Sometimes the weather makes it necessary to close school.
If school will be closed for the day the best place to find out the latest information is on the morning television news between 6:30-8:00 a.m. (KOMO TV, KING, KIRO) It will specifically state on the ticker at the bottom of the page that Monroe Montessori School is closed.
If our school is operating on its normal schedule, this information will not show up on the morning news channels or be mentioned on the radio stations. If there has been a dusting of snow that leaves the heavily travelled streets bare we will start on time. If the main heavily travelled roads are covered with a light amount of snow then we typically start school one(1) hour later in the morning. Morning care would open at 8:00 instead of 7:00 with classes beginning between 9:30-9:45. Ending times would remain the same and afternoon classes would start and end at their regular time as well. If the weather forecasts indicates a major storm will be bringing 12” or more of snow then we are closed.
What if I need to know if your going to be open or closed before 6:00 a.m.?
For parents needing to make a decision to seek alternative care before our earliest announcement time, our general policy is if all of the surrounding school districts ( Monroe School District , Sultan School District , Snohomish School District ) are closed due to winter driving conditions then we are closed even if you do not see our school listed on the morning ticker.
If it snows and Monroe School District cancels school don't you match them?
While we often close when the Monroe School District closes school due to snow or floods from November-February, we do not match all closures the Monroe School District might implement throughout the school year. An official announcement of our school being closed will be listed on the local television news channels between 6:30-8:00 a.m. It is also listed on the websites of the television news channels. Baring any unforeseen circumstances in getting to the school computer network it will be put on the home page of the school website as well.
The television ticker states the other schools are running one hour late and have cancelled morning preschool/Headstart classes. Does that mean you have no morning classes?
Our preschool classes are open if the rest of our school is open and operating on a modified schedule. On these special days if we announce on the television that we are running one hour late, then all classes including morning preschool classes start one hour late.
If Monroe School District announces their buses are running two hours late are you two hours late?
We do not match the Monroe School District late start schedule. On these special weather days our school either operates on time or one hour late. We do not open 2 hours late. If we announce a delayed start it will be a one hour delayed start and it will specifically state on the morning news that we are starting one hour late. Sometimes Monroe, Sultan or Snohomish School Districts will decide to delay the start of their schools by two hours or more because of bus navigation issues and problems preparing multiple locations to safely receive 500-2500 students at each building site. Often a properly equipped car can safely make its way into town where a fleet of 60-75 passenger buses might experience great difficulties starting and stopping on hills as they navigate the far reaches of the valley. The public schools may also announce no morning kindergarten/ecap preschool classes. On these special weather days our school may choose to operate on time or announce a one hour delayed start. We do not match their kindergarten/ecap preschool closure schedule.
Often I don't have power after a storm. How do I know if you are open when other schools in the area are closed or starting late?
Our school is located next to City Hall. The power at our school seldom goes out. If you do not see any messages on TV or information on the home page of our school website stating that we are closed for the day then we are OPEN, our lights are on and we are operating on a normal schedule. Feel free to call the school's main phone line at 794-4622. Sometimes surrounding school districts delay opening because they have to deal with one or more of their outlying school buildings being temporarily without power after a winter storm. Rather than have one or two district buildings closed while the rest are open large school districts often close all buildings and or delay star times.
I live on a hill. Is it okay if I bring my child late on these special days?
Travel conditions vary greatly depending on your neighborhood and type of vehicle you drive. You are welcome to bring your child to class late (up to 2 hours) on these special weather days even though school has already started. If you need to talk to your child's teacher you can reach them directly by using the classroom direct line. 794-0827. (A list of extension numbers is located on the home page of the website. www.monroemontessori.com) Please be patient as the teachers may be busy greeting arriving students.
If there is a flood do you close?
Every few years a fall storm may cause flooding problems in the low lying areas of the Skykomish Valley. Where our school is located it does not flood. If the major roadways in and out of Monroe are open we will make every effort to open on time. Families living towards Duvall, certain areas of Sultan, and or along the Old Monroe Snohomish Road may have difficulty navigating flooded roadways . Roads often quickly improve as flood waters subside . Your child is welcome to come late if needed. As a rule we will start on time unless an official announcement is posted on television between 6:30-8:00 a.m. stating that Monroe Montessori School is closed or starting one hour late.
If there is an earthquake do you close?
If overnight earthquake tremors caused no damage to the building or roads we are open. If the earthquake happens while school is in session we follow a standard safety procedure to assess if the building is safe to occupy. If it is not, we will notify you by calling your home, your cell phone, your workplace and your emergency contact numbers as needed. If the earthquake causes severe damage we follow our emergency preparation plan and would set up a Reconcilation Station in front of Building B. Your child would remain safely at school no matter how long it takes until you arrive. You would then go directly to the Reconcilation Station and check in before a staff member would bring your child to you. We appreciate parents not sharing their own earthquake stories with the students as they enter the school.
Do you ever cancel classes after school has begun?
We seldom cancel classes once the school day has begun unless weather conditions rapidly change. Your child's teacher will call you at home, on your cell phone and or at work to personally notify you if we are closing early. Any student unable to be picked up would remain at school in Room B1 with a staff member until you are safely able to arrive. If a neighbor or friend is picking up your child and is not already on your emergency pick-up list you filled out at the start of the year, please call the classroom direct line at 794-0827 to speak to the teacher.
Where is the best place to find out the latest information about school closures and make up days?
The best place to check when the weather takes a turn for the worse is on the morning television news and or on the school website. If we officially close we will make up the day later in the year. The school calendar lists make up days. A link to the school calendar can be found on the home page of the school website. (monroemontessori.com)