COVID-19 Information

COVID Policy Updates

Here is our updated COVID mitigation guidance at present:

  • Vaccinations:  All community members are highly encouraged to be up-to-date on their COVID vaccines.
  • Mask-wearing is not required for any community members. CGMS staff will continue to support mask-wearing of all children whose parents wish them to wear masks either indoors and outdoors as needed.
  • Strict wellness policy: If your child is showing any signs or symptoms of illness, whether they are COVID-19 related or not, your child should stay home to prevent the spread of illness.  All community members should be fever free for at least 24 hours before attending school.
  • Isolation and quarantine guidelines: The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) shared  school guidelines
    • Isolate for 5 days: If your child tests positive for COVID-19, has symptoms and is waiting for test results, or if they have symptoms and have not yet been tested. If at the end of 5 days they are feeling better and have no fever (without fever-reducing medicine) for 24 hours, they may return with the extra precautions of wearing a mask at all times, both inside and out, for 5 more days.
    • Isolate for 10 days: If your child has tested positive for COVID-19 and is unable to wear a mask while in school during days 6-10 (such as people with disabilities who are unable to wear a mask or children under age 2) they must isolate for 10 days after an exposure, even if their symptoms have resolved before day 10. 
    • Quarantine for 5 days: If your child has been directly exposed to a COVID-19 positive individual AND they are not vaccinated, they must quarantine for 5 days.  This could happen in the classroom if either a child who tests positive for COVID-19 or a classmate in class with them is not wearing a mask indoors.
    • No quarantine required: If your child is fully vaccinated and has been exposed to someone with COVID-19, they do not need to quarantine, but they should be tested on days  3 and 5. 
  • Cohorting, reduced enrollment and other mitigation layers will stay in place for the time being.
  • Return to mask requirement: There may come a time when students are required to wear masks once again.  We will continue to monitor conditions and recommendations which affect our community and our students, and make changes to our policies as needed.  Additionally, the school reserves the right to have students and others wear masks or not attend school during specific circumstances if we see need.

Thank you for continuing to follow best practices to keep our entire community safe and well during these evolving times.  

Our Promise

At Children’s Garden Montessori School, we are committed to ensuring a safe and healthy learning environment to the best of our ability. We are working every day to balance both in-person learning and the safety of our children, our families, and our staff. As our community continues to navigate through this unique school year, we pledge to provide you with helpful and timely information about our school’s plans and protocols.

Please consider your actions, and make decisions with the whole community in mind.
  • Vaccination is currently the leading public health prevention strategy to end the COVID-19 pandemic. We encourage all eligible individuals to get vaccinated as soon as possible to help Early Care and Education (ECE) programs protect staff and children in their care, as well as their families.
  • If you travel, please check the CDC recommendations for your travel location.
    • Current recommendations for domestic travel for people who are not fully vaccinated are as follows:  
        • Get tested 3 to 5 days upon returning.
        • Self-monitor for symptoms an additional 5 days.
    • Check the CDC website for additional international travel recommendations and COVID Levels in your destination area.
  • Children who are experiencing any of the following symptoms must remain at home at least 24 hours after symptoms have fully disappeared: temperature of 100 or higher, cough, runny nose, sore throat, loss of sense of smell/taste, vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, body aches, fatigue, chills.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  • WHAT SAFETY MEASURES DOES CGMS HAVE IN PLACE FOR IN-PERSON LEARNING?

