Dear Families of Playful Learners Preschool,
We, like all of you, are very concerned about the progress of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) throughout the world and in the United States. This virus continues to be the subject of intense interest. While there are limited cases in Virginia at this time, we are continually reviewing and updating our response plan.
Typically developing and healthy children usually DO NOT experience life-threatening illness from the disease, but once infected, they can be prolific carriers capable of infecting a lot of people.
During this time, we will be using increasingly more stringent measures to provide a clean and safe environment for our students and staff. We are getting continuous updates from the Department of Health, Department of Social Services, and the CDC regarding the formulation of our policies and procedures, preventative measures, and more.
We encourage all families to stay informed by seeking accurate information from authoritative sources, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Virginia Department of Health.
Our plan will be revised as new information becomes available. In the event of an outbreak, we will follow the guidelines of the Virginia Department of Health in determining if our school should be closed. In the event of a closure by the Department of Health, in this unprecedented situation, we will treat this as an inclement weather closure. This means that tuition will be due as scheduled and our staff will be paid for their scheduled hours. They will train, lesson plan, and more from home during closures.
In our classrooms, our staff will be reviewing all disinfectant and sanitizing practices. In addition to more frequent cleaning of “high-touch” areas, we also are ensuring that we have adequate stock of supplies such as hand soap, paper towels, and surface disinfectants.
Teachers will be enforcing infection control measures with students including regular hand washing, respiratory etiquette, and reminders to students not to touch their nose, mouth or eyes. Please support this at home, by reminding your children to not suck their fingers or touch their eyes and noses. Every time, they do please get them into the habit of washing their hands. This will be very important in aiding your teachers.
We expect any staff/families who have traveled or will travel to countries where the CDC has enacted a level 3 travel warning to follow CDC guidance about self-isolation and stay home for a period of 14 days upon returning home and also seek medical attention if you experience fever, cough, or difficulty breathing.
If you plan on traveling elsewhere—domestic or international—please take all possible precautions including staying up-to-date on the latest spread of the virus and considering difficulties you may encounter when returning home.
Personal infection control measures are very important in preventing and combating COVID-19, as well as all types of flu and influenza. We appreciate your cooperation and partnership in emphasizing the following measures at both home and school:
Properly and frequently wash hands. Avoid touching nose, mouth and eyes. Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or one’s sleeve; follow with hand washing. Maintain a healthy lifestyle, including adequate hydration and sleep, a healthy diet, and exercise, and refrain from smoking, including vaping, which puts individuals at higher risk for severe illness. Get an annual flu vaccine. Ensure you/your student are up-to-date with all recommended immunizations. Stay home and keep children home when sick.
*****Reminder: When your child receives vaccinations from the doctor please bring a copy of their updated school entrance form and updated immunizations for our records.*****
Please ensure that your child file has your most current contact information. We encourage you to plan in advance for the possible need to pick up your child in the event he or she becomes ill. Parents also should begin to plan for care options should it become necessary to close schools for several days or longer.
We appreciate your assistance in keeping our school as safe and healthy as possible. As we receive more information we will continue to review and revise our plans and keep you updated.
Sincerely,
Playful Learners Preschool
