COVID FAQ’s
Little Miners Montessori will continue to offer the high-quality care and education that LMM is known for, creating a healthy-at-school experience that will benefit all of our children socially and emotionally, and ensure the utmost care for all members of our community.
Thank you to all the families who continue to enroll each school year. As we learn more about the virus and new variants, LMM will continue to follow what the science and authorities suggest for the health and safety of our community. We will communicate any and all changes with you as they occur.
Additionally, we appreciate the flexibility and understanding of our LMM community as we adapt to the ongoing mutations of the virus. We will continue to embrace these changes as an opportunity to safely grow and learn together.
Little Miners Montessori has and is doing its best to update the school policies to stay protected as a small school. LMM will continue to offer smaller class sizes and lower student ratios in every classroom. Throughout the day, classrooms will not co-mingle with other classes but remain as a cohort with their teachers. Please feel free to communicate any concerns or suggestions that may be helpful to maintaining a safe and healthy school year. I appreciate and thank you all again for your support as we tackle this pandemic together.
When Does School Start?
The last Monday of August
Who are my child’s teachers and how do I know what classroom they are attending?
Every parent can access who their child’s classroom and teachers are through their account on Enrollsy.com. Children in the Lower Elementary and Early Childhood programs will attend Art class with Miss Simone & Spanish class with Miss K for 45 minutes a week. The Toddler program will have Spanish with Miss K on Friday mornings for 25 minute sessions.
How will Morning drop-off work?
When arriving at LMM for morning drop-off (8:30-9:00 A.M.) please pull up along the curb and patiently wait for a teacher to greet you. Drop-off begins at 8:30 A.M. If getting out of your car, we ask that you please wear a mask and maintain 6 feet of distance. A teacher or staff member will welcome your child to school, ask if your child has any symptoms, and take their temperature. The child will say their goodbyes and walk into the school to wash their hands before entering their classroom. We ask that parents not enter the school with their children. If necessary, parents may come to the front office. Masks are required when entering the building at all times regardless of vaccination status.
The following are the proper Drop-off/Pick up entrances for each classroom
TODDLER PROGRAM
Aspen Class will Enter/Exit through the West playground gate
Birch Class will Enter/Exit through the front door or main entrance
EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM
Poplar Class will Enter/Exit through the front door or main entrance
Willow Class will Enter/Exit through the front door or main entrance
Maple Class will Enter/Exit through the EAST side classroom door
LOWER ELEMENTARY
Redwood Class will Enter/Exit through the Eastside playground gate and walk to the classroom door
Does my child & teacher/staff member have to wear a mask when at school?
If your child(ren) attends the Toddler Program, masks or are not required for this age group. The teachers and staff are required to wear a face-covering mask at all times throughout the day.
If your child(ren) attends the Early Childhood or Lower Elementary Program, masks are required 4 years and older and reminded to be worn throughout the day. The teachers and staff are required to wear a face-covering mask at all times throughout the day.
How will my child social distance from their friends when in the classroom and when on the playground?
As we know, this age group is very social, and it is often difficult to prevent them from social distancing. LMM will remind and encourage them to keep their distance when in the classroom and on the playground. Their teachers have set up the classroom to allow for more space and room while working and learning. There are limited chairs at each table and when working on the floor rugs are spaced 6 feet from each other.
How often is the school cleaned during the day?
LMM will be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized twice a day. Following the morning session, each classroom and bathroom will be wiped down and cleaned. Tables/chairs, materials, sinks, toilets, counter tops, and cubbies will be disinfected. At the end of each day, this process will be repeated while vacuuming and fogging the entire school, including every playground by using a non-toxic disinfectant. The classroom windows will be open for proper ventilation.
Where will my child eat lunch?
The full-time toddler children will enjoy their lunch within their classrooms beginning at 11:45-12:30 P.M.
The Early Childhood classrooms will enjoy their lunch within their designated classroom from 11:30-12:15 P.M. For instance, if your child is in the Poplar class, they will all eat together in their classroom and not co-mingle with any other classrooms throughout the school. The Lower Elementary classroom will enjoy their lunch in their classroom from 12:15-1:00 P.M.
