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We are pleased to announce that we have reopened! Please read our new policy and procedures. 

First Church Early Learning Center

New Policies and Procedures for Families During COVID-19

Please note that school hours are now 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday

Drop off:

Drop-off will be curbside only. Parents will not be able to enter the school. Please form a line of cars alongside the building (near the Director/business manager’s office). A staff member will alert you to when it is your turn to sign your child in. Please do not exit your car during this time.

Your child’s temperature will be taken before they exit the vehicle. If your child’s temperature is one hundred (100) degrees or above, they will not be able to participate in the program and must not return until their temperature is below one hundred (100) degrees without medication. Please refer to the original health policy for more information on this.

A staff member will conduct a short health screening with the child’s parent/guardian before they may enter the building. We will ask whether your child has experiences fever, shortness of breath, or a cough? A staff member will then make a visual inspection of your child for signs of illness which could include flushed cheeks, rapid breathing or difficulty breathing (unrelated to recent physical activity), fatigue, or extreme fussiness.

A staff member will help your child out of the car and immediately have them use hand sanitizer before walking them into the building. At that point, the staff member will take your child to the bathroom to wash hands for twenty (20) seconds. Your child will be then be brought to their classroom.

If you do not see a staff member outside the building, please call the school at (860) 688-4597 and a one will come out to assist you.

You are still required to sign your child in. Please bring your own pen as we will be unable to provide one to you.

Please allow extra time during drop-off so that these procedures can be followed.

Pick up:

Children will be brought out to the parking lot for pick up by a staff member.

Please either call the school or ring the doorbell and a staff member will bring you your child.

You are still required to sign your child out. Please bring your own pen as we will be unable to provide one to you.

In accordance with The Office for Early Childhood, FCELC will now implement the following policies and procedures.

Staff will wear face coverings at all times unless they are outdoors and able to maintain a distance of six (6) feet between themselves and others. Staff are not required to wear a face-covering while eating but must still maintain a social distance of six (6) feet between themselves and others. 

Children are not required to wear a face mask but may wear one at their parent/guardian’s direction. Staff members are not responsible for ensuring that children wear masks while on the premises.

Children will be grouped with the same children and teachers each day. This way, if we do experience an outbreak of COVID-19, only one classroom will have to close, rather than the whole school. In the event of an outbreak, the affected classroom will be closed for fourteen (14) days.

Children will be placed six (6) feet apart during meal or snack times. 

Cots will be placed six (6) feet apart and children will be placed head to toe.

If possible, we would ask that the same parent/guardian would drop-off and pick-up their child every day.

FCELC has developed a schedule for deep cleaning and disinfecting. This will include:

• Sanitizing the toilets and sinks after each child uses the bathroom.
• Sanitizing the playground equipment after it is used by each classroom.
• Wiping down door handles throughout the day.
• Steam cleaning the rugs/carpeting weekly.

All children must now pack a lunch bag with an ice pack. Children should not be sent to school with any food that needs to be microwaved. Refrigerators and microwaves will not be available to children or staff. 

Each child will have their own bag of art supplies labeled with his/her name; art supplies will no longer be shared.

Each child must both outdoor shoes and indoor shoes (one pair of each). Indoor shoes may be left at school and can be stored in cubbies. Children will be asked to remove their outdoor shoes prior to entering the building. Outdoor shoes will be stored within the parish house lobby.

Each child will be provided a school laundry bag to store all nap items in. If nap items do not fit in the bag, they will not be allowed in the school. Nap items will be sent home each Friday in the school laundry bag and must be washed and returned on Monday.

Any toys that cannot be sanitized will be removed from the classrooms.

Enhanced sick policies:

IF YOUR CHILD IS SHOWING SYMPTOMS OF ANY ILLNESS, NOT JUST COVID 19 SYMPTOMS, THEY SHOULD REMAIN AT HOME. THIS IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER. 

Children who begin to show signs of any illness at school will be removed from the classroom and will go to a staffed sick room. Their parent/guardian will be called and must collect their child within thirty (30) minutes. We will advise the parent/guardian as to when their child may return. Once the child is picked up, the sick room will be thoroughly sanitized.

Parents/guardians must inform the school immediately if their child has been in contact with anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19. The child will not be able to return to the program for 14 days after we have been informed.

Additional procedures will be put into place should a child or staff member be diagnosed with COVID-19. These procedures are as follows:

• We will determine the date that the child or staff member began to display symptoms
• We will determine if the child or staff­ member attended or worked at the program while symptomatic or during the two (2) days prior to the onset of symptoms.
• We will identify what days the child or staff­ member attended or worked at the program during that time.
• We will determine who had close contact with the child or staff­ member at the program during those days and will implement the following steps for any child or staff­ member exposed to COVID-19.
• Children or staff members who have been exposed to the infected person will be asked to stay home for fourteen (14) days from the last point of contact.
• Appropriate cleaning and disinfection will be taken

The above policies and procedures are subject to change at any time. Parents will be informed of any changes immediately.