Consultation with our Key Constituents: Parents, Teachers and Staff
We deeply appreciate our dedicated staff and parents for their active involvement in our response to the changes that Covid-19 has brought. We moved from in-class learning in mid-March to remote learning in a matter of a two days.
Schedule of Communications by Month
MARCH, 2020:
TCU/MEISA’s Leadership meeting via Zoom (Daily)
Content: School strategizing and implementation of response and remote learning plans
TCU/MEISA All-Staff meetings via Zoom (Weekly)
Content: Presentation of information, training and feedback
TCU/MEISA Parent meetings via Zoom
Content: March 28 – Update, strategies, connection, Q&A
TCU/MEISA Parent Council meetings via Zoom
Content: March 26 – Open communication, sharing plans, finances, discussing ideas, strategies and suggestions
Meeting with Heads of Montessori schools in China and Taiwan via International Montessori Council
Content: How to handle remote learning with Montessori students
Department of Social Services
Content: Requirements, Preparation, Guidelines
Littler, Mendelson (Labor Law attorneys for the school)
Content: Furloughs, Time off, Emotional leave, Covid-19 law
Small Business Administration
Content: Loans/Grants processes
SBDC
Content: Grants, Loans, Staying Afloat, Employees and Furloughs
ACPHD/ACOE Meeting
Content: Covid-19, schools and requirements, limits, return to school, remote laws
APRIL, 2020:
TCU/MEISA’s Leadership meeting via Zoom (Daily)
Content: School strategizing and implementation of response and remote learning plans
TCU/MEISA All-Staff meetings via Zoom (Weekly)
Content: Presentation of information, training and feedback
TCU/MEISA Parent meetings via Zoom
Content: April 17 – Check-in on remote learning, connection, Q&A
Meetings with Heads of Preschools in China and Taiwan
Content: Preparation for safe opening, obtaining PPE
Littler, Mendelson (Labor Law attorneys for the school)
Content: Furloughs, Time off, Emotional leave, Covid-19 law
Department of Social Services
Content: Requirements, Preparation, Guidelines
Small Business Administration
Content: Loans/Grants/PPP processes
SBDC
Content: Grants, Loans, Staying Afloat, Employees and Furloughs
ACOE: Weekly Meetings (Thursdays) @2pm
Content: Remote learning, Preparation for returning, PPE, Licensing and Health guidelines, Cohorts, Special Needs students
International Montessori Council (Weekly)
Content: School budget, remote (distance) learning, reopening
International Montessori Council (Weekly)
Content: I began to lead international trainings for schools regarding how to stay afloat, handling staff, and I began to present my protocol to train schools weekly about Covid-19 procedures.
I also offered the protocol to the city of Alameda (Mayor’s office, Park & Rec, AUSD preschool)
MAY, 2020:
TCU/MEISA’s Leadership meeting via Zoom (Daily)
Content: School strategizing and implementation of response and remote learning plans
TCU/MEISA All-Staff meetings via Zoom (Weekly)
Content: Presentation of information, training and feedback
TCU/MEISA May 4 – Reopening Zoom / meeting with Staff
Content: Discuss possible reopening plans, requirements, interest and comfort with returning in June for summer camps with new protocol in place.
Outcome: Questions answered, ideas exchanged, concerns voiced and addressed.
TCU/MEISA May 5 – Followed up with email to staff requesting that they were interested in teaching during summer camp.
Outcome: Five (5) teachers were ready and happy to teach onsite preschool summer camp along with 2 office staff members. Number of teachers and staff interested and comfortable with returning grew allowing us to open more cohorts during the summer. By August, 100% of our elementary teachers were ready and interested in teaching the summer camps and in-person learning when it was possible to do so.
TCU/MEISA May 4 – Parent Preschool/Elementary Reopening Survey
Content: This survey targeted our reopening for summer camp for the expanded definition of essential workers. We inquired as to their readiness to place their child in onsite camp with our described protocol in place.
Outcome: We had 106 responses to our survey of which 25% were both essential workers and wanted child care. We reopened for preschool summer camp with two cohorts each with a maximum of ten children. As demand grew, we reopened two more cohorts with our second session of camp.
Outcome: The Parent Council reviewed the protocol and was 100% in favor of beginning when possible, and encouraged continual communication with parents regarding needs of the school, information from the health department and clarity on when and how reopening could occur.
By August, parents of our elementary students were in favor of an in-person summer experience so we added two cohorts of our elementary summer program along with two more preschool cohorts. Parents voiced their fears and concerns, all of which were addressed in our protocol. 100% of our parents were in favor of summer camps and in-person learning when it was approved.
