Shalom Austin JCC Early Childhood Program 2020-2021 COVID-19 Protocols & Procedures
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Shalom Austin JCC Early Childhood Program
2020-2021 COVID-19 Protocols & Procedures
This is an unprecedented school year and as a result we have created safety standards and
procedures that will lead us to a safe and fun school year at the ECP. The purpose of this document
is to share the infection control measures that the ECP will be utilizing during the current COVID-19
outbreak. It contains protocols for social distancing, daily health screening for staff and children, drop-
off and pick-up procedures, cleaning and disinfecting practices, healthy hygiene practices and more.
Note: The following document has been compiled with the guidance from the Centers for Disease
Control (CDC), Texas Health and Human Services, American School Association, Association of
School Nurses and the Shalom Austin Emergency Response Team.
The safety and health of our children, families and staff is our number 1 priority. Our facility has been
and will continuously be cleaned, disinfected and sanitized. Our staff has undergone extensive
training on best practices in preventing the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
However, COVID-19 is extremely contagious and spreads easily through person-to-person contact
who are close enough to share droplets generated by coughing, sneezing, speaking and breathing.
COVID-19 can also be spread by touching objects where contaminated droplets have landed. The
virus that causes COVID-19 can spread to others by infected persons who have few or no symptoms.
Even if an infected person is only mildly ill, the people they spread it to may become seriously ill or
even die, especially if that person is 65 or older or has pre-existing health conditions that place them
at a higher risk.
Participating in the ECP or accessing Shalom Austin facilities could increase the risk of contracting
COVID-19. Shalom Austin cannot guarantee that COVID-19 infection will not occur through
participation in ECP or accessing Shalom Austin facilities.
ECP parents must attend a MANDATORY Zoom Orientation prior to their child attending school. This
orientation will brief every ECP family with all our safety procedures and any new changes to the
school year. We want your children to be set up for a successful and fun experience.
PLEASE CAREFULLY READ THROUGH THE FOLLOWING RULES AND REGULATIONS, AND
REMEMBER THAT EVERYTHING INCLUDED IS IN AN EFFORT TO KEEP YOUR CHILD(REN)
SAFE AND HEALTHY.
Hours of Operation
• The ECP office will be open from 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM.
• Core Day: 8:30 AM – 2:30 PM; Extended Day: 2:30 PM – 5:30 PM
o If we are able to add early care later in the year, we will update you.
• There will be a staggered drop-off, organized by age group, therefore the start and end times
will be adjusted so the children will have a 6-hour or 8-hour day. This plan will be distributed as
soon as possible.
Absences
Please notify the ECP Office by 8:00 AM if your child is going to be absent.
ECP: (512) 735-8100 or ECPAdmin@shalomaustin.orgAccess to our Center
We will be adhering to a strict NO visitor policy at this time. ECP will allow only the following
individuals to enter the facilities:
• Operations staff
• Persons with legal authority to enter, including law enforcement officers, licensing staff, and
Department of Family and Protective Services staff
• Children enrolled in the program
• Parents of children present at the operation may be granted limited access into the facility
when deemed appropriate and necessary by ECP administration.
All persons entering will need to undergo a health screening before being admitted into the building.
All persons 3 years of age and older must enter wearing a mask and wash or sanitize their hands
upon entering. Adults must maintain a physical distance of 6 feet at all times.
Daily To-Do – Before and After School:
• Take the temperatures of both children and parents immediately before drop-off each day.
Anyone with a fever of 100.00 degrees Fahrenheit or above will be excluded from the program.
(See Symptoms and Exclusions section.)
• Complete health questionnaire on Kid Kiosk App
• Wear masks at drop-off and pick-up.
• Schedule your child’s bath time for immediately after school.
• Dress your child in clean clothes each day they attend school.
• Disinfect lunch boxes daily. Pack extra food for snacks and pack any dishes or silverware
needed.
• If your child brings a plush/stuffed animal or blanket for nap time, disinfect it each day after
school.
• Please practice social distancing and mask wearing at home and elsewhere as recommended
by local health officials.
Drop-Off and Pick-Up
• Drop-off and pick-up will happen outside the building with limited contact between family
members and staff.
• Staff, parents, and all children 3 years of age and older must wear a mask during these times.
• No late drop-offs, outside the drop-off window of time unless there is an emergency.
• We will have staggered drop-off and pick-up times. Each family will have an assigned time.
