COVID-19 Policies
Creating a safe and healthy environment for your children and our staff is our highest priority. In accordance with governmental orders and guidelines, we are taking extra precautions to help our community stay safe and healthy. In addition, we are asking you--our parents-- to partner with us by adhering to health guidelines and maintaining open & honest communication. We thank you for your patience.
COVID-19 Symptoms:
People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms or combinations of symptoms may have COVID-19: Fever, chills, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, cough, sore throat, headache, new loss of taste and/or smell. This list is not all-inclusive. Please consult your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.
What does this mean for the Aronoff Preschool?
In order to operate safe programs and maintain the health of our staff and children
the following protocols will be in place for all Aronoff Preschool programming and maybe adjusted periodically as advised by community care licensing, CDC, as well as local, state, and federal government guidelines.
Modified Hours
Due to current restrictions in place by the state of California our preschool hours will be 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Employee and Child Health
The health and safety of our employees and preschoolers is our number one priority. Adults and children will be advised to practice physical distancing by standing at least six feet away from non-family members whenever possible. Employees will be reminded not to touch their faces. Preschool staff will be given clear training on how to recognize and report any suspected cases of COVID-19 at camp. Preschool staff are instructed to stay home if they do not feel well and are instructed to immediately contact an Administrator if they notice a coworker or child with a cough, shortness of breath, or any other known symptoms of COVID-19. If we are alerted to a suspected case of COVID-19 in our school community, we will immediately work with local health care agencies and follow all recommendations and requirements set forth by the agency. Correct hygiene and frequent handwashing with soap are vital to help combat the spread of viruses. All staff will be instructed to wash their hands, or use sanitizer when a sink is not available, every 60 minutes (for 20-seconds) and after any of the following activities:
- using the restroom, sneezing, touching the face, blowing the nose, cleaning, sweeping, mopping, eating, drinking, entering and leaving campus, going on break, and before or after starting their shift.
Appropriate PPE will be worn by all employees based on their role and responsibilities and in adherence to state or local regulations and guidance. Preschool employees will be trained on how to properly use and dispose of all PPE. Teachers will be required to wear masks at all times while at work. All JCC and preschool staff will be screened and their temperatures taken prior to entering the facility. Any staff member presenting with COVID-19 symptoms while at work will be immediately sent home. In these circumstances, staff members will be required to follow the latest CDC guidance. Staff and families are temporarily excluded from the Merage JCC campus if any member of the household has (or has been in close contact with anyone who has): A suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 (for example – close contact at school, work, religious services, social gatherings) Traveled international, or domestically, from an area outside of Southern California which is experiencing widespread community transmission of COVID-19; or from any area which is the subject of similar travel restrictions under applicable state and local guidance. Preschool administration will work with their employees and families to determine the necessary protocols and steps for allowing employees/participants to return to campus.
Child Drop-Off Procedures
Parents must be on the alert for signs of illness in their children and keep them home when they are sick. Children’s temperature should be taken by parents at home prior to coming to school. Parents/guardians will not be permitted to enter the building. Parents/guardians must park and walk up to the check in tables. Parents/guardians must wear a face mask during drop-off. Parents/guardians will sign their child(ren) in and out for the day. Parents must print their first and last name legibly. Please bring your own pen. An Aronoff preschool staff member will walk your child into the school and to their class.
Screening:
You will be asked to confirm that your child is healthy enough to attend school daily. We will take yours and your child’s temperature with a touchless thermometer. If either temperature is 100.4 or above, your child will need to stay home until you and your child are 72 hours fever-free without medication. Please be patient as this process may take extra time to implement Children will immediately wash their hands upon entering the classrooms
Child Pick-Up Procedures
Upon arrival to pick up your child, parents/guardians will walk up to the check-in table.
If a staff member is not present, please inform security you are here
to pick up your child.
A staff member will retrieve your child from class
and bring your child and their belongings to the front of the school.
Parents/guardians must wear face masks during this time
and maintain social distancing as much as possible.
You will need to sign your child out for the day by printing your name.
Children will be sent home with all of their personal belongings each day.
Preschool and JCC staff are not permitted to place children
in a vehicle or secure children in a child seat or safety belt.
COVID-19 Modified Illnesses Policy
This policy shows temporary modifications to our standard Illness policy
Parents must make other arrangements for the care
of their children when they show symptoms of
any deviation from normal health.
Children should not be sent to school if they are vomiting,
have a fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing,
diarrhea, eye discharge or pink eye, excessive coughing,
oozing sores, head lice, an undiagnosed rash, or any of the following:
fever, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache,
sore throat, new loss of taste, or smell - or are obviously not well.
If a member of your household has a fever of 100.4 or higher,
your child(ren) may not attend school until the member is
symptom free for 72 hours.
When a child becomes ill or injured at school, the staff’s first priority
is to meet the child’s physical health needs.
In case of illness, we will take the child’s temperature, as well as perform an
overall visual health assessment.
A phone call to parents will be made when the school deems it necessary.
If parents are requested by the school to pick up their sick child,
they must do so within one hour.
Children may not return to school until they are 72-hours symptom-free
and fever-free without medication.
