Blessed Star Montessori Christian School Orientation 2020 2021

Blessed Star Montessori Christian School Orientation 2020 – 2021 School Year

Staff • Ms. Olivia • Director • Teacher • Ms. Alexis • Administrator • Teacher • Mr. Harvey • General Maintenance • Parent volunteer

Montessori Christian School Parent Handbook 2020 -2021 • Use for reference throughout the year • Read and sign

“Children are human beings to whom respect is due, superior to us by reason of their innocence and of the greater possibilities of their future. ” - Dr. Maria Montessori

Covid-19 Safety • More sanitizing materials and donations • Wear masks and shields, work behind barriers • Call ahead if you or your child is sick/if you’ve been in contact with someone who tested positive • Reduced shared items • 6 ft. working distance • Temperature checks daily • Do not enter building for drop off and pickup

Curriculum • 5 Primary Domains of Focus • Practical Life: Adaptation of the child to his environment and growth of his independence. • Sensorial: Experiences that are designed to develop the five senses as well as the ability to discriminate between shapes and sizes • Language &Communication: Manners and proper writing formats • Mathematics: Experiences that develop an understanding of the function of numbers • Culture: Sciences, Social Studies, and the Arts encourage a healthy understanding of our natural environment, interest in STEAM, and the benefits of diversity in our world

Courses Core Subjects Electives • Math • Music & Art • Language Arts • STEAM • Social Studies • Spanish • Science • Intro to IT

1 st Week at School • “Test Week” • Try Option B: Hybrid Learning • Decision made at end of week • More time for parent conferencing • Student Online Learning Tour

Typical Day at School • Option A: All Online M T W Independent Online Work • Option B: Hybrid Learning • Fiil Th F Independent Conferencing Work M T W Th F Online School Conferencing

Online School Option 9: 30 - 10 10 - 11 11 – 12 12 – 1 1– 2 2 – 2: 30 – 3 Online/Independent Schedule P. E. Math/ L. A. Khan Academy Math Science/ S. S. Khan Academy L. A. Lunch Assignments Take Home Packets Review Duolingo P. E. • Free Rice (freerice. com) = Filler

Typical Day at School • Decision must last for entire 1 st semester • Schedule subject to change • Accountability log • Independent work • Take Home Packets, Khan Academy, Duolingo, Free Rice • Friday Conferences: Sign up for times • Student review & parent questions/concerns

Participation Grade • • 10% of each subject grade Attendance and Attention At home and school Lower participation grade • Unexcused absence, disrupting class, not being prepared, late assignments, distracted online learning • Recording available • Will not redeem participation grade

Internet Safety • • Zero tolerance of cyber bullying Do not open suspicious/unexpected links Only put in necessary info when creating accounts Parental locks installed on school computers • Not 100% effective • Do not talk to strangers online • Zoom meetings • Parents prepare for supervision to avoid distractions and disruptive behavior

Parking • Nice Weather = Parking Spots • Septic Tanks • Do not park over the yellow -painted septic tank covers • You can drive over them, but they cannot bear the weight of a parked vehicle. • Carport • Two lanes • Only park during rain • Wait behind yellow septic tank • No parking in front of car port

Drop Off Temporary Procedure • Parents do not walk in Arrival Time & Tardiness • Arrive at 8: 00 – 8: 30 • Wait outside • Tardy after 8: 30 • Outside sign in and no contact temperature check • No admission after 9: 30 • except for emergency/doctor • Not recorded 1 st week • Goodbye Spot

Pickup • Pick up time specified in Enrollment & Payment Contract • Call office in an emergency/leave message • Late pick up payments are to be paid directly to the teacher at the time the child is picked up. • 15 minutes late = $10 late fee • Over 15 minutes = additional $1/minute • Authorized Pickup • Those who are not parents must have • Photo ID (School will make a copy) • Written Consent from parent (signed) • No minors may pickup students • Students only released to safe vehicles • Must have an attached passenger seat

Signing In and Out • All children must be signed in and out • Notify staff upon arrival • No available staff member = do not leave • We are not responsible for children until we know that they have arrived and are in the building

Attendance • Notify the office • Maintain consistency, avoid readjustment • Tuition is due even if a child is absent from school • Unexcused absence over 10 days per year = Required summer school or loss of scholarship

Illness • Contagious = No School • Any symptoms of being sick = No school • • • Negative test required to return Be symptom-free for 24 hours With Covid-19, quarantine for 14 days On antibiotics (if appropriate) for 24 hours Doctor’s note stating the child is not contagious. Blessed Star adheres strictly to notices issued by the Health Department related to illness outbreaks that require children to be symptom-free for longer than 24 hours before returning to school.

Inclement Weather • Monitor WEAR TV for updates and school closings • Have immediate access to all emergency numbers to contact parents, guardian or responsible person • Contact parents, guardian or responsible person to pick up child • Move children and staff to center room if evacuation becomes necessary • Practice weather and intruder drills • A detailed version of the Emergency plan is available upon request

Dress Code • No writing or characters, hats, open-toed shoes, or jewelry • Exception: small stud earrings may be worn if they are not removed at school • School is not responsible for lost jewelry • Weather appropriate • Please apply sunscreen to your child school • Send bug spray with a permission slip • Clothes will get dirty!

