The goal of Valley Forge Kinder House Montessori School continues to be providing a genuine, high quality Montessori program in an environment that is safe, caring and supportive of the children and their families.
COVID-19 Guidelines Update
Updated September 2, 2021
Pennsylvania has mandated masks in all schools and childcare centers. VFKH requires masks for all children (except toddlers and infants), teachers, staff, and visitors. Children with a health reason for not wearing a mask may receive permission with the submission of a signed letter from a medical professional.
We ask that all families monitor their child’s health and keep children home who have symptoms or seem unwell. You know your child best. Children do not need a fever to be sick. We were successful last year in keeping students healthy due to our conscientious families. Thank you! Please continue this effort. It is much appreciated.
All staff at VFKH are vaccinated. We will continue mitigation strategies including hand washing, increased ventilation, and sanitizing measures, such as fogging and UV light.
VFKH remains in contact with the county Departments of Health and will continue to follow their guidance.
Temperature checks are no longer recommended and we will discontinue this practice unless your child presents as unwell. If a child becomes sick at school we bring them to the office with a cozy cot, call the parent, and monitor the child. We will care for and comfort your child until you are able to arrive.
Updated May 14, 2021
New CDC Mask Guidance
The CDC announced fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear masks. They determined after study reviews that fully vaccinated persons are not at risk of spreading COVID nor contracting a serious a form of COVID. VFKH staff have received their vaccines. We have changed our policy so that fully vaccinated people at our school may choose whether or not they will wear a mask.
November 18, 2020
We have had no cases of COVID-19 at our school. We thank all of you for continuing to communicate with us and monitoring your child’s health carefully. We are all relying on one another to keep our community healthy and we appreciate your efforts. It is with your care and caution that we are able to offer a safe and caring learning environment for the children. It has been so heartwarming to see the joy the children express at school and with their teachers and friends.
Safety is always our first priority. We are aware numbers are high in Montgomery County and that the Montgomery County Health Department is requiring school grades K-12 to close from 11/23 to 12/6 in anticipation of post-holiday coronavirus spread. The good news is Limerick campus is NOT included in this mandate.
“The closure of Montgomery County public and private schools for these two weeks does not include any child care centers or early education schools OR early learning centers providing care for school age (kindergarten age ) children. “
Chester County is not making any changes which would affect our Phoenixville campus.
At this point, we feel our mitigation measures are effective and the benefit of in person care and learning is profound in the development of children. We are carefully monitoring the situation. We are fortunate that we are a small community with extensive safety measures in place and a responsible parent community.
That said, if you feel more comfortable or if you visit family during the holiday, you have the option of keeping your child home the week of 11/30. Please let us know if you will be choosing to do this.
September 23, 2020
Per updates from the CDC we are not completing a full health symptom screening at arrival. We ask that you please check your child’s health each day before school and take their temperature. If your child is sick, please keep your child home. At arrival we will continue to ask you about the health of your child, any fever reducer provided within 24 hours and if anyone at home has symptoms of COVID-19 as well as a temperature check.
Things will continue to adjust and here we are offering clarification from the Department of Health and CDC. As we move into the cold and flu season if your child has cold or flu symptoms we suggest you contact your pediatrician. If the symptoms appear typical for your child, i.e. seasonal illness, etc. please return to school when symptoms are improving and 24 hours after a fever has broken. If the illness is atypical, please discuss the next steps with your physician and move ahead as medically recommended.
5 Keys of Commitment
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are committed to the following five principles: Safety, Flexibility, Community, Choice, and Excellence in Education.
In-Person Instruction
We plan to return to on-campus learning on September 8 with modifications set in place to ensure the safety of the children, the faculty and the staff while continuing to honor our commitment of excellence in education. We will take advantage of our large properties (Limerick 3 acres and Phoenixville 5 acres) to maximize the use of outside for both learning and recreation.
Note that we will update this page with all the latest information as the situation changes.
Here are the some measures we are putting in place and some of the questions we have received.
Separation of Programs
Our campuses provide for separation of children by program throughout the day for eating, bathrooms and classroom spaces.
Limerick Campus
Our Limerick campus has two buildings. Our Toddler program is in The Cottage, and our preschool children in our Primary program are in the Main building. Each building has its own staff and its own bathrooms. Children eat in their program space.
Phoenixville Campus
The Primary and Elementary programs are housed in separate spaces within the school. Each space has its own staff and bathrooms. Children eat in their program space.
Outdoor Spaces
With large grounds and playgrounds at each campus, we utilize the outdoors for walks, fresh air, gardening, and recreation.
COVID-19 Health and Safety Guidelines
As ever, our goal is to provide a genuine, quality Montessori program in an environment that is safe, caring and supportive to the children. We know and care about one another as a community at VFKH. In preparation for the return to in-class education, VFKH has prepared the COVID-19 Health and Safety Guidelines for our school. This booklet outlines the policies and procedures we are putting in place to maintain a safe environment for the children. From morning health screenings to carefully prepared rooms for social distancing, fresh air and sanitation, VFKH is prepared to implement the necessary safety measures. Please feel free to read our COVID-19 Health and Safety Guidelines and contact us with any questions. As needed, updates will be made and communicated to the VFKH community.
COVID-19 Health and Safety Guidelines – Limerick Campus
COVID-19 Health and Safety Guidelines – Phoenixville Campus
Daily Health and Safety Measures
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have implemented several daily safety and hygiene measures at our schools. These measures reflect a community-wide commitment to the well-being of our children, parents and staff.
Tuition Assistance
We recognize that the current COVID-19 situation has resulted in a financial strain for some families. We work with our families to provide tuition assistance where there is a financial need. Contact us for the details and the information required.