Montessori School of Lake Forest Plan for the 2020-2021 School Year
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Montessori School of Lake Forest
Plan for the 2020-2021 School Year
LETTER FROM HOPE
Dear MSLF community,
The faculty and staff at MSLF are so excited to welcome our students back to campus for the
2020-21 school year! We have worked hard over the past several months planning for the
upcoming school year, as well as making the changes and accommodations necessary to adhere
to guidance provided by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Center for Disease
Control (CDC), Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS), Illinois State Board of Education
(ISBE) and State of Illinois. We have carefully considered all necessary measures to prioritize the
health and safety of our students, faculty, staff, and families while also ensuring we continue to
offer an exceptional Montessori education to each and every MSLF student. While no school is
immune to the risk of COVID-19 exposure, we feel confident that with the support of our entire
community we can reduce the risk for us all. The start of the 2020-21 school year is sure to be an
extra joyous one... we’ve missed our amazing community!
See you very soon,
Hope
RESTORE ILLINOIS PHASES
Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 Phase 4 Phase 5
Rapid Spread Flattening Recovery Revitalization Illinois Restored
Strict stay at home Non-essential retail Manufacturing, Gatherings of 50 The economy fully
and social distancing stores reopen for offices, retail, people or fewer are reopens with safety
guidelines are put in curb-side pickup and barbershops and allowed, restaurants precautions
place, and only delivery. salons can reopen to and bars reopen, continuing.
essential businesses the public with travel resumes,
remain open. Illinoisans are capacity and other childcare and schools Conventions, festivals
directed to wear a limits and safety reopen under and large events are
Every region has face covering when precautions. guidance from the permitted, and all
experienced this outside the home and Illinois Department of businesses, schools
phase once already can begin enjoying Gatherings of 10 Public Health. and places of
and could return to it activities like golf, people or fewer are recreation can open
if mitigation efforts boating and fishing allowed. Face coverings and with new safety
are unsuccessful. while practicing social social distancing are guidance and
distancing. Face coverings and the norm. procedures.
social distancing are
the norm.
Montessori School of Lake Forest
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INTRODUCTION
At MSLF, the health and safety of students, faculty, staff and families is our top priority. The
following policies and procedures follow Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), Center for
Disease Control (CDC), Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS), Illinois State Board of
Education (ISBE) and State of Illinois requirements for schools to open safely. MSLF is committed
to upholding all recommended health and safety standards but despite the careful adherence to
these standards, a person may become ill with COVID-19 in or out of the school.
One of MSLF’s greatest strengths is our outstanding community of families, teachers, staff and
friends. As a part of the MSLF community, we expect everyone to honestly comply with all
health and safety guidelines while at MSLF and at home. This may mean each of us has to
mindfully adjust our behaviors, regardless of the inconvenience it may cause us, to remain in
compliance with health and safety guidelines and take the necessary precautions to protect
each other and ourselves.
HEALTH SCREENING, TEMPERATURE CHECKS AND PREVENTATIVE HYGIENE
• All students, faculty and staff, and visitors will be required to complete a COVID-19
symptom survey and temperature check daily before entering the building.
o Any individual with a temperature >100°F or more may not enter the building.
o Individuals showing signs of illness may not enter the building. Individuals with
signs of illness must be symptom free for 72 hours and test negative for COVID-19
or provide a note from a medical provider documenting no clinical suspicion of
COVID-19 infection (DCFS (C)) before returning to school.
• All students 2 years of age and older, faculty and staff, and visitors must wear a face
covering when entering the building, in hallways and classrooms. Face coverings are not
required during activities such as eating, napping, physical education and outdoor play
while social distancing is available.
Montessori School of Lake Forest
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HEALTH SCREENING, TEMPERATURE CHECKS AND PREVENTATIVE HYGIENE (CON’T)
• Staff and students will be required to wash their hands upon entering classrooms and
throughout the day. Protocols for proper handwashing, covering coughs and sneezing will
be taught and enforced. Additionally, hand sanitizer will be available throughout the
building.
• An isolation area will be available for students who develop symptoms while at school
while they wait to be picked up. Anyone showing signs of illness may not return to school
until they are symptom/illness free for 72 hours and test negative for COVID-19 or
provide a note from a medical provider documenting no clinical suspicion of COVID-19
infection (DCFS (C)). In the case of a COVID-19 diagnosis, all CDC guidelines must be
followed before returning to school.
• Faculty, staff and students are required to report all absences and illness to the Health
Office. The school will monitor absences to identify any trends in illness within the MSLF
community. COVID-19 positive illness will need to be reported to local and state health
agencies as well as licensing offices immediately.
