Ghent Montessori School
RE-ENTRY PLAN FOR 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR
(Updated July 20, 2020)
Ghent Montessori has worked diligently to develop a re-entry strategy that allows students to attend 5 days a week, on campus, but allows the flexibility of options, while prioritizing the health and safety of our community. We are fortunate to have support and guidance from our COVID-19 team, comprised of qualified medical professionals and educators from within our own community. Because circumstances remain fluid, we will continue to evaluate and issue updates as warranted.
Our Mission: Ghent Montessori commits to providing a prepared Montessori environment which is nurturing, consistent and safe. We aspire to serve the total development of the child, including academic, emotional and social needs.
Priorities: Ghent Montessori remains committed to our stated mission. We will continue to base our decisions in line with this mission and we commit to providing a safe environment for our entire community.
The Decision Process: Our COVID-19 team has created a plan based on the guidelines provided by governmental and health organizations as well as child development research.
Commitment to GMS Community: Ghent Montessori knows that each member of our community is unique but shares the same values for their child’s education. We ask our community to be truly supportive of each other. Due to the viral nature of COVID-19, we ask that you continue to limit your contact with others for the benefit of our entire community. We will insist that you do not send your child to school if he/she is sick. We ask that you be supportive of school policies and procedures that minimize risk of exposure. Although we are aware that current research shows minimal risk and transmission in young children, we want to be certain that we are taking all available precautions for the health and safety of our entire community.
RE-ENTRY CHOICES
GMS has worked diligently to develop a strategy that allows for flexibility and transparency that prioritizes the health and safety of the community. We are currently preparing the physical campus to support students for a 5-day-a-week program in the fall of 2020 and we’ve also developed different options for our families to navigate. As of now, the Governor has announced that schools are able to open physical schools in the fall and we have submitted our plan to the state.
Toddler, Children’s House, Elementary and Middle School
Your child(ren) will begin the 2020-2021 school year, on campus with the expectation that specific health and safety procedures will be required. In the event that local authorities close schools or initiate a stay-at-home order, students will transition to the Montessori Home Learning Program.
Full-Day at all Levels
If local authorities close schools or initiate a stay-home-order, children will receive in-person care according to guidelines mandated by governmental agencies such as, but not limited to, Social Services.
PREPARING TO RESUME ON CAMPUS
Drop-Off and Pick-Up
- To help prevent further spread of the illness, parents/caregivers will refrain from coming into the building. Before arriving at school, please take your child’s temperature at home in order to reduce the risk of exposure to the virus. Upon arriving, we ask that you stay in your car during drop-off. A teacher will greet your child and take the student’s temperature.
- Refrain from giving fever-reducing medicine before school.
- Children and staff will sanitize hands prior to entering the building.
- Classes will enter through different areas of the school as to reduce risk of exposure.
- Daily Health Check and Sick Policy
- All staff and anyone entering the building will receive a temporal/no contact temperature check before entering.
Children or staff will not come to school if he/she has
- New loss of taste or smell
- Fever of 100° F or higher
- Cough, sore throat, muscle aches
- Difficulty breathing
*Students and staff developing symptoms during the day, (fever of 100° F, coughing, shortness of breath) will be separated from the group and picked up.*
*Employees and families must inform GMS immediately if a household member has been diagnosed with COVID-19.*
We are mandated to inform our local health department and licensing inspector as well as to provide a list of those who have been in contact with the diagnosed person.
For any child who has been exposed to or has tested positive for the virus, a mandatory 14-day waiting period will be imposed before readmission is permitted. In addition, a physician’s note will be required.
Travelers out of the local area will need to follow guidance from health officials.
PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)
All individuals and staff are required to wear a mask while in the school. Staff will take turns taking breaks from their PPE, outside of their classroom.
Upper Elementary and Middle School will be required to wear a mask that has ties so that it can be worn correctly and pulled down around the neck while taking a break. These students will have many opportunities during the day to walk outside and take a break. There will be work spaces outside, socially distanced for children to work. We are carefully watching CDC guidelines to determine what is best for the rest of the children.
Proper wearing of masks will be taught by a qualified member of our COVID-19 team.
Social Distancing
- Max. capacity per classroom is based on social distancing mandates
- Staggered recess schedule
- Physical classroom arrangement to promote individual work
- Groups will not be combined
- Staff consistent to each classroom
Infection Control
- Frequent hand washing when entering and exiting and before and after activities
- Snack and lunch brought from home in disposable or reusable containers
Facility Cleaning
- Cleaning service with e-spray system
- Scheduled cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces throughout the day
- Bedding stored in individual cubbies
- Cots labeled for nappers
- Materials will be sanitized after use
PREPARING FOR DISTANCE LEARNING
Distance Learning does not change our mission to provide a prepared Montessori environment which is nurturing, consistent and safe. We aspire to serve the total development of the child, including academic, emotional and social needs. We will use the following platforms:
Google Classroom: This is not new for our GMS elementary and middle school students. They are accustomed to managing their work, discussions, projects and assignments through this platform. All classroom materials, announcements and assignments will be housed in Google Classroom.
Zoom: This will be used at all levels for class discussions, meetings, small-group sharing and discussions, as well as break-out groups during larger group lessons and LIVE (synchronous) instruction. Zoom sessions can be joined directly from invitations sent by your child’s teacher.
Home Packets: Teachers, especially of younger children, will create packets for home use that will be picked up on a schedule by parents.
RESILIENCY
EVEN STRONGER GOING FORWARD
Ghent Montessori School is here to not only provide a sense of continuity of learning for your child(ren), but also to provide a strong and safe community for your entire family. The ability to offer flexibility in our plan for the 2020-2021 school year, in accordance with the governmental and health mandates, allows us to meet the diverse needs of our families and continue to provide a Montessori education at a high level of excellence.