Mask Policy

All staff are required to wear masks all day while in the building and the playground areas.  Staff may wear fabric masks that must be laundered daily, disposable masks or clear masks that allow children to see facial expressions.  All masks will be cleaned and disinfected in accordance with the CDC guidelines.

Children, 2 years and older are now required to wear face masks, especially older toddlers, and preschool and kindergarten children.  Please provide at least 2 face masks for your child.  We will hand launder the masks daily.  We have also provided a decorate your own mask for the older children and we have disposable child-sized masks available for extra measure.  

Children will not sleep with masks nor wear them when in the playground.  Nap mats/cots/cribs will be placed 6 feet apart when possible but if unable, the children will be placed facing opposite directions. 

Classroom Contact

Class size may be reduced to allow for most effective social distancing

Children and teachers will remain in the same group throughout the day (as much as is humanly possible)

Groups may not use the same space at the same time. 

Each group will be assigned a playground time and equipment will be wiped between groups.  We have three outside areas for toddlers and three outside areas for preschoolers.

Physical distancing for children and adults within the classroom to the best of our ability.  Staff will continue to maintain physical contact with children as appropriate and necessary.  Infants and their teachers will not maintain social distancing.

Classroom Materials

There will be a limited number of toys and materials in the classroom in general to reduce the risk of contact contamination

We will follow strict sanitizing procedures during the day and at the end of each day.  Extra precautions will be taken with any materials that encounter children’s saliva, mucus, or any other bodily fluid.  These will be placed in an assigned bucket/bin for immediate removal from the classroom.

Hand Hygiene

Our hand washing policies follow the strict guidelines and rules proposed by DHS, OCDEL and the CDC.  We will continue to follow those guidelines with increased frequency of washing.  We will be diligent about situations and times that may need even more frequent handwashing.

All staff and children will practice healthy hand hygiene

Upon arrival, all staff and children must immediately wash their hands

Soap and water for 20 seconds at each washing that includes the palms, tops and between fingers of each hand

An alternate use of a 60% ALCOHOL-BASED sanitizer is also acceptable and will be used as an extra shield until soap and water access is obtained

Children will be encouraged to wash or sanitize more frequently, especially after blowing their nose, coughing, or sneezing; before and after meals and snacks and prior to and after using the playground.

Children will wash hands after diapering or bathroom use as usual.

Surface Hygiene

All classrooms, bathrooms, office spaces and any large rooms (i.e.:  Orleans, Braemer) have been thoroughly disinfected/sanitized

Classrooms will be cleaned and disinfected more frequently during the day.  Doorknobs, light switches, classroom sink handles, countertops, toilets, desks, chairs, cubbies, and tables will be sanitized to ensure your child’s safety.  This is in addition to our routine housekeeping at the end of every day.

Bathrooms will be disinfected after each use.

Cleaning products are EPA-Certified for disinfecting use

Cleaning products are kept secure and out of the reach of children

Health Screening & Wellness Policy

Please take your child’s temperature at home prior to bring your child to the center.  A child with a temperature of 100.4 or above may not attend school/camp.  A child with a cough or having difficulty breathing must also remain home.

Please keep your children(ren) home if they are showing any signs of symptoms or sickness.

Any child with a temperature of 100.04 above will be sent home for a minimum of 24 hours.

Children must be symptom free for 24 hours before returning to school (without the aid of a fever reducing medication).

If your child has an excessive runny nose, cough, or sneeze, we will ask you to pick up your child and keep him/her home for at least 24 hours.  In some cases, a note from your child’s doctor will be required for your child to return.

If your child shows symptoms while at school/camp, he/she will be separated from the rest of the children and will need to be picked-up within one hour.

If you have multiple children, and one child has a fever or symptoms at drop off, your other child will not be able to attend.

If you, your spouse, or other members of your family have a fever or are sick, we respectfully request that you keep your child home.

All families will sign an acknowledgement and disclosure statement

All families must complete a waiver form.

What to Bring

Snacks will be provided by AJ at this time.  We expect to provide mostly individually wrapped/packaged snacks to minimize “family” style distribution. 

We were able to provide free lunch during the summer and have not yet determined if we can/will continue this practice. 

If you are sending lunch, it must be packed in disposable packaging only – a plastic zip lock bag that is clearly labeled is the best option.  No lunch boxes.  If you are sending food that needs to be warmed in a container, we will return the container unwashed. 

Please send two cot/crib/map sheets, clearly labeled and a lightweight blanket.  We will launder the bedding at AJ at least once weekly.  If your child sleeps with a favorite “cuddle”, please launder it before sending it and place it in a plastic bag.  We will keep it at AJ.

No backpacks, lunchboxes or other toys should be brought from home.  A jacket or sweatshirt may be kept in your child’s cubby. 

Staff

All staff will wear a face mask while we are with at children at AJ.

All staff will have an alternative pair of shoes for wear inside the building or will wear shoe covers

All staff will wear an extra layer of clothing (i.e.:  Scrubs or Long Sleeve Shirt) that can be changed should any child’s body fluid contaminate the cover or will have several clothing changes available.

No staff shall work at AJ if showing any symptoms of illness

All staff will complete and sign an acknowledgement and disclosure statement

All staff will take their temperature daily upon arrival at AJ and as needed

A staff person that has been exposed to COVID-19 must remain at home for 14 days and/or a negative COVID 19 test is confirmed.

Closure Policy

All staff will wear a face mask while we are with at children at AJ.

All staff will have an alternative pair of shoes for wear inside the building or will wear shoe covers

All staff will wear an extra layer of clothing (i.e.:  Scrubs or Long Sleeve Shirt) that can be changed should any child’s body fluid contaminate the cover or will have several clothing changes available.

No staff shall work at AJ if showing any symptoms of illness

All staff will complete and sign an acknowledgement and disclosure statement

All staff will take their temperature daily upon arrival at AJ and as needed

A staff person that has been exposed to COVID-19 must remain at home for 14 days and/or a negative COVID 19 test is confirmed.