Ensuring the health, safety and well-being of our children, families and team members remains our highest priority. The news, as we all know, is changing rapidly. We are working with state Departments of Health and closely monitoring local, state and national developments pertaining to the Coronavirus. The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) is committed to supporting early learning providers during the COVID-19 public health emergency. DECAL recognize the vital role that providers, including their teaching staff, play in the support of Georgia’s children and families, especially during a public health crisis. We have chosen to remain open to provide services for essential workers.
In our schools you will notice:
Temperature Checks (optional): We are screening all staff members and children upon arrival at school to check for raised temperatures and symptoms of the Coronavirus. We will follow state and CDC guidelines regarding raised temperatures, whichever is more stringent.
Protective Masks (optional): Staff members may wear protective face coverings when working with children. Based on the CDC guidelines protective mask wear are optional for staff and students.
Health Screening: When families sign-in for the day, they will need to confirm their child is well before our staff brings them to the classroom.
Wellness Checks: Regular wellness checks are being conducted throughout the day. The families of children that show signs of illness will be notified immediately. To help stop the spread of illness, children are taken to a dedicated place and cared for by a member of management until a family member can pick them up within the hour.
Limited Classroom Access: Classrooms are reserved for teachers and children only. To curb the spread of germs and to control group size, families are asked to remain in common areas of the school only, and not enter classrooms. To limit non-essential personnel in our schools.
Same Person Drop-Off and Pick-Up: Family members will be granted access to our app from contactless sign in options (GPS or QR Scan).
Handwashing: We continue to ensure increased frequency of handwashing by children and staff.
Social Distancing: We have implemented the social distancing strategies listed below:
Children and staff remain in the same group each day, when possible.
We are staggering playground times, so different groups are not mixed together.
We have cancelled or postponed special events such as festivals, holiday events and special performances.
When possible, during naptime, children are placed 6 feet apart.
We have temporarily suspended outside visitors to classrooms.
We have altered drop off and pick up procedures to limit unnecessary exposure.
Sanitizing & Classroom Cleanliness: We have strengthened our existing cleaning and sanitizing practices. Toys, playground equipment, doorknobs and other high-touch surfaces are disinfected, and toys are rotated throughout the day. We follow CDC guidelines for proper disinfectants. Our cleaning company uses a HaloFogger which disinfects throughout a rom to reach into nooks, crevices and corners that other disinfect anting methods may neglect.
Playground Restrictions: Outdoor play structures will be used by one class at a time and will be cleaned daily per CDC guidelines.
Safe Dining: We’ve modified our mealtime practices to reduce the potential spread of germs. Children will still eat together but we have stopped family-style dining and are only serving pre-plated meals to children.
Naptime Adjustments: Children will sleep six feet apart, whenever possible, and positioned alternating head-to-toe or toe-to-toe. Bedding, cot sheets and blankets will be laundered weekly or when soiled. Infant classroom bedding and crib sheets are laundered daily.
Field Trips and Events: We have resumed our offsite field trips for students 4 years old and older.
Stay Home if Sick: If you or your child has been sick, please stay home until you are symptom-free without medication for 48 hours or unless state guidelines deem otherwise.
Cleaning School Facilities: Our staff conducts a deep and through cleaning of our classroom toys and manipulatives, and high traffic areas regularly throughout the day by sanitizing toys with bleach and disinfected spray. Our building is professional cleaned in the evenings and treated with a disinfectant that effective at addressing: COVID-19, Hand/Foot/Mouth, Flu,H1N1, Norovirus, MRSA, Mold, Fungi to name a few. We are properly supplied with adequate hand soap, disinfected spray/wipes, bleach, paper towels, and hand sanitizer for building cleanliness and for the students and employee use. Our building will be professional treated.
Ventilation: Is one component of maintaining healthy environment, and is important prevention strategy; open windows, doors and portable air cleaners.
If you have any questions about our health and safety precautions, please feel free to contact the Center Director or email info@kidzzfirstcdc.org for more information.
Here are some additional things we do to ensure your child is safe:
Our school is always locked. The front door is secured, so only authorized staff and families may enter. Visitors must sign-in and present a valid ID to enter our building.
Our playgrounds are fenced and secured with gates to ensure your child can play outdoors safely.
We continuously monitor all children, including when they enter or exit the building or move to a new location in or around our school.
Our school has smoke detectors and fire extinguishers, and both are regularly inspected.
Our team members are certified in first aid and CPR. Our infant and toddler teachers receive SIDs training.
During enrollment families contact information (text, email, phone) is stored under a universal platform to update families instantly.
We have integrated an school wide parent engagement app that allows families to have direct contact to your child teacher and administration between school hours.