Alexander Montessori School Faculty & Staff

How to Know When School Will Not Be Open: When a storm warning or watch is announced for our area please listen as to whether ALL MIAMI DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED, or when and if they will be closed. Do not wait for a special announcement that private schools are, or will be, closed. Alexander Montessori School will follow the general announcement.

If you are tracking a storm for the following day, listen for the advisory that applies. The advice may be to wait for an announcement in the morning. In such cases, please listen for the advisories in the morning. When in doubt, call the school starting at 8:00 a.m. Lateness to school will be excused in such cases.

Miami Dade Public Schools Storm Information Page

If Miami Dade County Public Schools would be closed anyway due to a teacher workday or other reason, but Alexander is not supposed to be closed that day, then listen as to whether government offices are closed (with the exception of emergency offices). If they are closed, then we will be closed too. We sometimes open before other schools.

WEATHER EVENTS
(INCLUDING STORM AND HURRICANE WATCHES AND WARNINGS)
(SEE BELOW – WATCH VS WARNING)

If a HURRICANE “WATCH” is announced for our locality in the middle of a school day, PLEASE COME FOR YOUR CHILD IMMEDIATELY.
The independent buses and Alexander shuttle buses will be sent at the regular time unless all parents can be contacted to receive bus riders earlier.
If a HURRICANE “WARNING” is announced for our locality in the middle of a school day, PLEASE COME FOR YOUR CHILD IMMEDIATELY. DO NOT wait for a special announcement that private schools are closed.
Alexander Montessori School Staff will remain on duty until all families collect their children. We will then be closed until the “ALL CLEAR.”

Tornado and Storm Watches and Warnings may be issued by authorities and are usually more localized and of shorter duration.

If a storm or tornado warning is announced for our locality in the middle of a school day, the school will follow emergency procedures until the event has passed.
If there is any event that states that vehicles should not travel the roads, students will be kept at school until advisories say road travel is safe. Parents will still be allowed to pick up children at the school if they choose. Parents can always come early to sign out students from school in emergencies of this type.
If you call in advance it would be appreciated, but please understand that our phone lines, parking lot and driveways or front desk may be jammed in an emergency.
In all cases, the regular routine must be followed:
COME TO THE OFFICE, NOT THE HOMEROOM, TO SIGN OUT YOUR CHILD. This rule is very important, especially in an emergency. For instance, the mother signs out the child early, then the father calls to see if the child is still in school. We consult our regular sign out book and can tell the other parent exactly who signed out the child, and the time of departure from class.

We ask for your patience and cooperation in any emergency situation. SAFETY FIRST! Please let us know if you have any questions or suggestions.

From the NOAA website http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/basics.shtml
WATCH vs. WARNING - KNOW THE DIFFERENCE

    * A HURRICANE WATCH issued for your part of the coast indicates the possibility that you could experience hurricane conditions within 36 hours.
      This watch should trigger your family's disaster plan, and protective measures should be initiated, especially those actions that require extra time such as securing a boat, leaving a barrier island, etc.
    * A HURRICANE WARNING issued for your part of the coast indicates that sustained winds of at least 74 mph are expected within 24 hours or less.
      Once this warning has been issued, your family should be in the process of completing protective actions and deciding the safest location to be during the storm.