August 24, 2020
Dear Families:
We are now open!!!
Before we see each other again I would like to let you know what will be changing due to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus outbreak). We have many new regulations to follow and we will be faced with many challenges in the coming months as we adapt to our new way of life! We want to assure you that your child (children) are our #1 priority and we will do all we can to make sure that they are safe and healthy!
To follow are our new policies that are in effect and will be followed until health or Government officials notify us of any changes or if we need to make adjustments. We will let you know as soon as we know of any new updates.
School Hours and Student to Teacher Ratios:
Our new school hours will be from 8am to 5pm Monday through Friday but are subject to change as we get new information and new regulations we will adapt accordingly. All of our classrooms will open at 8:00 am and close at 5:00 pm daily. We are now required to maintain lower student to teacher ratios and teachers and students are not allowed to mix groups throughout the day but maintain stable groups of children. Each group of students has to stay with their teacher the entire day except for when the teacher goes to lunch or break and we will have a designated person to give the same teacher their break and lunch every day. We are allowed to adjust groups every 3 weeks. Our classrooms may look a little different as we adapt to our new changes.
For our Infant classrooms (0-18 months) ratios remain the same 1:4 ratio (1 teacher to 4 students) with a maximum of 10 students in the classroom.
Our classroom for ( 18-36 months) we are now required to have a 1:6 ratio (1 teacher to 6 students) instead of 1:12 (1 teacher to 12 students) with a maximum of 10 students per classroom.
In our preschool classroom, we need to maintain a 1:10 ratio (1 teacher to 10 students) instead of 1:12 ratio) with a maximum of 10 students per classroom.
Morning Drop-Off Procedure and Afternoon Pick-Up Procedure:
New regulation – We need to stagger drop-off and pick-ups to avoid having too many people gathering together and we also need to limit the number of adults in the building.
New regulation – Daily temperature checks for Students and Staff in the morning, at nap time and at the end of the day.
To satisfy these new regulations we are going to be making some adjustments to your drop off and pick up routine. For example, we will be making a drop-off and pick up schedule where parents will sign up for a designated time to drop off and pick up their child, and we will be doing temperature checks throughout the day.
For morning drop-off we will have a table outside where you will sign your child in. After you have signed your child in the teacher that is checking you in will check your child’s temperature and ask you a few health screening questions and then escort your child in the building to wash their hands and then take them to their classroom. Your child must be fever-free without the use of fever reducers. Once your child is cleared and is ready to go inside but is having a hard time going with the teacher and you need to enter the building you will need to remove your shoes or wear shoe covers (which we will be providing) and will only allow 2 parents in the building at a time. Upon entering you must wear a face covering and use a hand sanitizer that will be provided.
For evening pick up we will also have a schedule for you to let us know what time you will pick your child these times will also be staggered. We will have your child ready and we will bring your child out to you and you will sign out at the table outside. If for some reason your pick up or drop-off time has changed please call us and let us know.
Sick policy:
Children with 100.4 temperature the night before school, at morning check-in or throughout the day must stay home, or go home until 24-hour fever-free without the use of fever reducers. Our desire is that all of our children, families, and staff remain safe and healthy so if your child is sick please keep them home! If your child becomes sick during the day with a fever, rash, vomiting, or anything that may be concerning we will immediately quarantine the child and the parent will be called. The child must be picked up within 30 minutes or less. If you are unable to pick up your child within that timeframe you must have someone else available to pick up your child.
COVID-19 Outbreak within the School:
If a child is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or any related illness during the day the child will be immediately removed from the classroom and if two years old and up a mask will be placed on the child and they will be quarantined. Parents will be called and the child will need to be picked up immediately. If the child is experiencing serious symptoms an ambulance will be called and parents notified. Upon confirmation from a physician, the school will be closed for several days following the outbreak for cleaning by a professional company and the health department notified.
If your child is exposed or has contracted COVID- 19 and we are unaware of it Kidz Academy must be notified immediately. We must notify the health department and licensing as well and will have to shut down to have the school properly sanitized by a professional company.
Vacations:
Regulation: We are now required to have children that have been out of the country or state and have come back to self-quarantine at home for 14 days before returning to school.
We will need all of our families to let us know if they are planning on leaving the country or state so that we can keep all of our families safe.
