Author: Foothill Montessori

Dear FMSL Families,

As we approach the last day of the academic year, we wanted to provide you with an update on our planning for 2020-2021 and to share some context for how we are assimilating information and making decisions. While it is premature to state exactly what the school experience will be like in August, please rest assured that we are striving for flexibility and transparency in our process.

When formulating our plans, FMSL continues to take into consideration the guidelines and regulations provided by the state of Utah and the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). We are in regular communication with school leaders, both locally and nationwide, so as to review best practises and standards of care in regards to this pandemic. Our very own Utah Montessori Council (UMC) has proven to be a source of practical advice as well as much needed moral boosting. Heads of School in the Montessori private and public sectors have been most generous in their sharing of tools and their time. In addition, we review the guidelines from the Utah State Board of Education and avail of the services and resources from the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) and National Business Officers Association (NBOA).

As we work towards developing a safe and comprehensive plan for the fall we are focusing on the three following areas:

• The health and safety of our community.
• The educational experience of our students.
• The financial health of the school.

This is a dynamic situation and, as such, it requires adaptive planning that evolves as new information emerges and as circumstances shift. Specific decisions and details regarding on-campus modifications and protocols will be worked on over the next few months and shared with the community as promptly as practicable. Despite the uncertainty, we are developing plans based on the following assumptions informed by current projections:

• School will open for the 2020–2021 academic year with the understanding that we must prepare for the potential of returning to the more stringent state guidelines and “Stay at Home” recommendations.
• Waves of localized infections may result in rolling closures for 14–28 days and therefore intermittent transitions to distance learning may be necessary.
• Many aspects of our school, including our physical campus, our academic calendar, daily schedules,

programming, and social habits, will require modifications which will include at a minimum: physical distancing, health screening and precautions, and frequent disinfecting of the campus and materials.

Outlined below is an overview of the preliminary plans we are working on for each of Utah’s color coded risk levels. At each level, the community will be asked to follow specific health precautions in accordance with our local, state, and federal requirements and may include the following:

• Students and staff must attest to being symptom-free each day.
• Temperature checks will occur.
• Adults will wear masks when social distancing is not possible.
• Facilities staff will disinfect high touch surfaces, spaces and equipment frequently.
• We will reduce or, in some cases, eliminate shared materials. Teaching staff will clean and sanitize shared Montessori materials daily.
• We will reimagine celebrations, and community gatherings.
• We will examine how to minimize or eliminate the mixing of groups through the day and week.

Level 4 Green, “New Normal” & Level 3 Yellow, Low Risk

At these levels, programs would run close to normal yet modifications and protocols would be in place to reinforce good hygiene, allow for social distancing, and curtail the mixing of groups. We recognize that there may be scenarios where the campus would be open, but some families or staff may not be comfortable or able to return at that time, or families or staff may be in quarantine/isolation due to circumstances related to COVID-19. In this case our goal is to provide an option for those who cannot attend and make instruction available to all students during these periods. Blended learning, where some students are receiving instruction via our distance learning platform and some are receiving instruction on campus, does not change our commitment to providing a rich Montessori educational experience. FMSL’s blended learning model will combine synchronous (live) instruction with asynchronous (accessible anytime) instruction and materials in a schedule intentionally designed to provide a healthy school/life balance.

Level 2 Orange, Moderate Risk

At the Orange level, priority would be given to enabling Toddler and Early Childhood students to remain on campus. Additional classrooms would be set up to facilitate smaller group sizes. Elementary classes would follow a modified schedule to allow for smaller groups to attend. Blended learning would also be offered. 

Level 1 Red Level, High Risk

In the event our local community experiences a spike in COVID-19 cases and an interruption of physical operations occurs, we will promptly shift to campus-wide distance learning via our distance learning platform. We shall look to offer on site childcare for the families of essential workers.

We will be sending out the End of Year Survey soon; your feedback on your family’s experience with Distance Learning will help inform our decisions for Distance Learning 2.0. You are also invited to join our Health and Safety Committee to review the plans being developed for the upcoming school year. We anticipate this taking place in mid to late June. Please email margaretmcdonald@mcsslc.com should you be willing to collaborate: providing perspective or offering your expertise to this process. We greatly value the counsel of our community.

Regardless of the mode we may find ourselves in at any given time, we will continue to honour our school’s mission to provide an authentic Montessori experience that nurtures the natural unfolding of the whole individual, instills a love of learning, encourages acts of peace, and empowers all.

We are looking forward to being able to welcome all students and staff back to our campus the week of August 24,

FMSL Admin

The transition of the state from the phased color guidelines to the new COVID 19 Transmission Index has not necessitated an alteration of our COVID policy and procedures. We have been operating at the Orange Risk Level of our plan since the start of the school year and have been very fortunate to have had to quarantine only one class to date. This success is due in no small measure to the precautions being taken by our staff, students and their families. We are grateful for the community’s compliance and ongoing attention to remaining vigilant to mitigation efforts.

