Monte the Tiger's Weekly Update
News from Buena Vista Montessori ~ December 10, 2021
Hello Tiger Families!
Wow! What a great week! The teachers and staff are continually impressed by the growth that we see in all of the children and how far we have all come since the beginning of the school year. Thank you to all of our families for making sure the children are at school, ready to learn each day!
As you are aware, the mask mandate has been lifted by District 11 effective Monday, December 13th. While masks will no longer be required in the building, many of our students and staff will continue to choose to wear a mask. As a building, to go along with our ROSES philosophy, we will not tolerate "mask shaming" of any kind. If individuals choose to wear a mask, great! If individuals choose not to wear a mask, great! Per the district, removing the mask mandate "gives families greater autonomy over the medical choices for their child". As always, please contact the office if you have any questions.
We look forward to finishing the 2nd Quarter and 1st Semester strong! Thank you for everything you do for our day-time family!
Have a great weekend!
Included in this Issue . . .
- Upcoming Events
- School Accountability Committee Meeting
- Letter from Dr. Thomas
- Montessori Moment
- School Highlight
- News from Your PTA
- Special Request from the Health Room
Upcoming Events
Tuesday and Wednesday, December 14th and 15th
- PTA Holiday Shoppe
Thursday, December 16th
- School Accountability Committee Meeting
Friday, December 17th
- End of Second Quarter and First Semester
Sunday, December 18th through Tuesday, January 4th
- Winter Break - No School
Wednesday, January 5th
- Students Return! - Start of Third Quarter and Second Semester
December School Accountability Committee Meeting
https://cssd11.webex.com/cssd11/j.php?MTID=mf31a6d5ac0ed43ec33a05af867b32553
Meeting number: 2622 515 8155
Password: December
Thursday, Dec 16, 2021, 02:45 PM
In-Person and On-Line
Letter from Dr. Thomas
December 6, 2021
Good afternoon,
Since the beginning of this school year, the primary goal in D11 has been to keep students in school. We know most students learn best when they are physically present in the school environment and we have put protocols in place to achieve this goal.
There continue to be updates in the fight against COVID-19 such as all eligible Coloradans can receive the COVID-19 vaccine and booster, if they choose, all children 5 - 18 are eligible to receive the vaccine, if they choose, and El Paso County is showing early signs of test positivity rate decline. Because of these developments, facial coverings/masks will not be required in D11 schools and buildings beginning December 13, 2021. Facial coverings/masks will only be required for any students or staff members while using district transportation, due to a federal mandate. We encourage everyone to adhere to important personal hygiene practices such as frequent handwashing and we will continually sanitize and clean our facilities. We also know many will continue to wear facial coverings/masks for their hygiene and protection, which we will support.
We anticipate more guidance to come from EI Paso County Public Health soon and we will communicate that information with you as we receive it. As always, if your child is not feeling well, please keep them home and follow the guidance on returning to school after illness provided on the D11 Return to Learn website. All D11 staff members are also being asked to stay home if they are not feeling well and return to work when they feel better.
I’m looking forward to a time when we won’t be living in a pandemic but until then, I know we are all working collaboratively to ensure the best education and safety of all in D11.
Yours in Partnership,
Dr. Michael J. Thomas, Superintendent
Colorado Springs School District 11
Montessori Moment - Grace and Courtesy
As a Montessori school, we understand that even very young children are capable of much more than is traditionally expected of them. For example, you might picture a preschool classroom in which children are running around or shouting loudly if they are excited. After all, children of three or four years of age can’t be expected to have mastered such behaviors yet, right?
If you were to observe children of the same age in a Montessori classroom, this would not be the case. Just as with any other skill, Montessori children are taught how to behave appropriately. This is not to say that they are never allowed to run around and be loud; outdoor playtime is a perfectly suitable environment for those behaviors. They have simply learned that the classroom is an environment dedicated to learning and concentration, and they do their part to make it so.
Modeling
Grace and courtesy starts with intentional modeling. Teachers, as well as other adults in the building, are very careful about how they behave in front of the children. When interacting with one another, or when interacting with a child, they are always thinking about showing the children what they hope to see mirrored.
For example, when an adult sees a child arrive at school in the morning, the adult will crouch down to be at the child’s level, look the child in the eye, and say, “Good morning,” with a pleasant smile.
If the teacher expects the children not to shout across the classroom, they will not do so themselves. When managing a classroom full of children this can be challenging at times, but we understand that the children are always watching us and learning from our behaviors.
Adults in a Montessori school are always very careful not to interrupt a child’s work. They have a deep respect for the child’s autonomy, but they are also aware of the power of their modeling. When adults refuse to interrupt a child’s work, the children learn the importance of doing the same.
School Highlight - Holiday Celebrations
News from Your PTA
Holiday Shoppe Announcement
We will be having our annual Holiday Shoppe on December 14th and 15th this year! For those unfamiliar, we have a small shop with all items priced $6 or less that the children come through to purchase items for their family/friends. We will be sending envelopes (and a flyer) on December 10th in Friday Folders, so please be on the lookout for these. Together with your child, you can create a list of people they can shop for and place money into the envelope. After the gifts are chosen by the child, items will be wrapped and placed in their backpacks to bring home. The children really enjoy the chance to buy small gifts for family members/friends on their own.