You MUST arrive in the time allotted. No early or late accommodations will be made in order to
maintain the safety benefits of our drop off/pick up schedule. You will be given your assigned
time and place prior to the start of school. It is our intention to keep these consistent
throughout the fall and adjusted to meet new hour guidelines.
• Be sure to place your ECP windshield placard on your dashboard. Placards will be handed out
on your supply delivery date or child’s first day of school. Each family will be given one or more
as needed, with siblings having the same drop-off and pick-up time.
Hanging out before and after school pick-up and drop-off is not permitted. The playground,
fields and other common areas will be CLOSED during this time.Daily Pre-Screening of Staff & Children
All individuals will be required to undergo a health screening prior to entering the building, conducted
by an ECP staff member. We encourage all families to use our new digital questionnaire on the Kid
Kiosk App. A step-by-step guide will be shared with all parents.
Health screenings will include the following:
• A visual inspection of the individual for signs of illness (flushed cheeks, rapid breathing or
difficulty breathing without recent physical activity, fatigue, or extreme fussiness), and confirm
that the child is not experiencing coughing or shortness of breath.
• Temperature will be taken and must be less than 100 degrees without the use of fever
reducing medication.
• Parents will be asked to respond to the following General Health Questionnaire which asks:
• Have you recently been diagnosed with a lab-confirmed pandemic illness?
• Have you recently been in close contact with someone with a suspected or lab- confirmed
pandemic illness?
• Do you, or someone you have close contact with exhibit any of the following symptoms:
o Cough
o Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
o Chills
o Repeated shaking with chills
o Muscle pain
o Headache
o Sore throat
o Loss of taste or smell
o Diarrhea
o Feeling feverish or a measured temperature greater than or equal to 100.0 degrees
Fahrenheit
o Known close contact with a person who is lab-confirmed to have COVID-19
ECP Staff
All ECP Staff have been properly vetted and interviewed prior to interacting with any child. In
compliance with Texas licensing rules and regulations each staff member has undergone a
background check and FBI fingerprint, as well as being CPR and First Aid certified. Staff will attend
extensive training before school begins, in addition to continuous staff meetings and ongoing
professional development sessions throughout the year. All ECP and Shalom Austin staff have
received enhanced trainings specific to COVID-19.
We will have a certified nurse assistant as part of our full-time staff.
Class Sizes, Group Regulations & Social Distancing
Classroom groups will be consistent, stable groups each day. The ECP will maintain small groups
and abide by the strict group sizes at all times that meet the recent Open Texas and NAEYC order
standards. Classroom groups will not be combined during the core day and will remain in separate
spaces from other groups. In addition, we endeavor to promote small group work and maintain
distance during snack and meal times by separating children as much as possible. Support staff will
be assigned to each age group and will provide extra support for breaks and transition periods. They
will follow proper hand washing and disinfection procedures when moving between groups. There will
be limited contact between parents and staff.Preventative Health Measures & Infection Control
Enhanced Cleaning & Disinfecting Procedures
• All cleaning materials and disinfectants will be EPA registered and fragrance-free.
• Staff will clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that are frequently touched throughout the
day (doorknobs, light switches, classroom sink handles, countertops, nap pads, toilet training
potties, desks, chairs, cubbies) and all toys and materials used will be disinfected throughout
and at the end of the day.
• Shalom Austin is equipped with an electro-static sprayer which is used throughout the ECP
classrooms every evening to further disinfect all surfaces.
• Toys that have been in a child’s mouth or otherwise been contaminated by bodily secretions or
excretions will be set aside in a designated container until they are cleaned and disinfected by
hand by a person wearing gloves.
• Toys will be cleaned with water and detergent, rinsed, disinfected, and then air dried
throughout the day and at the end of each day.
• Any toys and materials that cannot be cleaned will not be used; this will include the removal of
all cloth/fabric toys and materials from the classroom.
• Toys and materials will not be shared between groups of children unless they have been
washed and disinfected before exchanged.
• Common areas will be sanitized throughout the day and after high usage times.
• Bathrooms will be continuously cleaned and sanitized throughout the day.
• We will temporarily halt the use of water tables and sensory tables.
• Preschool aged children will nap each day. Their bedding will be kept separate in individually
labeled plastic bags (provided by parents). Nap mats will be used by the same student each
day, will be labeled with the student’s name. All bedding will be sent home with the parents on
Fridays to be washed and sanitized before being brought back to school on Monday.
• Preschool playgrounds will be used by ECP only and only one class will be allowed to use
each playground. High-touch surfaces made of plastic or metal, such as grab bars and railings,
will be cleaned after each classroom leaves the playground.
