Covid-19 Protocol

Introduction

The purpose of this Protocol is to establish collective, individual and organisational, preventative measures for our Centre. In doing so, we hope to protect everyone and prevent to the greatest extent possible the risk of COVID-19 contagion to our students and their families, as well as to our personnel.

The measures laid out in this document are based on the instructions presented by the health authorities, as well as by the board of the Ministry of Education and the Autonomous Communities.

The instructions and recommendations established in this protocol must be adapted to the healthcare guidelines that said authorities issue according to the evolution of the pandemic. Moreover, they will be adapted to any recommendations regarding preventative measures and hygiene that the Community of Madrid may issue.

Scenarios Foreseen by the Autonomous Community of Madrid

Based on the current situation of the COVID-19 pandemic, four possible scenarios for the start of the 2020/2021 school year are under consideration:

Scenario I. In-person classes and extraordinary hygienic measures.

• Classes 100% in-person.
• Extraordinary hygienic measures (RD Ley 21/20)
• For children 0-3 years old: set groups (bubbles) will be established. Groups will not be mixed in the canteen.
• For children 3-6 years old and primary school: Set groups will be established.
• ESO (High School), Bachillerato (High School Juniors and Seniors) and Vocational Training: Masks will be worn when social distancing is not possible

Scenario II. Partial In-person classes.

This scenario would be enacted in the case of a worsening evolution of the COVID-19 health crisis, but without a confinement order that includes the suspension of all in-person educational activity. In this case, the educational model that would be used would be hybrid, combining in-person classes at the school and virtual classes at the students’ homes. The challenge is to maintain all of the students’ high level of commitment, to encourage a deep level of learning. This will require us to design collaborative activities for each group, to involve both virtual students and those who are physically present at the school. A key priority will be to guarantee that all of the students feel equally connected to one another in the learning process, no matter where they are.

Scenario III. Scenario with confinement and suspension of in-person educational activity.

This scenario would be in response to a dramatic worsening in the evolution of the COVID-19 healthcare crisis. In this case, all classes would become virtual, as they did during the final trimester of the 2019-2020 academic year, and they would follow the usual class schedule.

Scenario IV. Scenario without COVID-19.

This scenario would involve a return to normal due to the disappearance of the risk of COVID-19.

General Montessori School protocol for scenarios I and II

Scenarios I and II, with which we began the academic year, as established by the competent authorities.

Digitalization of the school. School’s relationship with parents.

• We will maintain fluid communication with parents by means of the Phidias platform and by telephone. Should the need for an in-person meeting arise, one will be scheduled in advance.
• Parent meetings will be held by videoconference. Parent-teacher meetings will also be virtual, but in-person meetings may be scheduled upon the parents’ request.

Digitalization of the classes

• All of our classrooms have internet connections so any students who cannot attend in-person class can be connected to virtually.
• In addition, we have platforms and digital resources to support our students’ learning.

Coordination of flow of students

• In order to avoid students from different classes and group mixing, we have created schedules for entering and leaving the centres and canteens, as well as for recess.

Anti-Covid Coordinator

Each centre will elect an Anti-Covid-19 Coordinator. The duties of this coordinator will be:

• Maintain contact with the local health centre.
• Through contact with different teacher, stay informed with regard to students who are at greatest risk, due to their own chronic illness or that of their family members.
• Be the Centre’s contact person for any issue related to the virus.
• Be informed of all aspects related to the virus and stay updated with regard to the protocols for educational centres.
• When there is a suspected case of COVID-19 in the centre, the coordinator will isolate and take care of the infected person, inform the parents and the local health centre. The coordinator will also create a list of people who have had contact with the infected person.

General measures adopted in our centres

Entrance to the centres

Because this is an area where the risk of contagion is high, rigorous criteria are in place.

• Everyone who enters the centre must wear at least a surgical quality facemask; their temperature will be taken; they will disinfect their hands with hydro-alcoholic gel and clean their shoes on the disinfection rugs.
• The entrance of people who are not part of the centre is to be avoided. This includes parents, grandparents, and friends… and should their entrance be deemed necessary, they will follow the same safety protocol as the students.
• The centre’s entrance and exit will be clearly marked with tape or paint, with arrows indicating the route to follow.
• After all of the students have entered the school, all of the accesses and transit areas will be disinfected.
• The times for entering the school will be staggered or will be carried out through different doors in the different centres in order to avoid mixing the different groups of students. There will be a proper social distance of two metres between students while they are waiting or entering the centre. Standing with other parents or students at the entrance should be avoided.
• The students should be unaccompanied, except for the youngest ones, who will have established drop off and pick up areas.
• The students will enter in an orderly fashion and will form lines with their group (bubble). They will wait while their temperature is taken, they disinfect their hands with hydro-alcoholic gel and use the disinfecting rugs; generally their homeroom teacher will accompany the class as they carry out this process.

