COVID-19 Protocols
To prevent the spread of the Coronavirus, we are following CDC guidelines to safely operate during this epidemic. We ask parents to respect our protocols and follow the procedures to help us provide a safe and clean environment for your child. See below our plan to take everyday preventive actions to prevent the spread of respiratory illness:
Wash hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
Supervise children when they use hand sanitizer to prevent swallowing alcohol.
Require sick children and staff to stay home
It is very important for parents to keep children home when they are sick.
No sick children will be allowed to come to school. Basic screening will be performed at sign in each morning – see below Pick up/Drop off procedures.
Teachers will also be vigilant for symptoms and staying in touch with everyone if or when they start to feel sick.
Sick staff members should not return to work until they have met the criteria to discontinue home isolation according to CDC.
Anyone who has a fever of 100.40 (38.00C) or above or other signs of illness will not be admitted to the school. We encourage parents to be on the alert for signs of illness in their children and to keep them home when they are sick. Children will be screened upon arrival, (watching signs of sickness and taking temperature).
Plan if someone is or becomes sick
If a child becomes sick at the school, the Sign-in area next to the front entrance will become an isolation area.
Parents of the sick child will be notified immediately and arrange for pick up as soon as possible.
After the sick child has gone home, surfaces in the isolation area will be cleaned and disinfected.
If COVID-19 is confirmed in a child or staff member:
Close off areas used by the person who is sick.
Open outside doors and windows to increase air circulation in the areas.
Wait up to 24 hours or as long as possible to allow respiratory droplets to settle before cleaning and disinfecting.
Clean and disinfect all areas used by the person who is sick, such as offices, bathrooms, and common areas.
Social Distancing Strategies
At nap time, children’s nap-time mats will be spaced out as much as possible, ideally 6 feet apart. We will place children head to toe in order to further reduce the potential for viral spread.
Parent Drop-Off and Pick-Up in the YARD
Hand Sanitizer and Sign-in station are available before the entrance to the yard. Parents will sanitize their hands before touching the Sign-in book.
Staff will take temperature of child upon arrival and confirm that the child does not have fever, shortness of breath or cough.
One designated teacher will greet children outside as they arrive. She will make a visual inspection of the child for signs of illness which could include flushed cheeks, rapid breathing or difficulty breathing (without recent physical activity), fatigue, or extreme fussiness.
Children will sanitize their hands entering the yard when they arrive in the morning and before exiting the yard at the end of the day.
Same teacher will walk children out at the end of the day when their parents arrive.
We ask that the same parent or designated person to drop off and pick up the child every day. If possible, older people such as grandparents or those with serious underlying medical conditions should not pick up children, because they are more at risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
Food Preparation and Meal Service
Children will wash hands prior to and immediately after eating.
Teachers will wash their hands before preparing food and after helping children to eat.
Clean and Disinfect
Intensify cleaning and disinfection efforts:
Objects and surfaces that are frequently touched are routinely cleaned, sanitized and disinfected.
All cleaning materials will be kept secure and out of reach of children.
Cleaning products are not used near children, and adequate ventilation is made sure when using these products to prevent children from inhaling toxic fumes.
