2020-2021 Holy Family School Guidelines as known at this time.

 
The health and safety of your children is our #1 priority at Holy Family School.  All necessary precautions will be taken to keep your children safe and well while at Holy Family. 
 
In order to accommodate the new mandated guidelines, Holy Family will implement the following:
 
Morning Arrival:

• Each class will enter through an assigned door.
• Entry time may be staggered among the grades. 
• Faculty, staff and children will be screened daily before entering the building for fever and other symptoms.
• Temperatures will be taken using touchless thermometers.  Any child with a temperature of 100.4 or over will not be admitted into the building. 
• General health questions, mandated by the state, will be asked daily to faculty, staff and parents.   
• No parents or visitors are allowed to enter the building when children are present. State inspectors and emergency personnel are the exception.
• Upon entry to the school, the children will be escorted to the bathroom by a teacher for handwashing before they enter their classroom. They will remain with their assigned teacher and assigned group of children.

• There will be 10 children assigned to each classroom with their teacher.  
• They will remain in their classroom with their teacher throughout the day for the entire year. It is prohibited for children to switch groups. 

• Children will eat snack and lunch in their classrooms.  
• There will be no hot lunch program until further notice.  Children must bring in their own lunch.
• Children will not share any items including toys.  After each use, toys and other objects will be placed in a bin for sanitizing.
• Playground time will be staggered between groups and use may be restricted.
• Every child must have a backpack that zippers, no open top bags.

• Tiny Tots will be changed as needed throughout the day.  The changing table will be in their classroom.
• Each class will be assigned a separate bathroom. 
• If a child in PreK3, PreK4 or Kindergarten has an accident, parents will be called to take them home, if they cannot change themselves.  Children should have at least 2 changes of clothes at school at all times.

• Morning arrival
• Afternoon departure
• Before and after snack and lunch
• After bathroom use
• After outside play
• When moving between activities in the classroom (ex: moving from legos to books)
• Anytime throughout the day as needed.
• Faculty and staff will wash their hands before assisting children throughout the day

• Faculty will wear gloves when necessary (snack, lunch, injuries, bathroom)
• Facial masks must be worn daily by faculty and staff. 
• Children are encouraged to wear cloth face coverings especially during circle time.  

• If a child becomes ill during school time, they will be removed from the classroom by a staff member who will then call the parent to pick them up.
• Children must be fever free for 24 hours, without medication, before returning to school. 
• Children with vomiting or diarrhea must be free from these symptoms for at least 24 hours, without medication, before returning to school.
• If a student or faculty member is suspected of having COVID 19, the Board of Health and the Office of Licensing will be notified immediately. The Board of Health will determine the protocols we must follow at that time.

• Tiny Tots and PreK3 children staying until 2:20 will rest with their group from 1:00 – 1:30 daily. This is a state requirement. 
• They will remain with their group until 2:20 dismissal. 
• Each child’s rest mat and bedding are labeled and stored separately.  All bedding will be sent home weekly for laundering (this is a state requirement). Bedding MUST be in a zippered bag for sanitary reasons.

• After each activity, objects and surfaces will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.
• All toys will be disinfected daily.
• All classrooms will be disinfected daily.
• Frequently used/touched areas will be disinfected throughout the day.

 
 
So, yes, there are a lot of new rules and regulations.  The good news is that a lot of what we are required to do are things we were already doing before the pandemic arrived.  The children will have friends to play with in their classrooms and they do not need to stay 6 feet away from them during class time.  Please teach your children the proper way to sneeze/cough into their elbow and how to blow their nose.   As we all know, frequent handwashing is key to staying healthy. Please show them how to properly wash their hands:
 

*wet hands

        * put soap on them, keeping them out of the water
 

* rub together for at least 20 seconds cleaning tops, palms, and         between fingers

* rinse and dry completely

 
This is a glimpse of what Holy Family School will look like in September.  Procedures will be revised and modified according to state guidelines which are fluid and may change over the next 2 months.  We will continue to keep you updated.  Hopefully, the changes will be positive ones!
 
As always, please reach out to us if you have questions or concerns.  Thank you for your continued faith in Holy Family School.