Even the clothes a child wears impacts how they will experience aspects of their day.
When a Montessori teacher designs and prepares his/her classroom, (s)he adheres to traditional Montessori rationale and considers the relevance of every single material or item (s)he places in the room, the organization of the shelves and space, and the way children interact with other students. The clothing both teachers and children wear into a prepared classroom environment is as much a part of the environment as the materials or the organization of space. Teachers take into consideration the effect their own clothing has on the children’s ability to deeply concentrate on their studies. They wear relatively beautiful, simple clothing that is practical and comfortable. Teachers do not wear fingernail polish, fragrances, jewelry, or any type of clothing that might cause a child to stop concentrating on a lesson. Distracting tattoos are covered. The considerations a teacher has for his/her clothing and appearance are appropriate for student’s clothing as well. The following clothing policy is designed to help maintain and protect a child’s need for deep concentration, social acceptance and independence.
Weather/Seasonally Appropriate: Because of our Zero Waste Policy, we follow the recommendations of energy conserving advocates and set our thermostat at 80°F during the summer and 68°F during the winter. Please send a sweater or light jacket to be worn inside if your child tends to feel chilled. We experience the outdoor environment every single day in all types of (safe) weather. The outerwear your child wears must be appropriate for rugged outdoor wear in any type of weather. Please leave rain boots, rain coats, and umbrellas here at school in case unexpected weather develops during school hours. The change of seasons can mark the need for season-specific clothing. Remember to label each item that comes into school.
Warmer/Hot Weather:
We ask all children to put on all of the outerwear they wore to school that day before going out to play. Because children have higher metabolisms than adults and because they are more active than adults, they often become overheated and will ask to take their outerwear off. (Imagine if you were involved in aerobic exercise and were required to wear a coat and hat.) It is our policy to allow primary and elementary children to take their outerwear off once they are outside and they report being hot.
Toddlers, of course, do not have this option. Because their digits are smaller and their smaller bodies do not regulate heat as efficiently, we have toddlers keep all of their weather-appropriate outerwear on during outdoor activities.
Special thanks to those parents who brilliantly offered insight and feedback during our Parent Information Night discussion on the potential need for school uniforms. Their contributions to this subject shaped the above clothing policy. Some directors of schools and several of our parents have shared concerns about the success of an optional uniform policy. It is our hope that with strict adherence to this policy, a mandatory uniform policy can be put aside. The children and our Montessori community deeply benefit when all agree to adhere to this policy. Thank you for your understanding and support.
Warm/Hot Weather Considerations
Central does not ask their teachers to apply lotions/ointment/sprays to children. Although application does not seem to be harmful, there are no studies on how much exposure someone can have before there are possible issues of toxicity. In addition, the amount of time it takes to apply lotion to one child, multiplied by many, means that at least one teacher is not available to fully monitor or interact/instruct other children if they are applying lotion to one child at a time.
We ask parents to apply long lasting lotions to their children before they arrive at school. Of course, older children can apply their own.
2.Clothing: Think Light and White
The need for lotions of all kinds can be reduced. Have your child wear loose fitting, light colored, long sleeves shirts and long pants, wide brim hat and closed toed shoes to school.
Children may bring hats from home. We will do our best to encourage them to wear their hats. If your child is accustomed to wearing a hat at home, they will be more comfortable wearing it at school.
Change out your child’s outerwear. Heavy coats and winter all-weather boots should be exchanged for lighter rain jackets and waterproof shoes.
Send in extra change of clothing. Children may “accidently” run through the water as it travels from the hose to the garden. There have been spontaneous games of sponge tag as well. Watery science experiments and water based art projects can occur at any given moment...
Lost and Found is located in the bathroom closest to the main office. When the lost and found items become too numerous, we will set them outside on tables during drop off and pick up. Items not claimed by Friday are donated to Diversity Thrift Store. Label all personal items.
3.Outdoor Schedules and Temperature
We monitor temperature and air quality during the summer and will have children stay in or go out for multiple, shorter playtimes. Over the summer, children acclimate to the warmer temperatures and become more and more comfortable with hot, sunny days.
