Children’s House Montessori School
Parent Handbook
Our History:
Children’s House Montessori School began in 2011 at a small, pink building on Normal Hill in Lewiston, ID. The school was started by Ms. Megan, our school’s owner, director and current Upper Elementary teacher. Opening CHMS was a dream come true for Megan and her family.
Upon graduating from Montessori Northwest in Portland, OR with her A.M.I Montessori teaching certification and her M. Ed from Loyola College of Maryland, Megan sought experience working in other Montessori schools, but knew she wanted to start one of her own in Lewiston, her hometown. After teaching at the Montessori School of Pullman as a lead Primary teacher for four years, Megan had the opportunity to lease a small building in Lewiston. It was the perfect opportunity to make her dream a reality.
CHMS began with one Primary class and after two years outgrew the small building it began in. The school was able to lease the historic Carnegie Library in Pioneer Park in 2013 and expanded to offer Montessori elementary. In 2018 the opportunity to lease our sweet “little building” at St. John’s Way became a reality and the school was able to begin offering a Toddler class and a Primary Community class for our friends too young to attend the “big building” in the park.
All of this growth would not have been possible without the many years of support from the CHMS families, past and present.
CHMS began as one family’s dream and has grown to become an important part of hundreds of families' lives. We look forward to welcoming you to our CHMS community of families.
Our Mission:
Children's House Montessori School of Lewiston was founded in order to provide children and families the opportunity for quality Montessori education. Each child is supported in their unique learning styles with individualized lessons. Our school promotes social awareness and community through group lessons and working together to care for our school, each other and our community. We will provide a safe, happy, beautiful environment which will meet the standards set forth by Dr. Maria Montessori.
Our Goals:
To create a learning environment where a child can learn functional independence as well as social awareness; caring for themselves and others.
To support early childhood and elementary education and assist families during their child's transition into a daily school routine.
To support staff members by providing a quality facility, personal time and opportunities for education in the field of Montessori and early childhood education.
To maintain the buildings, classroom and grounds to ensure safety and beauty for all families and staff who attend Children's House Montessori of Lewiston.
Equity, Inclusion and Non discrimination Policy:
Children's House Montessori School of Lewiston does not discriminate in the administration of its educational policies.
CHMS practices equity and inclusion in our lessons, practices, events, language, and policies.
Equity in education means that every student has access to the resources they need in their education.
Inclusion and Non Discrimination means we do not discriminate or leave out a student based on: gender, race, ethnicity, language, disability, sexual orientation, family background or income.
We will ensure equitable access to learning resources, opportunities and materials.
We will strive to continuously review school practices, procedures and policies to ensure that barriers are removed so that all students can succeed, feel safe, accepted and supported.
We will respect the identities and cultures of learners and families by using practices, curriculum and policies that ensure equity for students.
These policies and practices will continue to be revised and improved upon as CHMS staff learns and improves through school sponsored professional development opportunities.
Policy regarding hate speech and hate symbols:
We ban all hate speech and hate symbols on our school grounds and at school sponsored events. Examples of banned symbols include but are not limited to: the confederate flag, swastika and not equal sign. Further information may be found at: https://www.adl.org/
Hate speech is any language spoken or written which attacks a person or a group based on who they are, religion, nationality, gender, gender identification, sexual orientation, belief systems.
Consequences:
In the instance that hate symbols appear on the clothing of a student or parent on school grounds, the individual will be asked to change their clothing or to leave the premises. The child and the family will also receive information about the history of the hate symbol and why it is a hate symbol.
In the instance of hate speech the individual will be given a verbal warning to cease and might be asked to leave the premises. In the case of a student behaving in this manner, a meeting will be called with the student and parent/guardian and teacher.
In extreme cases, a child may be dis enrolled from CHMS for either of these infractions and/or the parent/guardian response to the incident.
Responsibilities of the School:
To provide a safe, clean, happy educational environment meeting all of the licensing standards set forth by the state of Idaho, Nez Perce County and the city of Lewiston .
To provide the best quality resources and materials to the children meeting the Montessori standards of beauty and order.
To provide certified lead teachers and assistant teachers who guide with patience and consideration for the development of young children.
Responsibilities of the Parent and Families:
To bring the child to school on time.
To fulfill financial and legal obligations to the school promptly.
To support both the school and the child:
- by attending parent meetings and conferences
- by keeping informed on goals and policies of the school
- by volunteering time and effort
To ensure the continuation of the school for their own child by actively helping to build enrollment.
To ensure the safety, both physical and emotional, of the students and staff of CHMS by speaking and acting in a way that is both kind and empathetic to the views and practices of CHMS.
Responsibilities of the Child:
To be free to embrace their childhood.
To treat themselves and each other with respect and kindness.
To grow to their full potential.
COVID-19 Safety Measures: Some practices are on pause as transmission rates fluctuate. Some measures could be brought back at any time:
Masks may be required if the following occurs: large local outbreak, high rate of infection within the school community/local community, immune compromised staff or student, or per CDC/national guidelines/requirement. Masks would be worn by all staff and all lower and upper elementary students when physical distancing is not possible inside our buildings and out of doors when physical distancing is not possible. Masks are not required of students younger than six, but strongly encouraged for students age four and five. Any adult entering the building(s) might be asked to wear a mask and limit their contact to surfaces inside the building(s).
Physical distancing in lines and around cubby areas and hallways.
Handwashing practices taught and part of our routine.
Partitions between tables when eating and when physical distancing is not possible.
Temperatures taken at drop off and dismissal.
Electronic attendance taken via the brightwheel app, eliminating shared pens, clipboards and entry into the building by people other than staff and students.