• Students will be required to bring personal water bottles to school daily. Water bottles
can be refilled in the classrooms or at the touchless water bottle filler. The drinking
fountains will not be available for use.
• Students will be provided individual supply kits of regularly used supplies for use in their
classroom.
• Students will be required to bring a morning snack, lunch, and afternoon snack daily (or
order individual boxed lunches from Gourmet Gorilla). Toddler lunches will still be
provided as required by DCFS.
• Students are encouraged to bring all necessary containers and utensils with them for
snack and lunch. If needed, MSLF can only provide disposal plates, napkins, utensils and
cups per IDPH guidelines. MSLF will use compostable supplies whenever possible.
Montessori School of Lake Forest
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SANITIZING AND DISINFECTING
• MSLF has contracted a new cleaning service to increase daily cleaning standards of the
entire building. An electrostatic cleaning is scheduled prior to the students return to
school and several more will be scheduled throughout the year for additional disinfecting.
• High touch surfaces, doorknobs, and bathrooms will be sanitized throughout the day.
• Montessori materials will be sanitized between use by students; taken out of circulation
until properly sanitized and returned to the shelf.
• Areas for isolating students with signs of illness will be deep cleaned between use.
PHYSICAL DISTANCING
• In Phase 4 of the Governor’s Restore Illinois Plan, class sizes may be limited as per DCFS
requirements or to ensure social distancing within each classroom.
o Toddler 10-12 students maximum with 2-3 adults
o Primary 22-25 students maximum with 2 adults
o Lower Elementary will utilize additional classroom space to ensure social
distancing.
o Upper Elementary currently has enough space to ensure social distancing.
• Classrooms will maintain isolated cohorts and will not interact during the school day.
• Only one cohort will be permitted to use the playgrounds, garden, other outdoor spaces
or multipurpose room at a time. Any equipment will be sanitized between use as needed.
Montessori School of Lake Forest
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PHYSICAL DISTANCING (CON’T)
• Nap rooms: Classroom cohorts will stay together for nap. Cots will be placed 6-feet apart.
Cot sheets and student's bedding will be stored in individual bags in or above cubbies
between use. Cots will be sanitized after each use.
• School access will be limited to parents, approved visitors and outside vendors. All
persons needing to enter the building will be required to complete a symptom survey,
temperature check, and wear a face covering before entering.
• Staff meetings and board meetings will continue to be held remotely whenever possible.
• Large group gatherings and field trips will be canceled or postponed during Phase 4.
Virtual events will be held as an alternative when possible. (ex. Parents Back-to-School
Night, New Parent Orientations).
MORNING AND AFTERNOON CARPOOLS
• To minimize the number of persons entering the building, the preferred way to pick up or
drop off a child is during carpool where ideally the same staff will be assisting students
each day. PLEASE USE CARPOOL!
• Anyone who enters the building must answer a series of screening questions to help
reduce the chances of transmission. Questions include symptoms, contact with someone
with symptoms, travel, exposure to large groups of people, etc.
• Anyone who enters the building must have a temperature check. Anyone who presents a
temperature of 100°F or more will not be allowed to enter the building. Students with a
temperature of 100°F or more may not attend school. Parents must remain at carpool
until child has been cleared to enter school.
• Children ages 2 years and up, when tolerable, shall wear a face covering when arriving
and leaving school, in hallway and throughout the day, except when napping, playing
outdoors or eating.
Montessori School of Lake Forest
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MORNING AND AFTERNOON CARPOOLS (CON’T)
• When children enter the building from carpool, they will be assisted to their classroom, as
needed. All children will be required to wash hands when they arrive at their classroom.
• Morning Drop-Off and Afternoon Pick-up times will be scheduled by division to limit the
number of students arriving at the same time and to limit possible interaction between
divisions:
Morning Drop-off times: Afternoon Pick-up times:
• Elementary 8:30 – 8:40am • Toddler 3:00 – 3:10pm
• Primary 8:40 – 8:50am • Primary 3:10 – 3:20pm
• Toddler 8:50 – 9:00am • Elementary 3:20 – 3:30pm
Accommodations will be made for families unable to arrive
during a designated time frame.
Families with siblings in more than one division may select one
designated time frame for drop-off or pick-up.
ADDITIONAL COVID-19 GUIDANCE AND PROCEDURES
MORNING AND AFTER SCHOOL CARE
• Morning Care will be offered in individual classrooms from 7:30 - 8:30am
• After School Care will be offered in individual classrooms from 3:00 - 6:00.
• Parents of Toddler students may drop-off and pick-up outside their child’s classroom for
before or after school care.
