The health and wellness of our children, families and staff are our highest priority.
Please be assured that we, at Big City Montessori School, take the safety and health of our families, students and staff very seriously. Because of this, we have implemented Health & Wellness protocols and practices in accordance with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), public health officials of the State of California (CDPH) and the City of San Francisco (SFDPH). If there are differing requirements between agency requirements, BCMS will always follow the strictest guidance.
BCMS is fully committed to monitoring announcements about any changes to public health guidelines, and to modifying our protocols and practices on a timely basis to ensure that they remain in conformance with the most current guidance our public health officials provide.
Having said this, no list of guidelines or practices will remove 100% of the risk of exposure to COVID-19, or any illness. ALL OF US play a crucial role in keeping every person in the BCMS facility well and reducing the risk of exposure to disease by following the protocols and practices we put in to place.
View our FULL Health & Wellness Protocol Document by clicking the button below
Overview of our Mitigation Measures
Staff COVID Vaccination
100% of BCMS Staff are FULLY COVID VACCINATED and Boosted.
3 Classrooms Generally Never Intermix or Mingle
We have 3 separate classrooms. Each classroom has no more than 25 children and 4 teachers. (1:6 teacher/child ratio). This creates a stable group for each classroom of children and the classrooms generally never intermix or mingle.
Each classroom has the same 4 teachers and the same group of children for the entire school day. Children from the same family have been placed in the same classroom. This decreases the number of exposed children in the school, if someone in a classroom or their household member becomes ill.
Masking optional
As of 10/21/22 masking is recommended but not required at BCMS.
Students / staff / parents / guardians have the option to wear a mask, or not, based on personal preference, and informed by their own personal level of risk.
Some individuals may need to, or choose to continue to wear a mask. As a community, we respect their choice to wear a mask.
Hand Hygiene
Children and staff members wash their hands upon entering the facility and frequently thereafter during the day, including before and after all meal times.
Ventilation
When weather and air quality permits, we open windows to increase ventilation with outdoor air.
When safely possible we leave doors slightly open to promote flow of outdoor air through the indoor space.
All 3 classrooms have windows, 18” wall mount fans and an air purifier (with HEPA silent technology) which is designed to cover up to 600 square feet.
Air Quality Policy
Our number one goal is the safety and health of our students, families and staff.
BCMS will close if the AQI reaches 201+ or above for a sustained period, as well as if the forecast predicts it will remain above 151.
If your child has asthma, is especially sensitive to pollution, or you have concerns about exposure to air in the "orange" 101-150 range or “red” 151-200 range, we HIGHLY encourage you to keep your child at home.
Meals
We provide healthy meals, snacks, and organic 1% milk and water.
Children wash their hands before and after meal times.
Staff members serve food (with gloves on).
Food is served with individual plates, cups and utensils for each child.
Naps
During nap time, children nap inside their classroom. Nap mats are spaced out as much as possible with alternating head to toe arrangements. All nap mats are wiped down and disinfected after each use. Bedding is provided by the school and is washed weekly.
Health Checks
Parents and Staff do a health check at home, before coming to school.
If staff / student is exhibiting any symptoms of illness, they must stay home.
If a child becomes ill during the day, they are quarantined in a separate room, with a staff member, until they can be picked up. Staff are sent home immediately.
Enhanced Illness Policy
Any ill child must STAY AT HOME during the course of their symptoms (and must test for COVID).
AFTER ALL SYMPTOMS PASS, the child must STAY AT HOME for an ADDITIONAL 24 HOURS - symptom free, without any medications.
If a child had COVID symptoms, they can then only return to school with a Negative COVID test result or a Dr.’s note, clearing them to attend school.
COVID-19 Notification
We require our staff and families to inform the school immediately if they become aware of any person with whom they or their child have had contact with who exhibits any of the symptoms of COVID-19, is advised to self-isolate, quarantine, or has tested positive for COVID-19.
We notify our community when there is a Positive COVID Case, Close Contact or General Advisory.
Community Compliance
Staff/Parents/guardians are required to comply with any and all state, county or city orders, AND BCMS specific Health and Wellness Protocols and Policies.
Sanitation
We clean and disinfect frequently both during and after school hours.
Thorough and extensive cleaning of the entire facility happens daily, after the school closes.