Staff will go through a health screening and temperature check prior to their shift and limit clothing and hair contact with children by wearing smocks, changing clothes if necessary and wearing hair back.
Snack is no longer served buffet style, but in individual servings.
Items from home such as sharing or backpacks will no longer be allowed (exceptions are made for our youngest friends and their nap items).
Sanitation stations throughout the classrooms as well as vapor sanitation, UV light and sanitation after each material is used will all be part of the daily routine.
Physical distancing in classrooms and masks worn when in close quarters.
Circulating the indoor air as much as possible with open windows and fans blowing air out in order to prevent stagnant air.
Extra cleaning occurring every night and extensive cleaning during school closure.
Small class sizes, remaining with our classroom groups as much as possible in order to limit group exposure.
COVID-19 Related Policies and Procedures:
Refunds: CHMS contracts have always stated that refunds would not be given due to illness or emergency school closure.
Should CHMS need to close due to the COVID-19 pandemic we will return to providing high quality video instruction, lesson materials and live video chats. This will only occur should the local outbreak level be such that in person instruction is no longer deemed safe or feasible. This will ensure your children are kept up to their grade level in their schooling.
Outbreak at the school:
If any member of the CHMS school community (staff, student, parent(s), local extended family, co-workers of parents or any person in direct contact with CHMS staff, families or students) is exposed to a positive case of COVID-19 the student and family may be asked by the director to quarantine for two weeks. During this time CHMS will provide at home learning materials for the student.
Should any student, staff, family member or any person in direct contact with CHMS staff, families or students test positive the student will be required to quarantine at home for two weeks and may be asked to return a negative COVID-19 test result prior to returning to school.
If two or more students, family members or CHMS staff members test positive for the COVID-19 virus, CHMS might close for several days and require staff and families to self-quarantine. Depending on the severity of the outbreak, CHMS may provide distance learning materials during the closure.
You remain responsible for tuition fees even during school closures due to an outbreak as your child is considered enrolled, returning and receiving distance learning materials.
There will not be any refunds, discounts or credits given due to closure as a result of an outbreak of the COVID-19 virus. This will ensure that we can remain in operation to supply schooling in the event of a shutdown.
Responsibility of Families:
You will be sending your child to CHMS at your own risk.
You may be asked to take the health screening questionnaire each day provided on Brightwheel.
Family members will self quarantine, seek medical attention and possibly a COVID-19 test should they present symptoms of COVID19 :
Fever or chills
Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Fatigue
Muscle or body aches
Headache
New loss of taste or smell
Sore throat
Congestion or runny nose
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea
Temperatures may be taken at drop off of the adult dropping off the child and the child.
You are responsible for providing your child with a mask, clean clothes, hand sanitizer upon entering your vehicle after school, a shower or a bath and clean clothes upon arriving home.
By taking these precautions you are doing your part to protect your family and others from potentially spreading the virus. Again, if these requirements are too hard for your family to follow, please reconsider enrollment during these times.
Masks: See above: We are not currently requiring masks, but may need to at a future date: All students over the age of six will be required to wear a mask while inside the building and during times when physical distancing is not possible. We will allow as many mask breaks as possible for the comfort of our students, while still remaining safe. If your child has a medical condition preventing them from wearing a mask please provide a note from their physician. Face shields are a welcome alternative for those who find a mask too restrictive. Please clearly label your child’s mask as you would their other belongings. If neither a mask or face shield is possible for your child, they may be asked to remain at home for their schooling until such a time as they can return safely.
PPE FEES: Due to new health requirements, and in order to keep CHMS staff, students, and parents safe families will be billed a monthly PPE fee of $15, per family. This fee will be a separate item on your tuition invoice.
BRIGHTWHEEL: All students must be checked in and out via Brightwheel.
DROP OFF: One Parent/Guardian and students will line up in their designated locations at their specific drop off time. Both parent and child will have their temperature taken, should anyone have a temperature over 100.4 they will not be permitted to enter school that day. If you have young children/siblings in car seats who cannot be left unattended staff members may meet you at your vehicle.
PICK UP & AFTER CARE: Students will be dismissed from outside during dismissal times and after care. Please do not enter the building to retrieve your child or personal belongings, a staff member can retrieve belongings. Please practice physical distancing from others when picking your child up. Please call the school if you do not see children outside during dismissal times.
Please plan around these changes. It may take some time to get smooth transitions going and we do not want you to be rushed or late for work because you did not allow for necessary time.
Late Arrival: If you will be late to pick up or drop off your child please call the school(s). Please wait outside of the entrance and you will be greeted by a staff member. Do not leave your child unattended waiting outside of the school, if you do so, CHMS will take strict action against you to insure the safety of your child. This will be considered negligence on your part and will not be tolerated. Do not leave until a staff member has greeted you, taken your temperature and deemed your child healthy to enter the school.
Admittance to the school building(s): This is not currently being enforced, but might be at a future date:
No one will be admitted into either CHMS building without an appointment and MUST wear a mask. Masks may be temporarily available if you must enter the building and do not have one.
Meetings may be held virtually or questions answered via email or Brightwheel.
Should you need to enter the building without an appointment please contact a staff member prior to entering.
LIABILITY: Please be advised that you are sending your child to CHMS at their and your own family’s risk. CHMS is implementing the above measures to mitigate the spread of the virus, please respect the guidelines we are trying to adhere to. CHMS, owners, and/or staff cannot be held liable for students and/or families contracting the virus, or possible illness.
Changes to Schedule and Events: In order to safely open CHMS on time and prevent the potential spread of the COVID-19 virus the following changes have been to the start of the school year schedule:
All events are subject to cancellation pending an outbreak or limited staffing.