Every child should come prepared with their own healthy lunch that is organized in a lunchbox. Please include a cold pack to keep foods fresh. Parents can also pack a separate snack that is in its own container or prepackaged but not required. Organizing your child’s lunch in LABELED washable containers is acceptable and earth-friendly.
Where will my child have recess?
The Toddler classrooms will enjoy recess on their own specified playgrounds. They will also coordinate between classrooms, daily nature walks on the designated path along the school.
The Early Childhood classrooms will all have their own specified playgrounds and will play as a class after lunch from 12:15-1:00 P.M. The Poplar class will play on the WEST playground, the Willow class will play on the NORTH playground, and the Maple Class will play on the EAST playground.
The Lower Elementary classroom will have recess on the NORTH playground from 11:30-12:15 P.M.
The Sportscourt will be rotated and shared between classrooms daily.
If my child only attends the morning or afternoon session, when and how do I drop/pick them up?
If your child attends the Toddler MORNING session from 8:30-11:30 A.M., please pull up to the curb and a teacher or staff member will walk your child out to their car. There are no afternoon toddler classes, only morning and full day.
If your child attends the Early Childhood MORNING session from 8:30-11:30 A.M. without lunch, please pull up to the curb and a teacher or staff member will walk your child out to their car. If your child is joining us for the additional lunch hour for the morning session only, please pick up between 12:30-12:45 P.M. and enter the school (masked) to pick your child up from their playground or classroom. If your child is attending the AFTERNOON session with lunch, please arrive by 11:20 A.M. and a staff member will check for symptoms, have your child wash their hands and walk them into their class for lunch. If your child attends the AFTERNOON session without the additional lunch hour, please arrive at 12:30 P.M. and walk them to their classroom door or front entrance.
How will Afternoon pick-up work?
When arriving at LMM for afternoon pick-up (3:20-3:45 P.M.) please be patient and wait for your child to be walked out to their car with a teacher. If getting out of your car, we ask that you please wear a mask and maintain 6 feet of distance. If needing to pick up your child earlier than the pick-up window, we ask that you please call the front office or send an email so we can get your child ready and walk them out to you. We ask that parents do not enter the school to retrieve your child. If necessary, please email or call the front office to schedule an appointment. Masks are required when entering the building at all times, regardless of vaccination status.
What if there is a Covid-19 case at LMM?
If there is a positive case of Covid-19 at LMM, we will notify all the parents and families to let them know which classroom has been exposed to the virus. The specific classroom will be shut down and every child and teacher within that classroom will be asked to quarantine.
For Teachers and Staff ONLY
Isolation: If you test positive for COVID-19
If you test positive for COVID-19 you are required to:
● Stay at home for 5 days from the day you were tested, even if you don’t have symptoms or feel sick.
● You can leave your house after 5 days if your symptoms have improved (fever-free for at least 24 hours and your symptoms have improved). You must stay home for at least 5 days.
● You need to wear a mask around others for the 5 days after the time you were isolated in your home and consistently when you are at school and in the classroom.
● We recommend you get a COVID-19 test before returning to your normal activities (work, school, etc.) to make sure you no longer are spreading the COVID-19 virus.
● Isolation is required for all people who test positive for COVID-19 regardless of whether they are vaccinated or unvaccinated.
Isolation: If you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19
● For people 18 years and older
o If you got a booster dose OR got a second dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine
within the last 6 months OR got a J&J vaccine within the last 2 months:
- You don’t need to quarantine at home. You can continue to go to work and participate in activities outside of your house.
- You should wear a mask for 10 days after your exposure.
- We recommend you get tested 5 days after you are exposed to make sure you are not positive and possibly spreading the virus to others.
o If you have not gotten a booster dose OR got a Pfizer or Moderna vaccine more
- than last 6 months ago OR got the J&J vaccine more than last 2 months ago OR if you are unvaccinated:
▪ You should stay at home for 5 days from the day you were exposed to COVID-19.
▪ You can leave your house after 5 days as long as you don’t have any symptoms. You can return to work and participate in activities outside of your house wearing a mask.
