Author: Alejandro Malespin

Update on COVID-19 School Testing Program

Written by Alejandro Malespin on November 2, 2021. Posted in Blog.

Thank you for participating in the recent survery related to on-site COVID testing at FMSL. 208 responses were submitted. The results, along with additional details of the program being considered, are included below.

Why Consider Testings at FMSL?

Testing provides an important layer of prevention, particularly in areas with substantial to high community transmission levels. Many people with COVID-19 don’t have symptoms but can still spread the virus; finding who has the virus early means steps can be taken to prevent COVID-19 from spreading and causing an outbreak. Regular testing also means parents or guardians get notified if their child tests positive, allowing them to plan for treatment and take steps to protect the rest of the family from COVID-19. The Utah Department of Health (UDOH) is partnering with public, charter and private schools to make on-site school testing possible in a concerted effort to keep schools open and students attending in-person instruction.

What Oversight Would Be in Place?

UDOH provides schools with a convenient school-based testing for teachers, staff and students. Training and guidelines are provided by the UDOH including conducting testing registration and obtaining consent, specimen collection, result reporting, and patient result notification.

What Test would be Administered?

The state provides the school with BinaxNOW rapid antigen tests. This is a nasal test, using a swab for the lower part of the inner nostril.

Who would be Tested?

Parental permission and student consent would be sought prior to this testing program being implemented. Students 2+years of age are eligible to participate. No child will be tested against their will.

What Happens Next?

If you indicated you would be willing to volunteer, a member of the team examining this program will be in touch to gather details of availability, etc. An information night will be held virtually on 11/16/21 from 7-8pm to provide additional details and allow for questions and concerns to be addressed. So we can make the best use of our time that night, please submit your questions or concerns to margaretmcdonald@mcsslc.com in advance of the event.

Lockout Security Procedure Explained

Written by Alejandro Malespin on November 2, 2021. Posted in Announcements, Blog.

A lockout is a precautionary security procedure implemented to minimize exposure to an external threat. Examples would be elevated police activity in the neighbourhood, dangerous wildlife spotted nearby, or hazards in close proximity to the school.

Should a lockout be warranted, an announcement will be made via the school’s intercom to alert staff.
Outside activities will be canceled but inside activities will continue as normal to the extent possible.
Facility staff will ensure that all exterior windows and doors are secured and admin staff will account for all classes and staff having heard the announcement and making suitable accommodations to their routines.
Typically, no person (parent, student, staff member, guest, etc.) may enter or leave the building while a lockout is in place.
If a lockout is initiated, the school’s emergency notification system will be used to send a text to all parents. This will notify parents not to approach the school and to be on alert for follow up communications related to the emergency and any special instructions necessary for drop-off or pick-up.

A lockout mock drill typically lasts 10-15 minutes; this allows staff time to implement safety measures and consider necessary procedures.

Mock drills play an important role in training school staff to know their responsibilities so they can take the lead in an emergency. It’s equally important for students to know the planned procedures so they can work cooperatively with adults. Familiarizing teachers and students with the emergency plan also helps to reduce anxiety, panic and confusion and help everyone remain calm. The results of a mock drill are crucial to identifying areas of weakness in any emergency plan.

In advance of all mock drills, teachers discuss in age appropriate ways with the students the procedure to be followed and the reasons for the drill. We recognize that children will have questions. Teachers will address questions simply, and invite children to discuss the events at home.

“Drill in Progress” signs are posted on the doors whenever a mock drill is being conducted. We thank you for your patience and understanding while staff attend to their responsibilities during a drill.

Summer Camp 2022

Written by Alejandro Malespin on November 1, 2021. Posted in Announcements, Blog, Community News.

Please click here for current summer camp information.

Summer Camp

Summer Camp at FMSL is a multi-week program that focuses on a different area of the world each year. For Summer Camp 2022 (6/14/22-8/12/22), Russia will be our destination! A description of the camp, tuition prices, and policies can be found here.

Summer Camp 2022 registration is now available to current FMSL families, via a webform in the FACTS Family Portal. An all-school email has been sent indicating registration is open.