School tours and visits might be provided in a virtual format. We will email the virtual tour to you prior to the first day of school.
Only families new to the building/school will be permitted to briefly tour the building. The tour will consist of a walk through and then a visit outside on the school grounds. Please limit the number of family members on the tour to two or three including the student. Please refrain from touching items or surfaces within the buildings. The times and date for these tours will be listed in your child’s classroom letter and supply list.
All elementary students may be assigned a staggered start and end time to their school day as well as a separate start day from the primary and kindergarten students.
Enrollment Ages for Preschool (Primary):
Children's House Montessori School of Lewiston accepts children who are potty trained, meaning no longer wearing pull-ups and mostly independent when using the bathroom.
The ages we accept are 3 years up to six years old in the Primary classroom.
Children must be 3 or older on or before September 1st.
The Montessori classroom is a mixed-age environment which promotes a more familial like community with older children assisting younger children and younger children being able to model their independence and social skills after their older friends.
In some instances we are able to enroll children who are 2 years nine months.
Kindergarten: .In order to enroll in Kindergarten your child must be five years old on or before September 1st of the year they wish to enroll. Kindergarten is full day only.
This class format may be a traditional blend of older preschool aged children and kindergarten aged students. Montessori classrooms traditionally follow a looped, or blended classroom model in order to support developmental needs of children in a setting where learning is not limited by age, but guided by age AND readiness.
Elementary:
In order to enroll in our Elementary classroom a child must be six years old on or before September 1st.
The Lower Elementary classroom is grades 1st and 2nd grade combined.
This is an all day, five day a week classroom. It is not required that a child have previous experience in a Montessori classroom, however due to the specific nature of the classroom materials and learning style set forth, the director and teachers may request a trial period for children new to the school to ensure that they are comfortable and that the school is a good fit for all involved.
Upper Elementary:
Montessori Upper Elementary is combined grades 3rd-5th (6th grade is now a part of the local middle school).
This is an all day, five day a week classroom. Previous experience in a Montessori classroom is not required, however due to the specific nature of the classroom materials and learning style set forth, the director and teachers may request a trial period for children new to the school to ensure that they are comfortable and that the school is a good fit for all involved.
Tuition/Financial Information:
Please see COVID-19 Policy updates
PAYMENT AGREEMENT:
Single Annual Payment (3% discount for yearly payment due August 1st)
Monthly payments (10 months of equal payments. First payment due August 1st)
Monthly payments (12 months of equal payments. First payment due August 1st)
The 12 month payment plan DOES NOT include summer camp. If your child attends summer camp while you are on the 12 month plan you will have two payments in June and July.
There is a 3% discount for siblings attending CHMS
Tuition payments are due at the beginning of each month and will be considered delinquent if not paid by the 5th.
Monthly tuition schedules will receive a monthly invoice.
If financial circumstances necessitate payment after the 5th, special arrangements must be made in advance.
Timely collection of tuition is important for the school to meet its obligations; the school will observe the following procedures for collection of delinquent tuition.
At 10 days past the previous billing date, a late fee of $25.00 will be assessed.
Tuition accounts not current (or with no payment plan in place) will not be allowed to re-register for the next school year.
TUTION ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
Tuition is based on the actual days of the school year. Tuition does not include school holidays, in-service days, conference days, student illness, personal vacations, family emergencies, or any other school closures in the event of an emergency or inclement weather. No credit/refund will be given for non-attendance, or school closures in the event of a pandemic, state mandated closure, emergency or inclement weather. Tuition is not pro-rated or refunded to reflect these events. Tuition payments contribute to retaining consistent quality teachers for students.
TERMINATION PROCEDURES: Parent may terminate this Contract by submitting a WRITTEN 30 day withdrawal notice to administration. The Termination Notice must (a) be dated, (b) state the Student’s name, (c) provide a reason for the termination of the Contract. Even if this Contract is terminated pursuant to the terms of this Paragraph, Parent understands that the School will not refund any previous tuition payments. Tuition installment will be due for the 30 days included in the withdrawal notice.
REPLACEMENT OF DAMAGED ITEMS:
If a student is responsible for damage to school property, including but not limited to: Montessori materials, classroom supplies, outdoor equipment, building structure, books, or furniture, the family may be asked to replace all or some of the damaged item(s).
The amount will be no more than the actual cost of the item(s) and in extreme cases the school will assist in covering costs so that the item(s) may be replaced or repaired.
Please make note of scheduled school closures for holidays and conferences so that your family can plan ahead. See the included school year calendar for details.
What is Montessori Education?
The word Montessori is the last name of Italy's first female physician. Maria Montessori's name became public domain in the 1920's and now is used to reference the method of education she developed as well as the schools and materials which practice this method.
Dr. Maria Montessori was born in Italy in 1870. As a young woman she pursued a degree in medicine. After graduation she was hired by a hospital to care for young children who were orphaned, some considered to have learning disabilities. Dr. Montessori became intrigued when observing the children and began to develop activities for them to participate in. Many of the physicians and staff were surprised to see the children's academic and personal growth.
Dr. Montessori was then invited to work with a group of children in Rome who were left alone all day while their parents worked. This became the first Casa dei Bambini, or Children's House.
Through scientific observation, studies of human development and collaboration with other professionals, Dr. Montessori was able to develop a set of materials which would be appealing to the young child and directly aid in their development.
She did not only focus on the academic, she focused on the whole child. She also emphasized that furniture and materials needed to be child sized in order for children to feel comfortable as well as developing a sense of pride and ownership. Many of Dr. Montessori's ground breaking discoveries continue today throughout the world.