▪ Wear a mask for 10 days after your exposure and consistently when you are at school, and in the classroom.
▪ If you can’t quarantine at home, you should wear a mask in public and around other people for the 10 days after your exposure.
▪ We recommend you get tested 5 days after you are exposed to make sure you are not positive and possibly spreading the virus to others.
For Students ONLY
Isolation: If you test positive for COVID-19
If you test positive for COVID-19 you are required to:
● Stay at home for 10 days from the day you were tested, even if you don’t have symptoms or feel sick.
● You can return to school 5 days AFTER the day you were tested if you can prove a negative test result AND are symptom-free
● Return to school after the 10-day quarantine
● We recommend you get a COVID-19 test BEFORE returning to your normal activities (work, school, etc.) to make sure you are no longer spreading the COVID-19 virus.
● Isolation is required for all people who test positive for COVID-19 regardless of whether they are vaccinated or unvaccinated.
Isolation: If you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19
● For people younger than 18 years:
o If you have gotten your child two doses of the vaccine
▪ You need to quarantine at home for 5 days and return to school on the 6th day if you can prove a negative test result, and are symptom-free.
▪ Ongoing Exposure: If a family or household member (such as a parent, grandparent, nanny, and or sibling) is positive you can return to school AFTER 10 days from the day the household member tested if you can provide a negative test result and are symptom-free.
▪ We recommend you get tested 5 days AFTER you are exposed to make sure you are not positive and possibly spreading the virus to others.
o If you have not gotten your child vaccinated OR if your child is unvaccinated
▪ You should stay at home for 10 days from the day you were exposed to COVID-19 and return to school symptom-free.
▪ Students may attend school 10 days after their exposure, following the LMM face mask policy.
▪ We recommend you get tested 5 days AFTER you are exposed to make sure you are not positive and possibly spreading the virus to others.
-updated on 12/29/2021 following UTAH.Gov Guidance
What if the Park City School District is ordered to shut down? Does LMM have to follow suit?
No, LMM is considered a childcare service/essential business according to the State of Utah, Department of Health and Child Care Services, www.childcarelicensing.utah.gov If Park City School District is forced to close and resume online learning, LMM will remain open. If a positive case of Covid-19 occurs within the school, we will contain the spread by closing down the specific classroom for the 14- day quarantine period.
What if my family decides to take a trip out of the state of Utah?
If a family takes vacation time during the school year and travels out of the state, the LMM rule requires that you MUST quarantine for 5 days unless you:
- are coming from a lower-risk state OR
- can provide, on request, proof of negative test result for Covid-19 from a test administered on a sample taken no longer than 5 hours before your child returns to school.
What if my child is sent home with a symptom?
If your child is not feeling well while at school, LMM will immediately contact the parent(s) to come and pick them up. The child will be removed from the classroom and brought to the front office. We ask that a child who continues to have symptoms lasting longer than 48 hours be tested for Covid-19. The child who no longer is showing or has symptoms can return to school after 72 hours or can provide a negative test result.
What if one of my family members is sick or showing symptoms?
LMM respectfully asks that if any family member is not well or showing symptoms related to Covid-19, that their child not attend school until after 72 hours of no symptoms or can provide a negative test result before returning to school.
Ongoing Exposure: If a family or household member (such as a parent, grandparent, nanny, and or sibling) is positive you can return to school AFTER 10 days from the day the household member tested if you can provide a negative test result and are symptom-free.
What if there is a positive case of Covid-19 at your child’s local school, daycare or place of work?
If a sibling attends another local program or school and a child is exposed to Covid-19:
- If you have gotten your child two doses of the vaccine, LMM respectfully asks that the entire family be quarantined for 5 days before returning to school if you can provide a negative test result and are symptom-free.
- If you have not gotten your child vaccinated OR if your child is unvaccinated You should stay at home for 10 days from the day you were exposed to COVID-19 and return to school symptom free.
Ongoing Exposure: If a family or household member (such as a parent, grandparent, nanny, and or sibling) is positive you can return to school AFTER 10 days from the day the household member tested if you can provide a negative test result and are symptom-free.