March 2020

March 26, 2020

Hello Kiva Community,

We just reached out to all of the Kiva Families–thank you Angel Morris–to check in, make sure everyone is safe and tell the students we miss ’em.

I’d like to start this note by stating that we are all growing and stretching–and some are in real pain. Many people in our area–some receiving this email–don’t know where the next paycheck is coming from or how to access food, or even shelter, let alone the Internet for student learning.

If we do nothing else through our new experiment in on-line and distance learning, I hope the Kiva Montessori Charter can inspire our community to open a space in us and our children to let the kindness, courtesy and awareness come through and connect to others.

Here’s a look forward into the next few weeks at Kiva.

Please fill out the Tech Survey. Even if you’ve already filled it out, we NEED you to take two minutes and do it again (extra questions have been added).

We are trying to build curriculum for the students that can be worked on during the schedule that works best for your family. In other words, the sample schedule below might not work for you and your children. That’s great. What’s important is the routine and finding what works for you and your children.

Here’s the snapshot of what’s happening for distance/on-line education next week.

  • March 16-27.
  • Connect to families,
  • set up technology and support systems.
  • Families set up learning schedules in their homes (plan on three hours of academic work daily for 1st-5th, split into two segments and 4-5 hours for 6-8th grade). Remember to intersperse lots of brain breaks (exercise, play, curious time–puzzles, baking, digging in the yard, throwing rocks, collecting things of interest) throughout the day.
  • No access to the building for students and parents. Phone calls only.
  • March 31-April 1,
  • Teachers reach out to students and families.
  • Families receive technology and directions.
  • Families receive schedule of what to expect each day and when, as well as expectations we have around academic work.
  • Some students receive first academic assignments and test technology.
  • Troubleshoot problems with technology and communication. Support families.
  • Teacher office hours established.
  • Office hours from 8am to 4pm at the front desk, but no access to the building for parents and students. Parents may arrange a face-to-face meeting by calling the office.
  • April 6-10
  • Students begin to master technology and connection with teachers.
  • Kiva evaluates and monitors progress of program, refines.

Just below this email, you’ll find a SAMPLE schedule that may spark some ideas at your end.

Please reach out to me with questions or concerns at [email protected] or 970-564-9377.

Jeffrey Pope
Head of School

km_march_2020_sample_schedule

 

Dear Parents,
This Survey, updated on March 25, 2020 is meant to understand what tools you may have in your home to facilitate distance learning.  EVEN IF YOU’VE already filled this out, PLEASE DO IT AGAIN, as we have updated a number of questions.  Click HERE to access the survey.

We are busy planning a launch of our Distance/On-Line Learning which will ramp up from March 31-April 3rd.  This week and next, during the ramp up time, expect to hear from teachers and administrators related to the wellbeing of your child, tools for getting ready to learn and updates on how we’re doing.

Please reach out with questions at [email protected].

 

March 23, 2020

The Montezuma-Cortez School District is stepping up with an Expanded Lunch Program, providing FREE breakfast and lunch to ALL children 18 and under.

To schedule your child’s meal (s) for next week, please click here and fill out the survey by Wednesday, March 25, 2020 at 3:00 pm.

This service is scheduled to begin on Monday, March 30, 2020. Again, all meals will be free to any child 18 and under.

Meals would be ready for pickup at Cortez Middle School from 11:00 am to 12:30 pm. Times and location could change due to demand.

These meals would be grab and go and meet the nutritional requirements of USDA.

 

March 14, 2020
Dear Kiva Community,

Kiva Montessori Charter and Children’s House are working closely with the Montezuma Cortez RE-1 School District and the Montezuma County Health Department to assess the emerging COVID-19 outbreak nationwide and in Colorado.

As of today, there are no known cases of COVID-19 in Southwest Colorado.  But, out of an abundance of caution, the District has decided to close school starting Monday, March 16th through the 20th and then continue with Spring Break on Monday March 23rd through March 27th.

Children’s Kiva Montessori School will do the same and extend Spring Break a week earlier.

We will evaluate the situation at least daily and work to keep you informed.

We will be working with Montezuma Cortez RE-1 and the Montezuma County Health Department to train on best cleaning, communication and management practices over the break.

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In the meantime, here is some guidance on how to speak to your children about COVID-19.
Remain calm and reassuring.

  • Remember that children will react to both what you say and how you say it. They will pick up cues from the conversations you have with them and with others.

Make yourself available to listen and to talk.

  • Make time to talk. Be sure children know they can come to you when they have questions.

Avoid language that might blame others and lead to stigma.

  • Remember that viruses can make anyone sick, regardless of a person’s race or ethnicity. Avoid making assumptions about who might have COVID-19.