Daily Cleaning and Sanitizing:
Each teacher will be responsible for the sanitizing of all the high touch surfaces in their own classroom throughout the day. Teachers will also be keeping a close eye on the children while playing and pick up the toys that they notice have been in a child’s mouth and put it in a container for sanitizing. At nap time when the children are sleeping the high touch surfaces will be sanitized again and all toys that were on the floor in the morning will be picked up and put away for sanitizing. New toys will be replaced for the second half of the day. At the end of the day, the entire classroom will be sanitized and all used toys will be and sanitized and put away for use the next day. Kitchen, Hallways, and bathrooms will also be sanitized various times throughout the day by Miss Mary. Our outside equipment and toys will also be sanitized various times throughout the day when children are inside.
Nap Time:
We will have the cots spaced out 6ft apart from each other and each child will be facing the opposite way of the child next to them. We will be sending bedding home twice a week for washing. Bedding will also be sent home if the child is sent home sick. Please provide 2 sets of sheets and 2 blankets at the beginning of the week so we have enough to rotate once we send a set home in the middle of the week.
Handwashing and Bathroom Time:
We will be having the children wash their hands in the morning upon arrival, before lunch, and before pick up time and frequently throughout the day.
We will also be teaching the children the importance of cleanliness and handwashing.
Teachers will also be required to sanitize the toilet seat after each use.
Physical Distancing in the Classroom:
Furniture will be arranged to give children more space to move about the classroom. Windows will be opened throughout the day to allow for fresh air to enter the classroom.
Children will be spaced out 6 feet apart at the table for inside table activities and children will be given their own supply box to use instead of sharing supplies.
Outside Playtime:
Outside play time will be twice a day and classrooms will play outside with the same group of children that they were with inside the classroom.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Snack Time:
Breakfast, Lunch, and Snack time will be served in the child’s classroom with their own teacher 8:00 am to 9 am and the children will be spaced out at the table 6 feet apart and will have their own disposable plate, cup, and utensils. Lunch will be served at 11:00 am in the classroom as well and in the same manner as breakfast. Snacks will be served at 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm in the classroom or outside on the picnic tables in the same manner as breakfast and lunch.
Sharing and Toys from Home:
Regulation: We are no longer allowed to accept toys to share from home per the licensing department
Instead of your child bringing in a toy to share you can take a picture of your child holding their favorite toy and send it to their teacher and we can print it out and share it with the class. We are also told that hugs are on hold for now however instead of hugging one another we are going to have the children practice self-hugging and air high fives.
Regulation: No school family events until the health departments lets us know that we are allowed to have them again.
Tours for Incoming Students:
Instead of in-person tours, we will be conducting virtual tours of the school to send to prospective parents and also be implementing a paperless application process. This new process will decrease the amount of foot traffic in the building during the day. If there is a case that an interested family insists on seeing the inside of the building they will be allowed 2 people at a time and they will need to remove their shoes or wear shoe covers and also sanitize their hands upon entering.
Staff Protective Equipment and Health Checks:
Upon the arrival of our staff, we will also conduct a health check including temperature checks and asking them some health questions.
We will be providing protective equipment that our staff must wear daily such as face coverings, gloves, and hand sanitizer for sanitizing throughout the day.
Staff and Teacher Daily Communication:
Due to social distancing requirements, we must be from 6 to 8 feet of one another and must not switch classrooms so we will be communicating with each other via text message and eventually walkie talkie.
Cold and Flu Season:
As cold and Flu season approaches this year we are all uncertain of what that will look like especially as the COVID-19 outbreak rages on. If we have some staff out due to illness and cannot support the number of children we have enrolled we will be forced to shut down until we are able to return or be forced to reduce the number of classrooms that we have open. We will not be able to have staff come to work sick.
I know this is a lot to take in but I sincerely appreciate all of your cooperation and understanding during these uncertain times. Please know that we will do our absolute best to keep your child and your family safe. If any other changes or adjustments are necessary we will notify all of you immediately.
If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact me at 408-261-9523 or by email at kidzacademyinc@sbcglobal.net.
I can’t wait to see you and please be safe and take care!
Sincerely,
Carolyn Mendoza
Center Director