We are also looking for volunteers to help on these days - 8-11am and 12:30-2:30pm. Please contact us at bvmontessoripta@gmail.com if you are able to help us out. Since we run the shop during school hours, having volunteers is vital to getting the kids all through in a timely manner as we do wrap the gifts!
Modern Market Fundraiser
We ask that you RSVP here: https://grouprai.se/e214089 (even if you’re not completely sure) so Modern Market Eatery knows roughly how many orders to expect & so you have access to all the event details.
Phone Call
Call 719-772-0700 and mention that you are with Buena Vista PTA before placing your order.
Restaurant Website
Visit Modern Market Eatery's online order website. Use the promo code of "giveback035" and 30% of your meal’s price will be donated back to Buena Vista PTA.
Storefront Walk-in
Visit the location at 7170 N Academy Blvd., Colorado Springs 80920 and they will take your order from their storefront for take-out. Mention that you are with Buena Vista PTA before placing your order.
Friday, Dec 17, 2021, 11:00 AM
7170 North Academy Boulevard, Colorado Springs, CO, USA
Easy Ways to Help Out the BV PTA
AmazonSmile
Sign up to support the BV PTA through AmazonSmile.
- You can select Buena Vista Montessori PTA as your charity recipient when you shop online at amazonsmile.com.
- AmazonSmile is also now available in the app on your Apple or Android devices. You can set this up in the app under "Settings">"Programs & Features".
- If you shop for girts on Amazon, this is an easy way for you to support our students and school.
- Be sure to ask your friends and family to select BV on AmazonSmile, as well.
To enroll your Loyalty Card with BV:
- Log on to www.kingsoopers.com/communityrewards and click "Enroll Now" to sign in to your account. If you have never used your Loyalty Card online before you will have to create an account. You will need an e-mail and your Loyalty Card number or your alternate ID (often your phone#).
- Find Buena Vista Montessori School (programs are listed alphabetically) or use our Code: UQ795 as the program you want to support!
- You are DONE! THAT'S IT! Now whenever you shop you are earning BV PTA money!
- This program is a big "Free Money" maker that helps to fund many great BV and PTA events and equipment.
News from the Health Room
My Child is Not Feeling Well. Now What?
The list below refers only to new symptom or a change in usual symptoms. A student should not be kept home for usual symptoms they experience due to a chronic condition unless they are worse than usual. These guidelines are in additional to your regular school guidance (for example, a student with vomiting symptoms should also not attend school based on usual school guidance).
If you student is experiencing any potentially life-threatening symptoms, please call 911.
If any of the following symptoms are present, keep the child at home / stay at home. Inform Ms. Karen B. in the office via phone call (719-328-4100) or email karen.bleibaum@d11.org.
- Feeling feverish, having chills, or temperature of 100.4F or higher.
- New or unexplained persistent cough.
- Shortness of breath.
- Difficulty breathing.
- Loss of taste or smell.
- Fatigue.
- Muscle aches.
- Headache.
- Sore throat.
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Diarrhea.
- Runny nose or congestion.
COVID Protocol Updates
Mask Wearing:
- For students of any age, and staff riding D11 buses for any purpose (e.g., to and from school, activities, field trips, etc.), in alignment with the Federal mandate, face coverings on all D11 buses are required.
- For students ages 11 and under, in alignment with local and state guidance, face coverings are not required, but still recommended (as of Monday, December 13th) while learning indoors.
- For students/staff ages 12 and over, in alignment with local and state guidance, face coverings are not required, but still recommended (as of Monday, December 13th) for anyone who is 12+ years regardless of vaccination status.
Hand Washing:
- We will continue with our diligent handwashing and sanitizing efforts throughout the school day. Including, but not limited to; after recess, before and after lunch, before and after specials, etc.
Classroom Cleaning:
- Our children and staff will continue to clean and sanitize the classrooms daily. Our custodial staff will clean and sanitize the building and playgrounds daily, as well.
Social Distancing:
- The current guidelines indicate a three-foot space between each person. We will do our best to honor that guideline throughout the school day. However, due to the structure of our learning community, the social distancing is not always possible.
For additional resources and information from the State and local health agencies, please visit the following links:
Updated Return to Learn
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nhgGIbakyAJY3XJ2TW44sw7btXXqISBR/view?usp=sharing
Who Needs to Quarantine
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1S-bXk2yFdFAjBPUMfT-KvNMvz6EA2A9r/view?usp=sharing
At Home Symptom Screening Tool
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rM77eLlnivcOuoqv0zy0pXXtjnY-fREN/view
Addressing Symptoms as School
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-qAUd4g8tYDZ4KKIlbCc_yG0wkEHjiXV/view?usp=sharing
Buena Vista Elementary
Email: karen.bleibaum@d11.org
Website: www.d11.org/buenavista
Location: 924 West Pikes Peak Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO, USA
Phone: 719-328-4100
Facebook: www.facebook.com/buenavista.d11.org