At the heart of her method is a belief in the child's potential and that since every man and woman begins as a child we must show great respect and attention to even the youngest child, fostering and developing independence, social awareness and responsibility.
Montessori schools were not intended to be religious and are often found to be progressive schools with a global view. Schools intended to promote peace, equity and science. The Montessori elementary curriculum is an excellent testament to our work in promoting research, science and discovering the many wonders of the universe. The children will study what Dr. Montessori called the Great Lessons. She was very methodical in her teachings to not make religious education a part of her science teachings, which when you consider the era in which she lived, this was very forward thinking of her. The children learn about the universe forming from nothing, a great force of energy occurring, what was it? Who can say? But scientists can prove that this occurred. The children will study the timeline of life and glean information about the billions of years it took for us to be in our present state.
Dr. Montessori was ahead of her time and she left the world with an incredible gift. She left us with her scientific research about the development of children, curriculum and pedagogy. If you would like to learn more about her incredible life, I encourage you to read some of the resources provided at the end of the handbook.
Program Information:
Our program consists of many options to suit your family schedule and your child's needs. It is very important to the young child to have a consistent routine and expectations. By providing your child with a consistent school schedule you are taking an important first step towards your child's comfort and success at school.
Children's House Montessori School provides three hour blocks of school time. Dr. Montessori called this the “three hour work period.” She found that this was the amount of time a child needed to be able to settle into their environment, choose a material to work with, explore it fully with repetition and complete all necessary steps in the work. This also allows them time for social interactions, snack, large group lessons, field trips, nature walks and playing outside.
Our General Daily Routine is as follows:
7:30 – 8:30 Before Care: Children will be provided some quiet time and activities before starting their school day.
8:30 a.m.(Primary) 8:45 (Kindergarten/Elementary) Class Begins Times may vary if we are on a staggered schedule: The rest of the class will arrive, put away their coats and backpacks, change their shoes and greet their friends. Some days we will all gather for a large group lesson and other days we will begin our individual Montessori work and new lessons.
8:45 – 11: 15 a.m Children will be given individual lessons, as well as time to explore the classroom and repeat work and further expand on their knowledge and skills. Snack will be available all morning and children may choose to eat when they are hungry. Serving their own snack when their body tells them they are hungry as well as sometimes needing to wait for a turn at the table provides important skills in independence, taking care of themselves as well as manners and social awareness.
Outside time: One of the best features of our school is access to a secure outdoor environment for our youngest students as well as Pioneer Park for our Kindergarten and Elementary students. Classes will have separate recess time during the morning and afternoon.
11:15-11:30 Clean-up, Large Group, Reading Circle, Dismissal. Our final few minutes of the morning can include any number of activities. It will vary from day to day depending on the needs of the group, but we will always say goodbye as a community. This is also a fun time for parents to come in and join us!
11:30-12:30 Lunch For the children who stay at Children's House all day as well as those who would like to stay a bit longer we offer lunch time care and play time.
Families will provide their child with a healthy sack lunch from home(NO ITEMS TO HEAT UP PLEASE).
The school will provide milk, orange juice or water for the children to drink.
After eating they will be excused to 30 minutes of play time, rest time or classroom works.
An example of a healthy lunch includes: protein (cheese, meat, yogurt, beans), whole grains, and vitamin C in the form of fruit or vegetables.
Please do not provide sugary fruit snacks or granola bars with chocolate. Any “dessert” items will be saved for the child for after school care.
Sugars and processed foods can have a powerful effect on a young child's body. We want each child to feel their very best during the school day. (On special occasions we will indulge in healthier treats).
For the half day, Primary Community friends parents have the option to pick up their child after they eat at 12:00 or after they play at 12:30.
12:30 – 3:30
The afternoon schedule follows the same as the morning with the exception of new lessons and further exploration for all day children.
3:30-Dismissal Times may vary if we are on a staggered schedule.
3:30-4:30 After Care:
Our After Care program is an extension of our school day in terms of choosing activities which the child herself finds interesting. The main exception is the inclusion of toys.
After Care is a time when the children are able to play and pretend and relax. If they choose to continue their Montessori or academic work some materials will be available to them. There will also be art, games and stories.
Outdoor time if the weather permits.
Life in the Classroom:
The Montessori classroom is a very busy place which can look different from other school settings. Many call it a quiet hum or a buzz when they look in the classroom.
You will see children moving about, choosing work from the shelves, talking with their friends, making a plan for a new work or project.
You will also see teachers who are quiet, maybe giving a child an individual lesson or working with a small group of children.
You will see an assistant teacher guiding children, helping to tie a shoe or giving gentle reminders on how we move, speak and be in our classroom.
You will see children who know how to meet their own needs, help a friend and clean up a spill.
You will see beautiful materials: a real basin for dipping our hands to clean them, real brooms and brushes for cleaning.
You might see a three year old walk very carefully across the room with a bucket of water. She is busy! Don't worry. You will also see real glass being used.
The reason for this is that glass is beautiful and can provide the hand and mind with a different sensory experience. Drinking from a glass is a very different experience than drinking from plastic. It is heavier, can have beautiful etching, but most of all we use glass because it can break. There is a direct consequence if we drop a glass... or huge relief if it doesn't break!
We teach the children how to carry a glass as well as how to move through the classroom. We also teach them what to do if an accident does occur. The Adults are the only people who clean up a broken glass. If you have not yet provided your child with the experience of using a real glass to drink out of, for fear of it breaking, we encourage you to give it a try and trust their capabilities.
Daily Life in our classrooms is a lot of fun. Find out about when you can come and observe.
The First Days of School and Separation Anxiety What to do:
Starting school is an exciting experience for children as well as parents.