Masks and Clothing
• Staff, parents and children 3 years and older must wear masks during drop-off and pick-up.
• All masks must be labeled. Please pack an extra mask in your child’s backpack.
• Staff will wear masks inside or when in close contact with children. Safety glasses and face
shields are optional.
• Preschool children in our 3-year-old and Pre-K groups will be encouraged to wear a mask
while indoors. We have had great success with this process during the summer. Teachers will
make every effort to encourage children wear their mask as much as possible throughout the
day, but cannot guarantee child cooperation and will not be able to physically enforce this
preference.
• Reusable masks must be cleaned daily.
• In accordance with CDC guidelines, children under 2 years of age and younger are not
permitted to wear masks. We will introduce our 2-year-old classes to masks.
• ALL children and staff will need to have at least 2 full changes of clean clothes on hand at all
times.Mask Tips: The children have been successfully wearing masks during camp and we have learned a
few tips. Most children prefer and seem most comfortable wearing masks that loop behind the ears,
rather than masks with ties. Make sure that the loops fit snuggly but are not too tight or thin. Many
children like wearing masks with animal faces or pictures of their favorite cartoon characters.
Practice and encourage mask wearing when you go out with your child. Establish family mask
wearing rules and adhere to them. Wearing their mask in public spaces will become routine, much as
sitting in their car seat and wearing seat belts are. Have your child help you pick out masks to
purchase and you might make choosing 2 masks for the day part of your daily dressing routine. Your
child can also help clean their masks after school each day. Encouragement, praise and taking care
of their own mask will make this something your children will feel good about as they become more
independent.
Healthy Hand Hygiene
All children and staff will engage in regular hand hygiene throughout the day, as needed, using
Centers for Disease Control recommended hand washing methods. Children will be taught proper
handwashing and be supervised while washing their hands. It is important that children learn to do
this themselves and see teachers and parents model frequent and proper handwashing techniques.
Please watch this video HERE on proper handwashing.
Staff and children will be required to wash hands at the following times:
• Arrival to the facility and after breaks
• Before and after preparing food or drinks
• Before or after eating or handling food, or feeding children
• Before and after administering medication or medical ointment
• Before and after diapering
• After using the toilet or helping a child use the restroom
• After coming in contact with bodily fluid
• After playing outdoors
• Anytime a child places their hands in their mouth or picks their nose
Sanitizing Stations will be available in the classrooms, shared spaces and high-traffic areas.
Social Distancing Strategies
ECP staff will implement the following social distancing strategies:
• Staff will maintain at least 6 ft. of separation from other adults as much as possible
• When 6 ft. of separation is not feasible, other measures, such as face covering, hand hygiene,
cough etiquette, cleanliness, and sanitation will be rigorously practiced.
• Children will be with their classroom teachers and will be kept away from other adults by
staggering playground times and keeping groups separate. Support staff will be assigned to
each group to assist as needed or substitute when a teacher is out.
• At nap time, teachers will leave 6 ft. of distance between children. Where this distance is not
feasible, staff will leave as much space as possible between nap mats or cribs and will
alternate children head to toe in order to further reduce the potential for viral spread.
• Staff will work to minimize time standing in lines, keeping children at safe distances apart from
each other whenever possible.
• Staff will rearrange classrooms and seating arrangements to increase the distance between
children during table work and meals/snacks.
COVID-19 / ILLNESS PROTOCOL:Our commitment is to adhere strictly to CDC and Texas licensing guidelines on communicable
diseases and illness in our school. We have had strong protocols in place before COVID-19 and
many of them will remain the same. It is important for our families to understand that at a time of
heightened anxiety around illness our stance will be to err on the side of caution and require a
doctor’s note, or that children stay home until symptoms resolve. We ask that families always be
forthcoming and report illnesses to our the ECP office or school nurse. In most cases the guidance is
clear cut, if not we will consult our medical professionals or health department before making
decisions.
The responsibility for the health and wellness of our community relies on all of us together.
One of the biggest adjustments this year will be the fact that we will be quicker to send a child home
with symptoms than we have in the past. We ask for your patience and understanding that you may
need doctor’s clearance more often than you have been used to in the past.
• Please keep your child home and immediately contact the ECP if your child is sick or has had
close contact with anyone diagnosed with or suspected of having COVID-19. The CDC
recommends anyone with symptoms of COVID-19 self-isolate until they are fever free for 72
hours (without using medication), respiratory symptoms have improved, and 10 days have
passed since the appearance of symptoms.
