Our Goal: To continue to provide a loving, learning and cooperative environment, while following CDC (The Center for Disease Control) and NCDHHS (North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services) guidelines as much as possible to keep our community as healthy and as safe as possible.
Covid-19 Opening Policies and Procedures
We will continue to monitor the latest information regarding Covid-19. As health and safety guidelines change; we will keep up with CDC and NCDHHS and make changes as needed. These changes will be discussed with council members, or during a council meeting if there is time and immediately shared with the PPP community.
Our Campus:
Prior to opening for the school year, our team of parent volunteers and preschool staff have taken the following precautions and will continue to employ daily cleaning practices throughout the school year.
- Deep-cleaned and sanitized our classrooms .
- Steam cleaned the area rugs.
- Completed maintenance to our HVAC, installed MERV 13 Filters to improve air filtration.
- Purchase special cleaning supplies that will kill Coronavirus on contact.
- Established daily checklists for cleaning; classrooms, bathrooms, kitchens and surfaces.
- All door handles are wiped down.
- Table surfaces will be wiped down.
- Bathroom counters and any touched areas must be sprayed and wiped down.
Classroom:
- Materials that may have been in a child’s mouth must be washed and sanitized, and laid out to dry.
- Frequently touched surfaces in the classroom must be wiped and sanitized, including chairs.
- Items that can be washed will be washed and things that cannot be washed will be sprayed with a sanitizing spray.
- All dishes are loaded in the dishwasher and washed on sanitizing,
- The counters are washed and sprayed with sanitizer spray.
- Faucets are wiped down and door handles as staff leaves.
- Surface clean any area that visibly needs cleaning.
- Wipe down counters.
- Spray toilets, counters, sinks, faucets with sanitizing spray.
- Wipe Door handles of stalls and bathroom doors.
Drop/Off and Arrival Procedures:
- Prior to drop off each morning all staff members will have their temperature taken and will answer the same screening questions for students.
- During drop-off time each morning, parents will be asked to pull forward as the line progresses, and place their car in park. NO CELL PHONE USE DURING THIS TIME.
- Each parent will be verbally asked a set of health screening questions.
- Prior to the start of school all parents will have signed a Risk and Waiver.
- Each morning prior to school please take your child’s temperature at home.
- All adults in the car must be wearing a mask at the time of drop off and pick up.
- An attending teacher, wearing a mask, will come to your car to take your child from their car seat.
- If you have answered NO to all questions, teachers will unbuckle the child from the car seat and walk him/her to the check-in station.
- If parents were unable to take their child’s temperature; staff will be able to take his/her temperature. If his/her temperature is 100.4 or above, he/she will not be allowed to come to school that day.
- Children determined to be healthy, will be helped to sanitize their hands at a station outdoors then be escorted to either their classroom or to the playground by a teacher.
- At pick-up time, classes will wait at the back gate.
Preventing Spread in the Classrooms:
PPP has a small community of children. We plan to have our younger 2-3 year old children stay together in their own group. They will be able to have time together in the classroom and extended time playing outside. We will avoid overlapping with the older class as much as possible. The older children will spend as much time as possible outdoors. Our school offers large open spaces for play outdoors for social distancing, but realize it is not a reasonable expectation for children this age to always remain 6 feet apart. Children need to interact and play together to learn.
Steps We Are Taking:
● Our class numbers are small and we will spend extended times outside.
● All adults entering the building must be masked. We ask that once ease-in is over that we limit the entry into the building.
● Each child will have their own PPP tie-dye cloth bag that we ask parents to wash each weekend before returning to school the following week.
● Backpacks will not be allowed.
● Children in the 4/5’s class will be required to wear masks while inside the building. If you have a child in the younger classes it is parental choice.
● If you choose to send your child in a mask, teachers will work with that child on proper mask wear, however, a teacher may choose to place that mask in the child’s cubby if it cannot be worn properly or if the child becomes frustrated with its use.
● Staff will be required to wear masks with the understanding that removing the mask in order to communicate may be required from time to time as well as eating and drinking. Outside, teachers will keep masks close for interactions with children and for use when social distancing cannot be achieved.
● Cloth toys and dress-up items will be placed in outdoor air for at least 2 hours and laundered weekly.
● Mouthed toys will be removed immediately and cleaned and sanitized.
● The classroom materials each day will be washed in soapy water or sprayed with a diluted hydrogen peroxide & water solution for disinfection.
