July 28, 2020
Dear Families,
As we adjust to some of the changes we are implementing at Jarrow in order to comply with safety measures, our spirit and values remain stronger than ever. As a follow up to last week's Jarrow Journal, many of you have asked where we derive of our information/data that form the basis of our plans. The following links are useful resources.
While there is a rise in COVID around the country, we are focusing on Boulder County and our local conditions. We are working off the requirements and recommendations set by the Dept. of Public Health, so please understand there are little discretionary decision-making options right now.
Our spaces will look a little different and some of your children will be grouped differently in order to form smaller stable groups. As we work through these changes, I want to remind you all that our Montessori values, practices and relationships with our children are at the forefront of how these modifications are evaluated. Our goal is to gently reintegrate the children back to campus and allow them to acclimate slowly to minimize stress.
What to Expect:
- Each child will have their own desk spaced ~6ft apart, so they have a designated place to work and eat when inside the classroom.
- Each classroom will spend as much time working and engaging in outdoor activities as the weather allows.
- Each child will be monitored for handwashing several times a day. Hand sanitizer will be available primarily for adult use, but also for children, if need be.
- All children over the age of 3 will be required to wear a mask or buff. Any child who is unable to do so will be evaluated individually. Please start practicing with your child so they get used to wearing their mask.
We are working to adopt best practices to ensure we can make our school as safe as possible. In order to effectively create pods, so that children are in stable groups, the following adjustments are being implemented:
- The Upper Elementary program is moving to the Montessori (MECR) training facility off Walnut, approximately 10 minutes from Jarrow. This space allows for enough room for 6ft physical distancing, outdoor pursuits and the ability to attend school 5 days a week.
- The Lower Elementary program will all be housed in the three large rooms that make up the Elementary Building, where the Upper Elementary program and Beech classroom were housed on our lower campus. In total, we have three large spaces for the entire Lower Elementary, with four teachers. While this group is considered one stable group, the children will be divided into smaller groups. Teachers will be sending out a letter soon to all LE parents.
- The Co-curricular programming is under review and we anticipate slowly integrating these classes once school gets underway.
One of the biggest changes will be how we group our children in the
Primary program
who are typically in mixed-age groupings. Because we cannot mix ‘stable’ groups, we believe it is best to have all the five year olds together for the entire day. This allows the social mixing of these older children and to extend their academic work as we would if they were brought together in the afternoon Kinder program (like last year).
The other three Primary classes will be composed only of children ages 3-4. Each class will form one pod, and as the children cannot mix with other groupings, will have all their activities including lunch, recess and nap together.
- There are no changes to the Toddler programs.
Staffing and Class Placements
Due to COVID, there will be a few staffing changes, which only affect Primary. Parents will be notified of class placements and teachers in the next few weeks. We are still experiencing movement amongst our population, so there has been a slight delay in getting this information solidified.
Facility Upgrades
- All HVAC systems in every room will be either replaced or upgraded, including new filtration functions to help clean and circulate air, as well as keep all our rooms cool in the summer heat.
- Electrical and plumbing upgrades.
- Bathroom replacement between Maple and Sequoia Room.
Deferment of Enrollment for 2020-21
This Friday, July 31st, is the
last day
to defer your 2020-21 enrollment.
This means your deposit and contract will be rolled over to next year. Please let Gavin (
gavin.green@jarrow.org
) and Marlena (
marlena.carlson@jarrow.org
) know your intentions if you choose to defer.
* For those who are fulfilling their contract payments, a space will be reserved for your child irrespective of if and when they start.
**If you would like to come back later in the year, we cannot guarantee a placement unless you have continued to pay tuition, however we will do our best to accommodate your child if space allows.
For those
not
intending to return, your deposit is non-refundable
, and your contract voided.
After July 31, you are obligated to your contract.
Travel Reminder
If you are planning to travel, please return 14 days prior to school starting. We ask all parents to take this advice seriously. If your return date is after the 14 days prior to school starting, we ask you to quarantine for 14 days after your return date, or that your family gets COVID tested after 5 days upon returning. We want to get off on a strong footing and this caution will help our whole community.
We are excited to see you all soon. Stay safe.
In peace,
Debbie
