Bridgeview Montessori School

Parent Handbook

Current (updated, June 2026)

OUR MISSION AND CORE VALUES

At Bridgeview Montessori School, we learn to dig deep.

We cultivate creative process

• Encourage exploration

• Inspire self-expression

• Teach independent decision making

We grow empowered and resilient people

• Encourage the right lessons at the right time

• Inspire self-knowledge

• Teach conflict resolution

We hold community close

• Encourage peace and kindness

• Inspire every voice

• Teach the purpose of quiet

POLICY ON NONDISCRIMINATION 

Bridgeview Montessori promotes respect for all students, employees, and applicants for admissions or employment, and prohibits discrimination to the full extent required by law, including discrimination based on race, color, ethnic or national origin, religion, gender, gender identify, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, or any other category which is protected by applicable Federal and MA law. These nondiscrimination policies apply in administration of our educational policies, hiring policies, admission policies, financial aid programs, and other school-administered programs.

GENERAL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

(topics in order alphabetically)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

In an effort to streamline School communication, all information from the administration will be disseminated through Bridgemail and from teachers, via your Parent Notice box. These announcements are limited to student and School-relatedinformation and events only. Your child’s teacher will also communicate via a monthly newsletter, and primarily through email. On occasion, we may authorize the distribution of other outside events for children if they are in keeping with our mission and core values.

ANNUAL CIRCLE OF GIVING

Founders Jean Rice and Palmer True created our School with a vision for a cohesive community that would foster respect,caring, and peace and would take as its foundation the teachings and philosophy of Dr. Maria Montessori. Over the 25-plus years that Bridgeview Montessori has served the community, children with a wide range of academic and social skills have thrived here. Like all nonprofit independent Schools, Bridgeview depends on the generosity of parents, alumni, and friends to accomplish its goals. The funds needed to supplement operating expenses are derived solely from our Annual Circle of Giving campaign, which is announced in the fall of each School year. Your tax-deductible gifts of any amount are essential to the vitality of our School. Each contribution is deeply appreciated and we thank you, in advance, for your generosity.

ATTENDANCE AND PUNCTUALITY

Our Montessori curriculum is based on each student’s consistent attendance as it requires continuity of presentations and practice, which ultimately, bring our students to mastery. Regular interaction with peers and teachers in well-planned community learning activities is vital for each student’s developmental and academic growth, and self-esteem, as well as for the continuity of the Montessori classroom community as a whole. We encourage all parents to make sure that their child arrives on time at School every day. At the end of day, any student not picked up on time will be placed in After Care and the parent will be invoiced accordingly. (See section Before and After Care below, for more details.) Please notify the School by phone or email with as much notice as possible, leaving a message if necessary, if your child will be unexpectedly absent. If your child’s absence is planned in advance, please notify the School’s Administrative Coordinator at least a week before the absence. Students who are physically absent from School will be recorded as absent.

We expect that, as much as possible, family trips will be planned to occur within the scheduled holiday dates, teacher in-service days, and early release days, as listed on our School calendar. If you should schedule a trip outside of these scheduled breaks, you must inform the School in writing of the planned absence.

Missed class/homework due to absence is expected to be made up after a student returns to School. Teachers are not required to send home class/homework in advance of a student’s absence. Students and teachers will agree as to the time allotted for makeup work.

In cases of chronic or irregular absence, the Head of School or Program Director may request a physician’s statement recommending the absence.

If your child’s attendance is recognized as sporadic and/or inconsistent, you may receive a formal letter addressing our concern in this area.

Our School policy takes individual situations, such as health issues, into account. Once a student misses more than 10 days of School without approval from the Head of School, that student may be placed on academic probation. If subsequent additional days are missed following probation, the result may be dismissal from School.

We encourage students to attend School without excessive tardiness or absenteeism. Late arrivals and early dismissals interrupt your child’s education and disrupt the School day for your child and the rest of the group. It is advisable to avoid both, if possible. Medical appointments do, at times, need to be scheduled and we understand this. However, we urge parents to utilize times outside of School hours for such routine appointments. If you are requesting an early dismissal for your child, please note the following procedures:

1. Send a note to your child’s teacher indicating the date and time of pickup as well as the person, if different from yourself, who will make the pickup.

2. Report to the front desk when you enter the School. Your child will either be waiting for you, or they will be called to the front desk to meet you.

   A child who is consistently tardy misses crucial social and academic opportunities, and often feels “out of the loop.” In addition, an individual child’s tardiness disrupts their teacher(s) and classmates. Our Elementary student’s attendance is reflected on their Progress Reports as part of their permanent record, most often shared with other Schools when students finish their time at Bridgeview.

BACKGROUND RECORD CHECKS

Bridgeview’s Head of School maintains screening and compliance with the Massachusetts Background Record Check system and adheres to the Background Record Check (BRC) policies set forth by the Massachusetts Department of Early Educationand Care (EEC), and the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (DCJIS).

Every staff member, substitute teacher, potential new employee, student intern, driver or chaperone, or volunteer who has regular contact with children is required to submit written consent for Background Record Checks, which consists of a Criminal Offender Record Investigation (CORI), and may include the following: a Department of Children and Families (DCF) background record check of abuse or neglect including;

• a Sex Offender Registry Information (SORI) check;

• a fingerprint-based check of the national and state criminal history databases

Fingerprinting fees are reimbursed by the School.

