The Children’s Center has developed new pick-up, drop-off, and classroom management procedures in light of the Coronavirus pandemic. Our first priority is the health and safety of our staff and children and these new procedures are in place until further notice.
Staff Procedures:
1: Upon entering the building, all staff must record their temperature and wash their hands using the recommended CDC procedures. No one with a temperature above 100.0° is allowed to work until his or her temperature returns to normal without fever-reducing medication for 48 hours.
- Wet your hands with clean, running water (warm or cold), turn off the tap, and apply soap.
- Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap. Lather the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
- Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
- Rinse your hands well under clean, running water.
- Dry your hands using a clean towel or air dry them.
2: All staff is strongly encouraged to wear masks when feasible while in the classroom or within 6 feet of another person.
3: All staff must wear single use gloves while diapering, serving food/feeding, wiping noses, cleaning children, dealing with injuries, and any time they are in contact with bodily fluids. Hand washing is required after removing gloves.
4: All staff must wear a smock or clothing that has been washed and cleaned at The Children’s Center when in the classroom.
5: All staff is required to maintain a fresh bleach mixture (in a locked cabinet out of reach of children) at least daily and use to clean and sanitize all surfaces at least twice per day. Teachers must clean and sanitize surfaces after lunch and before leaving for the day, once all children have left the classroom.
6: Playground equipment will be sanitized daily through the summer.
NOTE: There will be a limit on the number of people allowed in the lobby at any one time in order to maintain social distancing. Everyone entering our building is required to use hand sanitizer or wash hands and wear a mask.
ALL PARENTS AND VISITORS ARE REQUIRED TO WEAR A MASK UPON ENTERING THE CHILDREN’S CENTER.
Child Pick-up and Drop-off Procedures:
1: Upon entering the building, all children will have their temperature taken and recorded prior to being accepted into the classroom. No one with a temperature above 100.0° is allowed in the classroom until his or her temperature returns to normal without fever-reducing medication for 48 hours.
2: Parents must certify daily that no one in their household or with whom they have been in contact with has been diagnosed with COVID 19. Parents must notify the school if they have a visitor from any COVID 19 hot spot. If yes, the child may not return to school for 48 hours and must remain fever and symptom-free without fever-reducing medication during that time.
3: Parents must leave their child in the care of the designated staff member who will escort them to their classroom. Parents are not allowed in the children’s hallway or in any classroom without advance permission.
3: Children will immediately wash their hands upon entering the classroom, using the CDC approved procedure (see above).
4: Children’s temperatures will be monitored at lunchtime and after a nap or anytime the teacher determines necessary. Any child with a temperature over 100.0° will immediately be separated from the classroom and sent home. Parents are required to pick up their child within 30 minutes of notification of fever. Children may not return to school for 48 hours after a fever has returned to normal without fever-reducing medication.
5: Children’s bags must be made of plastic and clearly labeled with the child’s name. Please know that bags may be sprayed with Lysol or another sanitizing spray before being sent to the classroom.
6: The Children’s Center will provide blankets for each child at naptime to limit items coming and going from the classroom. Blankets will be washed and sanitized at the Center.
7: Children will be required to wash their hands upon entering their classroom, before and after outside playtime, before and after breakfast, lunch, and snack, before and after naptime and after any bathroom time.
8: For pick-up, children will be escorted by a designated staff person to their parents in the building lobby.
If a parent needs to communicate with their child’s teacher they can:
- Call the Center and be transferred to their child’s classroom
- Send a written note
- Schedule an appointment and meet in the Board Room
If a member of our staff or one of our enrolled students is diagnosed with COVID 19, the Center will close for at last 5 days as recommended by the CDC, or the number of days required by DHEC or any other regulatory agency. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/guidance-for-schools.html
The Children’s Center will maintain ABC ratios in all classrooms. When possible, we will ensure children will remain in the same classroom with the same teachers at all times.
Child’s Age Staff to Child Ratio
- Birth to 1 year 1:5
- 1 year to 2 years 1:5
- 2 years to 3 years 1:7
- 3 years to 4 years 1:11
- 4 years to 5 years 1:13
- Summer Camp 1:15
NOTE: Please understand that with new procedures, drop-off and pick up will take longer than before so please plan your time accordingly. We will not be held responsible for parents being late to work.
These protocols and procedures may be changed or updated from time to time to ensure ongoing compliance with the latest CDC, DHEC, and DSS guidelines.