● Touched surfaces will be wiped down before children arrive, after they leave and throughout the day.
● Frequent and proper hand-washing will take place as well as the use of safe hand sanitizer.
● Children will be instructed in other safe hygiene practices such as sneezing into elbows, to avoid touching their face, etc.
● We ask that blankets, stuffed animals and pacifiers from home please stay home. If there is truly a need for these comfort items in the beginning phase, speak with your child’s teacher. We want to be safe, but also emotionally supportive.
Food & Eating in the Classroom:
● When possible, students will sit further apart than usual when eating snacks or lunch. Children may continue to bring lunch from home.
● Lunch boxes that can be safely wiped with cleaning wipes are preferred. To reduce the need for teachers to be handling multiple children’s items the lunch boxes and contents should be able to be easily opened by the child. Of course we’ll always help a child in need and clean our hands appropriately.
● With the 3, 4, and 5 year old children we ask that each child send in a water bottle clearly marked with their name and a symbol or picture (to be discussed at the Parent Orientation) so they will easily know which water bottle is theirs. This water bottle will be kept in their bag.
● The 2 day class Parent Assist role will begin later in the year. The 2’s teachers will discuss a plan with their class parents on when they will begin this very important component to our program.
● Parents will continue to send in snack items, from a list, on a rotating basis. Teachers will wear masks and wash hands before getting the snack ready and serving it to children. Children will be served water with their snack. Please do not send water bottles or sippy cups with your child to school.
PPP has a small community of children. We plan to have our younger 2-3 year old children stay together in their own group. They will be able to have time together in the classroom and extended time playing outside. We will avoid overlapping with the older class as much as possible. The older children will spend as much time as possible outdoors. Our school offers large open spaces for play outdoors for social distancing, but realize it is not a reasonable expectation for children this age to always remain 6 feet apart. Children need to interact and play together to learn.
Steps We Are Taking:
● Our class numbers are small and we will spend extended times outside.
● All adults entering the building must be masked. We ask that once ease-in is over that we limit the entry into the building.
● Each child will have their own PPP tie-dye cloth bag that we ask parents to wash each weekend before returning to school the following week.
● Backpacks will not be allowed.
● Children in the 4/5’s class will be required to wear masks while inside the building. If you have a child in the younger classes it is parental choice.
● If you choose to send your child in a mask, teachers will work with that child on proper mask wear, however, a teacher may choose to place that mask in the child’s cubby if it cannot be worn properly or if the child becomes frustrated with its use.
● Staff will be required to wear masks with the understanding that removing the mask in order to communicate may be required from time to time as well as eating and drinking. Outside, teachers will keep masks close for interactions with children and for use when social distancing cannot be achieved.
● Cloth toys and dress-up items will be placed in outdoor air for at least 2 hours and laundered weekly.
● Mouthed toys will be removed immediately and cleaned and sanitized.
● The classroom materials each day will be washed in soapy water or sprayed with a diluted hydrogen peroxide & water solution for disinfection.
● Touched surfaces will be wiped down before children arrive, after they leave and throughout the day.
● Frequent and proper hand-washing will take place as well as the use of safe hand sanitizer.
● Children will be instructed in other safe hygiene practices such as sneezing into elbows, to avoid touching their face, etc.
● We ask that blankets, stuffed animals and pacifiers from home please stay home. If there is truly a need for these comfort items in the beginning phase, speak with your child’s teacher. We want to be safe, but also emotionally supportive.
Food & Eating in the Classroom:
● When possible, students will sit further apart than usual when eating snacks or lunch. Children may continue to bring lunch from home.
● Lunch boxes that can be safely wiped with cleaning wipes are preferred. To reduce the need for teachers to be handling multiple children’s items the lunch boxes and contents should be able to be easily opened by the child. Of course we’ll always help a child in need and clean our hands appropriately.
● With the 3, 4, and 5 year old children we ask that each child send in a water bottle clearly marked with their name and a symbol or picture (to be discussed at the Parent Orientation) so they will easily know which water bottle is theirs. This water bottle will be kept in their bag.
● The 2 day class Parent Assist role will begin later in the year. The 2’s teachers will discuss a plan with their class parents on when they will begin this very important component to our program.
● Parents will continue to send in snack items, from a list, on a rotating basis. Teachers will wear masks and wash hands before getting the snack ready and serving it to children. Children will be served water with their snack. Please do not send water bottles or sippy cups with your child to school.