BEFORE AND AFTER CARE

Bridgeview Montessori School offers Before Care starting at 7:15 am and After Care until 5:30 pm. Both begin the first day of School. All students need to be signed up in advance to attend. Students need to bring their own snack to eat while in After Care. After Care is closed on Oct 31 and on the last day of School.

On Children’s House half days of School, After Care is available on a first come first served basis, with priority given to that particular day’s regular attendees. After Care fees will begin to accrue starting at 1 pm for all CH attendees. Students who are in Before Care in the morning or in After Care in the afternoon must be signed in and/or out by the Before/After Care teacher at the point where they are turned over to Before Care or picked up from After Care. A form forthat purpose is included in the Before and After Care teacher’s binder; sheets are removed monthly for invoicing.

Before Care for all students is held in the Blue Room on the lower level of the School. When dropping off your child in the morning, please arrive at the Blue Room door on the right side of the building, knock on the door to the Blue Room, and wait to be let inside. Once invited into the classroom, the teacher will sign your child in using the sheet in the Before Care binder.

After Care for Children’s House students is held in the Rainbow Room. The teachers plan arts and craft activities and utilize games, puzzles, Legos, as well as materials for gross motor activities for students. During good weather, students spend the majority of their time outdoors on the playground engaged in free play. During good weather, your Children’s House child may be on the playground. When the weather is inclement, if you do not see the children on the playground, enter the playground, go down the stairs and knock on the Rainbow Room door.

After Care for Elementary is held in the Blue Room. When picking up your Elementary child, find them on the playground in good weather, or in inclement weather, or if you arrive before they have gone outside, go down the driveway on the right side of the building, and knock on the door to pick them up there.

To ensure a smooth transition for your child(ren), the other students in the program, and the teachers, we ask that once your child is signed out to you, you depart promptly. This helps to ensure that the staff can focus on the students who are left, and/or cleaning up for the evening if you are the last to arrive.

Parents who need to reserve space for their children regularly need to fill out a registration form.

Parents who need to utilize Before or After Care for their child on an occasional day as a “drop-in” must contact the School to confirm space is available. Parents may contact the Administrative Coordinator by phone or email to request Before Care or After Care use on a given day, but parents must receive confirmation that space is available in advance.

Details of fees for Before Care and After Care:

1. The fee is based on the time a child is signed in and out each day of participation.

2. The fee is $12 per hour ($6 per 1/2 hour). Fees are rounded up to the next half-hour.

3. After Care closes at 5:30 pm. Parents who arrive later than 5:30 pm, when After Care officially closes, will be assessed a late fee of $12.00 for any amount of time within each fifteen-minute increment (e.g. If you pick up your child at 5:50, you will be assessed a $24 late fee based on two 15 minute increments).

4. Parents of attendees will be invoiced monthly from October through June.

5. Payment is due in full within thirty days of receipt of the invoice. Before or After Care is only available when an account is current or if a written alternative payment schedule has been entered into before the beginning of the new month. We accept checks made payable to Bridgeview Montessori School or cash only.

6. Regular After Care fees will begin to accrue starting at 1 pm on Children’s House early dismissal days for all attendees.

7. Our After Care Phone number is to be used only to reach After Care staff after 3:00pm: 508-292-9069

8. Thank you very much for your cooperation. Any questions may be directed to our Administrative Coordinator.

BIRTHDAYS

It is a Montessori tradition to celebrate each child’s birthday. In Children's House (CH), a birthday walk around the sun is an opportunity for you to join your child in a celebration of their life! Share stories as your child walks around a glowing candle that represents the sun. Recall events from each year with photographs and anecdotes that bring to life your child’s journey through the world. Some families make posters with mounted pictures; others share small albums. The birthday walk generally lasts between ten and fifteen minutes and takes place after arrival in the morning once the children come in from the playground. You may provide a healthy snack for the entire class to make the event fun and nourishing for all. You will be informed of any dietary restrictions/allergies in the classroom so that you can plan accordingly and all can enjoy. Siblings, grandparents and other extended family members are invited to attend and watch your child delight in this joyful celebration.

Elementary parents may talk with their child’s teacher about how birthdays are celebrated in the EI and EII classrooms.

BULLYING / BULLYING PREVENTION

Bullying in any form: physical, verbal, written or cyber, is not tolerated at our School. We value compassionate, safe and peaceful classrooms and the same for the School community. Every adult and child within our learning community is united in the daily practices of grace and courtesy, and also trained in the practice of conflict resolution. Respect and empathy are modeled and taught through attentive listening, voicing opinions, collaborative problem-solving, and valuing acts of kindness. A sense of shared responsibility for self and others, modeled by teachers, grows within each child.

Our faculty and staff are regularly trained on bully prevention so as to stay current on the latest research. Any student, faculty/staff member, or parent is encouraged, whether a victim of or a witness to any suspected attempts at bullying, to talk immediately and directly to the offending party, as well as to a teacher or administrator should something “off” occur. Our School will take prompt action to address any such incidents as appropriate.

CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT

Each staff member understands that under Massachusetts General Laws, he/she is a mandated reporter and is under legal obligation to report any suspected child abuse or neglect whether it is suspected of occurring at School or off campus. He/she is immune by law from civil or criminal liability regardless of whether or not the report is confirmed (or founded). As an overall policy, the School will protect children from abuse and neglect while they are under the care and custody of our School, either on-site or on field trips or other off-premises activities.

When any staff member has a suspicion of child abuse or neglect, the following procedures will be followed:

1. The faculty or staff member will report their concern immediately to the Department of Children and Families (DCF), to the Head of School, or to a Program Director.

2. The report will be filed with DCF independently by the employee, or with the help of the Head of School, if needed.

3. The Head of School/Program Director will ensure that the report of suspected abuse or neglect is filed with DCF.

4. The Head of School/Program Director will notify the EEC immediately after filing a 51A report with the DCF, or upon learning that a 51A report has been filed alleging abuse or neglect of a child while in the care of the School or during a School-related activity.

5. A complete written report of each incident will be maintained in the office of the Head of School.

The School will cooperate in all investigations of abuse and neglect, including identifying parents of children currently or previously enrolled in the program. The School will provide consent for disclosure to DCF and EEC of information from, and allowing the EEC to disclose information to, any person and/or agency that DCF and EEC may specify as necessary to the prompt investigation of allegations and protection of children. It is understood that failure to cooperate may be grounds for suspension, revocation, or refusal to issue or renew a license.

The School’s procedures also ensure that an allegedly abusive or neglectful staff member will not work directly with children until a DCF investigation is completed and for such further time as the EEC requires.

CLOTHING

Simple, loose, well-fitting, easy-to-manage clothing is best for children. As much as possible, we ask that clothing be free of cartoon/Disney characters, superheroes, references to weapons and of course, free of inappropriate language. We ask students not to wear hats or hoods indoors. Students wear slippers or indoor shoes while inside; we suggest simple well-fitting slippers without “big heads” or characters which can serve as a distraction. Closed-toed/closed-heeled slippers are best for indoor use. Both Children’s House and Elementary parents should send in an extra set of clothes in a labeled ziplock bag to keep at School for their child. Please dress your child appropriately for daily outside play, which should include snow pants and boots during winter months. All students wear boots, sneakers, or closed-toed/heeled shoes on the playground. Crocs, flip-flops, and sandals are discouraged for safety reasons. Please label all of your child’s clothing and slippers.

COMMUNITY RESOURCES (Click Link)

DIAPERING AND TOILETING

Students “listen to their bodies” and use the restroom throughout the day as needed. Teachers are in sight and hearing range to supervise younger children and assist, if needed. A staff member will accompany the child into the School if the child is outside on the playground and wishes to use the bathroom. Parents of students under 5 are requested to provide extra clothing in case clothes are soiled. The School will supply a change of clothing for any unexpected needs. Parents are requested to launder and return all School clothing as soon as possible.

A child will never be reprimanded for soiling, wetting, or not using the toilet. Children will be toilet-trained following the requests of their parents and consistent with the child’s physical, emotional, and developmental abilities.

If a child has an accident, a staff member, after putting on latex-free gloves, will assist the child, as needed, in cleaning themselves and replacing his/her soiled clothes with fresh ones. Any soiled clothing will be placed in a plastic bag for the child to bring home for laundering.

Should a child require diapering, the teacher will gather needed supplies and follow the diapering procedure which is posted at the diapering areas. At no time will the child be without teacher guidance. The teacher will use a disposable paper liner under the child and wear gloves. Soiled diapers will be disposed of in a covered and lined garbage can. The diapering area will be cleaned with disinfectant according to the posted plan.

Where appropriate in the process, independence with dress and hand washing will be encouraged. Before leaving the bathroom, both teacher and child will wash hands with water and liquid soap, using friction, and dry hands with an individual disposable towel.

DROP-OFF AND PICK-UP PROCEDURES

At the start of the school year, each family will receive a Parking Plan with instructions on how to line up their vehicle during drop-off time and how to park during pick-up times. During Elementary drop-off, a teacher will assist the child from the right side of the vehicle and ensure that they enter the School and get to their classroom. In Children’s House, parents will escort their children to the playground gate or classroom drop-off door (weather dependent) At pick-up time, parents will park according to the Parking Plan and proceed to the appropriate dismissal door to sign out and pick up their child. Children will only be released to parents or individuals specifically authorized in writing by a parent or legal guardian as indicated on their Emergency Card, email, or note.

When you drop off your child, you may hand a teacher a note about anything that we should know. Examples include: my child did not eat breakfast; something is going on in my child's life that is upsetting or exciting; my child will be picked up early today; someone different will be picking up my child, etc. We feel a note is much better than simply verbally communicating these important messages during drop-off.

EMERGENCY CARD/FIRST AID AND MEDICAL CARE CONSENT FORM

An Emergency card must be completed and returned to the School before the first day of School. This form is required by law, and the authorization portion must be completed. In an emergency, the first point of contact after 9-1-1 will always be the parents; however, you must list back-up names and phone numbers of at least two people who can be contacted in case of any emergency in the event parents are not reachable. Please list the names of people who agree to be available to come to School in the case of an emergency.

EMERGENCY CLOSINGS

An early closing of the School may seem prudent in case of the following emergency situations: Fire, natural disaster, loss of power, loss of heat, loss of water. The School staff will notify the parents, or emergency contact if needed, that an early dismissal is necessary.