We will move our school to the Red Risk Level of our plan if the city or state deems it necessary for public health, or if we reach the points where we have community spread within our school, or if we cannot maintain sufficient staffing in which to safely operate.

The Utah Department of Health and Utah’s 13 local health departments provide guidelines to help school administrators determine when in-person learning needs to be suspended because there is spread of COVID-19 in the school. We are in regular communication with the Health Department; our contact at the SLHD has been very helpful and patient with our many questions. We will continue to work closely with health officials to determine the appropriate course of action for FMSL should our case count increase.

• The Health Department does not consider a single case of COVID-19 (meaning only one person tested positive for COVID-19) in a school or classroom to be an outbreak.
• 2 cases of COVID-19 among students or staff within a 14-day period is considered an outbreak. If there are 2 positive cases in a setting and exposure period, this is the point Utah public health advises schools to be on heightened awareness. Note: People living in the same home are not considered an outbreak.
• 3 people who are connected by the same setting, exposure, and 2-week time period is considered a classroom outbreak.
• 15 people tested positive for COVID-19 across multiple settings in the school (more than one classroom) and are connected by the same time period or 10% of the student population, whichever is lower, is considered a school outbreak. *We have a number of siblings and staff families in multiple programs. We have determined that, should we have 3 people testing positive, across multiple settings, in the same time period, we would consider the wisdom of shifting departments or the whole school to Red.

Appropriate staff to child ratios must be maintained in order for us to safely operate. The pandemic has resulted in high staff absentee rates. There have been several instances where we haven’t had enough substitutes to fill the gaps and have had to extend shifts. Extending shifts is a last resort, it is exhausting for our staff and cannot be sustained long term. Should we reach a point where many staff are quarantining, and we cannot cover their absence, we will need to shift to the Red Risk Level.

In advance of a switch to Red, we would send out a school wide notification of the impending move. Elementary students would be automatically switched to Distance Learning. Distance learning is optional for Toddler and Early Childhood students. On-site childcare would be offered to our essential workers if we are not in a quarantine scenario.

The length of time spent in Red would be dependent on a variety of factors. It would be our intention to resume on-site instruction as soon as it would be safe to do so.

FMSL has developed a particular set of protocols for operating during the re-entry phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. These decisions have been made in anticipation of reopening for Summer 2020. The protocols take into consideration current public health guidance, local regulations, our school’s mission and culture, and the community’s safety. We shall revisit these protocols in preparation for the 2020-21 academic year as information and appropriate safety measures continue to evolve and change.

Click here to view our RE-ENTRY-RUBRIC.

Dear FMSL Parents,

I would like to start by thanking you for your ongoing support of our teachers, our administration and of your children.  It seems that no one has been dealt an easy hand in all of this and we are continually amazed at the love and support of our community.

As we move into the last leg of the academic year, we wanted to give you some updates as to what our administration has been focusing on in preparation for summer and for the upcoming school year.   We appreciate your patience as we work to be as transparent as possible and appreciate your understanding that the circumstances around COVID-19 and our financial situation are changing on an almost daily basis, hence making updates a difficult thing to communicate. Like many other businesses and individuals, we are at the mercy of a long line of unknowns and changing circumstances.  However, we met again today as a team to reevaluate our situation and we feel confident 1) about our current circumstances and 2) about the options still available to us.

As mentioned in previous communications, we have applied for the PPP. We were not fortunate enough to have been approved with the first wave of funding but feel hopeful that we will be with the next wave.  We are on a list waiting to hear about how the additional funding will play out.  We have also applied for a disaster loan fund and have filed a claim with our insurance for “business interruption.” We thank those who have sent links for other potential funding and I assure you our bookkeeper, Lindy,  and Robyn are working to turn every stone in order to give us the cushion that additional funding will provide.  We feel the additional funding will allow us opportunities and choices that might not be available to us otherwise.

To date, refunds for Extended Day, student withdrawals and Tuition Assistance are being prepared or have been issued as follows:

• Extended Day refunds = $59,000
• Withdrawal Refunds (Academic and Summer Camp) = $29,000
• Tuition Assistance (Academic and Summer Camp) = $31,000

We have committed  to paying our staff their full salaries through the remainder of the academic year.  We expect approximately $123,500 additional income through the remainder of this year’s tuition payments. Please note that tuition payments are our only source of income.

We currently have 71 students enrolled in our Summer Camp and 173 students currently committed for the 2020-2021 academic year, with more pending. Our typical enrollment is right around 200 students. Queries about enrollment for next year continue to trickle in. These numbers are encouraging and we believe that your commitment to FMSL has made it possible for us to confidently continue our plans for next year.  We are looking at ways FMSL can make adjustments, if necessary, to ensure the success of our program in the future and with regard to how coronavirus might impact us later on.