Meeting new people and trying new things is a part of life, and school is often a child's first experience at being uncomfortable or asked to try new things.
We will provide each family with their own one-on-one visitation time before school starts. This is subject to change based on health guidelines. A virtual option will be provided in lieu of in person tours.
The child and their parents will see their cubby, find out where the bathroom is and learn some basics about being in their new classroom.
At this time you will also be provided with information about snack and sharing, pick up and drop off.
Your child's first few weeks of school will be spent learning the school routine and how to be in our classroom environment. All the children will have Grace and Courtesy lessons about how to be a part of the classroom community.
Once everyone is settled the class will move into more academic studies.
Separation Anxiety:
Separation Anxiety is common and can occur for even the most confident children. It is a natural reaction to change.
The young child, even one who has gone to a daycare prior, might not know how to express fear or anxiety with their words and so they might begin to cry, scream, stomp their feet or become very stubborn.
This can be traumatic for parents who might feel sad, guilty for leaving their child, frustrated or embarrassed at their behavior. All of this is very normal.
The best action for a parent is to first prepare your child by talking about the new routine.
Being on time, confident and happy when leaving your child also helps them to establish trust in the new environment.
This is the hardest part, but even if your child is crying or screaming or won't come into the classroom, please trust the teachers and director to assist and comfort your child.
We will send a message via the Brightwheel app or call you as soon as they calm down, which is usually as soon as you go.
The longer you stay the harder it can become for you child to say goodbye.
You will be amazed at how much your child will change when they are able to trust that you will come back and that you trust the teachers as well as when your child bonds with the teachers.
The teachers will provide daily reports for you and work with your child as well as you if the anxiety remains or you have concerns.
School Information: Schedules:
If you need to make a change to your child's schedule due to an appointment or absence please let the school know as soon as possible.
Our Director and teachers are available to speak with you before school or after school. Please note that during school hours it can be difficult to meet, but with advance notice arrangements can be made.
Please make note if and when masks are required in order for you to enter the school buildings.
Being on Time:
It is very important for your child's routine that you are on time, please make an effort to call and let us know whether or not to expect your child that day.
It is also important at pick-up to be on time. Many young children worry if they do not know where their parents are if they are late.
If it is 15 minutes after the scheduled time your child will be sent to lunch or to After Care and a drop in fee will be added to your bill.
Supplies:
Each family will be asked to provide snack for their child’s class once a month, or depending on class size, more or less.
A snack calendar will be provided to you prior to the new month beginning. The calendar will detail what you are requested to bring.
There will also be times when the school will ask for donated items. In an effort to keep tuition costs down we may ask our families first for gently used goods to be used at the school. We will also ask from time to time for recyclables to be added to our recycled craft projects.
Office Hours:
Ms. Megan will be available by appointment only. You may arrange a meeting time via email childrenshouselewiston@gmail.com or phone 208.413.6634.
Office Hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday from 8:30-4:30.
Tours: Tours will be given to prospective families by appointment only.
Adverse Weather and School Closures:
In the event of inclement weather CHMS may need to close. Please call the school if you are not sure or listen to local radio and news stations.
Illness and absence from school: Please note updates due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Please notify the school if your child is absent due to illness or vacation.
If your child is ill it can be very helpful if we are provided with some information as to what your child is ill with as we can look for signs and symptoms in other children.
An absence from school will not be credited to your account.
Please inform the office if your child will be absent due to illness.
Children must be kept home if they are exhibiting one or more of these symptoms:
99-100 degree temperature with symptoms, 100 degrees or over without symptoms
sore throat
runny nose/eyes
coughing/sneezing in excess
intestinal upset
diarrhea and/or vomiting
A child who has vomited, had a fever, or diarrhea, must wait 24 hours after these symptoms
subside before returning to school.
All communicable diseases must be reported to the School Director immediately and a doctor’s written release may be required before re-admission.
Communicable diseases include but are not limited to:
chicken pox, measles, mumps, streptococcal infections, scabies, conjunctivitis (pink eye), impetigo, head lice, ringworm, pinworms.
All parents will be notified of the existence of a communicable disease at school. If a child is deemed too ill to be in school, and/or exhibiting symptoms such as a runny nose with colored
discharge or fever, parents will be called to take the child home.
COVID-19 Policy:
Daily Health Screening:
Each family is required to check their child in and out each day via the Brightwheel app. When checking in your child you will be prompted to complete a health screening via the app.
Each child and the person dropping them off each day will receive a touchless temperature check.
Children will have their temperature checked again upon dismissal.
Refunds: CHMS contracts have always stated that refunds would not be given due to illness or emergency school closure.
Should CHMS need to close due to the COVID-19 pandemic we will return to providing high quality video instruction, lesson materials and live video chats. This will only occur should the local outbreak level be such that in person instruction is no longer deemed safe or feasible. This will ensure your children are kept up to their grade level in their schooling.
Outbreak at the school:
If any member of the CHMS school community (staff, student, parent(s), local extended family, co-workers of parents or any person in direct contact with CHMS staff, families or students) is exposed to a positive case of COVID-19 the student and family may be asked by the director to quarantine for two weeks. During this time CHMS will provide at home learning materials for the student.
Should any student, staff, family member or any person in direct contact with CHMS staff, families or students test positive the student will be required to quarantine at home for two weeks and may be asked to return a negative COVID-19 test result prior to returning to school.
If two or more students, family members or CHMS staff members test positive for the COVID-19 virus, CHMS will close for two weeks and require staff and families to self-quarantine. Depending on the severity of the outbreak, CHMS may provide distance learning materials during the closure.
