Updated COVID19 Protocols

Same person drop-off and pick-up: Families are asked to assign one family member for drop off and pick up to minimize exposure to multiple people. If this is not possible, we ask parents to call the center upon arrival and the staff will bring children in from, and out to, the car.

• Masks for adults: All teachers are required to wear masks. We ask that all adults wear a mask during drop-off and pick-up, or any time you're in our center.
• Masks for kids: We recommend students ages 3 and up wear face masks in our centers. 
• Smocks: Teachers in toddler classrooms will wear smocks during close contact.

• Restricted classroom access. To minimize potential exposure, we ask that families not walk children to the classroom. Instead, please check in with staff in the lobby, and they’ll escort your child to their classroom. Classrooms will be reserved for teachers and children only.
• Classroom cleanliness. Toys, books, craft materials, cubbies, and other high-touch surfaces will be routinely disinfected and rotated. We will pause the use of sensory tables, play dough, large pillows or stuffed animals, and other materials that are difficult to clean.
• Sick space: Centers will have a dedicated space (in or out of the classroom) where teachers can care for sick children while being separated from others until a family member can come to pick up.
• Social distancing: We’ll continue to practice social distancing as much as possible to reduce risk. Please look for signage and floor markers in your center to maintain your distance at drop-off and pick-up.
• Pod structure: To limit potential exposure, we’ve implemented a “Pod” structure where children are grouped appropriately to stay separated from other classrooms. Teachers and staff will also stay within their assigned Pod each day to minimize cross-contamination.
• Teacher Absence Protocol: To protect the integrity of our center’s Pod structure, and to make sure student and staff safety is prioritized, if a teacher cannot make it to class (due to illness or otherwise), we will attempt to bring in a substitute teacher from the same Pod or ask the Pod manager to teach the class.
• Class closures: As a last resort, we might need to close the classroom if there are no Pot appropriate teachers available to lead the class. We are working to recruit more part-time teachers and substitutes for each Pod to avoid classroom closures.
• Modifications to family-style dining: We’ve modified our shared mealtime practices to reduce the spread of germs. Students will still eat together but will not be serving themselves.
• Naptime adjustments: Children will continue to sleep (without masks) six feet apart whenever possible and be positioned alternating head to toe or toe to toe. Bedding will be laundered nightly. Stuffed toys and personal items will be sent home nightly for laundering to help combat germs in the center.

• On the playground: Outdoor play structures will be utilized by one class at a time, with increased time between play to allow for thorough cleaning of all surfaces.
• Field trips and events: There will be no center-wide events or trips, but classes may participate in either trips or events if there is no close contact with students from other classrooms or the public. In some centers, trips and events could be cancelled or postponed until further notice.

• Handwashing and sanitizing: Everyone who enters the building will need to wash hands, and we’ll continue to integrate 20-second handwashing into the curriculum. Hand sanitizer will also be available throughout the center.
• Covering coughs and sneezes: For our students under 5 years old who are not wearing masks, we will continue to model and teach them how to safely cover coughs and sneezes with tissues or elbows. We will help students remember to wash hands after touching their face or covering their coughs and sneezes.
• Travel: Please pay close attention to the Health Ontario’s guidance around coronavirus protocols and travel to specific regions. If you travel to regions of concern, you will need to follow Public Health guidance for quarantining yourself and your family before returning to Newstead.