While FMSL has been able to make these commitments in support of our staff and our FMSL families, we must look at ways to recoup some of the funds we have lost due to COVID-19 circumstances.  We are looking into a Tuition Assistance fund that others can donate to in the future and we are, as mentioned above,  exploring options for outside funding.

We would like to publicly thank those who have contacted FMSL to say they do not expect a refund for Extended Day.  We realize this is not possible for every family.  While we are committed to making these refunds, we do welcome donations from families who are able to spare the funds. If you are able to spare all or a part of your refund, please let us know by emailing billing@mcsslc.com.  Donations of any amount are welcomed and will be used to support other families in need.

Many have had questions about what to expect from Summer Camp.  We recognize the difficulty of not having answers and we apologize that we have not been able to make a commitment about Summer Camp yet.  We are hopeful that we can offer this service to our families and we are exploring how to best make that happen in a manner that meets the necessary requirements for safety.  Some of our Summer Camp considerations include:

• Original dates for camp are June 15 – August 7.  We are considering adjusting the dates to be June 22 – August 14.  This allows us one extra week for circumstances to improve and allows us to still offer a full camp. Please note: this does not include Interim Camp.

• Child Care Licensing has current requirements for Child Care facilities wish to be open and would require us to adjust our curriculum and our approach to how we prepare our environment. Our team is looking carefully at those requirements and exploring how they would populate at FMSL Summer Camp.

• Candace, our Camp Director, has been working diligently on preparing a camp curriculum as we hope that Camp will be offered.

We realize that many of you are seeking certainty and we simply cannot offer it right now.  We are extremely committed to doing all we can to offer services to our families as soon as possible and we realize that this might mean a roll out of services in a manner that is different from what you have come to expect from FMSL.  This could look like an adjusted drop off and pick up procedure, a change in class sizes and student to teacher ratios, or an adjustment in how we prepare the environment.  It is possible that preparing for this program could include costs that we don’t typically consider for camps.  As we consider the many details necessary to prepare for our re-opening, we ask you to have continued patience.

In order to be able to answer questions about the future with confidence, a reliable budget is a necessity.  Please note that we have offered withdrawals from FMSL with no fees attached, despite our regular withdrawal policy.  These withdrawals are applicable to the academic year.

Lastly, please note that Thursday, April 30th is the last day to apply for Tuition Assistance for the remainder of the academic year.  This is for no reason other than to allow us to make future plans with financial certainty. You can email britneypeterson@mcsslc.com for instructions on applying for assistance.

If you are considering withdrawal from Summer Camp, please note that you must contact us individually and we will ask you to fill out a questionnaire helping us understand your circumstances so that we can prepare to work together in the best interest of our students and our community.

We realize the difficulty of the unknown and we, again, thank you for your patience.  As soon as information becomes available to us, we will be sure to update you.

We have worked to maintain the important balance of focusing on self care and mental health while also giving proper time and attention to the academic needs of our students.  The reality is, the needs of our students vary as much now as they always have.  And the time and attention each parent has to give to their child’s education is equally variant.  We want you to know that we honor each individual situation and appreciate that each parent, child and teacher are doing their best. We thank you for your patience and support.  We are committed to supporting your child right where they are at when they return to us. We urge you to focus on their mental health as your number one priority for helping them be prepared for our return to school.

As always, we send our love and appreciation for your support. We wish you health, peace and comfort as you navigate current circumstances.

Warm wishes,

Britney

At this time we would like to update you as to what  loan our school is in the process of applying for to assist us financially during this challenging financial crisis.

Below you will find the details of the loan. We are working with our banker at Chase bank to file the appropriate application. On the first day it was possible to apply for the PPP loan under the CARES ACT our book-keeper attempted to make our application. Unfortunately the Chase site was overloaded and crashed. Later we were advised to submit contact information and based on the time and date  we made our attempt to apply a Chase representative would be in touch to help us walk through the process. Our banker had kept us in the loop and advised that we were in the top third of the Chase customers (with a position of around 130,000 out of a total number of over 660,000 on the first day who attempted to apply for the loan. He believes that we should be hearing from a Chase representative soon.

When this situation first began evolving we quickly applied for a disaster loan but  once the CARES ACT was passed we were advised that if we chose to apply for the PPP loan that we could not also apply for the disaster funding. Consequently we sent a message asking to cancel that application and later still were advised by our Chase banker that we could possibly have applied for both. The information being sent  to the banks seems to be changing by the day and it is difficult for them to keep current too.