You remain responsible for tuition fees even during school closures due to an outbreak as your child is considered enrolled, returning and receiving distance learning materials.
There will not be any refunds, discounts or credits given due to closure as a result of an outbreak of the COVID-19 virus. This will ensure that we can remain in operation to supply schooling in the event of a shutdown.
Responsibility of Families:
You will be sending your child to CHMS at your own risk.
You will take the health screening questionnaire each day provided on brightwheel.
Family members will self quarantine, seek medical attention and possibly a COVID-19 test should they present symptoms of COVID19 :
Fever or chills
Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Fatigue
Muscle or body aches
Headache
New loss of taste or smell
Sore throat
Congestion or runny nose
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea
Temperatures will be taken at drop off of the adult dropping off the child and the child.
You are responsible for providing your child with a mask, clean clothes, hand sanitizer upon entering your vehicle after school, a shower or a bath and clean clothes upon arriving home.
By taking these precautions you are doing your part to protect your family and others from potentially spreading the virus. Again, if these requirements are too hard for your family to follow, please reconsider enrollment during these times.
Masks: All students over the age of six will be required to wear a mask while inside the building and during times when physical distancing is not possible. We will allow as many mask breaks as possible for the comfort of our students, while still remaining safe. If your child has a medical condition preventing them from wearing a mask please provide a note from their physician. Face shields are a welcome alternative for those who find a mask too restrictive. Please clearly label your child’s mask as you would their other belongings. If neither a mask or face shield is possible for your child, they may be asked to remain at home for their schooling until such a time as they can return safely.
Medication, Injury at School, Accident Reporting:
Children's House Montessori cannot administer medication to children without the written consent of the parent, in the event of a prescription we must also be provided the actual prescription bottle with the physician's name and information on it.
A parent must also sign a medication administration form to be kept at the school and stored with the medication.
An Injury/Accident Report will be provided to parents in case of minor accidents at school. In case of any kind of head injury, including eye, ear or mouth, the parents will be immediately contacted by telephone or the Brightwheel app, depending on the severity and immediacy.
In rare situations where immediate medical attention is required, the school will phone 911 and contact the parents. If it is necessary to transport a child to a hospital, one of the staff will accompany and stay with the child until the parents arrive.
Conflict Resolution/Incident Reports/Violent Behavior:
Behavioral problems are rare; however, when needed, the following disciplinary action occurs:
Child sits slightly apart from class where he/she may hear and observe other children.
Teacher and child or children explore
feelings in a kind, positive manner.
Occasionally it becomes necessary to remove a child from class and place them under the supervision of another teacher. This is usually one minute per year of child’s age.
We ask the child to sit with us and “think about it.” We work to avoid “time – out” where the child feels isolated. However, sometimes a child would like to be left alone to work through their emotions, we will remain a safe distance during this time, making sure we can see the child and are nearby when they are ready to rejoin the group.
Teachers should be firm when needed, but supportive in exploring the feelings of any confrontation.
If repetitive problems occur, the teacher and director will contact the parents to discuss the situation.
One of the ultimate goals of Montessori is to develop a self-disciplined individual. Discipline cannot be achieved through fear. Children must be aware that the teacher is compassionate and understands their limitations. Once this criteria has been established, power struggles will occur less often.
Children have the right to appropriately express their feelings: anger, hurt, frustration, etc. When aggressive behavior occurs, the children involved are taken aside by a teacher. The teacher will try to help them express their feelings verbally. With younger children, a teacher assists by giving them the language to communicate their feelings.
If an incident does occur where a child is excessively violent towards themselves, a teacher or another student an incident report will be written in order to document the situation.
This is done in order to help the child, teachers and family recall the event accurately and to be better able to assist the child in preventing it from occurring again.
After the incident a parent/guardian will be contacted and at times asked to come to the school in order to meet with the Director, teacher and their child.
We will discuss the incident, remembering to keep an open mind. In the most extreme situations, a child will be asked to leave the school for the day in order to think about their actions.
After a meeting with the Director and Teacher the child will be welcomed back to school.
If after several incidences the child's behavior has shown no improvement it may be deemed necessary to ask the child to leave the school. This will only occur after observations by the director and teacher have been made and a behavior plan has been in place for at least three weeks.
Grievance Policy Procedure:
1. Students and parents should speak to the student’s teacher about the
issue and ask for guidance.
2. If the issue does not resolve, the parents should send a written letter to
the school Director/Principal.
3. The Principal/ Director will set up a meeting to discuss the issue with all
parties involved.
4. The meeting will occur at the school, outside of school hours. It will address the grievance/s and provide several suggestions for resolution.
5. A realistic timeline for grievance resolution will be included within the suggestions for resolution.
6. At the end of the agreed upon timeline, the parties will meet to discuss the progress of the resolution. If the progress meets all parties’ satisfaction, a written statement will be created by the Principal/Director and signed by all parties. All parties will be given a copy of the signed Resolution of the Grievance.
Confidentiality Policy:
The school will not disclose information pertaining to an individual child or parents/guardians of the child to persons other than the school staff unless the parents or guardians of the child provide written permission for the disclosure or in an emergency situation.
Child Abuse/Neglect Reporting Procedures:
The school is required by law to document all signs of abuse and or neglect to and report the information to the proper authorities immediately.
What is Grace and Courtesy and Peace:
In the Montessori classroom you will hear the term Grace and Courtesy often. This is what Maria Montessori titled the lessons which focus on our social interactions in the world around us. The lessons can include taking care of our bodies i.e. how to blow our nose, cover our cough, ask for/seek out something to eat or drink. As well as how we wait our turn to speak, how we greet a friend, how we move in our classroom, what to say if we bump into someone. We ask children often to say 'please' and 'thank you', but do we often stop to show them an example and explain why we do this? Grace and courtesy lessons break down the steps for a young child to practice and then use naturally with success, making our classroom community a harmonious place to be!