    ARRIVING AT SCHOOL:
    • We ask that parents and employees continue to monitor the temperatures of all children and employees before coming to school every day. Anyone with a temperature of 100.4 F or higher must leave immediately. 
    WHILE AT SCHOOL:
    • Teachers will create lessons and plans for how to stagger children’s bathroom use, set times for handwashing, and coach children on proper handwashing timelines and techniques. 
    • We will encourage and maintain social distancing through staff teaching and environmental design. Please see more information on our social distancing protocol below.
    DURING DROP-OFF/PICK-UP:
    DROP-OFF
    • Parents, caregivers, and other individuals must drop off children at the specific gate for their classroom during their drop-off window:
      • Ward Hobbs AM: Northern Gate between 8:15 and 8:30 AM
      • Toddlers AM: Center Gate between 8:30 and 8:45 AM
      • 440 AM: Southern Gate between 8:15 and 8:30 AM
      • Ward Hobbs PM: Northern Gate between 12:15 and 12:30 PM
      • Toddlers PM: Center Gate between 12:30 and 12:45 PM 
      • 440 PM: Southern Gate between 12:15 and 12:30 PM .
    PICK UP
    • Parents, caregivers, and other individuals must pick up children at the specific gate for their classroom during their pick-up time:
      • Ward Hobbs AM: Northern Gate at 11:15 AM
      • Toddlers AM: Center Gate at 11:00 AM
      • 440 AM: Southern Gate at 11:15 AM
      • Ward Hobbs PM: Northern Gate at 3:15 PM
      • Toddlers PM: Center Gate at 3:00 PM
      • 440 PM: Southern Gate at 3:15 PM
  • HOW WILL SOCIAL DISTANCING WORK AT CGMS?

    Social distancing will be encouraged and maintained through staff teaching (Grace and Courtesy Lessons) and environmental design. This includes measures such as separating tables and chairs, placing dots on the floor to indicate the distances students should stand between one another. Each child has their own cubby space. The school has purchased plexiglass dividers, Halo air filtration systems, and other items that aide in the disinfection and distancing while at school.

    We encourage all students to keep their hands and feet to themselves. We are encouraging and supporting students in engaging in age-appropriate socialization.

  • WHAT WILL CGMS DO TO ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO PRACTICE PROPER AND FREQUENT HANDWASHING?

    Teachers will create lessons and plans to stagger bathroom use and coach children on proper handwashing techniques and timelines. They will also set specific times for handwashing, which will include:

    • Upon arrival and every time children come inside
    • After the completion of each activity
    • After using the toilet
    • After contact with bodily functions
    • Before and after eating
  • WHEN SHOULD I KEEP MY CHILD HOME?

    Students must stay at home if they have tested positive for COVID-19 or are showing COVID-19 symptoms. Any person with the following symptoms should not come to school. If they develop any of the symptoms while at school, they should leave immediately: 

    • Temperature of 100.4 F or higher
    • Chills
    • Cough
    • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
    • New loss of taste or smell


    Other indicators of illness include but are not limited to the following:

    • Congestion or runny nose
    • Fatigue
    • Sore throat
    • Headache
    • Muscle or body aches
    • Nausea or vomiting
    • Diarrhea
  • WHAT IF SOMEONE IN MY FAMILY OR I TEST POSITIVE?

    CHILDREN:

    In the event a student tests positive for COVID-19, that individual must remain at home until: 1) it has been 24 hours since they had a fever, 2) all respiratory symptoms have improved, and 3) it has been at least 5 days since their symptoms first appeared. Students do not need a negative COVID-19 test to return to school.  Should they return to school on day 6, they must wear a mask the entire time they are at school, both inside and out, until day 10.

     

  • WHAT ARE THE POLICIES IF THERE IS A POSITIVE CASE IN THE SCHOOL?

    In the event an individual falls ill with symptoms that indicate a presumptive positive case of COVID-19 while at school, we will:

    • Remove and isolate the suspected case from the classroom.
      • After notifying the Head of School, an employee who is feeling ill must leave the premises. 
      • Students who show signs of illness, have a fever, or develop symptoms of infectious illness while at school will be isolated from others immediately. Staff will supervise them in a screened-off space, well removed from the rest of the school community before going home from school. A member of school leadership will contact the child’s family to arrange for immediate pick-up of the sick child. Students who are ill should follow the public health guidelines (above) for returning.
    • Upon confirmation of a case of the virus in the school community (someone physically present on the school grounds), the school will contact the Denver County Public Health Department and follow their instructions.
    • Unless a larger outbreak necessitates city or statewide closures, the Denver County Public Health Department is CGMS’s health partner to determine closures and complete contact tracing. CGMS is obligated to report to Denver County Public Health the names of any students or employees with confirmed cases. Based on health department guidelines, CGMS can report to students and families the occurrence of a known exposure. CGMS will not disclose the names of any individual with a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 to the school community.
  • DOES ALL OF CHILDREN'S GARDEN MONTESSORI CLOSE WITH A POSITIVE CASE?