EVACUATION PLAN

In the event of needing to evacuate the School property – Please refer to the Health Care Policies.

FAMILY CONTACT INFORMATION

Within the first month of School, all enrolled families will receive a list of students, which will include the student’s mailing address, phone number, parent(s’) name, and classroom. This list is for communication amongst our families and is not to be used for soliciting. Mailing and Email addresses will only be provided when authorized. Authorization will be established when parents submit “back-to-School” paperwork.

FIELD STUDIES - CHILDREN’S HOUSE

Although there will not be CH field studies (akin to field trips) originating from School, there may be occasional field study activities at offsite locations where parents, children, and teachers will meet. Each CH family will receive written notification in advance of such offsite field study activities.

FIELD STUDIES - ELEMENTARY

Elementary families will receive written notification of offsite field studies in advance, which may be in the form of a permission slip or a notice. An appropriate permission slip must be on file for each offsite field study for every student to participate in a field study.

Students may be transported for field studies in private vehicles, which may include a parent or teacher driver. Drivers will adhere to all Massachusetts state seat belt and child restraint laws. Each volunteer driver must have a copy of their current driver’s license and Automobile Insurance Coverage Selection Page on file with the School. In addition, each driver, chaperone, or volunteer must have evidence at School that they have successfully cleared a BRC (background) check within the past three years. There may be a nominal fee associated with some field studies. The School will cover the cost of the BRC for drivers and chaperones.

FITNESS CLASS / RECESS, NON-PARTICIPATION DUE TO INJURY

Elementary students who are unable to participate in Fitness class will attend their Fitness class and observe the lessons. If for any reason a student is unable to observe Fitness class, that student must be picked up from School prior due to inability to participate and observe. Students who cannot participate in recess will be provided some other quiet activity like reading a book.

Students who do not participate in Fitness and/or Recess due to a physical injury need to submit a note from a parent or doctor stating for what specific time they are unable to participate (i.e. dates) and then when the student may resume full physical activities.

FORCE MAJEURE POLICY

The School shall not be liable for any failure of or delay in the performance of its duties or obligations under this EnrollmentContract to the extent that such failure or delay:

1. is beyond the reasonable control of Bridgeview Montessori School.

2. could not reasonably have been foreseen or provided against.

3. materially affects the performance of any of its obligations under this agreement.

The School’s duties and obligations under this Enrollment Contract may be suspended immediately without notice during periods that the School is closed because of force majeure events including, but not limited to, a fire, flood, act of God, war, government action, act of terrorism, epidemic, pandemic, natural disaster or other major event which is outside the School’s control. If such an event occurs, the School’s duties and obligations will be postponed until the School, in its sole discretion, deems that it may safely reopen consistent with applicable laws and government requirements. During such a postponement or closure, all tuition payments shall remain due to the School, and there will be no refund of tuition, fees, or other payments previously made. The School may elect to operate on a distance-learning basis, may choose to extend or shorten its School year, and may adopt an alternative schedule to complete its School year curriculum.

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS

We assign a reasonable amount of traditional homework so that children have the time to pursue personal interests that contribute to their development as well-rounded, lifelong learners. In keeping with the idea of nurturing interests, our home assignments are designed to allow students to continue developing a love for knowledge, and personal expression, and to reinforce skills learned in the classroom. Individual classroom teachers will provide more information about particular assignments and homework schedules. We ask that parents assist their children in achieving homework success by creating quiet homework spaces and by helping them to schedule their time so that they can complete the assignments by the provided due dates.

Elementary I home assignments are generally literacy-based with students choosing projects related to classroom study which consider their individual learning styles and interests. These projects are to be completed over a period of days and often involve reading and preparing some type of presentation. Additionally, other home assignments may be organic or spontaneous extensions of the work being done in class.

Elementary II students are asked to complete both short-range and long-range assignments. Typically, there is a predictable weekly homework schedule. This may include such things as reading with written reflections, math work that is an extension of School lessons, and spelling. Longer research assignments are also completed at home. These projects allow the students to work with long-range planning as they meet multiple deadlines.

Missed class/homework due to absence is expected to be made up after the student returns to School. Teachers will not send home class/homework in advance of a student’s absence. Students and teachers will agree as to the time allotted for makeup work.

ILLNESS

Please refer to the Health Care Policies. Our school consults with a School Nurse (RN) and a School Physician. Please review our School Exclusion Policy carefully (This can be found in the document section of your Brightwheel account). This tool will help you to determine when it’s safe to send your child to School, and when it’s best to keep them home. Of course if you ever have questions, you can call us to speak directly about symptoms, diagnoses, or questions you might have about the policy; our Administrative Coordinator will generally direct you to our Head of School for help.

INTERNS (STUDENT)

The School occasionally provides opportunities for student interns to fulfill their Montessori training requirements, paid or unpaid, by working in the classroom. Under the supervision of a teacher, the intern may participate in teaching, planning, classroom preparation, and classroom management. A supervisor from the intern's Montessori training program may make scheduled visits to evaluate the intern's progress and to conference with both the intern and our School’s supervising teacher. Parents will be informed if their child’s classroom is going to have an intern working in the classroom for all or part of the School year.