Peace is something we cultivate in our classroom in order to spread peace throughout our home, town, and someday, the world! We find peace within ourselves by learning how to find quiet, away from noise and distractions. We offer peace to our friends by respecting their space, bodies, emotions and mind. We cultivate peace in our relationships: how we speak to one another, how we only use our hands for helping, not for hurting. Dr. Montessori believed that by cultivating peace in the young child we could work towards peace in our world. It is not connected to a religion or belief system, but rather connected to being human and sharing our beautiful planet with one another.
Parent Teacher Conferences:
Subject to change due to COVID-19 guidelines.
Parent teacher conferences will be held twice throughout the school year, once in the fall and again in the spring.
A sign-up sheet with available times posted will be provided two weeks prior to the conference dates. Parents/Guardians will spend about fifteen to twenty minutes reviewing the child's progress and goals.
They are not mandatory but highly recommended in that it is exciting to hear about your child's progress as well as continues to develop your relationship with your child and the school.
Parents are also able to arrange a conference any time throughout the school year should a question or concern arise, please allow at least a one day notice to the teacher in order for them to prepare and check availability.
Please check our School Chalkboard, Monthly Newsletter,
Website and Facebook for Upcoming Events and School closures and Holidays!
Parent Participation and volunteering:
Subject to change due to COVID-19 guidelines.
At Children's House Montessori School we encourage parent participation and volunteering.
By doing this you build a stronger relationship with your child as well as develop necessary skills in how to remain connected to your child as they navigate their school years.
We also love to learn from you! If there is a special lesson you would like to share with the class please let us know!
We also seek our parents to assist with field trips and walks. Volunteering in our school can include anything from helping make materials, gardening with children, baking, repairing materials, maintaining the building, overseeing lunch time or play time, helping during parties and much more.
We encourage you to seek out some time in your schedule to join your child at school.
Observing in the classroom:
Subject to change due to COVID-19 guidelines.
In a Montessori classroom you will often see a teacher sitting on a stool or standing and simply observing the children.
Because Dr. Montessori was a scientist as well as an educator she found that by taking the time to observe the child we will learn more about their development.
Observation is essential to our record keeping and making sure we are preparing the proper lessons for your child. We welcome parents to observe as well!
If you have a question or concern about your child's experience and development we will invite you to observe in the classroom.
We will provide a quiet, out of the way place for you to sit and comfortably watch your child.
We prepare the children for observers and guests through our Grace and Courtesy lessons. They will understand that you are doing your own work.
Most often your child will eventually ignore that you're there and go on about their work, but sometimes they will want you close by and that is okay too.
Because the beginning of the year is a time for your child to establish their independence away from you we ask that no observation be requested in the first month of the school year, this is not only for the sake of your own child but also for the sake of others who may be confused why their parent isn't in the classroom.
Observation time must be arranged at least one day in advance with the lead teacher.
Communicating with teachers and staff during school hours:
The Montessori classroom is a busy place with new lessons occurring at any moment, please respect your child's time in the classroom by scheduling a time to meet with your child’s teacher via Brightwheel, email, childrenshouselewiston@gmail.com, or calling 208-413-6634 or leaving a message with an available staff member such as the Director or Assistant.
Please refrain from contacting teachers or administration via their personal phone number, personal email, or personal social media pages.
Snack Helpers:
Each day at Montessori we eat a small nutritious snack that includes vitamin C. Each child will have a “snack day”. On this day the child brings enough snack for the class to share.
The snack person has many responsibilities on their special day, including preparing the snack, inviting friends to snack, keeping the area clean and well stocked, and updating our class calendar. This gives the child a feeling of pride, ownership and community.
We ask that you please bring your snack the day prior to your child's actual snack day. This will allow us adequate prep time. A great way to be prepared is to drop your snack off when you pick up your child at 11:30 or 3:30.
Please label snack with your child's name.
Please do not bring too much. If you have questions about quantity please ask.
If there is an item on your child’s snack day that your family does not eat, please feel free to request a substitute item. If you do decide to substitute please do not bring desserts or sugary snacks, but rather something similar to the item that is already on the calendar. However, we do encourage the children to try new foods!
Note* We are a peanut free school, no snack items may contain meat. Please do not slice fruits, vegetables or bread at home. All pre-packaged items must be sealed!
Birthday Celebrations: Subject to change due to COVID-19 guidelines. Please check with your child’s teacher.
We will celebrate every child’s birthday throughout the year; even those that fall during summer months.
Please check your snack calendar each month to find out when your child's celebration will be.
We do our best to have their celebration as close to their real birthday as possible, aside from the summer birthdays. As your child's celebration approaches, we will ask you to choose a time that works with your schedule.
Parents and family members are invited to the celebration, and we encourage you to attend. All adult guests are required to wear a mask if CDC pandemic guidelines are still in place.
We have a special birthday mat that is placed in the center of the circle. You will sit with your child and share with us about the day they were born and stories about each year of their life. Don't forget to bring a few pictures to share!
The best method for sharing pictures is to put them on a large poster board for all the children to see. The other children will sing a special song as the birthday child walks around the mat to mark each year passing.
After the stories and singing of “Happy Birthday” we will all enjoy a healthy, special treat your child has brought to share. We strongly discourage store bought birthday cakes and cupcakes. Often these have too much frosting and sugar. Please only bring items such as muffins, quick bread, fruit and maybe cookies (again, no icing please). Primary Community students will bring muffins for their birthday treat.