Illness Response Protocol:
Should Child or Staff Exhibit Symptoms During the School Day –
● Regular monitoring for symptoms will be conducted throughout the day
● Symptoms which would require exclusion from school include, but are not limited to: Fever (100.4 or above), chills, shortness of breath/difficulty breathing, new cough, or new loss of taste or smell. Should a staff member or student exhibit any of the above symptoms during the school day, the following protocol will be followed:
◆ He/She will be isolated with supervision, and a parent will be called to pick him/her up from school and MUST arrive within 30 minutes.
◆ The attending caregiver will remain with that child in a well-ventilated area (the breezeway at the front entranceway of the building) until their parent or caregiver arrives.
◆ Fellow students will be moved to another classroom or outdoor area.
● Any staff member who develops symptoms while at the facility should notify the director immediately and must remain isolated and return home. A substitute will be called to replace that teacher.
● Classroom will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.
● The student or staff member showing symptoms will not be allowed to return to school until: ** It has been 10 days since the first symptom AND they are fever free and symptom free for 72 hours without medication.
If a PPP Staff or Student has Direct Exposure to Covid-19:
If a student/staff member reports direct exposure to Covid-19: (Defined as being within 6 feet for 15 minutes or more of an individual with a positive COVID diagnosis).
● The family/staff member must alert the Director, Michele Deese.
● The student/staff member must stay home for 5 days after the exposure period.
● The class members will be notified by the Director of a possible COVID-19 exposure in the classroom.
● The classroom will be thoroughly cleaned the evening before, to prepare for a safe return to the school for the rest of the class for the next school day.
Positive COVID-19 Diagnosis – PPP Staff or Student:
● The family/staff member must alert the Director, Michele Deese, as soon as possible.
● The students and teachers in the affected classroom will be required to quarantine for 10 days after exposure.
● All families will be notified of a positive case on campus.
● In the event of more than 3 positive cases in the school within 10 days, PPP will be closed for a quarantine period and cleaning.
Interruption of Preschool Schedule:
Classroom teachers, unless unwell, will send home communication with families offering plans and ideas to keep your children busy during the days at home. If the time is extended we may come up with a different plan. We will do our best to maintain our school year while offering the safest environment possible and cooperating with the community guidelines to keep as many people well as possible. In an effort to be fair, and retain our staff, tuition payments will be due as usual.
We ask that you walk with us on this journey to continue to honor the financial commitment made when you registered to enroll and hold a spot for your child at PPP. Thank you for your cooperation.
Should Child or Staff Exhibit Symptoms During the School Day –
● Regular monitoring for symptoms will be conducted throughout the day
● Symptoms which would require exclusion from school include, but are not limited to: Fever (100.4 or above), chills, shortness of breath/difficulty breathing, new cough, or new loss of taste or smell. Should a staff member or student exhibit any of the above symptoms during the school day, the following protocol will be followed:
◆ He/She will be isolated with supervision, and a parent will be called to pick him/her up from school and MUST arrive within 30 minutes.
◆ The attending caregiver will remain with that child in a well-ventilated area (the breezeway at the front entranceway of the building) until their parent or caregiver arrives.
◆ Fellow students will be moved to another classroom or outdoor area.
● Any staff member who develops symptoms while at the facility should notify the director immediately and must remain isolated and return home. A substitute will be called to replace that teacher.
● Classroom will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.
● The student or staff member showing symptoms will not be allowed to return to school until: ** It has been 10 days since the first symptom AND they are fever free and symptom free for 72 hours without medication.
If a PPP Staff or Student has Direct Exposure to Covid-19:
If a student/staff member reports direct exposure to Covid-19: (Defined as being within 6 feet for 15 minutes or more of an individual with a positive COVID diagnosis).
● The family/staff member must alert the Director, Michele Deese.
● The student/staff member must stay home for 5 days after the exposure period.
● The class members will be notified by the Director of a possible COVID-19 exposure in the classroom.
● The classroom will be thoroughly cleaned the evening before, to prepare for a safe return to the school for the rest of the class for the next school day.
Positive COVID-19 Diagnosis – PPP Staff or Student:
● The family/staff member must alert the Director, Michele Deese, as soon as possible.
● The students and teachers in the affected classroom will be required to quarantine for 10 days after exposure.
● All families will be notified of a positive case on campus.
● In the event of more than 3 positive cases in the school within 10 days, PPP will be closed for a quarantine period and cleaning.
