COVID Health & Safety

Chiaravalle Montessori began the 2020-2021 school year on September 1 with students back on campus 5 days per week, meeting and exceeding published health and safety guidelines. There were no cases of community spread in the entire school year.

We're all in this together. Each of our choices has an impact on our collective ability to return to campus during COVID. We are committed to safely opening and being on campus when conditions allow.

We ask each family to read and sign the Chiaravalle Cares Pledge, acknowledging our shared responsibility prior to the start of school. Families may email signed pledges to Bessy Bert at bbert@chiaravalle.org.

Reopening the School

Chiaravalle opened the school year on September 1st, welcoming all of our students and faculty back to campus 5 days per week, while meeting and exceeding published health and safety guidelines. This was based on the fact that the State of Illinois remains in Phase 4 of Governor Pritzker’s “Restore Illinois” plan. The Chiaravalle Reopening Plan, outlined here, provides an overview of the major points regarding the logistics of a return to school in the fall, as well as the plans we have put into place if the State steps back to a Stay-At-Home order or other mandated or limited-opening school closures during the course of the school year.

We heard from our community that in-person learning was the preferred option for Chiaravalle students, especially those elementary-aged and younger, and we were pleased that our state-of-the-art facility allows us to provide a safe on-campus model. Although we clearly cannot control all variables outside of our community, please be assured that we are on track to re-open the building safely, while being prepared to adjust operations, should the public health situation or regulatory environment change.

Elementary and Middle School families may opt into an all Remote Learning program through January.

As we prepare for the 2020-2021 academic year, our governing objectives remain:

• Prioritize the health, safety and well-being of all members of our community
• Deliver a quality modern Montessori education that upholds our authenticity and the core principles that shape our school

Our key strategies to promote health and well being while mitigating COVID risk are:

• Empowering students and staff with developmentally appropriate COVID education
• Physical Distancing
• Small cohort sizes
• Increased sanitation and hygiene
• Masks
• Health screening

Mission | Vision

Provide a modern Montessori education that inspires independent, compassionate, and innovative thinkers.
Develop future generations of lifelong learners who effect change for a better world.

“An education capable of saving humanity is no small undertaking: it involves the spiritual development of the (hu)man, the enhancement of his value as an individual, and the preparation of young people to understand the times in which they live.” — Maria Montessori, Education and Peace

An education that can save humanity and prepare children to understand the times in which they live. Dr. Montessori, a visionary, a peace educator, and a scientist challenged all educators to reach this salient standard. At Chiaravalle, we recognize this immense responsibility of her mandate while embracing the opportunity and privilege of guiding students of all ages during these unprecedented times. As we plan to bring our community physically back together again in the midst of a continuing global pandemic alongside a national re-awakening in the fight for racial justice, we look:

• to our mission and core values, to serve as our North Star in stewarding the growth of your children;
• to science and regulatory frameworks, to ensure we continue to operate in an environment that prioritizes community safety and health; and
• to each other, for building and maintaining an inclusive, caring community to serve as an important support system during these times.