Our Path Forward

We believe the school plays a vital role in a child’s development and overall well-being. Our goal is to maintain the health, safety and mental wellness of our entire community while providing the nurturing and academically challenging school environment. Following guidance from the CDC & Georgia Department of Public Health, Milton Montessori plans to begin the 2020-2021 school year offering onsite & virtual classrooms.

We recognize that we cannot know the specific health and wellness challenges each of our families faces, and we understand that it will be impossible for us to meet the needs of every student. Therefore, we will support parents who choose to keep their children home and prefer a virtual program. We have invested heavily in technology in an effort to create an equitable experience for those learning remotely (please ask for details of our Virtual Classrooms / Distance Learning). We ask that families work in concert with their physicians to determine whether a child will attend school in person.

A safe reopening in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic will require the full commitment of every member of our community. We expect our faculty, staff and parents to lead by example, modeling proper behavior and good judgment for the children in our care. We understand that there are risks involved in reopening and that it may be impossible to prevent a case of COVID-19, but we can help prevent its spread by closely monitoring the situation and abiding by certain protocols.

We ask for patience, understanding and flexibility as we navigate ever-changing circumstances, and we thank you in advance for your cooperation.

During these unprecedented times, we are living in, social and emotional connection is more important than ever. Connection is imperative for the development of children. Milton Montessori is committed to providing our families and students with the opportunity to share time together while making sure we put the safety and health of our students and staff at the forefront. The benefits of learning in person far outweigh virtual learning for many reasons. We have shared some of the main differences.

• Individualized learning opportunities and specific guidance
• Collaborative learning is freely possible with all peers in the classroom
• Freedom of movement and choice is greater within the classroom setting
• Real Montessori manipulatives are available to the child at all times
• Social Cohesion is more important than ever at this time to alleviate stress and anxiety in students
• Sense of order in their day is created by the schedule of the classroom. Normal daily rhythm is uninterrupted.
• Classrooms are designed to foster independence and enable children to work together or alone
• Child Engagement in freely choosing work and meaningful activities throughout the day
• Grace and Courtesy are taught in person

American Academy of Pediatrics- “Strongly advocates that all policy considerations for the coming school year should start with a goal of having students physically present in school.”
There is already evidence of the negative impacts on children because of school closure in the spring of 2020. – social isolation, depression, separation anxiety and agoraphobia.

We understand that the spread of COVID-19 may necessitate a move to remote learning, at least for some period of time. Should that be the case, our faculty and staff are prepared to make a full transition to virtual learning, as we did this past March, using Google Classroom and Zoom as our primary platform for communication.

In addition, we recognize that members of our community face specific health and wellness challenges and that it will be impossible for us to meet the needs of every student. Therefore, we will support parents who choose to keep their children home, and we ask that families work in concert with their physicians to determine whether a child will attend school in person.

To accommodate children learning from home, we have invested in Google Classrooms and two-way Zoom technology, which allows students to learn remotely to remain part of the on-campus classroom experience. From home, students will be able to observe and interact with their teachers and fellow students, and classroom boards and presentations will concurrently be available in real time.

Our faculty and staff are fully trained and comfortable using this two-way technology.

For more details on the virtual classroom layout and schedule, please contact our administrative staff.

Policies are intended to mitigate not eliminate risk. Milton Montessori will follow strict cleaning and disinfection guidelines and procedures following information from the CDC.   We will take precautions as if everyone has COVID.

Should one of our children and/or staff members test positive for COVID:

• We will immediately notify parents and staff.
• Immediately notify local health officials.
• Dismiss students and staff for 2 days and discourage staff, students, and their families from gathering or socializing anywhere. This includes group child care arrangements, as well as gathering at places like a friend’s house, a favorite restaurant, or the local shopping mall.
• This initial short-term dismissal allows time for the local health officials to gain a better understanding of the COVID-19 situation impacting the school.
• This allows the local health officials to help the school determine appropriate next steps, including whether an extended dismissal duration is needed to stop or slow the further spread of COVID-19.
• Local health officials’ recommendations for the scope (e.g., a single school, multiple schools, the full district) and duration of school dismissals will be made on a case-by-case basis using the most up-to-date information about COVID-19 and the specific cases in the community.
• The affected child or staff member will not be permitted to return to the premises for a minimum of two weeks, plus an added three days symptom free.
• Any person testing positive for the virus will be required to provide a “negative” test before being allowed to return to school
• Virtual learning will be extended to the child while recovering at home
• Academic learning will be encouraged, but this opportunity is more so to prevent the feeling of isolation.

• All children will be taken from the car by a staff member, regardless of the school program enrolled in.
• All parents are asked to follow the carpool line and please be patient while we unload children.
• All children will have their temperature checked with a touchless thermometer before stepping out of the car, and hand sanitizer will be provided to them.
• Children are guided to wash their hands (again) when they enter the building. And then use hand sanitizer again before they start their work cycle.
• Children’s interactions will be limited and controlled depending on the number of children present and their school schedule and program enrolled in. No enrichment classes by outside vendors will be available during the first semester to reduce exposure.
• Masks and/Face Shields will be worn by teachers at any time they are less than 6 feet away from the children, as in when giving lessons.
• Masks will not be required for children, but they are welcome to wear them, especially the older children.
• Teachers reserve the right to ask a child to put a mask away if he/she is seen playing or fidgeting with it constantly since that will create more of the cross contamination we are trying to prevent.
• Children will be constantly reminded to wash their hands, when transitioning in and out of the classroom, before and after eating, after using the restroom, in between material and different work chosen.
• The six-feet distancing guideline will be encouraged at all times.
• Children will be reminded to sit at different tables for work.
• Staff members will clean and disinfect high traffic areas, like door handles, sinks, faucets, toilets, etc.. every 30 minutes.
• Playground time will be available to the children only with their classroom community.
• Classroom materials will be sprayed with a disinfectant while the children are outside. NOTE: No aerosol sprays will be used while the children are present.
• As much as it pains us as Montessori Teachers, only disposable products will be used in the classroom at the time being.
• Individual snacks will be brought by each child from home.
• Children will eat separated from each other, using outside picnic tables when possible.
• No masks required during nap time
• Mats will be placed more than six feet apart.
• Pillowcases and bedding will be sent home weekly for washing unless soiled

Please note policies are intended to mitigate not eliminate risk.