Interruption of Preschool Schedule:
Classroom teachers, unless unwell, will send home communication with families offering plans and ideas to keep your children busy during the days at home. If the time is extended we may come up with a different plan. We will do our best to maintain our school year while offering the safest environment possible and cooperating with the community guidelines to keep as many people well as possible. In an effort to be fair, and retain our staff, tuition payments will be due as usual.
We ask that you walk with us on this journey to continue to honor the financial commitment made when you registered to enroll and hold a spot for your child at PPP. Thank you for your cooperation.
Waivers and Contracts
Our staff will do our absolute best to keep your child safe and healthy by following all guidelines to the best of our ability. Still, we understand that we are working with little ones who sometimes don't understand all of those guidelines. We will, therefore, require that all parents sign a waiver and a contract, agreeing to abide by all of our policies, and to not hold Piedmont Progressive Preschool or Piedmont Unitarian Universalist Church responsible should a child or any member of a family become ill with COVID-19 or any other illness.
Do trust that we will make every effort to have "normal," loving, educational and playful days that will look like our PPP Program that we love.
Piedmont Progressive Preschool COVID-19 Policies, Procedures, & Assumption of Risk Waiver
As the Parent of
____________________________________________________________
(Print the name(s) of your child(ren) enrolled at PPP,) I pledge and agree to comply with the following policies and procedures in order to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
1. I will comply with each procedure/item stated in the Piedmont Progressive Preschool Plan. I understand that for the safety of all PPP’s students and families, failure to comply is grounds for dismissal from the preschool without a refund of tuition and fees.
2. I will follow the new drop-off procedures, including verbal response to the Daily Health Screening questions, and I will NOT send my child to school with a fever (100.4 degrees or greater), chills, loss of sense of smell or taste, new cough, or shortness of breath. I pledge that my answers to the Daily Health Screening will be true and correct to the best of my knowledge.
3. I pledge to pick up my child from PPP within 30 minutes of being notified by a staff member that my child has developed symptoms listed above during school hours. I understand that my child will not be allowed to return to PPP until he/she is symptom-free without medication for 72 hours or has tested negative for the virus.
4. If a member of my household tests positive for COVID-19, or is exposed to someone who tests positive I pledge to immediately report these results to Michele Deese, director of Piedmont Progressive Preschool, who will contact the Mecklenburg County Health Department and will follow CDC guidelines and procedures for closing and re-opening classroom/school, as outlined in the Piedmont Progressive Preschool Re-Opening Plan.
5. I understand and accept full responsibility that in sending my child(ren) to Piedmont Progressive Preschool that my child(ren), myself, or someone in my family/household risks being exposed to and possibly contracting COVID-19 exposure, including serious illness. I waive and release Piedmont Progressive Preschool from any and all claims or liability of any nature arising out of my child(ren) or myself being exposed to or contracting COVID-19.
Parent/Guardian Name 1 Printed: ________________________________________________ Parent 1 Signature: ___________________________________ Date:___________________ Parent/Guardian 2 Name Printed: ________________________________________________ Parent 2 Signature:___________________________________ Date: ___________________
Daily Health Screening for COVID-19
Child’s Name _______________________________________ Date: ____________________
1. Have you or any of the children you are dropping off had close contact (within 6 feet for at least 15 minutes) in the last 14 days with someone with symptoms of COVID-19 or diagnosed with COVID-19, or has any health department or health care provider been in contact with you and advised you to quarantine?
_____Yes Your child may not be at PPP today. Your child can return 14 days after the last time he/she had close contact with someone with COVID-19.
_____No Your child is welcome to be at PPP, if he/she is not experiencing any symptoms. 2. Do you or do any of the children you are dropping off have any of these symptoms?
Fever Chills Shortness of Breath Difficulty Breathing New Cough Diarrhea Vomiting New Loss of Taste or Smell
_____Yes Your child may not be at PPP today. Please contact your healthcare provider. Your child may return once symptom free and when cleared by a doctor for COVID-19.
_____No Your child is welcome to be at PPP, if he/she is not experiencing any symptoms.
3. (Once a child returns after his/her first day of school.) Since they were last at PPP have you, any family members in your household or any of the children you are dropping off been diagnosed with COVID-19?
_____Yes Your child may not be at PPP today. Your child can return 14 days after the last time he/she had close contact with someone with COVID-19.