School buses

• Facemasks will be worn inside the school bus.
• The driver and monitor will wear facemasks and each passenger will be disinfected with hydro-alcoholic gel when getting on and off the bus
• Air conditioning will be used as little as possible. When it is necessary, using it with a closed circuit will be avoided.
• Each passenger will always occupy the same seat.
• The bus will be properly cleaned and disinfected for each of its routes.

In the classrooms

• Coats, hats and other personal objects will remain outside the classrooms, in lockers or on hooks.
• The homeroom teacher will ensure that all students enter with a facemask on and that they disinfect their hands with hydro-alcoholic gel when entering or leaving the classroom.
• All students will stay in the classroom with their masks on. (Facemasks will not be necessary for student in Play and Nursery and Reception).
• Students should wear a facemask to school and bring another replacement mask, both marked with their name.
• Students should bring a bottle of water that they can fill in the bathroom or drinking fountains when they are allowed. At no time should they drink directly from the faucet or use their hands to drink.
• There will be hydro-alcoholic gel at the door of each classroom. Students will use it upon entering or leaving the classroom.
• Students will not be allowed to bring toys or balls to the centre, nor to share them with the other students.
• Students will not be allowed to share personal classroom material.
• To the extent possible, social distance of ideally more than 1.5 metres will be maintained between the students.
• It is recommended that teachers wear a FFP2 facemask, or at least a surgical mask at all times, as well as a protective face shield.
• If a student has a fever or shows COVID-19 symptoms, they will be removed from the classroom and taken to the area set up for such cases. The centre’s anti-COVID-19 coordinator will be informed.
• The classrooms and hallways will be ventilated following class changes, and windows and doors will be kept open whenever possible.
• COVID-19 workshops, adapted to each age group, will be held; there will be special emphasis on preventative measures.

In the canteen

• All of the canteen monitors and kitchen personnel will wear and face mask and protective face shield.
• The canteens will be cleaned using disinfectants before and after each use.
• The meal shifts will be organized by groups and the times will be staggered in order to reduce the number of students present, so that a safe social distance can be maintained.
• Students will have assigned seats.
• If necessary, the canteen will be divided in clearly defined zones, so that the students are always in be their group’s zone, and they will not mix with other groups.
• Clearly marked routes for entering the leaving the canteen will be established to that students do not walk close to the tables.
• The students will only remain in the canteen long enough to eat their meal.

On the playground

• Each group or class will stay in its clearly marked zone on the playground.
• Time for recess will be staggered, with different timetables to avoid groups mixing together.
• Balls and other sports equipment will be identified as belonging to a specific group, and will only be used by that group. If any equipment is to be shared, it will be disinfected before and after each use.

In the lavatories

• Crowds in the doorways will be avoided, with the proper social distance between students always maintained.
• All students will wash their hands with soap and water before and after using the lavatories.
• The lavatories will be disinfected after each recess period, a minimum of 3 times per day.
• The teachers and support personnel will ensure the proper use of the lavatories.
• Posters showing the steps for proper hand washing will be displayed.

Hygiene and disinfection measure in the centres

Regarding students and teachers:

• Frequent hand washing, with soap and water.
• Use of facemasks required.
• • Hydro-alcoholic gel will be available at all times.

Regarding the Centre:

• Initial disinfection and cleaning.
• Daily, continuous ventilation. Terraces and yards may be used.
• Increased cleaning. There will be deep cleaning at the end of each school day During the day there will be extra cleaning.
• Disinfectants and hydrogels registered as N1 by the Health Ministry, for use with foodstuffs.

Extracurricular activities and field trips

These activities are a complement to the students’ formal education, so they will be carried out with the guarantee that the same safety and hygiene measures will be taken as are taken for the rest of the Educational Centre’s activities.

Activities that take place outside of the centre and field trips will be avoided. In cases where such activities are deemed necessary, students will be encouraged to continue with the proper measures for personal protection and disinfection.

There will NO swimming classes during the first trimester. They will be substituted with Physical Education classes.

Local health centre

• Each of our centres has contacted the nearest health centre and requested that a doctor or nurse act as a consultant, providing a telephone number for direct contact.
• Should a situation arise where there are doubts about the best course of action, we will contact the doctor or nurse from the health centre.
• The consultants will be informed of any suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 by the anti-COVID coordinator of each Montessori Centre.