Outdoor playtime is moved to the cooler mid-morning times. If there is afternoon play, it is for shorter periods of time.
Children hydrate before going out and have continual access to water and shade. They are given information (life skills) about how to stay cool and comfortable: find shade, slow down a bit, drink water, dampen your neck or hair,etc. Have fun!
4. Mosquitoes and Ticks
PLEASE HELP US BY ALWAYS ALERTING CENTRAL STAFF TO ANY STANDING WATER YOU MIGHT SEE.
Because of the many reasons listed below, Central does not systematically fumigate for mosquitoes/other outdoor insects.
Special Note
Zika is an alarming reality in the world today, one that Central takes very, very seriously. We monitor national and state databases. In the event that Zika is found to be in our area, Central will follow the guidelines of the CDC and support regional and/or local/campus fumigation programs.
Please find additional information about this topic here.
https://www.cdc.gov/zika/intheus/what-to-do.html
Please feel free to contact Central if you would like additional information about any of the considerations listed above.
When a Montessori teacher designs and prepares his/her classroom, (s)he adheres to traditional Montessori rationale and considers the relevance of every single material or item (s)he places in the room, the organization of the shelves and space, and the way children interact with other students. The clothing both teachers and children wear into a prepared classroom environment is as much a part of the environment as the materials or the organization of space. Teachers take into consideration the effect their own clothing has on the children’s ability to deeply concentrate on their studies. They wear relatively beautiful, simple clothing that is practical and comfortable. Teachers do not wear fingernail polish, fragrances, jewelry, or any type of clothing that might cause a child to stop concentrating on a lesson. Distracting tattoos are covered. The considerations a teacher has for his/her clothing and appearance are appropriate for student’s clothing as well. The following clothing policy is designed to help maintain and protect a child’s need for deep concentration, social acceptance and independence.
Weather/Seasonally Appropriate: Because of our Zero Waste Policy, we follow the recommendations of energy conserving advocates and set our thermostat at 80°F during the summer and 68°F during the winter. Please send a sweater or light jacket to be worn inside if your child tends to feel chilled. We experience the outdoor environment every single day in all types of (safe) weather. The outerwear your child wears must be appropriate for rugged outdoor wear in any type of weather. Please leave rain boots, rain coats, and umbrellas here at school in case unexpected weather develops during school hours. The change of seasons can mark the need for season-specific clothing. Remember to label each item that comes into school.
Warmer/Hot Weather:
- Think loose and white.
- We move our outdoor times to the early morning and late afternoon part of the day.
- Loose fitting, light colored clothing with long sleeve shirts and pants and closed toed shoes reduce the need for insect repellent.
- This type of clothing also reduces the need for sunscreen. Sun hats should be brought and left at school.
- Bring extra changes of clothing because of water play.
- Cooler/Cold Weather: Warm clothing and insulated outerwear should be brought and left at school.
- We move our outdoor times to the middle/afternoon part of the day.
We ask all children to put on all of the outerwear they wore to school that day before going out to play. Because children have higher metabolisms than adults and because they are more active than adults, they often become overheated and will ask to take their outerwear off. (Imagine if you were involved in aerobic exercise and were required to wear a coat and hat.) It is our policy to allow primary and elementary children to take their outerwear off once they are outside and they report being hot.
- Research indicates that children do not become sick or catch cold because of cold weather. If a child is already sick and becomes wet and cold, the severity of illness may increase.
- The small amount of vitamin D that is available through sunlight cannot touch the skin if it is covered.
- Some bacteria/viruses that enjoy the dry, warm indoor climates, cannot survive for very long in the colder outdoor temperatures.
- We observe children putting their outerwear on when they truly become cold.
Toddlers, of course, do not have this option. Because their digits are smaller and their smaller bodies do not regulate heat as efficiently, we have toddlers keep all of their weather-appropriate outerwear on during outdoor activities.
