Montessori Buzz – Oct. 19, 2021
Dear MA Families & Friends,
A message from Tina
We have some updates to share with you regarding the COVID self-screening process:
-
Everyone is still required to screen your children everyday (and staff too!) before arriving at school.
-
If you fail the screening due to a COVID symptom, please read the entire information section of the online screening tool on what to do. It outlines everything that needs to happen. We are fielding numerous phone calls about next steps, when all the information you need is included in the screening tool.
-
If your child is unwell (with non-COVID symptoms), and they are not coming to school, you do not need to screen them via the online screening tool. However, we still need to know they are not coming to school and why; please call the classroom teachers to tell them. This is our usual illness protocol.
-
Also if your child is not attending school for other reasons, please also call to let us know so our attendance records are accurate.
-
-
Non-COVID illness: If the unwell child has a sibling who passes screening, the sibling can attend school.
-
If the unwell child fails screening because they have a COVID symptom, the unvaccinated siblings must stay home until a negative test is received.
*NEW* Elementary and Junior High Parents
You no longer need to record your child’s results from screening in the Google forms, but as mentioned above, you still need to screen daily. The recording of the results via the Google form may return if the Ministry or our local health unit mandates it based on transmission rates.
Also, all late children need to be brought to the office on arrival to have their attendance recorded. The parent and/or a staff member will then make sure the student gets to their homeroom class or their specialty class.
Toddler and Casa Parents
You need to continue to screen and record your child’s screening result in the Google classroom form. The reason for this difference is due to regulations set out under the COVID-19 protocols for CCEYA.
Thank you for your continued support as these changes are rolled out.
Be well,
Tina Sartori
Executive Director
Elementary Hot Lunch Online Orders Due This Friday!
Hot lunch orders are due online this Friday, October 22. Please place your orders here: https://mahotlunch.campbrainregistration.com/. Payments are to be made online, or you can drop into the Main Office to pay by cash, cheque, Visa, MasterCard, Amex or Apple Pay.
Call for Parent Volunteers! Event Committees
We have BIG plans this year for fundraising events and we need your help!
Parent volunteers are needed for the following committees:
1. Snow Much Fun – Factory Edition Committee (Event Date: Sunday, February 27th, 2022)
2. Artisan Market Committee – (Event Date: Friday May 27, 2022)
3. Golf Tournament Committee – (Event Date TBD – Timing May/June 2022)
Committee responsibilities will include meeting regularly (via zoom or in person when possible) up until the event to plan every aspect of the event including and not limited to; set up, décor, games/activities, sponsorship and food and beverages. Committee members will also be present to help during the day of the event. All volunteer committee members will need to provide proof of vaccination.
To sign up for one of these three committees, or if you would like more information about the role please email Tonya Dendrinos at tdendrinos@montessori.on.ca.
FYI: School Closure process for inclement weather
It feels a bit early for this reminder, but we thought we’d share it now that the temperatures are starting to drop.
In the event of severe weather, the school’s administration will make a decision about closing the school by 7:15 am, if possible. If we decide to close the school, we will send a text message/SMS and email to all families through the same distribution list as our Buzz eNewsletter. If you have not received a text message and email by 7:25 am, it is safe to assume the school is open.
Also, we follow the Thames Valley District School Board – if the public school board closes its administrative offices and all city schools, Montessori Academy will close, too. (We do not follow bus cancellations.)
We will follow up any school-closure text message and email with posts via our social media accounts, and update our website’s homepage. However, we ask families to please check their text messages and email first for school closure announcements.
Please also remember that if on any stormy day you do not feel safe driving to school, you are welcomed to keep your child(ren) home.
Casa movie night is tomorrow!
We can’t wait to see our Casa families tomorrow night at our Casa Movie Night. There will be plenty of free parking on Piccadilly.
-
WHEN: 6:45PM – Movie starts at 7:00PM
-
WHERE: Oxford Casa Courtyard (311 Oxford Street)
-
BYOS: Bring Your Own Snacks
Photos from the Week
Westmount Toddlers’ seasonal sensory material
New sensory bin materials for this Toddler class! The children enjoyed scooping and pouring dried corn and beans into Jack-o-lanterns.
.JPG)
Waterloo Toddler
There was some serious pumpkin carving happening in Toddler 1 last week! The children were brimming with curiosity and focus!
Casas head to Kustermans Berry Farm
Whew – after several weather delays, the Casa students FINALLY enjoyed their first field trip on Monday to Kustermans Berry Farm. And what a beautiful day for it!
Upper El history lesson
Year Fours learned about astrology and cuneiform writing during the Mesopotamian civilization and then created their own clay tablet.
Upper El Phys Ed FIELD TRIP!!
This week, the UE students had a Phys Ed field trip – the first field trip in almost 2 years!! Also a first for Junction Climbing Centre! Everyone had a great time, many challenged themselves to climb higher than they thought they could!!
From the Community
Via the Canadian Council of Montessori Administrators, our accrediting body: an online webinar for parents and teachers – Montessori Education & Inclusion – Do the pieces fit?
Join us Tuesday, October 26, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. ET for this webinar exploring the opportunity to include students with disabilities in Montessori Schools.
Please see the Montessori and Inclusion Flyer (PDF) for more information on this engaging informational session.
The webinar and a copy of the report are free but you must register in advance through this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Wa1QyCw7R-6Dx948zmUKvQ