What to do when a student or teacher is suspected of having COVID-19

The anti-COVID coordinator of each Montessori centre will be informed of any suspected case.

• If the affected person is a member of the centre’s faculty or staff, they should not go to work or should leave the Educational Centre if they are already there. The centre’s anti-COVID coordinator should be informed of the situation, as should their primary care physician so that the proper measures can be taken. A list of possible contacts during recent days will be drawn up. If a COVID test is positive, the students and possible contacts will be informed so that they can stay in quarantine in their homes for 14 days.
• If the affected person is a student, they should not come to the centre, and if they are already on the premises, they will be isolated in a room that has been prepared for such cases. The centre’s anti-COVID coordinator will be informed, a list of possible contacts will be drawn up and the student’s parents will be called so that they can pick their child up as soon as possible. The student’s siblings will also be sent home.

We should all be aware that over these next months we will find ourselves in these situations. When this happens, the centre must be prepared to take the proper health and safety measures to control and minimize the risk of contagion. As a society, we have to live with the situation and eliminate the risks to the extent possible.

Specific conditions for the Mataespesa Centre

Anti-Covid Coordinator: Arturo Peters

Entrance:

Students Year 10 & Year 11

• Time: 8:40 a 8:50
• Place: Main playground fence; they will go directly to their classroom.

Students Year 12 y Year 13

• Time: 8:45 a 8:55
• Place: Main playground fence; they will go directly to their classroom.

Patio:

Students Year 10 y Year 11

• Time: 11:45 a 12:05
• Place: Basketball court

Students Year 12 y Year 13

• Time: 11:45 a 12:05
• Place: Covered playground. Students will use the teachers’ staircase.

Comedor:

Students Year 10 y Year 11

• Time: 14:00
• Place: Mataespesa canteen

Students Year 12 y Year 13

• Time: 14:30
• Place: Mataespesa canteen

Salida:

Students Year 10 y Year 11

• Time: 16:40
• Place: Main playground fence

Students Year 12 y Year 13

• Time: 16:45
• Place: Main playground fence

Specific conditions for the Los Fresnos Centre

Anti-Covid Coordinator: María José Fernández y Lorena González

Playgroup, Nursery & Reception

Entrance:

Students Playgroup

• Time: 9:10 a 9:30
• Place:Nursery, ground floor to the left of the main stairway. Via Calle Navacerrada.

Students Nursery, Reception

• Time: 9:10 a 9:30
• Place: In their classroom, entering via the main stairway. Via Calle Navacerrada.

Patio:

Students Playgroup

• Time: 11:00 a 11:30
• Place: Playgroup playground

Students Nursery, Reception

• Time: 11:30 a 12:00
• Place: Nursery & Reception playground

Comedor:

Students Playgroup

• Time: 12:00 a 12:45
• Place: In their classroom

Students Nursery, Reception

• Time: 12:30 a 13:15
• Place: In the pre-school canteen

Salida:

Students Playgroup

• Time: 16:15 a 16:30
• Place: Nursery to the left of the main entrance

Students Nursery, Reception

• Time: 16:15
• Place: Nursery and Reception classroom

Primary

Entrance:

Students Year 1, Year 2

• Time: 9:00 a 9:15
• Place: Via Calle Navacerrada. Their teachers will pick them up the first days

Students Year 3, Year 4

• Time: 8:30 a 9:00
• Place: Via Calle Navacerrada. They will go directly to their classrooms.

Students Year 5, Year 6

• Time: 8:45 a 9:00
• Place: Via Calle Navacerrada. They will go directly to their classrooms.

Patio:

Students Year 1, Year 2

• Time: 11:00 a 11:30
• Place: Year 1 on the Nursery playground. Year 2 on the wooden castles playground.

Students Year 3, Year 4

• Time: 11:00 a 11:30
• Place: Year 3 by the left-hand goal. Year 4 by the right-hand goal, separated by visible marks.

Students Year 5, Year 6

• Time: 11:00 a 11:30
• Place: Year 5 on the green basketball court. Year 6 on the red basketball court.

Lunch:

Students Year 1, Year 2

• Time: 13:15 a 13: 45
• Place: Canteen of the Nursery and Reception building.

Students Year 3, Year 4

• Time: 13:00 a 13:30
• Place: Canteen of the secondary school building.
• Canteen playground:
• Time: 13:30 a 14:00
• Place: Year 3: Football pitch. Year 4: Green basketball court.

Students Year 5, Year 6

• Time: 13:00 a 13:30
• Place:Canteen of the secondary school building.
• Canteen playground:
• Time: 13:00 a 13:30
• Place: Year 5: Football pitch. Year 6: Green basketball court.