_____No Your child is welcome to be at PPP, if he/she is not experiencing any symptoms. Today’s temperature reading is: _____________________.
I, _________________________________ hereby acknowledge that all questions answered have been answered honestly and as accurately as possible.
Thank you for your cooperation in helping us to keep everyone safe and for navigating this difficult time with us.
Our staff will do our absolute best to keep your child safe and healthy by following all guidelines to the best of our ability. Still, we understand that we are working with little ones who sometimes don't understand all of those guidelines. We will, therefore, require that all parents sign a waiver and a contract, agreeing to abide by all of our policies, and to not hold Piedmont Progressive Preschool or Piedmont Unitarian Universalist Church responsible should a child or any member of a family become ill with COVID-19 or any other illness.
Do trust that we will make every effort to have "normal," loving, educational and playful days that will look like our PPP Program that we love.
Piedmont Progressive Preschool COVID-19 Policies, Procedures, & Assumption of Risk Waiver
As the Parent of
____________________________________________________________
(Print the name(s) of your child(ren) enrolled at PPP,) I pledge and agree to comply with the following policies and procedures in order to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
1. I will comply with each procedure/item stated in the Piedmont Progressive Preschool Plan. I understand that for the safety of all PPP’s students and families, failure to comply is grounds for dismissal from the preschool without a refund of tuition and fees.
2. I will follow the new drop-off procedures, including verbal response to the Daily Health Screening questions, and I will NOT send my child to school with a fever (100.4 degrees or greater), chills, loss of sense of smell or taste, new cough, or shortness of breath. I pledge that my answers to the Daily Health Screening will be true and correct to the best of my knowledge.
3. I pledge to pick up my child from PPP within 30 minutes of being notified by a staff member that my child has developed symptoms listed above during school hours. I understand that my child will not be allowed to return to PPP until he/she is symptom-free without medication for 72 hours or has tested negative for the virus.
4. If a member of my household tests positive for COVID-19, or is exposed to someone who tests positive I pledge to immediately report these results to Michele Deese, director of Piedmont Progressive Preschool, who will contact the Mecklenburg County Health Department and will follow CDC guidelines and procedures for closing and re-opening classroom/school, as outlined in the Piedmont Progressive Preschool Re-Opening Plan.
5. I understand and accept full responsibility that in sending my child(ren) to Piedmont Progressive Preschool that my child(ren), myself, or someone in my family/household risks being exposed to and possibly contracting COVID-19 exposure, including serious illness. I waive and release Piedmont Progressive Preschool from any and all claims or liability of any nature arising out of my child(ren) or myself being exposed to or contracting COVID-19.
Parent/Guardian Name 1 Printed: ________________________________________________ Parent 1 Signature: ___________________________________ Date:___________________ Parent/Guardian 2 Name Printed: ________________________________________________ Parent 2 Signature:___________________________________ Date: ___________________
Daily Health Screening for COVID-19
Child’s Name _______________________________________ Date: ____________________
1. Have you or any of the children you are dropping off had close contact (within 6 feet for at least 15 minutes) in the last 14 days with someone with symptoms of COVID-19 or diagnosed with COVID-19, or has any health department or health care provider been in contact with you and advised you to quarantine?
_____Yes Your child may not be at PPP today. Your child can return 14 days after the last time he/she had close contact with someone with COVID-19.
_____No Your child is welcome to be at PPP, if he/she is not experiencing any symptoms. 2. Do you or do any of the children you are dropping off have any of these symptoms?
Fever Chills Shortness of Breath Difficulty Breathing New Cough Diarrhea Vomiting New Loss of Taste or Smell
_____Yes Your child may not be at PPP today. Please contact your healthcare provider. Your child may return once symptom free and when cleared by a doctor for COVID-19.
_____No Your child is welcome to be at PPP, if he/she is not experiencing any symptoms.
3. (Once a child returns after his/her first day of school.) Since they were last at PPP have you, any family members in your household or any of the children you are dropping off been diagnosed with COVID-19?
_____Yes Your child may not be at PPP today. Your child can return 14 days after the last time he/she had close contact with someone with COVID-19.
_____No Your child is welcome to be at PPP, if he/she is not experiencing any symptoms. Today’s temperature reading is: _____________________.
I, _________________________________ hereby acknowledge that all questions answered have been answered honestly and as accurately as possible.
Thank you for your cooperation in helping us to keep everyone safe and for navigating this difficult time with us.