ABC PRESCHOOL EDUCATIONAL OPTIONS FOR - 2020-2021 We have chosen to open IN-PERSON

ABC PRESCHOOL EDUCATIONAL OPTIONS FOR
2020-2021
We have chosen to open IN-PERSON
ABC Preschool is looking forward to starting the 2020-2021 school year on schedule in person as planned. The safety and
well-being of our students, families, and preschool staff will always be our top priority. We want to promote a safe program
environment for students and staff. We acknowledge that strategies may change if the level of community transmission
increases to the point where programming must be disrupted. Families should understand what actions they need to take
should their child become symptomatic or be exposed to COVID-19. We have created a Preparedness Plan to minimize the
risk of exposure to COVID-19 at ABC Preschool. The Preparedness Plan is available for review at any time. You should have
been emailed a copy of the Plan already.

ABC Preschool is following the guidance of the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and the Center for Disease Control
(CDC) for the strictest standards of care. There is a possibility that the safety protocols written in our Preparedness Plan will
need to stay in place for the entire school year, but there is also the possibility that we will be able to loosen the
requirements as time goes on. All families will be kept informed as the MDH or CDC recommendations change.

Although the public school districts in our area have decided on a partial return of students to elementary school where
children attend in person some days and have distance-learning other days, that scenario does not suit the needs of
preschool children. Because our classes only meet two or three days per week, we will conduct either IN PERSON classes or
REMOTE LEARNING, but not a blend of both. It is important for young children to establish routines for learning and we can do
this most effectively if we maintain a consistent structure for their learning environment. Please read through the two
learning modules included here to find out how we are creating the best learning environment for your child whether it is in
person or remotely.

IN PERSON LEARNING
We have strict standards and protocols to ensure sanitary and clean environments. Our staff practices excellent hand
hygiene and our entire classroom space is thoroughly cleaned and disinfected throughout the day. The following
information will give you an idea of how we will be promoting a safe program environment for all.

COMMUNICATION
The Preparedness Plan

    •    Communication to ABC Preschool families will be via email, virtual preschool meetings, and personal
         conversations.
    •    The expectations for parents and children in implementing our preparedness plan will be communicated to
         families, using plain language, via email and Zoom call. The director will also be available for phone conversations.
    •    The plan will be posted in a prominent place and readily accessible to all ABC Preschool employees, adult
         caregivers (parents and guardians), substitutes, and volunteers who need to review it.

Suspected or Confirmed Case of COVID-19 at ABC Preschool

    •   If a child, staff member, or volunteer is exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, the ABC Preschool director will reach
        out to MDH at health.schools.covid19@state.mn.us and follow their direction.
    •   If we are notified of a confirmed case of COVID-19 in someone who attends our program, we will reach out to
        MDH at health.schoolcc.followup@state.mn.us. The MDH school and childcare team monitor this email inbox
        seven days a week and will provide quick and accurate guidance. We will not report cases to the public hotlines,
        staff that work on the hotlines are not able to offer guidance on cases in childcare settings.
    •   For specific health questions regarding our care settings, we will reach out to the MDH school and childcare team
        at health.schools.covid19@state.mn.us.
    •   ABC Preschool lead teachers will ensure that parent or guardian contact information in each child’s record is up to
        date so that all families can be notified.
    •   Using the MDH and CDC resources all parents, staff, volunteers and church administrators will be notified if a child,
        staff member or volunteer has been exposed, is exhibiting symptoms or has tested positive.
    •   The notification will be made by email, and when there is no email available, by phone.

PREVENTION
We encourage staff to take everyday preventive actions to prevent the spread of respiratory illness.

    •   We wash hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not readily available, we use an alcohol-based
        hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
    •   We always wash hands with soap and water if our hands are visibly dirty.
    •   We supervise young children when they use hand sanitizer to prevent swallowing alcohol.
    •   We clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.
    •   We cover cough and sneezes and teach the children to do the same.
    •   We will cover our mouths and noses with a cloth face covering when we have to go out in public and when the
        governor’s executive order about face covering requirements are more restrictive.
    •   We require sick children and staff to stay home.

