2020-2021 Reopening Plan - Western Pennsylvania Montessori School

Hello WPMS Community!

We are eager to further our mission of providing a safe, secure, and nurturing educational atmosphere during the 2020-2021 School Year. As we continue to navigate our way through the COVID-19 Pandemic, WPMS is committed to developing a plan that provides the safest return possible. Our Pandemic Task Force has carefully reviewed the feedback provided within our parent survey as well as seeking guidance from the CDC, PA Department of Education, Child Care Licensing and Allegheny Health Department. We have prepared a summary of the WPMS Reopening Plan for your review and planning purposes.

We look forward to seeing you all very soon and appreciate your participation and your patience through this entire process!

WPMS Pandemic Task Force

Jamie Campbell, Head of School & K Parent
Amy Reddig, WPMS Board President & SD Parent
Stephanie Schott, WPMS Board Member &HD Parent
Maura German, Red Room Teacher
Laura Lankes, Toddler Teacher

Kaleena Deah, Physician Assistant, WPMS Board Member & AD& K Parent
Julie Caldeira, Toddler & HD Parent
Mary Ashton, Half Day Teacher
Rebecca Knepp, K Teacher & Parent
Dr. Kirsten Lin, M.D. and Alumni Parent

WPMS Summary of Reopening Plan

Please note that we reserve the right to update policy and procedures at any time based on CDC, Department of Education, Child Care Licensing Regulations, and health department recommendations.

Academic Calendar

WPMS plans to start the 2020/2021 School Year as Scheduled in September on a regular five day schedule for in-person learning.

Orientation

Due to limitations on the size of public gatherings, parent orientation and the New Family Workshop will be hosted through Zoom meetings (invitations forthcoming). Orientation to review the reopening plan in more detail will take place September 2-4 according to the WPMS 2020/2021 School Calendar.

Phase-in schedules and “peek visits”

More information to follow

Staff and Student Health Monitoring

Parents will sign a COVID-19 Waiver for each child prior to the start of the school year. Parents will be required to complete a daily health screening log, tracking temperature and symptoms prior to arriving at school. To help ensure we can continue with in person learning it is critical that each family pays special attention to any changes in the health screening log that could indicate the child is sick or may be developing an illness and keeps them at home.

All staff and students will be screened upon arrival prior to entering the building. Children will arrive in the carline at designated times based on the “Pod” they are assigned to. There will be a strict window of time in which your child must arrive. The designated health screeners will be checking temperatures before getting your child out of the car. Parents and children must have on a mask during screenings. Children or staff presenting with a fever of 100.4 or above or any of the following symptoms will not be admitted to school:

Fever
Chills
Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Fatigue
Muscle or body aches

Loss of taste or smell
Sore throat
Congestion or runny nose
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea

Once the child is screened, they will enter the building directly through the outer doors of their classroom and immediately wash their hands. Children’s health and display of the preceding symptoms will be continuously monitored throughout the day. Anyone who becomes sick throughout the day will be immediately isolated and sent home.

With a fever or any questions answered “yes” on the checklist, the student or staff must remain home until a determination can be made of whether COVID-19 is present. A doctor visit and/or testing may be required before returning to school. Students and staff will be allowed to return to school after 48 hours of being fever free if COVID symptoms did not accompany the fever.

Confirmed COVID-19 Exposure Procedures

A positive COVID-19 test will require that student and all siblings to quarantine for 10-14 days. Students may return after the quarantine period if they are fever and symptom free and have a doctor’s note clearing the family. All WPMS staff will adhere to these same requirements.

Any student or employee living in the house with a person who tests positive (or is presumed by a physician to be a probable COVID-19 case) must self-quarantine for a minimum of 10 days. Additionally, if a family travels to a place considered to be a COVID-19 “Hot Spot” by the CDC they may be required to self-quarantine for a minimum of 10 days upon return.

If there is a confirmed COVID-19 case or exposure, WPMS will keep families informed and adhere to any guidelines set forth by local health authorities.

Mitigation Practices to Help Prevent the Spread of COVID-19

All Staff and Students over age of 2 will be required to wear a mask while in school. Students will not be required to wear masks during meals, nap or outdoor play. If your child has not practiced wearing a mask yet, now is the time to practice with them. Here is a video link to help talk with children about wearing a mask.

Please be sure that your child has at least 2 masks with them when they come to school. Children and staff will be able to have mask breaks throughout the day. Any medical exemptions must be presented to the Head of School and a physician’s note is required.

Children will wash hands before and after meals, transitioning between works, bathroom use, after recess and as needed throughout the day.

Students will have individualized materials boxes equipped with items that would normally be considered communal to avoid shared materials. Students will have their own rug with their name on it to create their work space and an assigned table work space in the classroom.

Cleaning, Sanitation & Disinfecting: In addition to our regular cleaning services, we will maintain increased disinfecting of all surfaces, materials and high touch areas throughout the building. We will complete the day with a deep clean of the school using an electrostatic sprayer to cover larger areas.

Physical Distancing: Class sizes will be reduced as much as possible to allow for more space in the classroom. The classrooms will be considered “pods” and students will remain with the same teachers in their classrooms and will not be mixed with any other pods during the day. When possible, we will have dedicated substitute teachers assigned to each pod. Pods will also be assigned times on the playground. The 5 pods will be separated as follows to prevent mixing of pods:

- Half Day 8:30 a.m.-11:15 a.m.
- School Day 8:30 a.m.-3:15 p.m.
- Kindergarten 8:30 a.m.-3:15 p.m. (No extended hours available)
- Red Room All Day 7:30 a.m.- 6:00 p.m. (Child Care License)
- Toddler All Day 7:30 a.m.- 6:00 p.m. Includes Half Day & School Day Programs (Child Care License)

Air Quality and Ventilation: Air Purifiers with HEPA filters will be placed in each classroom as well as the office to improve air quality. Windows will be opened as much as possible and ceiling fans in use to keep air moving in the classrooms. Outdoor space will be utilized as much as possible to expand the learning environment out into the fresh air.

Meals: No Family Style Lunches will be allowed during this time. All students will bring their lunch to school with an ice pack inside. Snacks will continue to be rotated between parents throughout the school year and will be assigned by teachers. Only pre-packaged items will be allowed for snacks. No home baked goods will be allowed.

Specials: We will not have in-person Specials classes for the time being given that we can not rotate pods through the various classes. We will instead have virtual classes pre-recorded for students to enjoy in their classrooms on Fridays.

Distance Learning: If at any point during the year WPMS must close a pod for a COVID-19 exposure or the school must shut down by order of the Governor or health department, we will immediately move to distance instruction. Teachers will be prepared with packets to be sent home which may include printed and manipulative materials. Our families will also utilize the Google Classroom Platform for organizing and receiving assignments, pre-recorded videos, and exploratory materials to compliment the in-home packets. Classrooms will meet daily virtually and individual or small groups meetings may occur when requested by the parents.

If the closure extends longer than 10-14 days, the board will consider a discount off of tuition.