News

As communicated in Head of School Jon Alden's October 23 Update, Springmont remains steadfast in our commitment to the health and safety of our students, families, teachers and staff and attentive to the academic, social and emotional well-being of our students.  After consulting teachers and staff, re-examining physical spaces and schedules, and weighing the risks with the needs of our community, here are some updates to our learning scenario.  

•    Toddler class capacity maximums will be increased from 10 to 12 students per class allowing a few new families to join our school.  This is still below our usual cap of 15 students per class, and our Toddler staff is confident they can maintain all health and safety protocols with 2 additional students per class.

•    Primary class capacity maximums will be increased from 15 to 18 students per class allowing Toddlers to move-up to this level when they are ready. This is still well below our usual 25 students per class.  Our Primary Teachers feel they can support the learning of additional students and that this will enrich class communities without compromising health and safety.

•    Lower Elementary will transition to fully On Campus learning beginning Tuesday, November 3. Increasing in-person learning for these students is consistent with our original Re-Entry plans that acknowledged the need to prioritize face-to-face learning for younger students. Parents in this group overwhelming indicated that the relatively small increase in health and safety risk was outweighed by the desire and need for fully On Campus learning. As previously communicated, there will be no in-person or at-home classes for Lower Elementary students on Monday, November 2 to allow for classrooms to be re-arranged and additional tables and sneeze guards to be installed. November 3 will be an Early Dismissal day (for Lower Elementary only) to allow classes to orient students to adjustments in work cycle routines before incorporating changes to lunch and recess protocols. Additional support staff for cleaning will be provided, but after further review, this staff will be shared rather than assigned to a particular class as mentioned during my Zoom Coffee.

•    Upper Elementary will continue in the Hybrid mode already established. Many parents of Upper Elementary students indicated that their students were managing At Home learning well, which is to be expected for this age group, and that the additional health risks of resuming fully On Campus learning were not counterbalanced by the potential gains in their child’s educational experience.  Fully On Campus learning for Upper Elementary students will be reviewed for a possible January start.

•    Middle School will continue to operate as two cohorts but beginning Monday, November 2, students will be allowed limited co-mingling outdoors with supervision for academic classes, class-wide meetings, recess, and PE, only.  Masks will continue to be required indoors and outside except when students are consistently physically distanced 6 feet apart or more and while eating. While Middle School has enjoyed great success operating as two distinct cohorts, the unique social-emotional needs of early adolescents are prompting us to consider additional co-mingling opportunities. Middle School parents are asked to take a brief survey, letting us know your thoughts. The survey will close Wednesday, October 28, at 8 a.m. and a decision will be communicated on Thursday, October 29.

•    We will not be able to offer Early Care/Extended Day for Elementary and Middle School students at this time but will continue to explore ways to provide optional before and after school care as soon as we are able.

•    As a reminder to parents of ROLO students, the deadline to opt-out of ROLO for Semester II is November 6. Please note that it may not be feasible for students who opt-out to rejoin their 2019-20 class due to class size and composition. Primary and Elementary parents who wish to consider our fully remote learning option for January-May may email Nikki (for Elementary) or Cara (for Primary) to be added to the ROLO waitlist.

Questions, concerns and comments are best addressed by sending them to feedback@springmont.com.