Dismissal:

Students Year 1, Year 2

• Time: 16:15
• Place:Parents will enter via Calle Acequias and pick them up by the fence.

Students Year 3, Year 4

• Time: 16:30
• Place: Parents will enter to pick them up via Calle Navacerrada.

Students Year 5, Year 6

• Time: 16:40
• Place: Parents will enter via Calle Acequias and pick them up by the fence.

In the case of students with siblings in the school, they may follow the entrance and dismissal schedule of the oldest sibling.

Secondary
All of the secondary school students will enter and leave via calle Abedules

Entrance:

Students Year 7

• Time: 8:40 a 8:50
• Place: Via Calle Abedules and they will proceed to the red basketball court.

Students Year 8

• Time: 8:40 a 8:50
• Place: Via Calle Abedules and they will proceed to the playground by the canteen entrance.

Students Year 9

• Time: 8:40 a 8:50
• Place: Via Calle Abedules and they will proceed to the green basketball court.

Recess:
The students will alternate playgrounds each week

Students Year 7

• Time: 11:30 a 12:00
• Place: Red basketball court.

Students Year 8

• Time: 11:30 a 12:00
• Place: Green basketball court.

Students Year 9

• Time: 11:30 a 12:00
• Place: Football pitch.

Lunch:

Students Year 7

• Time: 14:00
• Place: Secondary school canteen.
• Canteen playground:
• Time: 14:00 a 15:00
• Place: Red basketball court.

Students Year 8 & Year 9

• Time: 14:30
• Place:Secondary school canteen.
• Canteen playground:
• Time: 14:00 a 15:00
• Place: Year 8:Red basketball court.Year 9: Canteen entrance playground.

Dismissal:

Students Year 7

• Time: 16: 40
• Place: Via Calle Abedules.

Students Year 8

• Time: 16: 45
• Place: Via Calle Abedules.s

Students Year 9

• Time: 16: 50
• Place: Via Calle Abedules.

Specific conditions for the El Enebral Centre

Anti-Covid Coordinator: Laura Unwin

Nursery & Reception

Entrance:

Students Nursery & Reception

• Time: 9:10 a 9.30
• Place: Via the Pre-hall school entrance

Patio:

Students Nursery & Reception

• Time: 10:50 a 11:20
• Place: their playground

Comedor:

Students Nursery & Reception

• Time: 13:00 to 14:30
• Place: Canteen

Salida:

Students Nursery & Reception

• Time: 16:30
• Place: Nap room

Primary

Entrance:

Students Year 1 & Year 2

• Time: 08:45
• Place:Pre-hall School entrance

Students Year 3 & Year 4

• Time: 08:45
• Place:Puerta de arriba Pirámide

Students Year 5 & Year 6

• Time: 08:55
• Place:Upper door, Pyramid

In order to maintain the established staggered entrance times, it is important that all students be punctual. Should a student arrive late out of necessity, the school should be called first. The student will enter by the downstairs door when there are no students remaining there.

On rainy days, there will be no change in the entrance procedure. We ask that on those days, that students wait to leave the car until the entrance is no longer occupied by others, so that they don’t have to wait in the rain

Patio:

Students Year 1 & Year 2

• Time: 10:50 a 11:20
• Place:Side

Students Year 3 & Year 4

• Time: 10:50 a 11:20
• Place:football pitch

Students Year 5 & Year 6

• Time: 10:50 a 11:20
• Place:Basketball court

Comedor:

Students Year 1 & Year 2

• Time: 13:00 a 14:30 Comen a la 13:00
• Place:Canteen/playground

Students Year 3 & Year 4

• Time: 13:30 a 15:00 Comen a las 13:30
• Place:Canteen/playground

Students Year 5 & Year 6

• Time: 13:30 a 15:00 Comen a las 14:00
• Place:Canteen

Salida:

Students Year 1 & Year 2

• Time: 16:45
• Place:Their classroom Playground door

Students Year 3 & Year 4

• Time: 16:35
• Place:Upper door, Pyramid

Students Year 5 & Year 6

• Time: 16:45
• Place:Upper door, Pyramid

In order to maintain the established staggered dismissal times, it is important that all students be punctual. Should parents arrive late to pick their child up, they should call the school and the child will remain in their classroom in the case of a short delay. If the child will be picked up after 17:00, s/he will wait in the extended day service, following the established protocols and safety measures. The service will be included in the following month’s bill for half-hour periods.

To pick up children from the service, parents should first go to the registry window. The children will then be brought to the lobby entrance to be picked up.