• In the event a child or educator is diagnosed with COVID-19, we will immediately close all
affected areas, initiate cleaning and disinfecting protocols, and conduct contract tracing. A
number of circumstances will be evaluated to determine the appropriate level of response and
the scope of any closings.
• All ECP families will be notified if a child or educator is confirmed to have COVID-19.
Illness Exclusion Policy for Staff and Children
• Any staff or child who exhibits signs or symptoms of possible illness with COVID-19 or other
communicable disease during Health Screenings will not be permitted to enter the building.
• Any staff or child who develops new or worsening symptoms while at school will be sent home
immediately. If a child is exhibiting symptoms of illness, they will be removed from their group
and made comfortable in the school isolation room to wait for a parent to pick up. Parents are
asked to pick-up within 30 minutes. If a staff member exhibits symptoms of illness, they will be
required to leave immediately.
• Symptoms include:
o Cough
o Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
o Chills
o Repeated shaking with chills
o Muscle pain
o Headache
o Sore throat
o Loss of taste or smell
o Diarrhea
o Vomiting
o Feeling feverish or a measured temperature greater than or equal to 100.0 degrees
Fahrenheit
o Known close contact with a person who is lab-confirmed to have COVID-19
In order to curb the spread of COVID-19, and other communicable diseases, it is vital that staff and
children remain at home when showing signs and symptoms of any illness.Return Policy After Illness for Staff and Children
ECP will only allow staff or children with any of the signs or symptoms listed above to return to school
if the following procedures have been followed:
• If diagnosed with COVID-19, the individual may return to school when all three of the following
criteria are met:
o At least 3 days (72 hours) have passed since recovery (resolution of fever without fever-
reducing medications)
o Improvement in respiratory symptoms (cough, shortness of breath)
o At least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared
.
• If the individual has symptoms that could be COVID-19 and wants to return to school before
completing the above self-isolation period, the individual must obtain a doctors’ note indicating
a negative COVID-19 test in addition to an alternative diagnosis (strep, ear infection, etc.). The
note must state that “The child was seen and evaluated for _______________. The child does
NOT have COVID-19 and is able to return to childcare without placing another child or adult at
risk.”
• In the case of an individual who has symptoms that could be COVID-19, but chooses not to be
evaluated by a medical professional or tested for COVID-19, the individual is assumed to have
COVID-19, and may not return to school until the child has completed the same three-step
criteria listed above.
If there is a person in the household who is ill, the child may not attend school until all are well
in the household. If any child, or anyone in the home has been in direct contact with any
person having a positive COVID-19 diagnosis, it is required that the ECP be notified
immediately.
ECP will not allow any child or staff with known close contact to a person who has been lab-
confirmed to have COVID-19 to return to school until the end of the 14-day self-quarantine
period from the last day of exposure.
Early Pick-Up
If you need to pick up your child prior to the end of school, we are asking that you coordinate around
your child’s lunchtime, prior to naptime (noon) and that you will keep your child home for the rest of
the day. This will help us preserve our safety protocols. Please notify the office no later than that
morning and we will arrange to bring your child to the front of the ECP to meet you.
Keeping our School Community Safe and Healthy:
• Open and honest communication is key during this time!
• We ask that families and staff maintain responsible social distancing practices and mask
wearing outside of school, as well as limit travel during the time school is in session.We are committed to remaining open and providing a high-quality program where families feel
comfortable dropping off their children and staff feel comfortable coming to work. We appreciate your
efforts limiting the risk of exposure to all members of our community.
REFUNDS DUE TO COVID-19 CLOSURE:
Should we be ordered to close by city, county, state, or federal officials at any time, families will be
required to meet their financial commitment for the duration of that calendar month. After that time, no
further charges will be made until we re-open. (For example, suppose we were ordered to close from
December 12 through February 10. Families would be required to pay their tuition through December
31. There would be no charges for the month of January, and charges for February would be pro-
rated.) If we are required to close for a short period of time in the event of a positive case of COVID-
19 in our community (see above), there will be no refunds granted.
We are doing everything in our power to keep every child, staff member and family safe during this
time. Working together to keep our school and community healthy is essential. The ECP and the
Shalom Austin Emergency Response Team will continue to study new developments shared by the
CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), Texas Health and Human Services and other
medical professionals. We will update our families and staff with any information that may affect our
school.
CDC Guidelines for Schools and Childcare Centers
Texas Childcare GuidelinesYou can also read