Special thanks to those parents who brilliantly offered insight and feedback during our Parent Information Night discussion on the potential need for school uniforms. Their contributions to this subject shaped the above clothing policy. Some directors of schools and several of our parents have shared concerns about the success of an optional uniform policy. It is our hope that with strict adherence to this policy, a mandatory uniform policy can be put aside. The children and our Montessori community deeply benefit when all agree to adhere to this policy. Thank you for your understanding and support.
Warm/Hot Weather Considerations
- Lotions/ointments/sprays
- Clothing that reduces the need for lotions/ointments/sprays
- Outdoor Schedules/Temperature
- Mosquitoes and Ticks
Central does not ask their teachers to apply lotions/ointment/sprays to children. Although application does not seem to be harmful, there are no studies on how much exposure someone can have before there are possible issues of toxicity. In addition, the amount of time it takes to apply lotion to one child, multiplied by many, means that at least one teacher is not available to fully monitor or interact/instruct other children if they are applying lotion to one child at a time.
We ask parents to apply long lasting lotions to their children before they arrive at school. Of course, older children can apply their own.
2.Clothing: Think Light and White
The need for lotions of all kinds can be reduced. Have your child wear loose fitting, light colored, long sleeves shirts and long pants, wide brim hat and closed toed shoes to school.
Children may bring hats from home. We will do our best to encourage them to wear their hats. If your child is accustomed to wearing a hat at home, they will be more comfortable wearing it at school.
Change out your child’s outerwear. Heavy coats and winter all-weather boots should be exchanged for lighter rain jackets and waterproof shoes.
Send in extra change of clothing. Children may “accidently” run through the water as it travels from the hose to the garden. There have been spontaneous games of sponge tag as well. Watery science experiments and water based art projects can occur at any given moment...
Lost and Found is located in the bathroom closest to the main office. When the lost and found items become too numerous, we will set them outside on tables during drop off and pick up. Items not claimed by Friday are donated to Diversity Thrift Store. Label all personal items.
3.Outdoor Schedules and Temperature
We monitor temperature and air quality during the summer and will have children stay in or go out for multiple, shorter playtimes. Over the summer, children acclimate to the warmer temperatures and become more and more comfortable with hot, sunny days.
Outdoor playtime is moved to the cooler mid-morning times. If there is afternoon play, it is for shorter periods of time.
Children hydrate before going out and have continual access to water and shade. They are given information (life skills) about how to stay cool and comfortable: find shade, slow down a bit, drink water, dampen your neck or hair,etc. Have fun!
4. Mosquitoes and Ticks
PLEASE HELP US BY ALWAYS ALERTING CENTRAL STAFF TO ANY STANDING WATER YOU MIGHT SEE.
Because of the many reasons listed below, Central does not systematically fumigate for mosquitoes/other outdoor insects.
- Because children do not play in damp areas, grassy areas, in areas where mice or deer might inhabit, the school playground is unlikely source of bites.
- Our campus is monitored for standing water.
- Dunks are placed in containers that might invite mosquito breeding.
- Although mosquito bites can look alarming on little arms and legs and cause itchiness, they basically do not, generally cause health issues.
- Most mosquitoes are active during dawn and dusk, when our children are at their homes and not at school. (Unfortunately, Zika carrying mosquitoes are also active in sunlight/daytime hours.)
- Mosquitoes are an essential food supply for birds, amphibians and other creatures that share our natural world.
- There are effective ways each of us can responsibly and thoughtfully reduce the likelihood of our children (and ourselves) being bitten by mosquitoes and ticks (appropriate clothing, modified outdoor schedules etc) without the creation of, storage of, transportation of, and/or improper disposal of insecticides/pesticide.
Special Note
Zika is an alarming reality in the world today, one that Central takes very, very seriously. We monitor national and state databases. In the event that Zika is found to be in our area, Central will follow the guidelines of the CDC and support regional and/or local/campus fumigation programs.
Please find additional information about this topic here.
https://www.cdc.gov/zika/intheus/what-to-do.html
Please feel free to contact Central if you would like additional information about any of the considerations listed above.
