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George School Children’s Center COVID 19 Health & Safety Plan

rev 9/2022

FACE MASKS

George School Children’s Center is currently mask friendly. If masking requirements change, we will follow the protocol outlined below.

Staff and Visitors

  • Any person entering the building is required to wear a face mask. 
  • Staff must wear face coverings indoors; they must also wear face coverings outside where staff are unable to maintain the 6-foot social distance.
  • Visitors are currently excluded from the program.

Children

  • Children 2 years old and older are required to wear a face covering indoors with exceptions for eating and sleeping. 
  • If a child is outdoors and able to consistently maintain a social distance of 6-feet from individuals who are not part of their household, they do not need to wear a mask.
  • If a parent or guardian has been unable to place a face covering safely on the child’s face, they should not do so.
  • If a child 2 years old or older is unable to remove a face covering without assistance, the child is not required to wear one.

Note: The Department of Health recognizes that getting younger children to be comfortable wearing face coverings and to keep them on may create some difficulties. Under these circumstances, licensed childcare programs may consider prioritizing the wearing of face coverings to times when it is difficult for the child to maintain a social distance of at least 6-feet from others who are not a part of their household (e.g. when standing in line at school).

As recommendations continue to evolve, we will continue to stay up to date on the most recent CDC Guidance for Operating Childcare found at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/guidance-for-childcare.html

FACILITY CLEANING, SANITIZING, DISINFECTING, AND VENTILATION
The children’s center is cleaned daily by the Environmental Services Department of George School using EPA-registered cleaning products.

  • A routine schedule for cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting is in place.
  • The schedule delineates staff and ES Department responsibilities.
  • The schedule outlines what to clean, the frequency, and the suggested cleaning products.

Staff will routinely clean, sanitize, and disinfect surfaces and objects that are frequently touched. This may include toys, doorknobs, sink handles, tabletops, chairs, and playground structures.

Cleaning and sanitizing toys:

  • Toys that cannot be sanitized will not be used.
  • Toys that have been placed in a child’s mouth or exposed to body secretions or excretions will be set aside until they are cleaned by hand (using gloves) with water and detergent, rinsed, and sanitized, rinsed again, and air-dried. Alternatively, they may be placed in the dishwasher.
  • A separate container labeled “soiled toys” will be used in each classroom.
  • Toys will not be shared between classrooms unless they are washed and sanitized.

Clean and disinfect bedding:

  • Each child’s bedding will be kept in an individual, labeled nap bag.
  • Cribs and mats are labeled for each child.
  • Sheets and bedding should be laundered weekly or when soiled.

CHILD DROP OFF AND PICK UP POLICIES

Parents are permitted to enter the childcare facility but not individual classrooms. Children will be greeted and escorted into their classroom by staff members. Afternoon pick up will remain limited to the outside hallway. If entrance policy changes, we will follow the protocol outlined below.

  • Arrival and departure entrance for the center is restricted to the door at the parking circle.
  • Mask if notified. We are asking all adults to use hand sanitizer when you enter the downstairs hallway.
  • Parents will be asked to maintain a 6-foot distance to limit interactions between groups of adults/children while waiting for the health screening and check-in process.
  • Parents will not be permitted to enter the childcare facility. Children will be greeted and escorted into the center by staff members.
  • Infants should be transported in their carriers.
  • During afternoon pickup, parents will be asked to ring the bell. A staff member will bring your child to you.
  • Please keep your arrival and departure schedule as close to reported times as possible to avoid delays.

SOCIAL DISTANCING AND OTHER PROTOCOLS

At the present time, our classroom groups are no longer in pods. Children will be joining in work and play. If social distance policy changes, we will follow the protocol outlined below.