LOST AND FOUND

Please label all of your child’s belongings. If we cannot identify the owner of a given item, it will be placed in our lost and found bin located just inside our front door. Occasionally you will see a found item featured in our weekly Bridgemail. Unclaimed lost and found items are periodically donated to a local nonprofit organization.

LUNCHES AND SNACKS

Each student should have a lunch box that is clearly labeled with their name. Please include a balanced nutritious lunch and drink. Ideas include: a sandwich with protein; a bagel with cream cheese; yogurt; fresh fruit; fresh vegetables with a dip; ajuice box or any non-spilling cup or container with water or milk. Also, please provide any necessary utensils and TWO cloth napkins for your child to eat the lunch that you have prepared. To ensure safety around allergic reactions, students are not allowed to exchange or share food. Students have water available to them at all times in their classrooms. The School prefers that lunches do not contain highly sugared treats or candy of any kind.

Keep in mind that OUR CLASSROOMS ARE NUT-FREE (see below). Before the start of each School year, you will receive information and ideas regarding preparing healthy nut-free meals and snacks.

All students provide their own snacks, which should be packed separately from their lunch. If they stay for our After Care programming, please pack and label an additional snack for that time with “AC” and their name.

Children with severe/life-threatening food allergies may attend our School. This may lead to our decision to prohibit certain foods from the whole School, or from individual classrooms. We will notify families of the details via email and Parent Notice folder as needed.

NUT-FREE CLASSROOMS

Bridgeview Montessori School has students enrolled every year who have severe and life-threatening allergies to peanuts and tree nuts, therefore, all classrooms must be nut-free. This means that peanuts and tree nuts of any kind are STRICTLY PROHIBITED from ALL snacks and ALL lunches for ALL students.

Thank you very much for helping us to keep all our classrooms safe:

• Check product labels carefully and pack a nut-free lunch for your child each day.

• Foods with labels that state that a product was processed in a facility with any type of nuts MAY NOT be sent to School.

• Teachers will check labels and will send a product home if it contains nuts or if it was processed in a facility with any type of nuts.

• In CH, please also check birthday snacks being sent to School to ensure they are nut-free as well.

• If your child has eaten peanut/nut products before coming to School, please be sure your child’s hands and face have been thoroughly washed before entering the School.

ORGANIZATIONAL CHART

The Organizational Chart is emailed to all families within the first week of School. It is also posted in the hallway on the main floor and is updated annually. Let us know if you have any questions about it.

PARENT COMMUNICATION

We believe that informed, honest, straightforward and regular communication is key in creating an effective and productive family/School match. To help accomplish this, the School has several channels of communication in place to promote two-way communication amongst students, teachers, administration and parents.

• Bridgemail: Each week, Bridgemail is disseminated to the parent body and faculty through email. Bridgemail is your key source of information including a calendar section containing upcoming important dates, and an announcement sectioncontaining small informational blurbs about upcoming events, special classroom requests, and School news. Bridgemail is limited to student and School-related information and events only. You may hear us talk about having sent home a “Constant Contact;” Constant Contact is synonymous with Bridgemail and other email notices.

• Cell Phones: We have asked that our faculty and staff refrain from text messaging with parents. Please utilize email and feel free to call the front desk whenever you have something timely or urgent to convey.

• Conferences: In addition to the scheduled parent/teacher conferences (see Parent/Teacher Conference section below), parents may also ask to schedule a conference, preferably with their child’s teacher at any time. To schedule a conference, call the School or send a note with your child requesting a conference time. A teacher, or administrator (Program Director or Head of School) may ask to schedule or be a part of a conference at any time.

• Email: Email is a communication method used by all faculty members. Early in the year, parents will receive a list of faculty email addresses. Teachers will check their emails once a day and will reply within 24 hours, Monday – Friday. Email is also used for notices, announcements, and general communication between faculty, staff, and parents. The administrative team checks their email throughout the day and will do their best to reply within the hour if not sooner when prudent to do so. Email announcements are limited to School-related events and notices only. Please keep us updated with your email address and inform us of any changes while enrolled at our School.

• Parent Notice Box Folders: Each student has a hanging folder labeled with his or her name and stored in a classroom color-coded file box. These boxes are accessible daily at pick-up, and parents should check them daily. Faculty use these to circulate classroom or/and all School announcements, permission slips, volunteer requests, etc. Folders may also be used for distributing: student’ work, announcements about local community programs for children and for parents to distribute birthday invitations and/or thank you notes.

• Parent Observations: Parents are welcome to visit the School, and we encourage parents to observe a class in session after the first four weeks of School, when classrooms are becoming “normalized” (a Montessori term for the process of classroom systems and routines becoming established). You may schedule an observation time with your child’s teachers directly, or ask the office to assist you.

• Phone Calls: Parents are encouraged to call the School whenever they have a question, observation, or for any other reason. Please speak to a member of the Administrative team and/or leave a message for your child’s teacher, including convenient times for a return call. The Head of School, Administrative Coordinator and/or Program Directors are also available to field calls when appropriate.

• Staff and Faculty Mailboxes: Parents may communicate with staff and faculty by putting notes in their mailboxes, located just inside the office at the front of the School. Notes can also be given to our Administrative Coordinator.