The deadline for enrolling is Friday, December 3. Charges will be added to your current payment plan and method in FACTS Financial and will be applied in May and/or June 2022, depending on your plan.
Students attend summer camp with the same schedule they attended throughout the school year.
We will try to accommodate schedule changes as needed; however, after March 1, 2022, staffing will be in place for the summer and we cannot guarantee a schedule change.
If any withdrawals are made between January 15 and March 1, 50% of the summer tuition will still be charged; after March 1, 75% of the summer tuition will be charged; and after June 1, 100% of the summer tuition will be charged.

Thank you for your patience as our Directors assessed our expenses and staff salaries for summer camp, with consideration for COVID-19 protocols. Our model for this service was based on pre-pandemic protocols/staffing/enrollment and needed review.

Please email Ramira Alamilla at enroll@mcsslc.com or Candace Wiseman at campdirector@mcsslc.com if you have any questions.

Enroll in Summer Camp 2022 via FACTS Webforms

Login to FACTS Family Portal
Under the School menu choose Web Forms
Click Summer Camp Enrollment
Click the button next to each student

For questions related to getting signed in to FACTS Family Portal see this blog post

Don’t get tricked this Halloween!

Written by Alejandro Malespin on October 26, 2021. Posted in Blog.

Avoid a candy/drug mix-up by keeping medicine up and out of reach. If you suspect someone has mistaken drugs for candy, call 1-800-222-1222 for #PoisonHelp.

Be careful with cosmetics. Only use nontoxic face paints and test on the skin before use.

Throw away all candy or treats that are not in their original wrappers.

Glow sticks are fun to use on Halloween, but if bitten into by a child, the liquid inside can cause skin irritation and make their stomach upset. #PreventPoison by watching children closely when they are using glow sticks and make sure they keep them out of their mouth! If a child bites a glow stick, call 1-800-222-1222.

Use caution with dry ice. Avoid using it in an enclosed space and always wear gloves when handling.

If you have a poison mishap, call 1-800-222-1222 for free, expert help.

– Utah Poison Control Center

COVID Safety Measure Updates

Written by Alejandro Malespin on October 19, 2021. Posted in Announcements, Blog.

Reporting Test Results

Please send all test results to covid@mcsslc.com with the individual’s name and either positive or negative test result in the subject line. Photos of test results are acceptable. The negative test result is understood as clearance to return to school.

New Exposure After Recovery

If you are exposed to COVID-19 again at school (a new exposure) within 180 days of testing positive for COVID-19 and do not have symptoms of COVID-19, you don’t need to quarantine. Originally the guidance had a 90 day limit. – Salt Lake County Health Department

Quarantine & Vaccinated Individuals

Fully vaccinated individuals are not required to quarantine even if they are exposed to someone who tests positive- this includes exposure to a household member. We know there is a small chance vaccinated people can get COVID-19 and pass the virus to other people, so to be very safe we suggest vaccinated people get a COVID-19 test as early as 5 days after exposure. Following an exposure, we ask all vaccinated individuals to have strict adherence to wearing a mask at school and to restrict their interactions as much as possible. In addition, we expect careful monitoring for COVID symptoms for a full 14 days following an exposure. At the start of this school year we had been advised that the school guidance for vaccinated individuals did recommend quarantine if it involved an exposure to a household member, this has since been cleared up. – Salt Lake County Health Department

Parent Teacher Partnerships

Written by Alejandro Malespin on October 12, 2021. Posted in Blog, Parent Education.

The parent teacher partnership is different from any other professional relationship you enter. You call the electrician to your house. You tell him what you think the problem is. He then uses his expertise and experience to diagnose and fix the problem. He doesn’t need your help (nor does he want you to get shocked in the process). When he is finished you get the bill and he leaves. And everything was as it was before. It is the same for computers or cars or dishwashers.

However, it is not the same for parent teacher partnerships. Your child is not a “problem” to be fixed. You don’t drop off your child then pick him or her up and the “problem” is solved. Your child is a work of art that takes time to bring to creation. Each child is a unique masterpiece. Are you creating a song, a statue, a painting, a novel, or a monument?

The challenge is that few of us know at the beginning what masterpiece will come forth. If the art project is literature does the finished product look like a poem or a novel; a short story or lyrics; a biography or a history or anything in between? A great education gives the student the ability to communicate in that medium. Does an artist paint in oil or watercolor; pastels or charcoal? Do they paint portraits or landscapes, classical or modern?

