Return to Learn FAQs
For the most up to date information, go to:
https://www.dmschools.org/return-to-learn/faq/?utm_source=July+7%2C+2020&utm_campaign=SUMMER+%40+DMPS+Update&utm_medium=email
General Questions
Q: What are the options for children to attend school for the 2020-2021 school year? (updated: 7/10/20)
- A: KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 8TH GRADE STUDENTS: DMPS is currently providing two options per the recent data reported by the CDC, Polk County Health Department, and governing bodies of the state of Iowa. Families will register their children for one of the two options during online registration beginning on July 13th. We will update you if conditions (enrollment, COVID cases, etc.) are such the state, district, and building can make adjustments within the Hybrid and Virtual Models during the 1st Semester.
Q: What are the options for Pre-School Hybrid and Virtual Learning Models? (Updated 7/21/20)
- A: PRE-SCHOOL STUDENTS: The Hybrid Model for Pre-School children will be for 4 days per week (Monday/Tuesday and Thursday/Friday) when Pre-school begins in September. We will update you if conditions (enrollment, COVID cases, etc.) are such the state, district, and building can make adjustments within the Hybrid and Virtual Models during the 1st Semester.
Q: What are the Pre-School tuition costs associated with the Virtual Learning Model and the Hybrid Model? (updated: 7/20/20)
- A: There will be no tuition charges for Pre-School students participating in the Virtual Learning Model (100% online). There will be prorated costs on days when students attend school with any in-person learning.
Q: What will Cowles Teachers be doing? (updated: 7/20/20)
- A: Cowles faculty and staff will fulfill their contractual obligations at the Cowles Montessori building for any in-person teaching. Faculty and staff will develop virtual learning options and extension work for children on days they are not attending in person at school. Faculty and staff will be planning for instruction, meeting with their peer educators, and determining individual students' learning plans.
Q: Will this plan last the entire school year, or will it adjust if changes are allowed? Will there be an option for students to attend full days (Monday-Friday) this school year? (updated: 7/2/20)
- A: The virtual and hybrid options will be present during the 1st Semester (Aug. 26th to early Jan.) of the 2020-2021 school year. We will update you if conditions (enrollment, COVID cases, etc.) are such the state, district, and building can make adjustments within the Hybrid and Virtual Models during the 1st Semester.
Q: How can parents receive childcare support when they work full-time and/or do not have the financial needs to cover childcare on days when their child(ren) does not attend school at the building? (updated: 7/8/20)
Hybrid Model
Q: Will families choose which day their child(ren) attend? Will siblings be able to attend school on the same days of the week? How will the split be determined? (updated: 7/20/20)
- A: KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 8TH GRADE STUDENTS: DMPS is currently providing two options per the recent data reported by the CDC, Polk County Health Department, and governing bodies of the state of Iowa. Families will register their children for one of the two options during online registration beginning on July 13th. We will update you if conditions (enrollment, COVID cases, etc.) are such the state, district, and building can make adjustments within the Hybrid and Virtual Models during the 1st Semester.
Q: Will pre-school follow the updated Hybrid Model? (updated: 7/21/20)
- A: PRE-SCHOOL STUDENTS: The Hybrid Model for Pre-School children will be for 4 days per week (Monday/Tuesday and Thursday/Friday) when Pre-school begins in September. We will update you if conditions (enrollment, COVID cases, etc.) are such the state, district, and building can make adjustments within the Hybrid and Virtual Models during the 1st Semester.
Q: What are the roles and responsibilities of the custodial staff? What daily cleaning will occur for the building and the classrooms? (updated 7/6/20)
- A: The principal, nurse, custodial staff, and teachers will review communicate cleaning needs daily before, during, and after school. Custodial staff will conduct thorough daily cleaning and sanitizing of common areas and classrooms with Wednesdays reserved for deep cleaning of the building and classrooms to support the transition between Cohort A and Cohort B students. Teachers will be provided with cleaning supplies to clean and sanitize student materials daily.
Wednesday Schedule
Q: How many hours per day should my child be learning if they do not attend in-person learning? (updated: 7/2/20)
- A: We will be providing a recommended amount of time for each age-range for learning on days they are not attending school.
Q: Will virtual learning be tied to what is happening in the classroom? Will my child’s teacher assign the self-paced work? (updated: 7/2/20)
- A: Teachers will develop virtual content and self-paced content that meets the age-range expectations for learning for Wednesdays, and on the two days students are not attending school.
Q: Will teachers be meeting with children virtually days they are not attending school in person? (updated: 7/2/20)
- A: If time allows. Teachers will teach full-time with children face-to-face all day. Our Cowles teachers will be checking in (virtually) on students weekly who are at home with the 100% online option to continue building relationships with students and receive updates on progress. Teachers will attend virtual meetings and will be planning for instruction on Wednesdays.
Q: How can parents receive help with learning on days when students are not attending school? (updated: 7/2/20)
- A: Cowles Montessori faculty and staff will work with the CMPG Board and parents to develop resource guides for families to use for days when students are not attending school.
Q: What are the roles and responsibilities of the custodial staff? What daily cleaning will occur for the building and the classrooms? (updated 7/6/20)
- A: The principal, nurse, custodial staff, and teachers will review communicate cleaning needs daily before, during and after school. Custodial staff will conduct thorough daily cleaning and sanitizing of common areas and classrooms with certain days reserved for deep cleaning of the building and classrooms. Teachers will be provided with cleaning supplies to clean and sanitize student materials daily. We will work with the Operations department to recommend cleaning agents and supplies for cleaning common areas, classrooms, and materials.