    In the event of a positive case, CGMS will work with public health experts to determine the size of possible exposure. With minimum exposure, CGMS might close a specific classroom for cleaning. With broader exposure, there is a possibility that we will have to close the entire school.

  • WHAT CLEANING AND SANITIZING PROTOCOLS DOES CGMS HAVE IN PLACE?

    In order to keep the community as safe as possible, staff will: 

    • Have designated protocols on how and when to disinfect materials, which CGMS will clearly post in writing throughout the school.
    • Disinfect materials and activities frequently. Staff will not use materials that cannot be cleaned and sanitized. Materials that children have placed in their mouths or that are otherwise contaminated by body secretions or excretions will be set aside until staff cleans them.
    • Set aside materials that a child who is ill has been working with until they are able to clean them.
    • Routinely throughout the day, disinfect, sanitize, and clean frequently used surfaces, as well as the children’s bathroom.
    • Between morning and afternoon cohorts, disinfect the whole classroom — this means shelves, tables, chairs (including chair backs), bathrooms, and frequently touched surfaces (light switches, door handles, etc.). Additionally, staff will sweep, mop, and vacuum.

    Please note that children’s books, like other paper-based materials such as mail or envelopes, are not considered high risk for transmission and do not need additional cleaning or disinfection procedures.

  • HOW IS CGMS SETTING UP CLASSROOMS TO ENSURE A SAFE, CLEAN LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR CHILDREN?

    • We are implementing space schedules to allow all children to use the outdoor and indoor spaces, with minimal overlapping of classes.
    • Small groups will take daily walks for outdoor enjoyment, and we will provide extra space in classrooms and on the playground during large group times. 
    • Vents and air returns are clean, open, and fully exposed to allow for proper air ventilation. 
    • During larger group play, when only one class cohort is on the outdoor playground.
    • We will implement schedules and routines to allow for movement between indoor and outdoor spaces, with consideration and protection of cohorts and classrooms.
  • HOW IS CGMS ENSURING SNACK TIMES ARE SAFE AND HEALTHY?

    Snack time will continue to be a free choice activity. After washing their hands and serving their snack, children will sit in a designated area to eat. 

  • WHAT ARE CGMS’ CURRENT LEARNING OPTIONS FOR CHILDREN IF THEY CAN NO LONGER BE IN CLASSROOMS FULL TIME?

    DISTANCE LEARNING

    Moving to full distance learning curriculum will be based on health necessities considering factors such as:

    • Recommendations by local public health authorities 
    • Mandates by the Governor of Colorado to return to a “Stay at Home” mandate.
    • Outbreaks within the school, requiring us to shut down in-person learning completely


    While attending in the distance model, we will follow the State recommendations for Stay at Home orders. Once those orders lift, we will consider transitioning back, and considering the following conditions:

    • The viral spread of COVID-19 is decreasing or stable in the state of Colorado, specifically in the Denver Metro area.
    • No COVID-19 cases occur within the CGMS community of staff, students, and parents.
    • Guidelines, indicators, and recommendations related to school attendance are strong or positive.
    • We have found, through experience, that space, modifications, and protocols that we have adopted are sufficient to accommodate our needs.

    If the above conditions exist and we have determined we can safely accommodate, we will increase in-person days over time.

    Using our distance learning resources, we will coach parents on how to set up a consistent at-home workspace for their child. We will provide families with schedules, work ideas, additional materials, and online options while distance learning.

  • WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE ABOUT CGMS’ COVID-19-RELATED UPDATES AND INFORMATION?

    We strive to update this page as frequently as possible with the latest updates. We will also use our email system and phone calls to alert families to pressing information. If you have any questions, please reach out to us via email.

Helpful Links

CGMS COVID-19 Protocols
Colorado COVID-19 Updates
CDC COVID-19 Guidance
COVID-19 Guidance for Schools

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