Parents are advised to make alternate plans for care in the event that the
child becomes ill and is not able to attend school.
If a sick child is not picked up within one hour of being called, we will cal
l your emergency contacts to request pick up.
Failure to pick up a sick child in a timely manner, or disregard of this policy
by parents, may result in the removal of your child from the preschool.
While a physician’s note may be helpful, it does not guarantee that a child
may return to school. Final decisions on allowing a child to return are
made by an Administrator.
Communication
Due to limited access into the school, information should be shared with
preschool staff during the Wellness Check upon arrival, which will then be
relayed to the classroom teacher. In-person parent meetings will not be
available. Digital communication is recommended, such as email, Zoom,
phone calls, etc. when necessary.
Reinforcing Classroom Etiquette with the Children
Discussions and education will take place, age-appropriately, with the
children to provide an understanding and promote healthy and safe
guidelines for children to follow. Visuals will be included to remind children
of the new practices. Respiratory etiquette will be reinforced, including
covering coughs and sneezes. Children will be educated and responsible for
healthy practices such as covering their mouth with inner elbow when
sneezing or coughing, followed by 20-second vigorous hand washing with
soap and the use of a disposable paper towel.
Hand Washing
Teach, model and reinforce hand washing.
Practice frequent handwashing by teaching a popular child-friendly song or
counting to 20 (handwashing should last for at least 20 seconds)
Encourage children to thoroughly dry hands after washing. Handwashing
included front, backs, tops of hands and between fingers with vigorous
strokes to properly wash hands.
Signs will be posted in restrooms and near sinks that convey proper
handwashing techniques.
Model and practice handwashing before and after eating, after coughing or
sneezing, after playing outside, and after using the restroom.
Caring for Infants and Toddlers
To the extent possible, when washing, feeding, or holding very young
children staff will protect themselves by wearing a smock or long-sleeved
shirt and by wearing long hair up in a ponytail or other updo.
Teachers will wash their hands, neck, and anywhere touched by a child’s
secretions. Teachers will change the child’s clothes if secretions are on the
child’s clothes. They will change their own smock/shirt if there are
secretions on it, and wash their hands again. Contaminated clothes will be
placed in a plastic bag or washed in a washing machine. Infants, toddlers,
and their providers should have multiple changes of clothes available.
Teachers will wash their hands before and after handling infant bottles
prepared at home or prepared on campus. Bottles, bottle caps, nipples, and
other equipment used for bottle-feeding will be emptied, rinsed, and placed
in a bag to be sent home.
Napping
Children will rest alternating head-to-toe positions and be situated 3-6 feet
apart whenever possible. Bedding (fitted sheet and blanket) will be sent
home on a daily basis for washing.
Stuffed toys, pillows, and other
personal items should be kept at home until further notice.
Classroom Sanitizing Procedures
Bleach solution must be made fresh each morning.
Teachers will disinfect nap mats, toys, countertops, cubby and nap areas,
and other parts of the classroom throughout the day with a mild bleach
disinfectant solution. Leave the solution on for at least 2 minutes and allow
to air dry when possible.
Maintenance staff will sanitize faucets, toilet handles, door knobs, etc.
several times throughout the day.
Maintenance staff will continue to come every night and use disinfectant
products to clean restrooms, floors, sinks, and counters.
Multiple toys and manipulatives will be accessible in the classroom that are
easy to clean and sanitize throughout the day. Dramatic play fabric items
and any other materials not easily cleaned or disinfected have been
removed from each classroom.
Each class will have a designated tub for toys that need to be cleaned and
wiped after use.
Playground equipment and outside toys will be sanitized in between each
group’s use.
Food Preparation and Children’s Mealtimes (Snacks & Lunches)
Teachers will sanitize tables and ensure children wash hands prior to and
immediately after eating.
Teachers will wash their hands and wear a face mask/covering and gloves
before preparing food and while assisting children to eat.
Children will be spaced a proper amount of distance at tables.
Toothbrushing must be done at home and cannot be done at school.
Only disposable paper goods, utensils, and cups will be used.
Meals will be served individually by staff and not served family-style.
Staff members may not contact exposed, ready-to-eat food with their bare
hands and should will suitable utensils such as spatulas, tongs, single-use
gloves, or dispensing equipment.
All food, once served or handled outside the food preparation area, will be
discarded.
Additional Guidelines for Staff and General Campus Precautions
Preschool staff will be trained on the enhanced precautions and
preventative measures to keep everyone safe and healthy.
Staff is required to self-monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19.
Non-affiliated persons will not be allowed onto campus; i.e. school tours, all
visitors, educator tours, children’s presenters, etc.
School tours may be conducted virtually via Zoom or Facetime.
No school gatherings, i.e. All School Shabbat Sing Along (they will be done
inside the classrooms), Havdalah, etc.
Emergency Exposure Protocol
Administration will immediately contact local health officials who will help
determine the defined course of action.
Any child who has been directly exposed will need to provide a negative
COVID test, as well as quarantine for 14 days from exposure.
Any faculty member who has been directly exposed will need to provide a
negative COVID test, as well as quarantine for 14 days from exposure.