bag for snacks and drinks.
Snack Please only send your child with a “dry snack” (goldfish, cheerios, crackers) to minimize their need for help (others touching the snack). If your child has difficulty opening wrappers, please open at home or wrap the snack in foil or plastic bag/wrap.
Bottle of water or an empty water bottle We have hands free bottle refilling station in the kitchen where staff can get water for the children.
Change of clothes In a gallon size ziplock type plastic bag labeled with your child’s name.
Pull ups If your child requires Pull ups, please send an unopened package of pull ups and wipes clearly marked with your child’s name. Staff will notify you when more will need to be sent in.
No Other Items Please do not send your child in with anything other than the above items until further notice.
Social Distancing Protocols
Students have been divided into Two Classrooms to reduce the number of students in a classroom at any given time. To start the year, each classroom will have no more than 10 students. Teachers will utilize individual chairs for circle time, tables with children spaced 6 feet apart for snack, and centers that allow for social distancing of the children. We will strive to offer play and socialization opportunities that are the cornerstone of our program.
Hand Washing and Toileting Protocols
Children will wash their hands when they arrive at school, before and after snack and lunch. For children requiring pull ups, please send in only unopened packages of pull ups and wipes with your child’s name clearly marked on each. We will be cleaning and sanitizing all areas and surfaces between children and disposing off used pull ups in locked diaper pails.
Masks
All children are expected to wear masks, to the best of their ability. Teachers will work with the children who find mask-wearing challenging. If your child is exempt from mask-wearing, you will be asked to provide the appropriate documentation.
Mask breaks will be implemented to allow children to remove their face masks during the day. These breaks will be organized following CDC guidelines and with social distancing in place. Labeled bags will be used to store the mask and returned to the child at the end of the mask break.
The Director and the Teachers will wear a mask throughout the day.
Communication
During this time period communication will be maintained through the admin@mymontessori.org email, or phone call 781-333-4898
CLEANING PROTOCOLS
· All classrooms will be cleaned continuously throughout the day.
· Each night after school is in session, a professional cleaning staff will come and do a thorough cleaning of the school.
· The sharing of toys and items in the classroom is not allowed at this time. Once children have finished playing with an item (toys, books, blocks) these items will be placed in a container to be cleaned. Fewer items will be made available at each activity center to enable every child to have access to the items in that center. For example, in the book center, instead of having access to all the books on the shelf, 5-10 may be left out each activity period.
· What if my child is feeling ill at school?
· If a child is not feeling well, we have developed a COVID response plan. Below you can find the information specific to My Montessori School:
My Montessori COVID Plan
COVID 19-Protocols
All students and staff should remain home if at any time they are exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms. This will include mask wearing, hand washing, sanitizing, and maintaining social distancing.
If a staff member notices that a student appears to have symptoms of COVID-19 illness, they are to let the Director know immediately. The Director will then come to the classroom to retrieve the student and follow the COVID-19 protocol. The Director will then notify the family for the student’s dismissal from school.
COVID Space
We will have a designated area for students who show or communicate any symptoms of COVID-19. This area will be in the Directors office. We will call this the C.A.R.E. room (COVID assessment response and evaluation). Students will need to be isolated from the rest of the school population while in this space. A mat will be set up in this space for students to comfortably isolate while awaiting dismissal. A monitor will be in the room with the student socially distanced and in proper PPE. These students will use the bathroom in the kitchen. These spaces may not be used for any other use. Masks must be worn at all times in these designated spaces by both students and staff.
COVID Space
Our lobby area is our back-up space should we need it.
Thank you for your patience with these COVID specific policies and procedures! These are temporary measures to ensure the health and safety of your children and families and our staff.