Uniforms • Required everyday • Must be free of stains, holes and most wrinkles • Refer to separate handout for approved Land’s End and Target uniform styles; • Check with director for other brands and discounts • Please dress your child in clothes that they can change without assistance • Bring a clean spare change of clothes • Weather appropriate • Ziploc bag

Personal Belongings • Label all personal belongings with their full name • Even lunch boxes and extra clothes • We are not responsible for lost items • Return school materials

Nutrition at School • Follow USDA nutritional guidelines for children • http: //www. mypyramid. gov/ • Minimize sugar in shared snacks • For birthdays find healthy alternatives • Always discuss acceptable treats with your child’s teacher in advance. • No shared snacks for the time being

School Food • Breakfast at Early Drop Off must be dry • Granola bars, dried fruits, hard boiled egg • Bring solid color water bottle and lunch box every day • Not allowed to eat junk food at school • Ready to eat. No fridge or microwave, peeling, or cutting necessary. • No medicine stored in lunch box • Respect allergies of classmates

Classroom Ground Rules • 3 R’s: Respect • for self, others, & environment • • Use Peace sign instead of “shh” Push in chairs, put work away • Use walking • feet, inside voice, and gentle hands • • Carry one thing, using both hands Cross legs and keep hands to yourself • Walk around work rugs Roll up work-rug • Respect the tightly, keeping work of other ends even students Raise a quiet hand to talk • Clean up whatever is spilled or dropped

Playground Ground Rules • Use “walking feet” while on cement sidewalk • Feet first down the slide • Fences are not to be climbed • Protect flowers, garden, and wildlife • Mulch stays on the ground • Play without being rough

Cell Phone Usage • Parents: No cell phone • Parking lot • Entering & exiting building • Students: Emergencies Only • Turn in cell phones • Use for emergencies

Discipline • Students will always be treated with respect and dignity • Children will not be yelled at or ridiculed in front of others • Staff may never discipline out of anger or loss of self-control • Our staff will give a disruptive child every opportunity to understand what is expected of him/her • Administration can ask a child to be immediately dismissed if severe disruptive behavior occurs • Corporal punishment is not allowed on school property by parents or staff • Use positive discipline and supportive language

Field Trips • Virtual Field Trips • CDC Guidelines

Field Trips Continued • For children age 6 and older. • Real world learning and social skill development • Must have prior written parental approval • Must wear a school uniform • Must be appropriately strapped in cars • Chaperones and exchange of contact info required • Younger siblings allowed with advanced approval • Those who drive must bring copy of license and insurance

Summer Learning Camp • Children aged 3 to 14 years • Various themes to give children the opportunity to express, explore, and create while actively learning • Indoor and outdoor activities are offered daily • Field trips that emphasize learning • End of camp Finale provides children the chance to share they have learned and created • More information during Spring semester

Teamwork • Partnership between parents, students and teachers • Help your child succeed • Guidelines are meant to maintain a safe and nurturing environment for children • It is important that parents follow all guidelines • Failure to adhere to our policies and the procedures may result in your child’s dismissal from Blessed Star.

Parent Involvement • Set a good example • • You help our school succeed. Thank you! • Volunteering Examples • Cultural information/skills • Assemble learning materials • Coordinate events/fundraisers • Minimum 25 hours, by end of • Photography & scrapbook April • IT help • Log hours in the Volunteer • Facility improvements Binder • $20 per hour that cannot be • Grant writing • Marketing completed • Serve on the Accreditation • Parent Ambassador Committee Fundraising Account

Parent Conferences • Communication is a vital part of a child’s education • Two formal Parent Conference times each year • Fall and Spring • Discuss progress, concerns, expectations • School Calendar • Sign up in advance (Bloomz)

Communication • Top Priority: Attending to students! • Address questions by appointment • Request Methods • Phone call with message • Email • admin@blessedstar. com • acurtis@blessedstar. com • Message through Bloomz • Essential for success • Important Information: • Email • Bloomz • notifications/ & sign up • Facebook • Review with Students: • Planners • Binders • Homework Folders

Admissions and Enrollment • Application & Enrollment forms – New Parents Only • Permission Slips - Website • Health History Form/Medical Information – Parent Portal • Immunization Record/Physical exam from a certified FL Physician or Religious Exemption • Volunteer Acknowledgement/Log • Information on who may pick up the child and a copy of their driver’s license – Parent Portal

Admissions and Enrollment • Emergency Information/chronic medical care – Parent Portal • Child Abuse & Neglect Reporting Requirements • “Know Your Child Care Facility” Brochure • “Influenza Virus, Guide to Parents” Brochure • Birth certificate – Parent Portal • Playground consent • Technology use consent • Use of image consent • Risk of Covid-19 form

Admissions and Enrollment • Khan Academy Form • Handbook Acknowledgement Page-2 documents • Field trip Emergency Form • STAR Binder Rules • Orientation Checklist • Sign in sheet • Emergency Phone Number list – Parent Portal

Tuition and Payments • Due on the first day of the month, delinquent after the 15 th • Contracts are for 10 or 12 months with the 1 st payment in June, Last payment in May • Contracts received after June will be prorated through May • Withdrawal of a child after May 1, 2020, tuition for the remainder of the enrollment year as stated in the Enrollment Contract will be due and payable, with no refund or reduction of registration fee or tuition, and any unpaid balance.

Updated School Website • Parent Portal • New grading system – My School Worx • Donations • Online tuition • Important links • Bloomz and Step Up

Additional Items • Khan Academy, Google Classroom, Duolingo, Zoom Parent Login • Parents create student emails • Parent Ambassador Board • President volunteer • Discuss school needs and how to meet them at least once a month • Bridge between school and parents

Questions, Comments, Concerns?

Thank You for Coming! Final Thoughts & Prayer