COVID-19 News and Policies
| covid_plan.pdf |
Frequently Asked Questions:
How are we preparing the school?
We are setting up screening stations at the entrance of the school to record temperatures.
Students, staff members and all parents will be masked during the screenings.
Hands will be washed immediately after entering the building and frequently throughout the day.
Children will meet in smaller groups. Classes are limited to 13 children and 2 teachers
All staff will wear masks.
Individual materials will be used instead of shared supplies.
Lunches and snacks will be sent in disposable bags.
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.
The only people using the education building are the students and staff of FPPS. No outside organizations are renting the rooms after school hours.
What can you do?
Have a back up plan in case schools are closed, your child becomes sick or a quarantine is required.
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 Covid-like illness.
What does arrival look like?
As we Navigate through COVID-19, we will only be allowing children and staff into the building.
Classes will have designated arrival locations and times.
Parents, staff and children over 2 must be masked during drop off and pick up. Parents will wait in line but must remain 6 feet from each other during this time. Spots will be indicated on the pavement. We encourage families to wait in their cars until there is an open spot. This will allow for a more accurate temperature reading upon entry.
A teacher will meet you at the front door daily for a temperature check and a health screening.
Health questionnaires will need to be filled out daily. You will answer the questions, take your child’s temperature (in front of the teacher)
Please have your own thermometer and use it in front of us to take your child’s temperature. All temperatures, and results of the health screening will be recorded.
We ask that you have patience with us during arrival. We will move as quickly as we can.
What does the Health screening look like?
COVID-19 Temperature and Health Screening
All temperatures must be below 100 degrees Fahrenheit. These will be recorded on the sign in log as well as the answers to the health screening questions. The following questions will be asked daily:
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.
If a member of the household is quarantined due to an exposure, please keep your child home until that individual has a negative COVID test. The test should be done 4-5 days after the exposure.
If you have traveled to a location with a positivity rate greater than 10%, you must quarantine before returning to school.
If you have had visitors from a location with a positivity rate above 10%, you must quarantine before returning to school.
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?
We are asking children to wear their masks during the health screenings. This will teach them the routine of having them at school. This will also be helpful if state regulations change for childcare settings.
All children over the age of 2 years old can wear masks if you would like them to. No child will be able to wear a mask during snack time or outdoor play. Children will not be forced to wear a mask. Children over the age of 5 are asked to wear one while in childcare if it is developmentally appropriate and if they can do so appropriately and safely.
All staff will wear a mask when in close proximity to the children.
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, masked and practicing social distancing. Children will be dismissed individually. Again, we ask for your patience.
How are we preparing the school?
We are setting up screening stations at the entrance of the school to record temperatures.
Students, staff members and all parents will be masked during the screenings.
Hands will be washed immediately after entering the building and frequently throughout the day.
Children will meet in smaller groups. Classes are limited to 13 children and 2 teachers
All staff will wear masks.
Individual materials will be used instead of shared supplies.
Lunches and snacks will be sent in disposable bags.
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.
The only people using the education building are the students and staff of FPPS. No outside organizations are renting the rooms after school hours.
What can you do?
Have a back up plan in case schools are closed, your child becomes sick or a quarantine is required.
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 Covid-like illness.
What does arrival look like?
As we Navigate through COVID-19, we will only be allowing children and staff into the building.
Classes will have designated arrival locations and times.
Parents, staff and children over 2 must be masked during drop off and pick up. Parents will wait in line but must remain 6 feet from each other during this time. Spots will be indicated on the pavement. We encourage families to wait in their cars until there is an open spot. This will allow for a more accurate temperature reading upon entry.
A teacher will meet you at the front door daily for a temperature check and a health screening.
Health questionnaires will need to be filled out daily. You will answer the questions, take your child’s temperature (in front of the teacher)
Please have your own thermometer and use it in front of us to take your child’s temperature. All temperatures, and results of the health screening will be recorded.
We ask that you have patience with us during arrival. We will move as quickly as we can.
What does the Health screening look like?
COVID-19 Temperature and Health Screening
All temperatures must be below 100 degrees Fahrenheit. These will be recorded on the sign in log as well as the answers to the health screening questions. The following questions will be asked daily:
- 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
- runny nose/congestion
- 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.
If a member of the household is quarantined due to an exposure, please keep your child home until that individual has a negative COVID test. The test should be done 4-5 days after the exposure.
If you have traveled to a location with a positivity rate greater than 10%, you must quarantine before returning to school.
If you have had visitors from a location with a positivity rate above 10%, you must quarantine before returning to school.
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?
We are asking children to wear their masks during the health screenings. This will teach them the routine of having them at school. This will also be helpful if state regulations change for childcare settings.
All children over the age of 2 years old can wear masks if you would like them to. No child will be able to wear a mask during snack time or outdoor play. Children will not be forced to wear a mask. Children over the age of 5 are asked to wear one while in childcare if it is developmentally appropriate and if they can do so appropriately and safely.
All staff will wear a mask when in close proximity to the children.
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, masked and practicing social distancing. Children will be dismissed individually. Again, we ask for your patience.