Direct, constructive, and respectful communication is encouraged at all times and is critical to the growth and vitality of all School relationships including School-parent, teacher-student, student-student, parent-parent, etc.

PARENT - TEACHER CONFERENCES

Scheduled parent-teacher conferences occur twice each year; there is no School for students during conference days. (please refer to the School calendar.) In addition to the scheduled parent-teacher conferences, a parent, teacher, or administrator may ask to schedule a conference at any time. See Parent Communication/Conferences above.

PHYSICAL EXAMINATION AND IMMUNIZATIONS

All students aged six or younger must have an annual physical examination by a licensed physician, as required by the Department of Early Education and Care, and Massachusetts Department of Public Health. CH students ages 3-6 must provide proof of a lead screening test. No CH student may begin the School year without proof of an up-to-date physical. Students in the Elementary program (EI/EII) are expected to have a physical examination by a licensed physician at least every two years; a record of such physical examination must be supplied to the School. Immunizations following state requirements must be up-to-date for all students. Children who are not immunized, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health may be admitted to School:

1. If a physician submits documentation that an immunization is medically contraindicated, also known as a medical exemption; and

2. If a parent or guardian submits a written statement that immunizations conflict with their sincere religious beliefs, also known as a religious exemption.

PRIVACY

For the purpose of being compliant with the Massachusetts data privacy law, personal information is as defined in the regulations: a MA resident's first name and last name or first initial and last name in combination with any one or more of the following data elements that relate to such resident:

• Social Security number;

• driver's license number or state-issued identification card number;

• financial account number, or credit or debit card number, with or without any required security code, access code, personal identification number or password, that would permit access to a resident’s financial account; provided, however, that PI shall not include information that is lawfully obtained from publicly available information, or from federal, state or local government records lawfully made available to the general public.

When we collect personal identifiable information (ex. CORI checks for field study drivers or volunteers), we keep it confidential - on a “need to know” basis. All confidential information is kept in a locked file, or stored on a password- protected computer. When we need to remove personal information, it is shredded.

PROGRAMS

CHILDREN’S HOUSE PROGRAMS

• 5 Days, Kindergarten, 8:45 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. 

• 5 Days, Full Day, 8:45 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. 

• 5 Days, Part Day, 8:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 

• 4 Days, Full Day, 8:45 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

• 4 Days, Part Day, 8:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

• 3 Days, Full Day, 8:45 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 

• 3 Days, Part Day, 8:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

ELEMENTARY PROGRAMS

• 5 Days, Elementary I, 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

• 5 Days, Elementary II, 8:15 a.m. - 3:15 p.m. 

PROGRAM TRANSITIONS

We are dedicated to smooth transitions for each child as they enter or leave any of our programs. To this end, we follow these steps for all transitions in and out of the programs:

NEW TO BRIDGEVIEW

• Each child entering one of our programs will be invited with their family on a tour of the entire School. This will occur before the start of School.

• When School is in session, children will be able to observe a classroom in action and interact briefly with our teachers, students, and the Montessori materials.

• Elementary students will visit for at least a full morning to experience the classroom.

• If a child is transitioning into one of our programs from a different School, Bridgeview Montessori School will request records and information from the other program with the parents’ permission.

• Parents will be encouraged to schedule a transition meeting with the teachers to plan for the transition ahead of time. When appropriate, the child may be included in the meetings to foster collaboration between teachers and family.

WITHIN THE SCHOOL

• When a child transitions from one classroom to another or between programs (CH to Elementary, Elementary I to Elementary II) teachers will meet for information sharing and collaboration on behalf of students to help ensure the smoothest transition possible.

• Each child will be personally invited by the teachers in a developmentally appropriate way for a visit. This may be accompanied by: one-to-one conversations between teacher and child about transition feelings, facilitating possible visits to the new classroom beforehand, and opportunities for the child to talk at circle time with peers about the transition to say goodbye, and for the group to share a goodbye with the child/children, allowing for healthy closure.

LEAVING THE SCHOOL

• In the case of a child leaving one of our programs due to “aging out”, graduating, or in the unfortunate (and rare)case of a suspension or dismissal, the School will follow the procedures listed above whenever possible, to allow for healthy closure.

PROGRESS REPORTS

Detailed narrative student progress reports are prepared by classroom teachers and distributed to parents twice yearly for CH students and three times yearly for Elementary students. CH students with identified learning differences will receive a written progress report more frequently. .

RECORDS

All information contained in a student's record is privileged and confidential. The School will not distribute or release information to anyone not directly related to implementing the program plan for the student without the written consent of the student's parent(s). This includes Schools where a student may be attending after their time at Bridgeview Montessori. An authorization form is available for that purpose. The School will notify the parent(s) if a student's record is requested. The child’s parent(s) shall, upon request, have access to their child's record, and may request a copy of their records at any time.

RECORDS DESTRUCTION

The School will maintain student records for up to seven years after the student's enrollment ends. A parent or guardian may contact the School to request student records no earlier than five years after the student's enrollment ends. Arrangements can be made to pick up records, or records can be mailed. Reasonable fees may apply for mailing records. Records will be destroyed seven years after the student's enrollment ends.