PPEs – Mandatory face masks and Social Distancing
Q: What social distancing practices will be conducted in the school? (updated: 7/2/20)
- PPE – mandatory face coverings for all faculty, staff, and students
- Hand hygiene
- Pre-Health screening: conducted by parents at home before coming to school; conducted again by staff before entering the building; faculty and staff will monitor for illness during the school day
- Designated nurse’s station with a separate bathroom, sink, a rest area for ill children with ample space for social distancing, and away from common areas and classrooms
- Social distancing in the classroom with Cohort A (in-person M/T) and Cohort B (in-person on Th/F):
- Recess only with the same class
- Lunch in classrooms
- Nap in classrooms for pre-schoolers who attend full days
- Designated bathrooms for each level
- Related Arts (P.E., Music, Art, Library, Counseling) will be conducted in classrooms and/or virtually
- Band/Orchestra in Music Room 1-on-1 – 6 feet apart and/or virtually
- Parents and volunteers remain outside of the school building and meet virtually with faculty and staff as needed
Q: What happens if a child, family member, and/or faculty and staff member test positive for COVID-19? Will the classroom/school be notified? Will the classroom/school be shut down if someone tests positive? What is the threshold for the school to operate with the hybrid model if children and/or adults are positive with COVID-19? (updated: 7/2/20)
- A: Cowles Montessori faculty and staff will report any confirmed cases to the DMPS COVID Taskforce and Polk County Health Department. In case-by-case situations, faculty and staff will respond and communicate appropriately to the individual families, classrooms, school, district, and state.
Q: What is the plan to ensure mandatory face masks are worn appropriately? Several questions outlined concerns for the youngest students being able to wear masks the entire day. (updated: 7/3/20)
- A: The “spirit of the law” behind PPEs (face masks) and social distancing (50% of students in the building at one time and other measures) is to create the optimal health conditions with in-person schooling given the current COVID-19 data in the state of Iowa, Polk County, and city of Des Moines. Cowles Montessori School will be taking the Montessori Practical Life approach to the “letter of the law” with PPEs and social distancing. Practical Life application means that adults (health officials, parents, teachers, and students) support each other to articulate the rationale with PPEs and social distancing (e.g., wearing masks helps keep one safe and reduces the spread of illness). There will be apparent times when it is not possible to wear a mask (e.g., eating, drinking, etc.). While we understand that wearing a mask all day presents its challenges, students will be provided “mask breaks,” preferably outdoors if they practice social distancing. Communication between home and school will be important to support students with mask-wearing. Teachers, parents, and students will work together to find solutions to issues that arise with mask-wearing.
Metro Kids/PAX Place (Before/After School Care)
Q: Will Metro/PAX be available before/after school? (updated: 7/2/20)
K-8 Virtual Campus Model
Q: Why is virtual learning necessary? What is the point of enrolling in DMPS where virtual learning is everywhere? (updated: 7/7/20)
- A: KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 8TH GRADE STUDENTS: Families in DMPS have two options: attend 100% online through the Virtual Campus Model or in-person at the Cowles building through the Hybrid Model. We will update you if conditions (enrollment, COVID cases, etc.) are such the state, district, and building can make adjustments within the Hybrid and Virtual Models during the 1st Semester.
Q: Can my child switch from the virtual model to the hybrid model? (updated: 7/7/20)
- A: KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 8TH GRADE STUDENTS: We will update you if conditions (enrollment, COVID cases, etc.) are such the state, district, and building can make adjustments within the Hybrid and Virtual Models during the 1st Semester.
Q: How will virtual learning be different between this past spring and this coming fall? (updated: 7/2/20)
- A: KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 8TH GRADE STUDENTS: All learning this fall will be required, which means that there will be a curriculum that your student will need to complete in order to get credit for their coursework. The work will be self-paced, so students will be able to work when they choose – grade and credit determination will be based on completion of modules and providing evidence (homework, assignments, etc.) that they have mastered the associated skills. DMPS teachers will oversee these classes and provide support for students as needed.
Q: Will students received Montessori education from Cowles teachers through the Virtual Campus Model? Why does my child have to have a new teacher? How does this curriculum compare to Montessori education? (updated: 7/2/20)
- A: KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 8TH GRADE STUDENTS: The K-8 Virtual Learning Model instruction will be created and delivered by other DMPS employees. Our Cowles teachers will be checking in (virtually) on students weekly who are at home with the 100% online option to continue building relationships with students and receive updates on progress.
Q: How will K-2 learning and foundational reading be supported in small group via the virtual model? (updated: 7/2/20)
- A: The Pre-School and K-8 Virtual Learning models will follow the district curriculum guides and pacing for all core subject areas, including foundational skills.
Pre-School Virtual Learning
Q: What are the options for Pre-School students to attend 100% virtual instruction? (updated: 7/2/20)
- A: PRE-SCHOOL STUDNETS: Pre-School families who prefer 100% online learning for their children is the 100% Pre-School Virtual Model will be created and delivered by Cowles Montessori staff and will be Montessori-based virtual learning. We will update you if conditions (enrollment, COVID cases, etc.) are such the state, district, and building can make adjustments within the Hybrid and Virtual Models during the 1st Semester.
Q: What are the Pre-School tuition costs associated with the Virtual Learning Model and the Hybrid Model? (updated: 7/6/20)
- A: There will be no tuition charges for Pre-School students participating in the Virtual Learning Model (100% online).