Pay attention to what children see or hear on television, radio, or online.

  • Consider reducing the amount of screen time focused on COVID-19. Too much information on one topic can lead to anxiety.

Provide information that is honest and accurate.

  • Give children information that is truthful and appropriate for the age and developmental level of the child.
  • Talk to children about how some stories on COVID-19 on the Internet and social media may be based on rumors and inaccurate information.

Teach children everyday actions to reduce the spread of germs.

  • Remind children to stay away from people who are coughing or sneezing or sick.
  • Remind them to cough or sneeze into a tissue or their elbow, then throw the tissue into the trash.
  • Discuss any new actions that may be taken at school to help protect children and school staff.
    (e.g., increased handwashing, cancellation of events or activities)
  • Get children into a handwashing habit.
    • Teach them to wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing their nose, coughing, or sneezing; going to the bathroom; and before eating or preparing food.
    • If soap and water are not available, teach them to use hand sanitizer. Hand sanitizer should contain at least 60% alcohol. Supervise young children when they use hand sanitizer to prevent swallowing alcohol, especially in schools and childcare facilities.

Best regards,

Jeffrey Pope
Head of School

March 12, 2020

Dear Kiva Community,

Children’s Kiva is working in close coordination with the Montezuma-Cortez RE-1 School District and the Colorado Department of Education to plan for the emergence of COVID-19 in our schools.

The Governor’s Office and State Health Department has announced that the state has identified “presumed positive” cases of COVID in Colorado and the Governor’s Office has announced enhanced state efforts to prevent further spread of COVID. And, at the moment, officials have stated there are no presumed positive cases of COVID-19 in Southwest Colorado.

However, it is not a matter of if, but when, COVID-19 comes to our area and our school.

How we plan for it and take care of each other during it, will distinguish our community. And this effort will take all of us, working together.

The goal of planning and preparing is to slow down the spread of the virus so the number of people who are sick do not overwhelm our public health, first responder and health care systems.

It is important for parents to know that most children who contract the virus suffer mild symptoms only. Our school nurse advises that if you suspect your child has COVID-19 symptoms, the best course of action is to self isolate and call a triage support person at the Montezuma County Health Department 970-565-3056 to discuss the symptoms.

Here are the steps we are taking to mitigate risk to your child and the community:

  • -Deep sanitization and cleaning – Our custodial staff has been applying deep cleaning methods over the last two weeks and will continue to do so in the coming weeks to disinfect the building.
  • -We have added a new space for children exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19–called the Waiting Room–to wait comfortably while they wait to be picked up from school. This is not the same room as the nurse’s station.
  • -Educating students and staff on how to prevent the spread of colds and flus – Our teachers have been providing educational materials to all our students reminding them to wash their hands regularly, cover their mouths if they cough, etc. We will be hanging more posters in our schools reminding students to do these things.
  • -Sending students and staff who are feeling sick home – The school nurse will continue to screen students with health concerns at school and may ask parents to pick up sick students. We may also ask students to wear a mask while in the Waiting Room while they are waiting for their parents to pick them up, if the nurse believes a student may have the flu (including regular flu or COVID).
  • -Asking parents to describe their child’s symptoms when they call in to let us know their child is sick. Expect a call back from our administrator, Angel.
  • -Website Updates – check regularly at kivacharter.org for updates.

We are also asking that parents do not send your child to school if they may be sick. Keeping your sick child home will be a great benefit for the health and wellness of all students and staff. We are also asking that staff stay home if they are sick. We may be asking a few additional questions for students or staff calling in sick as well to help us understand the presence of the flu in our schools and community. Please read the link on “How Sick is Too Sick”.

Finally, I wanted to share our current criteria for closing schools, per the guidance of the Colorado Department of Health and Environment communicated closure criteria for schools:

  • -Any school in Colorado with a single confirmed cased of COVID-19 in a staff or student will close for a minimum of 72 hours for cleaning and social distancing.
  • -Any schools that are closed will partner with their local public health agency to conduct contact tracing and further COVID-19 testing.
  • -Any school with a a second confirmed case of COVID-19 in a staff or student within a 30-day period requires a second minimum 72-hour closure for cleaning, testing and public health investigation.
  • -If three schools in a district have confirmed cases of COVID-19 within a 30-day period, all schools within the district are required to close for 14 days for cleaning, testing and public health investigation.

These requirements are subject to update and change.

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Please visit the Colorado Department of Health and Environment for more information and please reach out to my office with any questions or concerns at 970-564-9377 or head of [email protected].

Best regards,

Jeffrey Pope
Head of School