COVID-19 News and Policies
Frequently Asked Questions:
How are we preparing the school?
Students must stay home if they show any signs of illness.
Any child showing any signs of illness will be sent home.
Only students and staff will be permitted in the building.
Drop off and pick up will take place outside at staggered times and in different locations.
Hands will be washed immediately after entering the building and frequently throughout the day.
Individual materials will be used instead of shared supplies.
The building will be cleaned and sanitized throughout the day and a deeper cleaning will occur each night.
Classes will not mix.
Bathrooms will be assigned by class and will be cleaned after each use.
A quarantine location has been established in case a child becomes ill.
All soft surfaces such as area rugs, dress up and cloth dolls have been replaced with easy to clean materials.
Spacing will be used in the classroom.
Masking is recommended during times when community transmission is high.
What can you do?
Have a back up plan in case schools are closed, your child becomes sick or a quarantine is required.
Keep your child home if they show any signs of illness.
What if a child becomes sick while at school?
We will have a designated quarantine space in our building for that child. Parents will be expected to pick up their child immediately. The Health department will need to be called for further guidance for any confirmed or probable COVID cases.
What does arrival look like?
As we continue to navigate through COVID-19, we will only be allowing children and staff into the building.
Classes will have designated arrival locations and times.
A teacher will meet you at the front door daily.
Any child showing any sign of illness will not be permitted into the school. Keeping sick kids home is the BEST thing that we can do.
Health
All temperatures must be below 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Has your child been feverish or had a measured temperature of 100 or greater since last in the childcare site?
- Has your child experienced any of the following symptoms associated with COVID-19 including:
- Fever or chills
- new or worsening cough
- shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- muscle or body aches
- sore throat
- nausea or vomiting
- diarrhea
- new loss of taste or smell
- Has your child had close, prolonged contact (less than 6 feet for more than a few minutes) with anyone known to have COVID-19 or who has symptoms of COVID-19 since the last class?
If the parent replies “YES” to any of these questions, the parent should be advised the child may not be admitted into care that day. The child should quarantine, and if symptomatic the parent should contact the child’s health care provider for further guidance.
If the parent replies “NO” to all these questions, the child is permitted to enter the child care site for care.
Please keep sick kids home.
Please keep your children home if a member of the household is ill. Your child may return once COVID-19 is ruled out for the household member.
By following the above rules, you are keeping the other students and staff safe. Following these rules also increases our chances of remaining open.
Will my child wear a mask?
Masks are recommended for students during times when community transmission is high. Teachers will wear them if that is what HCPS requires for their staff members.
If you would like your child to wear his/her mask, please send them to school with it on and please include a brown paper bag for safe storing. Please also have an extra mask available in case it becomes soiled. We will work with the students to wear it safely.
How often will you be cleaning?
Upon entry into the building, all children and staff will be required to wash their hands with soap and water.
Handwashing will occur after playground use, after using the rest room, before eating and as necessary throughout the day.
Any toys that go into a child’s mouth will be taken and placed in a separate container to be cleaned.
All toys and furniture will be cleaned at the end of the day.
Tables will be cleaned after each use.
Individual supplies will be used.
All bathroom’s will be assigned to a class and cleaned in between each classes use.
All playground equipment will be cleaned between each classes use.
Can I send in things from home?
We are asking that your child not bring in any stuffed animals or other items from home into the building. Children can only bring in snack/lunch, book bags, folders, a change of clothes if needed and their towels for rest time (Kindergarten Readiness Class).
What about our extra activities?
For the foreseeable future, First Presbyterian Preschool will not be allowing visitors into the building. This means that the Harford County Public Library Share the Gift and Parent readers are all on hold. We will be working hard to find fun and exciting things to do within the safety of the classroom/building.
Dismissal:
Children will be taken to the door that they entered. Parents should wait in a line, practicing social distancing. Children will be dismissed individually. Again, we ask for your patience.
When does a class have to quarantine?
If a student tests positive for COVID-19 and he or she was at school 48 hours before the symptom began or 48 hours before a positive test (if asymptomatic) the entire preschool class (not school) is considered a close contact. All close contacts must quarantine unless they are fully vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19 in the past 90 days. The current quarantine length is 5 full days with the date of exposure being day 0. Students may return after 5 full days if they remain symptoms free and are able to wear a well fitting mask until day 10. If your child is unable to wear a mask safely, we ask that they stay home for the full 10 day quarantine.
What if my child tests positive for COVID-19?
Take a deep breath and fill out the "COVID POSITIVE" form on the remind app. We will call the health department to determine whether or not the class is impacted and when your child is able to return to school.
What if a member of the family is positive by my child is not?
Please fill out an" exposure form" on the remind app. Your child's return date will be determined on whether or not the positive individual is able to isolate from the student. Once you fill out the exposure form, the director will be in touch.
What if my child has an exposure in the community?
If your child was determined to be a close contact of a COVID positive person, and they are unvaccinated and have not recovered from COVID in the past 90 days, they will need to quarantine. If you do not live with the positive person, the quarantine period can begin right after the exposure. The day of the exposure is day 0 and the student can return on the 6th day with a well fitting mask. The mask must be worn until day 10 of the quarantine.
Exposure=0 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 RETURN with mask 6 MASK 7 MASK 8 MASK 9 MASK 10