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.
Field Trips and Neighborhood Walks: Only children who are old enough and able to be safe will be taken on these walks.
We are so fortunate to be located on beautiful Normal Hill within walking distance to many wonderful locations (including LCSC and Downtown Library and levee).
We will be taking many nature walks throughout the school year. Please sign the Nature Walk field trip form provided.
On every walk and field trip we will take with us an emergency form for each child, a backpack filled with extra clothes, water and a first aid kit and cell phone.
Nature walks can occur any time throughout the week, though we will post at the front entrance of the school where we are going and at what time as well as provide a cell phone # should you need to contact the teachers or staff.
Field Trips are subject to change due to COVID-19 guidelines.
Parents will be notified in advance prior to any field trip.
Field trips will be arranged in advance because we will ride our CHMS school bus for the outing. Primary students do not ride the bus, only K-6th grade students ride the bus.
Parents/Guardians are welcome to join us on field trips and nature walks but it is not permitted for you to take your child home from the destination, all children must return to the school building and be signed out by a parent/guardian.
Extra Clothing and indoor shoes:
Primary child students must bring at least one extra set of clothing to be kept at school. It is not only in case of bathroom accidents, we work with water often as well as paint.
If your child is still perfecting using the bathroom please provide multiple sets of clothing.
The school will provide a clean set of clothing should your child not have any, we ask that you wash and return the items.
Extra clothes checklist:
pants/shorts
underwear
shirt/long and short sleeve
socks and shoes
Indoor shoes: Because we love playing outside, but we also work often on the floor we ask that you provide your child with a set of indoor shoes to remain at the school. No night time/bed/slippers as indoor shoes! They are too slippery on our floors.
Your child will change from their street shoes upon arrival and then for playground time and when they get ready to go home. Some examples of good indoor shoes include crocs or robeez, something soft enough that your child can move in and get on and off easily, but NO bedroom slippers please!
The indoor shoes need to provide enough support should we need to leave the building in case of an emergency.
Good outdoor shoes are sneakers.
Please refrain from sending your child in:
cowboy boots
high heels
dress shoes
flip flops.
These shoes are difficult for them to run and play in safely.
Rainy and Snowy Days:
We will play outside if it is not too cold if it is sprinkling or has snowed.
On these days please provide your child with warm, water proof clothing.
Examples: rain boots, rain coat, hats, gloves, snow pants/jacket, extra socks.
Nap/Daily Rest Policy For Primary Community Students Only:
Please let the teachers and Director know if your child needs to nap or rest during the school day.
A nap mat will be provided for them, you will be asked to take home any personal sheets and blankets each Friday to wash and return on Monday.
Your child may bring a special item to cuddle with during nap/rest time and a blanket.
Please provide Pull- Ups/ diapers, should your child require these while they sleep.
All children are taken to use the bathroom before nap. Nap will occur after lunch, around 12:30, depending on your child's needs and your family routine.
We will discuss a plan for how long they will sleep, it is preferred that a child sleeps as long as they need and wake up naturally, but for some children this could mean too long of a nap affecting their sleep cycle.
Children who are resting/napping will be monitored by a staff member.
Only children who have signed up for nap/have parental permission will be given a nap.
We do not require children to nap, fall asleep, or stay laying down for a certain period of time. If they have shown that they are not tired, are restless and cannot sleep they will be invited back into their classroom.
Big Building Students needing a nap will be allowed to rest with permission from their parent/guardian. We do not offer a formal nap time at the big building, but will not deny a tired child the opportunity to rest. This applies to our Primary students and sometimes Kindergarten aged children.
Bathroom Independence:
Bathroom independence is easier if the preschool child wears garments with simple openings.
Belts and one-piece suits are difficult for a young child to manage alone.
All items should be labeled. In supplying these changes of clothes, keep in mind the changing seasons and the growth of the child.
Check periodically to see if a change is necessary.
Hygiene:
Montessori education focuses on the respect of one’s self and others.
Therefore: All students must come to school well bathed in clean appropriate clothing each day.
Should your family need assistance in acquiring toiletries, please let us know.
School Events: Subject to change due to COVID-19 guidelines.
Throughout the school year we will have many events which we welcome families to participate in.
Some examples include holiday parties during the class day, a special presentation by the children or guest speakers.
We also host evening events: Parent Night, school concerts, Open House, and performances.
Information about events can be found in: monthly school newsletter, school chalkboard in the entryway, snack calendars, school website (childrenshouselewiston.com) and Facebook.
Now that you have chosen CHMS for your child, It is important that you understand the history and unique learning methods of a Montessori school. Here are some suggested readings and websites.
Bibliography of Montessori Readings
Montessori: Her Life and Work E.M. Standing
Montessori and Your Child: Terry Mallory
Montessori: A Modern Approach Paula Polk Lillard
Teaching Montessori in the Home: The Preschool Years
Elizabeth G. Hainstock
Teaching Montessori in the Home: The School Years
Elizabeth G. Hainstock
A Parent’s Guide to the Montessori Classroom Aline D. Wolf
The Science Behind the Genius Angeline Stoll Lillard
Education for a New World Maria Montessori
To Educate the Human Potential Maria Montessori
The Absorbent Mind Maria Montessori
The Montessori Method Maria Montessori
The Discovery of the Child Maria Montessori
The Secret of Childhood Maria Montessori
The Child in the Family Maria Montessori
From Childhood to Adolescence Maria Montessori
Some online sources:
mariamontessori.com
AMIUSA.org
goodatdoingthings.com Search Dr. Steven Hughes for research related websites, blogs and videos
Montessorimadness.com
