Mill Falls has been fortunate to receive federal funds during this difficult COVID time. These funds have helped to offset the unexpected costs that we have incurred as a result of COVID. Each round of funding has a very specific set of guidelines and reporting requirements.

As previously shared, Mill Falls has been allotted a portion of the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) III Funds. These Federal COVID-related dollars are provided to us in support of our safe opening to in-person instruction and continuity of services during the COVID pandemic. Part of the requirements include the creation, submission and public sharing of our plan for the use of these funds. A link to that plan can be found below.

Since March 2020, we have experienced so much together as a school community. We have faced the challenges which COVID has presented with tenacity, grit, creativity, empathy and courage. We are proud of everything that we have achieved together during this difficult COVID period. We look forward with great enthusiasm to a return to structures that are more familiar to our students, staff, and families in the 2021/22 School Year, even as the COVID pandemic continues.

We want to thank those in our Mill Falls Community and beyond who took the time to respond to our spring Use of Funds Survey and shared their ideas. With their input, our deep knowledge of our students’ needs, and partnership with our Montessori Consultant, Elizabeth Slade, and the Manchester Health Department, we have designed an exciting and proactive plan to support our students and their dedicated teachers in the time of COVID which include a wide variety of recommended health and safety mitigations.

Mill Falls will resume full-time / in-person public Montessori learning on September 2, 2021 (September 3rd for our Kinders). As we look to the 2021-2022 school year, we continue our commitment to a safe and meaningful opening of school that aligns with local health guidance and CDC and state recommendations. Though it is clear that COVID is not yet done with us, we are prepared to take on the known and yet unexperienced challenges of Teaching and Learning in the Age of COVID with a keen focus on helping our students and staff reach their highest potential – academically and in terms of their social emotional well-being and growth.

The plan was originally shared here and filed with the NH DOE as required, by August 23rd, 2021. As per federal requirements, we have revisited the plan, providing a 6th month update. Big picture, our plan remains as it was originally proposed; we have made just a few clarifying changes now that we are well into the school year.

Please click here to view the current plan.

Click here to view the completed DOE required template for fund usage.