REFERRAL SERVICES

If a child is exhibiting social, emotional, and/or academic challenges that are out of character, and/or of concern to faculty and/or parents, the School gathering more information which may include any/all of the following:

• classroom observation, (engaging a specialist for the purpose of a classroom observation, if the School deems it may be helpful and with the consent of the family),

• meetings with parents, teachers, Program Directors, Learning Specialist and/or Head of School, any notes will be shared with all parties,if parents are working with a specialist(s) who may have pertinent information to share, the School would welcome that input,

• when appropriate, the School may suggest a referral to an appropriate testing resource or community program or specialist that might assist the family and child with the aim of widening the understanding of the total child

See Community Resources (click link)

REST TIME

All CH students who are in the full-day program but who are not Kindergarten-aged will be provided a rest mat. Students in this program should have a blanket and, if desired, a small, washable stuffed toy from home for their afternoon rest period. We will send home blankets, rest mats, and stuffed toys weekly to be laundered.

SCHOOL CLOSINGS / DELAYS

In the event of a School closure or delay due to inclement weather, you will find notifications in the following ways:

1. Email sent from via Constant Contact

2. After 6:30 am, the School’s outgoing message (508-888-3567) will speak to a closure or delay. Occasionally, due to heavy call volume, it may be necessary for you to call more than once to get through to the voicemail.

3. Announcement on Channel 10 (NBC) News

4. Announcement on web site: https://www.nbcboston.com/weather/School-closings/

5. Announcement on web site: https://www.wcvb.com/weather/closings, click “Sign Up Here” below the “Email Alerts” section to sign up for advanced notice emails

SAFETY AND SECURITY

Your child’s emotional and physical safety is our first priority as it lays the foundation for their ability to learn. The following are some of the safety precautions we have in place at School:

AED

Our School is equipped with an AED (defibrillator); in the unlikely event that an adult or child should suffer a heart attack,staff are trained in the use of a defibrillator in their CPR/First Aid training.

ASBESTOS

“No asbestos” was detected inside the Bridgeview Montessori School building during an inspection. A copy of our School’s Asbestos Management Plan is available at our administrative office during regular School hours. We will continue to update our AHERA Asbestos Management Plan as required. Any inquiries regarding the management of asbestos-containing materials in our School should be directed to our Head of School, who serves as our “AHERA Designated Person”.

DOORS

All exterior doors to the School are kept closed and locked from open until close, except when a staff member is physically present to control access. Our students know that they are not authorized to open any exterior doors or gates for any reason: for themselves, teachers, parents or visitors. When you are at School and exiting with your child, please be in the habit of opening the door for your child to help reinforce this important safety precaution.

FACILITIES/MAINTENANCE

Our Maintenance Coordinator is on campus regularly in support of the Head of School and our Faculty to inspect the facility to ensure safety in our systems, procedures and physical plant. These inspections include the playground, classrooms, common areas and everywhere that staff and students go during the School day. Our staff are also alert and aware of any issues that need to be addressed and report those to the proper Director or Administrative staff member.

FIRST AID/CPR

All Faculty and Administrative Staff who work in the classrooms with children are certified in CPR/First AID and these certifications are updated regularly.

MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION

Members of the Administrative team are trained to be able to dispense basic medication for students on IHP/Individual Health Plans for allergies or other chronic conditions.

SAFETY DRILLS

The whole School practices regular fire drills following the EEC regulations and the Bourne Fire Department. Procedures for other School Safety Drills are regularly reviewed and practiced by Faculty/Staff members.

STUDENT RELEASE

For your child's protection, we will never release a child to someone other than you, or another parent/guardian for whom you have provided written authorization. The staff of the School will require positive proof of identification for any person we have not previously met. Please let us know in advance if someone new is coming to pick up your child, if possible.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Visit our Bridgeview Montessori School Facebook page and Instagram profile to see inside our School. Although we encourage parents to check us out on social media, we do not encourage our faculty and staff to “friend” parents. Thanks for your understanding.

STUDENT DISCIPLINE

Students at Bridgeview learn “grace and courtesy” (modeled by all members of the faculty and staff) which teaches clear boundaries, developmentally appropriate ground rules, logical classroom routines, and recognized social norms. We deeply believe that these are key in cultivating and maintaining appropriate student behavior at Bridgeview Montessori School. Our classrooms benefit from the peer modeling that occurs in multi-aged groupings where younger students learn pro-social behaviors watching their older peers. All of our classroom and enrichment teachers, our administrative team and Learning Specialist constantly work to demonstrate, remind and encourage mindful and respectful behavioral choices.

On rare occasions, when a student’s behavior is characterized by repetitive inappropriate choices (and when those choicesgo against the School’s stated values, or are in conflict with our Montessori philosophy), and when those choices cannot be resolved adequately within the classroom, disciplinary action may be taken and could include:

• a conversation with the Head of School and/or Program Director to explore alternatives to the behavior involved, and/or

• a conversation with the School, student and parents to explore alternatives to the behavior involved.

The School’s goal is always to encourage the student to make better choices and correct a pattern of inappropriate decisions. If the student shows an inability to make a good behavioral choice, the teacher, Head of School and/or Program Director will impose a natural and logical consequence. For example:

• a student may be asked to take some time (an age-appropriate amount) away from the other students until he or she can reflect and commit to a change in behavior.

• The student will be asked to articulate that he/she is going to make better choices and change the inappropriatebehavior.