  • Individual classroom teachers will work to create activities that allow for 6 feet of separation among children throughout the day to the maximum extent feasible. This may include conducting learning activities outdoors at varying locations on the campus.
  • Classroom groups management will be established to limit cross-group interactions at bathrooms, in the hallways and outdoor play areas. 
  • Childcare staff will remain with the same group each day.
  • Meals will be served in the classroom. Families must provide the child’s eating utensils daily.
  • Handwashing will continue to be required upon entrance to the program. Children and staff will wash their hands after returning from outside. Staff and children will wash their hands after a diaper change and use of the bathroom. Handwashing is done before and after meals, at other times throughout the day, and with any exposure to bodily fluids.
  • Signs, in highly visible locations, are posted to promote everyday protective measures such as handwashing and how to stop the spread of germs.
  • In order to make outdoor play consistent with the CDC considerations, staff may be scheduling the use of playground areas to prevent co-mingling. High use equipment areas will be wiped down by staff before returning indoors as required.
  • Only materials that are washable will be used for play. Sharing of materials among children will be limited. Each child will have their own crayons and playdough.
  • Children moving to the bathroom and within the hallways will be staggered to maintain classroom groupings.

SAFETY AND SCREENING PROTOCOLS

Health screenings will be conducted daily via the Sandbox App for any family entering the building to identify symptoms, diagnosis or exposure to COVID-19. Staff and children will not be allowed to enter the program if:

  • They have tested positive or are showing COVID-19 symptoms.
  • They have recently had potential exposure to a person with COVID-19.

The health of staff and children in care will be monitored throughout the day.

If your child has any symptoms of Covid-19, you agree to keep him/her at home. To ensure the health and safety of all children, staff and families, your child will not be permitted back into the facility until:

  • You provide a written note signed and verified by a physician or nurse practitioner (CRNP) clearing them to return to the childcare facility OR
  • You provide a copy of a negative COVID-19 test result that is signed and verified by a pharmacist, physician or nurse practitioner (CRNP) and is otherwise well enough to go back to school.

If your child is diagnosed with COVID-19, you are required to notify the school and not send him/her back to school until all the following is true:

  • It has been at least 5 days since your child first had symptoms AND
  • Your child can wear a well-fitting mask for an additional 5 days AND
  • Your healthcare provider has documented a release from care to return to school AND
  • Your child has had no fever off anti-fever medicines (ex: Tylenol, Ibuprofen) for 24 hours AND
  • Your child’s symptoms are getting better AND
  • Your child will be able to participate in the normal activities of a school day

If your child was positive for COVID-19, he/she does NOT need a repeat COVID test to return to the facility. If your child is not able to wear a well-fitting mask, they will be permitted to return after 10 days.

If someone in your household is diagnosed with COVID-19 or your child is exposed to COVID-19, you should notify the school. Quarantine protocol follows:

  • If child can mask, they may return to school and mask for a period of 10 days.
  • If child is unable to mask, they will need to quarantine for a period of 10 days.
  • *Day 0 is the day of exposure; Day 1 is the day following the day of exposure.

Travel
If you or a family member has traveled to an area where high amounts of COVID-19 cases are reported or are planning to travel domestically or overseas, we are asking that you notify the school for return protocol.

Any confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the program will be reported to the PA Department of Health, the DHS/PA Office of Child Development and Early Learning, Bureau of Certification, and the George School Student Health Center.

  • Staff, families, and George School will be notified via email of any confirmed case of COVID-19 in the program.
  • If a child is in care when the test results are confirmed positive, they will be isolated until a responsible party arrives to pick them up.
  • GSCC will follow the protocol for a return as outlined above.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS FOR CHILDREN AND STAFF

  • Parents of children or staff members at higher risk for severe illness should notify the director of the program. We request documentation from the individual’s physician which outlines recommendations for appropriate safety procedures.
  • Unique safety protocols for children with complex needs or other vulnerable individuals will be instituted to the best of our ability under the guidance of their physician and our health consultant.

This information may be amended at any time to reflect changes in regulations, DHS requirements, or CDC guidelines.

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