• Parents of Primary or Elementary students will sign students in and out at the front desk
rather than drop-off or pick-up children at the classrooms. Student arrivals and pick-ups
will be announced by the receptionist. Primary and Elementary students will be escorted
to the front desk for pick-up if necessary.
• All classroom guidelines will apply to during morning and after school care.
NAP ROOMS
• Students will nap by classroom to maintain cohorts.
• Cots will be placed 6 feet apart.
• Cot sheets, blankets and pillows will be stored in individual bags in or above cubbies
between use.
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NAP ROOMS (CON’T)
• Cots will be sanitized after each use.
• Face covering will not be worn while sleeping as recommended by DCFS and IDPH. Nap
room staff will however wear face covering and other PPE in the nap room.
CLUB DAYS
• Classroom cohorts will be maintained during club days.
• In order to accommodate cohorts on club days, hours of care will be temporarily limited
to 8:30-4:30pm.
TRAVEL GUIDANCE
• To lessen the likelihood of being exposed to COVID-19, the MSLF community is asked to
avoid public transit, if possible, and travel internationally or domestically only when
necessary.
• MSLF families are required to follow state and local travel restrictions. For up-to-date
information and travel guidance, check the IDPH and CDC websites.
o https://www.dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/diseases-and-conditions/diseases-a-z-
list/coronavirus/travel-guidance
o https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html
COVID-19 EXPOSURE GUIDANCE
• Staff and parents are required to report if they, their child or anyone in their home has
any illnesses or COVID-like symptoms they may be experiencing or if they have had any
possible exposure to an individual with COVID-19 to the MSLF Health Office immediately.
• MSLF will notify DCFS, IDPH, CDC, and local health and licensing offices immediately upon
being informed of any exposure to COVID-19.
• Children or staff having been in close contact (within 6 feet for greater than 15 minutes)
with persons suspected of or diagnosed with COVID-19 must be excluded for 14 days and
monitored for symptoms. If symptoms develop, they are encouraged to be evaluated and
tested for COVID-19.
• Children or staff suspected of having COVID-19 and it is subsequently determined by a
medical provider that the individual likely does not have a COVID-19 infection, the child
or staff member can return if the following are met:
1. Fever free for 72 hours without the use of fever reducing medications
Montessori School of Lake Forest
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COVID-19 EXPOSURE GUIDANCE (CON’T)
2. Negative test for COVID-19 OR a note from a medical provider documenting no
clinical suspicion of COVID-19 infection
• Staff with COVID-19 symptoms shall not return to school until:
1. Symptom free for at least 72 hours AND
2. Providing 2 consecutive negative COVID-19 test results at least 24 hours apart OR a
note from a medical provider documenting no clinical suspicion of COVID-19
infection
COVID-19 DIAGNOSIS GUIDANCE
• Staff and parents are required to report if they, their child or anyone in their home has
tested positive for COVID-19 to the MSLF Health Office immediately.
• MSLF will notify all MSLF families, DCFS, IDPH, CDC, and local health and licensing offices
immediately upon being informed of exposure to COVID-19.
• Any classroom exposed to COVID-19 will closed for a 14-day quarantine upon notification
of exposure. Distance learning will be offered during this time.
• Any individual who is diagnosed with COVID-19 may not return to school until all of the
following are met:
1. Individual is fever free without the use of fever-reducing medications for at least
72 hours
2. Individual’s symptoms, including cough, have improved
3. It has been at least 10 days since the onset of the individual’s illness
4. Written documentation is provided by a medical provider stating that the
individual is no longer communicable.
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DISTANCE LEARNING
Distance learning will be offered if a Stay at Home order is issued by the State of
Illinois and/or when a classroom has been exposed to the virus and must be
quarantined according to the CDC guidelines.
If a Stay at Home order is issued by the State of Illinois, parents will have the option to
remain enrolled in our distance learning program during school closure or to defer
enrollment until in-person learning may resume. (*Families that wish to defer will not
be charged any additional tuition until in-person learning resumes. Tuition paid prior
to deferment is non-refundable.) Tuition for distance learning may be discounted for
some divisions. (Distance learning tuition rates TBD.)
If a classroom is closed for a 14-day quarantine due to exposure, distance learning will
be offered during that time. There will be no discounts or refunds offered for required
14-day quarantine closures.
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updated: 7/27/2020 9Montessori School of Lake Forest Plan for the 2020-2021 School Year TODDLER DIVISION PRIMARY DIVISION ELEMENTARY DIVISION Montessori School of Lake Forest updated: 7/27/2020 10
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