• We will never make a child feel ashamed for the choices they have made; most misbehavior is age-appropriatetesting of boundaries and authority.

In an extreme case where a student’s pattern of misbehavior cannot be resolved satisfactorily and is having a negative impact on the classroom community and/or the School, and after the School (teachers, Head of School, Program Director) has exhausted every effort to help the student correct the behavior, the Head of School may be forced to dismiss the student as a last resort. (See Student Suspension and Termination section below.)

SUSPENSION AND DISMISSAL

The School will pursue all possible options to avoid suspension or dismissal of any student due to behavioral, social/emotional or academic concerns, which may include any/all of the following steps:

a. Observations of the student by the classroom teachers, the Program Director, and/or Head of School.

b. Documentation and communication of concerns with parents, teacher team, Program Director and Head of School.

c. Meetings with parents, teachers and/or Program Director, Head of School to discuss plans for success.

d. Classroom Observation by a professional with parent approval.

e. Referrals for appropriate evaluation and services.

f. Upon completion of evaluation(s), the School will receive report(s) with the intention of learning how to best

support the student.

g. Development and implementation of a behavior intervention plan for home and program.

h. Appropriate follow-up with parents, teacher team, Program Director, and Head of School.

If after taking the warranted steps above, the Administration feels that the School is unable to adequately meet the needs of the student, the School may dismiss the student. Dismissal of a student requires the approval of the Head of School. Written notification will be made before the child’s date of suspension or dismissal and will include the reason for dismissal. This must include a written explanation of any possible conditions for return if there are any.

In addition to classroom concerns, as noted above, the following are also possible reasons which may contribute to thedecision to suspend or dismiss a student:

1. The parent’s educational goals do not appear to be aligned with the Montessori philosophy, mission, and goals of Bridgeview Montessori School.

2. The parent(s) are unwilling to:

a. follow School procedures and policies related to attendance, punctuality, drop-off, pick-up, School conferences, Before Care and After Care.

b. find positive ways to communicate with the staff and administration regarding questions or concerns about School programs.

c. engage in conversations initiated by the School regarding questions and concerns.

d. represent the School positively to the community at large.

e. seek professional help in assisting their child at the recommendation of the School

3. The student and/or parent presents a potential threat to the safety and well-being of themselves and/or others.

4. The tuition account is more than 30 days in arrears without written arrangements being made with the Head of School.

5. The student has excessive absences according to the Attendance and Punctuality policy. When a student is dismissed from the School, initiated by either the parent or the School, the School will prepare the student for dismissal in a manner consistent with the child’s developmental ability to understand.

TRANSPORTATION

The School does not provide any transportation to and from School for students. Students will not be transported to or from School by the School staff members. In case of emergency, the School will dial 911 for transportation by ambulance. If a student is transported in an emergency vehicle, all efforts will be made for a staff member to accompany the child if the child’s emergency contacts are not available. Elementary students may be transported for field studies in private vehicles, which may include a parent or teacher driver with appropriate documentation on file. The School will adhere to all Massachusetts state seat belt and child restraint laws.

VALUABLES, CELL PHONES, ELECTRONICS AND OTHER ITEMS FROM HOME

Students should not bring any valuables to School. These include cell phones, electronics (see exception below), jewelry, toys, money, etc. If a student needs any of these items for after the School day, these items should be left with the Head of School or Program Director until dismissal. Exception to electronics: Students may bring certain electronic devices as requested by their classroom teachers.

VOLUNTEERS

We value our community of parents and volunteers. Volunteers bring unique strengths, talents and support to provide collaboration between teachers and families to best serve the children. We welcome volunteers in all capacities. Bridgeview follows all state licensing regulations from EEC including:

1. Orientation, appropriate training, and supervision will be provided for volunteers as needed.

2. Documentation of all volunteers through a sign-in/out book, including dates, times, and locations is located near the main entrance.

3. CH volunteers will be under the direct visual supervision by a qualified educator at all times during their volunteer time with students.

4. Authorized CORI Reviewers for the School will maintain screening and compliance of all volunteers with the

5. Massachusetts Background Record Check system.

WITHDRAWAL AND REFUND POLICY

An enrollment contract is a financial commitment. The School relies on these commitments when planning and budgeting for educational programming in the upcoming School year. Sometimes families experience changes that result in the withdrawal of an enrolled student during the summer before starting or during the academic year. In any such case, the following policy will apply:

• Withdrawal at any time after enrollment and before June 30 (before the start of the new School year) will result inforfeiture of the $500 Enrollment Deposit.

• Withdrawal at any time between July 1 and the start of the new School year will result in one-third (33.3%) of the total annual tuition being due and payable to Bridgeview Montessori School. The $500 Enrollment Deposit will be applied to the balance due.

• Withdrawal at any time between the start of the School year but before December break will result in two-thirds (66.6%) of the total annual tuition being due and payable to Bridgeview Montessori School. The $500 Enrollment Deposit will be applied to the balance due. *

• Withdrawal at any time after the December break and before the end of the School year will result in total annual tuition (100%) being due and payable to Bridgeview Montessori School. The $500 Enrollment Deposit will be applied to the balance due. *

  * When withdrawing during the School year, we ask for a 30-day notice to ensure a smooth transition for your child and our