Inly School (toddler, pre-school, K-8) has announced its plan to welcome students back for in-person learning this fall. As one of the first on the South Shore to commit to re-establishing on-site learning, the Montessori+ independent school will host a public town hall via Zoom on Wednesday, August 5 at 8pm to discuss the rationale and the plan.
Inly students will continue to spend a great deal of time outdoors during the pandemic. Ten large tented “rooms” will dot the campus for small group learning in the fresh air.
“Our school has several advantages over other schools that will allow us to safely reopen for full in-person learning in September,” says Inly’s Head of School, Donna Milani Luther. “With two-teachers in each classroom, small class sizes, a robust co-curricular program, and a great deal of indoor and outdoor space, we can be creative and adaptive in the implementation of our programming.”
Inly will maximize the use of it’s outdoor space throughout the 2020–21 school year, including the custom Spartan course.
As Inly goes forward in this new reality, several adjustments have been made to ensure that the entire community—students, parents, and teachers—is comfortable in an environment designed to minimize contact among students, and between faculty and students, but maximize learning. School will be Monday–Thursday 8:30 am–3:50 pm, with extended care beginning at 7:30 am and ending at 5:30 pm. Inly be open for half days on Friday, 8:30 am–12:00 pm.
In the da Vinci Studio for creativity and innovation, students are empowered to identify and solve complex problems.
The Re-Open Inly team, comprised of members of the board of trustees, school leadership, faculty and staff, and health experts in the school community, have made several modifications following CDC guidelines: 10-12 student cohorts, limited teacher movement between classes, 10 additional tented outdoor classrooms, an expanded health and wellbeing center, a full-time school counselor for social-emotional support, strict protocols on cleaning and materials, the purchase of small boxes for each student to hold their own school supplies and plexiglass installed in the main office and library. Inly has purchased “friendly” clear masks for teachers and will require all students in lower elementary through middle school to wear masks daily, though mask-free zones will be located in each classroom.
Inly School’s outdoor space includes 4-acres of walking trails, which will be utilized by teachers and students even more throughout the pandemic. Dr. Maria Montessori was a strong advocate of integrating nature into the daily learning plan of all students.
Mindful of how quickly the status quo can shift, the school is also prepared for a hybrid model with both on-campus and remote learning. In the event that schools close, Inly will transition to a robust at-home learning program, via the Inly LIVE platform.
Mindful of how quickly the status quo can shift, Inly is prepared for a hybrid model with both on-campus and remote learning. In the event that schools close, Inly will transition to a robust at- home learning program, via the Inly LIVE platform.
The Board of Trustees cites that “Inly is a student-centered, mission-driven community of well-being and belonging that respects the physical and emotional health of everyone. This decision comes at the center of those values and we will remain vigilant, agile and well-positioned for alternatives if the situation changes.”
Inly is currently enrolling students in all grades, to find out more visit www.inlyschool.org/admission.
To attend the Town Hall on August 5, register at www.inlyschool.org/townhall.
About Inly School
Inly is an independent Montessori school with innovative programs that inspire toddlers, preschool and K–8 students to become independent, lifelong learners. Its 10-acre campus includes an Outdoor Classroom with discovery trails, the Meehan Family Artsbarn for performing arts, assemblies and indoor sports, and the da Vinci Studio for creativity, collaboration, and innovation. For more information, visit www.inlyschool.org.