PARENT DROP OFF AND PICK UP
    •   Whenever possible, pick-up and drop-off will occur outside to limit the extent to which parents interact with staff,
        children and each other.
    •   For DROP OFF, parents will pull up to the playground area at St. Joe’s Church or the center door of Living Waters
        Church and wait in car.
    •   One teacher will greet each family, screen child and guide child to classroom.
        o Before children enter the space, the teacher will screen them using the method below to ensure those with
             symptoms are not attending.
        o We will ask parents/guardians to take their child’s temperature either before coming to the facility. The
             parents will submit a Google Form Screening before coming to preschool.
        o Upon their arrival, we will stand at least 6 feet away from the parent/guardian and child.
        o If a Google Form Screening has not been submitted, ABC staff will ask the parent/guardian to confirm that the
             child does not have fever, shortness of breath or cough. This will be done in written form.
        o ABC staff will make a visual inspection of the child for signs of illness which could include flushed cheeks, rapid
             breathing or difficulty breathing (without recent physical activity), fatigue, or extreme fussiness.
        o Wearing of personal protective equipment (PPE) is not required if we maintain a distance of 6 feet.
    •   Upon arrival, each child will wash their hands for 20 seconds with soap and water before touching anything in the
        classroom or outside.

•    Before dismissal, each child will wash their hands for 20 seconds with soap and water before waiting to be picked
         up.
    •    For PICK UP, parents will pull up to the curb in front of preschool entrance and wait in car. Each family will be given
         a name card to display in the front passenger visor of the vehicle to facilitate easy escort of the child to the vehicle.
    •    Teacher and assistant teacher and all children will wait outside on sidewalk near curb together and have each child
         walk to his or her family vehicle as it arrives.

SCREEN CHILDREN UPON ARRIVAL
Persons who have a fever of 100.40 (38.00C) or above or other signs of illness should not be admitted to the facility.
Parents are encouraged to be on the alert for signs of illness in their children and to keep them home when they are sick.

ABC Preschool will rely on PARENTS and Physical Distancing for screening:

Parents/guardians are asked to take their child’s temperature either before coming to the facility. Parents will submit a
Google Form Screening before school. Upon their arrival, ABC Preschool staff will stand at least 6 feet away from the
parent/guardian and child and

    •    If the Google Form Screening has not been submitted, ask the parent/guardian to confirm that the child does not
         have fever, shortness of breath or cough. This will be done in written form.
    •    Make a visual inspection of the child for signs of illness which could include flushed cheeks, rapid breathing or
         difficulty breathing (without recent physical activity), fatigue, or extreme fussiness.
    •    Personal protective equipment (PPE) does not need to be worn if a distance of 6 feet between staff and family is
         maintained.

ABC Preschool staff will screen the children twice daily-at the beginning and the end of each class period-with a visual
screening and temperature check. If the child exhibits ANY sign of illness, the parent will be contacted to pick up the child.

PHYSICAL DISTANCING STRATEGIES
    •    Within the program, we will create consistent pods of the same staff, volunteers, and participants with a maximum
         number of 10 people in each pod.
    •    We will adapt practices to allow physical distancing of at least 6 feet whenever possible.
    •    We will use visual cues to illustrate where students may sit to adhere to social distancing.
    •    We will adhere to a staff to student ratio of 1:9.
    •    Whenever possible, we will implement programming that refrains from intermixing pods. If intermixing of pods is
         necessary, we will limit the number of pods that intermix and keep records of staff, volunteers, and participants
         that intermix.
    •    We have a plan for back-up staffing in case a staff member or volunteer becomes ill during the day/program.
    •    Wherever possible, we will hold activities outdoors and encourage participants to spread out.
    •    Snack and lunch times will be staggered to minimize the number of people dining at one time and keep 6 feet
         apart.
    •    If social distancing cannot be adhered to for some activities, we will cancel the activity.
    •    We will avoid having areas that would allow staff and students to easily congregate in a limited space.
    •    Staff and children will avoid community supplies when possible.

CLEANING AND DISINFECTION
  •   We will routinely clean, sanitize, and disinfect surfaces and objects that are frequently touched, especially toys and
      games.
  •   Toys that cannot be cleaned and sanitized will not be used.
  •   Toys that children have placed in their mouths or that are otherwise contaminated by body secretions or
      excretions will be set aside until they are cleaned by hand by a person wearing gloves. Clean with water and
      detergent, rinse, sanitize with an EPA-registered disinfectant, rinse again, and air-dry, or clean in a mechanical
      dishwasher. We must be mindful of items more likely to be placed in a child’s mouth, like play food, dishes, and
      utensils.
  •   Machine washable cloth toys should be used by one individual at a time or should not be used at all. These toys
      should be laundered before being used by another child.
  •   We will set aside toys that need to be cleaned. They will be placed in a dish pan with soapy water or put in a
      separate container marked for “used toys.” The dish pan and water will be kept out of reach from children to
      prevent risk of drowning. Washing with soapy water is the ideal method for cleaning. We have enough toys so that
      the toys can be rotated through cleanings.
  •   Children’s books, like other paper-based materials such as mail or envelopes, are not considered a high risk for
      transmission and do not need additional cleaning or disinfection procedures.
  •   We will clean objects/surfaces not ordinarily cleaned daily such as doorknobs, light switches, sink handles,
      countertops, chairs, cubbies, and playground structures’ handles.
  •   Children and staff will avoid community supplies when possible. If shared supplies are necessary, we will use
      designated bins for clean and used supplies. Community supplies are considered high-touch and should be cleaned
      frequently.
  •   We will not share equipment between staff or students when possible.

