Social Distancing and Use of Masks
- Masks are optional for all teachers, staff, parents, and visitors.
- Masks for children are not required for general activities.
- ALL children MUST have two masks in their extra clothes bag to be used in the event that they show signs of illness during the school day. Per our stated policies (see parent handbook) if a child shows signs of illness, they will be isolated from the rest of the children while they wait for a parent to arrive. Until further notice, children who show signs of illness will need to wear a mask until a parent or guardian picks them up.
- If a COVID-19 outbreak occurs in our school (3 or more cases), or if teachers contract COVID-19 and we are unable to meet our state-mandated ratio requirements, the school may be closed for a minimum of 5 calendar days.
Exclusion from School
A child who shows any of the following symptoms while at school will be isolated from the rest of the children and must be picked up by a parent or guardian within 30 minutes:
- Fever (100°F or higher) or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Muscle or body aches
- Loss of taste or smell
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
Children who are sent home with any of these symptoms must stay home for a minimum of 24 hours and may not return to school until they are free of symptoms, without medication, for 24 hours.
In order to return to school, the child will need documentation of a negative COVID-19 test or a doctor’s note indicating that the child’s symptoms were unrelated to a COVID-19 infection and the child is healthy enough to return to school.
If a child tests positive for COVID-19, they must stay home for 5 calendar days. In order to return to the program, a child must be symptom-free without the aid of medication and will be required to wear a mask for an additional 5 calendar days.
Example: A child begins to have symptoms on Sunday morning. A rapid test, home test, or PCR test indicates that they are positive for COVID-19. Sunday is Day 1. The child can return to the program, symptom-free without the aid of medication, no earlier than Friday, Day 6. The child will be required to wear a mask at school on Friday, Monday, and Tuesday.
The same procedures will be applied to the adults in the environment, including health checks and exclusion for symptoms. Our main goal is to keep our school community a safe and healthy place to be, please help us do this by following the guidelines and keeping your child home if they are unwell.
Hygiene
Hand washing will take place multiple times a day, when entering the environment, after using the restroom, before and after eating snacks and lunch, after playing outside, when leaving to go home, and many times in between. Children will be required to take care of all bodily functions and cleanliness needs, including how to cover their mouth (ideally cough into their sleeve or a tissue) when they cough, how to blow and properly wipe their nose, and wash their hands after, as well as taking care of their bathroom routines and properly washing their hands.
Our licensing regulations state that children entering our program be fully potty trained, in underwear, be able to understand their own needs as to when to use the bathroom and be able to wipe independently as best they can. Again, these are things that should be practiced at home starting as soon as possible.
Disinfecting/Cleaning
Tables and work surfaces are cleaned and sanitized multiple times a day. Other high touch surfaces (door knobs, sink faucets, and toilets) are cleaned and sanitized daily.
Classroom materials will be cleaned or replaced as needed and routinely throughout the year.
Filters on our HVAC system will be changed monthly.
Closures Related to Outbreaks
If an outbreak occurs in our school community, we will follow the guidelines of the Frederick County Health Department. A school-wide closure may last a minimum of 5 calendar days.
Our school calendar has 4 built-in days to accommodate unexpected closures, typically used for snow days. In the event that we are forced to close due to a COVID-19 outbreak, the calendar may be adjusted to make-up for lost days.