TCU/MEISA Parent meetings via Zoom
Content: May 8 – Discuss stress, strategies for summer camps, connection, Q&A
May 14 – Review and discuss School Health protocol Stages, Q&A (video recorded and shared with parents unable to attend)
Meetings with Heads of Preschools in China
Content: Effective Disinfecting/Face Coverings
Department of Social Services
Content: Requirements, Preparation, Guidelines
Littler, Mendelson (Labor Law attorneys for the school)
Content: Furloughs, Time off, Emotional leave, Covid-19 law
Small Business Administration
Content: Loans/Grants/PPP processes
SBDC
Content: Grants, Loans, Staying Afloat, Employees and Furloughs
ACOE: Weekly Meetings (Thursdays @2pm)
Content: Remote learning, Preparation for returning, PPE, Licensing and Health guidelines, Cohorts, Special Needs students
International Montessori Council (Weekly)
Content: School budget, remote (distance) learning, reopening
International Montessori Council (Weekly)
Content: I began to lead international trainings for schools regarding how to stay afloat, handling staff, and I began to present my protocol to train schools weekly about Covid-19 procedures.
I also offered the protocol to the city of Alameda (Mayor’s office, Park & Rec, AUSD preschool)
JUNE, 2020
TCU/MEISA’s Leadership meeting via Zoom (Daily)
Content: School strategizing and implementation of response and remote learning plans
TCU/MEISA All-Staff meetings via Zoom (Weekly)
Content: Presentation of information, training and feedback
TCU/MEISA Parent meetings via Zoom
Content: Met by cohort to prepare and answer questions about summer
Department of Social Services
Content: Requirements, Preparation, Guidelines
Littler, Mendelson (Labor Law attorneys for the school)
Content: Furloughs, Time off, Emotional leave, Covid-19 law
ACOE: Weekly Meetings (Thursdays) @2pm
Content: Remote learning, Preparation for returning, PPE, Licensing and Health guidelines, Cohorts, Special Needs students
Small Business Administration
Content: Loans/Grants/PPP processes
SBDC
Content: Grants, Loans, Staying Afloat, Employees and Furloughs
International Montessori Council (Weekly)
Content: School budget, remote (distance) learning, reopening
International Montessori Council (Weekly)
Content: I began to lead international trainings for schools regarding how to stay afloat, handling staff, and I began to present my protocol to train schools weekly about Covid-19 procedures.
I also offered the protocol to the city of Alameda (Mayor’s office, Park & Rec, AUSD preschool)
JULY, 2020:
TCU/MEISA’s Leadership meeting via Zoom (Daily)
Content: School strategizing and implementation of response and remote learning plans
TCU/MEISA All-Staff meetings via Zoom (Weekly)/Individual Elementary Survey
Content: Presentation of information, training and feedback
Outcomes: 100% of elementary staff supported the return to the school for summer camps, and in-person learning when allowed.
TCU/MEISA Parent meetings via Zoom
Content: July 1 – Review our plans on how we’ve re-open safely for summer and get feedback on how it’s going
Littler, Mendelson (Labor Law attorneys for the school)
Content: Furloughs, Time off, Emotional leave, Covid-19 law
Small Business Administration
Content: Loans/Grants/PPP processes
SBDC
Content: Grants, Loans, Staying Afloat, Employees and Furloughs
ACOE: Weekly Meetings (Thursdays @2pm)
Content: Remote learning, Preparation for returning, PPE, Licensing and Health guidelines, Cohorts, Special Needs students
International Montessori Council (Weekly)
Content: School budget, remote (distance) learning, reopening
International Montessori Council (Weekly)
Content: I began to lead international trainings for schools regarding how to stay afloat, handling staff, and I began to present my protocol to train schools weekly about Covid-19 procedures.
I also offered the protocol to the city of Alameda (Mayor’s office, Park & Rec, AUSD preschool)
AUGUST, 2020:
TCU/MEISA’s Leadership meeting via Zoom (2x per Week)
Content: School strategizing and implementation of response and remote learning plans
TCU/MEISA All-Staff meetings via Zoom (Weekly)
Content: Presentation of information, training and feedback
TCU/MEISA Parent meetings via Zoom
Content: August 10-August 14 Cohort meetings via Zoom for fall opening August 27 – Parent Meeting welcome to the school year (video recorded and shared with parents unable to attend)
Littler, Mendelson (Labor Law attorneys for the school)
Content: Furloughs, Time off, Emotional leave, Covid-19 law
Small Business Administration
Content: Loans/Grants/PPP processes
SBDC
Content: Grants, Loans, Staying Afloat, Employees and Furloughs
ACOE: Weekly Meetings (two Thursdays @2pm)
Content: Remote learning, Preparation for returning, PPE, Licensing and Health guidelines, Cohorts, Special Needs students
International Montessori Council (Weekly through mid-August)
Content: School budget, Reopening
SEPTEMBER, 2020:
TCU/MEISA Parent Council meetings via Zoom
Content: Sept 3 – Budget, PPE, how to maintain community with separation
Littler, Mendelson (Labor Law attorneys for the school)
Content: Furloughs, Time off, Emotional leave, Covid-19 law
Small Business Administration
Content: Loans/Grants/PPP processes
SBDC
Content: Grants, Loans, Staying Afloat, Employees and Furloughs
ACOE: Weekly Meetings (Thursdays @2pm)
Content: Remote learning, Preparation for returning, PPE, Licensing and Health guidelines, Cohorts, Special Needs student