SNACK AND MEALTIMES
  •   Snacks and lunches must be brought from home.
  •   We will stagger snack times to minimize the number of people dining inside at one time and keep people 6 feet
      apart. If children are eating outside, we will make sure they maintain a distance of six feet between each other.
  •   Class pods will not intermix and we will maintain a consistent group of pods that are dining at the same time each
      day whenever possible.
  •   These steps will help minimize transmission and also allow for swift contact tracing if needed.
  •   We will clean and disinfect common surfaces between groups
  •   We will serve meals outside or in alternative indoor areas as weather allows.

HEALTHY HAND HYGIENE
  •   All children, staff, and volunteers will engage in hand hygiene at the following times:
              -Arrival to the facility and after breaks
              -Before and after preparing food or drinks
              -Before and after eating or handling food, or feeding children
              -Before and after administering medication, medical ointment, sunscreen
              -After using the toilet or helping a child use the bathroom
              -After coming in contact with bodily fluid
              -After handling animals or cleaning up animal waste
              -After playing outdoors or in sand
              -After handling garbage

•   We wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If hands are not visibly dirty, alcohol-based hand
        sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol can be used if soap and water are not readily available.
    •   We supervise children when they use hand sanitizer to prevent ingestion.
    •   We supervise and assist children with handwashing if needed.
    •   After assisting children with handwashing, staff will also wash their hands.
    •   We have placed posters describing handwashing steps near sinks.

REMOTE LEARNING
In the event that ABC Preschool programming must be disrupted, we will provide remote learning to our families. Our
Remote Learning Program will be in the form of guided home schooling. Families will receive quality educational materials,
activity ideas, personal videos from teachers and much more.

Studies show that family engagement is an integral part of student success in school. Now more than ever, especially for
young grades, kids need the support of their parents and families to prevent learning loss and continue learning real-world
skill through fun, hands-on activities.

What can we, as educators do to support parents as partners to increase family engagement? We can make connections,
prepare materials, and provide resources. All of these platforms are optional; parents must do what works for their
schedules. There will be no attendance or check-ins. We encourage you to take advantage of as much remote programming
as you can!

MAKE CONNECTIONS
The relationships teachers build with our students is the MOST IMPORTANT thing we have! We want to keep the
communication flowing between ABC Preschool teachers, students, and parents. There are many ways to facilitate that
communication including:

Email

    •   Teachers will send a weekly email to recap the last week’s events and preview the upcoming week’s events.
    •   We will send out a monthly calendar with “daily fun with your little one” like the example found here:
        https://ideas.demco.com/tag/activity-calendar/
    •   Parents are encouraged to touch base with their child’s teachers as often as possible.

See Saw App

    •   Teachers will post videos daily (stories, science experiments, puppet shows, etc.).
    •   Teachers will post activity ideas at least weekly.
    •   Parents are invited to share photos of their children which teachers will post to the class.

Virtual meetings

    •   Teachers will invite families to sign up for 15-minute individual Zoom calls once a month.
    •   Teachers will host 30-minute Zoom calls once a week with the preschool classes and twice a week with the pre-K
        classes.

•   Parents are encouraged to initiate video calls between their child and their child’s friends.

Facebook

    •   Board members will post weekly on the preschool’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/AbidingBranches/

Instagram

    •   Board members will post weekly on the preschool’s Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/abcpreschoolmn/

PREPARE MATERIALS
Packaged materials prepared by your child’s teachers may be picked up at preschool at the end of each month for the next
month’s lesson plans. The materials will support learning activities at home. The materials may include

    •   Your child’s school supply bin
    •   Letter of the Week worksheets with ideas of what to glue on or paint with
    •   Collage materials or other art activities
    •   Math manipulatives and counting cards
    •   Paint and objects to paint with
    •   Science experiment materials
    •   Games or ideas for games to play
    •   Sensory bin items or ideas

PROVIDE RESOURCES
ABC Preschool teachers use many sources for our lesson planning. When possible, we will provide links to online resources
that we use as well as book lists and activity ideas. As preschool teachers, we learn as much from our students and their
families as they do from us. We would love to get your ideas to enhance our curriculum and share with others.

We realize that remote learning is NOT the same as classroom learning and that parents are not expected to take on the
role of “teacher” along with the many other roles they have. We recognize that parents and children need support. We will
offer as much support and information as we can. Please connect with ABC Preschool if you have a need that is not being
met.