I am deeply grateful for your commitment to our school community. In our 35 years of operation we have never experienced any situation that would ask so much from our families. We love your children dearly and miss them so much. It is wonderful to be able to see photos and videos of our children’s experiences at home. Thank you so much for supporting your children, their teachers, Admin and the rest of our staff as we work together to navigate this very challenging situation. Please take care and be safe. We can’t wait for the day that we can  all return to school onsite.

PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM (PPP) LOANS – CARES ACT

The program would provide cash-flow assistance through 100 percent federally guaranteed loans to employers who maintain their payroll during this emergency. If employers maintain their payroll, the loans would be forgiven, which would help workers remain employed, as well as help affected small businesses and our economy to snap-back quicker after the crisis. PPP has a host of attractive features, such as forgiveness of up to 8 weeks of payroll based on employee retention and salary levels, no SBA fees and at least six months of deferral with maximum deferrals of up to a year. Small businesses and other eligible entities will be able to apply if they were harmed by COVID-19 between February 15, 2020 and June 30, 2020. This program is retroactive to February 15, 2020, in order to help bring workers who may have already been laid off back onto payrolls. Loans are available through June 30, 2020.

Talking about feelings can be a challenge for a wide range of reasons. Sometimes we don’t like the discomfort of vulnerability, sometimes we  haven’t quite acquired a complete vocabulary for emotional language and sometimes we simply can not quite identify what we are feeling.

This is a scary time to be human and there are a lot of feelings, some of which might be new for us all.  When the adults are scared, the kids know it.  This is a great time to model appropriate ways to manage these big feelings by showing ourselves love and compassion and practicing self care.

There are a lot of new and unfamiliar expectations on us and our children right now. Our routines are different, our jobs and school work are more complex, and fear of the unknown surrounds us.  While your child’s education is important and their school work should continue, the most important thing we can do is give them the love, attention and support they need to wade through this confusing scenario.  Some ideas for managing feelings and supporting your children are listed below.

• A smile goes a long way. Children read our body language and energy quickly (and efficiently)! A sincere smile can ease a lot of feelings of discomfort.

• Accept, acknowledge and give space for the discomfort. Your own and your child’s.  We can’t fix the confusion of what is happening in the world and that is okay.  Acknowledging it gives us power to find ways to cope. Everyone should have permission to experience their feelings!

• Maria Montessori stressed the importance of the preparation of the adult. She called it the “spiritual preparation of the teacher.” Be sure to take time every day to prepare yourself in whatever way brings you comfort and strength. Then, allow yourself to be present for your child when the time comes.

• Practice physical grounding, alone and with your child. Meditation through breathing, visualization, sound (chanting, mantra or song) and body movement (asana) all send messages to the brain and body to regulate your nervous system. Not only will this do wonders for your mental health, but is proven to improve the immune system.

• Do you notice your child acting clingy? Moody? Quiet? Keep in mind, behavior is communication. Read their signs and try to respond accordingly.

• Talking about feelings and giving your child your attention is important. But, so is their work cycle.  Be sure to observe your child and choose the right time to talk or interact. Avoid interrupting your child’s work/play as this is a form of self-care and self-soothing.  Plus, interrupting their work and play impacts concentration levels.  Allow your child to complete their cycle of activity to support their overall development and concentration.

• Introduce emotional language at an age appropriate level. For toddlers and some early childhood aged children, visuals are helpful.  I suggest pictures of faces showing various expressions that can be matched with the corresponding vocabulary to help children develop  the language needed to express oneself.  Comparing feelings to the weather (cloudy with a chance of sunshine, for example) can help older children express vulnerable feelings while also making the connection that our feelings change.

• The side by side chat: Many people respond to vulnerable discussion more easily when eye contact is not involved. Standing next to one another while working in the kitchen, sitting on the couch and knitting or putting puzzles together, or laying in bed after story time are all really great times to have conversations about feelings.

• Use code words. Help your child come up with a code word they can use when they are in distress or when they feel they need your undivided attention. Maybe you can stop what you are doing immediately to connect and maybe you can make a plan then and there for a time to connect.  Ie; “Thank you for letting me know you would like to talk.  I am going to finish this work call and then I can give you my undivided attention.”

• Use the right questions. Starting a discussion with “how are you feeling?” can be a turn off for people who are feeling uncomfortable, scared or otherwise vulnerable.  Try questions like:

• What have you heard about the coronavirus?
• What do you think about it/that/this?
• What do you miss about going to school?
• What do you like about being home with mom/dad/siblings/grandparents?

• Create reliable and consistent routines for your “new normal.”

• Create happy memories. When this is in the past, we are all going to be looking back on the lessons we learned.  Make an effort to ensure your child has happy memories of this experience. *Adapted from Webinar “How To Talk With Children When The Grownups Are Scared” Kathy Leitch, Montessori Foundations