Your child is that enigma of who they will become. You and the teachers share the journey of discovery. You are not creating the person but revealing what is already there in embryonic form. And with the right soil, water and light, with sun and seasons will blossom into who they are to become.

Montessori teachers understand this process and then take their training and their experience and apply it to the mystery at hand. Like every good detective, they seek relevant clues to the unfolding mystery. And that is where the partnership begins. You are a great repository of insight and information about your child. You, too, are going through a discovery process everyday with your child as they reveal their character, their temperament, their likes and passions. The more of who your child is that you share with the teacher, the better the teacher is able to individualize and focus their teaching on the emerging personality.

Montessori education is not primarily about facts and figures even though Montessori children acquire this knowledge in great depth and understanding. Montessori education is about nurturing and educating your child through the prism of their personality. One size does not fit all and Montessori education is tailored to your child’s strengths and gifts.

Embrace the partnership

The more the teacher knows about your family (they spend so much time with your child that they become like aunts and uncles) the better they become at helping your child become the success that they are capable of. To gain the most from your Montessori experience there need to be an ongoing relationship with your child’s teacher. In Montessori you don’t hire teachers – you adopt them. The partnership is one of love and concern that you both share for your child. Embrace the partnership for your child’s sake.

by Edward Fidellow, www.crossmountainmedia.com

Donation Receipt for MEF

Written by Alejandro Malespin on October 11, 2021. Posted in Announcements, Blog.

Please download and fill out the Donation Receipt and keep on file for your TAXES. This donation receipt is provided for you to honestly fill out on your own and MEF does not require a copy of the filled out receipt. Thank you. Feel free to contact the nonprofit with questions: info@montessorief.org

Donation Receipt for MEF

Written by Alejandro Malespin on October 11, 2021. Posted in Announcements, Blog.

Fun Run 2021 – Please Help Now!

Written by Alejandro Malespin on October 6, 2021. Posted in Blog, Community News, Get Involved (P.S.A).

Give Now

Use the button to make a donation to this MEF sponsored event!

IN THE CASE OF INCLEMENT WEATHER

(meaning pouring rain or dumping snow, if it is sprinkling we will still run)

We will reschedule for the next week at the same time
This will be determined at 8:30 the day of

We encourage you to join the school in this worthwhile event. Service learning is an important element of Montessori that teaches students about the joy and value of contributing to their community, society, and world. Your generosity to help support our Navajo grandmothers and Ethiopian students is greatly appreciated. Engage your children at home by:

Encouraging your child to tell friends, neighbors and grandparents to support such a worthwhile event
Helping your child actively participate by earning money to pledge in the Fun Run
Checking in often to see the progress of the event on the donation page

Adopt-A-Native-Elder (ANE)

The Navajo Nation has been heavily impacted by COVID-19, increasing their already profound vulnerability to food and economic insecurity. Our adopted elders rely on the personal supplies, yarn, firewood, and food certificates we provide with funds raised at our annual Fun Run.

Children of Ethiopia Education Fund (COEEF)

For more than 15 years, we have supported the education of girls in Ethiopia. Our sponsorship provides tuition, supplies, tutoring, and medical care. Betselot Abiy is in 1st grade, loves math, and wants to be a pilot. Mariana Bekele is in kindergarten, loves the merry-go-round, and wants to be a teacher. Hana Fantu is 4, her favorite color is red, and she wants to be a doctor.

October 25 – 28, 2021

Monday 10/25

Sego Lily – 9:30am – 10:30am (Field)

Tuesday 10/26

Moons – 9:15am – 10:00am (Toddler Playground)
Uinta – 9:15am – 10:00am (Field)
Suns – 10:00am – 11:00am (Toddler Playground)
Aspens – 11:00am – 12:00pm (Field)

Wednesday 10/27

Magnolias – 9:00am – 10:00am (Field)
Oquirrh – 10:00am – 11:00am (Field)
Willows – 11:00am – 11:45am (Field)

Thursday 10/28

Sequoias 9:30am – 10:30am (Field)
Wasatch 10:30am – 11:30am (Field)
Stars 10:45am – 11:45am (Toddler Playground)

Give Now